Niel noticed Atlas was tensed. It didn't take a genius to notice. Atlas had taken his mate quickly out of the hospital. Dragged was a better word. The Alpha didn't even bother to grab Niel by his hand to make it less noticeable, no, he aimed for the arm and guided both of them as quickly as possible out of the hospital. Heads turned when they passed, some even quirked up a brow, thinking about what got two people leaving a hospital so fast.
Their hasty speed toward the exit was abnormal of course. In most instances, people hurried inside a hospital, for either need for care or need for information about loved ones. In both cases people tried to keep themselves together, trying to be realists in bad situations, knowing bad outcomes were a huge plausibility, but always hoped for the best. Their hope being their biggest dream and most horrified nightmare at the same time.
But none of this was happening to the Alpha couple. No, they had their information, they had their internal battle of knowing the severity of the situation and had already hoped for the best. They had a whole other battle waiting for them.
Atlas had become territorial when Arabella mentioned taking both her mother and brother with her far away. But this wasn't Atlas biggest concern. Shortly after, he got a message from the pack. It contained the early arrival of Maddoxe and Katherine. Atlas' parents weren't supposed to arrive this early, their initial arrival should be in a week, a day before Atlas' birthday.
Atlas knew something was wrong, so when he asked and got answered it was better to speak with them for himself. Then a sudden dread came over Atlas. He knew he had to get out of there. As an Alpha and werewolf, his instincts took over and told him he was too far away from his safe haven, his camp base, his pack. And above all his mate wasn't within the safe borders he had set. Niel wasn't safe, his pack wasn't safe, and Atlas himself wasn't safe. Therefore their return was of utmost importance.
All of this wasn't known by Niel. He just sat there in the passenger seat, of their pitch-black jeep, anticipating answers. Observing Atlas as he did so. He noticed the tight grip Atlas held on the steering wheel, the small trickle of sweat on his forehead, and his heavy breathing.
The only answer he could come up by himself, with the knowledge he had, was what? He couldn't come up with one. Was Atlas back to his extremely possessive self? Was his sketchy, but not sketchy behavior to go to his mother, such a setback for the werewolf to go back to his instincts? This thought angered the teenager. Also, the fact he couldn't search for a reasonable explanation for his behavior frustrated him even more. Hadn't he shown Atlas enough that he could be trusted? Hadn't he shown enough affection? Should he overstep his own boundaries? This angered him even more because with every kiss, hug, or touch shared between them there was still a tiny voice in his head whispering it was wrong. Niel still fought his own battles in his head while trying to move forward as well and for what? For Atlas become his territorial, possessive self again?
Anger rose to Niel's head. He felt the familiar burn in his chest. He started to fume. The teenager was about to scream and shout about how ridiculous Atlas was being. He clenched his fist, shut his eyes tightly, open his mouth and-
"I am sorry."
Three soothing words, cooling Niel down.
"I am sorry, we shouldn't have left like that..." Atlas sighed. Niel noticed something was up and it wasn't about him. How could have been so selfish? Thinking it was all about him.
"My parents arrived early, I don't know why, but I know it isn't because they missed me."
Niel nodded his head, his anger ebbing away with every movement he made. His face softened. He could see how the tension had turned into worry and Niel worried about Atlas. That was something new, Niel thought. Feeling such sympathy for â technically â his kidnapper. But that wasn't how he saw the Alpha, no, that wouldn't do any good. Still, it was a first he felt like this.
The last time he felt such amounts of sympathy for somebody else was for his brother after he had taken a beating from their father.
"If you want, I can arrange something for your mother and sister. We don't swim in money at the moment, but I know I can use some budgets to get your family somewhere safely...They are my family too, but I hope you don't mind if I don't include your father."
"Of course... although this kinda sounds like we are married and we aren't," Niel slowly dragged out. Afraid of what Atlas would say in response. Hoping the Alpha wouldn't spring a sudden wedding on him.
"Huh? Married? Oh, yeah, uhm. We don't have anything like marriage in the pack life, but we do have a ritual that can be considered as a wedding. But it doesn't matter how you look at it, we will be together until death, so technically you could call us married," Atlas mused.
"Never thought about that."
The rest of the drive it was silent in the car. Atlas' thoughts were occupied with worries about the pack and Niel's thoughts were filled by the fact he would be together with Atlas until death. The teenager didn't know how to feel about it, happy, sad, angry. This whole mate-fate-destiny thing was sprung onto him and while he had processed most of it, there were still times when he had his doubts.
He was brought back to reality by the arrival at the pack. He noticed something was up. There were more warriors at the border and again more at the packhouse. When the jeep stopped Maddoxe and Katherine made a b-line to their son. As the door opened Niel heard, "We have to talk to you immediately." Atlas wasn't even fully out of the car. He held up his hand. "Just a sec."
"But it's important son."
"Yes, I gather. I just need a second." The Alpha felt bad that everything was about him again. And yes, it was hard to avoid that when you had to lead a pack. Literally, everything was your responsibility. And yes, Atlas would love to know how to balance his private life and his work life better, but he didn't so Niel had to wait for him... After Atlas knew he was fine to be left alone again.
He walked around the car and opened Niel's door who was still struggling with the seatbelt. The passenger's side seatbelt was broken and got stuck when you wanted to unbuckle it. Levi had sat here a couple of days ago and apparently when he saw a food truck selling churros. He didn't think for a second a rushed out of the car while he was still buckled.
"Here, let me." Atlas bend over Niel and gave it a good pull. "I should get that fixed," Atlas mused to himself.
Niel got out of the car and stood next to Atlas, noticing the former Alpha's waiting impatiently. "What's going on?"
"I don't know for sure, yet... Are you okay being on your own for a while?"
The teenager was confused. He was often left to his own devices since he got here. "Yeah, of course."
"You just saw your mother laying in the hospital, and to top it off your family is going to move away from you. Are you absolutely sure?" Atlas quirked up a brow.
Niel had forgotten about it while he was fuming in the car. His shoulder shagged when he was reminded. "I can stay with you if you want, taking a walk or we can watch a movie." The Alpha suggested.
Katherine made a disapproving grunt to let her son know they needed his attention now and not in a few hours. Atlas' only response was a pointed look.
Niel shifted his eyes from Atlas to Maddoxe and Katherine and back to Atlas again. "I am fine, I will go look for Rain. You should go."
Atlas planted a kiss on Niel's forehead in gratitude. "If you need me, I am in my office."
When the Alpha was out of sight, followed by his parents into the pack house, Niel decided not to look for Rain. Honestly, the teenager didn't want to run into Tyra. He chose to work out to empty his head. After everything that happened today, it would be nice to replace his worries with sweat and exhaustion.
He quickly changed into different clothes and started his workout. He would remain in the gym until late that night when Atlas came looking for him.
The Alpha had other matters at hand. "It's even worse than what we expected," Atlas sighed as he glanced at the map in front of him once again.
"Rumour is that Eli is being sent here in a couple of weeks," Katherine said quietly. Almost as if she was afraid.
"What?!" Atlas yelled. He grabbed his hair in frustration while muttering curse words under his breath.
Eli was infamous for his position as an inspector for the King. He was a vampire, part of the royal court. His nickname was the Grim Reaper, not because he killed people. Eli would inspect packs, houses, and covens after severe attacks. He would do an intake of the damage being done, more specifically how many people died. Eli would let the king know they were no longer their concern if the said pack, house, or coven was completely wiped or almost gone. But when help could repair the damage he would send a message to the king for recourses.
Only this was a lie.
Eli only went to those who had a questionable relationship with the crown and he would only check if everybody was dead, or enough. When this wouldn't be the case he would make sure of it, so the king would no longer be responsible for that area.
"So it's inevitable then," Atlas slapped his hands on his desk. "It all makes sense now. You spotting all those rogues nearby, Eli possibly arriving in a couple of weeks, this all leads to an attack." A humorless laugh escaped from his mouth. "Now I know why no pack wants to help us. They are all in the complot. But why?!" Anxiety crept into the Alpha.
Maddoxe and Katherine both looked with worry in their eyes to their son. They didn't know what to do either. Katherine walked around the desk and put her hand on her son's shoulder. "We have been protecting the border of the kingdom for centuries. If the rogues are planning on attacking us we will protect the border once again. Like we have always done."
A silence fell.
Maddoxe sat down, his leg irritating him. They were all pondering about what to do next, what their next move would be.
"You know it would help if you and that boy are officially bonded." Katherine mused.
"Mother not now... And what would it help anyway?"
"It saddens me that your knowledge about our culture lacks. I thought I raised you differently." Atlas felt stabbed in the heart. He, like Niel, tried to impress and prove to his parents, especially his mother, that he could be a good and righteous Alpha.
"It is said that mates when fully bonded can give each other strength. This is mostly seen in the higher ranks. So when you are fully bonded with that boy and he is officially part of the pack as the new Luna, it could give you extra strength and the pack as well... Eli will be here in a couple of weeks, meaning the attack will not be right away, so there is time." Katherine reassured.
"I-I will think about it." Atlas was finally happy where he and Niel were in their relationship, he didn't want to put too much pressure on it. "First I have to let the others know about this attack so we can prepare." Maddoxe nodded his head in agreement.
It was almost midnight when the former Alphas, the Beta and Delta, and all the elders and advisors were leaving the meeting room.
When it was just Atlas he let out a deep sigh. All he knew at the moment was he needed his mate. So when he got up he mused to himself, "Just when my life is complete, I am about to lose everything."