I've had an exhausting week. One more fussing over my injury, and I would explode. The bickering Luna and Kate did the last time I was in the infirmary was far tamer than what was happening to me right now.
All the pack members went all-out with fussing over my injured wrist. They act like I'm forever invalid. I can still move, but all the mothers in the pack, young and old, visited my house like going for witch-hunting. Instead of stakes and torches, they bring heaps of food with them. Ranging from processed to homecooked meals.
They brought a lot that I feared that my cabin would smell like rotten food the next day. It was too much for a lone person like me living in my humble home. Sally even wanted to move in yesterday. She arrived in the middle of the day with her suitcase in tow. It's a good thing Chris was there and was able to dissuade her from it.
Logan, that thoughtful kid, also visited me the other day with his mom Evelyn, helping the poor boy with his gaming consoles. I could have enjoyed it if I had a good, functioning hand at the moment. One can always enjoy a good game or two.
Logan went out of my door, pouting.
I've already talked to him about my incident. It was successful, but it didn't stop the teen from pampering me too. My cabin's door has endured enough knocking to last its existence.
Though, there's one particular person who hasn't visited me since I've been injured. I didn't even hear a tiny peep from him. Luke was also silent when he would usually do things out of his way to check on someone. I haven't heard from any of them for the whole week.
The last time I've heard about Atlas was that the pack reprimanded him a bit. The Alpha did explain to everyone that it was an accident. Also, I've done my fair share of explanations to everyone who visited me. I told and admitted that I was reckless and acted on pure instinct back at the training grounds.
Everyone took the explanation well, especially Amalia. She was giving the Alpha the side-eye every time he wasn't looking. That was what Craig told me when he visited me. It was a dangerous thing to do.
In the end, she was appeased. All of the members present during that day heard how Atlas told me to stop, but my stubborn ass did not even give him one mind. Hence, the injury I'm currently battling with everyone. I sighed in exhaustion.
With all those thoughts aside, who the hell is knocking on my door again? I clearly asked the Alpha through the mind link that I wanted space, yet here we are.
Begrudgingly, I took my time opening the door with my left hand. The shoulder is still tender and aches at certain places, but I can do it just fine. Actually, I don't want to open the door. It might be Sally again with her suitcase full of food.
Upon reaching the tidy and lemon-scented living room, care of Adelaide, I slowly approached the main door.
My body went into alert mode as it sharpened my senses. My body slowly heats up, and tingles start dotting my arms. The thudding of my heart gradually increases its pace.
The sudden burst of happiness triumphed over my sulking the past few days. Atlas is here. He is on the other side of the door right now.
My shaking hands unhurriedly reach for the knob. The knocking came again, and I held the knob this time. I twist it open.
There, against the morning light, stood Atlas in all his glory. He was fidgeting and staring at the small pine tree on the left side of my property. The sunlight blinded me for a moment. I was able to see behind him, though. There's no one else around other than Atlas. I was kind of expecting Luke with him. Knocking on my door with gifts in their hands.
"Hey," is the only word he says as I continue to stare at him. I can see that he's doing well with those bags under his eyes. The bottle-green of his eyes is darker than the usual. No, not the kind of dark where his wolf surfaces. Furthermore, the stubbles peppering his jaw gave him that roguish look instead of his usual prim self. It's a wonder.
The longer I stare at him, the more he is awkwardly standing in front of me. He cleared his throat.
I snapped from my thoughts, "Sorry about that, it's just you look like you needed rest," I widened the gap on my door and gestured for him to come in. I close the door after. He leisurely walked in, and I walked ahead of him, going straight for the couch.
The moment my weight got in contact with the cozy couch, I sighed in relief. I honestly just woke up, and people waking me out of my sleep just makes me more tired.
"Take a seat, please," I gestured at the single-seater on my left. Atlas did not look at me as he did but around my cabin. The small fireplace, the vases on the side table near him littered with pictures, everything that catches his attention.
I let him.
This is the first time, after all, that he's seen my private space. If we could have been a usual pairing, we would have already filled this cabin with memories from the last months.
The silence drone on. It looks like Atlas won't be talking soon, so I rested my head on the couch. I'll let him do the talking first. It's not like he needed to explain or anything for that matter.
"I'm not usually like this," he started while staring at my picture during my high school years. It was a photo of me beaming at the camera candidly on one of those lunch dates with friends. It was one of my favorite photos.
I peek at him from the headrest. "I'm a confident man. I don't even back down when it comes to things I have no control of," he reached for the framed photo, now looking at it closely.
"You look so genuinely happy here." the comment was so out of the blue.
"Thank you," I know I lack a lot with these things. His smile radiated at me as he put the photo back on the side table. He also leaned back on the chair, staring at the ceiling.
"I've told you before about how I fared as an Alpha heir of my pack. I didn't tell you about how the people around me at that time. I owe it to you and our bond," I listened.
"My parents had it hard. If it was a difficult time for me, they had it way worse. While I was busy questioning the goddess why I was born this way, they were struggling," he smiled blankly. "Blaming you for even existing, my parents were fending the attacks from the pack. My Dad was challenged multiple times by the pack members who don't believe in having a gay Alpha in the future. It did not sit right with them. Hell, even the Beta was against it," my fists clenched in tension as he pressed on with his story.
"It was hard with all the attacks coming from all directions. It was the reason that they wanted me 'fixed' and set me up with countless girls at age sixteen. They even rented a woman overnight," a tiny pause from him. "Don't get them wrong, I consented with it because I wanted to try to fix myself too. Strangely, it was nice but horrible, so horrible. I felt dirty after. The strict training didn't let up either. Nothing works, and I damn it to hell," again, another pause from him.
I was startled from my comfortable position when he stood up from his chair and sat next to me at a respectable distance. I glanced at him the same time he did. There's calmness in his eyes now.
"I followed every rule and obligations without complaints. While inside me, I was closed to blowing apart. Dated a few girls just to keep up appearances with a restless pack. It was crazy, but my parents had it worse. I had known about it the moment the Alpha seat was handed to me at twenty. They retired early, telling me that they had enough of the pack. Dad now enjoys fishing while Mom bakes," a small smile from him.
"This is nice. Talking with you is nice," I remained silent all this time and offered Atlas a grateful smile.
"It was around fall season on my senior year in the university when I met Luke," his hand moved and held the ends of my long black hair in his fingers. "Fall seasons always remind me of Luke," he must have seen the sadness in my eyes, so he let go of my hair and pet my head. It was pleasant listening to him talk. I want to continue listening, but at the same time, I don't.
"I was burnt out from the pack works, striving hard for my education and fending hate from other people: it was too much. I've met Luke when I decided to drown myself with liquor in a pub. It didn't work.
He ended up drunk, and my sorry self took care of him. It was a slow build from there." he's so soft while reminiscing their time. It hurts more than I know. I fell for the wrong man.
"After a lot of work, the pack is now in harmony. We are acknowledged and accepted in my pack. We, in a sense that we are not the only rainbow man there. My pack is a proud pack of diverse wolves. We accepted wolves and humans from other packs who got kicked out from their previous one because of their preference. It's a beautiful pack Mavis." he goes on.
The gentle caress that Atlas did to my hair makes me close my eyes. I don't want him to see me cry anymore. He is incredibly proud of his pack even after all the things he went through because of it.
"Mavis," he uttered, and I opened my of my eyes giving him attention. "Sorry for all the things I've done to you. I'm sorry for not meeting your expectations and hurting you in the process. It was arrogant of me to blame you when you're not one to blame at all. I'm sorry for accusing you of the things I did. You're a wonderful woman. I'm sorry for not handling this well." he added. My throat hurts from holding back a cry. I softly kissed him on his forehead.
"Would you let me run with you the last day of the summit?" I requested softly at his gazing eyes. Running with him on the Pack Summit would tell everyone that I'm his mate. He nodded in answer. It might be the last time I would be with him since I'm more determined to get the Assent from him. It might be the only thing he can do to honor our bond.
Falling for Atlas more than I can afford at this moment would end my sanity.
"How's your hand? Also, I've hit your shoulder pretty hard that day." Atlas carries on with caressing my hair. "You have smooth hair," his random thoughts would sweep me off my feet any day. I can't help it that my cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
"Thank you. I'm doing fine besides being done with the excessive fussing of my pack over the injury. It's welcome but exhausting just the same. It's nice to know that I'm well-loved." I went back to closing my eyes and feeling the gentle strokes my mate was doing to my head.
A comfortable silence.
"Assent?" that one word stirred the comfortable silence. Atlas stops stroking my hair and stares.
"Do you want to go with me and visit my pack? It will be a week away from all the fuss. I owe you that much. It took me a week to visit you when I'm the cause of your injury," I wonder, also wonder why he avoided my question, but I did not bother asking. I know it will only hurt me further.
"It'll give you the solitude you need," he offered. I am tempted to see the pack Atlas is so proud of, but I had my doubts about the solitude he proposed. He is one of the causes of my distress, after all. The way he dodged the Assent speaks for itself.
"Looking at you right now, I wouldn't believe anyone if they say you're gay, no offense meant," I subtly say. Atlas took no offense.
"Heard that a lot, so what do you say?" Atlas pressed on. The green of his eyes is now sparkling, so I think about it more.
For no reason at all, my eyes drifted to the door of my cabin and were left in confusion when I saw it ajar.