Frozen Atonement - The Beginnings

The Aftermath Pt 1

"If I have to tell you one more time, Finn… your Alpha waking up is going to be the least of your problems." The voice was perhaps the sweetest voice Alex had ever heard. It was like an angel, soft yet firm, exotic yet familiar, and yet something was interrupting it. This incessant beeping noise was getting on Alex’s nerves to the point he was ready to rip it out. Oh hell, breathing hurt, moving hurt, what had happened? Alex couldn't quite recall much aside from the gnashing teeth of a couple of bears coming at him. Was he dead? His entire body felt like it was one giant bruise on top of another bruise.

Finn was nice to look at, at least so he thought. With dark hair, a light tan, short, cropped beard and mustache and abs that wouldn’t quit, he was a damn good-looking shifter in his own opinion! The muscles weren’t overly huge, but the man was ripped, just like his Alpha. With a strong jawline, messy spiked hair on top with shorter sides, he made “bed head” look good and he knew it. This kin… this kin could care less. She was ruthless! He had tried his charms on her, tried to bribe her, he had tried everything that he could think of, and she was utterly oblivious to his advances. Hell, if anything, she seemed to get more forceful in her ‘no’ about letting him near Alex.

Finn snorted as he looked towards the raven-haired woman that had been ordering him around for days now. He wanted to check on his Alpha and yet she was beyond bossy for a kin. It was like she thought she had a power that was befitting a shifter, and yet she was just a kin! He couldn't deny that she was damn good at what she did, she had saved his Alpha's life, with the help of some busty blonde that perhaps was even more bossy, but she was also… dictatorial! He had tried to get closer, to jostle Alex, see if he could mind link or prompt him into alertness and had been met with a swift smack upside the head, numerous times… and now the damn kin had started threatening him with severe bodily harm. "He's awake!" Finn pointed towards Alex as his eyes had fluttered open, trying to draw the kin's attention to the patient and her ire away from him.

Alex could hardly focus on much of anything yet. The last thing he remembered was the pure darkness he had thought was going to consume him and suddenly he was now in a well-lit room that smelled overly sterile. His eyes were trying to focus when he peered up at the most breathtaking vision before him. Surely, he was dead… dead and in some type of heaven. The moon goddess had to be smiling down upon him right now because the vision of pure beauty before him was nothing short of a miracle. Those eyes, a vivid icy blue lighter than anything he had ever seen in this world. They were piercing, yet a pale pastel blue with almost a glow to them.

Alex couldn't even find the color to describe what they were, so beautiful would have to suffice. Her skin was sun-kissed with a tan, but not too dark, it was just right. Her raven hair was straight and shiny and looked so utterly soft that all he could think of was running his fingers through it. Suddenly he blinked as the sound of a crack filled the room and Finn's words of "Ow! Fine! You sadist!" drew his attention towards the pair and their interaction.

Finn had every intention of snagging ahold of Alex and trying to pull him into an upright position, but the moment he had reached for his Alpha he was met with a hard hit right upside the head and with a bedpan. A f*****g bedpan! That thing had better not be used as he sniffed at himself, trying to see if he smelled like piss now, as he rocked back onto his heels and sulked a few steps away to watch Alex and this damn Doctor or Nurse, or Nurse Doctor? He wasn’t sure he could even remember what she was, waiting for an answer about how he was doing. Shockingly, he was awake. That was the first step, but Finn also knew Alex hadn't been in good shape by the time they got him there and had truly been in fear of losing Alex for the first time in his life.

"Do you know where you are?" That angelic voice, it was like music as it caressed one’s ears and senses and Alex was going mad wanting to hear more of it. He couldn't help the lopsided grin that suddenly came across his features as he peered up at the vision of beauty hovering over him. "Heaven" was cliché, but it was the best answer Alex could give right now. Taz laughed, oh that musical note bounded from her lips and came straight to his ears to caress it as if it were just for him. The monitor beside him started to beep more erratically as Alex's heart rate increased and his senses went wild. He hadn't quite placed his finger on it yet, but he knew this woman was something special, special indeed.

"I will alert the doctor…" Tazina spoke as she glanced at the heart monitor a moment and watched it go crazy before she looked towards Finn pointedly.

Finn scowled a bit, there was only one other woman in this damnable place thus far that he disliked more than this raven-haired beauty and that was the doctor!

"But you are coming with me. Clearly you are upsetting him, his heart rate is spiking." Taz clearly did not trust Finn as she snagged him by the arm, practically manhandling him out the door as Finn protested the entire way, making Alex laugh.

Oh, she was a feisty one, his mate. It finally clicked, the senses, the looks… oh that was his mate and watching her boss around his Beta brought a smile to his face, one that hadn't faded by the time Faith walked into the room.

She was cute as a button! A little five foot, nothing blonde with sprigs of curls dancing about which had escaped her messy bun as she headed over towards Alex, snagging a chart from the edge of the bed as she perused over the paperwork a moment before leaning in to check Alex's eyes with her light, the chart set aside as the covers were pulled back, gown pulled open as Alex rose a brow.

"Well… if you wanted me naked all you needed to do was ask." Alex quipped, but his gaze was still on the door where Taz had went too.

Faith smirked as she glanced towards Alex's face and his strong jawline and deep azure eyes with a tilt of her head. "Why ask? I was perfectly capable of handling it the first time while you slept on the job."

Oh ouch, that one stings as Alex cringed a moment with a sigh. "What happened? How are my people?" He had noticed that he was hooked to some kind of IV and other instruments, an odd sight for most shifters as they typically had the ability to heal themselves rather quickly, though every rule had its exception and sometimes the damage was so bad, so quick, that assistance was needed despite their healing abilities.

Faith gave a small shrug of her shoulders. "You can ask your Beta or Alpha Keturah those questions. Aside from those that are still here in the infirmary, I cannot speak about where or how they are."

She was so business like it was almost frustrating that Alex's charms weren't working on this kin… at all, and yeah, his mate was here but she didn’t even know it yet and if he could just get some information from this kin…

Faith smirked as if she could read his mind. "You have been unconscious for a few days. Their teeth were capped in silver, meant to break off in you when they bite down or slashed their claws across you, which they did. It prevents you from healing, dealing more damage and allowing the tainted blood to enter your system and start to corrupt you. I removed a lot of damaged tissue; everything is primarily healed at this point, but you still have a few fractured bones and some bruising that will need to heal. Which, being a shifter, shouldn’t be much longer for you now that the main issues have been resolved and you are awake." Meaning he got lucky and, somehow, Alex already knew that.

"When can I see my pack?" Alex had gotten lucky, damn lucky, and yet somehow, he already seemed to know that. Either this kin was gracious or under orders, most would have taken the opportunity to remind a shifter that they were not invincible and remind them of just how close they had come to death. That explained why his body ached so badly too, as laughing had nearly put him into the grave. He was pretty sure he was one giant bruise as he glanced down at the open gown, seeing the massive bruises across his skin and discoloration with a grunt. “If purple is your favorite color… “ then he was in damn good shape!

Faith gave a small laugh and a shrug of her shoulders as she turned her back towards Alex and moved over towards the counter as she made motion towards the clothes and then glanced back towards Alex. “As long as you are feeling up to it, I can have Taz come in and unhook you so that you can get dressed.” Though she glanced towards the door a moment, her nose scrunched up a bit. “If she isn’t busy killing that Beta of yours that is…”

Alex perked right up, brow arching a moment as he gave a grin and a nod. “I feel fabulous, that seems like a great idea. I am sure that she can help me to get dressed and then I can go and seek Alpha Keturah out and get some answers.” He sure as hell did not feel fabulous and the look that Faith was currently giving him told him that she knew he was bluffing.

Faith scrunched her nose up, her brow arching a bit as she just stared at Alex for a moment. “Well, aren’t you quite a liar, maybe I should call you Alpha Liar… or Li-aire so that it sounds more French.” A brow still arched as she gave Alex a look that said she was used to dealing with Alpha’s far too much and didn’t give in to their whims and attempts at being superior.

Alex deflated a bit, he absolutely did not feel fine, and he glanced towards the door. Did he really want to get on the bad side of the person that had clearly helped to save his life? There was a moment where he just thought about it, contemplating it briefly as he managed to sit himself up and get to the edge of the bed before finally looking up towards Faith with a sigh. “Taz? The one that was in here… she is my mate. You are right, I do not feel ‘wonderful’ but I would like to see my mate and then my Beta and Alpha Keturah.”

A smile crept across Faith’s face as Alex gave up the information and she gave a nod of her head. “I figured as much. Every time she was around, your heart rate would increase, even when you were unconscious. She seemed to think it was because Beta Finn was around and became adamant that he was not left around you unsupervised.”

There was a roll of her eyes causing her and Alex both to laugh, though Alex gripped his sides as he did so, making Faith smirk. “I’ll send her in and hold off your Beta as long as I can.”

“Thank you.” Alex couldn’t help but to warm up to the cute little doctor as he watched her for a moment, gaze following Faith out the door before he managed to get to his feet and across the room for the clothes. Not surprisingly, he would have preferred a shower, but a glance around didn’t prove to show a whole lot aside from what a typical hospital room would look like. He also seemed decently cleaned off, and he hoped to the moon goddess that it was not Finn who had given him a sponge bath! Alex was just about to grab the provided for shirt when the smell of his mate made it to his senses and that gaze turned to look at the door and the woman coming through it with a wheelchair making his brow arch. “I am not getting in a chair on wheels…”

Taz tipped her head to the side as she glanced towards Alex for a moment. “Oh really? Because I am pretty sure I already put your Beta on his ass, I will do the same for you. Sit.” Her hand lifted, finger pointing towards the chair in a demanding way and her gaze leaving little to no room for argument.

Alex debated it for a moment. Did he really want to start his potential relationship with an argument? Was this kin really capable of… wait what? “You did what to my Beta?” Suddenly her words seemed to catch up with his brain, which was still going a mile a minute and had not yet computed everything.

Taz pointed at the chair again, only speaking when Alex relented and came to sit with a sigh. “He was upsetting you and clearly does not like to take no for an answer… do not worry, he will be awake in an hour or ten…” Taz smirked as she headed over to the counter, snagging the clothes as she moved over to set them on Alex’s lap before taking her place behind the chair and starting to wheel him out of the room and down the hall.

Oh, it absolutely looked like they were indeed in a hospital, but how could that be? Taz made her way down the long hallway and onto a door she pushed open with her back, pulling Alex and the chair through to it. It wasn’t nearly as formal as the rest of the place, a shower with handrails and a chair, a little counter where she went to set the clothes on and then turned the water on before she paused, glancing towards Alex. “Do you need my help or are you capable?”

Alex glanced around, his gaze taking it all in a moment as he just sat there, not trying to draw the ire of this woman that had done who-knows-what- to his Beta. An hour or ten? TEN? Did she drug him? Crack his skull open? What the hell had she done? Oh help? There was a sudden grin as his gaze peered up at Taz. “Would anyone say no to your help?”

Taz smirked as she reached out to grab Alex’s hand, only unlike the hundreds of times she had done this before, it was like an electric spark, making her hand jerk back and that gaze fly up to meet Alex’s. Those beautiful pools of blue that held so many depths to it, that deliciously defined face and those kissable lips and… that was her mate? Suddenly, the one that always knew what to say had nothing to say as she stood there a moment, righting herself as she just watched Alex.

Alex moved to his feet, standing as he reached out to touch Taz’ cheek, his rough fingers caressing the skin and smiling broadly as Taz tipped her head to lean her cheek into his hand a moment more. “Now, mate, I do believe you could be of assistance to me?”

Taz let her eyes close for a moment as Alex touched her face, her head tipped into it a bit as a deep exhale left her. She couldn’t help but to just take a moment before a small laugh left her lips. “You will get the same assistance as everyone else… Alpha Alex.” The way that name rolled from her tongue as she finally pulled back, those eyes glancing up at him in a devious way a moment before she pointed towards the shower that already had the water turned on. “In, shower. I will be back in a moment with a towel. There are already clothes in here and you will find soap and shampoo in the shower. If you feel that you are unable to stand the entire time, please do use the shower chair.” Taz just gave him a bit of a sly smirk as she turned to grab the chair and roll it out of the room, leaving Alex standing there, mouth agape.

Alex grumbled a bit, but he was thankful for the hot water and the surprisingly lovely accommodations of the cedar body wash and men’s shampoo that he found in the shower. He would have liked to have had a long hot shower and time to decompress, think, and sort through some thoughts in his mind, but he really wanted to find out about his people, learn about Taz and, according to the growling noise from his stomach, probably get some food. As it was, he heard the door a couple times while he was showering off the nasty-ness of the mi-bheus, his own blood, sweat and who knows what else, before shutting the water off and opening the curtain to find a towel. Taking the time to dry himself off before, he noticed a razor, toothbrush and other amenities on the counter as the towel got wrapped about his hips and he headed for the counter, which is exactly where Taz would find him.

Taz stepped back in as she let the door close behind herself, arms folded loosely across her chest as her gaze wandered about the room, locking on Alex’s frame and slowly dipping down his body. It was a damn nice body, even if it was bruised. Those muscles, the defined abs, the slight tan, a few tattoos… f**k if only she weren’t on the job and didn’t answer to others… she might have jumped him right then and there. It was the clearing of a throat that had her eyes going upwards, cheeks a tinged pink as she looked at Alex as he watched her. “Yes, well, if you would like to dress, I can show you to your room, there is food for you, and you have company.” Taz was just about to turn and walk out as Alex reached out, catching her hand, stopping her in her tracks as she turned her gaze up towards him.

Alex couldn’t just let her go, not yet! He hadn’t even officially been told her name. He paused a moment after snagging Taz by the hand. He hadn’t noticed the way she looked at him, the way her eyes practically f****d him right then and there and it made him grin. “You haven’t even told me your name… or should I just keep calling you Heaven?”

Taz laughed aloud at his words, her body turning a bit as she slightly leaned towards Alex, then with a smirk. “Tazina… but everyone just calls me Taz” Her hand came up that he wasn’t holding, running over his chest briefly and causing a deep growl to come forth from Alex before she gave him a light push backwards. “Now get dressed, Alpha Keturah awaits.”

Alex arched a brow, half tempted to say that Keturah could continue to wait, but that would be the wrong course of action for many reasons. No, he needed to see what the Alpha had to say. He couldn’t help but sighing as Taz headed out of the room. “Tazina….” It was a unique name, and he liked the way it rolled off his lips as they turned to a grin and Alex shifted his attention back to the countertop. He would make quick work of fixing his hair, brushing his teeth and getting dressed, already feeling tremendously better than he had when first awakened.

Alex had dressed and made sure he looked as presentable as he could before stepping out of the bathroom, disappointed not to find Taz waiting for him, but at least he had paid attention to the way he had been brought, starting to make his way back to his room before he noticed Faith coming towards him, pausing as she looked ready to speak with him as well.

Faith smiled a bit, motioning the opposite way as she glanced up at Alex, catching him in the hallway. “Keturah is in my office, this way.” She redirected the man as she turned him down one hallway and then another before opening a door decorated in cards as she motioned him inside to the awaiting Alpha Keturah, following him in herself and closing the door.

For being an office and a doctor’s office, it was comfortable. It even had a fireplace! A large stone fireplace flanked on either side by massive mahogany bookcases, a matching mantle, trinkets here and there, a matching desk set before it, a sofa on the far wall opposite the desk that had chairs in front of it and a couple of large chairs on either side of the couch facing-- each other so they formed a U like shape with a table between them all. The smell of food hitting Alex’s senses before anything, causing his stomach to rumble even louder and making Faith and Keturah both glance up towards him.

Faith motioned towards the chair that Keturah was not currently occupying, and she moved to have a seat on the couch, after she moved the tray closer to the chair that was on the end table. “Help yourself, I am sure that you are starving, and I assure you that it is better than any hospital food you may have ever had.”

Alex was leery of that, he had seen and smelled hospital food at several different places, and nothing was ever ‘good’. It was merely a level of not causing death, some worse than others. Watching Faith remove the lid, he stared down at the massive steak, assorted potatoes, asparagus and a brow arched. Well, maybe it WAS better than any hospital he had ever seen! He reached out to pick up the fork and knife, glancing towards Keturah.

Keturah smiled, making a motion with her hand for him to go ahead. “You eat, I will fill you in.” Because she knew he likely had to be starving and she already had an update from Faith on the medical side of things.

Alex sighed a bit, usually if the Alpha was doing the briefing that wasn’t a good sign, at least from his own dealings and how he ran his pack, but all places were different and perhaps it wasn’t going to be so bad. Were they all dead? Alex couldn't help but wonder instantly who had survived; his parents? His sibling? Finns? All their friends and extended family? He absentmindedly took a bite from the steak and couldn’t help the moan… the moan? Did he actually moan? f**k, he did, and he did it again. Hell, this was like cutting butter and you didn’t even need a knife! He couldn’t help but to glance down at the steak for a moment, then back towards Keturah and Faith, brow arching.

Keturah was the one to laugh with a nod of her head. “Yes, Catori is a very good cook… “ she seemed to know where his mind had gone to first before she gave a small sigh. "There are a few that are still in critical condition, Faith can give us an update on that in just a moment. A couple had already perished before we arrived and there was little we could do, though we did bring the bodies back for you. A few of the elderly, it seems, and a couple of your warriors. From what we have been able to figure out, there was a pair of children left orphaned… I can let you go to see them, but Alpha Alex… do not touch them." Her warning was dire as she pressed that upon him, even using her Alpha command.

Alex was shocked that it was working. Was she truly that much stronger than he was? A woman? Is that what all the rumors and hubbub was that Finn had been going on about him? For a moment he regretted not listening a little more closely to the things that Finn had told him about Frozen Atonement over the years, but to be frank, it had been annoying. Finn was always going on about how FA was the place to go and see, the place to model, the place to strive to be in the good graces of, the place to visit and seek guidance from them or an alliance, the place that was re-established as THE place to rule all the other kingdoms. Setting his fork down a moment, his jaw tensed as he thought about it and gave a nod of his head. “Thank you.” But he was a bit concerned about the children, who they were and why could he not touch them? “And the rest of my pack?”

Keturah gave a soft and warm smile as she glanced at Alex, a slight nod of her head as she leaned back and relaxed into the chair she was settled in. “They are doing as well as they can do, given the circumstances. We have made sure that everyone has housing, they have been kept together, food and their needs have been met and even a few requests. They seem shy about asking for much, but I suspect after a few more days and getting their Alpha back to them, they will settle in a bit more.”

Alex gave a nod of his head to the words that came from Keturah, a stoic look upon his face for a moment as realization hit him. “I don’t suppose you are really an Alpha if you have no lands in which to govern, are you?” He couldn’t help but to reach up, sliding his hand through his hair for a moment with a sigh.

Faith finally smiled as she had been listening to it the entire time for the moment. “I suppose that would be a conversation for you to have with Ket, later. Currently, I can show you the two children and others that are still within the infirmary. It may do them good to see you. I can show you, or Taz can show you, to the wing that houses your people when we are finished here.”

Keturah rose to her feet, brushing a hand down across the front of her blouse for a moment as she offered Faith and then Alex a smile. “That sounds like a good idea. I will give you a few days to get settled and we can resume our conversation. It will also allow you time to meet your mate’s family…” Keturah just smiled at the surprised look upon Alex’s features as she moved to head for the door and exit the office, leaving the pair alone for the moment.

Faith glanced towards the plate as she offered Alex another smile as Keturah had gone. “I know she can come across cold and distant at times, but she really is not. Ket is a fair leader and a great Alpha. She cares about her people, much more than she should. Most of those here are here because she saved them in one way or another. Your mate and her family included… but I will let Taz fill you in on that. I need to check on a few patients, finish your food and then I will be back to collect you and show you to the others that are still here.” With that, Faith moved to her feet as she turned and headed out of her office, leaving Alex within the silence of the room for the moment.

Alex glanced at his plate, half feeling guilty for even enjoying and savoring the food while some of his pack had lost their lives and others were still in the hospital. But he also could not get around needing nourishment either. His mind was racing, and he was thankful for the silence aside from the crackling of the fire. Alex lifted the fork, taking another bite of his food with a sigh as the door was suddenly slammed open, making him tense, gaze immediately going to the door and then dropping lower. What the? Alex caught himself looking at the little mini version of Faith with zero f***s to give as she came in like a tornado touching down.