Scott returned to the infirmary, his mind still reeling from the Wanderer's story. He found Elara tending to other patients, mostly injured warriors after training.
So in her place, tending to the omega was Mike Houston, also an omega who actually recently joined the pack after being kicked out of his previous pack because they were homophobic. Homophobia among werewolves wasn't common, but it wasn't exactly unheard of either.
Scott enquired about the omega's condition and listened intently as Mike him a general rundown of his physical condition.
After the intimate talk, Mike told Scott that he had something important to say and so Scott followed him out of the ward, his mind racing with questions. "What's going on, Mike?"
"Well you see, we were carrying out some basic tests to assess his overall well-being and the general condition of his body and...we found out that the omega is pregnant, about six weeks in," Mike said, his voice low.
"Okay..." Scott was in shock. He suspected it based on what that Wanderer had said but hearing it actually being confirmed still surprised him.
Mike hesitated, his eyes darting towards Preston's bed. "We could...take care of it for you. Accidents happen, and no one would question it. It isnt entierly far fetched, especially based on the poor condition the omega arrived here in anyway. We could just claim that it was simply an unfortunate tragedy."
"What are you saying?" Scott considered hearing Mike out for a split second but immediately snapped out of it, regretting the thought as soon as it crossed his mind.
"Based on the information and just his general physical state, it's obvious he's been living rough for at least a week. We could say his body couldn't handle the stress and..."
"Are you crazy?" Scott whisper-shouted and this response made Mike flinch back a bit.
Scott knew what Mike meant. It was generally considered a shame for your mate to carry another person's child and though nobody outright said anything, a lot of people knew that there were a lot of shady doctors that would 'treat' pregnant people for all sorts of illnesses that would mysteriously and accidentally lead to them having a miscarriage at the request of their partner. An appalling practice it was, but sadly there were a lot of places where it was still accepted and even encouraged.
Mike's expression turned sour, his eyes narrowing at Scott's words. "You're willing to accept another man's child just like that, Scott?"
"You're an omega yourself. How could you even suggest such a thing?" Scott was absolutely disgusted.
"But—"
Scott's glare snapped to Mike, his instincts on high alert. "Listen here, I don't know how you did things at your old pack, Mike, but such practices are not tolerated here. We protect our own, no matter what."
Mike's face twisted, his eyes flashing with a bitter intensity. "You're so quick to defend him, aren't you, Scott? You're so quick to accept his child, even though it's not yours. Is it just because he's apparently your fated mate? He didnt seem to care much about waiting for you when he was busy hooking up with other alphas."
Scott's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "That's enough, Mike. You're not welcome here if you can't respect my mate."
Mike's face paled, but his eyes still simmered with resentment.
Scott's eyes narrowed, his voice low and menacing as he continued. "I know you're a talented doctor when you aren't acting like a little shit, Mike, so I'll agree not to bring this up to the alpha... yet. But let me make one thing clear: if you so much as slip up one more time or even dare look at my mate the wrong way, I promise you, being exiled will be heaven compared to what I'll do to you."
Mike's face paled, his eyes wide with fear as he took a step back, his hands raised in a defensive gesture. "I-I understand, Scott. I swear, it won't happen again."
Scott's glare didn't waver. "See that it doesn't. And just to make sure, I'll be requesting a change in staff. I don't want you anywhere near my mate again."
Mike rushed to scamper away while Scott went back into the room to see his omega who was now awake and curled up in a ball under the sheet, hiding from the nurse.
"What's going on here?" Scott asked, already feeling on edge.
"I was just trying to change his IV line but he won't let me get anywhere near him," the poor panicked nurse explained.
"Preston?" Scott called. He still wasn't sure if this really was the omega so he called the name skeptically.
The omega's ears pricked up when he heard a certain voice. He sniffed the air before peeking his head out from under the sheets to look at Scott. "Mate?"
"Yes baby, I'm here," Scott cooed at him.
"Sam? Sammy! Sammy help me, they're trying to take my baby away," the poor omega wailed.
"I told you my name's not Sammy, little mate," Scott sighed.
"Please save me, Sam. These bad people are trying to take away my baby. Make them stop," Preston cried. Scott felt his heart broke. He couldn't believe that he harbored the thought—even if only for a split second—of taking away this omegas child simply because it belonged to another man. He really did feel like he was the lowest of the low.
"Sir, can you please get him to calm down?" The poor nurse pleaded.
"What do you suppose I do in this situation? I'm just as much of a stranger to him as you are," Scott sighed.
"Mate?" Preston cried softly. "Please don't let them hurt me."
"Alright little one. You can call me whatever you want. I promise I won't let anyone even so much as hurt a hair on your head," Scott sighed, deciding to just give in.
In the end, Scott sat down on the bed with Preston perched on his lap before the omega finally allowed anyone to touch him. He was certain he was safe, at least in the arms of his alpha.
The nurse gave Preston a bowl of porridge to eat but he only agreed to eat of Scott would feed him and Scott had no qualms with that.
By the time Preston was done with his meal, Elara was done tending to the other patients that needed her immediate attention and returned to see Scott and his mate who were still cuddled on the tiny bed.
"You know you're not supposed to do that," she scolded.
"I can't help it, he won't let go of me and he won't let anyone else near him," Scott said and proceeded to explain everything to her.
Elara listened intently and nodded. This was an interesting situation.
That man, the Wanderer...he did mention that Scott and Sammy looked alike. Perhaps that's why Preston kept calling him Sammy?
"It seems your mate is experiencing a dissociative episode as he's struggling to come to terms with the death of his child's father," Elara explained. "His subconscious is struggling to reconcile the resemblance between you and Sammy, which is causing him to oscillate between recognizing you as his true mate and referring to you as Sammy. This internal conflict is a coping mechanism, allowing him to temporarily escape the pain and grief associated with his past."
Elara's expression turned sympathetic. "As an omega, his inner wolf is also playing a role in this. His wolf has accepted you as his mate, but his human side is still grappling with the loss and trauma. This internal conflict is causing him to cling to you, both physically and emotionally, as a way of seeking comfort and security."
Scott's face contorted in frustration. "So I'm just supposed to act like it's not painful hearing my mate call out to another man while he's in my arms?"
Elara's voice was gentle but firm. "I know it's not ideal, Scott, but right now, it's crucial to prioritize your mate's mental health. Any sudden revelations or confrontations could push him into a full-blown crisis. Instead, we can help him gradually come to terms with reality. I'll continue researching and consulting with other experts to find the best approach for his specific situation."
Scott was hurt. He had to pretend to be another man, hear his mate constantly calling out to another man and there was nothing he could do. Anything rash and he could send his mate into shock.
Scott stood up to leave but then turned back, "Oh, and I would really appreciate it if you could change the staff taking care of my mate, specifically Mike..."
Elara sighed and nodded.She didn't ask too many questions, but her eyes held a hint of knowing. She was aware of Mike's feelings for Scott, feelings that had been thinly veiled for a while now. In fact, it seemed everyone in the pack knew about Mike's little crush, except for Scott himself. Elara had watched Mike's behavior, the way he looked at Scott with a mix of longing and resentment, and she had put two and two together.
"Alright, I'll be sure to take care of it at once, Scott."
"Thanks."