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Chapter Seven

Saturday did indeed prove to be a washout just as Alex had predicted when he woke up to the sound of rain pouring even harder outside that it had been yesterday. Thankfully, the day wasn't a total waste as Montanez was able to swing by and the both of them discussed plans about what needed to be remodeled. Montanez looked over some of the design plans that Alex had and while he agreed with some things, others he vehemently disagreed with others. With the help of some pictures Alex took of the place and stored on his usually unused laptop, the wolf shifter was able to get a better understanding of what Montanez had in mind and get the older human's opinion about what should be changed.

Most of the day was spent changing plans, adding and then subtracting plans until later on in the afternoon when both got hungry and decided to venture out to a local deli and pick up subs for lunch.

After they had eaten until well into 8:00pm, Montanez and Alex went over ideas and priced just how much things would total, working so that more money could land in the pockets of the workers instead of going for materials since Montanez knew somebody who knew somebody...etc. By the time the older human was leaving Alex's apartment the wolf shifter was feeling more than satisfied that things would work out, as far as construction was concerned. However, looking out his window at the rain, he wondered just how things would go on the other end of the spectrum and exactly what David was doing to help speed things along.

Though he realized that he was putting a lot of faith in a man he barely knew, Alex also came to the conclusion that this would be his first big step towards initializing his dream. If he wanted to make a place for changelings then he had to believe that they wouldn't ruin their place of refuge because of intolerance for each other, not in its fetal stage anyway.

For the rest of the evening Alex sat in front of his window and looked outside at the world and prayed in the back of his mind that everything would go right with the future to come. Though most shifters were that religious, Alex figured it never hurt and worst off, no one would hear him.

***

Sunday found Alex's phone ringing by the side of his head where he slept on the floor, curled up into a furry ball of muscle. Lifting his dark brown head and yawning, the wolf shifter blinked and then reached out to grab his pants when he noted the lack of opposable thumbs then growled in annoyance. Taking a second to let his mind focus on being human, Alex felt his body flex, expand and then shrink before he was once again furless and naked on the floor of his front room.

Fishing through his wet pants for his cell, Alex flipped the front open and spoke without thinking.

"Hello?" His voice was thick with sleep but that only made the person on the other in laugh in his ear.

"Good day sunshine. I see you had a long night last night?" David questioned while driving on the rain slick road.

"Something like that. How are you this morning?"

"Morning? Better look outside, pup." The wolf shifter blinked and rubbed his green eyes before staring at the world beyond the glass. Bright light filtered in from off of the clouds and Alex groaned as he realized what time it was.

"How much time do I have before I have to curse and manic dress?"

"Hehe, about ten minutes. I'm halfway to where you are now." David chirped much to Alex's distaste.

"The door will be open and its number eleven."

"Alright. See you soon, pup."

"You too, Mother Willow."

"HEY!!!" Alex shut the phone before the other man could say anything else. Heading for the bathroom, the wolf shifter tried to smile honestly to himself and not think about the nervousness that was creeping into his stomach as he stepped into the shower.

***

Ten minutes to the letter, Alex stepped out of his bathroom and looked up to see David standing in the middle of his apartment. With a simple pair of slacks and t-shirt on couple with the overly lustful smile as he watched where the wolf shifter's towel was supposed wrapped around his waist, David looked actually more handsome now than he had back on Friday. Alex made a beeline for his bedroom at this point since he could literally smell the other man's arousal from where he was standing and it served to make an echoing hunger rise in his loins.

It took another five minutes, but once he was ready Alex stepped out from his bedroom with a simple dress shirt and pair of blue jeans on before walking up to David and cocking his head at the other.

"You think this will be good enough for me to wear to this meeting?"

"Sure, and it's more like a high school reunion than anything else, really. Most of the people already assembled will be dressed much more casually than you, if not somewhat shifted into their true forms." David wrapped an arm around the younger man's shoulders before bringing him closer to him. "You don't mind nudity, do you? I mean, after all, some of the guys may be naked and such."

"This isn't going to turn into some kind of changeling orgy, is it?" Alex looked at David with a deadpanned look on his face as the other man shook his head negatively, but still kept a smile on his handsome face.

"No. I'm just kidding with you. Nobody's going to be naked. I'm just worried about your sensibilities is all. Wouldn't want you to freak out on me, it would make me look like a bad go-between if I put you into a position you weren't comfortable with." David was all but caressing Alex's ear with his lips as he nuzzled the wolf shifter's neck.

Alex, in other situation, would have been glad to go a couple of rounds with the dryad in bed, but right now, his dream was on the line.

"You're barking up the wrong tree if you think that you're getting into my pants anytime before this business is over with." Alex shrugged from out of David's hold and then made his way to the door.

"After the other day I would have thought you would be all over me, pup." David walked through the open door Alex was holding before being followed by the younger man.

"Don't you know the old saying; never mix business with pleasure?" Alex shut and locked his door, making sure that he had his keys and some of the plans and contract for his building to show everyone before following David out of the building.

"Hmm, yeah I have, but I've always found it to be a cock tease when you could mix the two together and make life much more interesting."

The two men kept their idle banter up as they got into David's car, buckled up and then drove to the meeting place. Throughout their drive, Alex could see the rain from yesterday having left a damp landscape in its wake making everything seem somewhat bleak, if not dreary. Not wanting the scene to lessen his resolve, Alex settled for rolling the window down some and then leaning his arm on the window so he could rest his head out.

By the time they got to where they were going though, Alex's nerves had settled down and let his mind focus on what he was going to say to these people. Worry nibbled at the edge of his gut as David pulled up to an old coffee shop on the other side of town and Alex looked around at the number of cars parked in the lot.

"There are a lot more people here than I would have thought." Alex's eyes were bleeding into bright amber as nervousness crept up his spine but a warm hand touched his back making the wolf shifter turn to see two lips pressing into his own.

A single moment was shared Alex let the warmth coming from David's lips soak into his gut while opening his lips for the dryad to plunder the inner depths of his mouth. In return David brushed away the fear and uncertainty that the wolf felt until Alex was relaxed enough to think rationally.

Pulling away, the two men stared at one another, a mixture of feelings covering their faces, before Alex smile his thanks to David and then turned to open his door and step outside. David was right behind the other man as they walked across the street and into the coffee shop as he tried to convey as much silent strength to the wolf shifter as he could.

Stepping inside, Alex thought he was ready for anything to come and then got a shock when he realized, that he wasn't.

A multitude of eyes focused on the entering pair, varying from human like round orbs to half slit feline/dragon-kin irises and even glowing star like gems set inside of ageless seeming faces belonging to century old sorcerers.

Alex tried not to seem as unsure of himself but it once again, took a hand at his back to help settle his rising panic before he found the courage to sigh and do what he had to do. Looking around the room at the myriad number of faces, sniffing the scents of coffee beans roasting mixed with shifter sweat and changeling pheromones, Alex searched around for the ones who seemed to be in charge of the respective collective.

His nose helped his eyes wander over to a small table where three people were sitting and surveying him carefully. The scent of these creatures were deeper than all of the others and when Alex got a good look at them he felt the fur rising from beneath his skin as he mentally acknowledged the alphas in charge.

One of them was an older woman whose skin was beginning to pinch in places but whose face seemed to carry a depth of wisdom that could have rivaled his grandfather's in intensity. The woman had to have been at least a hundred plus years old and didn't seem to be losing any vigor through time. Her hair was pulled into a braid behind her back that seemed to be graying in some places from its original auburn hue while onyx eyes shone clearly like black diamonds in the sea of her pale face. She couldn't have been more than five foot five feet tall and with those overalls on she reminded Alex of old Ms. Chancy with her unassuming appearance.

The next person was someone who Alex wouldn't have thought twice about walking by on the street if he had seen him, but looking at the person now Alex was reminded that appearances could truly be deceiving. A cheerful smile framed the face of a lightly tanned male as he held a cup of tea in his hand while looking at Alex with an overly careful look in his eyes. Bright blond hair, blue eyes and a very youthful face had Alex blinking twice over as he studied what his senses were telling him about the pack alpha in front of him. The sheer amount of dominance that this man gave off beguiled the fact that he was at least five years younger than Alex but that the other could probably take him down in a fight of claws and fangs with little trouble.

Turning his gaze away from the young shifter, Alex let his features turn expressionless as he watched the last person gazing him right into the face. The man was the biggest of the three and he was obviously a dragon-kin from the scent of sulfur that just seemed to ooze out from the area around him. The look on the changeling's face was one filled with contempt and dominance but at the same time it was both curious and unsure. Black hair drifted down around his face in an arc while hazel eyes watched Alex like a hawk as the wolf shifter walked over to them with all the confidence he could muster in his stride.

The room seemed to hush itself as everyone looked to where the young wolf was going while several people lifted the edges of their lips to reveal fangs glimmering in readiness for whatever was to come. From the way many of them shifted in their seats, Alex had to wonder just what David had told them about what he had planned for everyone to be so on edge. And speaking of said dryad, Alex didn't bother to turn his head as he finally got over to the alpha's table but did let his nose tell him that his...friend had moved into a position between him and many of the others.

Thankful for the support, Alex opened his mouth to speak and was glad that he held back the whimper that he was sure would have come out in any other situation. "Do you mind if I sit here?"

The older woman spoke up as she looked into his face. "Not at all young man, please have a seat." Taking the offered chair, Alex had his game face on as he began what was going to be a very long afternoon.

"My name's Alex Crosse, could I please know the names of the alpha's I sit before?" The dragon-kin was the first to speak, completely boisterous and intimidating.

"The names Xander McAllister, whelp."

"Now, now Xander, please mind your manners. We have a newcomer in our midst, we wouldn't want him thinking that we were bumpkins, would we?" The dragon huffed and small wisps of grey smoke drifted from his nose as he lowered his head and picked up his water and took a sip. "Don't mind him; he's really a shy person at heart. My names Melinda Ashford, pleasure to meet you."

"My mother's is Millie." Alex clenched his eyes as he listened to what he said before lowering his head. A light chuckle was his only reproach. "I'm sorry. I mean it's good to meet you."

"Hey don't worry, man. It's normal to be nervous. I remember my first time meeting Melinda, I thought I was gonna faint when she said hello; my names Tyler Anderson, by the way. Pleased to meetcha'." The youngest at the table offered his hand to which Alex took willingly.

"I'm happy that all of you took the time out to meet with me, even though you don't know anything about me and all." Alex stated once he released his hand from Tyler's surprisingly strong grip.

"It's no problem, besides from what the mouth of the East over there told us, you want to make a place for all of us in the city. No way were we just going to let this opportunity pass us by without at least looking over it." Tyler chirped.

"Heh, sounds too good to be true, so it probably is," Xander huffed before grunting as Tyler kicked him up underneath the table.

"Boys, let's see first and then decide. So what did you have in mind Alex?" Melinda said after admonishing the other two.

"T-thank you. Well this was my original plan." Alex took the paperwork he had out of his pocket and then placed it in the center of the table so that everyone could see.

On it, Alex had his sketch of the building plus some of the designs for the reconstruction that he and Montanez had managed to go over last night.

"This sounds like a really cool idea! Most of the places around here don't have anything halfway decent for us shifters to try to work out at so most of us are left to just do what we can." Tyler grumbled as he sulked into his seat.

"What do you expect when you can bench press three hundred and fifty pounds as a warm up? Humans just do don't make things for our kind." Xander grunted as he sipped at his drink again.

"It's the way of things, I suppose. But, it seems that things might be changing soon. Do you plan to build this place in town or out?" Melinda asked while focusing on the design plan.

"Actually, I plan to restore and then remodel an old building just on the edge of the city. I think some of you may know it, it's the rundown place on Sylvester Street." Alex pointed to the address at the top of the diagram.

"Oh, that place." Melinda said looking somewhat like she swallowed something of bad taste.

"I-is there a problem with the location?"

"No... no it's nothing like that. It's just that area had a bad reputation once upon a time. I had thought it all was torn down, but I see not." Melinda seemed to stare off into space for a second and Alex wondered just how much the older wolfess knew about the building's history.

"Well, it's not haunted and I made sure that no one owned it before I bought the deed and insurance." Alex reached into his pocket and handed every the title over to the older woman.

Melinda read the documentation and nodded before handing it off to Xander who snuffed and dropped it in front of Tyler.

"Well, you may want to have a few of the older magick practitioners go over the area and make sure the karmatic energies don't backlash on you. Sometimes, some things don't like to stay buried."

"Alright. Do you have a person in mind that I could ask?"

"Xander?" Melinda looked to the dragon-kin who grunted and lifted his head over the on looking crowd.

"I have two in mind, they aren't here though. I'll make sure that they call you later on." The bigger male said while shaking his head at two other dragon-kin who were ready to go to their leader's aid if he needed them.

Alex nodded at that and then began to answer question after question the alphas had about this and that as far as the taxes, advertisements and so on adversely grilling Alex harder than his parents had. Throughout the meeting the four of them ordered scones, bagels, tea, water and coffee when they started to get hungry and all failed to notice time crawling along taking the sun with it towards the horizon.

While inputting some of their own concerns and giving advice on what they thought might needed to be changed around, it was Xander who surprisingly enough, had the most questions and concerns, despite his formerly dismissive attitude.

"You want to have the main area as a lounge while putting different rooms on either side to cater to certain changelings?" The dragon-kin asked while seeming to look at something Alex couldn't see.

"That was my plan, I wanted the center to be a kind of 'come one come all' kind a place that would welcome changelings no matter who they were. I was thinking of having a cafeteria off to one side where everyone could come in, get something to eat and then sit down and pair off with friends or whatever."

"That's not such a bad idea but it leaves something to be desired since you're going to have to take for the fact different clans are probably going to be at odds with each other in a single setting. It's gonna be like high school all over again." Xander huffed as he turned to the side while thinking about something in the distance.

"That's possible but it's also a way to try and get everyone to try to know one another, especially with some of the younger shifters and changelings who are just coming into their abilities and some of the older ones who don't feel like they would have the privacy at home because of prying eyes. With the different generations coming in and out, I thought that it would mellow some of the adolescent energies running around since the elders would be there to cool off tempers and such."

"You're putting a lot of faith in a bunch of," And right before he could finish Xander looked to see Melinda staring at him with a smile as if waiting for him to finish his statement. "I mean...that's putting pressure on older changelings to have to act as kindergarten teachers in a place that's supposed to be relaxing and carefree." Xander grabbed his scone and shovel it into his maw in a hurry just as Melinda was getting ready to speak.

"Oh don't worry, Xander. I'm sure we old fogeys can toss you young ones on your ass if need be. It might be good for some of you to remember to respect your elders." Both Alex and Tyler just looked between the two and tried not to start laughing as the pair seemed to rehash this old conversation.

"Well with details for the main area are somewhat stable; now let's talk about some of the other rooms. You wanted a track in the backroom instead of outside?" Tyler asked after taking a bite and swallowing his Danish.

"That has to do more with weather here, I've noticed that it rains a lot in these parts and figured there would be no point in making a track that nobody would use because it was too wet outside." Alex said while thinking about the last couple of days of rain that had altered some his plans.

"Okay, well you do have a point there. A track inside would keep the fur dry and warm in winter. Now what about this weight room? You know that most of us can lift a couple hundred pounds without breaking a sweat." Tyler flexed before Xander coughed and curled his arm to show the width and girth of his own bicep, dwarfing the younger wolf's.

"Trust me; I'll be getting more than enough weights to satisfy everyone once the building gets reconstructed. It's more of a matter of where to put things rather than how to put them at this point. My contractor and I have gone over a few things but what I was talking about with someone else was about how I'm going to get the news around to everyone and how to structure management."

"You haven't begun to set up interviews, yet?" Melinda ever the voice of reason, questioned before sipping her drink.

"That's the thing...I'm a bit embarrassed to say this but...besides David and two of my coworkers...I don't know that many shifters and changelings, personally, around here so I wouldn't know who to or not to hire." Alex actually blushed some at this.

"That would explain some things." Xander muttered. "Well we can send you some people who will be good for what you need as far as work staff, but you're on your own for management. That's not a field I'm good at."

"Hey don't count the rest of us out. I know a few shifters that would be willing to help you on the managerial part of your project." Tyler quipped before pulling out a cell phone and scrolling through his saved caller list.

"Thanks. That'll be a big help."

More hours flew by after that point with everyone talking and giving ideas while the shifters sitting around them listened and offered one or two helpful comments of their own. Alex having almost forgotten about them, had more than once whipped his head around to find who was talking and been abashed that he had been so focused that he had been unaware of his surroundings, which in turn got a good laugh of a Xander, before Tyler kicked him underneath the table and Melinda admonished the both of them again.

As the day began to draw to a close some of the other changeling and shifter patrons began to head for home now that they were sure that things were going to go smoothly for their alphas. By the time 10:00 pm rolled around only the Alex, David, Xander, Tyler, Melinda and the cleanup crew still around.

"Well looks like everything is just about settled. Now all that necessary is to figure out when everything should come to a head." Tyler said as he yawned behind his hand and blinked a few times.

"Maybe pups should head off to be while adults finish?" Xander said and received a complimentary kick to the shin once again.

"Quiet. I'm an alpha too. I can handle staying up more than twenty-four hours." Tyler huffed before yawning again.

"Well, all I can say is that if it doesn't rain in the next week then construction will begin the following week. I want to get started as soon as possible and with the way things are looking, the place should be set up and ready for business in about four to six months. That's praying that the rain holds out." Alex said as he clapped his palms together and bowed his head.

"I'll speak to the water nymphs about that." Melinda said before getting up from her chair and stretching. "Well boys this old woman is going home now. Busy day tomorrow, so if you need me, please do call."

"Thanks Melinda. You've been a big help." Alex said before getting up and offering his hand to the older shifter, only to have her embrace him in a hug.

"Not a problem. Now you boys be good and I'll see you later." Releasing Alex, Melinda left the coffee shop with four pairs of eyes watching her safely head to her car and then drive off.

"She's sweet." Alex said unconsciously.

"Yeah, but don't let that fool you. She could throw you on your ass in a heartbeat if you cross her." Xander grumbled.

"Voice of experience?" Tyler smiled and got a growl and snort of grey smoke for his trouble.

"Shut up. Anyway, if that's all I'm going home." Xander got up and then put some money on the table before walking out of the building without a second glance.

"Is he always that friendly?" Alex asked as he noted Tyler yawning again before shaking his head and removing himself from his seat.

"Nah. Don't let him bother you too much. He's always like that. It's what makes all the other changelings feel so secure about being under his authority. While I won't say that he can't back up his bark, he's not going to bite unless he really needs to, so it's good. Anyway, like the other's I'm heading out. If you need me you have my digits."

"Are you gonna be okay driving home?" Alex looked at the sleepy young man and noted his almost unsteady demeanor as he tried to walk out the door.

"Don't worry about me; I jogged all the way here from home, so I'll be good. Plus with the moon out, I'll get an extra boost for energy anyway. See ya later." And with that Tyler stepped out of the building and then made a fast break down the street and out of sight. Alex had to shake his head in amusement before he looked to see David walking up to him and then taking him into a firm hold.

"You did well Alex. I'm really impressed. I didn't think that you'd be as calm as you were when you first stood up to them." The dryad leaned in and kissed the wolf shifter full on the lips.

Alex grumbled but didn't fight as he let the other man do as he pleased before grunting and nipping the other on the tongue. When David pulled back he whimpered some, sound all too much like a disciplined pup.

"Watch it you. We haven't officially become a couple yet so don't think I'll let you just manhandle me anyway you want to." Alex growled before stepping out of David's hold and picking up the documents and papers he had left on the table, folding them and slipping them quietly into his pocket.

"Hmm, you're a hard one to figure out. Sometimes I think you want me and other times you play hard to get."

"That's because business isn't over with just yet. There's one call I have to make before my nights over with and then," Alex leaned in close and nipped the older man on the neck and got a shiver of delight from him for his troubles. "We can talk about supposed pleasure to come."

"Then please make that phone call. I'd like to get some dinner soon and then my dessert right after." David followed Alex as the wolf shifter walked to his car and watched as he pulled out his phone and then made a call.

"Oh damn, I totally forgot about dinner. What did you want to eat because I'm telling you now, my refrigerator is empty." Alex asked while listening to the phone ring in his ear.

"Why don't we go to the store and pick up some things and I'll cook. Eating out all the time is getting old." David opened his side of the door, got in and then unlocked Alex's side while waiting for the wolf shifter's response.

"That sounds good. We gonna do Dutch again?" Alex asked as he sat down into his seat and then listened as someone picked up on the other end.

"Nah, I'll pay this time. And by the way, who are you calling at this time of night, anyway?" David cranked up the engine and waited for Alex to shut his door before turning on the headlights and pulling out into the street.

"Family." Alex said before turning his attention to the person on the other end.

Chapter Eight

By the time Alex got off the phone with his mom, David had pulled up into to the closest grocery store parking lot and killed the engine.

Alex pocketed his phone and then unbuckled his seatbelt before opening his side door and stepping out into the cool night air, breathing in the scents of car exhaust and ozone from the sky above and sighing in relief. Once again, his mother had grilled him on what was happening and Alex had to wonder is this what people on probation felt like once they got out of jail. Chuckling some, the wolf shifter shook his head when he realized that it honestly felt good to have someone else watching out for his wellbeing.

Looking upwards, Alex realized that they were probably going to be in for another couple of days of rain at this rate and wondered how far that would push back the schedule for construction before and arm wrapped around him and hugged him close.

Turning to look to his side, he watched as David leaned into him and then kissed the side of his neck before pushing him forward into the large storefront.

"Stop thinking so hard. Everything is gonna be alright, I promise." David softly crooned into Alex's ear getting the wolf shifter to lean into him before nuzzling his chin a bit.

"Sorry, but I can't help but over think about everything. I guess I know how my father feels whenever he has to do business." Alex muttered as the both of them walked into the store and his stomach start to list some of its demands.

"Heh, well I'm sure if he were here, he'd probably tell you the same thing. Now want to get a buggy or a basket?" David looked between the two carriers and then to his...boyfriend, he guessed they were at this point...maybe.

"Buggy. I spent so much time talking that I didn't really order anything at the café except a scone. Now my stomach is reminding me of the price of its silence." Alex rubbed his gut as another burbling growl resounded making him flush somewhat.

"Haha, don't worry about it. Since I'm buying I'll let you do the cooking." David grabbed the largest buggy he could find and then rolled it into the inner part of the store while Alex looked at him with a sour look on his face.

"So we are doing Dutch after all." The wolf shifter growled as he realized that he had been conned but only just so much.

"No, I just prefer to let others cook for me. There's something about chopping vegetables that gets me right here," David patted his heart and then faux sobbed and got raspberry for his trouble.

"Don't try that on me. After seeing you wolf down that salad, I believe you are more than capable of cutting a few plants and putting them into a bowl without having the need for therapy afterwards." Alex directed the line of their travel through the store starting at the frozen food section on the far left of the store.

"Hehe, guess I can't fool you. So what do you feel like tonight?"

"Maybe steak and potatoes, I'm not sure since it's so late." Alex looked over the selection of frozen beef and then picked up a prepackaged container before sniffing it, looking at the price and shaking his head. "Times like these are when I wished there was a hunting ground around here for shifters, that way I could catch something fresh."

"Well sorry, but the only ground around here like that would be Alcester Forest and that's about twenty miles out of the city limits." David reached for a couple of T-bone steaks he had seen Alex eye and then walk past and then dumped them into the cart.

"That's one of the bad things about being a city wolf. With the give and take of having to be 'human' while wanting to be a wolf, I sometimes feel like I'm getting pulled in two places at once." Alex turned to look at David as they got to the dairy section. "Do you ever feel that way?"

"Not really. We dryads can just meditate anywhere there are trees and few people and 'get back to the earth', in a manner of speaking. Shredded cheese or block?" David said while looking between the two and coming to an indecision.

"Block makes for better lasagna. Shredded for omelets." Alex said offhandedly while thinking about what the other had said and then looking down to see the buggy's bottom partly obscured by beef and chicken.

"Both it is." David grabbed two sets of yellow and white cheeses and then threw them into the cart before looking to Alex and quirking an eyebrow. "What's with that look?"

"You gonna eat all that?"

"Oh, please. I saw you looking but not grabbing. I figured you're one of those people who don't like to spend much on someone else's dime." Alex blushed at that but didn't say anything. "Hehe, that makes you all the cuter for a boyfriend."

Alex gaze drifted back up to his companion of the evening and then, "Boyfriend? Moving a little fast aren't we? This is like what, our second date?"

"Yeah, but I figured that we moved passed the casual friend thing; hadn't we?" David seemed conflicted at that point but didn't try to take back his words either.

"W-well, uhm...that is...I guess..." Alex turned his head to the side and then bit his lip before turning his head up to the ceiling.

"Look, if this makes you uncomfortable we can just..." Alex stopped him before he could even finish.

"Don't try to tell me that you don't want this...whatever we have between us. I'll call it chemistry for the moment, but let's be real." Alex dropped his head down and looked the other square in the eye. "We both know that out of the two of us, you are the most sure about what we have. You've been sure ever since that Tuesday when you called."

"Well a good relationship starts when both people want the same thing...or at least have an idea about what they both want. So my question to you is; what do you want from all of this, Alex?" David looked the wolf shifter hard into his eyes and found the other man's green orbs frosting over to an amberish gold as he licked his lips again.

"I-I don't know. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever had anybody interested in me, relationship wise. I'm not even sure about what to do, say or think." Alex admitted even as he realized how embarrassing it was to admit such a thing.

"Oh, a virgin, I take it?" David chuckled and then purred.

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm a wolf from a large pack and an even larger community." Alex left his statement hanging in the air and David's smile only got wider.

"Oh the stories you could probably tell about your life back then. I can't wait to hear this."

"Down boy. A long summer night with a bunch of guys from the neighborhood is probably not as interesting as you think." The look on David's face couldn't have been called anything more than lecherous as he was grinning with full on show of teeth at this point. "You're a pervert, you know that? Back to the original subject of debate, are we a couple or whatever or not?" Alex grunted.

"That's up to you, pup. I'm all for trying to make something happen between us but there's only so far I can go on my own. What do you want, Alex?"

"...I guess I wouldn't mind trying. I mean...I..." A pair of arms wove around his waist, hugging him tightly, as David stepped around his their shopping cart and then kissed Alex onto the back of the neck, ever so tenderly. The wolf shifter murmured and let out a canine whimper before blushing as he noted that heat was pooling in both his stomach and his groin at the same time.

"Let's finish getting the food and then we can talk over dinner, ok?" David whispered into his, now confirmed, boyfriend's ear before pulling away and then walking back to grip the handles of the buggy.

"Y-yeah...Uhm...so...eggs and milk?" Alex asked as he scurried over to the eggs section before looking over the selection.

"Depends on the kind of milk. I prefer the Nature's Own brand." Alex rolled his neck to look at David and then groaned as he found the other man cupping his crotch. Letting out a loud sigh, the wolf shifter realized that he may have made a decision that was going to bring him a long series of headaches later on.

"Mother Willow, can you please focus." Alex grabbed one set of twelve large eggs and then set them into the cart gently.

"Hey, can you please not call me that, it's really aggravating."

"Maybe, if you stop calling me pup. Whole or skim?" Alex asked while not paying mind to the male behind him as he walked over to the milk and then looked between the gallon and half gallons.

"How about I call you 'furry ass', instead? And make it a gallon of whole." David growled.

"Careful tumbleweed, you are getting into a name-calling competition with a king here." Alex opened the glass door and grabbed the milk before setting it down inside of the cart.

For the rest of their duration inside of the store, both Alex and David spent their time debating over what names to call one another and what foods they wanted for the rest of the week. Somewhere in between 'wolfie and dandelion' both men had decided that Alex would get the majority of the food at his place since David planned to stay over a lot now that they were a couple. By the time they got out of the store, David's bank account was two hundred dollars lighter and Alex was trying not to laugh as the dryad found himself outwitted at not having found a suitable name to call his boyfriend.

"Don't feel bad. The last time someone got into a name calling session with me, it ended in a fist fight when I called him snake face. Least to say, I've learned that dragon-kin HATE being referred to as snakes of any variety. "Alex chuckled as they got back to David's car and watched the sulking dryad pop open his trunk so that they could put the food in.

"And here I was thinking that you were some kind of timid little," Alex glared at him while putting three bags in at once. "Wolf who I could just take advantage of. Sure showed me something." David corrected before he could get another verbal ass kicking.

"I repeat; LARGE community. You didn't live there and didn't learn something about how to intimidate someone else." Alex said after he grabbed another three bags and maneuvered them around inside of the car.

"Where did you use to live? You never said."

Alex froze at this but quickly shook it off as he put the rest of the food into the back of the car and then waited for David to shut the trunk before walking over to his side of the car. David noted the silence but didn't press as he shuffled the buggy back over into its place with the others and then went to get into his car. Unlocking both doors, getting in then cranking the engine, the older man waited for Alex to say something as he pulled out of his parking space and down the street but the only thing he received was unending silence.

***

By the time they got to Alex's apartment it was well into being close to midnight.

"I think it'd be better if we just grabbed one of those bags of cookies and ate those for tonight." Alex said as he stretched as he got out of the car and grumbled as his legs felt like they were turning into jelly from all the sitting he had done today. "I'll make breakfast in the morning and we can just call it even, ok?"

"Oh, inviting me to spend the night?" David chuckled as he popped the trunk before and followed his boyfriend around back.

"We are boyfriends now and boyfriends do these kinds of things, right?" Alex hoped he didn't sound as unsure as he felt. A kiss on the back of his neck made the wolf shifter shudder as he went to grab six of the eighteen bags sitting in front of him.

"Of course. You know what else boyfriends do, don'tcha?" David leered as he pressed himself into the back of Alex's behind and let the younger man feel the throbbing tightness inside of his pants.

"If you think you are getting my ass tonight, you better think again. The only thing gonna be rubbing up onside of my back are my bed sheets." Alex hefted the bags up and then totted them to the front door while waiting on David.

"Awww, does that mean I'm not invited in bed with you, hon?" David grabbed three bag and then walked after his lover who scowling at him as he opened the entrance.

"Don't ever call me that. And currently, no. You can sleep on my floor or I can try and fit you into my refrigerator like a good vegetable." Alex rolled his eyes as he walked into the complex and up to his front door before setting the food down and fishing his keys out of his pocket.

David was about to say something but stopped when he turned to hear a door open and a little old woman pop her head out.

"Alex, you're getting in rather late. Is everything alright?" Ms. Chancy asked while eyeing the taller man next to the young wolf.

"Everything is fine Ms. Chancy. This is David Croft, he's my...business partner and he brought me home form a meeting tonight." Alex said while opening his door.

"Oh, well. As long as you are alright. If you need anything..."

"I'll let you know Ms. Chancy. You sleep well, okay?" Alex turned to look at the bespectacled human, smiled to her and tried not to chuckle as she glared at David before she quietly shut her door.

"She's friendly." David smirked as he picked up the groceries and then headed into the dark interior.

"Yes she is." Alex picked up his bags, walked in and clicked on a light when he heard David stumble into something. "Need a little light, darling"

"Damn you shifters and your night vision." Alex stuck out his tongue at this and entered the kitchen where he dropped off his load before walking out of the apartment for another.

"Can you blame us for our natural abilities?"

"No, but I can still let you know my feelings about them, regardless."

Alex laughed at this as the two of them walked back to the car and grabbed up the rest of the bags then entered into his apartment for the final time that night. Once everything lay out onto the floor, the wolf shifter sniffed through the separate sacks before finding what he was looking for and then went to grab it.

"Sweets, my dear? Won't they go straight to your hips?" David said charmingly as he watched the wolf shifter take hold of a thing of oatmeal raisin cookies and then got a swift swat to the solar plexus for his troubles by a frowning Alex.

"I'm eating these and then going to bed, if you want me to save you any and not leave you to fend for yourself, you'll hush and put up the food."

"Oh, so I'm the maid now?"

"No, but with your figure I'm sure we can get you a nice outfit to match your status in this house." Alex said as he walked off while opening the box in his hands and reaching in.

"And what outfit would that be, if I may be inclined to inquire?"

"Let's just say that I have this spare collar I've been dying to try out on someone else for some time." Alex growled huskily before taking a nibble on a sweet treat and then walking into his bed room.

David swallowed thickly and then felt his erection return with a vengeance. Turning to look at the groceries lying silently on the floor, the dryad just realized that he had been left to deal with the clean up while his boyfriend, oh so smoothly, walked away. Chuckling, David came to the conclusion that things were definitely going to be more interesting as long as he had Alex by his side.