The library is degenerately massive.From the foyer where he stands, impossibly high ladders lead to the highest books. Impressive wooden stairs, engraved with gold molding lead up two floors above his head.People are milling about in silence, reading in different lounging areas, looking through the indefinite options on the shelves.Millan even notices some of them in their wolf form, relaxing next to readers.Everything looks so peaceful and majestic.The omega’s tentative steps into the quiet space reverberate through the marble floor. Madelyn is observing him with a knowing grin.“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”Millan can’t stop gazing at the space, trying to scrutinize every little detail and memorize them.Even whispering feels too loud.“How? No pack Headquarters I’ve seen is like this. I mean- what- how?”Madelyn leads him to a nearby corner furnished with big vibrant poufs and smaller shelves where pups are reading small colorful books.Their words are muffled by the lower ceiling
When Weston suggested he move from the hospital room to a guest room in the main house, Millan imagined he would be placed into a less comfortable area in the basement.Years of experience free loading off of reluctant packs taught him not to expect the best treatment. But this must be the nicest place he’s ever been in.The heavy duvet and numerous pillows on the king sized bed make it hard not to throw himself on it dramatically as soon as he opens the door.Colourful paintings hung on the walls, windows decorated with greenery go as high as the ceiling, the hand carved wood everywhere makes the place feel cozy and elegant.In all honesty, Millan could stay in this room for the remainder of his stay and be totally content.But hunger and a rumbling stomach are getting hard to ignore.He vaguely remembers pancake and eggs being brought to him at the hospital in the morning, but he’d gotten side tracked with stealing and exploring.A frustrating habit of his. It’s with food in mind th
“What the hell, Amir?”“That was really harsh, brother.”“I know, I know. I’ll apologize to him, but I had to test him.”With his older brothers full on frowning and glaring at him, Amir feels a pang of guilt in his guts.“I had to! He looked off when he entered the kitchen at first. I thought he might have been dishonest and I had to test his sincerity.”“What do you mean ‘he looked off’?”Now both alpha and beta looked puzzled and worried.“I mean like, he knows Jace is following him but he acts like he doesn’t know.”“What? No way. He doesn’t know, I’ve been so careful. I even use scent neutralizers. There’s just no way.”Amir looks at him regrettably.“Well, Jace, I know you’re really good at your job, the best even. But I guess Millan's pretty good too. He wasn’t unfazed at all when you entered the kitchen. He even looked like he expected it. Then, when you introduced yourself to him, it’s like he already knew your name. And when we told him what you do for a living, he tried to
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
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?
Millan is hunched over and surrounded by a multitude of books and papers in a far corner of the library when Jace finally finds him.He tries to be subtle in his approach, wanting to observe the omega and see what he’s up to- a training habit. But as soon as he enters Millan's vicinity, the latter doesn’t even have to look up from his reading material to spot him.“Were you here to stalk or to talk? I can’t tell if you’re trying to be subtle.”The little shit, Jace can’t help the smile creeping up on his face.“How do you always know when I’m there?”Millan does look up now, dumbfounded.“Your smell, obviously.”“My smell? But I use scent neutralizers...” Jace tries not to sit on any books as he settles next to Millan who’s chuckling.“Scent neutralizers don’t really cover scent. It’s like a band-aid on an open wound.”The skeptic look on Jace’s face urges Millan to extrapolate.“A werewolf’s scent is layered like an onion. The neutralizers only cover the most obvious part of it, but
Gasps and murmurs surround them as Millan takes the new information in. He’s as shocked as their impromptu audience.“I can stay? You mean… indefinitely?”Weston’s features soften.“Yeah, Mill. You can stay. Indefinitely. I didn’t want to tell you like this, but yeah.”“Does that mean he’s going to become part of the pack?” a beta asks just loud enough to be heard over the whispers of the crowd.Millan swallows and looks at Weston, waiting anxiously for his answer.The Alpha looks uncomfortable. Nervous.Like he has to deliver bad news and that’s answer enough for Millan.He isn’t pack. He’s allowed to stay, but he’s not pack.They’ll tolerate his presence, nothing more. It’s dumb to feel hurt about that.No other pack has ever extended that much courtesy his way. He knows he doesn’t fit in and should be glad he has found a place that doesn’t chase him away and threaten him of death should he return.He shouldn’t expect more than that. He shouldn’t.But his stupid attention craving wo
Millan slept for two hours until he’s up and alert again.He tries to go back to sleep but it’s no use. He keeps thinking of the Council’s decision. Turning it in his head and trying to make sense of his sentiments about it.He is happy. Of course he is. He can stay in one place- no hiding, no fear of being attacked or chased away.He’s never encountered a pack who was willing to tolerate him and that says a lot about Weston’s Pack.He should just be happy of how lucky he is. But he can’t help the disappointment. He is disappointed that the pack does not want to accept him. And he is angry with himself for being disappointed about that.He figures he’s just in adoration with the harmony he sees in this pack. With the beauty of Headquarters. With the kindness that seems to propel everybody’s actions here.He figures that he’s also tired of running away, of pulling teeth just to survive another day. He figures that is why he is so upset that they’re not making him an official member of