The doorbell rang, and Saigon went to get it. I sunk down in my seat and started to chew on my thumbnail. Saigon had said the one was Jesse's cousin and would most likely be Daven's beta. A round of hello sounded as the smell of food entered the home.

"Archer," said Saigon.

I turned in my seat and stood.

"This is Liam and Cyrus."

"Hi." I nodded. Saigon hadn't mentioned one was a sub. I started to put the clues together. "You're mates, right?"

Cyrus nodded. "Yep. It's good to meet you." He entered the kitchen and put the food bags on the table.

Saigon and Liam went to the table to set up for their tutoring session. I sat at the bar on the far end and watched them. Smoothing back my hair, I took a deep breath. Saigon told them we were dating. It made me wonder what they thought of us.

Cyrus laid out the food. "We're not going to attack." He gave me a smirk.

"Hmm..." I moved to chew on another nail.

"You look a little tense. My cousin chews on his nails too when he's nervous."

I put my hand down. "What is this?" I motioned to the individually wrapped items.

"Burgers, we had to get the gourmet ones because fast food isn't good enough for your boyfriend."

Saigon shook his head. "I'm helping your mate."

I forced a smile. "Are they good?"

Cyrus eyed me. "You've never had a burger?"

I gripped my knees. "I've seen them but we don't eat them."

"Not even at school?" Cyrus unwrapped one. "They were a staple at the academy."

I shook my head. "We ate mostly fresh meat, fruit. We did have bread, so some people would make sandwiches with it. They tried to get us to eat vegetables, but most ended up in the garbage."

Cyrus pushed one toward me. "It's nothing weird. Ground beef with some topping and smacked inside a bun ." He took a bit of his own.

Undoing the thin white paper, I picked up the top part of the bread and examined what was inside. It looked alright. I picked it up and took a bite. "Hmm... it's good."

"Don't get addicted to human food," he chuckled with a mouth full of food. "You'll lose your traditional figure."

"Cyrus," said Saigon, annoyed.

"I was joking. Daven is constantly whining that he's getting soft." He took some of the burgers over to the table and dropped them by the others. "He's always saying he's so out of shape. Traditionals do this and traditionals do that, traditionals run a hundred miles in a day. Civils are so lazy."

"Truth hurts," muttered Saigon.

I smiled to myself as I ate.

Cyrus scoffed. "I'm not lazy. I work out all the time. You don't need to be able to run a hundred miles in a day to be in shape. Then again, traditionals like to exaggerate things."

"Change the topic," said Liam. "If you get us kicked out, I'm not going to be very happy." He opened a thick book.

"Sorry," muttered Cyrus. He looked at me. "So, Archer, tell us about yourself?"

"Me?" I swallowed hard. "My life is pretty boring compared to here."

"He's a runner," said Saigon. "He chases the herd into the ambush."

"So, you're pretty fast." Cyrus wiped his face on his arm.

I nodded. "I can beat Saigon in a race."

"Besides running, what else do you like to do?"

I thought for a moment. "Um... sleep. Darius keeps us busy."

"Are you going to start college?" asked Cyrus.

Shifting in my seat, I shook my head. "I'm not smart like you guys. I barely made it through school. I'm not going to be a top member, either, so college won't do me any good."

"You could take some classes."

"Cyrus," said Liam. "You prying. Leave him alone."

"Alright, alright." He stood and kissed his mate's cheek. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Water is fine."

"Grab me a coke," said Saigon.

"Archer?" asked Cyrus. "Do you want anything?"

"Water."

He filled a couple glasses with water and got two cokes from the fridge. After giving everyone their drinks, he sat down beside his mate.

"Stop." Liam shrugged him off. "You're smothering me."

"Let's watch a movie later."

"I need to finish this first and you're not helping." Liam pushed his mate's face away.

Saigon started to go through the problems, and I quickly realized I didn't understand a word either of them were saying. Liam was a sub and going to school. Why? I didn't need college, why would a sub? Raven was going as well but he wanted to be over the pack's finances. Maybe subs in Midfield did jobs that didn't require physical strength. Northern Ridge had very few jobs like that. I glanced at them. They were all so smart and it was making me feel even more out of place.

***

I didn't know where to sit. Cyrus and Liam were cuddled up on one side of the couch while Saigon sat on the other end, setting up the movie. I could sit on the smaller couch.

"There's a spot right here." Cyrus patted the cushion on the other side of Liam.

"Are you sure? I can sit over there." I tried to act casual about it, but I felt so awkward.

"There's plenty of room," said Cyrus.

I forced a smile and sat down beside Saigon.

He put his hand on my leg and gave my knee a squeeze. "You can sit on the other couch if you want."

I shook my head. "It's okay." Sinking into the cushions, I leaned slightly toward him.

Saigon started the movie and with a sigh, he draped his arm along the back of the couch. Liam went over to turn off the light and grabbed the bowl of popcorn off the coffee table. I sat rigid through the opening scenes.

"If you want to move, you can," whispered Saigon.

"We've watched movies together before," I replied. It was years ago when we were pups, but it wasn't the first time we had sat this close and watched a show.

"The situation is a little different now."

I glanced at the couple beside me. They were curled up into each other, munching on popcorn. This felt like a date. Maybe it was. Saigon moved his arm and placed his head on my shoulder. I tensed up. What was he doing?

"Are you okay with this?"

"Yeah." I moved my arm, so it was around him. This wasn't so bad. I relaxed a bit.

Saigon fell more into my chest. To be honest, it felt pretty nice. I rubbed his arm and laid my head against his. It felt damn good, actually.

***

(Saigon)

"Let me know if you have any other questions." I opened the front door.

"Thanks for your help," said Liam. "I feel like I'm not going to fail anymore."

"Bye." I waved as they stepped outside.

"See you later." Cyrus closed the door behind them.

I turned around and saw Archer, watching by the stairs. "So what did you think? They're pretty good guys. Cyrus can be a little much at times but he doesn't mean anything by it."

"They were nice. They probably thought I was awkward as hell, though," he laughed.

"I thought you handled it well." I moved closer. "There are a couple burgers left if you're still hungry."

"It's two in the morning."

I shrugged. "Border patrol usually has to eat at weird times."

Archer nodded and stepped forward. "Thank you."

"For what?" I hugged him.

"I don't know... earlier—" He took a deep breath. "You didn't make me have to be the 'submission' one." He clasped his forehead. "I'm being weird about this. I'm so overly conscious of rank when I shouldn't. Anyways, I appreciate it."

I stooped down and looked at him in the eye. "This isn't about rank. It's between you and me. I don't need to be the big macho-dominant. As long as I get to be with you, I'm happy."

"Except when it comes to sex." He flinched after he said it. "Sorry, that slipped out."

"Is that what you're worried about?" I rocked him back and forth. "I'd never hurt you."

"But, I will be receiving, right?"

I kissed his check. "Yes."

Archer let out a sigh. "Well, yeah. How else can I get your mark unless I'm on the bottom?"

"You're a dominant, Archer." I gave him a squeeze. "What we do as a couple is no one else's business, and as the next beta, I'll remind anyone who forgets."

He smiled and gave me a peck on the lips. "You're a great guy, Saigon." Leaving my side, he started up the stairs.

I went into the kitchen. He might not be hungry, but I need another burger and a couple cokes. We were making progress but still had a long way to go.