Ro

11:43 pm

Angel couldn't fully draw in a breath, eyes on the driveway. They'd stopped pacing and now stood frozen in front of the windows, like that would somehow change the worry churning in their stomach.

They glance at their phone again.

11:45 pm

He wasn't home yet.

Granted, he'd gotten home this late before, it just felt wrong. Like something wasn't right. He always left a message to say he'd be late. They kept their phone charged, stood by the door and even waited to eat dinner until he got back, like he always did with them, earlier on.

David and them had only been dating for a few months and they'd be lying if they said it hadn't been the best time of their life. Loving him came as easy as breathing. That, in turn, left space for the worry, too.

He still wasn't home.

He hadn't messaged them at all, hadn't let Asher know- nothing. It was unlike him, and the thought sent a wave of nausea washing over them again. What if he's hurt?

"Hi."

"Hey, tiny Alpha. The big man home yet?" Ash's voice came as a comfort to them, something familiar when everything felt out of control.

"I'm worried," they admit, body stiffening with equal parts panic and anger. They wished he'd said more- told them where he was more. He'd been so tight-lipped about it all, that Angel didn't know when to bring it up or drop it, when the topic came up.

There's a pause from across the line.

"He's-he's probably still at work," Ash fumbles, the line going silent again. "I wouldn't worry too much. Sometimes he doesn't check his phone."

Irritation flares as they scrub a hand over their face. This was what they meant by tight-lipped-- nobody willing to share anything while they were worried sick. They didn't blame Ash or David for not telling them.

They don't owe me anything.

"Let me know if you found out anything, okay?" There's a shuffling from across the phone.

"Will do. He'll be okay."

"Thank you, Ash. Talk to you later."

"See you, tiny Alpha."

Beep!

Their eyes burn as they blink away tears, staring at their screen. It all felt so out of control! They'd never felt this way with anyone before; not this early on anyway. Not with Michael, and not with any other partner before. Their heart squeezes, chest tight.

It hurt to imagine life without him by their side- it hurt beyond words that he may not walk through that front door again. It sent prickles of fear through their body to think he'd never-

"Angel?"

They jolt, knocking their hip hard against a nearby table. One hand reaches to the ache settling at their side and the other comes up to wipe away tears from wet cheeks.

"You gotta be more careful, dumbass," they hear him say as he sets down his bag. His tone sounds gentle and light, as it always did when he spoke to them. They hear the thump of his work shoes on the hard wood as he moves closer.

He touches a massive, calloused hand to their waist, where they'd most likely bruise, concern washing over his face. Warmth rushes up their neck as they stare at him.

"Where were you?" Now they were angry- more angry than they'd been in a long time. They were mad because they loved him, cared for him, more than he could ever know. What if he was laying injured some place where they couldn't find him? What if he'd been dead?

They blink up at him expectantly, heart in their throat.

"I was at work," he grunts, frowning. "Where else would I have been?"

"Where?" the words were raw, almost a sob as their vision clouds with tears again. They avoid his eyes, stepping back from his hands on their hips. They immediately feel the loss of warmth.

"Angel, I can't-"

"Why can't you? I was waiting here, worried out of my mind and I-" They swallow against the lump in their throat, inhaling sharply.

He scans their face and his features soften.

"It's okay. I'm okay," he murmurs and reaches for their face, gently cupping their cheeks in his hands. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

The tender eye contact causes more tears to slide down their face, and he wipes them away gently.

"Don't ever do that again. I was so fucking worried you were dead or dying or hurt." His brows furrow and his shoulders fall.

"It would take some deity to keep me from you," he whispers.

They give him a watery smile as he wraps his arms around them. They stand there for what feels like forever, hugging the other close. They couldn't have been more content.

"I didn't know when you'd get back," they mumbled against his shirt. "Sorry, angel."

They giggle.

"The big bad alpha wolf, resulting to cuddles. Who are you, and what have you done to my Davey?" He rolls his eyes playfully, pulling them away from him to look at them.

"Dance with me," he says, glancing over their shoulder to the living room and taking their hand. They stand rocking in the dim light for a few minutes.

"I love you," he says, trailing kisses down their neck.

"I love you too," they gasp, grasping at his forearms.

And love each they really did.