Free Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha by A.E. Via Page B

settled into their rooms. Lion was familiar with the customs of the United States. Pierce and Hawk were extremely generous and accommodating as hosts. He didn’t need for anything. His living quarters were far above his standards, he didn’t have to leave his room for anything… except.
    Lion had just finished his shower, blow-dried his long, blond hair before pulling it up into a loose bun at the back of his head. He’d been contemplating so many different scenarios all afternoon and throughout dinner, since his conversation with Omega in the woods. Was this his journey? He wondered for the first time since he’d left his homeland if he was on the right path. He knew he needed to restore balance within the Order and he knew he had acquired the right men to help him do the job. But then. What was next? What came after? Do I walk away, like assassins are trained to do? The thought of never seeing Omega again – or even just not for an extended period of time – caused his protective nature to pound in his chest.
    Lion finished drying himself and dug in his bag for his personal items. He dug out his bottle of mixed oils and began to smooth it all over his body. Immediately he was immersed in the smells of his home, of his land, and it did what it always had. It centered him. Natural scents from the earth. When he was finished, he let his hair down and brushed it until he was certain there was not one single tangle from the root of his scalp to the tips that almost touched him mid-back. 
    He didn’t realize he was going anywhere until he’d slipped into a pair of black cotton pants instead of his lounging ones and a black, ribbed turtleneck. He pulled out a new scarf, this one black with fine gold dots around the edges and wrapped it around his neck and up over his head. He wasn’t sure what was propelling him forward, but before he knew it, he was standing next to his closed door, listening for any sounds in the home. If anyone was awake, he didn’t want to startle them, and he sure didn’t want it to appear that he was stalking around the home after everyone else had retired for the evening. But there was something on his mind. He guessed he’d figure out what when he heard it leave his mouth. Usually he was more focused and organized, but something was throwing him off… or someone. The pull was a greater force than he’d ever felt before.
    Lion walked tentatively down the long flight of stairs. The house was dark, except for the moonlight streaming in from the vast expanse of ceiling to floor windows and skylights. He had to concur that Hawk and his companion had good taste. Their home was so free, open and liberating. Like his home. Lion had found so many American homes to be fake and uniform with their plastic siding and imitation shutters that were mere decoration. His large shutters were used to keep out the harsh winds of the short but cool winters in Iran. Everything inside the homes here was devoid of character, the rooms riddled with boring monochromatic decorations and high-tech, overpriced appliances that he felt contributed to laziness. People didn’t have to vacuum their own rugs; a little circular machine could do it for them while they enjoyed a cocktail. No one even have to squeeze a fruit anymore to receive its natural juices, meat was all processed and pre-packaged, no one hunted for their food and thanked the gods for the circle of life after the kill. No. Everything in the Americas was about convenience, and he’d known early on that it wasn’t where he belonged.
    He turned the corner down the hall that led to Omega’s room. He had little problem seeing where he was going. Omega’s room was just past the corridor that ran behind the kitchen. It was the only bedroom on the first level and had its own private patio door.
    Lion listened at the door, but was sure he wouldn’t hear anything. He lifted his hand and knocked twice. Tilting his head, he listened harder. No sound. He turned the