29 - Calloused Coax

Important message at the end !

Thank you for your patience ! Work has been taking a lot of energy, too much for me to sit write unfortunately. I won't stop writing anyway so please have faith in me haha.

Hope you like the chapter, it wasn't easy to write :)

-

I'm as curious as cautious at his words. Milo's demeanor and silent warning keep my feet rooted. Milo should be happy that I can talk with another human mate, so why isn't he ? His chin digs slightly into the soft of my shoulder, while his hand comes between our bodies to rub at the small of my back. I feel like he does it to soothe himself more than me.

Even so, if they don't like him, why use another human to try to push me to Milo? But this is new, unprecedented and an opportunity for me learn about being a mate, about being with a wolf. It's the possibility of insights he would never give me. So I follow the man and Milo's hand accompanies my back until I'm out of reach.

I follow Grant that walks like he could do it blind, without a care when I'm about to be apart from Milo for the first -second time, in months. Even with the heater on, for Grant I presume, I feel the cold immediately, I feel sweat pooling at my hairline. Grants pushes a wooden door open and when I pass through, taking one last look at Milo, his face is blank.

Grant closes the door behind me and gestures to the room. It's big yet cozy, full of historical furniture that collects no dust, old wooden bookshelves that reach the ceiling. It's a simple winter reading room, two couches in the center with cream fabric and gold intricacies. I feel the soft carpet bellow my dirty shoes. I'm glad when my steps don't leave a stain behind.

The mate of the queen settles on a couch with a deep sigh, he even slouches, legs spread apart. I mimic him, minus the sigh, somehow too stressed to even lean back. I rub my neck to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling but only feel sweat there. My shirt scratches my collarbone with a newfound itch, I pull at my fingers to keep them from stretching the cotton collar.

« It's hard isn't it ? » Grant scratches his throat with a low grunt, with a wince. « I remember the first times I was apart from my mate, I'm pretty sure I puked enough for a lifetime. » He tries to finish with a gentle smile but I can't help but to frown at his words.

« Is it always going to feel like this? » this time I rub my chest because it feels like something has crawled underneath the skin, gnawing at my bones. Grant lets out a huff and a small laugh before he leans in over the expense between us, raises a hand to pull at his cardigan and shirt underneath.

« It gets better after. » He smiles gently, eyes closing at a fond memory. But all I see are white punctures scars. White enough to be as old as I am, deep enough for me to see them even against his light skin. It's gruesome, expends from bellow his ear unto most of his trapezius.

Another wave of cold sweat breaks in and I take off my jacket. I wipe at my hot forehead the beads rolling down and sliding down my jaw and chin. He pulls back to lean against the rest and the hair on my arm raise. It looks painful and obsessive, like multiple bites. I wonder if he has others in other parts of his body.

« Do they get less... you know ? » I trip over my words when I rub my eyelids, suddenly heavy and rough. Grant moves to a small pedestal table, comes back with a full glass of water. « Thank you. » I reach for it despite feeling like my throat might not be able to open enough, but I down the glass in an instant. I sigh in relief when the ill feeling settles a little.

« Oh yeah, once we mated Gloria eventually let me out of sight. But it took a while, close to a full month if I remember right. » He laughs whole heartedly, even slaps his knees in process. I lean back with a small breathy giggle.

It's nice to talk to him, he looks more relaxed than when Milo was here. I fight sleep when I fully lean onto the melting couch, it's nice. He refills the glass and gives it back with a knowing look. I try to muster the courage, to quiet down my curiosity for calm so I can collect my frantic thoughts.

« How long did it take you? » I try to stay relaxed but the thought brings a blush to my already heated cheeks. I wonder how the queen is, when Grant seems so gentle. Is she the same ? Or more like Milo? I wonder who the alpha son took his bad jokes from.

« I think it took a few months for me to accept Gloria, to give in to the mating. » He frowns, eyes focused on the table and mouth twisting to the side. It must have been before the fall of humanity, I can't imagine how much of a surprise it must have been for him.

Yet a few months feels to short when it must have been close to half a year for Milo and I. But it doesn't feel like he was forced, when he smiles so softly at the memories. I glance back up when Grant scratches his throat with a grunt. His face is inviting and collected, so I let loose, hope he is still human after all.

« Milo is - well he is, a bit overbearing. » I struggle to find the right way to say it, not because I'm afraid of the mate of the alpha, but because I wouldn't want my words to hurt Milo's reputation. I glance at the door behind me anyway.

« There are, aren't they? » Grant barks out a full laugh, hand coming up to wipe his chin. I nod in answer which makes him laugh even harder and somehow I'm laughing with him too. This is nice, I think for the time I feel fully relaxed, expect for the creeping nausea.

I'm glad to talk to a human. I laugh along as Grant tells the stories of his relationship, the ups and downs. How they met, when they had their son. My cheeks hurt when he talks about funny memories and accidents. I imagine he would have grown into the funny old man on the end of the street if it wasn't for the war.

I wonder if Milo and I would have met differently, if humans and wolves lived side by side instead. Would I have fallen for him if we weren't mate? Would he? Grant finishes another anecdote which has us both laughing. Now I'll have embarrassing pointers to throw at the alpha son if he bothers again, if I have the courage to anyway.

« So when do you plan on mating? » Grant leans back with a sigh, while I choke at his words. I didn't see that coming. I can't help but to blush and my neck flares up with shame. Old people really do loose their tact.

« I don't - I'm not sure. » It's a difficult question. Because I not sur I want to be mate to a wolf. Because I don't know if Milo is right for me, if I'm right for him, no matter what our genes or the moon say. Because I'm not sure I would if I was giving the option, if I could choose. I miss home.

« It's gift, you should accept it. » Grant pushes on when I can't answer. But I'm stunned at his face, gone is the gentle smile and breathy laugh. Grant is stern with a scowl. « You just have to submit. » He continues and I wince at his words, feel the hair on my neck raise. What happened?

« Humans are the lesser species after all, you should just accept the gift of being a mate. » I feel my mouth turn wry at his cold words and the contempt, loud and clear. Is this the real him? He leans back again, legs crossed and hands laying on his lap.

I struggle to swallow the acidic spit that gathers in my mouth, it's as if I was facing somebody else. Gone is the warmth and even the room feel colder. I stay silent, rub my eyes and look down so I won't have to see him. Was that his plan ? To coax me into giving in ? Was Milo part of this ?

No, Milo wouldn't. Not now when we've come so far. Not when I've started to trust him, to look at him. It's too vile for Milo. Aside from the method, I don't think he agrees with the statements. I've met extremists multiple times, but never one mated into the wolves.

I jump in surprise when Grant stands up and rubs his neck with a scowl. I try to mimic him but Grant forces me back down on the couch with a hand on my shoulder. He presses down with a cold hand that chills my body and I think it might be to assert himself as the alpha mate.

« Just submit, it'll be easier for you. » Grant whispers with newfound carefulness, just like he might get caught. He helps me up with a heavy hand and I think I might throw up. His warning somehow makes me sad. None of this is easy, it isn't about pride for me.

I rise with frustration from the couch to follow him outside. Grant walks with confidence, much more than before but I'm relieved to be out of that room. I never imagined he would be so pushy, so far gone. The ill feeling settles as we move and just as I assumer we found Milo back where I left him. This time with someone.

I recognize her red hair before all, even just the sight of her makes my feet drag, heavy air clouding my eyes and mind. So I still do feel pressure after all. Just like back in the parliament the air too heavy to breathe and I don't to look at her for too long. Yet it's not as nauseous, maybe I've gotten used to that with Milo around.

Yet I see Grant slightly waver, bend his head at the sight of his mate and I remember his words. They stop their conversation and Milo turns his head over his shoulder to look at me. His gaze lingers over my stomach and neck, but I think it's just to make sure I'm okay when his face remains blank.

She gives me a polite smile when we reach us and Grant settles by her side. Something crawls under my skin like a cold sweat and I bend my head to hide behind Milo. The power of an alpha is truly frightening. Milo squares his back in answer and I hear the Queen let out a small laugh.

Even though she's about the same height as m and definitely smaller than Milo I can't help but to listen to my insetting when her pressure crushes me, I reach for Milo's hand when it gets too much. I bring it between us and feel the calloused joints in an attempt to distract myself.

We walk back to entrance and I don't dare to look back, this time not because of the alpha, but because I don't want to see Grant. He gives me the creeps more than she does. Milo brings me forward by the hand but I clutch the back of his shirt in response.

-

As reader myself I've seen a decline in wattpad's quality and I was wondering if you read on other platforms ? I will still upload here but I'm looking for a more stable app / website. Thanks for letting me know in advance.

Happy to be back :)