I frantically burst through the doors of the pack house, not caring about anyone, the only goal to bring my mate to Randy. By the time I get to his clinic, Randy has already prepared the bed and is ready to tend to Raph.
Immediately after I gently lay Raph on the bed, Randy is all over him, checking is breath, his pulse, the sound of his heart, while firing question after question about what happened at me. I struggle to answer him, only giving him I don't know's and I'm not sure's.
Once he's satisfied with his checks, he backs off, declaring him to be unconscious.
'We just have to wait for him to wake up on his own. He's fine, there's nothing wrong from what I can tell, so I'll have to rely on what he tells me when he comes to. Now stop fidgeting. You're giving me fucking anxiety.'
'This is my mate!' I protested.
'I'm aware, thank you, not like anyone could miss the two of you. Fucking gross.'
He makes a face, before jotting down a few notes and then turns back to me.
'So just tell me what happened.'
'I was cooking and he came over and hugged me from behind and then suddenly he drops. Out of nowhere.'
'That's it? Nothing out of the norm happening before? Nothing you thought was odd?' He lifts one eyebrow, looking at me expectantly.
'No, not really. Only the whole sleeping thing.'
With an annoyed click of his tongue he leaves the room. This calms me down a bit, Randy would never leave a patient if they weren't stable.
I sit myself down next to my mate, pushing some of his hair out of his face and kiss him gently. I'm worried about him, I don't know what's going on and neither does Randy apparently.
A knock on the door a few hours later makes me let go of my mate and I go open it to come face to face with one of the wolves I sometimes run patrol with.
I frown. 'Did I miss patrol?' Really, that is a stupid question, because Marc could just have told me. And he would have.
'No, don't worry, but Alpha sent me to let you know to skip your patrol later and instead meet him in his office.' I'm surprised to say the least, but agree to it - obviously - and let him go.
At sunset I make my way up to the Alpha's office. I'm let in when I knock and immediately told to sit down.
'How's Raphael?' Marc asks.
'He's briefly woken up about an hour ago, but was right back out. Randy checked on him again after, but no news. He's just sleeping now I think.'
'That's good. I don't like what's going on with him, but just leave it to Randy. He'll figure it out.' He's frowning, but at the mention of his mate, Marc's face lights up like a Christmas tree. I wonder whether I look like that as well.
'Listen, the reason I've asked you up is because I've been thinking about getting your mum and that pup out here.'
My breath hitches at his words and I don't even manage to answer at first. A grin grows on his face. 'That good an idea, huh?'
'How?' I still find it hard to believe. He wants to help me get mum and Sam here, so they can live with us.
'Well, technically if I mark them it'll cover the mark of your old pack, effectively making them part of us, like I did with the two of you, just without them being outcast beforehand. They can't do anything then.'
I frown. 'How does that work? I've never heard of covering marks.'
'As long as the Alpha attempting to cover the mark is stronger than the Alpha whose original mark the wolf is wearing there shouldn't be any problem.' he shrugs, 'And I'm the stronger Alpha.'
There isn't any cockiness or arrogance in his words, it's a simple statement and it's almost intimidating with how much ease he says these things.
'How do you know?' It's not that I doubt him, but if there's no way to be sure, I do not want to be the reason anyone, much less this pack, gets hurt.
'He backed down. He had his whole pack behind him and he backed down.'
It's funny how I never thought of it that way. I had thought that Randy had 'won' the little silent showdown we had when they confronted us at the border. Clearly, what really happened was that my old Alpha showed a sign of weakness, enough to unmistakably make him the weaker party.
'Well, point being I've only told you now because I only just figured out a way to get them out with as little confrontation as possible.'
I nod for him to continue, eager to hear what he is thinking.
'Right, so considering we already made contact, it is entirely plausible to send a few representatives to try and negotiate, make sure there is no buried anger there, lay out proper terms. Part of that will involve scoping out the territory, during which we will pass on a message to your mother. I believe she is taking care of the pup, right?'
I nod again, eager to hear of his finished plan. It honestly doesn't sound like such a great plan yet, but I don't care. I want them here with us so badly.
'Right, well, we will propose for them to do the same, scope out our territory etc. We will also propose for an exchange of a few of our warriors to monitor the running of the pack on either side, including patrols.'
And that's when it clicks. He plans to use our knowledge of patrols to let them escape without running into anyone. Immediately though my joy disappears.
'There's several problems with that though, Marc.'
'What problems?' As if it's not obvious. I just about hold myself back from rolling my eyes.
'First, what if they say no to those terms? Second, how suspicious does it look if they disappear right when you've moved in so obviously? And even if not, they'll have wolves here and they'll know. And if they catch on, you'll be way worse off than you are now. Even if you're stronger, provoking them isn't the way to go.' An amused smile graces his face as he lets me rant and the glint in his eyes reminds me so much of his daughter, any fight just completely leaves my body after I'm done.
'First, they can't say no, I'm the stronger Alpha. Second, so what if it looks suspicious, if they can't prove anything, looking suspicious doesn't mean shit. We'll just keep a good eye on our little visitors. Nothing wrong with that. Randy would have anyway. No way Randy would allow strangers on our territory without knowing every single breath they take.'
'And here I thought he was treating us when we got here!' I grumble, which he only lets out a hearty laugh at before continuing.
'They will catch on, or not, depending on how dumb they are, who knows. But even if they do, they can't do anything, they are no threat to us. Also I highly doubt they would be foolish enough to risk a conflict with us over two lost members. Their Alpha isn't as hasty as that. But you're right, I usually wouldn't do something as risky as this. Be that as it may, they're not a bad pack, I doubt they're feeling good about this situation. They may be mad at you still, but keeping a family separated isn't the way to go. Also, I might have promised the little devil I call my daughter that her new favourite uncles get to spend Christmas with their family this year. And a certain crush of hers.'
I let out a heavy sigh and drop my head into my hands. I got the message loud and clear: no more arguing.
'Thank you.' I settle for instead.
'You're welcome. I'm putting together a team at the moment. Clarissa wants in too.'
I don't answer, but smile to myself, I'm not surprised. Clarissa's hot headed with a big heart. Of course she would want to help.
'Now leave, my mate is expecting me to prepare a date tonight, so I need a bit of time. Hush!' He moves his hands in a matching flutter and this time I do roll my eyes.
'Good luck with that then.' I say with a chuckle, stand up and leave.
By the time I get downstairs I just wish Raph was awake so I can tell him what Marc just told me.
I open the door and immediately my eyes meet Raph's. Marc's words completely disappear from my mind while his smile is so beautiful it almost makes me weak in the knees. Almost. Instead I walk over into his open arms and hug him to me. I'm not actually sure what just happened, we're usually not that... much. But it feels nice anyway.
I silently hum, just enjoying Raph's warmth against me and it's only when something wet drips on my shoulder that I pull away a bit. Raph is crying, his eyes red and his face screaming embarrassment.
'What's wrong?', I ask, my hands moving to his neck. I slowly let my lips kiss his tears off his cheeks, waiting for him to answer. When he only responds by twisting his fists in my shirt, I hum again to urge him on.
'I don't know', he whispers and I can hear how frustrated he is about that little fact.
Just then the door is thrown open and I know it's Randy because no one else actually does that in a patient's room.
When he sees Raph's face, he starts cackling and actually doubles over. When I move to sit next to Raph on the bed to look towards Randy, my mate immediately hides his face into my shoulder.
Randy is now beet red, struggles to breath and is crying, but still laughing.
It takes him quite a bit of time to come down from his laughing high. He clears his throat before looking at us with such a wicked grin, I have to swallow down my nerves. I do not trust him at all.
'So I did a little blood test to make sure nothing serious was going on.' he starts, his grin only getting bigger. At his words, Raph's face reappears from my shoulder, both of us now giving Randy all out attention.
'Big bad wolf here is preggos.'
A silence as potent as I had ever felt one settles over the room. And then Raph leans over the bed and throws up.