Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Weston lets the omega sink into the healing embrace.
He can feel him falling asleep against his shoulder and can’t imagine how exhausted he must be. Once he hears Millan's breathing even out, he gently laid him on the bed, pulling the covers over his small frame and brushing his hair out of his face.
His wolf’s relief is immense. Analyzing what just happened though, he frowns.
Falling asleep after a simple alpha/omega embrace is kind of an intense reaction. He wants to go and get Nara so she can check on him, but he also never wants to leave Millan's side again.
That’s when he hears a distinctive crack on the wooden floor by the door, outside of the room.
“Amir, I know you’re out there. Come in.”
Not hearing anything, Weston repeats himself but taints it with an Alpha Command.
Sure enough, the blond appears in the doorway, sheepish.
“Sorry, Weston. I was just, you know we have to talk about all this, right? It complicates things. How can you still think you’re going to send him away? You’re clearly attached... We need to- ”
“Amir. Stop.”
Millan stirs and Weston rubs his arm gently, effectively calming the omega down.
Amir doesn’t miss the gesture and hides his smirk. The alpha lowers his voice when he continues.
“We’ll talk about this later. For now, could you get Nara, please? I want her to check on Millan.”
Ever the perspicacious one, Amir understands the implication immediately and nods just before hurrying to the hospital.
*****
“I’m glad you asked me to check on him although considering Millan's situation, his reaction to alpha/omega embrace is perfectly normal. Omegas usually need more sleep than alphas and betas. I’m guessing he doesn’t get nearly enough sleep if he’s always on high alert. That would explain his exhaustion. This deep slumber is actually a good step towards healing.“
Weston, still sat next to Millan's sleeping figure on the bed, nods, reassured. He urges Nara to continue.
”His vitals are fine. I’d have to ask him a few questions and take a blood sample to do a more thorough job. I suggest doing that in the morning when he wakes. I don’t want to interrupt his sleep. He’s also severely underweight which worries me greatly. Has he eaten anything today?”
It pains Weston to say he doesn't know.
How could he not know?
Then again, why would he?
Millan isn’t his.
He technically has no reason to keep track of such a thing.
Yet.
Amir who is lingering beside the bed is the one that ends up providing an answer.
“He’s eaten a bit of pasta earlier, but he didn’t finish his serving.” A renewed wave of guilt takes over the omega.
“And he didn’t eat breakfast this morning according to the nurses.” Nara shakes her head, frowning. “Weston, I know he might not stay here for that long, but you asked me to get him back to health while he IS here and that’s what I intend on doing. I’ll provide a diet plan and we have to make sure he eats three meals a day from now on.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less from you, Nara. I’ll personally make sure he eats. It’s getting late, I say we all get some sleep and I’ll call for a Council meeting tomorrow.”
Both Amir and Nara perk up at that.
“Does that mean…?”
“Yes, Nara. Millan is staying… if the Council accepts.”
God let the Council accept, Weston hoped.
*****
When Millan wakes, he’s surprised to see the sun is up and it’s been up for a while judging by the sounds of people going about their day outside.
Usually waking up every hour or so, he’s dumbfounded as to how he slept through the night.
Then, he remembers.
Embarrassed doesn’t begin to describe how Millan is feeling.
Has he ever slept better?
No.
Is he completely rested for the first time in years?
Sure.
Still, does his face heat up at the thought knowing that he fell asleep in Weston’s arms?
Definitely.
What’s most shameful is how he wishes he could always fall asleep that way.
He blames his needy wolf and shoves the feelings aside as best he can which is not very well.
Freshening up in the bathroom, he elaborates a plan for his remaining days in the Blayne Pack. Even though he’d love nothing more than to relax and treat this as a vacation, he has to acknowledge the precarious situation he’s in.
Any way he puts it, getting his ass to the library to figure out how to cross to the Eastern Lands should be a priority.
Putting last night’s incident behind him, precious bag on his shoulders, he heads out, intent on researching how to build a boat and navigate.
As he silently slips out of his room, he realizes he won’t get much sleep if he has only twelve days to learn.
*****
“This is absurd. We’ve always based our decisions on kindness. Why the hell would the situation be any different?”
“I want to be kind too, Weston, but we’ve never admitted a Rogue in our pack since that one time. He’s only been here for three days! We don’t even know why his pack banished him in the first place.”
Weston is fuming.
Grant, their Military Advisor, is being absolutely unreasonable and they’ve been arguing for the past hour.
Furthermore, Weston’s been having this gut feeling telling him he should check on Millan. He’s been dying to get out of the meeting to do so. Knowing Grant isn’t about to budge anytime soon, he turns to Jace.
“Could you check on Millan? I think he’s woken up... Make sure he eats.”
Jace frowns and tilts his head to the side, confused as to how Weston would know.
“Yeah. Sure.” He stands up and sets out to find the omega while Weston goes back to his frustrating argument.
“Look, Grant, Nara said he won’t last long if-”
“That’s beside the point, Weston.”
“How is Millan's health beside the point?”
“He’s not pack!”
“He should be!”
“Weston.”
Weston’s head snaps towards the Elder.
It’s the first time he’s spoken for the last hour. Although he never raises his voice, when Malakai Blayne speaks, everybody listens.
Weston gestures for him to continue.
“Why are you pushing so hard to make Millan stay? With what happened to your parents, I would have thought you’d be the last one to ever accept a rogue in our pack.”
Weston frowns.
“I did initially react on the defensive, thinking of my parents. But then I met Millan and… he’s nothing like the rogue that killed them. The situation is totally different.” Weston shrugs, feeling absolutely pathetic and extremely small under the Elder’s scrutinizing gaze.
Silence settles as everyone waits to see if Malakai is going to add anything. It’s Amara, the Finance Advisor that breaks it.
“May I ask how you knew Millan was awake just now?”
Weston’s mouth opens only to close again.
“What?” Weston shakes his head, as if trying to put his thoughts into place.
“I don’t know...”
“You stated he was awake as if you knew it for a fact.”
“Did I?”
“They’re Fated Mates…” As he says it, more to himself, Amir’s eyes widen in realization.
“You two are Fated Mates, aren’t you? It would explain so much!”
“What are you on about, Amir? Fated Mates are… we haven’t seen soulmates in decades!”
“It’s highly improbable, but it isn’t impossible.” Malakai continues with a leveled voice. “And from what I saw, it would make a lot of sense.”
Seeing the confused look on his grandson’s face, Malakai elaborates.
“You’ve been on edge since Millan has arrived which is absolutely out of character for you. You’re so attuned to him even though you just met him. Just now, you knew when he was awake- a total giveaway for a deeper bond. And you’re fighting for a rogue to stay even though your parents were killed by one. Also, the face you make when you talk about Millan...”
“I don’t make a face.”
“You do make a face.” Amir interjects, amused.
“I don’t.” Weston’s eyes shoot daggers at his annoying blond friend.
“Would you like to acknowledge the other points I made or do you want to get stuck on that one?” The Elder states calmly.
“I’d like to get stuck on that one, thanks.” Weston mumbles looking down at the table and crossing his arms over his chest like a petulant child in front of his grandfather.
“Look, Weston, I can’t imagine how overwhelming it must be to realize you’ve met your Fated Mate, but unfortunately, you don’t really have time to process it. Obviously, we need to account for this new information in our decision making.” Saying so, Malakai looks at Grant pointedly.
“Is it true, Weston? Is he your Fated Mate?” The latter asks.
Weston thinks back on the small amount of time he’s had with Millan.
The anxiety creeping up on him every time he leaves the omega. How it felt holding him the night prior, his calming scent, the way he did know Millan was awake just now.
His eyes widen as he slowly sees what his grandfather has been saying.
“Yes. I believe Millan is my Fated Mate.”
“Okay. Well I guess that’s that. We don’t have a choice.” Grant acknowledges.