Howls of Apollo

Duodecim

Back in the clinic, a distressed alpha was a little all too reluctant to let others near his mate, but at the words of the doctor stating she’ losing too much blood and the alpha needs to let him check her wound so he can help her, he placed her on the stretcher against his will, and settled himself with holding onto her hand.

The human side of him saw the reason of letting others check on her, especially since the doctor is also her father who undoubtedly is worried sick about his only child, and just pushed the sentimental side of himself because the instinct to help her is stronger than the need to coddle.

They were soon joined by a woman who was wearing a white coat as well. She took the doctor’s place and carefully but meticulously tended to Skaia’s wounds. With his wolf on edge, a growl rumbled in his chest at another person touching his mate.

A hand shot out to his arm. “She’s a doctor too, she’ll be the one to tend to Skaia. I’m not in the state to.” The doctor said in a shaky voice.

“Let’s step outside so we can let her work. We won’t be of any help.” The doctor said.

At the look of worry and distress on the man’s face, understanding dawned on Apollo and despite the need to stay with her, he needs to step out so the doctor can work on her.

“I understand your wolf’s need to stay close so, we’ll stay right outside.” The doctor reasoned as they slowly walked outside.

He was met with Achilles as soon as he walked out the doors.

Achilles had a serious look on his face though his eyes expressed his worry. He took in the state of his cousin and he can’t help but be surprised at the look of pure vulnerability in his cousin’s eyes. Skaia was the mate Apollo never knew he’d have, and today, his cousin could very well lose her.

With that thought, his mind took him back to what they witnessed a while ago. He didn’t have the words to describe what Skaia just did.

“It wasn’t our nephew.” He thought to say it to Apollo.

His cousin only looked at him, a dead look in his eyes.

“The child. Lyra said a charm must have been placed on him, and it must have worn off when Skaia transferred the wound to her.” He explained.

Apollo looked away, not knowing how else to feel, but he was a little relieved it wasn’t his nephew but the dread is still there at the thought his mate could very well be knocking on death’s door trying to rescue the child.

When he saw the warlock holding his nephew, or who he thought was his nephew, he knew Skaia would do all she could to get him out of harm’s way. He just didn’t expect how far she’d go. He forgot how natural of a Luna his mate is. Doing all she could and more for her pack, especially for the little boy she took care of since he was born.

However, he saw the bewilderment in her face when the transfer took place. He saw the questions transparent on her face, her mind running wild with the question ‘how?’

And that only made him all the more confused with what ‘that’ was.

It made him question exactly who his mate is.

It’s been two days since the attacks, and two days since Skaia slipped into unconsciousness after the transfer. Apollo has been by her bedside, resuming pack matters via the convenience of technology, and partially hiding from the questions Atlas and Achilles bombarded him with the moment his mate was out of harm’s way and settled into one of the rooms in the clinic.

Not like he’d be able to give them answers when he has a multitude of his own anyway. The only one who could provide them, hopefully, was still unconscious. In hindsight, he noticed only one person hasn’t gone of their way and fired questions of her own his way: his sister Lyra. He would have thought she’d be the first to do so, however, she’s been steering clear of him and he can’t help but dwell on the why.

It was around late afternoon on the second day that Skaia started to show signs of rousing from her deep, deep sleep. Apollo immediately called for her father to inform the doctor, and after a few words of encouragement and softly requesting her to open her eyes, big beautiful hazel eyes blinked up at them, albeit drowsily, but conscious nonetheless.

Skaia was still a bit disoriented having just woken up so Apollo ordered for no one to intrude into her room yet until he says so, knowing they’ll be receiving visitors soon in the form of his sister, her mate, and their cousin as soon as they catch wind his mate is awake.

Her father, also the doctor, soon left after doing a few routine checks and squeezing in a few words that hinted at reprimanding his child for putting herself in danger. Skaia merely nodded weakly, and so the doctor exited to let her rest some more.

Once they were alone, Apollo took a seat in his usual place for the past two days. He can feel Skaia’s eyes following his every movement, but he didn’t meet her eyes. When he finally settled into his seat, he chose then to look up and meet her gaze.

He reached out and took her hand in his, placing a chaste kiss on the back of it.

“How are you feeling?” His voice was muffled by his lips on her skin.

Skaia smiled at him softly. “I can’t really feel anything. I’m still pumped with painkillers, but I’ll definitely feel this later.” She still managed to let her voice come out cheeky despite how weak she still sounded.

“How bad is it?” She asked in the form of a whisper.

Apollo pulled back and placed her hand back down before he answered.

“There’s a wound as deep as a trench on your chest. The doctor had to conduct surgery to close it fully.” Apollo looked as though it was paining him to say it. Skaia didn’t reply she just nodded, not really knowing what to say.

Then she suddenly remembered who she got the wound from and her eyes snapped back to look at her mate.

“The child?”

“It wasn’t the young alpha. The child was charmed to look like him to fool you.” He answered straightforwardly.

“Is he okay now?” Even if the child wasn’t who she thought it was, she still wasn’t going to just let them be. She still would have done what she did.

Apollo nodded. “He was taken here after and woke up a few hours later after that. Completely fine and healthy as a child can be.” He said, looking intently at her.

Any other time, Skaia wouldn’t have been the least bit bothered with Apollo’s intense gaze. This time however, she felt an uncomfortable sense of foreboding and it’s unsettling, sending an unpleasant kind of shiver down her spine.

She willed herself to look at her mate and take in his face. She immediately noticed how his eyes slipped back into their usual blank indifference. His jaw was clenched tight, and his shoulders were tense. His breath was heaving up and down in shallow breaths, and lastly, he has this dark calculative look in his eyes, almost as if he’s trying to figure her out. The way he was being made her feel extremely uncomfortable and slightly hurt.

“What is it Apollo?” She asked almost pleadingly.

Apollo stared at his mate a little longer before his mouth opened to speak.

“Did you know about your ability?” He asked without a second thought.

Skaia looked back at him, completely taken aback by his question 

‘He was there. Did he not see the shock on her face too?’

“No, I didn’t.” There was no change in Apollo’s expression at all. Nothing to tell her what he’s thinking.

“I was just as surprised as everyone else that saw.” Desperation seeped through her voice it made her cringe inwardly.

Apollo remained quiet.

They both stared at one another with completely contrasting expressions on their faces. One with no hint of emotion whatsoever, a blank canvass. The other with disbelief and slightly frantic wide eyes.

A thin thread of hope dangled in front of Skaia and she was desperate to hold onto it. They were doing so good. How did they get to this?

A knock on the door broke through the uncomfortable silence but their gaze didn’t waver.

“Apollo? I know you said no visitors yet, but I feel like we need to discuss this now before something irreparable occurs.”

Her cryptic words wormed their way into both their ears, making them both look to the closed door.

It was Skaia who answered. “Go ahead and come in Lyra.”

The door opened and Lyra popped her head in, revealing a small smile despite the cautious look in her eyes. “I brought company.” She said and opened the door wider to let Atlas and Achilles in.

The three of them piled into the room. Skaia managed a small smile to welcome them while the expression on Apollo’s face remained unchanged.

Apollo turned to look his sister in the eye. The look on her face was enough to tell him she knew more than she cared to tell. He stood from his seat, gaining everyone’s attention. He made his way to the window and stood in front of it, looking as though he was deep in thought.

“What do you know?” He asked to no one in particular but the question reached his intended recipient.

“I couldn’t tell you Apollo, you know that. Visions are to take their course. Inevitably.” Lyra answered, knowing exactly what her brother wants to know.

“What visions?” It was Achilles who asked.

Lyra mustered her courage and faced Skaia as she answered her cousin’s question.

“A few days after our son was born, I had a vision about Skaia.”

She glanced at Apollo then back at Skaia.

“First it showed me you were my brother’s mate. Then it showed me what you could do. Your ability to heal.” She paused, taking a deep breath. Atlas squeezed her hand in silent encouragement, the warmth from the bond poured and she squeezed back in thanks.

“You came from a long line of healers Skaia. The last one ever recorded was over a thousand years ago. They were hunted for their gift, abused until they were drained of energy to sustain themselves.” She explained further.

Skaia’s eyes widened at the revelation. She glanced at her mate, only to see him already looking at her and could only hope he could see the genuine surprise in her eyes.

“Do you think your father might know something about this Skaia?” It was Atlas who asked the question.

“I don’t know.” She answered, her voice low.

“I’ll get him. Maybe he can shed some light to all this.” Achilles muttered before walking out.

Skaia turned back to Lyra. “You said you saw I was Apollo’s mate. I take it you planned for us to meet?” She asked the obvious.

Lyra nodded with a sigh. “We had to do something. With the way you two were, you weren’t going to meet any time soon.” She answered, looking back and forth between the two.

“You should have just let it be.” Apollo answered gruffly, surprising the alpha couple.

But none was more surprised than the mate he never thought he’d have. The statement not only shook her being, but it stung her all throughout.

Before any of them could speak though, the door opened and the doctor, who happened to be Skaia’s father, and Achilles entered.

Skaia’s father scanned the faces in the room, greeting them all briefly before settling his eyes on Skaia’s face. One look and he could tell the conversation involved a very serious matter.

“Papa, do you know of the blood that runs through my veins? The part where I happen to be a part of a healer’s bloodline?” Skaia asked before anyone could. She felt like the question should come from her.

Upon hearing her question, the doctor sighed.

“I’m sorry Skaia.”

Her stomach dropped at his apology.