Three weeks had passed since Preston's collapse, and Scott's hope was dwindling. He spent every waking moment by Preston's side, pleading with him to wake up.
Elara's words offered no hope or comfort either. "I wish I had an answer for you, Scott, but we've checked his vitals, and there's nothing physically wrong with him that we can find. He should have woken up a long time ago; he shouldn't even have fallen into a coma in the first place. Whatever's wrong with him, all we can do is wait and hope he wakes up," the doctor said.
Scott's eyes welled up with tears as he gazed at Preston's motionless form. He felt like he was losing his mate all over again. The memories of their little time together taunted him, and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever see Preston's bright smile again.
Anika's gentle touch on his shoulder brought him back to reality. "It's alright, son. I'm sure he'll wake up soon." Her words offered little comfort, but Scott appreciated her attempt to soothe him.
In those three weeks, Anika another Wanderer, who happened to be Richard's wife, had become a comforting presence in Scott's life during this time. A warm and nurturing omega, Anika had a natural talent for healing and caregiving. She and Richard, a gentle and wise alpha, had taken Scott under their wing, offering emotional support and guidance as he navigated the challenges life had suddenly thrown at him.
As the Wanderers awaited official pack membership, they were allowed to move around the pack grounds with permission and under supervision. Anika and Richard would often sit with Scott in the infirmary, sharing stories about Preston's kindness and resilience. They told Scott about Preston's bravery in the face of Gage's cruelty and how he had helped others in the Red Moon pack despite his own suffering.
Scott's father, an omega himself, was overjoyed to have an omega son-in-law and would often visit Scott and Preston, offering words of encouragement. Scott would tell Preston, still unconscious, about his father's excitement, hoping to stir him awake. "Hey, baby, my dad is really looking forward to meeting you. He's an omega too, and he's thrilled to have another omega in the family. I think you'll get along great, you both have so much kindness and compassion. Please wake up, Preston, I want you to meet him."
Anika and Richard would nod in agreement, offering soft smiles and reassuring touches on Scott's shoulder. They had become like a surrogate family to Scott, and he was grateful for their love and support during this difficult time.
Though Scott's appearance quite visibly reflected his distress. Unshaven and gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes, cracked lips, and a worrying loss of weight and muscle, Scott had barely left the infirmary. Anika, concerned for his well-being, gently urged him to take care of himself.
"Scott, you need to go home and clean up," Anika said, her voice soft but firm. "You can't keep neglecting your own health like this. I'll take good care of Preston, I promise."
Scott refused, his eyes fixed on Preston's motionless form. "What if he wakes up? I can't leave him."
Anika's expression was understanding, but she persisted. "Preston wouldn't want to see you like this, Scott. He'd be worried about your health, not happy to see you looking so haggard and emaciated. Trust me, I'll watch over him. Go, take a shower, shave, and eat something nutritious. You need to take care of yourself too."
Scott reluctantly agreed, knowing Anika was right. With a heavy heart, he left the infirmary, feeling a mix of guilt and concern for his own well-being. As he walked away, Anika's reassuring smile and gentle nod stayed with him, giving him the strength to take care of himself for Preston's sake.
After showering, eating, and settling down, Scott heard a knock on his door. It was Joey, who had come to catch up and fill Scott in on the latest pack developments.
"Hey, man, how are you doing?" Joey asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"As good as I can with my mate in a coma," Scott replied, shrugging.
Joey nodded understandingly. "I can't even imagine. Any updates?"
"Nah, Elara still can't figure out why he isn't waking up. She suggested perhaps consulting a witch but I have my reservations about that," Scott sighed. "But what's going on?"
"Right, I'm here to tell you that we've made a decision about the Wanderers."
Scott's curiosity piqued, he leaned forward. "Really? What is it?"
"Well, I had a meeting with my parents, yours and the pack elders. We're going to accept them into Silver Creek," Joey said, a smile spreading across his face. "After screening, of course. We want to make sure they're not a danger to our pack."
Scott's eyes widened in surprise. "That's great news! I'm sure Preston will be happy to hear that when he wakes up."
Joey's expression turned serious. "Scott, I know you've been through a lot, but we need your help with the integration process. We want to make sure the Wanderers feel welcome and safe in our pack."
Scott nodded, feeling a sense of purpose. "Of course, Joey. I'll do whatever I can to help."
As they talked, Scott noticed something different about Joey. "You look...different," Scott said, narrowing his eyes. "You smell different too..."
Joey's awkward scratching of his neck drew Scott's attention to the spot between his neck and shoulder. "Is that a mating mark?" Scott asked, eyes widening.
Joey's face turned bright red. "Ah, yeah. I, uh, I meant to tell you that I found my mate."
Scott's eyes lit up. "Congratulations, Joey! Who is it?"
Joey hesitated before answering. "His name is Nathaniel. He's one of the Wanderers we took in."
Scott's eyebrows shot up. "But that means you must've known for a while now. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't really know how to bring it up, besides you seemed to be preoccupied with your own mates issues as well. I thought I'd tell you when things were a bit calmer." Joey shrugged.
"Come on man, you should've told me regardless. Anyways I'm happy for you but...what's wrong? Aren't you happy? Is there something wrong with him? I should hope not seeing you've already completed your mating." Scott mused, noticing joeys expression change a bit.
"Oh no no, of course I'm ecstatic and Nathaniel is a wonderful person but...he's an alpha..."
Scott started at Joey, not understanding the problem. "So?"
Joey's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with doubts. "I don't know, Scott. I'm an alpha too. I don't know how this will work."
"Besides, it doesn't help that I'm older than him too, yet he seems to be the more dominant force in our relationship," Joey mumbled.
Scott stared blankly at his friends for a few seconds before he burst out laughing.
"Come on Scott, it not funny," Joey whined, something he only ever did in the presence of his parents and Scott.
"Okay you're right. It's very serious. But is this a problem how? I mean, you two have clearly already done the deed. How did you settle that?"
The rising heat to joeys face told Scott everything he needed to know.
"I couldn't help it, Nate's just so cute and persistent and convincing. I couldn't say no," Joey was redder than a tomato by this point.
"So you bottomed," Scott smirked and Joey buried his face in his palms. "Well it doesn't seem like you didn't enjoy it so what's the problem then?"
Joey's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with doubts. "I don't know, Scott. I'm an alpha too. I don't know how this will work. Besides, I'm worried that the pack members won't be able to take me seriously after this. How can I lead a whole pack when I can't even take control in my own relationship?"
Scott placed a reassuring hand on Joey's shoulder. "Joey, being an alpha doesn't mean you have to be in control all the time. And it's okay to let someone else take the lead sometimes. Nathaniel seems like a great guy, and I'm sure he cares about you."
Joey's expression softened, and he smiled. "You know, Scott, I think you're right. I've been so focused on being the strong one, the leader, that I forgot what it's like to be taken care of. Nathaniel makes me feel safe, and that's a pretty amazing feeling."
Scott beamed with pride. "That's the spirit, Joey! And remember, being in a relationship doesn't mean you're any less of an alpha. It means you're brave enough to be vulnerable and trust someone else with your heart."