The Alpha's Choice

Part 17 in which they have the worst sleep over, probably ever

I accidentally fall asleep with my head rested on James' shoulder. I blame the pain killers making me sleepy, even though I wanted to stay up and wait for news on Ben. I'm woken up at some point after Tanner notices me and moves my head to rest on him instead of James. I'm too tired to care they're fighting again.

I wake up again at some point—I'm unsure of the time, or how long I've been asleep—but I don't know why at first. My wrist is hurting again, maybe that was it. But them I feel my stomach churn and my chest heaves. I know immediately what's about to happen and I scramble out of the chair I'm in and grab the nearest waist basket. As soon as I've got it, as if on cue, I heave again and hurl up the remainder of whatever my last meal was, it's too long ago to remember now. 

"Cade," I hear Tanner hiss behind me, I must have woken him up, "are you okay?"

I hold up a thumbs up before dry heaving into the stinky trash can again. "I think the doctor mentioned vomiting could be a side effect of the painkillers," I grumble when I've recovered enough to speak.

I hear Tanner move from his seat and he's by my side in an instant, rubbing my back. "You'll be okay though," he mutters softly. "Do you wanna go down to the cafeteria and see if they have any real food you can throw up later?" he jokes and I smile.

"Yeah, I'm really hungry actually," I nod and he helps me to my feet. The nurse behind the counter helps us out by taking the trash can and points us in the direction of the caf. We sit down with our trays just a few short minutes later. I got Mac and cheese and Tanner has some sort of meat with gravy on it. He watches me as I eat, barely touching his own food. I'm lucky it was my left hand that was injured, it would be a lot harder if my dominant hand had gotten crushed.

"So you probubly wont be able to shift again for a while..." Tanner says in a hushed tone. I swallow my bite of food and consider this.

"No, the doctor said I wouldn't be able to move it at all while it heals, so I think changing the structure of my bones would definitely fuck things up," I take another bite.

"But you're the alpha—"

"I can still fight," I snap at him and he drops his fork, "I can still run my pack in human form. You, Danny, Eric, Damien, and Ben when he's better, are all great fighters too. I could still beat someone, one on one," I ball up my right fist, flexing. Tanner scoffs and I glare at him. His eyes fall to the table and I can feel the seriousness that's fallen over him.

"I..." he starts and then stops, taking a breath before continuing, "I don't think we can win this. We should leave while most of us are still alive. Drake's pack is just and extension of allied packs all up the northeast, they all have their own alphas but Drake is really the one in charge. He has whole towns made up of nearly entirely of werewolves. I know, I lived in one for nearly a month, they are all loyal to him, to the grave, any one of them would've killed me without a thought." I roll my eyes, he's just being dramatic. "Cade, Cade listen to me," I look at him, raising my eyebrows, "I just want you to be safe, I care about you and your pack. And none of you are safe here anymore. Let's move further west, find someplace there aren't as many other wolves around." 

I shake my head, no. "No. I've been living here for the past two years, I am not giving up to the first hot headed alpha that comes along."

"Cade, he's not just blowing steam, this is the real deal, he's dangerous," Tanner tries to explain and I'm shaking my head again

"So am I," I reply darkly.

At 5:45 the next morning we're allowed to see Ben, but only in small groups at a time, so I leave Tanner and James to be babysat by Eric while Danny and I go to check on him first. I'm suddenly nervous, following the nurse down the hallway I can hear the heart monitors and quite sobs from the surrounding patient rooms. I glance behind me at Danny, she looks as nervous as I am, we make eye contact and I give her a reassuring nod. She forces a smile and the nurse reaches the room.