Making A Pack

Two

Moments after the doctor left, Michael began to feel awkward having the omega on his lap. After all, Luke wasn't really his intended, and Luke didn't even know why they started the ruse in the first place. With the doctor gone, it felt like Michael was taking advantage of the fact that Luke was sick and in pain, so that he could cuddle his long-time crush.

"Lu, uh, maybe you should get dressed so we can go," Mike suggested awkwardly.

As though snapping out of a trance, Luke suddenly scrambled off Michael's lap and the table completely. Then as he stood still nodding frantically to Michael's suggestion in the middle of the small office with his long arms wrapped around his middle protectively, Michael felt the desperate need to put him back on his lap immediately.

Ashton, having more good sense than the rest of them, however, said, "c'mon, we'll get out of your hair while you get dressed."

"And I'll go see the nurse to see if she has any instructions for care," Calum added, being the ever helpful one in the group.

Luke nodded again although Michael wondered if he ever even stopped in the moment he looked away. Based on the pink tint on his cheeks and flustered attitude, that was the biggest response they would get out of him, so Ashton looked over to his mate where they seemed to have a whole conversation without ever speaking a word. Michael noted how natural they looked together. For a moment, it was like Ashton was an old man sitting on his porch as he sighed, a big huffy sigh, as though just by looking over, his whole world fell into calm and peace. He then took Cal's hand, giving it a squeeze. Calum's whole face lit up at the small gesture. Michael hadn't realized just how worried the other omega had been until he saw his normal face again while looking at his mate.

It must be nice, he thought as Ashton stood up and pulled Calum with him gently. It wasn't a bitter thought, but one of genuine nature. He wanted to look at someone and feel that way, but as he left the room trailing behind the happy couple and looking back one more time at the person he'd been head over heels with since high school – who was currently staring at the carpet – he realized that his first thought was wrong. He was looking; all he needed was someone looking back.

~

"By the way, what the hell was that all about?" Calum asked once they had slid into the car. "I'm suddenly the den mother of a pack, and you're Luke's mate? Or I'm sorry, soon-to-be mate?"

Ashton gave his mate a look of shock as usually Calum was the most easy going of the group, not the type to get worked up over anything.

"Well... you texted saying you needed help," Ashton started.

"Help?" Luke asked, suddenly. Before then, he had silently walked to the car and slid in, keeping his body pressed up against the door as though he was trying to make himself as small as possible. Now, he seemed upset and indignant.

"Luke, you were about to run," Calum explained. Luke's reaction had drawn his sweet side back out, and he was looking at Luke with all the love and concern of a real den mother. The thought made Michael smile just a bit with him even realizing. It was sweet the bond that the two omegas in their band shared.

"We told them that so that they would let us back to see you," Michael explained when he saw that the other omega looked very upset. He kept trying desperately to catch his eye, but Luke kept his gaze glued to the flooring of the car, refusing to look up.

With a tone that the rest of the boys couldn't recognize, Luke muttered, "well, it's a good thing for you all then."

"What?" Ashton asked, who was sitting furthest away from Luke.

Michael who had heard him, was still confused, however, and said, "What do you mean, Lukey?" As he spoke, Michael reached out his hand and placed it lovingly on Luke's knee.