Beta Bully (M/M) - Chapter 36 (Early Access) (Patreon)

Marco Polo

When Darcy returned to Luca at the edge of the pool, he noticed Reece was gone. He asked immediately where his friend was.

“He went off with someone,” Luca said with a shrug.

Darcy’s ears pricked up instantly, that was not like Reece at all. He definitely didn’t know anyone here aside from Darcy himself, Luca and Melody. He was no social butterfly, more like a grouchy caterpillar hiding in his cocoon.

“Who?” he asked.

“Uh, not sure.”

“You’re lying.” Darcy knew instinctively. Another new soul-mate super power. Darcy looked up at him with his most fearsome frown.

Luca pinched his cheek with one hand and sighed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t say sorry! Tell me who he went with,” he demanded. “He could be in danger.”

“I promise you he’s not. But it’s his private business, and I’ve already made him mad enough today without airing him out like that,” Luca said sincerely. He didn’t crack a grin and Darcy felt in his gut that he was speaking honestly. But not knowing who Reece was with left him feeling unsettled. “You can always ask him later,” Luca added unhelpfully. “For now, though, I swear he’s perfectly safe.”

Darcy gave in. He trusted Luca. But more importantly, he couldn’t see Reece allowing himself to get snatched up by some nefarious stranger without kicking up a Reece-sized fuss. As small as he was, he could get plenty of attention if he wanted to.

With one of his best friends tucked up in a guest bedroom (courtesy of Luca’s mother) and the other MIA, Darcy found himself lost as to what to do next. When he voiced the feeling to Luca, he laughed at him. Darcy wondered when his mate had become so predictable to him.

“It’s a party, Darce, you can do whatever you want. Play in the pool, eat food, dance, talk to people.”

“Will you play in the pool with me?”

“Of course. C’mere.” Luca’s arms snatched Darcy up around the waist and hoisted him into the air. He began to walk towards the water and a feeling of dread set into him.

“If you throw me in, I will tell your mother!” he hissed down at him.

“I’m eighteen now, what’s she gonna do?” But he had halted, with Darcy held up above his head.

Darcy raised a brow at him, although he doubted Luca could see his face that well. “I’ll tell her you said that, too.”

“You know what? I think I’ll just gently lower you in like the loving soul-mate I am.”

“That sounds like it would be in your best interest.”

He lowered Darcy down onto the steps where the water could only cover his feet. Darcy slipped his shirt over his head and dropped it behind them onto the pool tiles. Luca had never put his shirt back on. A blessing and a curse. He stepped into the shallow end of the pool and Darcy waded in a little way until the water covered his nipples.

The water was refreshingly cool and a welcome relief from the summer heat. Luca watched him bob about the shallow end with a strange expression on his face. Darcy tilted his head in question at him and Luca grinned. Darcy splashed him with a tiny handful of water and he returned the favour with a tidal wave that knocked him under.

He was very apologetic. Darcy scored an ice cream out of his guilt. He ate it at the edge, allowing his legs to float behind him in the chill water.

“You look good wet,” Luca murmured into the shell of his ear. Darcy shivered and tilted his head away. He hoped passers-by took his red cheeks to be sunburn. “I knew that before today, though,” he continued. Suddenly, the water wasn’t cool enough to keep Darcy’s temperature down. “I can’t get the image of you in that changing room out of my mind.”

"Do you still have it?" Darcy whispered.

"The other swimsuit?"

"Yeah."

"Of course."

Darcy glanced about for eavesdroppers. "Later?"

Luca grinned. "Later," he agreed.

They didn't get to enjoy their couple time for long before the party attendees grew impatient for the birthday boy's attention. They dried off and walked loops around the party over and over as different people vied for Luca’s time. Darcy dawdled at his elbow while Luca received birthday wishes, cards, presents, fist bumps and hugs. Darcy had become a growth at his hip that people smiled sweetly at while they spoke to him. That was exactly how he liked it, the outskirts of attention.

Luca's social battery never seemed to deplete. He made small talk with everyone who approached him, asked after their families and packs, thanked them for coming and for their gifts. Darcy was exhausted watching him. But it was also a source of pride for him, Luca really had grown in the last few months.

Eventually, though, the sun did set. With night came the announcement of fireworks, and all of the seats were laid out in rows pointing towards the back of The Pearl Claw's pack lands. Hot drinks and shawls were passed around the remaining guests and they settled in to watch the show. A text pinged through from Reece to let Darcy know that he and Melody were going home with their pack’s betas. Darcy sent them his love with lots of heart emojis.

Luca pulled him into his lap and they watched the fireworks from under a heavy, woolly blanket.

When it was over, he wrapped his arms over the top of the blanket and stood, carrying Darcy away from the party with slow and easy steps. Everyone they passed gave him a wave or a thumbs up and he grinned back like a lovesick fool. Darcy knew he looked no different.

Darcy dozed in the passenger seat of Luca’s car on the drive home the next day.

When he stopped at the bottom of his pack’s drive, a sinking feeling pulled his stomach to his feet. The realisation suddenly hitting that he had to leave his soul-mate to go home. Luca’s home wasn’t his home, yet.

Darcy pouted and rolled away from the window, squeezing his eyes shut tight in fake slumber. The tickle of fingers grazing through his hair caused a shiver that blew his cover. Luca laughed and he cracked his eyes to give him his best sour look.

“I don’t want you to go either, Darce,” he murmured. “But your dad will kill me if I don’t give you back.” He popped Darcy’s seat belt open and caught it in his hand when it flung back, laying it beside him carefully. “Soon we’ll be together all the time. I promise.”

“That’s a promise you can’t break. I’m rolling up to The Pearl Claw after graduation whether you want me there or not!”

Luca laughed. “That’s my boy!”

They kissed goodbye and a large hand groped his butt so hard he squealed. Darcy jumped out of the car and slammed the door. Luca was still laughing inside when he turned away to hike up the long drive home.

Darcy stumbled through his front door, backpack twice as heavy as when he left (Luca's mother had insisted he take a tower of tupperware boxes back with him since they had so much food left over), and slumped into his mother's arms.

"You look exhausted, sweetheart," she cooed, stroking her fingers through Darcy's waves.

"I am," Darcy groaned. The fatigue hit him harder now that the excitement was over.

"And a little tanned too," his mother added, stretching his arms out and inspecting the ever so light golden tint he'd gotten to his skin.

"A little. Is dad home?" Darcy asked, slogging his bag onto the kitchen table and letting the plastic boxes filled with food slide out.

"In the living room, he's barely shut his eyes since you left. He's been waiting for your call, mobile plugged in at his side all weekend. He was worried you might need him."

Darcy's chest squeezed inwards painfully at the image. While he had been enjoying herself and eating and swimming and watching fireworks, his dad had been worrying himself sick over him.

Darcy ran to the living room, and just as his mother had described, his dad was sat in his armchair fully dressed. Bags under his eyes were his only accessories. He looked up at his entrance and smiled gently.

“Did you have a good time, Darcy?” he asked.

Darcy ran at him, leaping into his lap and throwing his arms around his neck.

“The best, dad. I love you.”