Survival of the Bloodline

Ch.6

    "..... Stable..... Exhausted......needs rest..."

    Bright lights everywhere. My head is spinning and im exhausted. but more then anything, I'm starving. Trying to move myself, I realize i'm in a pack clinic. And I hear scuffling of feet. I open my eyes to see the same tall muscular man that I met at the door. 

    Noel moans in my head, I want my maaaaaaaaaate. I must see him.

    Horny little s**t.

    "Uh, hi. You okay?" he reaches for me.

    I move back unsure about what's going on and my environment, "No. Im starving and I need to keep moving. He'll be here soon and I don't want your pack in danger."

    He tilts his head at me. "Um who is he? And why do you need to leave? You're my mate and you're not going anywhere. You're safe here."

    "I'm safe nowhere." I look him dead in the face. His dark crimson hair falls slightly in his sea green eyes. He has a slight pack of freckles on each cheek, subtle.

    What in the actual f**k are you doing?  Noel scolds me. He's our mate, he's meant to protect us and love us unconditionally.

    "I don't need protecting. I need a partner who will fight with me. Not coward and hide. Look at him Noel. Do you sense a warrior? All I sense is a lazy bum." 

    My "mate" starts pacing back and forth across the clinic. HE runs his fingers throw his hair nervously, apparently not liking my answer. As he paces, I notice he's wearing rasta swim trunks, a thick ban tank top with Bob Marley on it, and * sniff sniff* why the f**k do I smell weed?!

     I stand from my bed and my knees gave way. HE rushes over, "No, angel, you should rest. The doc said you're stable but you're physically exhausted and need rest and water."

    I push him off, "No. I need food. If I don't eat, I will LITERALLY kill someone."

    He jumped back then left the room for a second. When he came back, he wasn't alone. He brought the doctor.

    "Afternoon miss wolf. Glad to see you awake and trying to move. I highly recommend you don't try and get up on your own. You have almost no strength left and need time to heal and recuperate. And a little pup told me you were hungry." She's warm but she's expecting me to be slow. I growl low enough no one can hear,

    "Im not hungry. I'm starving. you would be too if you hadn't eaten in 5 days running for your life. So please let me eat something. And I understand i'm weak, but I bounce back faster with food. Attach an IV to my arm for fluids because I can feel the dehydration. And I need something high in protein. I'll sleep until tomorrow and be out of your hair by dawn." I cross my arms, "That's my final offer."

    Well I dumbfounded the doctor but she realized after about 2 minutes I was right, she jumped right on it. As I lay back down in my bed (My head was spinning from my speech), my supposed mate sits by my side.

    "Who knew you were a firecracker?" He smirks. Its cute.

Wait. No. Bad Alys. He's not what I need. 

    But with him sitting close to me I can really start to see his facial features. He really is handsome. Physically, he's definitely my type but emotionally and by his appearance and laid back attitude, he cant handle the lifestyle i'm forced to live.

    As I'm analyzing, he says something that stuns me. "Ya know, I thought the Silver Mane Pack was exterminated and also a legend. But yet, here you are. I guess the stories are true. One wolf remained to save their pack. You're not a rogue, like everyone thought. You're the sole survivor of a horrendous attack. I may not be a fighter, but I can assure you, you're safe here. Even if...." he sighs, "Even if it's only for a little while."

    Im dumbfounded. My family's story lives on. We're legends and martyrs. I tear up thinking of my family, what I've endured, and what I have to do. I hug my knees and make eye contact with my mate.

    "Thank you."

    He tilts his head again, "Why?" 

    "You know who I am. You realize my struggle. You understand my past. It's appreciated. Well since i'm stuck for a while, what's your name kid?"

    HE smiles. Like Tom Cruise sparkling white smile. "The name's Casper O'Neil. But everyone calls me Cas. What's your name Angel face?"

    "Chance. Alys Chance. And you're right too ya know?"

    "About what?"

    "The Silver Mane," I look at him. His eyes go wide. "Get food in me and ill tell you everything you need and want to know."

    I have NEVER seen anyone move as fast. HE jumps from beside me and scrambles to find even a small snack for me to eat. I burst into laughter, a genuine one like when I was with.....

    I shake my head. I miss them but I can never go back. Not until HE'S dead and his head on a stake and my family's legacy restored. We were protectors of humans and wolves alike. And I will not let Knox Featherwood have the best of me.

    When I turn my head back to take the scatter brain, Cas has returned with a tray full of what I can simply describe as heaven. Like if you could picture my face, smash the heart eye emoji with the drooling one and you have a pretty good idea.

    I start gorging. Inhaling everything before me. BUt Cas pulls the tray from me and for a moment I was about to kill him.

    "Geez woman. I know you haven't eaten in days but if you keep this pace it'll come right back up. Just slow down. You need to regain your strength and you owe me a story."

    Well, I'll be damned. He just told me no. I'm impressed he's smart yet stupid. Don't come between me and food. I stabbed my brother with a fork as a child if he even thought about stealing off my plate.

Told you he cares. Sure he's a hippy but you can train anyone

"Alright Noel. But we need to talk to the alpha of this pack to ensure our protection and get them ready for war. Knox won't come quietly, especially for me."

   You're right but for now. Debrief him, he's earned it. Plus even if we don't stay, he loves us enough to let us do what we must. I respect that.

"As do I. But for now, FOOOOOOOOOOODD!!!!!"

    I slow down my pace and begin to tell Cas about everything. And I start from the attack on my pack at age 8 until now. When I finish, Cas sits back in silence. And he's quiet for a very long time. After about 20 minutes he finally speaks.

    "I need to take you to my father as soon as you're well. He needs to know. He takes in rogues all the time but with you being hunted, this means war," He stands then bends over and kisses my head softly (which I didn't see coming). "Don't worry Alys, our pack has a cloaking barrier around the borders after a really nad attack. Unless you know where you're going, your scent and trail disappears until you want to be found."

    I grab his arm as he turns to leave, "Alright one question."

    "Shoot. Anything for you"

    "How in the absolute f**k did you get a cloaking spell around your territory?"

    He laughs, "Dad made a bet with a witch and won. So she helps out when we ask her to."

    "Impressive."  

    "Yea, I'd say. But you, finish eating and relax. You should be stable by tomorrow morning then we'll move you into the pack house. I'm going to talk to my father and i'll be back later. If it's ok with you, i'd like to crash on the floor near you, just to be sure. Nothing bad I promise, but I just wanna make sure you're gonna be ok."

    I blush and nod. "Yea, that's ok. But nothing funny. You try anything, i'll rip your d**k off."

    His face turns white, then bursts into laughter, "Note and warning taken." 

    HE walks over and kisses my head again, "I promise to protect you first. We can figure out all the other stuff later after we debrief my dad and the pack."

    With that, Cas smiles and walks out of the room. I'm dumbfounded. He's a hippy stoner with no work effort and yet, he wants to protect me? I sigh, I appreciate it but he has no training I can see it in the way he walks. He doesn't walk with meaning, he walks like he has no care in the world. How can he protect me when he probably can't even protect himself.

"Noel what do we do?"

Hon, I don't know. But he is being honest about not trying anything. Mr. O'Neil held back his wolf and prevented him from infusing with me to know you. I don't know about the training, I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

   "I guess you're right. Let's just get some sleep and see what the doctor has to say tomorrow."

    And with that, I roll over and fall into a dark dreamless sleep.