Healing Milton

one

Alpha Henry sits quietly at his desk, allowing the pair of wolves in front of him to read over the file at their own pace. It isn't an easy read. He'd struggled over it for the last couple of days, his heart aching and his mind reeling at the facts typed out inside that manila folder.

It was why this meeting was happening now, in private and away from prying eyes. Aldric and Cal were the only two wolves Henry thought would be able to make heads or tails of this situation.

Cal gasps, eyes flickering over the lines of text again, his fingers picking up the pages to glance over the photos.

Aldric wipes a hand over his face, taking the file away from his partner and closing it. Keeping the sensitive photos away from Cal's eyes.

"This is-this is real?" Cal pleads to the Alpha, hoping the information inside is some sort of joke.

But unfortunately, it isn't.

Henry sighs, shifting other files around on his desk to keep his hands busy. "Yes. We wouldn't normally even have a hand in this, but because of how delicate the situation is, I volunteered our pack to help."

Aldric leans over to place the file back on the table, his broad frame making the small blue armchair look tiny on comparison.

"Why us?"

Why them indeed. The two had had a difficult year. Only now were they really beginning to get things back on track, their relationship growing stronger, but even Henry could still see the strain between the two. See how they kept themselves away from the rest of the pack. Maybe this would help reconnect the two to themselves and to their family.

After all, a wolf cannot live without its pack.

"Why not?"

Aldric's eyes turn to slits, assessing his Alpha for some sort of answer without actually growling out a demand or challenge. He wasn't stupid, but he thought it would be best to go along with his Alpha's decisions. He didn't want to cause a fight. Not when Cal was here.

"When-when do we get to-to..." Cal trails of, wringing his hands in his lap.

Aldric was nervous. He could sense Cal's excitement, amongst the empathy rolling off of him in waves. His mate wanted this badly, but Aldric was worried Cal didn't know what he was getting himself into. This wasn't going to be easy. A lot of time, energy and patience would be needed. Honestly, he wasn't so sure the two of them would be up to the job.

Henry stands from his desk, pushing back the chair with a soft smile on his face. "Actually, you can come and see him now. He's already been transferred to the local clinic. We were hoping we could bring him back to the pack as soon as possible."

The two wolves in front of him freeze in shock, Cal grabbing onto Aldric's arm.

"N-now?" He stutters.

Henry moves to the door, opening it and gesturing for the two to follow him out. "Yes, now. No time like the present."

The three head down from the office and out to the underground parking lot where Alpha Henry himself drives them to the local hospital not too far away from the pack.

Cal stares out the window, his dark eyes focused on the passing buildings, his growing hair tucked behind an ear. He was scared, nervous, ecstatic, but also sad. So sad for the tragedy that had happened; tragedy that would now become his blessing.

Turning to look over at Aldric, he reaches out to grab his hand, squeezing gently. The crease between his partner's brow lessens as he squeezes back.

Al was a rather large man. Built for farm work, the Alpha's wife used to say. He was tall, dark hair ruffled on top of his head and a crooked Greek nose fit perfectly to his face. He wasn't what most people would call traditionally handsome, but Cal thought he was beautiful in his own way. He had a strong personality to match his frame, but a heart as sweet as honey.