Chapter Text
Zach barely suppressed the shudder traveling down his back. That feeling of someone walking over his grave, where he was continuously being watched, wouldn’t leave him. Making sure all his belongings were on him, Zach kept walking forward instead of taking this next turn to get to his office. Maybe the feeling will go away around the next corner? But it only got stronger, like it was following him. He was almost bordering on panic, a feeling he hadn’t felt in years. Eyes canvassing the entire area like it was hatching day, looking for anything out of place, he started to power walk. Nothing looked out of place, but the feeling persisted.
It’s been like that all week. The first day was that sense of foreboding, like an ‘End of the World’ change was going to happen at any minute. Days 2 through 5 had been even more nerve-racking than the last. Anxiety steadily building up in his brain here it hadn’t played a part in his life for over 6 years. It was getting concerning. Something must be very wrong with him to suddenly start feeling things like anxiety and fear.
Quick-stepping around the next corner, Zach broke out into a full out run trying to escape the eyes that surreptitiously followed him everywhere. His office door came into view, and he slammed it open, shutting it just as hard to block out the gaze that rarely left him. Shaking a little, he leaned against the door to steady himself before straightening and walking over to the front desk. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Maybe he caught an illness? Deciding that Sean was his go to for the strange, he double checked to make sure the door was locked before heading further into the office searching out the Head Vet. His shoulders loosened with every step he took further into the building, the penetrating stare no longer locked onto him.
Sean had broken out into loud guffaws, bending in half he was laughing so hard when he heard Zach’s question. After calming down, Sean straightened and gave Zach a small smile. “Sounds like someone found out you were here.” Crossing his arms loosely akimbo, Sean leaned against his desk and looked Zach straight in the eyes. “It sounds like your mate has made his interest known in one of the most unsubtle ways I’ve ever heard.” He closed his eyes, fingers reaching up to massage his nose while muttering under his breath. “Really, stalking?! That’s how you’re going to do it?”
Zach’s eyes narrowed. “You know who that person is?” He paused; arms crossed over his chest in a defensive position. “I see you’ve been talking to Gray.” His eyes dropped down and to the side. He was feeling…uncomfortable with this conversation. With this entire situation. That man was searching him out? Hadn’t he done enough damage to him already? Why was he making Zach so much more miserable? He didn’t understand!
“Zach! ZACH! Calm down! You’re heading into a panic att-!” Sean’s voice was like background noise, far away but still noticeable. Zach latched onto those words as his vision tunneled and faded. He came back to soft mutterings from both Sean and Gray, hands lightly carding through his hair and his head in Gray’s lap.
“…What happened?” He asked softly, eyes opening and blinking slowly to adjust to the low light in the room, seeking out Sean’s features. “I…I don’t understand. I was rejected over six years ago. Why is this happening? It shouldn’t be possible!”
Sean’s face went through a series of expressions before settling on understanding. “I see. I had guessed, but never thought it was actually true.” He sighed, scrubbing rough hands over his face. “Let’s just say, when I saw Owe- “A rough sound interrupted him. He squinted at Zach and Gray, Gray’s face holding a smirk but shaking his head no, and Zach’s face going pinched and closed off. An obstinate expression settles on Sean’s face. “When I saw Owen earlier this week, he apparently could smell you on me, even though I hadn’t seen you for a few days. He looked about ready to molest me! And let me tell you, I’m not ok with that! I have my own partner, thank you very much!” Gray burst into laughter, almost dropping Zach’s head off his lap. “He was very intense in his scenting. He knew who you were, but asked me just to make sure he wasn’t fooling himself. As soon as your name left my lips, he pretty much lost all control in himself. The roar he let out was deafening.”
Zach’s eyes widened as he sat up. “You mean that feeling I got was because of HIM?! I’ve been going out of my mind feeling stalked and watched at all hours because he’s been spying on me!” Zach stood up, feet leading him into an aggressive pacing of the room. The anger spreading through Zach at this was reaching a boiling point. “He rejected me! Why is he doing this now?”
Gray was the voice of logic in this conversation now. “Ever think he might actually want you, but you were too young at the time? You were only 16 at the time.” He paused, taking in the way Zach was holding himself, then continued carefully. “He might have been trying to protect both of you. You were very young, even though you were emancipated. He might have wanted to wait until you hit your majority before going anywhere in a full relationship.” Another, shorter pause to consider his phrasing. “The age difference might have thrown him off. Isn’t he in his 30’s now?” He looked to Sean for confirmation. “He’s 33,” Sean stated, “going on 12.”
Zach tried to calm himself down, but the panic was still on the edges of his mind. “So, you think he rejected a teenager because the teenager was too young, but didn’t realize it would seem like an actual rejection to said teenager? Seriously?!” Zach shook his head, body in a defensive posture. “I…I need to leave! I’ll be back in tomorrow…”
Zach grabbed his bag and ran out the door, hoping to get back to his apartment before the eyes would find him again. He needed to reset himself, re-center. Re-orient himself to suddenly feeling things again. He was going to end up in another panic attack if he didn’t get home soon. He had known this island was a bad idea.
Zach’s body stalled suddenly just inches from his front door. The hunted feeling had just jacked up to 11. He was unmistakably prey, and he had a good idea of who his hunter was. Zach struggled to move, but couldn’t get his body to shift that last little bit to enter his safe haven. Turning his head, Zach tried to pinpoint him, but couldn’t find him. Finally, Zach managed to move his arm and quickly unlocked his door, forcing himself inside before slamming it shut and locking it. He didn’t know how he was going to survive working here, much lest the rest of the day.
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Owen had barely jogged into the park before that scent hit his nose. He followed it everywhere it had been before he found the source. A young man was standing next to a baby trike, and a young teenager was next to him. He was feeding the trike a bottle filled with a food/medicine mixture, crouching slightly to rub the Trike’s nose. Owen eyed him up and down. Zach was sexy as hell. All lean muscles and tall build. Smelled like heaven in human form. Smelled like his.
He had ended up watching him over the course of the week, learning about him and his job, the people he interacted with. Which was only two people on the regular oddly enough. Doc Kaden and Zach’s pup, a teenager named Gray. He would have assumed that Zach would have made a bunch of friends by now with how long he’s been on the island, but he had only seen Zach smile at Gray. That was the only part he couldn’t figure out.
Throughout that time, he found that Zach could detect his presence and was getting skittish the longer he watched him. He tried hiding his aura, but that seemed to make Zach hyper focus more on him. He could see the young male getting more agitated as time went on. So, he focused on Zach harder and watched as he ran. Literally. He ran into his office and hid away from him.
Owen sat back on his heels and smirked. Looks like his little mate isn’t on to him yet. This could be fun. He stood and stretched, casually walking out from the shrubbery he was lounging in to walk back towards Zach’s apartment. He’d be back before long, and Owen planned on being there to keep him flustered and on his toes.
Settling himself in an obscure corner out of view of Zack, but keeping his view unimpeded, he waited. Sure enough, an hour or so later Zach came almost hurtling into the hallway, only to completely freeze outside his door when Owen ramped his gaze up to a full-on piercing stare. Owen was really impressed with Zach, and proud. Not many were able to move after a gaze like that was focused on them. Zach was strong. A smile cut across Owen’s lips that would have terrified anyone with any common sense. He wanted Zach, and he would get him.
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Zach had managed to steel his nerves and left to the canteen for dinner, but only after a full triple-sweep of the area for scorching stares. Feeling it safe at the moment, he wandered in and stood in line, waiting for his turn at the buffet. A sharp smell hit his nose, making it crinkle in almost disgust. A heavy sniff from behind him and foul-smelling breath passing over his shoulder meant he was about to be hit on. Again. By another asshole. He was on a fucking island; you would think there would be less assholes.
“Well hello,” an oily voice spoke from behind, “What’s a pretty thing like you doing here? Shouldn’t you be wining and dining in Winston’s? We can go together.” Zach sighed, deciding ignoring him would be the best thing for now. There were too many people around for him to break this guys face. Walking forward and grabbing a tray, he missed the angry look on the guys face but not the bitter smell that added to the already awful scent. Zach could almost feel the hand reaching out for him.
He stiffened as an underlying scent suddenly sprang to the forefront of his senses, delicious with a spicy undertone. Two hands reach around from behind him and thread under his arms to wrap around his middle, one arm over his stomach and the other just over the bottom of his ribcage. A rough-shaven chin nuzzled into his neck and took a deep inhale, a light growl rumbling out from deep within the chest pressed against his back. Zach couldn’t help but freeze in shock, then almost completely relax into the hold. This was his mate! Who was hugging him?!
Gray’s words had been circling in his head all day. Maybe there was some truth to them, and he wouldn’t know for sure until he actually sat down and spoke with Owen. But right now, it looked like Owen was saving Smellyrude guy from being decked. And maybe a lawsuit against Zach.
The words spoken into his throat were vibrating against his back, the voice was just that low. “And just how is my lovely mate doing today?” Zach trembled, arms coming up to wrap around Owen’s and a shaky smile settling on his lips. He could feel Owen tilt his head towards the Smellyrude guy. “Is this guy bothering you?”
Zach almost shook his head, but the nose under his jaw dissuaded that idea. A tongue came out for a kitten lick as Zach tried for a coherent answer. “Uh, no. He was just….asking a question….?” A hum ran through Zach’s body, and Owen squeezed a little tighter before releasing Zach from his hold, one arm sliding up and around Zach’s shoulders to pull him into Owen’s side.
Zach finally caught his first glance of Owen since the rejection. Owen was even more distracting than he remembered. The man was absolutely edible! Temptingly muscular with a side of rugged sensuality that Zach was having a hard time digesting. He also had a distinctively sensual air about him that altogether made his face heat and his lower belly clench. Why was this definition of red-blooded male suddenly here? And what was going on with his own emotions? And why was Owen’s hand sliding down from his shoulder to his chest?!
Zach had missed half the conversation Owen had been having with Smellyrude guy, but was able to catch his name at the tail-end of the conversation. Smellyrude guy was Hoskins. Zach remembered that name from all those years ago. No wonder he wanted to break the guys face.
Zach side-eyed Owen as Hoskins stomped away in a huff, subtly trying to remove himself from Owen’s grip and failing. “We need to talk.” Owen turned to fully face Zach, that piercing gaze coming back with full force and the grin on his lush lips wicked. “Uh…please?”
Owen’s grin turned into a smirk, then a smile. “Anytime, anywhere. You’ve got all of me.”