#jayparkv

Beau had just returned from dropping Briar off and now sat in his car, staring at the overnight bag he’d brought with him earlier that day. It sat in the backseat, almost mocking him with its presence. Should he bring it inside? How long would he even be staying this time—a week, a few days? He wasn’t sure, and that uncertainty gnawed at him. With a sigh, he decided to leave it for now. He’d wait and see how things unfolded. Maybe he wouldn’t need it after all.

He got out of the car and headed toward Jay’s house, the familiarity of the place both comforting and unsettling. "Jay? I’m back," Beau called out as he stepped inside, taking a deep breath. The scent of Jay hit him instantly, a smell he knew too well, and his chest tightened. He walked into the kitchen seeing Jay standing there, Beau felt his heart clench.

A small, tentative smile tugged at his lips. "Hey, you," he greeted softly, his gaze lingering on Jay for a moment, taking him in like he hadn’t seen him in days instead of hours. There was something about being near him that always seemed to set Beau off balance.

"Thanks for inviting me over," Beau added, his voice a little quieter now, unsure of where things stood between them but trying to keep it light. The vulnerability lingered just beneath the surface.

Emily had created a small garden at Jay's farm to grow herbs for potions and fulfill her long-held dream of gardening. Jay had indulged her, giving her a patch of lawn to plant on. Today, she was watering her garden since the heat required her to tend to the plants a few times a week. Hearing Jay approach, she looked up and smiled. "Hey, can you grab me a fruit roll-up from the kitchen? I'm almost done here unless you have some other tips for me?"

It had been a while since Beau last heard from Jay. Before leaving Jay's house, he had mentioned that he should probably head back to his own place. He didn’t want to leave—staying at Jay's felt comfortable—but lingering there without having a conversation about what they were felt strange. Beau could have brought it up, but the timing never seemed right. And when he said he should probably head home, Jay didn’t ask him to stay. Maybe Jay wanted to keep things casual.

Now, after running into Briar, Beau had a reason to reach out to Jay. He needed to ask if it was okay to bring Briar under his wing. Opening their text thread, Beau hesitated, his fingers hovering over the keys as he tried to figure out exactly what to say.

BEAU: hey! i have a favor. you can totally say no, but i figured i'd ask BEAU: would you be able to show the vampire ropes to a family friend? they're new to this whole thing and they need someone to help them. i thought of you because you're the only vampire i know, really. BEAU: but if that's too much, don't worry about it! i'm sure we can find something else for them.

Beau caught himself before typing, "I miss you." Jay probably wouldn’t want to hear that, and besides, it wasn’t the reason he was reaching out. If Jay wanted to keep things casual, Beau could handle that. He'd rather have Jay casually than not at all. After rereading his messages, Beau sighed and set the phone down on his desk, feeling the weight of unspoken words.

It had been a long night, and Beau knew it would probably be a while before he attended the summer festival again—maybe not until next summer, if ever. He finally managed to catch up with Nathan, who looked a little worse for wear but would be okay. Though beyond exhausted, there was one more place Beau needed to go before he could rest. He had to make sure Jay was alright. His phone hadn't worked during the festival, but now it did. Still, that wasn’t enough. He needed to see Jay with his own eyes, touch him with his own bloody hands.

Sneaking out of the house without waking his brothers, Beau avoided drawing attention to himself. They’d all had a long night, and the last thing he wanted was to answer a million questions. He drove to Jay's place in record time, swerving around debris scattered in the road.

What he found at Jay’s wasn’t what he expected: dead animals and their stench. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Beau saw himself caked in dirt and dried blood. The blood on his hands was Nathan’s, from when they pulled that metal rod out of his foot. Maybe he should just go home, text Jay like a normal person. But Beau had never been normal when it came to Jay. He turned off the car and got out.

It didn’t take long to find Jay on the edge of his property, digging holes. Beau’s heart constricted in his chest as he watched him for a moment. Jay seemed perfectly fine. Relief flooded through Beau, and he quickened his steps to reach Jay faster. "Jay, I—" He stopped short, noticing the dead pigs beside Jay. His empty stomach twisted. He was hungry, but not that hungry. He stepped closer, stopping a couple of feet away. "Do you need any help?"

As Beau stood there, a realization hit him like a freight train. It wasn’t just relief he felt; it was something deeper, something that had been simmering under the surface for far too long. His heart wasn’t just constricting out of concern—it was out of something much more powerful. Beau had always been protective of Jay, always felt a strong connection, but he’d never allowed himself to dig deeper into those feelings. Standing there, he couldn’t deny it any longer. He cared about Jay in a way that went beyond a hook up.

"Jay, I—" Beau started again, his voice softer, more vulnerable. "I’m really glad you’re okay." The words felt inadequate, but they were all he could manage at the moment.

The music flowed through Jukebox Junction, prompting Beau to tap his toes in time with the rhythm. He wrapped his fingers around his rum and coke, glancing around at the patrons at the bar. The full moon had just passed, bringing Beau a sense of relief. On full moon nights, he typically isolates himself to avoid any chance of harming a human, preferring the safety of seclusion and chains. Tonight, with the moon's power waning, he felt more at ease, though the residual effects still lingered.

In the days leading up to and following the full moon, Beau experienced heightened libido, a side effect of his werewolf nature. Recently, he had managed to satisfy these urges, but tonight, he was struggling to find the person he usually turned to. As he scanned the faces in the bar, his eyes locked onto a familiar one. Beau's pupils dilated, and without breaking his gaze, he downed his drink and signaled the bartender for two more. Once served, he grabbed the glasses and made his way over to the vampire who had captured his attention.

After the demon attack, Beau had stayed at Jay's place instead of returning home. He texted his parents once the phone lines were up again to let them know he was safe and that he would come home if any work came in. They told him they loved him but didn't ask any more questions, which was a relief because he wasn't sure how to explain where he was. Jay and he had never defined their relationship, and it felt weird to tell his parents he was staying at his "friend's" house, so he left it alone.

Beau wasn't the only one staying at Jay's farm after the attack. Emily, the love witch, was also there. Beau knew her through Nathan, but he was surprised at how close she and Jay seemed. Was he jealous? Maybe a little, but he was the one sleeping in Jay's bed every night. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if Emily had been in Jay's bed too. He actually knew nothing about Jay's exes, nor did Jay know about Beau's. For all he knew, Emily could be one of them.

Beau was leaning against the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of cereal, while Emily sat at Jay's kitchen table, eating her own cereal. Her bracelet lit up, and she smiled as she pressed the circle on it. She looked up at Beau with a raised eyebrow. "Are you okay? You look pissed off."

Beau unfurrowed his brows, realizing he'd been caught up in thoughts about Jay and Emily's relationship. "I'm fine." Emily shrugged and continued eating her cereal. He wanted to ask how long she planned on staying, but it wasn't his house, so he had no right to. Then he picked up Jay's scent. The tension in his shoulders relaxed as Jay stepped into the room, causing a genuine smile to break across Beau's face. "Good morning, Jay."

Emily greeted the vampire as well, finishing her cereal. "I'm going to tend to my garden. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." The blonde winked at them as she left her bowl on the counter and headed out of the house.

Beau watched her go, taking another bite of his cereal. "She could at least pick up after herself," he mumbled moving over to her bowl as he finished his picking it up. He looked at Jay with a smile. "So, what are we doing today?"

Beau Wolfsong wasn’t the type to get nervous—about anything, really. But here he was, as jittery as ever, holding Jay’s hand as they entered the venue. He had never set foot in this place, not unless you counted the night of the demon attack when he’d helped Elizabeth rescue people. It looked a lot better now than it had then, that was for sure.

"Noah really outdid himself," Beau whispered to Jay, leaning in closer than necessary. Jay’s superior hearing made whispering pointless, but Beau didn’t mind using it as an excuse to take in Jay’s scent and press a soft kiss to his cheek. Jay looked incredibly handsome tonight, and Beau had almost suggested they skip the ball altogether. But this was their first outing as an official couple, and he wanted to show Jay off to the world. "Should we get a drink or hit the dance floor?" Beau asked with a grin, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I’m game for either, but I’ll follow your lead."

Emily had arrived about thirty minutes ago, arms full with her outfit, makeup, and every other thing she deemed essential for getting ready. She had invited herself over to Jay’s so they could prep for the masquerade together. With a bright grin, she waltzed into the kitchen, a bottle of champagne for mimosas in hand.

“We need two glasses because obviously, mimosas are a must while we get ready,” she declared, already making herself at home as she set the bottle down and grabbed two glasses from the cupboard. Pouring the drinks, she glanced over at Jay, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

“So, spill! What are you doing with your hair? Are you and Beau matching for the masquerade? Tell me everything,” Emily said, handing Jay a glass before taking a sip from her own, eager for all the details.