Born of Two

The Start of Agony

Lochlyn's POV

Day 1

I woke up to the sun shining through the window. Rosie was still lying with her head on my chest, but she was hotter than the sun. I could see the sweat beading up by her forehead, and her face was starting to grimace. I mindlink Chase and Jo and tell them to get here and settle in for a long day. To my luck, they stayed overnight and made themselves at home in my other guest bedroom. I heard them get out of the room and start cooking breakfast. I roll Rosie off of me, so she is resting peacefully on the pillow next to me. Her body was curled up in a ball, and the sheet pulled up to her chin.

Her sweaty face buried half into the pillow. She must like squishy pillows judging by the half-smile that forms on her sleeping face when she settles in. She is beautiful as her wavy hair falls in front of her face. Her rosy cheeks are a little extra pink from the fever, and her lips are still plump but dry. I slowly made my way out of bed and over to the bathroom. Once I heard the door open, I immediately wanted to shut anyone out in order to not disturb her. However, it was Josephine, and I knew as much as I tried to keep Rosie to myself, I couldn't keep Jo out.

"Hey, Josephine."

"Hey, Lochlyn. How is she doing today?"

"It's going to get really rough, I think. Maybe we should get Doc here to make sure we knew what we are going to get into."

"He is already coming," Jo walked over to my mate. She lay in bed next to her, "You want an 'in' on how to make her feel better?"

"Of course!" I couldn't have shouted it faster. "I want to know everything. Absolutely everything."

"Her mom made her chicken noodle soup like a really special version that only I have the secret to. She has this blanket and smells like her mom. She likes to curl up with it all the time. Movies… old movie like Sound of Music, 12 Angry Men, John Wayne movies."

"Ok, outside of John Wayne, I have only known one of those movies."

"Sound of Music?"

"Yup." I chuckled at her deep knowledge of my mate.

"Her favorite movie of all time is 12 Angry Men. She says it changes cinematic history. I don't get it, but she loves it. But don't think that she doesn't have a deep repertoire of movies; she loves Lord of the Rings and Star Wars just as much."

"Anything else besides those? Her belongings should be coming in today for Omaha, and then I will have it all." I look at her snuggled up next to Rosie. I immediately feel this sense of jealous ping and rattle in my chest. I let out a low growl on accident. Jo sat up and looked at me with a death glare, and I knew I had gone too far. "I am sorry. I am just… I want to do what you're doing, but I have to hold back with her. I just don't know what I am supposed to do."

"You i***t… I just told you what to."

"What movies, soup, and a blanket?"

"Oh my gosh, you Alphas are so dense and stupid… like actually stupid. I literally just handed you her love language on a silver plate." She said with a wink.

"One, poor joke. Two. Her love language?"

"Yes, the five love languages. Quality Time, Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, and Receiving Gifts."

"What in the world are those?"

"It's how people communicate their love. It's actually fascinating my love language is receiving gifts and Chase's is physical touch, and boy do I love…."

"Barf, Jo. Remember, you are also my sister."

"OK, but seriously. Rosie's number one is quality time, and her second is acts of service. That means to curl up and watch movies with her. Take her on thoughtful dates, let her know you care by being a planner. Acts of service are like if she is tired, rub her feet without asking and maybe have her come home to the grocery shopping done or planned meals. Have dinner brought up or ready and cooked."

"OK, that just being normal…."

"Oh my gosh…. Seriously stupid like I should get you checked. The point of the love languages is you might be, definitely are, words of affirmation. If Rosie cleans the kitchen after you have had a really long day at work and doesn't ask you about your day, what do you feel?"

"I guess I would be glad that she cleaned the kitchen, but I guess everyone has to clean, so what is the point."

"BINGO!!! Now, if you come home and the kitchen is cleaned, but she is immediately asking you how your day was and telling you how great an Alpha you are and how she admires you…." Jo lets out a gagging noise. "What do you feel."

"Appreciated, wanted, held."

"And circle gets the square."

"So by simply speaking her love language and me communicating my love language, then we can build a relationship? Even better than the whole fated mate bond that she may not feel?"

Jo walks over to me, pats my head like a dog waiting for a treat, and smiles her megawatt smile that Chase loves. "There you go, big bro! Maybe I don't need to get you checked by Doc after all." She throws her head back in laughter and smiles. "You can do this, Lochlyn. You just have to see her for her, not a fated mate, not a Luna, and 100% don't see her as some damsel in distress. Believe me, that girl is stronger than you know, and she can take on anything. See her as a woman that wants to be treated as an equal and a fighter. She will be putty if you treat her like that but a thorn in your ass if you treat her as less. My homegirl is queen; treat her like one."

I smile back at Josephine. I remember how annoyed she was when she found out she was stationed in Omaha to protect some worthless human… her words, not mine. After a month, Jo was connected to her at the hip. Ready to die for her even. Rosie has this magnetic pull. "Doc is here, Jo. We best go see him now." Jo nods and walks out the door. I let my stare linger on Rosie's figure in the bed; she was sweaty and uncomfortable, but her flushed cheeks and her wavy, deep brown hair made her beautiful. "I promise, honey, this will be over soon," I say to the air around her before I walk out the door.

Doc left a couple of hours ago we made a plan. My office is right down the hall from her room, and I can be Alpha while also keeping a close eye on her. Chase is teaching the warriors this morning, and Jo is in the multi-purpose working with my mom on the upcoming mating ceremony for the pack. The house is quiet, the quietest it has been in days. I thought I heard something stirring and stopped my work to listen closer. I can hear someone groaning…. It's Rosie. I stand up from my desk so fast my chair flies backward. I rush out of the room and into her guest room. She is standing holding onto the pillar bedpost… not gonna lie; she looks like something that crawled from a sewer in a horror movie. Her skin is pale, sweat is physically dripping from her. Her breaths are uneven and shallow. Her eyes, though, those sapphire crystal eyes, are darker. "s**t, she is fighting the process."

"What is happening to me?" Her voice rings through the air. She begged me to answer and stop the pain coursing through her. 21 years of a suppressed wolf is trying to surface in a few days. Can she survive this?

"Rosie, your wolf is trying to come to the surface. Your body is changing, honey. You can't fight it; the more you fight your wolf, the worst it will be. Just breathe and let me come close to you."

"What did you do to me?!" She shrieks before she collapses to the floor.

Rosie's POV

I woke up in a pool of my own sweat. Gross. I immediately feel the pain drilling in my head. I can feel goosebumps and an electric current all over my body. I am freezing but also sweating profusely. I can tell I have a stupid high fever. I sit up and can feel the whole room move with me. Immediately grab the trashcan from last night. Someone changed the liner… too late for the new one. I swiftly vomit into it and set it to the side. Am I hungover? I remember falling asleep on Lochlyn, but I am alone. I feel this jolting pain course through my body like I am both on fire and have hypothermia. My arms and legs feel like they are breaking. I can smell things that I have never smelled; it's overwhelming. I let a series of whimpers as I move out of the bed and to the door. I can't run, but I need to find Jo. I know she is here somewhere. I just want Jo… hell, I will settle for Chase. I get to the bedpost before I can feel myself collapse. I pull myself back up with what strength I have. I am so scared. The tears are flowing freely from my eyes. I jump when I hear a loud bang coming from a room down the hall followed by footsteps, they sound like they are running. A smell hits me like never before, persimmon, vanilla, patchouli… earth, it smells like the earth. I need the scent, and I need it now. Suddenly, another round of pain and bone-breaking agony flows through me. "No, I will not let this happen. This will stop. Mind over matter. This will stop, please someone make it stop. STOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPP" I am screaming internally. I see Lochlyn in the doorway, just staring at me. Him… it's him… that scent is him.

I look to Lochlyn, "What is happening to me?!" I just want him to make it stop.

"Rosie, your wolf is trying to come to the surface. Your body is changing, honey. You can't fight it; the more you fight your wolf, the worst it will be. Just breathe and let me come close to you."

"What did you do to me?!" I let out a final yell before I meet the floor. I am still conscious but in agony. I can hear more people running to the room, 2 people, to be exact. Jo's shape appears behind Lochlyn and older women who look identical to Jo. She was maybe 5'10 long legs and pin-straight deep brown hair. Her eyes were a golden brown like Lochlyn's. Her eyes were filled with concern, and her hands were firmly placed on Jo's body, holding her back as Lochlyn was tending to me. He is running around the room, grabbing cool rags and pillows. I could feel this energy inside of my building. I hear more people running. Helena and another man appear in the doorway. I can see he has a needle in his hand. I immediately see Lochlyn lay him out. Pinned against the wall by his throat. Philemon appears with Chase, releasing Lochlyn's hold on the strange man. Philemon runs over to me, but I get the energy to push him away. Something is building in me, and I don't know what it is. Then I feel the release; I let out a glass-breaking scream. I see a purple force knock everyone back and singe bedspread before everything goes black.

Lochlyn's POV

"WHAT THE f**k ARE YOU THINKING! WE KNOW HER BODY CAN'T HAVE THAT DRUG! YOU WILL KILL HER!"

I slam the doctor up to the wall when I feel my father's hand on my arm, and then Chase locks my shoulders with arms. I am forced to release the Doc. My dad is running to Rosie, trying to help, and that is when we see it. Her eyes shift to two different colors. No longer are they blue, but one is bright Yellow like the day I met her, and the other is purple. I have never seen anything like this. She pushes herself away from dad and backs into the wall, then the s**t hits the fan. She lets out an ear-piercing scream, and a purple force field flies out from her. Knocking everyone off their feet and singeing anything in contact with her, including her clothes. She stares at me, and then she is out.

After getting my mom to her feet and Helena up, I run over to her. I grab a cup of water and wet her while my parents run to get more water for the surrounding fabric burning with a black and orange glow. She doesn't move for a while and then starts breathing, but she isn't awake. I pick her up and place her in the bed. I begin to remove her clothing to make sure she isn't burned. I stared at Jo, who was reaching for my hands to stop me and tell her to back up before becoming furious. I am just trying to protect her, and I am sick of everyone getting in the way. Just then, everyone freezes. A look of fear across their faces. I turn around, and I am face to face with a bear. Probably 9 feet tall with paws the sizes of bike tires. Its fur was jet black, and his eyes were purple. Purple eyes, just like Rosie. I could hear her start to mutter, and then the bear started moving towards me. Using its snout to push me out of the way. I mind-link my father.

"Ummmm, animal control?"

"We are past animal control, son."

"What does it want with my mate?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Eyes. Dad, its eyes are the same purple."

"She summoned a bear."

"What?"

"Move away from the bed. The mama bear won't hurt you, but she will if you stay too close."

I move away from Rosie's body with my hands up.

The bear digs at the floor and chuffs its head up at me before it goes to Rosie and nudges her with its nose. It breathes a heavy breath. While I am moving backward, I feel my mother's arm around me and pulling me closer to her. She has Jo and Chase on one side and me on the other. She is ready for the bear to make its last move. It never comes, though. The bear just lays down on the floor, staring at us like some kind of weird pet. I can see Rosie in pain, and when she winces, the bear places its snout on her arm, and then Rosie calms and sleeps soundly. The bear comforts her; how am I jealous of a f***ing bear. Someone help me. The seven of us make our way downstairs for the rest of the evening and leave Rosie with her bear.

Day 2.

Jo's POV.

Yesterday there was a bear in the room. The summon left mysteriously around 9 and let the Doc come and check her out. I slept next to her all night, hoping to provide the same comfort. Rosie is going to be so mad she missed a bear. Her fever was up to 110 degrees. Fortunately, that was normal for us to have a high temp when our wolves came. I went downstairs to go get breakfast, and I saw my mom.

"Mom, why aren't you home with Dad?"

" Oh, well, I thought I would help take care of Rosalynn. I know she means a lot to everyone, so tell me what to do."

"OK, well, I will go get breakfast, and then I really need to go work out. It's been too long, but stay here and help if you can. Then I can clear my head if that is ok?"

"I can. I can. What does she need?"

"Just listen for her. She might wake up again."

"OK. Go get food, change your clothes back at your place, and hit the gym. Let me know if you're on your way. I will mind-link you if I need you." My mom gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"Mom. Did you know her parents?"

"No, but in my pack, we had heard of Boulder Stone. There was something weird, though. There was a rumor that the Alpha mated with a witch, and she died during childbirth after her second. Then the Alpha hid the girls away inside the border of their pack to shelter them because we never ever saw them at events. Even for mating, they never appeared, just the Alpha. It was bizarre. I know your father was close to Rosalynn's father and had met him multiple times after we had mated. Still, I never really had lots of in-depth conversations."

"OK. I was just curious. Can you make sure the blanket she has doesn't get ruined? She is fiercely protective of it."

"Yes, I heard Lochlyn yelling at Finn, Marco, and Josiah yesterday after they left the boxes outside. I don't think those three will be offering the moving services again." My mom said with a laugh.

I love my mom so much because she is funny and kind to everyone. She leads this pack with such grace and splendor. She will love Rosie as she loves me. I kiss my mom on the cheek and run out of the house. Oh, how I am excited to go to the gym.

Heather's POV

It's been about 2 hours since Josephine left for the gym. I am doing some light cleaning around Lochlyn's place when I hear movement in Rosalynn's room. I open the door and see Rosalynn on the balcony, looking over the forest. Her deep brown waves blew in the breeze. She is frozen. I can see her shivering, but she doesn't realize I am there. I don't want to startle her, but I need her to go back to bed.

"Rosalynn dear?" She jumps back from the balcony and whips around towards me. Her body is rigid, and she is actually quite full of fear. "Rosalynn, honey, what are you doing on the balcony?"

"I want the pain to stop. Please make it stop whoever you are."

"Rosalynn, were you going to jump?"

"I just want the pain to stop… please let me jump."

"No, honey, I am not going to let that happen. This is temporary."

"No, the voices in my head are telling me to fight harder, and I can't fight harder. It hurts to fight harder…. The voices they don't stop yelling."

"I know. I remember when Jo had this change, poor girl, she just screamed the whole time." I wanted to grab her and pull her into me, but all I could do was plead with her. "Honey, come away from the window."

"My mom called me honey."

"I call all my kids, honey."

"I am not your child, though. Why would you care?"

"You are the most important thing to my two children, three if you include Chase. That means you are my child, and I need to protect you."

"You feel that way?"

"Deeply honey, now please back away from the window." She does the opposite and steps back towards the railing on the balcony. She wants to jump, and I can't let her jump, but I can't phase into my wolf without scaring her more.

-"Everyone, we have a situation here. I got Rosalynn, and she wants to jump. She told me the voices in her head were screaming and telling her to fight harder. She is misinterpreting them."

"Mom, save her, please."

I can hear Lochlyn begging me in my head to save her.

"Lochlyn, I am doing my best to talk her down, but she is pressed right up against the rail. I can't do anything. Oh, my moons, what is that-"

“MOM”

“MOM”

“HEATHER!!!”

Just then, two massive eagles appear in the window and push her forward away from the edge far enough for me to grab her wrist and pull her into my hug. I feel her tension, her pain, and her fear. This poor child.

"Rosalynn, I am right here."

I feel her start to sob into my chest. Her whole world is being torn apart and rewrote so fast. "Hey, why don't we change rooms. I think being stuck in a room all the time has led us to a little cabin fever and given us some bigger feelings. Let's go down to the couch and find a few movies, and why don't I make some soup and everything."

Rosalynn nods her head on my chest, and I help her find her strength.

"Ummm, that sounds great, but I don't mean to be rude and all but do I know you?"

"Oh, where are my manners. No, you don't, but I am Lochlyn and Josephine's mom. Chase's mother-in-law. My name is Heather."

"Your Uncle Phil's wife?"

"Yep, that's me."

"Thank you for talking to me."

"Oh, darling, that is what moms do. We talk to our kids. Let's go downstairs. Do you want me to grab your blanket and pillow?" Rosalynn nods her head. "If I let go, are we going to have a problem?" She shakes her head no. "Ok good, because you have two bird friends that are camped out on the railing to stop you."

Rosalynn looks over at the balcony. "Are those bald eagles? Why are they here?"

"I think nature is obsessed with you. You should have seen the bear that came for you yesterday."

"A BEAR!!!!"

"Yes, dear. A bear, a big black giant bear. Let's go downstairs and see about some soup."

"So we are going to treat that as a normal occurrence?"

"Oh no, dear. That we will not but right now, we just need to get you well."

"Ok. What soup do you have?"

"Well, Josephine let me know that you have a super special soup recipe from your mom. Would you like me to make that for you?"

"Yes, please."

"Ok, that is what I will make. I never like sending the good recipes to the packhouse kitchen. I like making those here. Oh, brace yourself. We need to get you downstairs before the cavalry comes."

"Lochlyn?"

"Oh dear, see you catch on quick."

"If you can get me to the couch instead of the bed and get him to stand down. I will mate with whoever you want me to."

"HAHAHAHAH! Oh, child, it doesn't work like that, but I will teach you how to tame the beast. He means well, but he has a rough time showing it."

"Ok. What movies do you have?"

"All the major streaming services, dear."

"Prime?"

"I did say all the services, darling… are you wanting 12 Angry Men?"

"Yes, how did you know that."

"Lochlyn and Jo."

"Of course."

I take Rosalynn by the arm and walk her out of the room. I fix her hair and pat her arm. She is a beautiful little thing. I see why Lochlyn is enamored with her. I smile down at her. "Please know I am here to help you."

Rosie's POV

I see this lovely woman staring at me. She brushed my hair back and patted my arm. "Please know I am here to help you."

"I believe you, but this is a lot."

"Oh, darling, I advocated against this plan. To be honest, I called it straight stupid."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but what do I know. It's not like I dealt with those two kids when they were going through this!" Heather says this, dripping in sarcasm.

I laugh because My mom would have been the same. I can't help but smile with Heather. She feels safe and secure. I can trust her a lot more than anyone else right now. She leads me out of the room and down the hall. I begin to take in the strange home I have found myself residing in for the first time. The floors are wood and deep brown in color with a beautiful grain. The walls in the hallway are beautiful warm green, and the smell of flowers is everywhere. The doors are solid oak with a deep stain. Everything is accented with deep colors and soft features.

We come to the top of a beautiful staircase. We can see down into the living room, where there is an oversized sectional sofa, a large ottoman, and two recliners. I honestly get giddy thinking about how I will sink into that sofa. I can feel my body getting drained. I grab the railing to walk down when the front door flies open to reveal a half-dressed and very sweaty Lochlyn. He looks at me with eyes full of fear.

"What are you doing? What were you thinking? Are you okay?" He is storming over to me and pulls me into him from the step below me. He begins to check me over. "Why are you out of bed, Rosie? You need to be resting and safe."

Before I could open my mouth, Heather jumped to my defense. "Safe? This isn't safe! This is the dumbest, most asinine plan ever. You take her from her home, you fill her head with crap, you lose her within the first ten minutes of her being here, long enough to get her found by Red Moon. You tell her stories to make it better. Then practically lock her in a room by herself in the hardest transition and the most painful time. You, Phil, and Jo should be ashamed. I kept my mouth shut long enough, but I watched the young women make drastic decisions because of the situation you put her in. I just can't with you. Get out of our way; she is going to the couch." She grabbed my arm, pulled me into her and away from Lochlyn, and walked me down the stairs.

I am having difficulty understanding most of this, but I trust Heather. She is the only one I trust. She sits me on the couch, lays my pillow down on the arm, and motions me to lay back. She spreads my blanket over me. When I look up, I can see Lochlyn on the stairs. He is staring his mother down from the stairs. He isn't angry, not happy, but not angry. He is more disappointed in himself. I can tell he doesn't like letting his mom down, and from what she said to him, that is what he felt. He slowly walked back down the stairs to catch up to us. "Mom, I am sorry. Can I please explain?"

"No."

"But-"

"No, because you don't need to. Do what you need to do now that is right for her." She says as she holds her hand in my direction. They are doing that weird thing Chase and Lochlyn do. He walks over to me and bends down.

"I have never seen this movie, and Jo said it was your favorite. I would like to watch it with you if that is ok."

"Yes, it's ok." I don't want him here, but something inside me is calling to him. I want him to slip in behind me and hold me during this movie. I need his intoxicating scent to surround me and cloud my judgment. For the first time since I met him, I was reminded of how attractive he is. He is beautiful.

"Where do you want me to be?"

"Can you just sit and warm my feet up?"

"I can do that." Lochlyn pulled himself up, moved down to my feet, and sat. He was quiet the whole movie. It killed him not to be right next to me. I could see it in his very obvious sulk that he was trying so hard to hide. But I am ok with this.