The warmth of oncoming summer had Darcy stripping off his sweater and tying it around his waist. He didn’t plan to take everything off and shift, he wasn’t comfortable with that. His mum said that was normal for his age and secondary gender. Wolves became more confident after puberty, especially those that weren’t omegas, she had told him. It didn’t make him feel much better.

Darcy didn’t like his wolf form for another reason, though. He found it so hard to communicate with other wolves in that form. Alphas and Betas just pushed everyone around and led. Those in the middle obeyed, or were able to communicate through wolf behaviours. Darcy, as an omega, only had the option of obedience. He had little to no natural instincts when it came to wolf behaviours. When was he supposed to approach, or stay back, or move his ears in a certain way? He was considering a visit to a dog park to get some tips when a thick branch snapped behind him. Too loud for a bird.

Darcy jumped, clutched his chest and turned to see who was behind him.

“Found you,” Luca chuckled.

Darcy sighed and returned to his walking path. “You’re supposed to be looking for clues, not looking for me,” he grumbled. He sounded tired even to his own ears.

“I’m always hunting you, Darcy.” His stalker was far too cheerful, it irritated him.

“Then why are we here?” Darcy sighed again and threw his basket to the ground. “What’s the point of all this?”

“You’ve got a lot of attitude today. Is this all because I surprised you?”

Darcy snapped. He spun on his heel and yelled, “You had no right to do this!” He wanted to wave his finger in Luca’s face, but his fists were balled up so hard he couldn’t open them. “But I’m not even that mad at you.” He sounded breathless. The realisations reaching his mouth as fast as they were manifesting in his mind. “Melody and Reece are my friends. And they gave me no warning. They’ve watched you bully me from day one at this stupid school, and they didn’t give me a hint of what I was turning up to today. Not even a text!”

“W-”

“At least I know to expect to be hurt by you! But them?” He sighed a third time and it turned into a frustrated groan. The thought flashed through his head that he should be charging his bully at this point. For every sigh Luca caused, he had to buy him a snack.

“It’s my faul-”

“I know!” Darcy shouted. “And you really have a talent for it. Congratulations, you’ve managed to score a combo hit on hurting me. Double the damage. I’d give you a reward, but if I had anything left you would have already ripped it from me. I can’t even have friends.”

Luca finally had the grace to look ashamed as he admitted, “I took their phones.”

“What?” Darcy breathed.

“They didn’t betray you,” he said softly. “I didn’t give them a second alone to even try and warn you. I took their phones after the plans for today were made. I also have a friend in their pack.” He fidgeted a little from foot to foot with his arms over his chest. “I just wanted to spend some time with you outside of school,” he added.

Darcy was a forgiving person, but not for his bully. “You could have asked like a sane person,” he seethed.

“Then I’d have to get your name tattooed on me-”

“We agreed on t-shirts,” Darcy reminded him.

“And there was no chance in hell you would say yes.”

“And you think this has improved your chances?” he snapped.

A quiet laugh slipped from Luca. He tried to cover it with his fist and Darcy glared at him.

“You’re a lot sassier off school grounds,” he explained. “It’s funny, in a cute way.”

“You just- I got so riled up-” Darcy’s voice faded in volume with each word, his brain was short-circuiting once again. Luca always knew how to say things that raised his body temperature. “I figured I had nothing left to lose by… yelling at you…”

Luca snatched his basket up from the ground. “Why don’t we team up for the hunt and then you can yell at me some more?”

Another sigh, much quieter this time. Darcy was tired, and hot, and had a few hours to kill.

“I might enjoy that too much,” he said.

Luca laughed again. He slid both baskets onto one arm and curled the other around Darcy’s waist.

Darcy pulled a grumpy face at him and he grinned back. His scent was all around him, it fit perfectly with their forest surroundings. Darcy wished he could mix the two together and bottle the combination.

Luca tilted his face down towards him, their foreheads almost touching.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He was staring so deeply into Darcy’s eyes he wanted to squeeze them shut, the intensity was too much for his fluttering heart.

He somehow found the courage to mumble back, “I don’t believe you.”

Luca barely held back another laugh and took his lips in his. Darcy could feel his mate’s smile pressed against him. Luca kissed him gently. Darcy let his eyes close and his body relax. It was so draining to pretend he didn’t want Luca to touch and kiss every inch of his body. His deepest, darkest craving was to attach himself to his soul-mate like a limpet and never let go. Luca pushed his lips open softly and the taste of his tongue took the strength from Darcy’s legs. A tiny moan escaped him and Luca chuckled against his mouth. Darcy flushed. Luca’s presence had an infallible affect on his blood pressure.

Luca pulled back and waved the baskets in front of him.

“Did you still want to scavenge or should we keep doing this?”

“S-scavenge,” Darcy answered. If they kept kissing he may faint. His body was burning up. He could have fried an egg on his forehead. He turned back to the path and put a few steps between them before trying to inconspicuously fan himself with the collar of his shirt.

Luca let him lead them through the forest, although Darcy hadn’t even read the initial clue and had no sense of direction. They turned back on themselves more than twice. The walk was nice, though, and  the beta didn’t seem to mind that by the time the end bell was rung they still had empty baskets.