Chapter 11: Chapter 11

The alpha’s grip is so tight it will probably leave a bruise.

The marble ground crushes his knees as Millan gets tossed in front of the pack leader. Another alpha drops his precious bag beside him.

Millan grabs it hastily as he glances at the exit guarded by two bulky wolves.

“Millan Caelan. It’s been brought to my attention that you keep stealing from humans and wolves all over our territory. I take great offence in this.”

“It’s not my fault that you’re easily offended.”

“You will not interrupt me when I speak!”

Millan is amazed to see the feeble alpha command bring the omegas in the room to their knees.

“Sure, sorry, go right ahead,” he gestures for the Alpha to continue.

The leader frowns. Millan gets a thrill every time he shows off his capacity to ignore an alpha command and can’t help the satisfied smirk taking over his face.

“Insubordination isn’t going to help your case.”

“I mean my case is pretty clear already, isn’t it? You’re kicking me out, I get it.”

It’s juvenile to make this moment last longer than it has to and Millan's getting tired of Alpha’s making a show out of it. He can see how Axel Brook is annoyed that Millan's beaten him to the punch.

“Millan Caelan, you are to return every item you stole before the end of the day and then, yes indeed, you are not welcome here anymore.”

Millan's heart drops.

How is he supposed to return everything?

He’s been stealing what he needs for the last week. Most of the stolen items, he consumed in food.

How is he supposed to return the money he spent?

“I only stole what I needed. I can’t really return food I’ve eaten, can I?”

“That is not my problem, is it? You are to make amends with everyone you’ve wronged. That is my final decision.”

The fucker has the audacity to leave when Millan would have had countless things left to say. Many of which wouldn’t be too appropriate anyway so he guesses it’s better he leaves it at that.

As people in the room are distracted by their Alpha’s retreating figure, the omega makes a run for the exit.

Brushing against Axel Brook, Millan dodges the guard’s futile attempts to stop him. The moment he sets foot outside the main house, he laughs at the uncoordinated alphas chasing him.

Feeling liberated, he runs in the direction of the Southern Border, the Blayne Territory.

However high the stakes, the chase has always been a fun part. He knows he’s good at it. It’s empowering.

It helps him ignore the hurt that’s inevitable when you realize you don’t fit in anywhere.

Millan startles awake.

He turns towards the faint noise of someone entering the room, preparing to defend himself until he remembers where he is and sees Amir awkwardly standing in the doorway.

The blond looks smaller than he did just minutes ago, fidgeting with his sleeves and transferring his weight from one leg to another.

*****

Weston has been silent for at least an hour, letting the Council discuss the defensive plans for the Northern Border.

They’d had those kinds of discussion before and the heated debate is quite frankly not helping his growing headache.

Even if he wanted to participate, Weston has felt completely off since Millan's arrival.

Every time he leaves the omega, a ball of anxiety forms in his guts. It’s as if his wolf can’t be settled if he doesn’t know for sure that Millan is safe.

Although now, he’s getting restless, unsure why.

Sensing that something is wrong, he has this urge to make sure Millan is not in trouble.

It’s unreasonable and he tries to push it aside and focus on the Council meeting but worry is taking over his every thought.

He finally gives in to his impulse and abruptly stands up.

The Council members, stunned, take a bit of time before they stand as well in a show of respect.

“I’m sorry, I just need to take care of something. Please continue, I won’t be too long.”

He exchanges a look with the Elder who nods understandingly although Weston isn’t sure what the latter actually knows.

*****

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Can I come in?”

Millan rubs sleep and ominous images out of his eyes as he gets up and nods.

“Sure.”

“Uhm.”

They’re both gauging each other, Millan wondering what else Amir could possibly want to know now and the other wondering where to begin.

“Can we sit?” Amir points to the bed and Millan obliges.

The obvious nervous demeanor of the other omega makes Millan weirdly gain confidence and he gets comfortable, sitting cross legged on the bed while Amir sits stiffly beside him, looking down to the bedding.

“I’m sincerely sorry.”

Millan can see how ashamed he looks and can’t hide his shock.

People here will never stop surprising him. Before he can ask what Amir would possibly be sorry about, the latter continues.

“You have no idea how guilty I feel. I was talking out of my ass earlier and I was being completely insensitive.”

Millan is about to interject, tell him that he’s used to it and it really doesn’t matter, but Amir cuts him off, knowing how abused omegas craving affection are sometimes too forgiving.

“No, let me finish, before you accept my apology way too quickly. You’ve been through things that I couldn’t possibly imagine. Just now, Jace and Andy had to confront me because of how I was being a jerk, then comfort me because I tried to empathize with you a little bit. I realize now how privileged I am. I always have brothers and a pack around to help me through tough times, I never have to go through them alone. Well, except for heats since I’m still unmated. Not only have you been through way tougher times than I have, but you’ve had to go through it without the natural comforts omegas need. I-”

Amir looks up, meeting Millan's gaze and holding it. “I just wish I wasn’t a jerk to you just now. You deserve way better. I can only tell you that I know you are good and I promise you from now on, I’ll help in every way I can. I will convince Weston and the Council to make you pack and make sure you get the treatment you need.”

Millan coughs trying to regain his composure, the words having pierced his walls deeper than he would have liked.

“I don’t know what to say, Amir. Thank you for apologizing. I don’t think it was necessary though. I understand why you asked those questions, you have every right to protect your pack and- oof,” Millan doesn’t have time to finish his train of thought as the blond captures him in an engulfing hug.

“You ARE pack, Millan. It’s just not official yet.”

Why Amir could make that kind of statement is beyond Millan, but he can’t help the watery veil forming over his eyes and his genuine smile.

He happily returns the hug.

The door to his room opens abruptly and Millan wonders if Weston doesn’t know another way to enter a room.

“Millan, are you okay?”

The subject in question begrudgingly detangles himself from Amir to look up at the Alpha who looks sincerely worried as he strode in the room like he owns it.

Well, yeah, he was the Pack Alpha. Of course he owns everything there.

The omega, a bit embarrassed by the emotion his face surely still displays, nods, unsure of Weston’s intention.

“Have you been crying? Are you alright?” Weston is suddenly touching his cheeks and looking into his eyes and his smell is suffocatingly god sent and Millan can’t think properly and why would Weston care?

Why would he barge in only to know if Millan is okay?

And why does it feel so disorienting having Weston’s face so close to his?

“I- umm… yeah…” is all he can mutter.

“Yeah as in yes you’ve been crying? Amir, what happened?”

Suddenly, the receptor of the piercing, demanding gold eyes, Amir, startles.

“What? I- nothing! I mean- well. I was just apologizing. I think everything’s okay now…”

“Apologizing?” Weston turns back to Millan, still holding the omega’s face in his hands.

He seems to realize the oddness of his behavior and releases his hold, worry never leaving his face.

Millan lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“I should probably leave.” Amir retreats slowly towards the door, but Weston stops him.

“What were you apologizing for?”

Amir looks like a deer caught in the headlights and Millan takes pity on him.

“He didn’t do anything. Let him go, Weston.”

To Millan's astonishment, the Alpha listens and allows Amir to leave the room. The omega sent Millan a thumbs up before closing the door, giving him and Weston some unneeded privacy.

“So?” Weston’s expectant look annoys Millan who has a hard time understanding what’s happening.

“So what? You barge in here as if I just screamed for help or something. I’m totally fine. I don’t get it.”

Weston brushes his hair back seeming to calm down a bit.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just- I’ve been feeling anxious.” Weston looks at Millan as if that was explanation enough.

“Okay?”

“Like anxious about you. Like something was wrong, I don’t know. And something IS wrong. You’ve been crying, I can see it. I’ve never- ugh. I just. Are you really fine?”

Another werewolf, an alpha, is feeling worried about Millan and not any alpha but one that looks and smells like he was sent only to torture him.

Millan is speechless, only capable of opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

Weston takes this as a negative answer to his question and sits down on the same spot Amir was on moments ago and engulfs the omega in a tight hug.

That’s two hugs in a very short amount of time and Millan has lost the ability to speak forever.

This one feels extremely different though. It’s warmer and if he let himself sink into it, he’d probably drop just by how good it feels.

Turning his head into Weston’s broad shoulder, he lets himself analyze Weston’s scent.

A forest after the rain, when everything’s still wet but rays of sun pierce through the clouds and leaves.

The image is stuck in his mind as the hug lingers.

Weston is way taller, and bigger than him. He had seen and encountered a lot of alpha, but Weston might be the biggest he’d seen.

It’s comforting and unnerving at the same time.

Like being in a safe place that you didn’t know existed or even wanted to be in.