Stuck in the Middle (MxMxM)?

Chapter 44 - Confrontation

There were a few other items in the room. A table with some take-out bags, a pile of trash in the corner, a few more chairs, and some tools leaning against the wall.

He struggled a little more against his bonds, trying to get his chair to move. Then he heard footsteps.

"Awake already?" Axel asked, entering from a door somewhere behind him.

This was when Ryder finally noticed that there didn't seem to be any windows. With only one door, he had to assume they were in a basement of some kind.

Axel kneeled in front of him. If Ryder's ankles weren't tied to the front legs of the chair, he'd have kicked at him.

The blond rolled up Ryder's bloody pantleg, then ran a hand along his freshly healed skin. "It looks like you are special."

"Get the fuck off of me!" Ryder spat.

Axel ignored the rude remark and just looked up in wonder, with his eyes growing unfocused. "Do you have any idea how valuable healing powers are? Only Alphas or Betas have this sort of ability. Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Let me go!" He ignored his compliments, disturbed that he was so damn calm about it.

"I'm not going to do that. Look." He pointed toward Delilah. "See? She's alive, as promised. So now you have to stay."

"What happened to Mabel?"

"She's alright. Those parents of yours didn't shoot her luckily. But since she hasn't had her first full moon, I have her waiting with the other humans that I plan to change."

Ryder's eyes went wide. "What? Others? You're biting more people?"

"Yes. I thought about it and I realized you were right. I didn't fit into the group. And since no packs would let me in, I thought, why not create a new pack? Crater Point is wide open for the taking! And there are so many humans willing to be turned! Once I change enough of them, the neighboring packs won't be able to do anything about us. There's strength in numbers. We just need to turn, say, a few hundred."

"How many have joined you so far?"

"Plenty."

That must be how Ryder was getting tracked. He expected only a small group of rogues to be following him, but this man had somehow convinced humans to join in on this crazy scheme!

"You can't do that!"

"It's not like I'm forcing them. I made the offer and most of them accepted. I got the idea when I saved Mabel from Henry. I thought, 'if I can turn one, why not a few dozen?'"

"And you really haven't tried biting Delilah?"

At that, Axel frowned. "No. I don't plan on turning someone like her. I'm willing to make the same deal as Henry. I'll let her go as long as you stay here with me."

"You're going to leave her alone after all of this?"

"Of course."

Ryder was surprised at the ring of truth in his words and squinted distrustfully at him.

"You don't believe me?" Axel asked. "I'm making you a promise. You stay with me, and she goes free. It's not like she knows anything."

"You're really going to let her go if I stay?"

"Didn't I already say 'yes'?" The man's hand trailed higher up Ryder's leg, making him feel uncomfortable as it slithered toward his lap and rested there. "I want you to know I'm a man of my word."

Ryder seriously considered Axel's words. Thanks to his powers, he knew he was telling the truth, so all he had to do was agree to join the rogues.

He just didn't like the idea of them turning so many humans into werewolves. This whole situation felt like a cult. Plus, they had already technically turned two people unwillingly. Mabel had only agreed because they threatened to kill her. Would they force more people just to raise their numbers?

Suddenly he didn't care that there was no chicken farm to inherit. If only this weren't happening, he could always change his degree and get a different job. He could be with both of his boyfriends, and his parents would...

What would they say?

Did it matter? They knew he was a werewolf now. If they were hunters, they'd surely hate him, right? And if he stayed in Crater Point, they might hunt him without the protection of Axel's new pack.

No, they were his parents! And they didn't appear very willing to shoot him when Axel showed up. He had to have more faith in them. They lied to him his whole life, but it was for his protection.

His mind raced with too many thoughts, and he was only pulled out of them when Axel stood up and brought their faces close together. "There is one more thing I'd like you to know."

He tried to lean away but was limited while strapped to the chair.

"Earlier you asked why I wanted you to join us so badly. And while I'd rather this be in a more comfortable environment, it's still nice and quiet."

The man was so close that Ryder could feel his breath on his face, and he glared. "Alright, so explain it."

Axel got behind Ryder and started stroking his hair. "Do you remember when we first met? You were so distraught after hitting me with your truck. You sang to me. I remember it, because no one ever sang to me before, let alone cared about my wellbeing. I thought I was going to die, but imagine my surprise, waking up to your gentle song." He started humming the tune that Ryder had used.

The blond held his head, running his fingers through his hair and stroking his cheek as he rocked disturbingly behind him. Then he leaned down, tilting rider's head back, and kissed him on the forehead.

Ryder could only stare back at him as the man smiled.

"I hope that in time, you'll come to love me as much as I love you."

Too shocked to form words, he failed to turn away to avoid one more kiss, this time on the lips.

The contact made him turn his head, rejecting the man and upsetting Axel.

 Axel's eyes darkened, and he started walking away. "That's alright. I didn't expect you to come around so soon. So I'll leave you alone to think over my offer a little more."

Then he was gone, leaving Ryder alone with Delilah.

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A/N: Raaaaa I missed another day. X.X Also I didn't remember if I ever named Ryder's parents. My mind is so distracted lately.