Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The Rejection

*⚠️ Warning: this book contains graphic sex scenes between two men, abuse, rape, and homophobic slurs. Chapters will NOT be trigger-marked. Read with caution. § Prologue Many years ago, life was very different for werewolves. Back then, the weak were either discarded, killed, beaten, raped, or used as sex slaves. Throughout the years, life has changed, but not everywhere. Some Alphas still hold tight to the ways of old. The way they were taught. Midnight Moon pack, located in Watton of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is one of the largest packs in North America, with over 1500 pack members, and they no longer cling to the old ways. Alpha Thaddeus has continued his father's legacy, trying to rid the world of Alphas who are still stuck in the old mindset and not only still keep slaves but also rape, beat, and starve their Omegas. Thaddeus's father started this crusade, but unfortunately, he never got to see it through. Thaddeus became Alpha at the age of 17 when his father was killed. Everything was going well for Thaddeus until one day, he was stabbed in the spine. The silver blade pierced his spine, taking the use of his legs away and leaving him confined to a wheelchair. No one is sure why, but by some miracle, his wolf was not affected by the paralysis. At 18, a werewolf's mating instincts are triggered, allowing them to identify their mate. Thaddeus, now 21, has still not found his mate… § Thaddeus’s POV I sigh as I close the laptop. I lean back, stretching before running my hands down my face and then adjusting my shirt, pulling it down where it rode up. I pushed back from my desk and frowned when I saw that one of my legs had slipped from the footrest. Being unable to feel my legs, I was unaware that it had slipped off until now. It was a harsh reminder that I couldn't feel my legs or my feet. I reached down and grabbed my right leg, placing it back onto the footrest before strapping it down so it wouldn't slip off again. The last thing I need is for the damn thing to slip off while wheeling myself forward and get stuck in the wheel, like it has before. Getting yanked out of the chair from my foot getting stuck in the wheel was quite an embarrassing moment. Especially since it happened in front of a large group of packed members, it was times like that that made me feel weak and inadequate to be the alpha of my pack. I look out the open window at the sound of kids shrieking. My heart calms when I see they're just playing. I watch them chase each other, laughing as they fall into a pile. Images of my own childhood flash in my head, and I remember the time when my legs worked. I look down at my useless legs that are strapped to the wheelchair and sigh before wheeling myself toward the door. I glance at the clock on the wall before I pull the door shut and groan when I realize how little time I have. I should have already been in the car, but I just couldn't pull myself away from work. Instead of heading downstairs, I head up to my room. I want to see Noah one more time before I leave and make sure he has everything he needs. I barely make it to the elevator before I feel my Beta push against the link, and groan before opening it. “Do you plan on making me wait out here all day? You know we were supposed to leave 20 minutes ago. Come on, big guy, we have a plane to catch,” Xander said through the link. “I'll be there in a minute. I just want to say goodbye to Noah,” I replied before closing the link. § I hate leaving, and I hate these stupid Alpha conventions even more. At least last year, it was in Colorado. Unfortunately, this year it's in Florida. Don't get me wrong, Florida is nice if you're human, but my wolf and I hate the heat. That place is too damn hot and too damn humid for us. I prefer the cooler temperatures here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula… After securing my wheelchair in the back, Xander flashes his signature goofy grin at me and puts the car in drive. I shake my head and pray he doesn't talk my head off like he usually does. I'd hate to throw him out of the car and have to find a new beta. I feel the moment we pass that invisible line that marks the boundaries of our territory. I look into the side mirror and watch as we leave my territory. It's a strange feeling when you leave your territory. It’s an emptiness that causes your chest to ache, and is felt as soon as you pass that invisible line. Everything smells different and feels foreign outside of your territory. It feels wrong, and you feel out of place. You feel home calling to you, tugging at that invisible tether to your territory, begging you to return. I ignore the call of home and look at Xander, who's staring straight ahead. I find myself wondering how long this peace and quiet will last, and I'm forced to listen to his dad jokes until I threaten to throw him from the car. Unfortunately, it didn't take long. Only five minutes after leaving our territory, Xander began talking. As soon as he opened his mouth, he never stopped. The words flowed like vomit. I growl, contemplating pushing the idiot out of the damn car… I should have brought duct tape! I've known Xander my whole life. We grew up together with Marcus, my Commander. Xander's father was my father's beta. When I took my father's place, his father stepped down so Xander could be my beta. Xander has a goofy personality and is the life of the party. He loves his dad jokes, and once he starts talking, he never stops. Marcus is the polar opposite of Xander. He's more serious and level-headed. The three of us have always been inseparable — they're the brothers I never had, and this one annoys me just like one. I thought, glaring a hole in the side of Xander's head as he talked about a rash on his ass. § I look around the room full of Alphas. I'm not sure whether to be thankful it's just dinner today or disappointed. At least during the lectures, I have a reason not to socialize. I suppose not all the Alphas here are bad, but certain ones are cocky assholes, thinking they're better than everyone and are quick to point that out, kind of like the incident that happened 10 minutes ago. Sir fuck around and find out, found out he wasn't all that when he was dragged out of the dining room unconscious. “Man, why can't there be more women at these things?” Xander complained, his eyes scanning the room with a pout. “So you can't infect their women with that infected appendage between your legs!” I casually said before taking another bite. Xander took a sharp breath and placed his hand over his chest, feigning hurt. “I'll have you know, Xander Jr. has a clean bill of health!” Xander flashed his pearly whites, and I groaned as I shook my head. “I didn't need to know you named your dick!” I scolded, trying not to vomit. Xander laughed, and I ignored him, downing a good portion of my bourbon. “At least some of the staff here are females,” Xander said as a female waitress approached with a pitcher of water. The Beta flashed her a smile and winked, causing the waitress to blush. I shook my head and looked away, thankful I wasn't sharing a room with him. The last thing I want is to be woken up by this idiot sneaking a girl into his bed. “Xander, I swear that thing is going to fall off one of these days!” I said, and Xander sucked in a sharp breath as he looked at me. He quickly looked down and frantically felt between his legs. “Nope! Jr’s still there!” The idiot said, and I couldn't help but laugh. A smile beamed on Xander's face, and his chest puffed out, proud that he made me laugh. § We finished eating a few minutes ago, and I just settled back at the table with a fresh glass of bourbon. As I brought the glass to my mouth, I felt my wolf stir and begin pacing my head. He went from 0 to 100 so fast it was alarming. I felt my wolf pressing against the walls that kept him in, desperately trying to get out and shift. I scanned the room, but saw nothing out of place. I looked for Xander and found him on the side of the bar, flirting with the waitress. The pressure in my head was becoming intense, and my head began to throb. I massaged my temples. ‘Knock it off, Zeus!’ I scolded the wolf in my head, but he ignored me. I scanned the room one more time, and as my head turned toward the door, a scent invaded my nose, and had me freezing. My heart thrummed in my chest, pounding against my ribs so loud I feared everyone might hear it. I couldn't move, nor could I breathe. I stared at the door as an amazing scent I've been waiting to smell invaded my nose and had my wolf purring in my head. I thought they'd never step through the door, and when he did, my heart stuttered, and my wolf howled in my head in delight. He was handsome, with beautiful, shiny dark hair, and dark eyes that frantically scanned the crowd, looking for me. Excitement filled me; I could hardly wait for his eyes to find me. My lips curled up in anticipation, but I was shocked at the expression that washed over his face the moment his eyes found me. Shock filled his face, and then was quickly replaced with anger. The longer we held eye contact, the deeper that anger became. He finally broke eye contact and let his eyes move down my body. He stared at my legs, and wheelchair with disgust, and my stomach dropped. His jaw clenched and his muscles twitched — hands curling into fists so tight that I saw a drop of blood hit the floor. This wasn't the reaction I was expecting from my mate when I found them. Maybe a little hesitation, maybe a little disappointment to see the wheelchair, but not this… not the rage building in his eyes. I had to go to him. I had to talk to him and touch him, hoping to calm him and discuss this. But as I backed away from the table and turned the wheelchair toward him, he suddenly stormed away. My eyes followed him as he stormed through the large dining room and exited out the back door. My chest felt tight and ached. It was difficult to breathe. I swallowed thickly before wheeling the chair forward and quickly making my way outside. It wasn't hard to find him. He was only a few feet away from the back door, pacing back and forth while mumbling angrily to himself. I slowly moved forward, but as I got close, he suddenly stopped and faced me. I know he was glaring at me, but I couldn't stop myself from taking in his features now that I was so close. I desperately wanted to touch him, hold him, ask him to please try to look past the wheelchair, but I could do none of that; touching him was obviously the last thing he wanted. I searched his face, trying to see if there was something more there that was fueling his rage, but my gut already knew. “What's wro-” The second word never fully left my mouth. His sharp words quickly cut me off, and had my stomach turning. “This must be some sick fucking joke!... I mean, you're a man! I'm not fucking gay! I like women, not men!” He spat. “I like pussy, not dick!” He paused, his hateful eyes moving over my body until they landed on the wheelchair, and he scuffed. “What the fuck is this? Are you kidding me? Look at you, you can't even fucking walk! You're in a fucking wheelchair! Come on, how fucking pathetic is that?” His face contorted in disgust, and my heart broke. “What the fuck did I do to deserve a pathetic mate who can't even walk?! This is bullshit! If she was going to give me a fucking fagot as a mate, at least she could have given me one who wasn't so useless, and whose legs fucking worked! How the fuck can you even be an Alpha when your dumbass is stuck in a damn wheelchair?” It felt like I was punched in the gut, and all the air escaped my lungs. No one has ever spoken to me so cruelly. I'd expect it from my enemy, but not the person the goddess created for me. It felt like a sick dream that I couldn't wake up from. It felt like a knife piercing my heart with each heartless word that fell from his lips. If it had been anyone else, they would have been lying on the ground unconscious by now… but it wasn't anyone else. His voice grew louder, and I was pulled from my thoughts; his words became clearer again. “I mean, what the fuck! This is bullshit!” He yelled before pacing a few steps away and spinning around. “Man, the goddess must really hate me. First, I don't get the Alpha position. Nooo! That is going to my pathetic brother, and now I'm stuck being his fucking Beta! And as if that wasn't bad enough, I'm not only mated to a fagot, but one in a fucking wheelchair!... Just fucking great!” He yelled, throwing his arms out to the side before letting them drop and slap against his sides. I felt disconnected from my body as he continued his rant. It felt like I was watching the scene from above. I blinked when I felt his finger poking my chest, and realized he was leaning over me, yelling. I was caught off guard, my head snapped to the right, and a sharp pain radiated on the side of my face. I slowly reached up and touched my face in shock. Laughter rang out, and I slowly turned to look at him. He laughed as he pointed at my surprised face, and then it suddenly came to an abrupt stop. His expression darkened, and I feared where this would go. If he wanted to fight me, it would be an easy kill for him, because I'd never lift a finger to my mate. “I’ll never stay mated to a crippled fagot!” he yelled before his fist flew forward. As his fist flew forward, it felt like time slowed. I watched it inched toward my face. My eyes closed, and I exhaled, accepting what was to come. His fist connected with my face, and my head snapped to the side. My lip immediately split, and the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. He threw another punch, and this one hit my stomach. The blows kept coming; his aim was random, from my face to my torso. I grunt when a blow connects with my ribs. I felt the bruises and welts forming fast, but I didn't block a single swing, nor did I fight back. I feel the pain from each hit, but it's nothing in comparison to the pain in my chest from my heart breaking. I begin to realize that not fighting back is fueling his rage. “Fight back!... Fight back, you fucking fagot!” He yelled. His chest heaved as the anger rolled off him. I wipe the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand and look at him. “No… I won't hit you. You're my mate!” I saw something in him snap. It was like I threw gasoline on a fire. His hands curled into a fist, and he screamed as he kicked his foot out with everything he had. His foot landed square in my chest and sent me backwards, tipping the wheelchair back as I flew out of it. The blow knocked the air from my lungs. I wheezed as I held my chest, trying to fill it with desperately needed air. I coughed as I filled my lungs, and could sense him approaching. He stood over me, his chest heaving as he glared at me. I should have seen it coming, but for some reason, I didn't. “What's your name?” He asked coldly. My stomach dropped, and I instantly knew why he was asking that question. It hurt more than his words or his physical assault. I felt my world crumbling around me, and my wolf whimpered as he lowered his head in defeat. I couldn't say anything or move for a moment. All I could do was lie there and look at him. I had hoped to see something in his eyes… something besides anger, rage, and disgust, but I saw nothing else. My last bit of hope went out the window, and it was crushing. I turned my head and spat out the blood that had filled my mouth, and turned to look at him again. “Thaddeus Anderson, Alpha of the Midnight Moon Pack.” My throat felt dry when I spoke. The words felt like razor blades as I forced myself to speak them. I saw his mouth move, and I heard his voice, but it was distant and muffled as he recited words I never thought I'd hear. I know he said his name, and I know he said what pack he belongs to, but I didn't hear any of it… Maybe it's for the best. “I, Jackson Morris, future Beta of the Blood Moon pack, reject you, Alpha Thaddeus Anderson, of the Midnight Moon Pack as my mate.” I snapped out of it when an intense pain bloomed in my chest and shot through my body. I gripped my chest, clenched my jaw, and squeezed my eyes closed at the intense pain in my chest. It felt like my heart was ripped from my chest. White hot pain radiated through my body; it was hard to breathe. I knew if I had been standing, it would have brought me to my knees. I grunt and grit my teeth through the pain. My lungs burned; they felt like they were on fire. I felt the tethers unraveling as a piece of his soul was being separated and removed from mine. It took me a few moments to catch my breath, and when I did, I looked up at my mate. I expected to see regret, remorse, some form of sadness, but I saw nothing but the same coldness that was there when he spoke those words. “I, Thaddeus Anderson, Alpha of the Midnight Moon Pack, accept your rejection.” The way his eyes widened made it look like he wasn't expecting me to accept his rejection. I began to regret seeing them, but it was too late. When the last word left my mouth, those strands that unraveled from my heart broke in an instant as the mate bond was severed forever. His eyes slammed closed, and he gripped his chest, falling to his knees. He cried out as he fell forward, reaching out with his right hand to catch himself while his left clutched his chest. Sweat beads formed on his forehead as he struggled to breathe. The painful cry that fell from his lips caused my heart to clench. I fought the urge to comfort him, even though he's the one who did this. It took him a little longer to recover enough to catch his breath. With weak legs, he stood and shook his head as if he was shaking something off. Then, just like that, he walked away… That was the last time I saw him. I never saw him at the convention again, but then again, I left early. The pain I experienced each night as my body went through withdrawals from the loss of the bond became too much. With each passing day, I grew weaker. I decided it was best to go home and recover in peace.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Thaddeus

Thaddeus’s POV The rejection took a toll on my body. Exhaustion plagued me. I woke each night covered in sweat and in agony as my body suffered withdrawals from the loss of the bond. It took a month for my body to recover, but it took almost a year to mentally recover. For the longest time, I wanted nothing to do with love, and hoped I wouldn't receive a second chance mate. Going through another rejection like that wasn't on my list of things to do. Seeing the disappointment in another mate's eyes when they look at my useless legs isn't something I could take living through twice. I busied myself with work and hid under mountains of paperwork, but eventually my friends pulled me from the darkness I was hiding in. It's been 6 years since the day I was rejected, and I never found a second chance, mate. I've made my peace with it, but at first it was tough to realize that the Goddess didn't want to give a cripple a second chance, mate. That even she knew it was best not to try, because I would just be rejected again. Every now and then, I dive into those dark thoughts again, and I hear his voice. At times, the words from the man who was supposed to accept me haunt me even to this day, and remind me that no one would want someone stuck in a wheelchair. §“Man, I had two of them pinned to the ground, and this fucker came out of nowhere and bit my damn shoulder, look at this shit!” Xander said from the front passenger seat. He pulled his collar down and exposed his shoulder, straining to look back at it. “Look at that! That fucker tried to take a chunk out of me!” Xander said, shoving his shoulder further over the back seat to show Marcus. Marcus rolled his eyes and sighed. “Well, at least he wasn't trying to take your leg off like the other asshole was trying to do to me,” Marcus said, his arms folded over his chest, clearly not happy that Anders held him down so I could wrap his thigh and hip. The bandage was already soaked with blood, but if he had it his way, he would have rinsed it off with water and called it a day. Xander turned to face Marcus, kneeling on the seat as he wrapped his arms around it and rested his chin on the headrest, eagerly waiting to hear his story. “What are you doing?” Marcus raised a brow and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Xander looked like a damn puppy, eager for a treat. “Well, what happened? I need details! And don't leave anything out!” Xander said, waving a finger at Marcus. Marcus sighed and gave the Beta a bored expression. “Nothing happened!” Marcus said, folding his arms tighter over his chest. Xander raised an eyebrow. “So, mister, I know every form of martial arts, and can kick everyone's ass, just suddenly has a chunk missing out of his thigh?” Xander said, and to poke the beast further, he reached back and tugged on one of Marcus's long, dark dreadlocks. Marcus growled and swatted his hand away. “I hope you've been looking for a replacement, because I'm going to kill him if he doesn't knock it off!” Marcus said, and I coughed to cover my laugh. Marcus has been threatening to kill Xander for as long as I can remember. He loves Xander, but at the same time, he wants to kill him. “Xander, turn around, and leave him alone!” I said, feeling like a parent breaking up my children's argument before it became a fight. Xander turned and plopped down into his seat. The drive home from Alpha Michael's pack seems longer than usual. Maybe it's because everyone was tired after fighting an endless flood of rogues. Alpha Michael is a good friend. His pack borders the Southwest corner of my territory, and our friend Alpha Asher is at the North end, bordering mine and Michael's territory. Our three packs have been allies from the beginning of time, and the three of us have been friends since we were young. They're not as close as Marcus, Xander and I are, but that's to be expected when we're more like family than friends. As allies and friends, we help each other when needed, and today, Michael needed our help. Rogues aren't pleasant to deal with. They are wolves that have either been kicked out or left on their own will. A wolf without a pack is a rogue, and they're dangerous. The longer you remain rogue, the more likely you’ll become wild and feral, and once that happens, you lose yourself and your humanity. The stronger rogues like to band together and attack packs. And today it looked like they chose Michael's pack. Thankfully, we're not far, and within 30 minutes of our arrival, we had his packs secured. Now, here I am, trying to get us home before these two tear each other apart. Sometimes I let them drive, and other times I like to feel normal and drive my vehicle. Although my vehicle isn't quite normal. Not when it's set up for someone who doesn't have use of their legs. An aftermarket lever to the right of the steering wheel gives the vehicle gas when moved in one direction and applies the brakes when moved in the other. Driving down the road at 55 mph with the window down so I can feel the wind blowing through my hair is the most normal I can feel in human form. Although I'd actually be able to enjoy it if Xander could stop talking for at least a minute, unfortunately, now he's on a roll talking about all the hot she-wolves back at Michael's place. I groan and contemplate shoving him out of the car. I suppose Marcus isn't the only one who has threatened to kill Xander over the years. I jumped, startled when Xander suddenly rang out a little too loud, “Hey guys, why do fathers take an extra pair of socks when they go golfing?.... In case they get a hole-in-one!” Xander laughed, and Marcus rolled his eyes. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing he's only getting started. “How does the Moon cut his hair?... Eclipse it!” Xander laughed even harder and slapped his knee. “Why don't skeletons fight each other?... Because they don't have the guts?” Xander curled forward, laughing way too hard at that one. “Thaddeus, if you don't kick his ass out of the car, I will!” Marcus growled, glaring at the back of Xander's head. I groaned and ran my hand down my face. “Xander, for the love of Goddess, will you knock it off!” I was nearly begging at this point. Xander folded his arms over his chest with a huff, pouting. “You guys are no fun!” he mumbles under his breath. “No, you just like having a little too much fun, and don't know how to keep your mouth closed, or that thing in your pants!” I said, remembering what this idiot did at Michael's. After taking care of the rogues, we stayed for lunch. Everything was going well until it was time to leave. What I didn't realize was that my Beta had snuck off to see a girl, and that girl just so happened to be the sister of a very large bear shifter, Michael's Commander, Anders. With the front of the pack house full of people, including omegas and children, this idiot decided to embarrass not only himself, but me. My conversation with Michael was cut short by the chaos of Xander being chased by a very angry bear shifter. It wasn't just the fact that Anders was chasing him; it was the fact that he was butt naked and screaming while Anders yelled every profanity known to man at him. The look on Xander's face was a mix of terror and amusement. Somehow, he thought it was funny to have death chase him. “Get back here, you fucking mutt! That was my little sister, you asshole! I'm going to rip your fucking dick off and shove it down your throat!” Anders yelled, and Xander shrieked when the commander almost caught him. Thankfully, Michael and Ryder were there to calm Anders down, Xander shrinks down in his seat, and for once, it's finally quiet in the car. Unfortunately, the peace and quiet didn't last, and five minutes later, he was talking again. Unable to take any more, I slammed on the brakes, and since he wasn't wearing his seatbelt, which I was well aware of, Xander's forehead was introduced to my dashboard. That bought me another five minutes of silence, and thankfully, by the time he began talking again, we were home. § I sat in the shower with the hot water raining down against my back. As I washed my tattoo-covered legs, I remembered how muscular they used to be. Now, they're thin and atrophied from years of no use. I stopped washing and trailed my finger along the tattoo on my right leg. I found myself wondering if somehow I still had a mate out there, if he'd be able to look past these useless legs. I let out a sigh and let go of my leg, letting it drop, and hung the washcloth. Thirty minutes later, I'm dressed and wheeling myself down the hallway of my apartment on the top floor of the packhouse. When I reached the end of the hallway, I found Xander had let himself in and made himself at home in my living room. The beta is sitting on the couch, playing video games and eating what looks like everything in my kitchen. Xander cock's is head around the couch and smiles with a mouth full of food. “Hey, what's up?” Xander doesn't bother swallowing his food before speaking, and I shake my head at the mouthful of food I saw. I wheeled myself around the couch and snatched the bag of chips out of Xander's hand before picking up the rest of the food scattered all over the coffee table. “I don't know why you're eating all this shit! We're about to go downstairs and have a feast, and you're up here loading up on all this junk.” I scolded and wondered where half the shit came from. I don't remember buying a bag of Doritos or donut holes. “That's okay. I have plenty of room for all of that, too!” This pig said with a mouth full of food. “All that work I did at Michael's worked up quite the appetite,” Xander said, and I smirked. “Yeah, that must have been some hard work with Anders's sister?” My comments had the opposite effect that I intended, and a large smile spread on the Beta's face. “Hey, I can't help it. She came onto me!” Xander placed his hand over his chest, feigning innocence. “You know, you need to learn to keep that thing in your pants! What are you going to do when you find your mate?” I asked, and Xander mumbled under his breath as he sank down into the couch as if he was trying to hide from me. § By the time I made it outside, the full moon celebration was well underway. The bonfire was lit, the children were playing, and the rest of the pack mingled, enjoying the warm summer evening. Soft music played from the speakers, and the scent of food filled the air. I settled in at the end of the table, locking my wheelchair in place before digging in and eating. I had only taken three bites when another plate was placed beside mine. I looked up to find Zendaya giving me a look that said, “Don't even try it.” I laughed and shook my head. Of course, she thinks I didn't grab enough food. I swear this lady's trying to fatten me up. “Hey, don't laugh! I saw how much you put on your plate, and that's nowhere near enough. Besides, you didn't get any of the damn pig! My grandmother helped Grace with that sucker all day. She'll whip my ass if she knows you didn't eat any of it!” Zendaya shook her fork at me and gave me a firm look. “Well, in that case, I'd better eat this plate first.” I laughed, switching the plates around. “So, where's that wonderful mate of yours?” I asked, noticing I didn't see him anywhere. “Hopefully, not out there killing Xander. They did a quick run out to the front gate. They should be back any minute.” Zendaya said before taking another bite. “Is there someone here?” I paused and felt for the guards at the front gate. “No. Those two are always looking for an excuse to go for a run, and besides, you know how they are. Always wanting to make sure everything's secure.” Zendaya said, licking the barbecue sauce from her fingers before grabbing a napkin. Just as I brought a bite of potato salad to my mouth, Xander came bursting from the tree line at full speed. He kept glancing over his shoulder every few moments, and I groaned, knowing why. Zendaya turned around in her chair just in time to get a pair of shorts thrown in her face. “These are yours now!” Xander said, out of breath. The Beta slid as he rounded my chair and dropped into the seat beside me. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. Without a word, he reached over and grabbed a chicken leg from my plate. I glared at him and gave him my best “what the fuck?” look, but the idiot simply flashed his signature smile before taking a bite. Zendaya pulled the shorts from her face and held them out, looking at them in confusion. At that exact moment, a very naked and very angry Marcus burst from the tree line, growling. It didn't take long before he spotted Xander and ran toward our table. He slid to a stop when he saw what Zendaya was holding. “So, you're the one who took my damn shorts!” Marcus said as he plucked the shorts from Zendaya's hand and slipped them on. The commander pulled the seat out beside her and sat down, smirking at her. “If you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask.” The commander said playfully, smiling at the beautiful lady next to him. Marcus rested his elbow on the table and propped his chin against his fist. His smirk deepened, and he wiggled his eyebrows at her. Zendaya forced out a breath and rolled her eyes. “This man!” She said, shaking her head. “And this man is all yours!” Marcus said, swaying his hands down and along his body in a showing fashion. “Xander, you need to stop spending so much time with my mate. You're starting to rub off on him!” Zendaya said before popping a piece of chicken into her mouth. I laughed, and Xander's face lit up. “Shit, now I'm going to spend even more time with him! Before you know it, we'll be finishing each other's sentences.” Xander said excitedly. Marcus groaned and ran his hand down his face. “Please, baby girl. Please let me kill him,” Marcus pleaded with his eyes closed. Zendaya laughed as she rubbed his back. “Stop acting like you don't like it. You know you love his goofy ass!”“Of course, I love the idiot. That doesn't mean I still don't want to kill him!” Marcus said, and Xander's face lit up again. “Aw, I love you too, big brother!... Or little brother. You are kinda shorter than me.” Xander flashed his goofy grin at Marcus, and the commander growled at him. Zendaya placed her hand on Marcus's shoulder, “Xander, if you want to live to meet your mate, I highly suggest you stop poking the beast!” She said while rubbing Marcus's back. Marcus's expression softened as he turned to look at his mate, and she blushed when he kissed his cheek.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Pain

At six years old, a frightened, scared, and lonely little boy was found wandering just inside the Blood Moon Pack territory. The little boy thought this was his salvation. He thought he had found a safe place to live and people to care for him, but it turned out to be anything but that. He spent the first two years of his life there, locked in a basement, cold, alone, and hungry. Hunger and thirst were thankfully the only torture he endured for those first two years. Things changed when he turned eight, but not for the better. He was just a small boy, and he was put to work, learning how to cook and clean the entire packhouse. It was a challenging task for an 8-year-old. He made a lot of mistakes, and with those mistakes came punishments to help him learn. As he got older, the beatings became worse. When he reached 13, it seemed like a turning point, but not for the better. The Alpha decided the small, frail boy was the perfect object to release his anger on. Aiden learned what a whip was, and he learned to fear it. Hanging from the ceiling became a standard form of punishment, and that whip frequently shredded his skin and clothes. No one paid him any attention, at least not the attention you'd want. But upstairs and out of the basement, sunlight came in through the windows, allowing him to feel the warmth of the sun when he was near the windows. He could look out to see the green grass and tall trees. He yearned for freedom. He yearned to run free in the woods and feel the ground beneath his feet. He often wondered what it would be like to have a friend, someone he could run through the woods with. It would be nice if just one person wasn't mean to him. It would be nice if just one person noticed him and saw him as a person, not just a thing. Upstairs and out of the basement was nice in those rare moments when he was alone and could feel the Sun through the window. But in the basement, no one was there to trip him, push him down, or call him names. There were no mistakes to be made in the basement, nor was there fear of punishment. But it was dark, cold, damp, and lonely down there. § Aiden's POV I woke to the alarm going off at 4:30 in the morning. I felt like I had just fallen asleep. I was exhausted, and my body ached. I didn't want to move; I wanted to go back to sleep. I wished for once I could sleep in, but I know that would never happen. I lay there for a few minutes before forcing myself to crawl out of bed. However, it's not much of a bed. It's an old, worn sleeping bag that I found in the garbage years ago, but it's better than nothing. It's better than the cold, hard cement ground. As I roll over, I wince from the pain in my ribs, and I carefully pull myself to my feet. My knees wobbled, and the room momentarily spun. I waited for the dizziness to pass before moving. My body felt like it had been run over by a train, but it was just the alpha's fist. Memories of why my body hurt flashed in my head, and I squeezed my eyes closed, wishing those memories away. I knew the alpha was in a bad mood last night. I knew I would never make it through the evening without triggering him, but I tried my hardest not to. He kept glaring at me as he stuffed his ugly face. It grossed me out to see him eating like that. He was like a pig, slurping and biting into his food like a damn animal. I almost gagged when I saw the juices dripping down his face, and he didn't even bother to wipe it. I wasn't the only one who noticed the alpha's anger; everyone in the room kept their distance. I tried to avoid him. I tried as hard as I could not to make any mistakes during dinner. Everything was going well until I was clearing the table. As I began walking back toward the kitchen, a plate slipped from my hand and shattered when it hit the floor. My stomach dropped, and tears immediately filled my eyes. I knew this was the moment he was waiting for, and there was no escaping the punishment that was coming. In the blink of an eye, the alpha had a fistful of my hair and was dragging me toward the basement. I cried out and reached up, trying to grab my hair to lessen the pain and hope he doesn't rip it from my scalp. I tried apologizing, and I begged, but no amount of begging would get him to stop. I felt every step that my body was dragged down, hitting bruises and wounds that hadn't even begun to heal yet. The alpha tossed me onto the floor in the same area where I received all my punishments. It's an area in the basement, not too far from my sleeping bag. I think he chose this spot because it's the only place in the basement that has a light. It's a small, dim light hanging on a string from the ceiling. The air is forced from my lungs with a kick to my stomach. I curled forward, grabbing my stomach, and coughed as I tried to fill my lungs. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not protecting my face. Everything went dark as pain radiated through my face from his foot connecting with it. I felt the straps being placed around my wrist, and a moment later, I was suddenly yanked off the floor as I was pulled into the air. I cried out from the sudden and painful sensation. I stayed awake longer than I wanted to this time. The alpha took his frustrations and anger out on me with his fist, and then, when he was sick of that, he turned to the whip. I woke up hours later on the cold, hard floor, lying in a pool of blood… I slowly walk to my two buckets of water and sigh at the red, cloudy water from cleaning myself up last night. I looked down and saw that the bandages around my torso were soaked. I walk over to my box of old sheets and pull one out. I sat down on my sleeping bag and began tearing the sheet into strips for bandages. Once I'm done, I begin the painstaking task of removing my bandage. It hurts as I slowly remove it. I whimper and my lip trembles as tears roll down my face. I hate this! This is when I feel the loneliest. No one to take care of me. No one to help change my bandages and tell me how bad my back is. I know it's raw; it hurts so bad. The bandage pulls the dry blood that sticks to it, but I have to keep going. I need to change it so I can get dressed and start cooking breakfast. It's hard to do by myself, but I manage to do it somehow. Somehow, I managed to wrap the strip of sheet that is now my bandage around my torso and cover my back. Once I'm done, I dig through my box of clothes to find something to wear. I don't have much left. The alpha keeps destroying what clothes I have each time he beats me. My clothes aren't much; they weren't even mine to begin with. They were things other people no longer wanted, things I found that they discarded. A small smile forms on my face when I find my favorite outfit. It's not much to others, but to me it's the nicest thing I have. The pants actually fit, I don't need a string to hold them up, and the pale turquoise shirt is the prettiest color I've ever seen. There's not a single stain on it. Each time I wear it, I make sure not to get anything on it, and that's just what I'll do again today, I thought, smiling as I turned to get dressed. It wasn't long before the smell of eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes filled the packhouse. I hid in the back of the kitchen, beside the counter and pantry, as everyone ate breakfast. I tried to be invisible. The last thing I want is for anyone to see me. They don't hurt me like the alpha does, but they pick on me. They push me around, trip me, and laugh at my expense. The only other person I really have to look out for is the alpha's youngest son, Jackson. The alpha has two sons. Matthew is the oldest by one year, and Jackson is the youngest at 24. Matthew has never hurt me; in fact, when I was younger, it was quite the opposite. Jackson, on the other hand, can sometimes be worse than his father. He doesn't beat me like his father; he does other things. He says he's not gay, but every time he catches me alone, he uses my mouth for his pleasure. I suppose I should be happy that he's never raped me. He said he'll never do that because he's not gay and he'll never stick his dick in another man's ass. But he has no problem fucking my mouth. I've tried to refuse many times, but that only results in a beating, and in the end, I'm forced to suck him off anyway. This is my life… the hell I live every day. § I'm exhausted by the time I finish cleaning up after breakfast, but I have to keep going. I'm not allowed to stop. I weakly climb the stairs and head for Jackson's room. I like cleaning his room first after breakfast since I know he'll be on the training field. This way, there's no chance of running into him and being forced to my knees. I feel like I'm on autopilot as I clean his room. My mind has checked out, but I've done this so long that my body knows the movements by heart. His room is clean for the most part, but his sheets are always all over the place. It's like he wrestles a monster in his sleep each night. Once I'm finished with his room, I move to the bathroom and start with a shower. Once everything is clean, I finish my cleaning with the floor. I grabbed my bucket of water and got on my hands and knees to clean the floor. I start at the back and work my way toward the door. I am halfway done when I hear someone in the room behind me, and I look over my shoulder. My stomach dropped when I saw Jackson standing by the door. What is he doing back? He should still be at the training field for at least another hour! His lips curl up when he sees the fear on my face and the way my body begins to tremble. “That's the perfect position for you. You’re just the way I like you — on your knees,” Jackson said and began walking toward me. I turned my head and looked forward, away from him. I squeezed my eyes closed and prayed he'd go away, but he didn't. My lips trembled as he stopped directly behind me. I cried out when he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked back on my head, forcing me to look up at him. His smirk deepened as his eyes raked over my face. He bit his bottom lip when his eyes landed on mine. “I love seeing those lips wrapped around my dick,” he said in a low voice as he reached down with his free hand and unzipped his pants. He let go of my hair and spun me around to face him. He grabbed my face and squeezed my cheeks, pressing my lips together like a fish as he dug into his pants with his free hand and pulled out his dick. The tears flowed down my cheeks, and my chest stuttered as I tried not to cry. I didn't want to do this. This was the last thing I wanted. I was exhausted, my body hurt so badly, and I was hungry. And now this bastard wants me to suck his dick... But Jackson didn't just want Aiden to suck his dick; he couldn't wait to choke him with it. He loved seeing the fear in the omega's eyes, and he loved it when he cried. Jackson's cock sprang free, and the Omega's shoulders shook as he cried. The Omega flinched when Jackson slapped his cheek with his dick. “Open wide,” Jackson smirked. As soon as the Omega's mouth opened, Jackson thrusted his cock into Aiden's mouth. He felt the head of his cock hit the back of Aiden's throat as it slid down, choking the Omega. Tears flowed down Aiden's face as Jackson fucked his mouth. It seemed like Jackson had anger of his own that he had to work out, and he used Aiden's mouth to release this anger. Jackson was rougher than normal. He gripped Aiden's head tight, and his hips moved fast, thrusting his cock in and out of the Omega's mouth, rough and hard, choking and gagging him. “Oh yeah!” Jackson breathes out, gripping Aiden's head tighter and grunting. “Fuck!... That's it, you suck that cock, you fucking fag!” Jackson growls and is unable to hold back any longer. The beautiful mess he made of the Omega is too much, too beautiful. His face is stained with tears, red and blotchy from crying. Spit drips from his chin, and his plump lips are red and swollen, looking beautiful wrapped around his cock. Jackson’s cock swells. His movements become faster and sloppier. He growls as he jams his cock even further down the Omega's throat and groans as he cums… I felt his cock pulsing as he shot each disgusting, hot jet inside my mouth. I feel it hit the back of my throat, and I gag for what seems like the millionth time. His cock slides out of my mouth and takes a step back. His chest heaves as he catches his breath. He looks me over, and I can see how happy he is with what he just did to me. “Swallow my cum, and don't you dare spill a drop!” Jackson demanded before shoving my head and forcing me to fall onto my butt. I swallowed and immediately took a large breath in to fill my lungs, but began coughing. I felt this asshole pat me on the head like I'm his pet. “Good boy,” Jackson said, laughing as he left the bathroom. I let my body fall to the floor, and my shoulders shook as I cried. I let it all out, I allowed myself to cry out loud. I hate my life, and at times like this, I wish it were over. I didn't allow myself to lie there long; I knew there was still work I had to finish before lunch. Lunch went by uneventfully, and I was thankful for that. After cleaning the kitchen, I went back to cleaning the pack house.  Thankfully, I only have the third floor left. If I can just get through dinner without upsetting the alpha, then I'll have the whole evening off, which will give me time to catch up on much-needed sleep. Maybe my wolf will be strong enough after that to help heal some of these wounds. It didn't take me long to figure out bathrooms weren't my lucky thing today. I had just finished cleaning the alpha's bathroom. I grabbed the bucket and turned to leave, but unfortunately, as I came out of the bathroom, I ran straight into the alpha. The dirty mop water spilled all over him and the carpet. My heart sank, and I knew this was it for me. I knew this time I might not make it out of it alive. Excruciating pain radiated through my face, and I went flying backwards. Blood instantly gushed from my mouth and nose, and my sight was blurry. Everything sounded muffled and distant; I felt more helpless than I ever felt in my life. His hand wrapped around my hair, yanked my body around, and began dragging me out of his room and down the stairs toward the basement. It wasn't long before I found myself hanging in that familiar position from the ceiling. My body trembled, and I couldn't stop crying if I wanted to. I cried harder when he pulled the whip out. Each lash felt like it was on fire. The whip hit my back and wrapped around my torso. It felt like the skin was being torn from my body. I felt the warmth of my blood flowing down my cold body. My screams were so loud the whole pack had to hear me. My favorite clothes were shredded and hung from my body. I don't know when I passed out, but when I woke up, I was still hanging from the ceiling, and he was gone. I wasn't awake for long, but I woke up to my body hitting the floor with a thud. I cried out when my body hit the ground. The pain was unbearable. The alpha left me lying there and didn't say a word as he walked up the stairs and turned the light off. I lay there for quite some time crying. I couldn't figure out why he hated me so much. I couldn't figure out why everyone hated me so much. What did I do so wrong that everyone hates me? Why can't just one person care about me? Why does life have to be so hard? How long will I have to live like this? Is this what it's going to be like until I die? This isn't how I want to die! I gathered as much strength as I could and slowly pushed myself off the ground. I ignored the pain radiating through my body. I couldn't stay here any longer. If I do, this is how I'll die. He's getting worse with me, and I don't know how much more I can take. If I'm going to die, I'd rather die trying to escape. There has to be something else out there. There has to be something better than this! I'd rather die trying to find it. I don't know when he broke my clock, but it's broken. With no windows, I have no idea what time of day it is. I carefully and quietly climb the stairs and pray that it's nighttime. I carefully cracked the door open, and only darkness peeks through. I push it open further and peek out to make sure the coast is clear. I breathe a breath of relief when I don't see anyone and fully step out of the basement. My heart races as I slowly make my way toward the front of the dark packhouse. I look out the window, and just as expected, it's nighttime. This is it… It's now or never. My lips part, and I breathe a shaky breath in before running for the door. I pull the door open and bolt out, leaping off the porch. I feel the grass below my feet, but I can't enjoy it; my only focus is getting as far away from this hell as possible. I wait until I'm in the woods, and then I allow Winter to push forward and take over. The shift wasn't as fast as it should have been. But it's to be expected for a wolf who has never run free, and hardly shifts, not to mention the condition my body is in. Winter's claws dig into the ground as he kicks off and runs deeper into the woods. He feels the Earth under his paws for the first time, but just like me, he didn't have time to enjoy it. So many different scents invade his nose, and he fights the urge to explore them. The need to get far away as fast as possible is too dire. We need to get away before someone spots us. We can sense the edge of the territory approaching, and excitement rolls through us. But that excitement quickly disappears when two patrol guards come out of nowhere and try to catch us. Winter zigzags through the trees, trying to lose them, and is successful when one tumbles down a hill. Unfortunately, we didn't lose both of them, and Winter yelps as we're tackled to the ground. Winter tries to fight him off, but he's too weak because of me. By pure luck, Winter managed to fling the wolf off of him. The wolf's head hit a rock, and he went limp. Winter scrambled to his feet and took off for the edge of the territory that was so close. I felt the moment I passed that invisible line that marks the edge of our territory, but we didn't stop. Winter kept running. More wolves were chasing us now, so we had to keep going. Winter slid to a stop at the edge of a cliff, and I pushed forward, looking over the edge with Winter. We looked back toward the stampede of wolves rapidly approaching, and my stomach dropped. Winter looked back over the edge, and I peered down with him, trying to calculate how far the drop was and if we'd survive landing in the raging water below. I couldn't tell; all I knew was it was a long way down, the water below was moving fast, and neither I nor Winter knew anything about swimming. I looked back at the pack of wolves who were snarling and almost to us, and knew that if we stayed, they'd tear us apart and kill us. We looked at the river one more time and then back at the wolves, and I knew I'd rather die jumping than be torn apart until I died. With that thought, Winter turned and leapt over the edge. I felt a sense of peace as we fell. “I love you, Winter!” I said to my wolf before our body hit the water, and everything went dark.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The River

Third Person's POV After reaching the river, Zeus drops the bag in his mouth before shifting. The Alpha pulls his swim shorts on and then turns to grab his leg strap. When Thaddeus turns and reaches for his bag, he finds Xander has already dug through it. Thaddeus tilts his head and exhales as he watches the goofy Beta. “Xander, for crying out loud! Give me back my damn straps!” Thaddeus scolded the idiot, who took his leg strap and strapped his legs together before trying to waddle toward the water. “No! I'm a mermaid!... Hey, I have a good one for you. How do you recognize a nerdy mermaid?...  She wears an algaebra!” Xander fell into a fit of laughter after delivering the punch line to his joke. Thaddeus tried not to laugh but failed, and he chuckled, earning a bright smile from Xander. “You're an idiot!”“Why thank y-” Xander began to say, but his words were cut off when he face-planted into the dirt. Thaddeus laughed harder and shook his head. “Serves you right! Now give me my damn straps and help me into the water!”“Ouch! My nose,” He said, rubbing his nose with one hand while reaching down to undo the straps around his legs with the other. After getting his strap back from his Beta, Thaddeus straps his legs together at the knees. This prevents the current from pulling his legs in every direction. After securing his legs, Thaddeus straps the waist belt on, which helps balance his lower body. This also gives Thaddeus the support his legs would normally provide, so his arms aren't doing all the work. After securing the strap around his waist, Thaddeus lifts his arm as Xander reaches down and picks him up. It used to be humiliating to be picked up like this, especially since he’s an Alpha and was the one who would pick everyone else up. Over time, that humility faded... somewhat. It's still there, but nowhere near as strong as it was. Once in the water, the Alpha released a breath and could almost let his body go limp and relax. The cold water was soothing, and the flow of the current felt good against his body. But the Alpha knew he would end up miles away, so he began swimming against the current. Thaddeus listened as Xander told him what his parents had been up to the past weekend. Then, the Beta swam quietly as he listened to Thaddeus speak what was on his mind. First it was business, typical Alpha. Then, slowly, his walls cracked, and he began talking to Xander like a friend again. It wasn't long before the two were laughing. Xander swam ahead as Thaddeus began working on his backstrokes. “Shit! Hey, what the hell is that?” Xander yelled, and Thaddeus spun around. As the Alpha looked ahead of Xander, he saw what looked like a body floating down the river. Xander positioned himself, waiting for the body to get close enough to grab it. When it was close enough, he dragged the small body to his Alpha to see if they could identify him. With all the packs in the area, the body could belong to any of them or none. He could be a rogue for all they know. Once Xander is close enough, they both look down at the body and right away can tell he has been through hell. He was naked. His face was swollen and covered in bruises. His lip is busted, his eyes are swollen shut, and cuts cover not only his face but his entire body. Thaddeus and Xander see bite marks all over his body, letting them know another werewolf attacked him. The long thin marks on his body are the telltale sign that someone recently took a whip to this small and fragile person. Thaddeus looked at the small and abused body, and the Alpha's heart clenched. Thaddeus reached out to grab him, wanting to get a closer look and confirm he was not dead. He certainly looked dead. As soon as Thaddeus’ fingers touched the body, he quickly withdrew his hand as though he just touched fire. Thaddeus held his hand, staring at the body in shock before looking at his Beta when he spoke, “What's wrong? Are you okay?” Thaddeus's heart raced in his chest. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him. ‘There's no way I felt what I thought I did,’ The Alpha thought. But he hoped and prayed he did. Looking back down at the person in the water, Thaddeus slowly reached a trembling hand out. His fingers trembled even more just before brushing against his cheek. Thaddeus's mouth opened as he gasped. There they were, those amazing little tingles dancing under his fingertips as he touched the stranger's cheek. Zeus pushed forward harder, peering down at the body in front of them. Zeus whimpered as he felt the tingles and saw the condition of the person those tingles came from. “Mate,” Thaddeus breathes out before grabbing his mate and pulling him out of the water and against his chest. His arms wrapped around the body, and Xander reached out, grabbing Thaddeus to keep him afloat and from drifting down the river. Panic washed over the Alpha, and his eyes stung as they filled with tears. Who could have done this to him? And why? He's barely alive. The only reason he knows his mate is alive is by the tingles. Thaddeus taps his cheek, trying to wake him, but he gets no response. The Alpha suddenly needed further proof that he was alive, so he placed his ear against his chest. Thaddeus breathes a sigh of relief when he hears the faint beat of his mate's heart. “We have to get him back to the hospital now!” Thaddeus carefully passed his mate into Xander's arms before swimming back to the shore. Once out of the water, Thaddeus took the strap off his legs as fast as he could and then shifted. “Use the strap and strap him to my back,” Thaddeus said. As soon as his mate was secured to his back, Zeus took off, running toward the pack hospital as fast as he could. The trees blurred past the large Alpha wolf as he raced through the woods at lightning speed. Zeus is swift on his feet. His movements are smooth, and his mate's body barely moves on his back. Zeus's body bends around the trees, pushing himself as fast as he can. Zeus breaks through the tree line, and the pack hospital comes into view. The doors are open, and nurses are already waiting outside to collect his mate. A nurse carries his mate into the hospital, and another brings a wheelchair and shorts to the Alpha. Thaddeus quickly wheels himself down the hall and into the room where his mate is already being worked on. He's so thin that there's no meat on his bones. Thaddeus can see every bone in his body. His body is so pale and lifeless that it scares the Alpha. Every lash his mate took is visible all over his poor, frail body. Thaddeus could see every cut, bruise, and wound. Thaddeus' stomach dropped when they flipped him over onto his stomach and exposed his back. The Alpha went numb when he saw how bad his mate's back was. Hands were all over his mate as they worked on him, which snapped the Alpha out of his stunned state. Zeus pushed forward and growled when he saw so many hands all over his mate. He didn't like it, especially when the wounds began to bleed again. Everyone immediately froze and looked at The Alpha, and he cleared his throat. “ I'm sorry,” Thaddeus said, and the doctors turned, continuing to work on his mate. Unfortunately, Zeus growled each time they touched his mate a certain way, and the doctor finally sighed as he faced the Alpha. “I know you're concerned about him, but I think it's best to leave the room so we can work on him.” Thaddeus breathes out as he runs his hand through his hair. “ Okay. Just do whatever you can to save him! He is my mate. Don't let him die,” Thaddeus says, and every head in the room snaps in the Alpha's direction. The Doctor turns back and looks at the body lying on the table in shock before looking at the Alpha again. “Yes, Alpha!” the doctor said as he spun on his heels and began barking orders. The sense of urgency was stronger as the Alpha left. Along with the wounds on his body, he needed surgery to repair his spleen, which had ruptured from a blow to the abdomen. Thaddeus sat in his wheelchair outside his mate's room while they worked on him. The Alpha was left to his thoughts, and they began to run rampant. So many thoughts raced through his mind. Who did this? Why? How could anyone hurt someone like that? He was so small and frail, so defenseless. The Alpha became angry the more he thought of it. His hands clenched into fists, and his jaw tensed. He began to picture the things he wanted to do to whoever did this to his mate. The rage continued to build until he pictured his face again. The anger turned to sadness, and Thaddeus's head dropped into his hands—the very hands that held his mate and felt the tingles of the bond. He could still feel his mate's body in his arms, and he wondered what it would be like to hold him when he woke up. The very thought caused Thaddeus's heart to beat faster. Hope began to rise in the Alpha until he looked down at his legs. ‘What will happen when he wakes up? What if he doesn't want anything to do with me? What if he looks at my legs and has the same reaction as my first mate?’ Thaddeus thought, and his eyes closed as he ran his hands down his face. The Alpha opens his eyes and looks at his legs. He reaches down with his right hand, touching his leg just above the knee. Thaddeus closes his eyes again. It still feels so strange to touch his legs. It feels like he's touching someone else's leg. He can't even feel the weight of his hand against his leg. It might as well not be there. The longer his hand remains on his leg, the creepier it feels to the Alpha, and he feels gross all over again, just like he did in the beginning. Thaddeus could already picture the disgust on his mate's face when he saw his legs. ‘Who am I kidding? Who is ever going to want me like this?’ Thaddeus thought, and Zeus whimpered in his head as he receded. Thaddeus took a deep breath in as he leaned back, his hand running down his face as he breathed out. Thaddeus's head shoots up when the doctor finally walks out of the room. The doctor looked nervous, causing Thaddeus's stomach to drop, and he began to fear the worst. “What's going on? Is he okay?” Thaddeus tried to remain calm when he spoke, but the doctor flinched, and Thaddeus realized he was yelling. “Yes, he's okay. We have him stabilized.” The doctor said as he sat down next to Thaddeus. “You, you said he's your mate, right?”“Yes, he's my mate.”“I don't know how else to say this, so I guess I'll just say it… It looks like he has been abused for a very long time. Many of his scars are old, and some are new. The part that gives it away is the scars on his bones. When a bone is broken and healed, it leaves something behind, like a scar. With werewolves, it goes away, but it didn't for him. Some of those scars look very old, and others look recent. He also has internal scarring, which could only happen if someone used a silver blade on him. The scars on his bones are throughout his body. His ribs, his arms, his wrist, and even his fingers have been broken. His legs didn't go untouched either. I'm sure you saw the marks on his body. Someone definitely used a whip on him recently. There are also old marks. This isn't the first time he has seen a whip. This abuse, some of the scars are at least 8 to 10 years old.” The doctor looked at his hands as he spoke and then paused as he shook his head. “I had to give him blood because he lost so much. He's emaciated. He's severely underweight… I have him stabilized. Right now, he is sedated. When that wears off, he won't wake up right away. It could take hours, days, or weeks. We will take good care of him and keep a close eye on him… I'm terribly sorry, Alpha! I wish I had better news. But he's alive, and we will do everything we can to help him.” The doctor said before he stood and left. A hand gently resting on Thaddeus's shoulder startled the Alpha. Thaddeus looked at Xander and saw a soft and concerned look on his face. “He's going to be okay. I know he's been through some shit, but he has you now. He has all of us. He'll make it through this… Why don't you head in there? I'm here if you need me. Just link me, I'll be at the pack house.” Xander said as he stood and paused, “Should I call Noah?” Thaddeus glanced at the clock and then shook his head. “No, it's too late. I'll call him in the morning before they head out for training.”“Are you bringing them home?” Xander asked, referring to the team of 25 warriors Thaddeus sent to Ohio to help train another pack. “No. But they deserve to know I found their Luna.” Thaddeus said, and Xander gave him a soft smile before leaving. Thaddeus looked at the door in front of him and then swallowed before approaching it. Thaddeus slowly opened the door, and the sound of the monitor beeping could be heard instantly. The door closes behind Thaddeus, and he moves deeper into the room. His eyes rake over the person lying on the bed in front of him. His chest tightens at the lifeless body in front of him. His body is so broken. As Thaddeus moves closer, he finally gets a closer look at his mate. Under all the bruises and swelling, he sees beauty, and it takes his breath away. How is it possible for him to look so beautiful in his condition? Thaddeus reached up and brushed the hair from his forehead. ‘ Goddess, I hope he accepts me!’ he prayed. The Alpha tries not to think about what will happen when he wakes up. He tries not to think about what his reaction will be when he sees his useless legs and the wheelchair. Thaddeus reaches forward and gently takes his hand. His skin doesn't feel as cold as it did, and Thaddeus is thankful for that. The tingles feel a little stronger but still not strong enough. They feel amazing dancing along his skin, though. The Alpha reaches up and gently cups his mate's face, and the tears fall from his eyes. “I'm sorry!” Thaddeus whispers before resting his forehead on his mate's arm. “I'm so sorry this happened to you! I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you!... You're safe now. I'll never let anyone hurt you again… Everything's going to be okay now. I promise I'll take care of you and keep you safe.” Thaddeus said softly as the tears fell.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Third Person's POV It's been a little over two weeks, and he still hasn't woken up. Thaddeus has been by his side the entire time; he refused to leave. The only time he left was when Marcus or Xander forced him to go take a shower. His mate's body has healed tremendously. Almost all the bruises have faded, and the swelling has gone down. The last of his bandages came off two days ago, so Thaddeus brought him home today. Thaddeus had the doctors set his mate up in his bed. The feeding tube and IV were still necessary since he was unconscious. Nurses came in throughout the day to check on him, but Thaddeus never left his side. During the day, he sat by his side, and the Alpha slept on his chaise at night. Thaddeus didn't want his mate to wake up in the middle of the night and find himself not only in strange surroundings but also with a strange man lying next to him. He knew that would more than likely scare him. The first night was the furthest Thaddeus had been from his mate for a long period of time. Even though he was in the same room, he wasn't beside his bed and holding his hand like usual. He was on the other side of the room. Maybe that's why he heard him whimper and cry, or maybe it was a bad dream. In a heartbeat, Thaddeus was awake and in his wheelchair, and the next, he was lying in his bed next to his mate. “Hey, sweetheart, shhh,” Thaddeus said as he moved closer and pulled his mate into his arms. His mate instantly relaxed and snuggled into Thaddeus, his face nuzzling against his chest. It took Thaddeus by surprise, and the Alpha sucked in a breath. Thaddeus froze, unable to move or breathe. Thaddeus slowly let out a shaky breath. His eyes closed, and his head dipped, pressing his nose into his mate's hair and taking a breath in. “I'm here… I'll never let anyone hurt you again,” Thaddeus whispered as he tightened his grip. …. Thaddeus nervously watched the doctors unhook his mate from all the medical equipment. Since he was starting to show signs of waking, they decided it was time to remove the feeding tube and the IV. They thought it was best. They didn't want him to panic and find a feeding tube down his throat. The doctor said if he's not awake by this evening, he'll try to wake him with smelling salts, but he'd rather give the Omega a chance to wake up on his own. Thaddeus hears the door shut as the doctor leaves. He moves closer to his mate and then reaches up, brushing his hair away from his face. Thaddeus gently cupped his cheek and smiled when his mate pressed his face against his hand. The Alpha's heart swelled. He loves how his mate is responding to him, even though he's not awake. He reacts to his touch and scent, seeking it out, looking for more. The Alpha grabs his hand and brings it to his mouth. His lips press against the back of his hand, holding them there for a moment, smiling against his skin. The Alpha rests his head on his mate's arm and stares at his face. He's so beautiful! …. An annoying beeping sound slowly brings Aiden to consciousness. He tries to open his eyes, but they're so heavy. He's too weak. He felt someone's fingers moving against his hand as they held it. He could have sworn he heard the sound of someone crying next to him. Who would be crying? Aiden catches a word here and there, but nothing makes sense. Wake up. You're safe… Why would the person say that? He's never safe. The sound of the man's voice was somehow soothing, but he didn't know why. His voice was like a lullaby, and it lulled him to sleep… Aiden slowly woke up again, but this time, he didn't want to open his eyes just yet. The annoying beeping sound was no longer there, and he felt incredibly comfortable. He felt as though he was lying on a soft cloud. Finally ready to move, Aiden goes to move his arms, but he feels a weight on one. He hears a soft mumble and slowly opens his eyes. His eyes blink a few times until everything comes into focus, and then he turns his head to see what's on his arm. Aiden is shocked when he sees an unfamiliar person with their head resting on his arm. Instead of being afraid, Aiden finds himself unable to pull his eyes away. The man sleeping on his arm was the most handsome man he’d ever seen. He's gorgeous! His long, light brown wavy hair has blonde highlights perfectly spread throughout his hair. He has a short, well-kept beard, and for the first time in his life, Aiden loves a beard. Aiden's eyes go to the man's lips when they begin to move against his skin as he whispers something in his sleep. The man's lips brush against his skin, and he feels a tingling sensation. It tickles. Aiden lets his eyes wander again, taking in as much detail as he can of the most beautiful man he's ever seen. His skin isn't pale like his own; it's darker, with a beautiful tan complexion. Aiden's eyes land on the hoop in his nose, and he finds it sexy. His eyes trailed to the man's neck, and his eyes widened. Tattoos! Holy cow, the man is covered in! They wrap around his neck, and his entire arm seems covered in them, disappearing underneath the short-sleeved t-shirt. Aiden's eyes move back to the man's neck, and he's enthralled by the tattoos. He finds himself wanting to touch them, but he doesn't. He sees the tattoos move when the man swallows, and then his eyes go to his lips when he mumbles something again. This time, he caught what he said. “Please, wake up,” his voice was so quiet Aiden barely heard it. Aiden's not sure what came over him. It was like his body was on autopilot. His right arm lifted, reaching across his body toward the man. Aiden's fingers touch his hair, brushing it away from his face. The man took a sharp breath, and his head jerked up, looking at him wide-eyed. His eyes looked glossy, as if he were having a sad dream. He stared at him for a moment, almost in disbelief. “You're awake!” The man finally spoke. His voice was so deep and rough. It caused Aiden's heart to skip a beat. Aiden opened his mouth to speak but instead began coughing. His throat felt raw and dry. Before Aiden was even done coughing, a glass of water was shoved into his hands. Aiden didn't waste a moment. He brought the glass to his mouth and greedily drank it down. Aiden nervously handed the glass back. “Thank you!” The Omega whispered and swore he heard the man suck a breath in. After a moment, the man set the cup down and turned his eyes back to him. His hand reached for him, but he stopped and pulled it back. “How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?” Aiden was once again shocked by how deep and rough his voice was. He wanted the man to keep talking and never stop. Aiden focused on his body and was surprised when he realized nothing hurt. The Omega can't remember a time when his body didn't hurt, at least in a few different places. “I-I feel fine,” Aiden said softly and then looked down when he realized he had been staring at the man and he shouldn't have been. It didn't take long for Aiden's eyes to wander upwards. It was hard not to look at him. He felt a strange desire to look at the man. But this time, he made sure not to look him in the eyes. He knows better than to do that. Thaddeus couldn't stop looking into his eyes. They were finally open, and he never wanted them to close again. His voice was so soft and sweet. Thaddeus had never heard another voice so beautiful. This moment he's been waiting for, and now the Alpha finds himself unable to think or speak. His name—that's what he's been dying to know—is a name for this beautiful face. “What is your name?” Thaddeus eagerly waited. “Aiden,” He said softly, and the Alpha's heart fluttered. “Aiden,” The Alpha said, trying his name out and loving how it felt leaving his lips. The Alpha thought he would die when he saw a small smile spread across the Omega's face at the sound of his name. Aiden glanced around the room and then began playing with his fingers. “W-where am I? W-What happened?” Aiden's memory was fuzzy. He couldn't remember exactly what happened. Brief images flash in his head of Winter running through the woods while being chased. “My Beta and I found you floating down the river. You were in really bad shape. I brought you back here. You've been unconscious for a little over two weeks now.” The man with the sexiest voice Aiden had ever heard said. He couldn't stop staring at the man's lips as he spoke but snapped out of it when his mind returned to his first words, “My Beta.”“W-who are you?” Aiden nervously asked, afraid of his response. “My name is Thaddeus. I'm the Alpha of the Midnight Moon Pack.” Aiden's stomach dropped when he heard the man before him was an Alpha. Everything that happened the day he left came flooding back. ‘What did I get myself into? An alpha!... No! Not again!’ The Omega began to panic. His heart raced, and his breaths became quick and shallow. His eyes filled with tears as he began moving away from the Alpha. How did he not know? How did he miss his scent? Now that he's aware that the man in front of him is an Alpha, Aiden can smell it. It's been there all along. The Alpha was confused by his mate's sudden panic. He could hear Aiden's heart racing, see his chest rapidly rising and falling, and see the tears in his eyes. It felt like someone was squeezing the Alpha's heart. Thaddeus raised his hand, reaching out for Aiden to calm him, but it only made it worse, and the Omega scooted further away from him. Aiden can barely see the Alpha through blurry eyes. Tears fall, and his panic rises when he sees the Alpha getting out of his chair and pulling his body onto the bed. The Alpha reaches for him, but Aiden flinches away. The Alpha repositioned himself, and that's when Aiden noticed something different about him. Aiden blinks his eyes, clearing them of his tears, and then looks at the Alpha's legs. He notices the awkward position they're in, and then his eyes go to the chair he was sitting in. Aiden realizes the chair isn't a regular chair at all; it is a wheelchair. Aiden's fears turn to curiosity, and his eyes return to the Alpha's legs. His head tilts as he tries to figure out what's wrong with them. Thaddeus's stomach dropped when he saw Aiden looking at his legs. He felt as though he couldn't breathe when the Omega's eyes went to his wheelchair and lingered there for a moment before looking at his legs again. Thaddeus's palms began to sweat, and his stomach twisted in knots. He had already seen a change in the Omega, and he waited for the look of disgust. He knew it was coming—it was happening again. The Alpha's head dropped, and his shoulders slumped. He didn't want to see the disappointment in those beautiful sparkling blue eyes. He prayed he wouldn't hear the same hurtful words from those beautiful lips. “I, I'll just take my leave and let you rest.” Aiden heard pain and sadness in the Alpha's quiet voice. It tugged at his heart, and for some reason, it hurt. He didn't want to see the Alpha like that. He looked so sad. Why? He watched the Alpha move his legs with his hands and then began to move away, but Aiden quickly reached out and grabbed his arm, “Wait!” Aiden had no idea what he was thinking. But he didn't want the Alpha to leave, not like this. As soon as the Omega touched the Alpha's arm, he felt a strange sensation. Tingles danced under his hand and slowly made their way up his arm. Aiden couldn't bring himself to move his hand away. He sat there, staring at his hand, which rested upon the tattooed arm. He was mesmerized by the sensation he was feeling. It seemed to travel through his chest and made it warm and fuzzy. He found himself not wanting to let go, not ever. But the Omega blinked and then slowly pulled his hand back. Aiden's eyes slowly move up the Alpha's body, ignoring the rule of never looking anyone in the eyes. Aiden's eyes didn't stop until they landed on the Alpha's eyes. “What, what was that?” Aiden asked quietly. The Alpha was shocked by that question. ‘What does he mean, “What was that?” Does he not know what that feeling was? Does he know we're mates?’ The Alpha wondered. “That was the mate bond… You're my mate,” Aiden gasped, and his eyes widened. He had heard of mates, but he knew little about them. No one had ever taught him how the bond worked. Aiden opened his mouth to ask, but there was a knock at the door.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Thaddeus

Third Person's POV Thaddeus saw Aiden's shocked expression, which told the Alpha that the Omega didn't know they were mates. ‘How did he not know?’ Sure, it was the first time he felt the tingles from the bond, but couldn't he smell me? Couldn't he smell that I am his mate? Doesn't he feel the pull of the bond? Didn't his wolf tell him that I'm his mate? He had to have spoken the word at least once!’ The Alpha wondered, his thoughts racing. The Alpha had so many questions, so many things he wanted to ask his mate. Before the Alpha could open his mouth to ask the questions at the tip of his tongue, there was a knock at the door. Xander didn't wait for a reply. The Beta cracked the door open and popped his head in. “Hey, they're here,” Xander said, and then his face lit up when he saw his Luna was awake. Xander pushed the door open and entered the room with a smile beaming on his face. “Hey, kid! It's good to see you're finally awake!” The Beta said, and Aiden scowled at his words, which surprised Thaddeus. ‘I guess he didn't like to be called a kid,’’ Thaddeus thought and held back a laugh. Aiden's body tensed when he realized the look he had just given the Beta, and then he quickly averted his eyes to his lap. He hoped that if they could see he was obedient, they wouldn't get mad at his disrespect and spare him a beating. Xander's smile faded when he saw Aiden's reaction and smelled his fear. Thaddeus didn't want to leave, especially seeing how scared Aiden was. He wanted to stay and comfort him, but people were waiting in his office. “I have a meeting I have to attend. I'll be back in a little while. I'll have someone bring you something to eat.” The Alpha said as he grabbed his legs and moved them, moving his body to the edge of the bed. The Alpha lowered himself into the wheelchair and then strapped his legs in. Thaddeus looked up, and his heart beat faster when he saw those sparkling blue eyes looking at him, and then frowned when he quickly looked away. …. Xander walked with Thaddeus to the elevator and waited until they were inside. “So… He's awake,” Xander said awkwardly. He was hoping Thaddeus would start talking, but it looks like he will have to pull it from the Alpha. “Yeah,” Thaddeus replied, and Xander rolled his eyes. “Well, come on, spit it out! How is he? How did he react? Tell me something! You can't just leave me hanging like this!” Xander practically stomped his feet, and the Alpha raised an eyebrow at his Beta's childlike behavior. The Alpha exhaled as he shook his head, “He's okay. He said he was not in any pain, which I'm relieved… He hasn't rejected me, at least not yet. But he didn't seem to know I was his mate. He had no idea what the tingles were when we touched.”“Didn't his wolf tell him? Couldn't he smell you?” Xander was surprised his Luna didn't know Thaddeus was his mate. He's never heard of a werewolf not knowing about the mate bond. “That's what I thought, too! He should have been able to identify me as his mate just by the smell! And even if he didn't know what he was smelling, his wolf should know! He should have at least uttered the word in his head once!” Thaddeus said as he ran his hand through his hair. “Well, how did he react after you told him you were his mate?”“He seemed shocked. I don't know how he feels about it. You kind of came at the wrong time.”“Oh, sorry!” Xander sucked air in through his teeth and looked down. “It's okay. I need to talk to Michael and figure out what's going on.”“What about the wheelchair? How did he react to that?” Xander asked as he pointed at Thaddeus's wheelchair. The Alpha let out a breath as he shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. I don't know how he feels about it. He stared at my legs for quite a while when he finally realized I was in a wheelchair. When he first woke up, I don't think he noticed. He started to have a panic attack, and I climbed onto the bed to try and calm him down, and that's when he noticed my legs. His whole demeanor changed… He went from completely freaked out, to calm just like that!” Thaddeus said and snapped his fingers. “Well, maybe it was a good thing. Maybe he realized you weren't a threat. Did It look like he was bothered by the fact you're in a wheelchair?”“I don't know. I mean, at first, I thought he was. But I don't know. He didn't look angry or disgusted.”“Well, maybe he was just shocked. Maybe he was staring at your legs because he was curious. I mean, it's not very often you see an Alpha in a wheelchair!” Xander tried to put his Alpha at ease. He could see how stressed he was about this and knew how scared his Alpha was of the same thing happening again. “Maybe you're right,” Xander smiled when he saw his Alpha relax. “So, what's his name?” Xander asked, both curious to know what his Luna's name was, and he wanted to see the look of love on his Alpha's face when he said his name. “Aiden… his name is Aiden,” Thaddeus smiled as he thought of Aiden's beautiful sparkling blue eyes. He felt his stomach flutter just saying his name. The way it rolled off his tongue felt amazing. He never knew that just saying a name could have that effect on someone. Xander's squeal startled Thaddeus, and he jumped. His eyes snapped to his Beta, trying to figure out what in the hell was wrong with him. It didn't take Thaddeus long to figure out what his Beta was excited about. He looked like an excited teenage girl. His hands were fisted excitedly in front of his chest, and he was practically bouncing with a goofy grin plastered on his face. “Oh, you're so in love!” Xander gushed and then yelped as he was shoved out of the elevator. “You're ridiculous!” The Alpha grumbled as he wheeled himself out of the elevator. “And you're in love!” Xander called out to his Alpha, who tried to wheel himself away as fast as possible. Xander laughed as he ran after the Alpha. Thaddeus took a sharp breath in when his Beta grabbed his wheelchair and popped a wheelie before he took off running, pushing the Alpha as fast as he could. “Xander, damn it! I'm going to kick your ass!” The Alpha threatened as he reached back, trying to grab his Beta. Xander laughed as he slowed the wheelchair while leaning back, keeping himself just out of reach.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Aiden

Third Person's POV Grace is an older lady in her 80s, but you would never know. Grace looks more like she's in her late thirties thanks to werewolf genes and the fact that they live much longer than humans. Grace is the head cook in the pack house kitchen. Before she became the head cook, she was Thaddeus's nanny and helped raise him. Grace is like a mother to Thaddeus. She is a kind and sweet lady with a motherly aura and a smile that makes you feel at home. The Alpha thought she was the perfect person to take Aiden something to eat. Anyone else may end up scaring him. But Grace will warm her way into his heart within seconds. …. When the Alpha left and closed the door, Aiden stared at it. The Omega was confused. He didn't know what to think. When the man said he was an Alpha, Aiden thought for sure he had just found himself in the same situation he just escaped from. He was terrified. He kept waiting for the Alpha to hit him or grab him by the hair and drag him down the stairs to the basement. Aiden wasn't sure he'd survive a punch from this Alpha. The man is huge! His muscles are massive! They bulge from his shirt. Aiden thought if the Alpha flexed his muscles, the shirt would tear. Even though he looks scary, somehow, he doesn't. His eyes were soft. They weren't hard and didn't hold the hatred that he always saw in Alpha Maxwell's eyes. Even his aura was different. Alpha Maxwell's aura made you tremble. It made you want to run away. But Alpha Thaddeus' Aura is different. It feels warm and inviting. Instead of getting angry at Aiden and yelling or hitting him, the Alpha shocked the Omega when he looked sad and hurt. The Omega couldn't stop thinking about the Alpha. His intoxicating smell, how handsome he was, and his long wavy hair that Aiden desperately wanted to run his fingers through. The tattoos that seem to go on forever and disappear under his clothes mesmerized the Omega. Aiden bit his lip at the thought of seeing just how far those tattoos went. Aiden cleared his throat when he realized where his thoughts were going. The Omega shook his head and then began looking around the room. The Omega finally got a good look at the room. The first thing he noticed was how large the bed was. It's massive! Beautiful carvings were in the wood of each post's on all four corners. They went up high, reaching for the ceiling. The sheets were so soft and silky. Aiden never laid on anything so nice before. Large windows to the right of the bed reached from the floor to the ceiling. The sun was bright today, and it shined in through the windows. Aiden let out a breath and then tried feeling for his wolf. The Omega closed his eyes and tried calling out to him in his head. The Omega frowned when he could barely feel his wolf. He felt far away, tucked in the furthest recess of his head. It was an empty feeling, but it was nothing new for Aiden. After a beating, or if Aiden went too long without food and became too weak, he wouldn't be able to feel his wolf, just like now. Sometimes, after a severe beating, Aiden wouldn't be able to reach Winter for days. His wolf would hibernate and draw as much energy as he could, so when he woke up, he could heal Aiden. Being unable to reach his wolf, Aiden begins looking around again. He thought Alpha Matthews' bedroom was nice. But this puts Alpha Matthew's room to shame. Aiden is surprised the Alpha left him in his bed instead of sending him to the basement, where he belongs. As Aiden looked around, he realized how badly he had to use the bathroom. His bladder felt like it was going to burst. Aiden pulled the covers back and slowly pulled his legs over the edge of the bed as he sat up. When he did this, Aiden felt a rush of dizziness. The Omega gripped the bed and waited a moment for it to subside. After a few moments, Aiden put his feet on the floor and stood up. Immediately, he realized how weak he was. His knees felt wobbly, and his legs felt like noodles. Aiden let go of the bed and took a few steps. He didn't make it far before his legs gave out, and he fell. Aiden didn't have time to pry himself off the floor before there was a knock at the door, and it opened. Aiden looked toward the door to see a lady enter the room. The Omega immediately looked down, afraid to make eye contact. He knows the rules, he didn't want to anger her and have the lady run off and tell the Alpha he was disrespecting her. He already messed up looking the Alpha in the eyes twice. He doesn't know how many more mistakes the Alpha will allow before he begins punishing him. And Aiden doesn't want to find out. Aiden hears the lady gasp before she rushes to set the tray down she was holding. “Oh, honey, what happened?” she asked as she rushed to him. When she reached for Aiden, he flinched, thinking she was going to hit him. The lady immediately stopped and pulled her hand back. She stood there for a moment before slowly kneeling next to him. “Honey, I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to help you. Here, let me help you,” her voice was so soft and calming. There was something about her aura that told Aiden she meant no harm. Her words were so nice, no one had ever talked to him like that before. Aiden slowly looks up but avoids eye contact. The Omega nods his head and she reached her hands under his arms and pulled him to his feet. “So, what happened? How did you end up on the floor?” She asked as she helped him sit on the edge of the bed. “I-I was t-trying to find a bathroom.”“Oh, why didn't you say so, honey? Here, let me help you.” Aiden lifted his arm when she reached for him. Her arm went under Aiden's arm and then wrapped around him. The Omega was thankful she helped him into the bathroom. He didn't think he would make it there on his own. Once Aiden was back in bed, Grace grabbed the tray and placed it on his lap. “I figured you're hungry, so I brought you something. I know you haven't eaten in a while, so I brought you something easy on the stomach. I brought you chicken noodle soup, a fresh dinner roll, and fresh squeezed orange juice.” Grace said, and Aiden's mouth immediately watered. It smelled delicious! Aiden looked at the lady when she sat on the edge of the bed. Her smile was soft as she looked at him. Aiden looked back at the food and prayed this wasn't a trick. He was starving and hoping he could have at least one bite. Aiden had never been allowed to eat anything like this before. He's never had a hot, fresh meal. None that he can remember. Only scraps and food that had gone bad. Aiden licked his lips and wondered if this was a sick joke. Was she waiting for him to grab the spoon so she could smack it out of his hand and then laugh as she carried the food away? But when he looked up into the lady's face again, all he saw was kindness and a gentle smile on her face. Aiden reached a shaky hand for the spoon and then slowly brought a bite to his mouth. As soon as his lips closed around the spoon, his eyes closed, and he hummed. He couldn't believe how delicious it was. The flavor was like an explosion, and the meat was so tender. Aiden's eyes popped open when he realized the sound he made. He was embarrassed. He felt the heat in his cheeks and knew his face must be bright red. The lady laughed, a smile spread across her face. “You're so adorable! I'm glad you like it. My name is Grace. What is your name?”“Aiden,” he replied softly and then took another bite. Once again the flavor explodes in his mouth and his eyes closed as he savors the bite. To some, it might just be soup, but it's the best thing the Omega has ever tasted. It's his first hot meal. Aiden took another bite and quickly took another. The Omega shoveled the soup into his mouth as fast as he could. “Whoa, slow down, sweetheart! Don't go too fast. You'll make yourself sick,” she chuckled. Aiden nervously glanced at Grace when he realized how fast he was eating. He hoped he didn't upset her by eating like a pig, but her kind look and warm smile put the Omega at ease. It didn't take long for Omega to finish his food. He licked his lips as he sat back with a full tummy for the first time. “Would you like to get cleaned up? I can help you into the shower, and then I can go find you some clothes.”“A, A shower?” Aiden asked, surprised. His eyes lit up at the possibility that he could take a shower. All he'd ever known was his bucket and a rag. Grace's eyebrows knit together as she tilts her head, looking at the Omega. Her chest tightens, “Yes, honey. A shower… You have had one before, right?” Aiden immediately looked down into his lap and began tugging at his fingers. His eyes burned, and he bit his lip to keep the tears back. He was afraid to use his words, so he shook his head. Fingers lifted his chin, and a sad smile sat on Grace's face. “Come on, let's get you in the shower.” Aiden stood staring into the shower as Grace grabbed a towel and washed cloth. The Omega was embarrassed. He had no idea how to use this shower. It had no knobs. How would he turn the water on? Grace seemed to sense his dilemma, and she rubbed his arm soothingly. “Here, let me show you how this works.” After the door closed behind Grace, Aiden looked down at the clothes he was wearing and realized they weren't his own. The shirt he was wearing was huge. It went all the way down to his knees. After Aiden pulled the shirt off, he brought it to his nose and smelled it. The Omega's eyes closed, and he took another deep breath in. It smelled amazing! It smelled like him. It smelled like the Alpha. His scent was so intoxicating it almost made Aiden dizzy. Why did he smell so good? Aiden stepped into the shower and was immediately greeted with warm water raining down onto his body. The Omega's eyes closed, and he tilted his head back. Aiden has never felt anything so good in his life. It's not cold like the water in his bucket. It's cleaner than the water in his bucket. The sensation of the water beating down on his body is like a massage, soothing his muscles. The warmth of the water seems to chase away ever being cold. The scent of the soap was unlike the soap he used. It smelled manly, like Thaddeus. The soft and fluffy towel waiting for Aiden after the shower was almost as big as he was. The Omega smiled as he wrapped it around his body. Aiden slowly opened the door and peeked into the bedroom. He looked around and saw that the room was empty. His eyes landed on a stack of clothes sitting on the end of the bed. He opened the door and carefully walked toward the bed, thankful his legs seemed to be getting stronger. Aiden was thrilled that the clothes waiting for him at the end of the bed were just like the ones he wore earlier. They smelled just like the Alpha. Aiden crawled back into the large, soft, and incredibly comfortable bed that smelled just like the Alpha. As he got comfortable, the scent of Thaddeus consumed him, wrapping around him like a warm hug. The Omega stared at the door. For some strange reason, the Omega found himself missing the Alpha and wished he'd come back. How strange is that? Closing his eyes and picturing his face, “Thaddeus,” Aiden said quietly. Trying his name out for the first time. A smile graced the Omega's face. He loved the way the Alpha's name rolled off his lips.