Sorry for updating later than usual! <3

Thank you for 3K! <3

- § -

"I'm serious, you really would make a good leader."

"Chan-I mean Alpha, I-I um," Baekhyun covers his face with his hands. "Never mind."

I pull his hands away. "What?"

Baekhyun refuses to meet my gaze, "I'm sorry for almost calling you by your name."

I tilt his head up. "Don't worry about it." I gently brush his cheek, "You're forgiven."

Baekhyun swats my hand away. "You shouldn't be doing this, you're already mated."

At this point, all I want to do is cry out loud. How am I meant to do this? You're my mate, mine and only mine. Who else am I meant to be sweet with? I drop my hand. An awkward silence settles on us until Baekhyun presses the 'Press for Assistance' button and Yixing comes running in.

"Baekhyun! You're awake! Do you feel alright? Do you need anything?"

Baekhyun laughs, "I'm fine. A glass of water would be nice."

Yixing looks at the two of us. "Alpha, come with me. Give Baekhyun some space." I follow Yixing out of the room. As soon as we're out of earshot, Yixing pesters me with questions. "What happened? How much does he remember? Did he try to be touchy?"

I grab Yixing's shoulder. "Alright, chill. Not a lot happened, he doesn't remember much, no he did not try and be touchy."

Yixing huffs as he grabs a bottle of water from a nearby dispenser. "Then you have a tough job on your hands my friend. I wish you the best of luck." With that, he walks back into Baekhyun's room and I follow him.

Baekhyun's POV

Gah! I'm really scared. What if Alpha kicks me out of the pack for being disrespectful and too casual with him? Memories of my old pack resurface and I whimper out of terror. The constant orders—screamed in my ear— so bad that I temporarily went deaf for a while. The horrible beatings that would hinder me from walking for days. The terrible conditions I had to work and live under. Musty rooms, moldy air, no furniture, and a dirt floor. I lived off of scraps, rotting carcasses, and bug filled water. I don't want to go back to that kind of life. But I would have no choice if I did get exiled.

I realize that I'm sweating from nervousness. I toss the covers to my side and grab a sheet of paper that was lying on a nearby desk. I nimbly fold the paper into a fan shape and fan myself. I exhale slowly, trying to rid myself of the horrid memories.

Medic Yixing and Alpha come back in with a bottle of water. I gladly take it from them and chug down half the bottle. The cool water rushes down my throat and calms me. The complete opposite of what the water I got in my old pack. Just the thought of that water makes me gag. I throw down the bottle and grab the bucket, emptying out the water I just drank. Ugh, I don't feel so good. The bile that came up along with the water stings my throat and clogs it up, making it hard to swallow. I'm afraid of drinking any water though, in fear of not being able to keep it down.

I hack as much of the bile I can into the bucket and wipe my mouth with a napkin. I look up from my ordeal to see a concerned medic and a highly concerned alpha. Medic Yixing walks over to the cabinets and grabs a few pills from the top shelf. While he's preparing the medicine, Alpha sits on the edge of my bed, careful not to get too close and grasps my hand again. I start to feel a little bit better and my throat unclogs to the point where I can breath without too much trouble. I'm still too muddled up to come up with a coherent reason to what going on and frankly, I don't really care right now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Medic Yixing leave the room, probably to get more water or something. The mere thought of water make me gag again and I spit more bile into the bucket. Alpha's just sitting there, watching me, gently stroking my hand from time to time. I eye his mark again. If he's like this with me, a normal pack member, then what is he like to his mate? I feel a pang of jealousy. I want to find that kind of love. I want someone that'll care for me unconditionally, not just out of pity. I don't need pity.

I stare into a pair of beautiful, glistening eyes as Alpha gives me a dazzling smile. No, I can't think like that. I cannot fall in love with him. He is a mated wolf. And he's an alpha. What part of me has a chance with him? Alpha gently strokes my cheek. "Do you want to lie down?" I nod, and he helps ease me under the covers.

When I'm situated, Medic Yixing comes back in with pills and more water. I take deep breaths, trying to refrain from regurgitating. Alpha notices my distress and squeezes my hand, which never left his hold. The motion comforts me. Medic Yixing looks at the two of us and clears his throat. "You know what, how about I leave Alpha with you? I have other patients to tend to and Alpha seems to be doing a good job at keeping you settled."

Medic Yixing leaves the medicine on the counter and walks out.

Alpha clicks his tongue. "Fine by me." He turns to me, "How are you feeling?"

I try to cough up the bile that's still clogged in my throat. It doesn't work. "Horrible."

Alpha stands up and comes over closer, sitting lightly next to my shoulder. "May I?" I nod, and he puts his full weight on the bed. He places his hands on my shoulders and gently massages them. "Just try to relax." I close my eyes and breathe deeply, having a little trouble due to the bile.

After a while, I feel a lot better. Alpha smiles at me. "Do you want some water?" I nod, and he hands me the  bottle. "Don't chug it this time." He helps me sit up. I shake my head and slowly down the water. I finish a quarter of it before putting it down and letting it set. Alpha rubs my back soothingly as he waits. It was a while before I could move around without the fear of losing the water.

I look at Alpha sheepishly. "I'm sorry it's taking so long."

"It's okay. Don't worry. Just take your time, I'll be right here waiting."

I swallow again, and don't feel nauseous. "Okay, I think I'm fine now."

"Are you sure?" He cups my face. Why is he so concerned? Anybody would think we are mates by the way he's acting.

I meet his gaze, "Why are you acting like this?"

Alpha tenderly brushes the bangs out of my eyes. "Is it wrong for me to be concerned?"

I swallow nervously, I have a strong morale for the mate thing. There is a certain way to act around pack members and a certain way to act around your mate. Mixing the two isn't a good idea. "No. But I think you're overly concerned. You're not my mate or anything. You shouldn't be acting like this."

Chanyeol's POV

"No. But I think you're overly concerned. You're not my mate or anything. You shouldn't be acting like this." But I am your mate. I should be acting like this. It's killing me to not be able to get closer. To hug you, to whisper sweet words in your ear. It's killing me to only be able to act like a friend. I wish I could tell you the truth, but now's not the time. Would you even believe me?

Baekhyun's POV

Alpha's face fell. Did I offend him? "I'm sorry." I say quietly.

He looks at me with surprise. "Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything wrong." I don't answer. Instead I lean my head on his shoulder and let the silent tears fall. Even though I know he won't hurt me, it's still a natural reflex to be scared if I upset a wolf with a higher status.

Alpha moves my head over so it rests in his neck. I breathe in his heady scent and somehow it calms me. I look at the rose marking in his neck. "I've always loved roses." Alpha tilts my head.

"They are very breathtaking." He agrees. For some reason, I got the feeling that he wasn't entirely referring to the roses. He gently removes my head from his neck. "Do you want the medicine now?"

I nod, and Alpha goes to retrieve the medicine on the counter. I call out after him. "What kind of medicine is it?"

He shrugs. "I'm pretty sure it to help you feel less groggy and more alert. Nothing too strong." He comes back with two white pills and a cup. "Hold this." He hands me the pills. "Don't eat them yet." I extend my hand, palm up, and Alpha tips the pills in. He grabs the water bottle and pours a good amount into the cup. "Here you go."

I take the cup from him and put the pills in my mouth. I take a swig of water and toss my head back, downing the medicine. I finish the rest of the water and put the cup down. "Thanks."

Alpha puts a hand on my shoulder. "It was nothing."

I yawn. "I want to sleep now."

Chanyeol's POV

I help him under the covers and put a sleeping mask over his eyes. I sit down beside him and within minutes his breathing evens and soft snores can be heard. I really hope he doesn't have nightmares. I suddenly feel two hands on my waist and I look down to see Baekhyun's face buried in my back, chasing after the warmth. I turn so that his head rests in my lap and I gently play with his hair as he sleeps.

Someone knocks on the door. I look at Baekhyun. He's still asleep. I gently wrestle my way out of his hold. He whimpers when I let go. I go to the door and open it. Yixing stands there, a clipboard in hand. "Did he take the medication?"

I nod. "Yeah. He's sleeping now."

Yixing makes a couple of notes on his clipboard. "Move him to one of the recovery rooms when he wakes up."

"Alright."

I make my way back to Baekhyun. As soon as I sit down Baekhyun wraps his arms around me and places his head in my stomach. "I've missed you Chanyeollie." He murmurs quietly, still half asleep.

I smile sadly. He only remembers me in his subconsciousness. It's a start.

And maybe it was wrong of me, but I take his hand a gently press a kiss to it.

Baekhyun's POV

I could have sworn I felt a pair of lips pressed on my hand as I woke. I shrug it off. There is no way that could have happened. I look at Alpha, who has my hand in his hold. "You called me Chanyeollie in your sleep." He mildly comments. "And you're hugging me." I feel my face start to heat up and I bury it into the first thing I could, which was Alpha's chest. Wonderful. He made me blush. That is not okay. And I called him with a nickname. That is definitely not okay.

I raise my head. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that." But I do know. Maybe I was too comfortable around him. He seemed too familiar. Maybe it's because I'm infatuated with him. I can no longer deny it. I'm in like with him. Maybe it's not exactly love, but it's something. And it's forbidden. He's mated, and... a sudden thought blares in my mind.

I've seen his mark somewhere.

- § -

:)

(School has sucked all the energy out of me... I don't really know what to say. TGIF!)

<3

021618