Before, I hadn't really cared about anything around me. I just tried to figure out how to either shift or find some sort of food before I starve. Now, standing there staring out into the open cave full of mingling bodies, I could feel my heart rate pick up.
I knew almost no one, my world had consisted of only the pups and then Max. Now, I was facing an entire pack of unfamiliar wolves. Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed the edge of Max’s sleeve. It was something I often did when nervous, Chelsea allowing me to cling to her when I felt overwhelmed. To reach out to someone who was virtually a stranger and seek comfort was something I’d never done before, I had no clue what’d possessed me to do so.
Flushing, I went to pull away as Max turned around with a questioning gaze. Gently covering my hand with his own, he took my now limp hand and pulled me closer.
“It’s alright to be nervous,” he murmured. “You don’t have to come out here, I can get you some food and bring the alpha to the room.” Blinking, I wondered why I needed to meet the alpha. I didn’t want to seem like a baby, but the eyes I felt roaming over me made me sweat nervously. I quietly agreed to return to the room. Gazing down at my shoes, I feared his reaction. “Alright, you can go back.” His voice was so much softer than I had expecting, making me wince like he had spoken. Ducking my head farther, I let him lead me away. I feared what others thought as I sat down on Max’s bed. I felt silly and ashamed, but Max smiled down at me and ran his fingers through my hair. I looked up, surprised at the action and further surprised over the fact that I didn’t mind.
I wanted to curl up under the blankets and hide from the world, but I knew that I had to face the cave full of strangers sooner than later. Max did not say anything else, he let me burrow under the covers and quietly telling me he’d be back, departed.
Face burning, I wondered what I'd done to deserve his kindness. Chelsea had always been the nicest person I knew, letting me get away with an extra bite of dinner or with sleeping in as long as the pups got to, but Max was suddenly doing more. Chelsea wouldn’t have allowed me to cower in my room at the idea of meeting dozens of new people, she would have dragged me along despite my concerns. She’d never willing give me one of her shirts, I had one and I was expected to keep it clean.
I felt confused, frustrated and a little sick. Losing so much weight in only two weeks obviously hadn’t been good for me. Now that I’d filled my belly, the aching cramps had dispersed but I was feeling rather nauseous. It was a relief though, I could think and feel normally. Before, drifting from moment to moment in a fever-dream state, I hadn’t been able to do this, and I never realized how I’d taken it for granted.
When Max finally returned, I had drifted off but woke quickly when I felt someone touching my hair. Eyes slowly peeling open, I sleepily blinked up and was discombobulated for a full minute. I wondered where I was, who I was with, when Max’s smiling face came into focus. I hated the way my stomach dropped every single time my memories kicked in. I was always easily distracted, but the jarring reality checks were starting to become painful.
I was alone out here, I’d lost everything.
“Hey there, welcome to the land of the living.” I snapped out of my thoughts, Max’s fingers still working against my scalp. It felt ridiculously good and I almost felt like returning to sleep.
“He’s still small, ain’t he?” I shrank under the covers, looking past Max to see the alpha. I remembered him from my first day, how small I’d felt under all the gazes. At that moment I was extremely glad that I was covered, my pants had come off before I’d slipped off into slumber. Flushing at the idea of them walking in to seeing me half-naked, I gripped the sheets near my mouth like a small child.
“He was just starved for almost two weeks, you’d be small too.” I gaped up at Max in surprise, both appalled and in awe that he’d dare talk to his alpha like that. If I’d done that to my alpha, I’d have been backhanded before sent away for the rest of the night. Just the thought had me trembling.
Instead, the alpha let out a gruff laugh. My eyes darted nervously between the two, the lack of response from the alpha had my stomach twisting into knots. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop but instead, they continued like it’d never happened. I felt sick off of apprehension, but I tried not to let it show.
“This is the alpha, Marc.” I sat up, letting the blankets pool in my lap. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I gave a small wave to him. I felt awkward and out of place, not sure where I stood currently. I feared that any moment I’d do something wrong and they’d all snap. I pressed my shaking hands into my lap.
“So, you weren’t a pup this whole time, huh?” he said, amber eyes drilling into my own. I quickly shook my head, cursing the anxiety clouding my mind.
“I have to admit,” he said, rubbing his temples. “This is a first. I’ve had Star and Lola coming to me every other day complaining about the rogue pup we took in, how ‘He’s getting so thin!’ or ‘He hasn’t eaten once.’” Max snickered at Alpha Marc’s high-pitched impressions of the women.
“Well no more worry needed. I’ll be taking very good care of this pup from now on.” I looked up at Max, eyes wide. Before I could really process my actions, I broke into a big grin.
“Luka.” Max and Alpha Marc looked at me, surprised by my sudden outburst. Fighting anymore blushing, I adverted my eyes before continuing. “My name is Luka.”
Max practically beamed down at me, reaching down and taking my hand in his. Before I could stop him, he yanked me up into a hug. I let out a squeak of embarrassment, screwing my eyes closed at the sudden contact and the fact that I’d just been pulled out of the covers. Covering my face with my hands, I tried to avoid the stares that were suddenly on me. I knew that they both could see just fine, despite the long shirt covering most of the front.
“Oh.” That was all Max seemed to be able to say. He released me, and I practically dove back under the covers. Almost mechanically, he looked down to see that he’d been standing less than an inch away from the crumpled pair of pants I’d discarded onto the floor. Suddenly, he was furiously pushing Alpha Marc out of the room. I quickly ducked down and hid, feeling my palms sweat and my stomach turn out of sheer humiliation. It prickled along my skin and made me want to hold my breath until I passed out.
A warm hand pet down the blanket lump that was my back, making me jolt lightly. “It’s alright, I’m sorry. You were covering yourself and I didn’t think, please come out.” Fearing being reprimanded if I didn’t, I slowly peeked out from my protective nest. He chuckled, stroking a thumb across my red cheek. If it was anyone else, I’d shy away from the touch, yet this man made me feel secure. It was rather odd, I’d only ever been close to Chelsea. I didn’t know what it was about Max, but I feel like I can trust him. I want to, after all the kindness he’d shown me, but I’m still scared. This pack and the people here are so different from mine, it was starting to give me a headache.
There was a knock on the door and Max straightened up, a smirk on his face. “Well, that must be the food I asked for.”
As Max went to retrieve said food, at that moment I didn’t care I was half dressed, I bolted for the door.
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