Killian’s scent enveloped him as the bigger ’wolf nuzzled him, and Zayden relaxed. His alpha was here, would know what to do. He wanted Killian’s ’wolf to reach inside him, control him, because he had no idea how to handle this. Since he couldn’t, he needed someone who would. Instinctively, the submissive beta whined and licked at Killian’s jaw before rolling onto his back, exposing his fur-covered belly.

<Zayden, it’s okay,> Killian soothed even as he was taking in the bassist’s lupine form. Zayden’s fur was the same shade of brown as his hair, his belly fur a shade lighter, and his blue eyes were the same—human eyes. So that meant Zayden was probably a wereling—a werewolf that retained its humanity even in the lupine state. Some purebloods saw werelings as the perfect synthesis between man and wolf, while others thought they weakened the pack. Killian, since he himself wasn’t pureblood, didn’t care. <Just focus on me, okay? I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to bite you.>

<Help me,> Zayden pleaded, rolling over so his paws were tucked under him. His ’wolf chanted, Take us over. Make us yours.

You’re already mine, the alpha growled. It reached out to the beta ’wolf, forced the shift.

Zayden’s sleek werewolf form was smaller than Killian’s, but it was just as muscled and, well, beautiful. The alpha was aware of the others watching as the ’wolf body shrunk in on itself, fur shriveled back under pores, bones cracked as they adjusted to human form. Finally Zayden was human again, his clothes in tatters. Killian changed back as well, and rested a hand on Zayden’s shoulder. The newblood, in shock, buried his head where Killian’s neck met shoulder, locked his arms around Killian’s neck, and kept them there, trembling.

Killian’s eyes met Jordan’s ice-blue ones. “Jordan, can you . . .?” He gestured toward his bandmates. “I don’t want them remembering this.”

“Hey!” Ryan protested. Whatever else he was going to say died in his throat when pale-green eyes turned on him. Killian said, “You guys only found out about my lycanthropy last night and you’ve barely handled it. How would you deal with another ’wolf in the band?”

“He’s got a point there,” Shane mumbled.

Jordan asked Killian, “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

It was over within a minute. None of the other three Rogues would remember the truth about Killian, and now Zayden.

Jordan shot Eric a slightly smug look.

“Don’t say it,” Eric grumbled.

“Oh, but I must. I told you so.”

“Yeah, you did. Happy now?”

“Very,” Jordan said smugly.

“When you two are quite finished,” Daniel interrupted, crossing his arms and glaring at his bandmates.

Jordan and Eric cracked smiles at each other before Jordan said, “We’re good.”

“Great,” Killian said, “’cuz I want to crash back at the hotel. We all do,” he added, resting his chin on top of Zayden’s head for emphasis.

Zayden inhaled deeply, taking his alpha’s scent into his lungs, then finally lifted his head. “Sleep sounds good right now.”

“Fine by me,” Diego agreed, a knowing look in his eyes as he studied Zayden and Killian.

*

In what seemed like minutes (but was really less than an hour) later, everyone in Rogue was in their penthouse condo. Neil, Shane, and Ryan were passed out in separate beds, but Zayden suddenly found he didn’t want to be alone tonight.

He hesitated before climbing into bed. Not wanting to risk waking the others, he reached out to Killian over the pack bond. <Killian?>

<Yeah?>

<I don’t want to be alone tonight. Will you—?>

<Sure,> his alpha replied, maybe a little too quickly, but Zayden didn’t care. He slipped under the covers and closed his eyes, aware of Killian’s warm, muscled body stretching out beside him.

An arm banded across his chest, drew him close, and everything in the newblood went limp.

A small smile curved Killian’s lips before he joined Zayden in dreamland.