Chapter 148: What’s that on your back?

Orion had just finished washing up. His hair was still damp as he moved a towel through it, drying it up. Zena’s burial was this morning and he was already late. He knew it would only be a few minutes before Ronan appeared at his door.

The dawn’s golden light filtered through his window. There was hardly any evidence of what happened in his home last night except for the scent that still clung to the air. It was sweet and he couldn’t explain why but it filled him with a sense of calm. It was like having sex with Sophia calmed his body or maybe his soul if that was even possible.

Orion only had on a pair of pants as he moved around his home. Sophia had taken the tunic he wore the previous day. He wasn’t sure she knew that it was his. At least he wasn’t sure she knew until maybe when she hit to her home and realized that she had taken from him.

He still remembered how she tiptoed around his home thinking he was asleep. He pretended to do so because he had no idea how she was going to react. It’s not like they were both drunk when it happened, they were not. He wasn’t even a little bit drunk but maybe she was...and he didn’t know?

Orion shook his head. His thoughts were all over the place and it was because of one woman who thought she was smooth while running away.

He had just selected a tunic to wear when he heard the knock at the door.

Three sharp raps. Familiar, impatient.

He didn’t need to ask who it was he already knew. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Come in," Orion called just as the door opened and Ronan walked in like he owned the place.

"And he walks in without my permission." Orion muttered dryly.

Ronan chuckled. "At least I knock. You don’t even knock when you come to my home."

"But I make sure to alert you." Orion told him.

"Yeah...and open the door at the same time but it’s not like we are comparing whose manners is more vile." Ronan told him.

Orion glared at him while Ronan laughed freely.

"I came here because...well you know, the burial is starting soon and you are still not there." Ronan told him but before Orion could speak up, he spoke again.

"And now that I’m here, I understand why you are late. What the fuck did you do in this place? It’s like the person you had over basked you in her scent or maybe you both did the basking, I’m not really sure but damn brother!"

Orion chuckled, not even bothering to look up. "You always had a way with words, Ronan."

Ronan took another step inside, inhaling slightly. His nose wrinkled, and he released a low whistle. "Don’t you ’way with words’ me, Alpha. You had sex in here. And I’m guessing hot mind blowing sex because a place doesn’t smell as good as this if the sex was just mid."

"Fuck off, Ronan."

"I like how you are not denying it. You had someone here and it’s fucking obvious I can almost taste it." Ronan said with a laugh.

Orion tossed the towel he was using on his hair on the chair and reached for his tunic, amused. "I am not surprised that you can smell what happened in here. That’s mainly what your nose is good for. Sex before all others."

Ronan ignored his words. He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing suddenly as they landed on Orion’s back. For a second, he didn’t speak then his expression changed, confusion flitting into alarm.

"Orion..."

"What?"

"Did I just...what the hell is..."

Orion paused, his senses in high alert from Ronan’s strange behavior.

"What’s going on? Is there something wrong?" He asked Ronan whose eyes were still glued to the same spot on Orion’s back.

"Stay still you idiot, if you move then I wouldn’t be able to see it properly." Ronan told him.

Orion gave Ronan a weird look. "What is up with you? I’m perfectly still."

"Don’t turn your head or even angle your body any other way." Ronan told him.

"You want me to remain in this position with my ass to you as you get to do whatever it is you are doing?" Orion asked him.

"Your ass is not to me."

"It’s facing you, you idiot."

"Oh...right. it is but that’s not why I’m telling you to stay still and if you’d just shut up and let me get a better look then I’d let you know." Ronan told him.

Orion released a sigh then obeyed Ronan who moved directly behind him now with wide eyes.

"There’s..." Ronan swallowed. "There’s something on your back brother."

Orion released and irritated sound as he tried to stand up but Ronan rushed and told him not to.

"Ronan I just finished taking a bath, I’m sure it’s just water dripping down my back, you’ve had your fun now can I continue dressing so we can go about our day now?" Orion asked him with an eye roll.

This wouldn’t be the first time Ronan was playing a joke like this on Orion and Orion wasnt going to fall for it.

"It’s not water and I’m not playing a prank on you either," Ronan said slowly. "It’s... gods, it’s a mark."

Orion turned halfway, frowning. "A mark?"

"Yeah. It’s... silver." Ronan leaned closer. "Right on your lower back. It’s glowing. Faint, but it’s there. A crescent moon with smaller moons circling it. Like...hell, it looks like a fucking mating mark."

Orion blinked, deadpan. "Ronan, what in the gods’ name are you drinking this morning?"

"I’m serious."

"You sound drunk."

"I’m not drunk. I know what I’m seeing." Ronan folded his arms. "You better not tell me you don’t feel different or something because I swear, that mark’s fresh. I know your tattoos, Orion. And none of them are silver or even at your lower back. No one is as alive as this one."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "Alive?"

"It’s glowing, you idiot."

Orion sighed. "Maybe the festival drinks are still messing with your head."