The Alpha’s Flame

Then Do So - Ember’s POV

I look out the window at my team below. I ditch my helmet, and put a harness onto the victim and secure them to my back.

“Ready.” Nick radios me. I take a deep breath.

“Time to fly.” I radio back. I smash the window with my gallivanting bar and jump.

-

I’m standing near the fire engine when Kate, Matt, Nick, Josh and a few others from our station come up to me.

“How you doing Winnie?” Josh asks as he swallows me into a hug. I giggle at him, as everyone else piles on.

“Fire house hug!” Matt and Kate squeal almost at the same time.

“Well I flew today, so there’s that.” I tease them.”

“Yeah let’s not do that again.” Nick says firmly. “He was worried about you.” My conscience adds. Of course he was. He’s my friend, and station captain. I take in my family. Station 13 is my family. Kate and I graduated from the fire academy together. I look over my shoulder in the direction where I last saw him with Damon. They weren’t there anymore. What is this? Disappointment? I had a 5 second encounter with the guy. “Yeah but we want more.” My conscience teases me. Oh shut up. We? You’re nothing but a voice in my head. I don’t know if I zoned out or what, but my ears started to ring and the hair on my neck was standing up. I had the strangest feeling that someone was watching me. I feel my body involuntarily shake. I feel someone’s hand on my shoulder. I turn and find Josh looking at me.

“You good there?”

“Yeah. Let’s get these hoses loaded.” He shakes his head and chuckles at me.

“Okay, whatever you say.”

After loading everything back into the engine, I hop into the cab of the engine with Kate. Hill and Bennett slide into the front. Usually we’re pretty chatty after a call, but my thoughts are somewhere else. I just stare out of my window at the tree line. I don’t know if I’m just exhausted or what but I could have sworn I saw a large wolf running. It was keeping pace with us. The giant wolf was beautiful.

“Kate” I like whisper yell at her.

“Yeah?”

“Quick. Look out my window. She turns her head and looks around me.

“Okay so what is I’m supposed to see?”

“A wolf. Duh.” I answer blatantly.

“What wolf?” She sounds genuinely confused.

What? I turn my head back out the window and the wolf is gone.

“You sure you’re okay? We can get Nick to check you over again.” I shake my head no at her.

“Guess I’m just tired. All the adrenaline is out of my system now.”

“If you say you saw one, who’s to say there wasn’t one there?” She tried to reassure me. Kate let’s put an excited squeal as we pull up to the station. “What’s in her system?” My conscience remarks.

“You good?” I ask her. She points and I follow to where she’s pointing. Sure enough there’s Damon leaning against the brick. He wasn’t alone though. My breath hitched as my eyes landed on John. He’s here. “He came to see us.” My conscience purrs. Again with the us thing. There is no us. You are a voice in my head. And he’s probably just hanging out with Damon. He didn’t come to see me I tell myself. When we stepped out of the engine, Damon slowly came up to the barn door. That’s when Nick saw him and nodded at Damon. Damon looked over his shoulder and motioned with his head for the others to follow. Kate strides over to Damon and pecks him on the cheek. Damon looks at her and envelopes her in a hug. His eyes stray over to me. I feel weird. I don’t like this. Don’t make eyes at another girl while holding a different one. I look over to John. His eyes are already on me. What is this? His look makes me feel hot. I feel like I’m standing in the middle of a fire. His eyes are a gorgeous blue grey colour. I could get lost in his eyes. “Well we are.” My conscience puts once again. What the hell is happening to me? I’m never shy, but in front of him? I’m speechless. I walk over to him to introduce myself. I watch as his eyes glimmer. Did they glimmer? It almost looked like they went darker in colour but then changed back. It’s the lighting dumbass, I tell myself. I smile at him and hold out my hand to shake his. “Say something sexy but cute.” She remarks. I try to subtly look him up and down. I can’t help myself for whatever reason.

“See? I made it out alive” I try to tease him.

“You have everyone a scare.” He takes my hand in his and holds it firm. It’s like fire erupts from his touch. How does he do this? It’s electric. I just want to spend more time with him. “Then do so.” She chimes in my head. Oh, I intend to I reply back.

“You look like you could use a drink, or a bite to eat?” He looks so tender and caring.

“I could, but I’m still on shift for another 24 hours.” John looks over to Nick who ever so slightly nods. Nick looks at me.

“Actually, I was going to send you hoke after tonight. Get some extra rest.” I shoot him a confused look.

“I’m okay Nick. Really. I don’t need to be sent home.” I never leave early. I feel John rub his thumb over my palm. I didn’t even realize we were holding hands. I look up at him and give him a shy smile.

“Well I guess you’re free after all.” He smiles down at me.

Damon snaps us out of our bubble.

“We should go to the cafe. It’s still open.” He suggests. Kate looks confused at his side.

“I’m still on the clock.” He looks down at her then towards John and I.

“I’m only sending Winston home.” Nick confirms. He looks at me and points his finger at me.

“Be out in 5 minutes. Don’t let me catch you still here.” Nick turns and walks out of the barn.

“Shall we?” Johns eyes are on mine and I can’t help but smile at him.

“Yeah, just let me change out of my bunker gear.” He releases my hand and I walk out of the barn with Kate leaving John and Damon alone.

“You seem cozy with John.” She teases.

“Yeah. I like him.” I smile at her.

“Seems serious.” She mocks my words from our earlier conversation. I giggle at her.

“We just met.” I shake my head at her.