An Omega's Desire

Chapter Thirty-Two: "Unofficial Luna"

Moving away from Nathan, Sean carefully took a seat on the edge of the Mark's hospital bed. Glancing between the two, he asked them with a little concern. "So... What happens now? The Zeta council will just have to accept our decision, right?" Nathan shrugged as his only response, putting the ice pack back to his bleeding nose. Mark took a few more sips of his soup before answering gruffly. "I'm not sure. There seems to be a lot of things I'm doing out of order and... It has complicated things." Sean bowed his head, mumbling out. "That's my fault." Mark's hand reached out to touch his, before telling him in a comforting voice. "You weren't ready, and we both had things to work through." Sean turned his hand over to intertwine his fingers with Mark's. Mark started to lean in like he was going to kiss him, until the door was shoved open a bit aggressively. Sean couldn't help jumping, while Mark only tensed up and turned his gaze to the door. Nathan bolted up to his feet, lowering the ice pack from his face as he let out a low aggressive growl. Mark's dad growled back at Nathan, before his eyes discovered Sean. Doing a double take, Cliff asked him in a shocked tone. "When did you get here?"

Sean opened his mouth to answer, but Cliff held up a hand to stop him as he quickly added out. "Nevermind. I don't care. Mark, the other Zetas and I have decided to put together another event. It will allow us to find you a decent Beta from among our Pack." Mark shook his head, defiantly stating out in a firm tone. "I've found my Beta. Nathan defeated me. An Alpha. That puts him leagues ahead of any young Beta we have. He has experience in fighting. Not just play fighting, but real fighting." Cliff briefly glared at Nathan, before growling out to Mark a bit darkly. "That's my point! He's an Outsider that beat you. This could be how Zedekiah plans to infiltrate us! By using HIM! You can't put him in a position of power! You can't trust him!" Mark straightened up more on the bed, the heartrate monitor beeping a little faster now when he coolly retorted. "I know that, but it's my decision. I'm choosing to accept the risk." Cliff shook his head, growling out louder. "You'll take the risk that he won't kill you?! NO! I've let you bend tradition, time and time again... but not this time! Not when he comes from a rival's Pack that we are on the verge of war with!"

Mark shrugged, looking away from his dad when he said flatly. "Well that is not your decision. As Lead Alpha, I get to choose. And I choose. Nathan." Cliff's stern eyes turned on Sean, prompting a soft whine from him. Cliff was angry. He could sense it and the wolf in him didn't want to fight him. Both Mark and Nathan responded to his whine by unleashing protective growls and moving closer to draw Cliff's attention away from him. It worked. Cliff's attention went directly to Mark. Their eyes locked on each other for a moment and their growls conveyed how they felt toward the other. Nathan inched closer, grabbing Sean's arm to coax him off the bed slowly. Sean obeyed, letting Nathan pull him behind him. Sean wasn't sure what was going to happen. Were they going to fight again? Should he say something? After a minute, Cliff stopped growling to tell Mark bluntly. "I raised you better than this. Can't you see that you are being used. By BOTH of them!" Sean's jaw dropped at his words. It hurt to be accused like this. He didn't get a chance to defend himself before Cliff blurted out in a softer voice to keep others in the hall from hearing. "You know why they were out there. I could smell him on him. The doctor could smell it. Yet, you still want these two at your side?"

Sean's heart fell to the floor. Hugging himself, he looked only at Mark. Mark stared unblinking into his dad's eyes, answering in a low stubborn tone. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't upset him and chased him into Nathan's arms." After saying it, Mark glanced at Nathan to add in quickly. "No offence." Nathan shrugged it off, but Nathan's eyes turned to stare at Sean in light warning. Sean could sense what was coming too. Cliff placed his hands on the mattress, growling out to Mark seriously. "You know Pack law. If you pick that tramp as your Luna and he pops out puppies that aren't yours... He'll be chased out and shunned. And the offending Sire... will be killed. Along with his bastard pups. Do you want that?" Mark lifted his chin, telling his dad honestly. "No. But that's something I'll deal with IF it happens." Cliff huffed, uttering out a bit snarkily. "If...?" Nathan took a step forward like he was going to say something, but Sean pulled him back. Nathan glared at him, and Sean glared back, until he saw Cliff's eyes on him. Mark glanced between Cliff and Sean, before asking nervously. "What's going on?" Cliff straightened up, growling out bitterly to Sean. "Are you going to tell him? Or shall I?" Mark's heartrate monitor began to spike as his expression became confused.