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CHAPTER 8:
“Thank you Micah!” Malu gave me a tight squeeze. “I’m glad they were able to work it out.”
“Me too.” I nodded my agreement as Noah seemed to silently fume beside me. Apparently getting his ass handed to him had put him in a bad mood. “We’re going to be heading out now. We have business at the hospital. Is there anything else you need before I go?”
“You’ve done more than enough. Tell Nadi I said hi!” Malu turned to look at Noah, a satisfied smirk finding its way onto her face. “Nice lip, future alpha.”
Before Noah could react she was turning her back and walking back into the building. I looked at Noah, the busted lip still evident. He probably wouldn’t be shifting before seeing my father, meaning i’d be expected to explain why he was busted. “Noah, turn this way.” I ordered, licking my thumb.
“Why?” He questioned, obviously skeptical of me. I held back my annoyance. I did let him get punched out for my own enjoyment so… the skepticism was earned. Rather than respond, I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his face toward mine. His breath hitched as we came face to face, his eyes locked on mine. I licked my thumb again, swiping it across his bottom lip.
The bloody slit quivered and then closed up before my eyes, leaving a smudge of blood behind. I used my thumb to wipe the blood off and then released him. Noah didn’t stand up straight, but remained in my face expectantly. “Your lip… I fixed it.” I pointed out, turning my face away and beginning to walk toward the pack hospital.
“What?” Noah reached toward his mouth, finding his busted lip had completely healed over. “How?”
“Mate magic I guess.” I shrugged, a little surprised he didn’t seem to understand and not wanting to go into the biology of it. “Mates saliva has healing qualities for one another. A little scratch like that is nothing.”
“I… I didn’t know that we could do that.” Noah admitted, following behind me.
“Your parents never healed a paper cut or scrape for one another?” I frowned, turning to him. My parents were always licking each other, healing any wound that came up. A sliced finger from cooking, a splinter, hell even a bug bite.
“No.” Noah said. He looked like he wanted to say something, but kept it to himself. A part of me wanted to ask him what he wanted to say, but a larger part of me reminded me that we didn’t care. We weren’t trying to get to know Noah. We were too busy shunning him.
We walked in silence, side by side. Occasionally someone would wave to us as we passed by. Their smiles appeared forced and they usually seemed concerned. I suppose beating the shit out of each other had alarmed everyone. My bad.
Mostly, Noah received a lot of glares and disapproving glances. I had to hold myself back after a moment, guilt creeping into my heart. I remembered what it felt like to be looked down on by pack members. I was small and weak looking. That meant I had a lot to prove. For the first few years or so, I received very similar treatment to what Noah was getting now. I tried my hardest not to empathize, but it was difficult. My mother always said I was a bleeding heart, and it was now I truly believed her. How could I empathize with someone who almost killed my brother? And yet, here I was, empathizing.
When we reached the pack hospital, I stopped outside of the entrance. Noah noticed a moment later, hand already on the door. “Is something wrong?”
“I have to see Nadi.” I mumbled, wondering how to go about this. My mom had insisted Noah had to be told, but I still wasn’t quite convinced.
“I thought we were here to see your brother.”
“We are, but I have to see Nadi first.”
Noah stared at me and I at him. Silently, we sized each other up. He appeared to want to say something multiple times, but thought better of it after a moment. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his black waves. “I can go home and wait for you.” He said, releasing his hold on the door.
His words shocked me. I expected him to put up much more of a fight to know why I would need to see the pack doctor. He questioned every other move I made. So why not this one? “No… it’s fine.” I conceded, stepping up to the door and pushing it open. “It concerns you… somewhat.”
“Somewhat?” he raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t argue.
————————-
“Micah! So nice to see you. You’re a little early for your yearly physical.” Nadi greeted me as she entered the examination room, pausing when she saw Noah sitting in the chair beside me. We were both in hospital gowns, having practically been wrestled into them by nadi’s helper who insisted all patients must wear a gown. “Noah, what a surprise.” Her tone was neutral, not exactly happy but nowhere near as mocking as Malu’s tone had been. “What can I do for you two?”
“Um…” I looked at her and then peaked a glance at Noah who was staring at me. I looked back to Nadi, not knowing how to say it. “Suppressants.”
“Excuse me?” Nadi cocked her head to the side as if to say she couldn’t hear me. I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat, looking down at my hands in my lap.
“We need suppressants.” I said a little louder, my face flaming. “I- um… started producing ambrosia last night and… um… my mom told me to get them.”
“I see.” Nadi chuckled, making my cheeks turn even redder. “No problem. I’ll have to perform a quick exam on you and Noah, but you can get the suppressants today.”
“Sounds good.” I said quickly, wanting to get this over with.
“Alright well, why don’t you hop up on the table first Micah.” Nadi instructed me, pulling on a pair of latex gloves. I nodded obediently, getting up and taking a seat on the examination table. “Okay, Micah, can you put your legs in the stirrups for me please?”
“Um…” I looked over at Noah who was still staring intently, albeit a bit confused. Nadi followed my eyes, giving me a reassuring nod before addressing him.
“Noah, can you avert your gaze please?” Nadi smiled a soft smile at him. “I can let you know when you can look again.” Noah looked at me as if he expected me to object, but when I didn’t say anything he nodded and turned his seat to stare at the wall. “Alright, Micah darling, place your feet here.”
I followed her instructions, keeping my eyes on the back of Noah’s head. If he so much as twitched, I was planning to clamp my legs shut so fast he’d get whiplash. Nadi had one hand on my knee, giving a soft squeeze, before her other hand went between my legs, pressing against the skin just below my balls. I whimpered, the pressure releasing more ambrosia into a pan she had placed below me.
“Micah, are you okay?” Noah sounded concerned, but kept his face averted. I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment, wondering how I didn’t just die of mortification on the spot.
“I’m fine.” I gasped out as Nadi pressed again and my whole lower half spasmed. “Please don’t turn around.”
“Alright,” Nadi grabbed the tray from below me and carried it to the sink, “You can lower your legs now, micah. Thank you. You did a wonderful job.”
“Okay.” I mumbled, still burning with shame.
“You can turn back, Noah. Thank you.” Nadi spoke and Noah spun around instantly, searching my face for clues on what he missed. I avoided eye contact, focusing instead on what Nadi was doing.
“I’ll send this to the lab and we’ll be able to track how close your heat might be. You’ll start taking the suppressants today, but it’ll be good for you to know in the future in case you ever wanted to experience your heat together. If that were the case, you would come back here and we would wean you off the suppressant and if needed, replace it with a birth control so that you don’t get pregnant until you’re ready.” Nadi was rattling off information and I nodded, trying not to look overwhelmed. “All in all, you look perfectly healthy. You’re producing a somewhat larger amount than normal, but it is your first heat so that can be expected sometimes for a number of reasons. Any questions?”
“No, I’m good.” I plastered a smile on my face, desperate to just get through this as quickly as possible. Nadi nodded and then turned to Noah. “And you, any concerns?”
Noah’s mouth was slightly agape. “Um… what are you guys talking about?”
“Are you kidding me?” I scoffed, frustration winning out over embarrassment. Was he that stupid? Did he tune his parents out as they explain the birds and the bees?
“Micah.” Nadi frowned at me, shaking her head in disapproval before turning to Noah with a gentle smile. “I can explain it. It’s pretty simple. Micah is nearing his heat cycle which is essentially a period of about a week where his hormones are super high. He’ll be extremely aroused and will produce ambrosia, which is essentially self lubrication to allow for more comfortable intercourse. If he were going to let his heat play out, he’d continue to produce the ambrosia for a few days leading up to his actual heat. At that point you’d scent it. A mate’s ambrosia is unique to each mate’s preference, so it would smell like the most delicious thing you’d ever smelled. Your heat would be triggered by his and you would mate like bunnies for as long as your body was in that state. Pregnancy rates during this time is 100% which is why we prescribe suppressants. The suppressants will suppress the heat, so neither you or Micah will have it. You might have a couple mood swings and maybe some cramping, but other than that you’ll get through it. Some wolves opt for birth control after the first year or so as the bonding during a heat is beneficial for your wolves, but it’s always optional. For now, since you guys are the alpha couple, you’ll have to take suppressants. You don’t want to risk mating before the actual ceremony. I also advise you both take the suppressants. Although Micah might be the only one showing symptoms, you could very easily be triggered by just one missed pill. That’s why it’s important you both have a prescription and each take a pill, one in the morning and one in the evening so that you’re staggered. Does that make sense?”
“Uh… yeah.” Noah nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t know.”
“No worries. It’s only vaguely mentioned in school. A huge part of sexual education is meant to come from parents.” Nadi laughed. “As if parents have any idea what they’re talking about.”
“Right.” Noah chuckled, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes.
“Alright, why don’t you let Noah take your seat on the table? You can get dressed in the restroom and pick up your prescription down the hall.” Nadi tore a prescription paper from her little notepad and handed it to me. “I would take it as soon as you get it. Noah can take his in the morning.”
——————-
I had just picked up my prescription and was heading towards Nico’s room. I was twisting off the lid as I entered the door, quickly popping a pill in my mouth and closing the bottle.
“What’s that?”
I jumped, nearly dropping my pill bottle to the floor.
“Nico?” I gasped. “Nico!” I pounced, flying toward him. My arms were around him the next second, and I was sobbing in relief. Nico was rubbing my back, allowing me to nuzzle his throat. “I- I thought you might die! I was so scared! I didn’t-“
“It’s okay Micah.” Nico sighed, nuzzling me back. He smelled like himself again, although the antiseptic smell was still faint. I sighed, relief flooding me for the first time in days. I pulled away to get a good look at him, pleased to see his face and upper body clear of wounds. “How are you?”
“Who cares? How are you? Are you in pain?” I questioned, running my hands over his arms and chest to make sure he was alright. “You looked horrible the last time I saw you.”
“Well, I woke up early this morning and Nadi helped me shift for a few hours. Most of my wounds healed then. I’m still a little bruised and sore, but i’ll be out of here by tomorrow now that I can shift and heal.” he explained, grabbing my nervous hands. “I’m okay, Micah. Really.”
I sniffled, trying to calm myself. “Has Ama seen you yet?”
“She left about an hour ago.” He responded, squeezing my hands before releasing them. “Now that that’s settled, will you tell me how you are?”
“Stop. Stop thinking of me.” I whimpered. “I’m the reason you’re here.”
“You’re not.”
“I am! I involved you in this mess and-“
“I ran out onto the field of my own accord, knowing full well what it meant.” He cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “In the moment, I believed I was sparing you a great pain. I was foolish.”
“What do you mean?” I frowned, grabbing his hand again. Nico’s whole face had darkened and he had looked away from me, clearly angry.
“Because of me… you’ll be forced to mate that monster.” He spat. “Everyone has told me what happened when I became unconscious, how he kept attacking me knowing you’d have to yield.”
“Nico-“
“I thought he was redeemable, but I was mistaken. He is a danger. He is evil. The fact that he could use our bond against you disgust me.” He continued, squeezing my hand almost painfully tight. “I should have listened to you. I should have let you kill him.”
“Hush.” I urged, looking to the door to make sure Noah hadn’t arrived yet. “It’s alright Nico. This is… just the way it has to be.”
“He can’t become alpha.”
“There’s nothing that can be done. Don’t worry about-“
“What if something could be done?” He released me, motioning to the books in his lap I had overlooked. “I asked Ama to bring me some of our books from home.”
“Why?”
“Just because he beat you- that doesn’t make him Alpha. Dad has to pass on his power in a ceremony, right? And that ceremony only comes once the elders give their blessing. Well, when I was talking to Nadi earlier she told me my wounds had been so severe that day the elders hadn’t granted their blessings. It didn’t seem right at the time.” Nico was talking a mile a minute, flipping through the largest and oldest looking book in the stack. “That means they must still give their blessing.”
“So?”
“So… the elders’ blessings serve a purpose, Micah! You know that. They’re there to make sure the wrong person doesn’t become Alpha. Oftentimes, if a wolf cheats in a battle, the elders will grant the blessing to the runner up.”
“Noah won, Nico. As much as I hate what he did, he didn’t cheat.” I sighed.
“You and Noah will have to go to each elder and ask for their blessing now.” Nico continued, ignoring me. “If five of the nine elders refuse their blessing, the alpha title falls to you again.”
“But-“
“I- i think we could do it. We could convince five of them to say no.” Nico finished. “If we do the research… you could be Alpha again. There’s still a chance, Micah. I know you’ll still have to mate him and i’m sorry, but at least you could be the head of our people. We need you.”
“Nico-“
“Micah- oh. He’s awake now.” I jumped up, the sound of Noah’s voice putting me into a panic. I rushed the door, keeping Noah from entering the room. The thought of him any nearer to my brother put my whole body on edge. I was shaking, the anxiety of watching Nico be tossed around like a rag doll putting me into protective mode. He wouldn’t enter this room. I’d sooner kill him.
“Yes.” i said stiffly, refusing to stand aside and allow him resting. “He’s still healing so…” My words trailed off. I didn’t know how to finish my sentence. So… stay away from him? So… please don’t hurt him again?
“Thats good to hear, but your father called for us.” Noah looked over my shoulder hesitantly and then quickly turned his attention back to me. “He asked us to come right away?”
“What for? We were just there?” Was the old man trying to make sure Noah hadn’t been beaten to a pulp on my watch? He was smart, but rude nonetheless.
“There’s been an attack by a rogue pack, a pack that hasn’t been listening to your fathers orders.” Noah explained, hesitating to finish.
“What? On who?”
“On the sun kings castle.”
————-
“They should be punished!” I argued with my father, his beta, and Noah. “Apa, this insolence cannot be tolerated.”
“They attacked the sun king, who is our enemy.” His Beta argued back.
“Unprovoked! At his home!” I pointed out, turning my attention back to my father. “Apa, that was wrong. We would not want our homes attacked in the night, would we? If we allow this, it sets a dangerous precedent.”
“Or maybe wins a war.” His beta argued.
“Apa,” I continued, “that pack must be dealt with. Make an example of them. There can be no attacks without your given consent! Their wolves died! There goes a chunk of our soldiers, dead, for what reason? For what purpose do we fight the sun people? Why can’t they have their land and we have ours?”
“Noah,” My dad finally spoke, turning his attention to the man standing beside me. I growled in frustration, turning my back on them, “As future alpha, what course of action do you see?”
“Well… i’ve never heard of a war being won with no action.” His words were another knife through my heart. I turned to look at him in disbelief, desperately pleading with my eyes. He looked at me for a moment, before turning back to my father. “Sometimes, the element of surprise can win a war. The pack was brave to fight.”
“You can’t be serious.” I scoffed, turning to my father once again. “Apa, at the very least, they should be punished for attacking their home. That is not noble!”
“Nobility doesn’t win wars either.” Noah spoke up again, infuriating me now.
I spun on him, my temper winning me over. “How would you know? You underhanded beast! When have you ever won a fair fight? You use tricks and evil to win!”
“Micah…” My father called my name, but I could barely hear it over the sound of my heart beating in my ears.
“You’re a monster! You’re a plague, not an Alpha!” I turned back to my father. “Will you really allow this?”
“Micah-“
“Why am I even in this meeting.” I scoffed, turning back around and storming from the room. No one followed and I was relieved.
I needed this anger. I couldn’t lose this burning hatred if I really planned to do what I needed to do. I continued my storm out, down the stairs and out of the house. I fumed through the pack lands, ignoring peoples concerned looks. I stormed all the way to the hospital, shocking nadi as I stomped my way down the corridors, throwing open Nico’s door.
“Micah, are you alright?”
“We’ll do it.” I said instead, my whole body shaking. “We must.”
“What happened, Micah?”
“Exactly what we feared.” I nearly shouted, closing his door to give us more privacy. “He’s slimy, underhanded… if he leads us we will perish under him. I can’t allow it. I can’t, Nico.”
“We won’t. Don’t worry.” Nico sat up, the movement not as smooth as usual. He flinched, obviously still in some pain. He tossed his legs over the bed and stood shakily to his feet. I came toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He buried his face in my hair, growling lowly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your smell… it’s changing.” He grumbled. “You smell like him.”
“I have to live in his house.” I mumbled against his chest, embarrassed. “I try to keep my distance but… I guess it can’t be helped.”
“Screw that.” Nico leaned down, rubbing his head in my neck. He rubbed my whole upper half with his scent until it was all I could smell. “Better?”
“Yes.” I agreed, hugging him again. I was so grateful Nico was alive. I was so grateful I ignored the gnawing feeling in my stomach that flooded me with unease at losing my mates scent.
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