Chapter 33: Chapter 33

They’re in Millan's bedroom.

And Millan is realizing now that he’s starting to think of it as ‘his’ and not the ‘guest’ bedroom. He doesn’t have time to dwell on that.

Nara made him sit on the bed while she rolls the desk chair to sit in front of him as if they were in a hospital room and she was going to check on him.

It makes Millan nervous.

“So… I just wanted to follow up on everything, see how you were doing.”

Millan shrugs, everybody’s kindness starting to make him uneasy.

Why would Nara care at all?

Before the Blayne Pack, Millan could easily identify the reason behind anyone’s actions. In a way, it was easier to deal with people like his uncle.

Even now, it’s easier to deal with people like Dax who’s intentions are pretty clear: getting in Millan's pants.

It’s annoying, creepy and uncomfortable, but at least, it’s clear.

Millan can deal with that.

But with people like Nara, like Andy, Amir, Madelyn and most of all, Weston, it’s hard to understand why they’d act so caring towards someone like Millan. And now with Weston acting so protective when Millan's well-being isn’t worth getting so worked up over.

It’s overwhelming, almost as if he’s drowning in kind gestures and words and he just needs a moment to breathe, to get his head out of the water for a second.

“I’m fine. Great.”

Millan is done with the conversation already.

He wants to talk to Weston. He wants to see that he isn’t that aggressive, that he imagined the whole thing with Dax.

Most of all, he wants to go back to this morning and redo the whole day.

Nara is not buying it one bit. She’s looking at him with the same worried look she’d given him on his first day in the Blayne Pack.

“Have you and Weston thought about mating yet?”

Millan's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and he chokes on nothing. He feels his cheeks redden in embarrassment.

They haven’t even had sex yet, let alone thought about mating. Besides, couples usually waited a year or two, sometimes longer before putting their mark on their partner.

Mating being extremely painful to reverse if one or the other changed their minds afterwards.

So why would Nara assume they’d already thought about something like that?

Nara is completely unbothered by Millan's nervous demeanor and waits patiently for his answer.

“We… umm, haven’t talked about it. It- it’s a bit… too soon, don’t you think?”

“I mean, you both know you’re soul mates, it’s kind of bound to happen, don’t you think?”

Millan shrugs, looking down at his hands to avoid Nara’s scrutinizing gaze. He could still feel the warmth of Andy’s hands against his.

In truth, Millan would already feel pretty lucky if Weston were interested in dating him at all, let alone mating with him.

“Well, have you at least discussed a date to make you officially part of the pack yet?”

Millan was taken back to their deal the day before. Weston still has to make sure Millan is worth it.

Nothing was sure yet.

Why would Nara care about this?

“I… Umm, no. We’re kind of making sure that’s what Weston wants first.”

Nara sighs deeply and it must be the most expressive Millan has seen her. She rests her head in her hands for a second, looking… annoyed?

Millan is puzzled.

“Millan…” Nara sighs again and Millan is completely lost now.

“What? What did I say?”

Nara smiles and shakes her head from side to side.

Exasperated?

Yeah she looks exasperated.

“Millan… It’s extremely evident that that’s what Weston wants. Don’t you see?”

Millan blinks slowly, trying to make sense of Nara’s statement.

“You’re wolf must be screaming at you! There’s no way you don’t see it…”

Millan opens his mouth and closes it again, unsure of what to say. He doesn’t see it. He isn’t sure what IT is.

Nara sighs again and Millan frowns, a bit annoyed.

What is Nara seeing that Millan isn’t?

Is Millan that oblivious?

“Okay. Well, let me ask it this way. Have you noticed Weston becoming increasingly protective, maybe even aggressive?”

Millan raises an eyebrow, still confused as to what this is all about. Nara rolls her eyes.

“Have you noticed, maybe him throwing another alpha into the wall and threatening to ban a member of the pack for the first time in his entire leadership this morning?”

As Millan slowly catches up, Nara gives him a sympathetic look.

How could Millan have been so stupid?

Of course, Weston’s wolf would go crazy with its Fated Mate always talking about leaving.

He just didn’t think anyone would care enough about him. He didn’t believe anyone could care that much.

But again, this is all just the soul bond. Nothing Weston has actually chosen.

“The fact that you’re not even an official member of the pack yet and haven’t mated, it’s probably why he’s been acting so protective the past few days. He’s in a constant battle with his wolf, trying to restrain it. I’m telling you, I’ve never seen Weston lose his cool like that. He’s always been extremely mellow and happy go lucky, and lenient, even for an Alpha. But you should know first-hand, trying to contain your wolf’s instinct, that’s… really difficult. You have more practice, but Weston has never had to do that.”

“Oh.”

Fuck.

So it’s Millan’s fault. He’d blamed Weston seconds ago for being so aggressive. He’d doubted Weston’s character when it was all Millan's fault.

He knows he needs to make this right. He needs to see Weston, to apologize and to find a way to put Weston’s wolf to rest.

Nothing else will alleviate this ball of guilt sitting heavy at the bottom of his stomach.

*****

“Come again?”

Weston’s only desire at the moment is to go back to Millan.

To make amends.

This woman’s presence isn’t the greatest timing. But it’s his responsibility and he tries to push the thoughts of Millan away and tries to concentrate on the situation at hand.

“My name is Stella Embers. I’m looking for my daughter.”

The woman looks like she’s been through a lot to get there. Barely standing, her clothes are ripped in multiples places, revealing scratches and bruises.

Weston already knows he’s going to let her in to, at least, see Nara. But he wants to make sure this isn’t a ploy from Axel Brook first.

They might not have declared open war, but their situation is slippery at best.

“Why do you think your daughter is on our territory?”

“I KNOW she is because sixteen years ago, I gave her away to a human family on the Blayne Territory.”

There is something in the woman’s blue eyes. A familiar determination, Weston feels like he’s seen it before, but he can’t quite put his finger on it.

The look in her eyes is clear though, it’s a look that only a mother looking for her child could have. A look that says she’ll cross the border no matter what. She will stop at nothing to see her daughter again. And that has Weston taking a cautious step back.

“I don’t think I can let you disturb your daughter’s life without her knowing about it first.”

“I understand. I’ll wait.”

That takes Weston by surprise and he pauses. He can’t, in good conscience, let her camp out here in her current condition.

“Okay. Look, I can see you need to rest and maybe we can have a doctor look you over. I’ll let you cross but only if you promise to wait for me to find your daughter first and respect your daughter’s desire. It should be her choice if she wants to meet you or not.”

Stella nods. “I understand. I promise.”

Weston is silent for a moment, still unsure about the woman’s sincerity.

“Just so we’re clear, if she doesn’t want to meet you, I’m going to have to send you away.”

“Yes. I understand. I agree.”

Weston purses his lips. There’s a moment of silence where Weston tries to figure out if she’s being genuine.

“Weston?”

The Head Alpha stifles a groan. Of course, Grant would have something to say. Still, he is part of the Council and Weston’s duty is to take his advice into account. So he turns to him.

“Yes, Grant?”

“I don’t think this is a good idea. Axel Brook could have sent her here.”

“I know. But I believe she’ll cross, permission or no permission.”

Grant frowns and takes another look at the woman standing before them. After a moment, he seems to come to the same conclusion as Weston and nods.

“Okay. But I’ll put a guard on her.”

“I wouldn’t expect any less of you, Grant.”

In truth, Weston would have asked Grant to put a tail on her anyway. Finally, Weston inhales deeply,

“I, Weston Blayne, Head Alpha of the Blayne Pack, give you permission to cross the Blayne Territory.”

As soon as the formality is over, Grant orders two guards to accompany Stella to Headquarters and Weston can only hope he won’t regret his decision.

As soon as he marches back to Headquarters however, his thoughts are consumed by Millan.

They’d parted on a weird note. He’d acted irrationally. He’d let his wolf’s anger consume him in a way he’d never experience before.

In truth, when he was reminded of Millan’s want to build a boat to leave,when Andy was talking to Millan, acting so friendly, and when he saw Dax again, acting so casually around Millan, he’d lost control.

He was agitated and just so… jealous. It’s embarrassing to admit but he still isn’t so sure how it happened.

When he’d looked into Millan's eyes earlier, he swore he saw fear. That was the last thing he ever wanted to put into those gorgeous violet eyes.

The guilt is overpowering any other thought and he can’t wait to set things straight again.

To apologize profusely until Millan believes he won’t let his emotions consume him like that ever again.

*****

Millan is a jittery mess.

After his conversation with Nara, he’d thought of running to Weston straight away, but he didn’t want to bother him while he was on Alpha duty.

His omega’s impatience is killing him, screaming at him to make things right with his alpha. He can’t wait to tell Weston how sorry he is, hoping he’ll forgive him.

All he can do is wait for him to return and hope he’ll at least hear Millan out.