Rogue Wolf

Ch 38 miserable hope

"It looks like your territory isn't closed off to you permanently after all," Alpha snarled, clearly disappointed.

"Forgive me, lords," Lone Wolf said, going down to one knee, and bowing his head just slightly before looking back up. "I brought workers in and didn't want a chance encounter anyone would end up regretting."

"Workers? What kind of workers? From that alpha king?" Alpha demanded, pushing forward and shoving his face into Lone Wolf's. Lone Wolf stood at his approach, flexing his muscles, making Alpha's show of fury less intimidating than it once had been.

"No," the big man answered mildly. "Store workers and contractors mostly. I figured it would be easier to do it all at once. I know there were things Alpha Maximus wanted done, and a few things Scout wanted to surprise him with. It just made sense to do it all in one day.

Alpha stood fuming. Lone Wolf's assertion that Maximus had commanded these actions had him spinning his wheels, his rage having no outlet. The calm radiating off the big man who stood there facing Alpha down seemed to help my Max as well.

"What surprise?" my Max asked, coming over to me and tugging me up.

I had to swallow before answering, looking at him and glancing down shyly before looking back up at him.

"It occurred to me, my lord, that we would need to celebrate Michael being part of our pack, since that is what my alpha desired. I wanted to share with you what a real celebration is, one that doesn't involve abuse. "

I could practically feel Alpha's anger at my words. My Max on the other hand, seemed to be radiating real power for the first time.

"Alpha and I had been discussing just that. Take Michael into your quarters and prepare him for your celebration."

I pushed my way through the guards, back to where Michael was, tugging him forward through the small crowd. He stunk from the excrements from the guards and from Alpha that covered his pajamas. Michael followed me, keeping his head down further than he usually did.

"And no peeking into the box," Lone Wolf hollered after me. "It's from our lord Maximus."

I bowed my head in acknowledgement, not willing to open my mouth until Michael and I were safely in my quarters, and the door was shut behind us.

"Damn," I said, smelling what had happened to him.

"They didn't rape me," he whispered, as emotions raged through him.

"I'm sorry. I thought you'd be safe. I worked all day so we would have an alternative to Alpha's crap. Did he force any pills down you?"

"No."

Michael wouldn't even raise his head with just me with him. Damn! I shoved him into the bathroom, turning the shower on. He just stood there, the trembles starting in him. I shoved him, new pajamas and all, under the water. He didn't even protest.

"They didn't take the pajamas off. I think I like the damn snowmen now," he half chuckled through the tears that were starting.

"Been there," I said gently as I removed his shirt. I let it fall to the bottom of the shower, where the shampoo and soap would help clean it.  "I had a pill shoved down my throat and no pajamas, no anything, so I get it. It's ok."

"It's not ok," he suddenly shouted at me, shoving me against the shower wall. I saw, then, the bruises on his face he had been trying to hide. They matched the ones on his arms where he had been roughly grabbed, telling me he had struggled against them. I was guessing a kick or two caused the wide bruises by his ribs. I would have let him rage, but I was worried my Max would come in.

"Look, I'm sorry, I've been trying to keep that from happening to you. I'm trying to make it as good for you here as I can," I told him.

"Good for me," Michael scoffed derisively. "What the hell happened to getting me out of here? You don't want to leave, Mister Beta sir!You fuc..."

I clamped my hand over his mouth, hearing movement in my room. I motioned with my eyes and a tilt of my head, and he clamped his mouth shut on his own.

"I'm gonna get you something else to wear. Finish cleaning up, leave those in the shower for now. We'll get them washed up later. I'll be right back."

I didn't even grab a towel as I rushed into my room, still in my shorts, me wet from Michael's shower. It was my Max and Lone Wolf, standing by the box I wasn't supposed to peek in.

"Scout, you're all wet!"

"I was getting Michael started in the shower and heard something. I wanted to check it out. I didn't realize it was you my lord."

"How is he?" asked Lone Wolf.

I figured they probably heard him. "Mad. Upset. I need something else for him to wear. I probably should have picked up more than one set of pajamas for him."

I stood there fidgeting, dripping slightly on the wooden floor. My Max and Lone Wolf exchanged looks, both of them grinning slightly. I was tempted to growl in frustration.

"Would you bring us a towel please, Lone Wolf?" my Max asked.

Lone Wolf headed toward my bathroom without a word. I hoped he didn't freak Michael out, walking in on him. He was gone longer than it took to grab a towel. I figured he gave Michael an encouraging word while he was there.

In the meantime, I just stood there. My Max started to say something, finally coming up to me, grabbing me to keep me from going to my knees.

"You were going to get him out of here?"

"I was thinking about it at first, my lord, my Alpha," I whispered, unsure if he still wanted me, if he could still trust me. I tried to go to my knees but he kept his hands on my arms.

"Why?" he asked just as quietly.

"Because I took him from away from his life. I'm responsible," I said miserably. "I brought him into this and he didn't ask for it. He doesn't want it. Alpha treats people like shit! I didn't want what happened to me to happen to him. I just couldn't let that happen! If I could have snuck him out somehow, I would have left with him. I hated being with Alpha, especially after... I hated what he did to me, and I don't mean the bite. That was before you. You... I..."

I hung my head, unsure what to say, trying not to cry yet again.

"And now?" he asked gently, tilting my head up.

"I don't want to go anywhere. I want to stay by your side... if you will still have me, my lord.

He couldn't stop me then as I dropped down before him, my head down, the tears leaking out again. I was getting seriously sick of crying all the frigging time.

"And Michael?" my Max asked with no hint of anger in him at all. I dared hope.

"We wait for the Alpha King. Lone Wolf said the Alpha King has a plan and to trust him. I'm just trying to keep Michael safe until then. I shouldn't have let him get near Alpha, I shouldn't have..."

I couldn't go on. Hope was another alien feeling for me, and it made me miserable when my thoughts slid into how very bad this could become, if my Max decided I needed punishment. That twinge of hope made every scenario without it unimaginably worse.

My Max drew me up once more. I couldn't decipher the thoughtful look he gave me. I couldn't begin to fathom what he might be thinking.

"I think I have something that should help," he said.