*** Nate’s POV *** Everything seemed too loud, too bright, and too painful. My whole body felt as if a truck had just run over me while I was lying on a bed of nails. The consistent beeping and whirling weren’t helping the pounding in my head. I wanted to hit something. Slam it like I threw my alarm most mornings, but I couldn’t raise my arms.My panic grew as I realized I couldn’t move any part of my body. I could feel it. I could feel whatever scratchy fabric that was covering me, and that I was naked. I couldn’t move any single part of my body. Not to mention I could feel the tube shoved down my throat. It made me feel like I needed to gag, but I couldn’t even do that.Even though it was bright already, I focused on my eyelids. They seemed easier, feeling them actually move and adjust as I tried to peel them open. It felt like lifting a hundred pound dumbbell with just my eyelids. Eventually, I peeled them back enough to stare at an unfamiliar ceiling. My eyes shifted over the roo
~Trigger Warning: This story is rated 18+. This chapter contains descriptions of self-harming behaviors such as suicide, self-inflicted injuries, body harm, alcohol and drug abuse, which may be triggering for readers with lived experiences.~ I woke up with a start. Breathing heavily, I looked around my room. It was dark and nothing seemed out of place. Grabbing my chest, it felt like someone just ran a sword through me. This didn’t feel like it was coming from the runes, either.Swallowing, I got up and stumbled to my dresser. Throwing on some sweats, I made my way down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. My hand shook so violently that I could barely get any of it in my mouth.Bracing against the counter, I took a couple of deep breaths. Something wasn’t right. I felt terrible. All of me felt wrong. Turning, I headed back up the stairs and knocked on Nate’s door. When there was no answer, I turned the handle and looked in. It wasn’t its usual mess. It was completely clean w
Nate balled up his hands, his voice pleading. “Why…can’t you just try…try to accept me…try to just…”“What? You want me to mark you? Mate you? Fuck you in the ass? Really, Nate? Are you hearing yourself right now? We never did and we never will have that kind of relationship. I will not touch you like that, and you sure as hell shouldn’t be touching me like that.”Nate coughed out a sob, trying to hold back the tears still. “Silas…stop…if you need time, it’s fine. I can give you time.”“Time for what? This is it, Nate. There is nothing else. I am asking you to be present and care about the pack as Beta because as of late, you haven’t. Right now, we don’t have a Gamma to fall back on and I need you to step up.”“Silas, please…”Snorting, I shook my head. “No. If you continue this, then you need to leave. I will not have my leadership not be on the same page as I am.”“Silas!”I growled, my Alpha presence filling the room, the pressure getting heavier. Now, I was getting annoyed. This w
The front door opened, and I looked up from my tablet. Nate closed the door behind him, shoving his hands in his pockets. He walked up the stairs when I cleared my throat. His eyes met mine and I could see the lack of any and all emotion on his face. It rubbed me the wrong today, feeling like he didn’t actually care about the pack at all.“Nate, what the hell?”“What, Silas? I’m tired. I want…”I scoffed. “You want? You want to…what? Make a meeting I asked you to come to over a week ago? Or how about not skip out on training? Where the hell have you been? It wasn’t on the territory, that’s for sure. I felt you leave at the ass crack of dawn.”“Silas, I really don’t want to do this right now with you. I don’t feel well and…”“That’s not an excuse, Nate. You are my Beta. Do you know how I looked having to explain to six other Alphas that my Beta just didn’t show up to one of the most important meetings?”Suddenly, there was a fire in his eyes. Nate’s hands came out of his pockets, balle
I was sitting on the couch, my leg up wrapped in ice, when Charles slammed open the door. He looked around like the whole place was on fire. His eyes fell onto me and his head cocked to the side.“The hell happened to you?”I shrugged. “Pulled a muscle.”“He tore a muscle. He didn’t pull it. There is a difference.” Shep walked out from the kitchen after speaking with Meredith. “Keep it on ice, Alpha. It should heal by the morning, but that doesn’t mean you should walk on it. If it heals incorrectly, I’ll be going in there surgically and you don’t want that.”Sighing, I waved as he headed out. “Yes, Doc.”Charles shook his head. “Where is my mate? I get a text out of the blue saying that he has had a fever all day? Did you know?”“I told him if he didn’t text you, I would. His heat is starting.”Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. “I wish he would tell me these things before I left for work. He said he was feeling it when he woke up!”“Just take him to your apartment already. The last
*** Silas’ POV *** I sifted through the pages that Sam sent me. The problem was blatantly clear. None of these documents made sense to me. On top of that, there were hundreds of pages. Pages which looked like someone had just slammed their hands on the keyboard. Walls of words with no regard for formatting. Referencing other pages that were just a wall of words.Rubbing my temples, I mind linked Sam. ‘Sam, are you busy?’‘A bit, Alpha. Did you need something?’‘I’m having some issues making heads or tails of the documents for the new development you sent.’He laughed, actually snorting. ‘You and me both. I asked for some information to submit to the planning committee. Beta sent me all the documents, but it looks like absolute gibberish. Handed it to the committee, they took a single glance and said thank you. Like it was a picture book they could easily read.’‘Do you think you could point the different things out?’Sam was quiet for a moment. ‘Alpha, I can’t make out anything eithe