*Two Weeks Later*
Everything is bright, cold and sterile. White walls surround me, covered in charts, warnings and garish art. I can't remember how long I've been here; a few weeks maybe? My memory of how I got here has gone from hazy to nonexistent. One moment, I was watching my alpha get shot and then my Master arrested. The next, I'm here, laying in a hospital bed. I'm told ancient magic saved me but I almost wish it hadn't or, at the very least, it could have left me passed out. I hated being awake.
The first few days were the worst. I didn't know if my pup was dead or alive and I was surrounded by strangers who wouldn't give me direct answers. Worst of all, the bite Frank left me with had bonded me to him. He could hear my thoughts if I wished and I could hear his, even if I didn't want to. I didn't know where Master was but I could feel him at all times and for most of it, he would whisper horrible things into my thoughts. Things about how Cain would never be able to claim me now, if he even woke up, and that my pup was nothing but a runt and a bastard, deserving of death. It didn't help that I didn't know where Cain was and I didn't know if he was going to live. The only thing I did know was that my pup's only hope is for Cain to wake up and somehow fix what Frank did to me. The thing of it was... would Cain even want me now?
I could still recall the disdain he'd had for the fact that I'd been used. Yes, he'd come back for me but that was before. Now I was worse than used. I was claimed. I would smell like Frank, maybe forever. Would the alpha even want to touch me? I was mentally tied to Frank so I didn't see how Cain's wolf could allow that. My mate's bond was meant to dominate and own me, not the bond of someone else. I could see how Cain might hate me now and I knew I'd deserve it. I was a bad omega, a bad mate.
*******
Every day the news is the same. Cain still hasn't woken up and I'm not allowed to see him while he's healing. I try to not think about it as I stare at the gaudy art, ignoring everything else around me. It's the only way I've been able to keep my sanity. If I even try to think about my pup's fate or listen to Frank's thoughts, I begin to panic, my wolf wailing with the need to be taken care of, protected. Unfortunately for me, the alpha I need isn't here to soothe me. So, I look at the blinding art and pretend like nothing else exists. Everything else is pretty quiet, except for the footsteps. The healers don't think I notice but I'm always aware of when they come to check on me. However, they never come inside my room and, for that, I'm grateful. It's difficult to be around people and keep my mind together. I do still get visitors though.
At least once a day, a female alpha and omega visit me and they stay for at least two hours at a time. They've told me they're my moms. I was surprised to hear that I had two moms. When I was really little, I remember I used to cry all night about not having one and now I have two. I realize now that I had probably missed them but my brain was too young to tell me who I was missing. They are sort of familiar to me now, especially their scent, but I don't feel close to them. They also touch me a lot and I'm not sure if I like it or not. I always expect more than the gentle hugs and caresses they give me. I expect to hurt but their touch never causes me pain. I'm not sure if I like that or not either. Also, they cry a lot. They tell me how happy they are that I'm alive and it makes me want to scream: 'I'm not happy to be alive. What do I have to live for? My pup could die at any moment and I'm bonded to my abuser, permanently!' but I never said that to them.
For days after I woke up in the hospital, my mind was overtaken with all the memories and nightmares that Frank was having. My minds connection to the beta was strong. So strong, in fact, that he could not be punished for his crimes without it causing pain to me. He was currently locked away, awaiting his trial but nothing could move forward. If Frank was punished or killed it would hurt me because of our bond. Fucking great.
I pressed my fingernails against his bite, trying to scratch it from my skin as I always did. In fact, that was one of the reasons I was still in the hospital. It was dangerous for an omega to try and remove a bond mark themselves, especially by hand. Only an alpha could even think of having a chance at trying and it needed to be an alpha with an indisputably strong claim. I didn't have an alpha like that. Cain had been in a coma for a few weeks and left alone, connected to Frank, was enough to drive away any hope I had of him rescuing me, especially when he'd never wanted to be mated in the first place.
The alpha woman, I mean, my mother, says I have depression and she wants me to talk about it. I never do. I don't really care what I have. Honestly, I'd be happier if everyone would leave me alone completely. If only my head could be empty. Then, maybe, I could manage to fall asleep for forever but... that's not really a choice for now. They tell me I have to live for my pup... but I can't save it on my own and who knows how long their magic will last? Why should I even dare to hope?
*******
Cain's Pov:
"You know, we really need to stop meeting like this."
I blinked, peaking out through bleary eyes, to find Sophie sitting across from me. I blinked a few more times, attempting to clear my mental cobwebs, along with my blurry vision. I slowly took in my surroundings and realized that I was, once more, in the Lotus Pack hospital.
"What are you even doing here? Don't you have your own pack to bother?" I groaned, surprised she'd snuck into the hospital again after everything that had happened.
"I'm here on official business actually! I've been standing guard during the day time, ever since you got here. I've been waiting for you to wake up. King Maxwell offered the help of anyone Lotus Pack might need, in order to help repay the debt of Frank ruining their son's life."
"What happened to me?" I asked, feeling groggy.
"Frank shot you," Sophie stated. "Twice. Right after you survived holding your own against some of Shadow Packs best fighters. You lost a lot of blood so Max gave you a transfer of his own."
"Wait, wait, wait. My... b-brother gave me blood? Why? We don't even know eachother?"
"He was the only match available. I told you Cain, Max is a good King. He wouldn't let someone die if he could help it. Especially considering it was his own third in command that shot you. The King is very impressed with you, by the way, and sort of shy. He wants to get to know you more but no one knows what Lotus Pack will do with you. Plus, he's worried you'll hate him since he sorta gave you up to them. You know... he's always wanted a brother but you didn't hear this from me. I'm so happy you're finally awake. Honestly, we didn't think you'd make it but once the bullets were removed and you were given the transfer, your body shut down into a coma like state and began to heal itself."
"I healed myself?" I asked incredulously.
"Why are you so surprised? All the alpha's of a royal bloodline can. I'm pretty jealous, not gonna lie," she answered, gazing curiously at me.
"I've never been able to do that before," I answered, confused but grateful all the same.
"Well, I'm glad it happened this time. Look, I know you've been out of it for a few weeks-"
"A few weeks! I interrupted. "You didn't tell me I was asleep that long! What about Fae?" I asked, the feeling of panic settling in when I realized my little omega wasn't waiting for me. "Is he okay? Did he meet his moms? Does he," I cleared my throat to keep from choking up, "Is he... done with me?"
"Cain," Sophie gazed at me carefully, "I have some things to tell you and... I need you to keep your wolf calm while I do."
My wolf was instantly alarmed by Sophie's words and I moved to sit up, only just realizing that I was, once again, cuffed to the bed.
"Why am I chained here? And where the hell is Fae?!" I growled, ready to fight my way free so that I could find him.
"Frank," she started, looking troubled, "He wanted to keep the boy to himself and he was desperate... he bit Fae, very deep, in his scent gland."
"No," I whispered, in complete shock.
"Please keep your wolf calm," Sophie warned.
"But your saying-" I started, barely able to keep the anger out of my voice.
"Yes, Frank gave him a permanent bond mark."
"That fucking bastard!" I snarled, seeing red, as I tried to break free once more. "Where the fuck is he?! I'm gonna kill him. I'm gonna rip his fucking head off-"
