Chronically

Five

...

Julian

...

"Hey... Hey... It's okay... You're okay, Baby... I've got you, okay?" The moment my tears had started the scene before me seemed to unfold in slow motion... Alpha Redwood carefully rearranging himself until he was able to lay on the floor next to me on his side, his head propped up in his hand so he can see me and be close... His other hand stroking my face, his thumb catching some of my tears and wiping them away...

No one has ever done that before... And it's so distracting that I'm almost not able to answer Dr.Addison as he questions me, his voice hidden by the deep soft tone of his Alpha's as he whispers in my ear with each new batch of tears that comes... I know that it's important and that I should focus... But all I want to do is roll over onto my side so I can curl into the warmth pressing against me while pretending that this didn't just happen,"... Are you feeling okay enough to sit up? Any nausea, or continued lightheadedness?"

The question is gentle, and it seems that this is the one that makes Alpha Redwood pause, his eyes focused on me waiting for the answer, the comforting caress of his palm on my cheek never stopping... The nod of my head something I know that he'll feel even if my voice feels too weak to push itself past my lips from the tears in my eyes seemingly sapping the will to speak from my system... The way he sits himself up first so he can help me endearing, his eyes never leaving me... His hands the ones that slowly help me raise myself off the ground under Dr.Addison's watchful eye... Where I end up surprising but not unwelcome...

...

Harrison

...

When Addison gives his okay I don't hesitate to pull Julian into my lap so he can lean against me for support... The way he curls into so precious that it makes me feel even more attached to him than I already am, his tears slowly seeping into my shirt as I hold him close, my lips pressing a kiss to the top of his inky hair... My hand rubbing his back to make sure he gets every ounce of comfort from me that he needs as Delaney and Addison looked on, both of them seeming to sport the same bittersweet brand of happiness in getting to see the first moments shared between their Alpha and my sweet Luna...

Any other time this would be such a happy occasion... But being greeted with a fainting spell this scary isn't exactly the warm welcome that any of us wanted for Julian... And it makes me shiver to have heard Addison repeat both to me and Delaney that Julian's fainting spells are unfortunately normal for him at this point, the stress of the trip likely having caused this spell... Which means if I hadn't come over he probably would have hit his head and none of us would have known until Delaney came to check on him around dinnertime like we had talked about...

"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." The words freeze my very soul, and I find myself pulling back just enough for me to look down at the weepy Angel in my arms while I try and figure out why he's apologizing... Why he feels the need to say sorry when he hasn't done a single thing wrong...

...

Julian

...

"What? Why?" The difference in tone this time when Alpha Redwood talks to me has me pulling away from him and the comfort that leaning into his chest offers, my hands coming up to wipe as many tears from my cheeks as possible while I keep my eyes trained towards the ground...

"F-For causing a fuss..." For fainting in front of him when I know he probably just wanted to stop by and tell me that he doesn't have a need for a Luna with as many health problems as I have... 

Because taking care of someone like me ends up feeling like a full-time job and I know that it isn't easy... And not even from my last pack telling me... I've seen it on the face of every single person I've run into since... Some of them not hesitating to share with me how much of a burden they considered me... Others expressing it mostly with their eyes... And I don't ever want to see that look in the eyes of my mate...Even if he does indeed tell me that I'm welcome to stay but that he doesn't have any interest in loving me...

But instead of him taking my apology for what it is... They shock me... His tone having returned to offer the very same comfort that it had before, "It's not a fuss, Baby... And it's not your fault... So you put that right out of your mind, okay?"

His hands don't need to pull me back into his chest, his voice gathers me up for him and I find myself tipping back towards him of my own volition, the way he welcomes me back into the cuddle we're sharing on the floor making me wish that this moment might last forever even if I do feel like crying again... Alpha Redwood continuing to croon to me... Assuring me that he's got me... Asking Beta Delaney to finish making the tea that I had been trying to start for us... Even asking Dr.Addison questions like when it would be okay for me to go and lay down to rest and if I need to be watched and if it's safe for me to fall asleep...

It makes me feel cared for in a way that I've not had much of...

It almost makes me not care that it's likely temporary... Just that it's here for the moment... And that the man holding me is being gentle... And taking the time to care right now... And it makes me wonder if... If maybe staying here even if Alpha Redwood doesn't want to accept our bond wouldn't be so bad... 

....

A.N.- Thank you all so much for reading! As stated in my recent announcements following this book, only the first five chapters of it will be homed here on Wattpad, the rest of it will be posted exclusively to my paid platform, updated weekly along with all of my other exclusive content, stories, read alongs of my other novels and bonus material including having the chance to get to know me via an intimate look into my life, creative process, and so much more! 

If you would like the link to the other platform please message me or visit any of my listed social media pages, and once again... Thank you for taking the time to read along, and I hope you'll come join me for the rest of this novel, it really does hold a special place in my heart.