Red: Lance

It has been a couple of minutes since both Stephen and Aries left that my dad and me had a moment of solitude to discuss about his personal demons. I have come to realize with those few moments with him than I had while growing up that he was just as devastated as anyone who have lost something precious to them, their mate. A tortured soul who tried to hold a strong front amongst others while trying to come to terms with his own pain.

My father, standing alone a few away from the tree we were sitting awhile back, stare blankly, stoic at the direction of his mate have ran into. His cold demeanor once again covering his true feelings.

I gave another deep sigh as I leaned back against the trunk and started to think about the future that Aries and I are going to be facing. Am I going to be strong enough to be by his side? Will the past, my mistakes, come back and haunt us? Break us apart... Because of what I did?

I dragged my fingers against the dirt as I balled my hand into fists while unconsciously gritting my teeth in the possibility. I don't want that to happen. Not with him... I'd rather...

"Blake." I heard someone call out, causing me to snap out of my thoughts. Blinking away the stray dirt over my eyes, I immidiately turn to look over to the direction of the voice and saw my father still gazing towards the same direction he was looking at as before. "They're back." He spoke.

It didn't took me more than a milli-second to know who was he refering to. I quickly stood up and strode towards his spot and looked over the horizon. My eyes quickly spot a familiar white wolf, Aries' wolf, along with another slightly bigger white wolf.

"Stephen..." My old man breath out as if he was relieved that his mate decided to return. The hopeful joy in his eyes was evident enough through his features. I might have caught a slight smile curl on his lips as his sight never left the approaching wolf.

I started to walk forward to meet them half-way when I noticed my father didn't even moved a single step. I turned back and looked at him standing there like a statue, unsure on what to do. A rare sight to see on a confident Alpha I normally come to know.

"Dad!" I called causing him to snap out of his trance to look at me. "Aren't you coming?"

He had a quizical look in his eyes as if I asked him something foolish. I gave an annoyed groan and strode towards him and grabbed his arm as I started pulling him downhill towards the approaching pair.

"Blake stop!" My father pulled his arm away as we were a few feet away from before. He looked down dejected before turning his head to look at Stephen's wolf. "Maybe it's... Maybe it's not right." He spoke as he clenched his hands. "I'd better... leave."

"What the fuck?!" I snap making my old man look at me with a surprised expression. "You waited all this years for the man you thought was dead and he's clearly walking towards this direction... And now you try to run away with your tail between your legs?!" I scold causing my old man to scowl deeply and started to fume in rage. His crimson eyes stare daggers at me.

"Shut your trap, pup!" My old man gritted his teeth as pinned his pointer finger against my chest.

"Why?! Did I strike a nerve?" I scowled back causing my old man to growl.

"Blake..." I heard Aries call out making me turn back to look at him. And my breath just hitched upon laying my eyes over him. Fuck! He was just gone for a few minutes but it felt like years since I last saw him. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

I met him halfway and enveloped him in an embrace catching him off guard. I immediately buried my face over the crook of his neck, taking in as much of his scent and marking it permantly in my memory.

"I'm alright now that you're here." I husked. Aries chuckled lightly as he cups my cheeks, guiding me to face him. What came next I didn't expect as he place his lips over mine in a kiss.

"Me too." He smiles as we pulled out from each other as we catch our breaths with cheeks tinted bright red, leaning against each others foreheads while smiling like lunatics.

Trapped within our little world, we didn't even noticed our fathers having an awkward staring contest for a few minutes upon arriving. Stephen, who already shifted back to his human form, looked at my father with an unreadable expression painted on his eyes as he slowly approach him. My father didn't know what to do as different thoughts run through his mind but before he could enact either of them, Stephen was already standing in front of him.

They averted their eyes for a brief moment before finally gathering their courage to look at each other.

"Lance..." Stephen started. "I'm so, so sorry..." He looks down and looked up a quick moment later while he rubs his right arm. "... for bailing out... on us." My father fixated at the man before him as he catches each word he utters.

My old man took a deep breath and took a few steps forward until he's just a few inches away from Stephen. He cleared his throat as he drags his hands over his face before giving out a deep sigh.

"Listen..." His voice cracked that he had to clear his throat again. Stephen chuckled lightly causing my father's cheek to gain a light tint color in them. "Steph." He continued.

Stephen looks up meeting up with my old man's eyes as he gave him a coy smile. My father childishly smiles back at his mate as he breathes in.

"Lance... Whatever you wanted to say... Or whatever you want to do..." Stephen started grasped my father's hands in his as he slowly closes their distance. The unexpected action causes my old man to jump slightly over his feet. I assume the familial sensation of a mate's touch was so long forgotten that my father upon suddenly reconnecting within doesn't know what to do.

I intertwined my fingers over Aries' as we looked at our fathers as they talk with each other.

"Glad you managed to convince your dad to come back..." I whispered. "My old man's been a nervous wreck over here for a couple of minutes since both of you left."

Aries leans against me slightly as tightened his grip on my hand. He looked at the two Alphas standing at each other and smiles.

"I'm glad too." He replied. "I'm glad..." He trails off for a moment that it made my guts sink in.

"Aye?" I called out. "Anything wrong?"

He looks at me with a sad smile before turning back to look at our fathers.

"I'm just afraid... Dad - It's scaring me Blake." Aries voiced cracked. "I just got him back..."

"We all just got him back..." I repeated as I squeezed his hand to let him know I'm still here.

"I don't know what to do now, Blake. I know Dad just wanted for all of us to be..." His voice cracked once more as he bit his lower lip.

I cupped his chin and draws his lips towards mine. It was something I instinctively done to reassure him that I'm here by his side. A kind gesture that I can only offer for him at a moment like this.

"It will be alright." I reassured him.

"Thank you." He smiled as we pulled apart. "I needed that." And my heart immediately felt warm upon seeing him calm and collected. "I don't know what I would have done if you're not here right now."

"Yeah I know." I smirked, bringing our intertwined hands to my lips, giving the back of his hand a quick peck while looking at his green eyes. Aries gave out a choked laugh as I made that gesture.

"That's corny..." Aries chokes between laughs.

"Me corny?" I acted coy as I chuckled under my breath. "Why I'm offended." We both smirked at each other before turning our gaze at our fathers.

"You know you're still lame..." Aries grins.

"Back at you."

In front of us, our fathers were a talking about somethings that I dare not eavesdrop. Aries eyed me as well as we noticed the closeness of the two Alphas before us. I bet Aries talked the sense out of his father on this one.

"Steph... I..." My old started as he breaks the thick air of silence between them for a brief moment. He grasped Stephen's hand in his as he swiftly wraps his mate in an embrace. Burying his face over the crook of Stephen's neck as he trembled at the sensation of their skins touching.

Aries and I had to turn around and decided to give them some needed space as we started to walk towards the hill where my father and I were at before they arrived.

Stephen was still in awe and shock at the sudden action of my old man that it took him a minute or so before realizing that Lance had wrapped himself in an embrace. The sensation was so foreign yet so familiar.

The scent of his mate made his knees weak all of a sudden. He sure missed this scent as well as Lance was. After all this years, Lance was still as intoxicating as ever.

Lance was so ecstatic that he took in every scent of his mate that he could. The warmth of Stephen's skin made him hum a sigh of relief. How'd he missed this heat, this touch, this feeling...

At this moment, Lance thought and nagged himself on why did he ever argued with Stephen awhile back... At which made the man in his arms chuckle lightly. This causes Lance to look at the white haired man with a surprise and annoyed look in his features.

Upon seeing the dark haired man giving out this scowling look almost pouting made Stephen stifle a hard laugh erupting from his chest. He can't help but find it adorable how Lance look right now. How he missed that face, those eyes, the look he gives when he looks at him...

Lance' irritated look didn't last long as he watch Stephen's cheeks and the tips of his ears turn bright pink from stifling a laugh. His lips curved into a loving smile and pressed his mate closer causing Stephen to jump slightly at the gesture but didn't complained. Lance missed this...

"I've missed you..." Lance croaked almost a whisper. "... C-can we work these things together?" Lance buried his face over his mate's neck, afraid that Stephen would vanish into thin air if he didn't. So he clung to him in a tight embrace. Blake was right, his pride wasn't worth it if the man he love would leave him again. He knew he wouldn't be able to live after that anymore. Stephen was his strength. His lifeline. "So, damn it, stay!" He pathetically growled threatening as he clutched the blonde man closer in his embrace. "Please... stay... I'm begging you... please."

Stephen was at a lost for words at Lance' sudden gesture that made him melt at the black haired man clinging to him as he would vanish at anytime. He could only smile as he rests his head over his mate's shoulder. Taking in the scent he thought he almost forgot. The familial scent of the man before was real. His warmth was real. He could feel his beating heart against his chest the made him feel safe. How'd he missed this, too.

"I would do everything..." Lance spoke once again as he buried his nose in Stephen's shoulder. "For you to stay... I'll even grovel at your feet... Just stay..." Stephen's shoulder started to feel wet as Lance stifled a sob. Gritting his teeth, the proud Alpha started to kneel down but Stephen grabbed his mate's shoulders causing to stop.

"You don't need to do that..." Stephen spoke. His hands trembling as he uttered those words. He bit his lower lip as grasp the shoulders of the man before him. "Don't." He mustered while he shook slightly. "You-you d-don't need to do that..." He croaked.

"Steph-..." Lance responded by placing his palm over his mate's cheeks as the pain of the man before wasn't unnoticed. The man Lance was facing now was practically afraid and in pain that he can't help but tear up. Here he was just a few millimeters from the man he loved and he doesn't know what to do. How powerless he is in this situation and how he hated that feeling. But he wasn't going to dwell in it and mope like the kicked dog Blake had eloquently described him to be. His mate needed him. And he was damn as hell sure that he was going to be the priority. He wasn't going to lose him again. Not now. "Steph. Look at me."

Stephen shook his head. His hands still holding to his shoulders.

"Steph. Please." Lance pleaded. He wasn't liking the way he was groveling now but he didn't care. The hell being Alpha! Stephen comes first! He nagged himself again and again. "I'm sorry." Lance croaked an apology. "I'm so sorry... I shouldn't have said those words. I shouldn't have hit you... I shouldn't..." Lance' legs started to buckle and Stephen immediately grabbed him for support.

Stephen looked at Lance' beaten state and remembered his son's advise. He doesn't want this! Who does?! All he wanted was for the ones he loves to be happy. For his Lance to be happy. His mate to be...

"Lance..." He managed to utter that word at last and feel like a clog in his throat was suddenly removed. "You don't need to beat yourself up like that..." He spoke as he helped his mate to stand up. "... You don't need to do that for me as well."

"But I want to!" Lance barked as he looked Stephen in the eyes. "If it means you'll stay... then I'll do everything. For you."

Stephen was at a lost of words at Lance' statement. His crimson eyes still holds its feiry truth and undying conviction even after all this years. Those eyes that he fell for. Stephen just smiled and shook his head as Lance stood up with their hands still holding unto each other.

"I guess you won't change your mind..." Stephen asked as Lance' lips scowled.

"I'm dead serious here!" He growled. "Because I am! I'll kiss your feet if it gets you to st-"

Lance' words were cut short when Stephen leaned over and planted a kiss over the tanned Alpha. The skin contact immediately sent sparks all over both men as if they were experiencing it for the first time in their lives. The kiss was light but Lance wasn't content with just that.

He quickly grabbed his mate's hair and deepen the kiss as their tongues dance in dominance. Stephen also wasn't going to go down against an Alpha, upped his game as he held Lance' back and ground both their bodies together. The heat and fervor of their kiss made them look like hungry beasts devouring their prey in a fight for dominance.

Lance pulled out and gasped for air as his mate did the same. Their faces flushed and breathing erratic as their groins rubbed against each other's abdomen in an animalistic way. Their eyes though dilated and wolf-like were able to catch up to their mate's heat. So they reluctantly controlled themselves.

They knew if they continued it would be impossible for them to stop. Stephen was relatively impressed by Lance' self-control. Though their cocks remained hard and leaking profusely they managed to tame their inner wolf. Though still within each others arms, the two Alphas heaved a deep sigh of relief and in a light warming laugh lean over each other's foreheads.

"So your staying..." Lance smugly proclaimed as Stephen just smiled. His eyes trained at the man before him thinking that this is where he should be. In his mate's arms.

"After getting me this hard..." He arrogantly retorted making Lance give out a huge grin. Pushing his groin over Stephen's causing the white haired male to growl seductively at the touch.

"We have a lot of catching to do then..." Lance purred into his mate's ear sending shivers down Stephen's spine.

"...mate."