The Stinky Life I've Accepted

Chapter 9: Changes

2 YEARS LATER!!!!!!!

Ryker

I ignore the aching in my feet as I walk down the city streets, my nose wrinkling in disgust at the smell of the stinky place. I prefer the towns and smaller, suburb paces I used to travel through over this ghastly skyscraper and emotionless place. 

But I cannot stay in one place for so long. It would kill me. Literally. And spring has just arrived, so yes, I rather the comfort of humans at the moment, okay? 

And...many people here barely even look down, and when they do, they seem to know nothing about skunks, because they just scream 'rodent!' or 'rat!'. 

And there are more sewers to scamper to, even if they are smelly, wet, cold, and dark. Whatever I can do to survive...

Scampering around, I gnaw on some of the trash I found edible just now, my stomach happy at the minuscule of food. 

I really don't pay attention to the humans as much as I used to, mainly because in these type of cities, barely anyone really comes after me. Animal control is a hard job, when there is so many places to hide and the traffic is horrible.

But today, that seemed to be my downfall. 

I round a corner, and before I can even blink, something pricks my body, and I fall to darkness. 

Yay me. 

Sam

I sigh as Maxon walks up, the dark bags under his eyes as heavy as ever. "Hey, Alpha." I greet, and he nods, his gaze zooming over the training grounds. 

Behind him, Dr. Leo and two warriors stands, keeping their eyes on him. It's been a rough 2 years. 

"They let you out today, must be a good day." I cheerily add, and he smiles briefly, shrugging. "Hmmmm." He hums as he looks up at the sky. 

Hiding my true emotions, I join him in enjoying the morning by watching the warriors train and the sun come out. 

"Sam." I look at my Alpha and friend as he keeps his gaze up at the sky. "What would you do if you had wings?" He mumbles, his voice hoarse. 

I think about it. "I guess I'd never leave the sky." 

He hums again, tapping his fingers against his leg. "Yeah, me too." He mutters, closing his eyes tightly. "I bet he is. I bet he has wings like an angel and never leaves the sky." His voice breaks, and I look away sadly. 

"Max--" I start, unable to find the words. Tears leaves his eyes as he looks at me again, his eyes full of the pain he's suffered for the past 2 years. 

"I'm so sorry I turned out to be like this. None of you deserve it." He wheezes, looking down. I startle at the apology, gaping at him. 

Mates are a fickle thing. It seems that the shorter time you know them when you lose them, the more pain you go through versus someone who may have had a lifetime with their mate. A lifetime to get to know them, to mark them and claim them and love them and serve them. To truly be one. 

Maxon definitely got the short end of the stick when it came to his mate, and it did not go well for him. None of us blame him...we just wish there was more we could do for him. 

My Alpha chokes down a sob, trying to keep himself together. "I...I am going to try. I need to work past this. I'm ready to be the Alpha this pack needs. I'll be better." He murmurs as his shadows approaches. 

I continue to gaze at him, shocked at this whole conversation. As the warriors gently grabs him, he stares straight at me. 

"I'm going to get better." They escort him away slowly and gently, smiling at me as they leave. I smile back. Oh, Maxon. 

Why did this have to happen to you? 

Ryker

I wake up disorientated, achy, itchy, and just droopy. I sneeze and look around, rubbing my nose. 

"Careful, he should wake up anytime soon." A voice murmurs, and I blink at the haziness surrounding my vision. 

I find myself in a human crate, much like the ones animal control carries around. Shocked, I just stay quiet, too unsettled to care. 

Seriously? Again?