Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Millan stifles a groan as Nara probes his bruised cheek.

Every time he winces, the crease between Weston’s eyebrows deepens. Millan doesn’t like seeing him so worried and jittery. It unnerves him.

Nara rolls her chair back and takes off her gloves. Millan relaxes, dangling his legs from his perch on the bed.

“It’s not healing very fast.”

“Don’t worry about it, Nara. I’ve always been a little slower when it comes to healing. But I always heal eventually.”

He gives her a reassuring smile, as much for her as for Weston which is currently standing right behind her.

Biting her lip, the doctor doesn’t seem too convinced.

“Still, a bruise like that should have healed in four to six hours. It’s been, what? Twenty-four hours? It’s as if… you’re healing like a human.”

“Really, Nara, I wouldn’t worry too much. I’m going to be just fine. I’ve had way worse.”

Millan shrugs and realizes that his statement didn’t ease the tension in Weston’s demeanor but rather aggravated it.

“Is your leg still bothering you?”

Millan's eyes flick to Weston for a second.

“Uhm... no, not really.”

“Could I have a look at it?”

Again, Millan can’t stop his gaze from turning to Weston who is unnaturally stoic and quiet, bottom lip pinched between his index and his thumb. It’s more sexy than it should be. And Millan is gaping a little and he should probably focus on something else other than on how much he thinks Weston is hot.

His gaze flicks back to Nara. In truth, his leg has been giving him some trouble. He knows as a werewolf that he should heal way faster than he is, but he’s also gotten used to the slow process.

He’s not dumb. He is very aware that this is a sign of neglect- of an omega who hasn’t gotten the proper care that he should have but, honestly, at this point, he doesn’t even know what ‘having the proper care’ means and feels like.

He is used to this, but he’d prefer it if Weston wouldn’t know about it.

Millan is just so weak. He wishes he wasn’t, but he is. He almost dropped for no reason yesterday for fuck’s sake!

Weston doesn’t need another reason to confirm how fragile Millan is.

What if he comes to the conclusion that Millan is in fact not worth his attention?

“Millan?” Weston’s stature has grown even more concerned if that’s even possible.

Millan has been hesitating for too long and now, they’ll make a bigger deal out of it than they should. He sighs in lieu of an answer and lifts his trousers over his calf and lets Nara take off the bandage he’d put on the damage himself.

The red gash created by lacerated nails isn’t too pretty to look at.

Weston’s lips tighten and Nara gasps.

Weston takes a step forward.

“Mill… It must hurt, you should have said something.”

“I’m fine, Weston. It doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”

Weston rolls his eyes and shakes his head slightly. Millan bites his lip and looks down at his lap, ashamed. Weston turns to Nara.

“I don’t understand. He purred last night. Shouldn’t that have helped? At least a little?”

Millan's head snaps up.

What?

“What? I didn’t purr! I don’t purr…”

Weston’s smile is crooked.

Oh gosh… Did I really… purr?

“You did, Mill.”

“I- that’s not- you’re probably confused, Weston. I’m telling you, I don’t purr.”

“Mill, I’m not confused. You purred pretty loudly. It was hard to miss, honestly.”

Millan is searching for any signs of disgust in Weston’s face, in his demeanor, but he’s just looking at him with a smile.

Is he mocking him?

Millan is absolutely mortified. His face is burning and he is probably redder than a tomato.

“You don’t have to be ashamed, Millan. Purring is very natural for an omega. Especially if you’re hurt. It helps you get better.”

Helps me get better? Millan doubts that.

He’s never purred. He’s never dropped. And now, in the same night, he’s done both.

Well he hasn’t really dropped but he would have if Weston didn’t stop him. Point is, he’s never done those weak omega stuff and he’s always been proud of that.

“I’ve never done that before.”

He feels like he should justify himself to Weston so that he doesn’t think of him as a defenseless omega.

“You’ve never purred before?” Weston’s shocked expression adds to Millan's discomfort.

He doesn’t know what’s bad anymore.

Is it that he purred at all or that he never did before? Or both?

Millan is so confused right now.

“No. Not that I know of. Is that… weird?”

Of course it’s weird. Gosh. He is such a freak.

“No. It’s not. Omegas need to feel safe in order to act upon their self-soothing instincts. Considering the circumstances, all of this isn’t very surprising. Maybe you never felt safe enough before.”

Millan swallows. He nods distractedly, unsure if he’s agreeing with Nara or just expressing his understanding.

Nara’s words turn in his head.

Right.

Self-soothing instincts.

Whatever that means.

*****

Millan is supposed to be ‘resting’.

Nara had almost alpha commanded him to sleep. Which wouldn’t have worked anyway.

So here he is, lying on a hospital bed, arms crossed, staring at the ceiling and puffing in frustration every two seconds.

In truth, resting would be way easier if Weston would have stayed. As much as he’d hate to admit it, Weston’s presence never fails to put his omega at ease. But he had Alpha things to do and Millan wouldn’t have asked him.

He’d never embarrass himself like that. Only now he kind of wished he did.

Would Weston have stayed if he’d asked?

“Hey, how’s the patient?”

Millan jumps, head snapping to the door, eyes wide. He was so caught up in his thoughts he hadn’t heard the door open.

Weak. Again.

This place is turning him soft.

It’s Dax.

Of course it is.

Dax is leaning on the door frame because apparently, that’s the only way he can stand: always leaning on things.

Dax is with his usual dumb smirk.

Dax is in… scrubs?

Millan's head turns back to the ceiling as Dax closes the door behind him and approaches the bed. He tries not to show how fast his heart is beating. He doesn’t like Dax and he certainly isn’t keen on being in an enclosed room alone with him.

“You a doctor or something?”

Dax doesn’t seem fazed by Millan's closed off demeanor or the fact that he is speaking to the roof.

“Yes, I am. I was helping Nara with a patient and she told me you were resting in here.”

“So you decided to bother me while I’m resting? Some great doctor you are.”

Millan isn’t joking but Dax laughs. It’s extremely irritating.

“You caught me! Honestly though… I wanted to see you. To be fair, you didn’t really seem like you were resting when I came in.”

Gosh, Dax’s smell is just… too much.

Millan swallows and tries to breathe with his mouth.

“I am very relaxed, thank you for your concern.”

Dax snorts. “I can see that. Come on, Millan, you’re all tensed. Maybe I can help you out.”

Dax extends a hand on Millan's knee, tall frame hovering over him.

“Just relax, Millan.”

Dax puts his other hand on Millan's shoulder.

Millan doesn’t budge from his position. He should push the alpha off but he feels paralyzed.

What is that smell?

He can’t put his finger on it.

Rose? Geranium? Lilac?

Definitely a flower.

Dax forces Millan to uncross his arms, finding no resistance.

Lavender. It’s lavender, he realized.

Dax is moving closer. There’s a hand on Millan's cheek, another on his waist.

“There you go, Millan… relax.”

“Relax and stop fighting.”

Scream caught in his throat, Millan stays still, tears fall down his cheeks. He wants to scream, push him off.

But he can’t. He can’t disobey.

Alpha said not to scream. Alpha said to stay still. Alpha said to relax.

“I’m going to make you feel good. Just relax for me.” Dax said.

Lavender. It’s everywhere now.

His uncle’s hands are everywhere.

Millan squeezes his eyes shut.

It’s worse.

He can smell more. He can feel more. He opens his eyes again.

His uncle is hovering over him, touching him.

Millan can’t move.

“Millan? Will you just- Stop freaking out! Millan?”

He wants to scream but alpha told him not to. He has to.

Fuck Alpha Commands.

Come on, Millan, push him off!

No!

He commanded you to stay still.

Be a good boy.

He cries silently as he fights his omega.

He’s trying to push him, to punch him but his omega is keeping him still.

Silent. Powerless. Weak.

His omega is weak.

“Mill!”

Mill?

He isn’t in his body anymore. He sees himself from above.

Sees his uncle pounding into a strange body.

It isn’t his. It can’t be his.

Where is he?

“Millan, love, I’m here. You’re safe, you’re okay.”

Love? His uncle doesn’t call him love. It’s not right.

It smells like rain. It smells like forest after the rain.

“Weston?”

“Yes, Mill, it’s me.”

Weston’s arms are hugging him to his chest. Millan is sobbing.

Why is he sobbing? And why can’t he stop?

“You’re safe, Mill. You’re safe. Let it out. You’re okay.”