Cory was gasping in air desperately – as if his lungs couldn’t gather a sufficient amount of air.
He sat up slowly and hugged his knees to his chest. His skin was burning – not mildly or the burning attributed to a fever. No, it was a burning as if flames licked his skin relentlessly. Wrapping its scorching, molten tongue around his body – refusing to let the young man go. His stomach was tied in a knot, squeezing so hard that it felt like it compressed the acid. Every breath he took shot a shock of pain into his mouth.
Cory turned onto his side to try to find any source of comfort. As he lay on his side, pain shot through his arm – like he was sunburned. He slowly sat up and groaned at the spontaneous headache. It rattled rusted nails in a jar within his brain – the clinking shooting waves of discomfort through his body.
The nausea pounced on Cory and he rushed to the bathroom – just in time – as he bent over the toilet the bile rose up his throat and Cory retched the acid up. It burned his throat and stung his already hurt mouth. The scarlet-haired man took a few deep breaths to calm down his painfully racing heart – he tried to relax his body.
Then the wave of blistering heat washed over his body again. Cory slammed his head against the nearest grey brick wall to cause greater pain that would distract his body from the pure, undiluted and merciless agony he was experiencing.
Cory shakily got to his feet and shed out of his black skinny jeans leaving them discarded on the bathroom floor. He felt a little cooler – but the heat he was tormented by burned up any relief. Cory shakily made his way back to the bed, lying back down. Even the pillow was too hot against him so he sluggishly threw it off the bed.
He lay flat on the bare mattress, drawing in desperate air.
The door opened and Cory painfully turned his head to see who had come in. Ambrose calmly walked into the room, carrying a jar of some green mush. Grayson followed behind him.
Cory instantly looked away from Grayson to observe Ambrose.
The young man didn’t notice, nor feel, Grayson’s eyes scan Cory’s bare and smooth legs.
“I assume…that is…the salve.” Cory huffed out.
“It is. It will also sting for a short while – bare with it” Ambrose spoke tonelessly, kneeling beside Cory to apply the salve to Cory’s wrist.
“Let me”, Grayson spoke, walking over to where Ambrose was.
“Ambrose… apply… the salve” Cory spoke tiredly.
Ambrose ignored the younger man and handed the jar to Grayson. The Alpha kneeled next to Cory’s bed. He scooped some of the thick salve onto his finger and was about to lift Cory’s sleeve but paused. He didn’t want to make unnecessary contact with Cory, afraid he would hurt the scarlet-haired man.
“Cory, please raise your sleeve” Grayson spoke quietly.
Cory sighed in exhaustion and slowly lifted his sleeve to reveal his angry and inflamed wrist.
Grayson gently dabbed the salve onto Cory’s wrist. Cory hissed in pain and by reflex placed his hand over Grayson’s large, tan hand. He sighed in relief at the coldness of Grayson’s hand, “You’re so cold… I feel like I’m burning alive. But you’re so refreshingly cold…” Cory whispered in tired relief.
Grayson swallowed thickly at seeing his touch – which usually hurt Cory – was now bringing him a sense of peace. His heart quickened at the pleasurable spark that danced across his tan skin from Cory’s touch. He slowly smeared the ointment on Cory’s wrist.
“I need to do the other wrist, Cory”, Grayson whispered.
Cory nodded sluggishly and Grayson slowly withdrew his hand to work on the other injured wrist. Cory whined at the sudden loss of the soothing cold.
Grayson clenched his jaw to contain the jolt of electricity that sparked straight to his member at the sound of Cory’s whine. He grabbed Cory’s hand and the younger male sighed in relief again. Grayson scooped up some of the ointment and carefully applied it to the other injured wrist.
“Okay, it’s applied”, Grayson whispered – transfixed on the relaxed face Cory was making.
He stood to leave but Cory whined again – sending another jolt to Grayson’s crotch.
“Grayson, please just put your hand on my forehead…please” Cory whispered – clearly in pain.
“I will go get the necessary equipment, when nightfall comes – you will have to leave” Ambrose spoke tonelessly and left.
Grayson tentatively put his palm on Cory’s forehead – trying not to show the happiness he felt at being able to touch Cory. Cory sighed in relaxation and placed his hands on Grayson’s much larger hand – keeping the white-haired Alpha’s hand fixed against Cory’s forehead. Cory closed his eyes in relief.
“My whole body burns so painfully – my skin feels like its boiling” Cory whispered, “But, your touch is like cold water.”
Grayson wanted to suggest lying next to Cory, but he knew that would imprint his scent on the mattress and when night came Cory’s pain would multiply from smelling Grayson’s scent. Grayson’s eyes wandered to Cory’s bare legs, he ravaged them with his eyes – he could feel the lust grow within him and it wouldn’t be long before Cory would smell the lust in the Alpha’s scent.
“Cory, we should cover your legs” Grayson spoke lowly.
He turned to look at the scarlet-haired man. Cory’s breathing was even and consistent – he had fallen asleep. Grayson was relieved at that – he knew Cory hadn’t slept the night before. His small hands still wrapped firmly around Grayson’s hand on his forehead.
Grayson took a closer look at Cory. His scarlet hair had grown longer during the four years absence. It now reached his shoulders – he could tell, despite some strands being stuck to Cory’s pale face. His cheekbones seemed sharper. His eyelashes were thick – but not to the point where they looked fake or enhanced. Grayson had just never noticed how thick they were before. The younger male’s lips were slightly pink, not overly full but just the right amount of plumpness.
“I…am so sorry for what I said that night.” Grayson whispered – knowing Cory was asleep. “There is no excuse. But I promise, Cory, I’ll make it right.”
*****
Grayson knew night had fallen. It wasn’t the lack of light that told him so – it was his instinct.
Cory still slept peacefully with Grayson’s hand to his forehead. Grayson clenched his jaw – knowing that with each passing second Cory was getting closer to the most painful experience he would ever encounter. But the Alpha had no choice, the ritual was necessary to avoid Cory’s death. That same shiver ran down the white-haired man’s back.
The door opened and Grayson knew it was Ambrose.
“It is time” Ambrose said emotionlessly behind Grayson.
The Alpha took a deep breath, “I need a minute. Just one minute.”
Ambrose walked to the foot of the bed and Grayson’s eyes flickered from a sleeping Cory to a busy Ambrose. The black-haired man tipped a container to the side and a powder spilled onto the ground forming a circle on the wooden floor. He arranged black candles around the circle of whatever powdered herbs he used.
“Grayson, put him in the circle” Ambrose instructed.
Grayson took a sharp breath and picked Cory up, who began to stir awake. The Alpha slowly put Cory on the ground in the centre of the circle.
“What’s going on?” Cory asked – not hiding his fear. Brown eyes wide as if he had stumbled across a crime scene.
“Ambrose…is going to make you better” Grayson spoke, desperately trying to keep the emotion out of his voice.
“Grayson, you need to leave now” The black-haired sorcerer spoke.
Cory began groaning in pain all over again, panting in breaths.
“I…” Grayson spoke, wanting to refuse but he knew – deep within his bones – he had to leave. He didn’t want to put Cory in even greater pain.
“Okay” The Alpha consented.
Ambrose followed Grayson to the door, “Are you absolutely certain you won’t come inside? Shall I place a seal on the door?”
Grayson snarled, ready to shout at Ambrose for trying to prevent him from seeing his mate.
“Anything to protect mate” Apollo spoke to Grayson – reminding him of their previous conversation.
Grayson huffed, “Put a seal on the door” The Alpha whispered.
Ambrose took off his glasses and with his index finger he drew a circle in the air – it glowed a brilliant purple circle before he crossed it with a single line – it looked exactly like a no-entry sign.
“I will take it from here” Ambrose spoke, closing the door.
Cory writhed around, his stomach started coiling again and his skin was starting to burn – simmering to what will eventually be a boil.
He sat up but Ambrose held a palm out and Cory slammed flat against the ground, “You will need to remain within the circle, Cory” Ambrose spoke calmly.
“What are you doing?” Cory seethed in pain.
“I am going to accelerate your withdrawal symptoms. You will experience immense pain. You should feel better by tomorrow.”
“W-wait-” Cory began panicking.
Ambrose simply clicked his fingers and the candles lit up instantly. Cory tried to struggle – to move in any way that got him out of the circle of powdered-herbs, but Ambrose’s telekinetic force kept him firmly pressed against the floor.
“Grayson will kill you if you harm me!” Cory screamed in desperation – unsure of whether it was the truth. He had no idea whether Grayson even cared, Cory was grasping at strings – at anything that would stop Ambrose.
“Grayson sanctioned it.” Was all Ambrose said.
Cory’s eyes widened but his mouth clamped shut when Ambrose started muttering in foreign words. They sounded like gibberish but Cory felt them vibrate through the air, rippling across the stillness of the room and sending shivers through Cory’s entire being. The flames of the candles hissed and grew taller and taller after every strange word.
Cory’s back arched and his throat shot open as a bloodcurdling scream escaped his mouth. He couldn’t stop the scream – his mouth refused to close, his throat refused to contract. Air was rapidly leaving his lungs and Cory couldn’t find an opening to take in a desperate breath.
Ambrose stopped his chant and quickly picked a writhing Cory up and put him on the bed.. The black-haired sorcerer fastened Cory’s wrists to the bed post with padded handcuffs this time.
Cory’s eyes wouldn’t blink, they refused to as raging, burning and cutting pain shot through his body. He clawed at the restraint on his right wrist before his left arm was snatched and cuffed to the opposite bed post. Cory finally drew breath but it was brief when another uncontrollable scream ripped from his throat – it felt like his throat was being clawed to ribbons.
He flung his head violently against the headboard in an attempt to distract his body from the unbearable, merciless agony. Ambrose shoved a pillow against the headboard to prevent Cory from further injuring his head.
Cory flung his legs around in a frenzy, he tugged violently and harshly on the padded restraints – he needed to get out. He needed to stop the pain splitting him in half. His stomach felt as if it had twisted completely like one might twist an empty toothpaste tube. Tears mercilessly escaped Cory’s wide eyes, running down in gushing rivers. Every breath hurt more than the last – every breath felt like he was breathing in vaporised acid; it sizzled his already shredded throat and burnt down his oesophagus into his lungs.
*****
Grayson’s eyes were wild as he slammed against the cottage door. The dingy dark wood did not relent. He continuously slammed himself against it with more and more force. He then resulted to try kicking it down.
Yet the door stood firm. It didn’t even rattle.
Grayson sucked in air through clenched teeth, “AMBROSE! LET ME IN!” Grayson roared in his Alpha tone.
“Mate is in pain!” Apollo snarled.
“I know!” Grayson shot back.
Cory let loose another ear-splitting scream – his pain so evident that even the night heard it.
Grayson’s breathing became more rapid, his heart attacked his ribcage – fuelled by dangerous adrenaline. Grayson continued slamming his shoulder against the door – more frantically. He heard an audible pop and knew he had dislocated his shoulder. He didn’t feel any pain as he continued slamming against the door.
The door stood proud and firm.
Grayson began tugging at his white hair in frenzied desperation. He paced around the whole cottage – looking for a window or any kind of opening.
There were none.
“Break down wall!” Apollo growled in equal desperation and determination.
Grayson took a few steps back and ran full speed flinging himself against the grey brick. He staggered backward – the bricks didn’t budge either. Ambrose’s seal must have applied to the entire cottage and not just the door.
Grayson dropped to his knees as his vision became distorted. The night became brighter, colours could now be seen that he hadn’t been able to see in the darkness. His hearing picked up and the white-haired Alpha lifted his head to the sky.
Apollo was taking over.
Grayson’s clothes ripped apart as his body enlarged until a snow-white wolf stood in his place on all fours.
Apollo let out a howl of anger – loud and demanding. He turned to the rapidly approaching pack warriors.
“Tear down building!” Apollo snarled through the pack link.
Wolves surrounded the cottage, they slammed against the small building at all angles. Some yelped in pain then shook themselves off and continued slamming against the building. Apollo hopped onto the roof and began clawing at the straw, digging as a dog would dig a hole in the ground.
No straw came loose. The building did not shake from the dozens of slamming wolves.
Apollo jumped off the roof and ran far into the woods – he heard and sensed the pack members following him.
“Go back!” Apollo growled to the pack.
They all immediately stopped following except for one – which Apollo recognised as Alvaro – Lucian’s wolf.
Apollo ran through the forest taking sharp and random turns. The dark forest undergrowth snapped and bent under the heavy wolf’s paws. The soil yielded to his overwhelming weight.
Apollo made it to a clearing, a small pond before he sharply stopped and turned to face Alvaro.
“Have you come to challenge me?” Apollo growled lowly.
“No, Alpha. I’m relieved to see you again” Alvaro bowed his head in submission.
Apollo snarled, he didn’t trust Alvaro. He knew that Grayson trusted Lucian; however during the time period Apollo refused to shift for Grayson, the Alpha wolf knew that the Beta wolf would challenge him for leadership.
“I am back, Alvaro. If you challenge me, you die!” Apollo snarled viciously, yapping his jaws threateningly.
“Yes, Alpha” Alvaro kept his head down.
Apollo let loose a pained howl that broke through the night. His mate was in pain and he couldn’t save him – he couldn’t stop the pain.
So, Apollo howled a high-pitched sound to the sky. A howl that he hoped in some mystical way would comfort his mate.
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