The Alpha’s Flame

Born firefighter - Ember’s POV

I watch as John locks up the cafe and walks over to the sign and hides the keys in the sign. I don’t want our time to end tonight but I am getting pretty tired. I try my best to yawn silently. John looks over to me and chuckles.

“Getting sleepy there Luna?” Oh so he’s going to join in on the nickname thing. I giggle and smirk at him.

“Only a little, Alpha.” I bite my bottom lip awaiting his response. As he walks up to me, I feel disappointed that our night is about to end. Wanting to make the night last just a bit longer somehow. He leans down and softly kisses my forehead. He reaches for my hand. I look up at his eyes.

“Would you mind walking with me to my apartment?” I watch as he grins. He kisses my forehead once more. I love this feeling. He’s spoiling me in kisses. I could get used to this. “Oh we will.” My conscience purrs. And I can’t help but nod my head at her.

“I’d very much like to do that.” He whispers against my forehead. I smile and look up at him. My body instinctively has me reaching up to him on my toes. Greedy for more kisses. He obliges all too well, and leans down and kisses me. Desire washes over me as I deepen our kiss. I want more. But we should stop before this escalates. I really like him, and into him but I don’t want him to think I’m easy. He pulls away from my lips and leans his forehead against mine.

“We should stop. As much as I enjoy your lips, we should stop.” He whispers. I giggle and move back and look at him.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” I reassure him. I hold my hand out to him and he takes it in his hand. “Home.” My conscience purrs. I think you’re right I tell her.

“So which way are we headed?” He asks me.

“This way.”

“So why firefighting?” He looks at me as we begin walking.

“That’s a bit of a story I guess.” He nods for me to continue.

“When I was eleven, my house burnt down. The fire started in the garage from an old propane tank. It was leaking and my dad always smoked in the garage. I remember being in our living room when I heard the explosion. My mom came running down the stairs with Ben, my younger brother. She looked so scared. She asked where my sister, Mackenzie was. I told her that I would find her, get her and get out. It took me a couple of minutes to find her. She was hiding in her closet in our room. I was able to get down the stairs and to the front door. The fire had spread from the garage and into the kitchen. There was so much smoke. And the heat was just so intense. When we got out onto the lawn, my mom and siblings were all crying. I was looking around for my dad and I couldn’t find him anywhere. Our neighbour came up to my and said he had called the fire department and that they were on their way.” I looked over at John and he just stayed quiet, waiting for more.

“I could hear the fire engine siren. I felt so helpless. My family was in tears and my dad wasn’t there. He was our family’s rock. I remember seeing the fire engine pull onto our street. I just could stand there and wait anymore. So I ran back into our house. I knew he was in the garage, so I headed straight there. Through the front door, past the living room and kitchen. The roar and the heat from the flames was just so intense. I remember thinking that this should have me stop in my tracks and turn around and go back out. But it didn’t. I felt the need to push through and find my dad. I burned my hand on the garage door so bad.” A chuckle escapes me as I remember that particular moment.

“I found him in the garage, luckily he was near the door, and I was able to drag back to the front door. We reached the door and I was pulling him out onto the porch and these two firefighters came up to us. There was a team on hoses trying to get the outside of the garage under control. The two that came up to us, the look on their faces just stayed with me I guess. One took over carrying my dad out and the other just walked beside me as I held onto my dads hand. He tried getting me to let go so he could check on me but I refused to until my dad was in the back of an ambulance.” I look over at John to see if he’s still following or if he was bored of my storytelling. His eyes were filled with a bunch of emotions. I could make out amazement, sadness and I think pride? Hard to tell in the dark. He nods his head for me to continue.

“After my dad was in the ambulance and mom had finished yelling and thanking me for going back in, the fire captain came over to me. I remember him bending down to my level, and putting a hand on my shoulder. He gave me this great speech about how dangerous it was for me to do what I did and that things could have ended so much worse than what they did. And then he said that he was proud and honoured to see the moment a firefighter was born. Then he gave me one of those kiddie fire helmets and patted me on the back.” I look over at John with a huge smile on my face. He’s going to tell me I’m nuts.

“I get the sense you said something back to him. What did you say?” I laugh at his instincts. They’re pretty good.

“I asked him what I needed to do to become a firefighter.” My face was hurting my the huge goofy grin that was plastered across it. John shook his head and chuckled.

“You amaze me.” I smile up at him. My conscience purrs at his compliment.

“What about you? Why do you do what you do?” I lean my head against his shoulder as we continue walking. We’re a little more than half way to my apartment.

“Well it’s not this amazing story like yours” he jokes.

“It’s kind of a family thing. My father, and his father, and so on and so on all did this. We manage and partner with our community to meet their needs and to protect them. It’s our legacy, I suppose. I was born into it.”

“Favourite snack? He asks me.

“I like salty and sweet combinations. Currently I’m obsessed with pretzels and M&M’s. This is me here coming up on the right” and I point so he can see where.

“Yours?” I ask him.

“I’m a salty guy.” He slows his pace as we approach the building. He looks at the building as if he was inspecting it.

“If you’re trying to guess which apartment is mine, you’ll need to look down.” The look of confusion on his face was cute. I point to a little stairway that sucks down beside the side of the building. I walk over to the stair case and he follows. After a few steps down, we’re standing in front of my door. “Invite him in.” My conscience demands. I can’t! I want to but I can’t. That’s just bad optics. And I really want him to stick around. I can see this turning into a real relationship. There’s a connection and a spark between us. There’s something pulling me to him. And I don’t mind it at all. In fact, I’m thanking whatever force it is.

We were standing in front of my door when he leaned in and kissed me. This time the kiss ignited not only desire, but butterflies too. When he pulled away, I felt a pang of hurt wash over me. I wanted more.

“Will your roommates get suspicious if we just stand here?” He jokes. I look at him quizzically and tilt my head to the side.

“I don’t have any roommates. I live alone.” I practically jumped into his arms when a loud crashing noise came from my inside my apartment. What the hell?