Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha by A.E. Via

knob, surprised to find it unlocked. He entered slowly, not making a sound. His eyes took in the large room that had the same amenities as his own. A large television that was mounted over a large wood-burning fireplace was turned off. Omega’s one bag sat wide open in the corner atop the one large dresser with a mirror. The bathroom door was ajar and Lion could see that steam still clung to the edges of the large mirror. Omega was there, or at least he had been ten or fifteen minutes ago. Lion walked over to the patio door and peeked through the sheer curtains, not seeing anything, before turning the handle and stepping out into the cool night air. The outdoors always called to his soul. It must do the same to Erik.
    Omega wasn’t on the balcony or anywhere in the vicinity. Lion gracefully leaped over the wood railing and scanned the ground for fresh footprints. There were several tracks that lead to different directions in the dark forest. Lion looked up to the sky for the hawk, hoping he would help lead him in the right direction.
    Where’s that nosy raptor when you need it? Lion scrutinized the several sets of prints. Had Omega done that on purpose? Lion smiled. Omega had known Lion was coming back for him. Knew he couldn’t just leave things how they were and go into battle in a couple days. He and Omega still had their own personal business to discuss.
    Lion choose to go east. It was a hunch. If it had been him, that’s the way he’d choose. The direction that would ultimately take him home. The moon was high in the sky, providing him with more than enough light. This would hardly be a challenge. Was Omega challenging him? Oh, he hoped so. He was more than ready to show the perplexing man what he was capable of. That he was worthy.
    He kept his eyes sharp, his hearing even sharper as he stealthily made his way through the thick shrubbery and towering oak trees so tall they seemed to touch the stars. He dropped swiftly to a low crouch when he heard the faint crackling of leaves. Only a highly sensitive, well-trained ear would’ve been able to pick it up. The sound was coming from low to the ground and Lion tilted his head and closed his eyes to focus his hearing, honing in on the quiet sounds of the forest. Lion’s left eye flickered and the hairs at the base of his skull tingled in an unsettling way.
    Coming in fast… in front… no! Left!
    Lion just barely ducked Omega’s flying punch out of nowhere, forcing him to spin hard to his right, quickly snapping back up into his fight stance.
    Omega’s hood was low over his face but Lion could still see his deceptive smile formed on those perfect lips. He was cunning and not averse to fighting dirty, hence the sneak attack.
    “Tiger style,” Omega purred, taking in Lion’s fight stance. Circling back around to Lion’s front. “I must admit… I’m impressed.”
    Lion kept his massive hands flexed into the “tiger’s claw” ready to charge, ready to attack. He knew Omega was knowledgeable in many martial arts and most kung fu styles – the Order trained them all in numerous martial arts – but only the most worthy were taught an animal style. Which didn’t mean he could defend against it, nor did it mean Lion could defend himself from Omega’s moves. Lion crouched there, stunned speechless as Omega wound his upper and lower body in perfect sequence into a coiled fighting stance.
    Oh my god. Snake style. Of course . Lion’s external reaction was nonexistent but his mind jerked with surprise. This was another ancient fighting style originated by the Shaolin Grandmasters, then taught hundreds of years ago to only the swiftest, most intelligent students… the animal styles were reserved for the most gifted. But it’d been believed that the Masters of the Order no longer taught them, put in simplest terms, they made a man entirely too dangerous.
    It was something about the way Omega was posed and standing before him in immaculate form. Lion took it as a