Even within his sleep, he was still suffering. While his dreams were normally vivid, beautifully detailed and almost lifelike, now there was just an empty void surrounding the wolf at all sides.

An ever present chill that was creeping up through the tips of his digits. Ice cold pain that burned through his fingers as if a toothy maw bit down on the sensitive extremities.

Yet the wolf could do nothing, no matter how hard it ran or how long it paced, searching for Theo.

Because even in their shared dreams, the bond that was formed between human and wolf, what was normally a powerful, all-encompassing bond...

Now nothing more than a faint thread, as thin as spider silk. Barely clinging onto the wolf. Connecting him to the one thing that kept him balanced between life and death.

Theo.

Slowly he roused from his sleep, a hazy blur obscuring his vision before he managed to blink it away. Once again, doctors were keeping an eye on the machinery connected to him, making the wolf realize it had started to slip into a coma.

Again.

This time it hadn't even tried to actively go through their consciousness to find Theo. Just that subconscious need, that ever growing fear that bit at his heels...

He wasn't surprised when their bed was wheeled out of the chamber, nor did he protest against the explanation from both the Alpha and the doctors surrounding him.

Now that he knew he had been Smothering Theo... the wolf knew that every second counted. And they couldn't wait to see if Theo would reemerge himself.

No, the wolf had to go deep within their subconsciousness, would have to endure everything he had put Theo through until he found his human.

And then endure it longer as it would have to bring Theo back from the dark abyss that threatened to swallow him whole. But if he didn't, they would be doomed to die, anyways.

It gave him a hollow feeling as he was attached to all kinds of machines. Listening distantly as the doctor explained why he was being attached to the different tools that were going to keep him alive while he searched for Theo.

A plastic mask was fit over his face with the knowledge that, as soon as he was unconscious, they were going to intubate him and connect him to the ventilator.

He nodded in acceptance before looking past the doctor at his parents.

Their parents.

He swallowed thickly, reaching out with his mind to his mother and father, to the family that watched on with nothing else but fear in their gaze.

"I'm sorry. I never intended to..." His eyes flitted to the machinery, silently indicating what he physically couldn't get past his lips, because it felt like a lie.

Because how on earth could he not want to cause Theo harm, could claim that he was doing it to help both of them, if Theo was now dying as a result of it?

He had repressed the small Omega. Hated him. Despised him for being nothing but true to his own nature. Theo was soft, small and innocent and he had ruined that.

"It's not just your fault." His momma said as she approached the bed with tears in her eyes. "I am as much at fault as you are. We all are for neglecting Theo, for pushing him away because we can't understand how he came to be."

She swallowed thickly, holding his weak hands in her own while his father approached and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Please, just get him back. We'll work things out from there." His father rasped with barely veiled emotion, tears audible in his voice, which only proceeded to ruin the wolf.

Because their father was a strong man both physically and emotionally. He wasn't afraid to show emotion and had always shared that with his son.

But never did his father sound as close to an absolute breakdown as he did that very moment.

It made him swallow thickly before he nodded, pinching his eyes closed for a moment to let the tears spill over his cheeks.

There was a lot of repressed feelings that needed to be revealed. A lot of pent up frustration and anger aimed at his parents, as they too were at fault.

In a way, the wolf knew he was just as much of a victim as the abuser in this situation. Yet it didn't excuse his behavior in the least.

With one last look at his parents, he took a deep, shuddering breath before closing his eyes.

Alpha Roland and Theo's parents watched as the doctors effortlessly went to work intubating Theo the second his wolf disappeared.

There was no need to put them in an artificial coma or to sedate them. Without the presence of the wolf, Theo's body was nothing but an empty husk until the boy's consciousness was returned.

"Make sure there's someone in this room at any time of day." Alpha Roland remarked with a glance at both the doctors and the guards.

They nodded their heads in acceptance and understanding, knowing exactly what their Alpha meant. Theo needed supervision to make sure that he remained alive while at the same time, guards needed to be wary in case that Theo's human died.

There was no telling what would happen if that were the case. Would Theo's wolf die with him or would the wolf's takeover as the main host reach completion, turning him rogue?

Alpha Roland dreaded the possibility of having to slaughter the pup if he were to change. It was one of the burdens being the Alpha, being part of the security force.

There was always that niggling doubt, the small chance that one of their own could turn. Become a savage beast that didn't know friend from foe and attacked indiscriminately.

The man sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. Multiple stress lines and dark shadows underneath his eyes making him look older than he was.

His eyes roamed back to the limp form of the pup, a few steps away from him. Even in unconsciousness, Theo looked sickly pale, his skin gaining an eerie translucency.

Every breath seemed to take a great deal of effort and Roland was grateful that the boy was intubated. If they hadn't, Theo might've suffocated slowly but surely.

But now, seeing the pup asleep, Alpha Roland felt troubled. How on Earth did nobody in the pack realize what they were doing? Why would anyone pick on the pup for being born like he was?

Nobody could decide whether they were born Alpha, Beta, Delta or Omegan. None of them ever had the choice, so why was Theo treated like he did have the choice, and made the wrong one?

He sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment before looking up. Alpha Roland slowly pushed up from his seat, knowing that Theo was finally in good hands.

The Alpha had work to do. An investigation to lead, to get to the bottom of this abuse case and find all the perpetrators. Then he had to defend himself and his pack in front of the Council members, who would be less than impressed by the turn of events.

Hell, the Alpha wouldn't be surprised if the Council sent over a representative or worse, one of the Council itself. They were known to be meticulous if anything went wrong with their subjects.

On top of that, Alpha Roland wasn't looking forwards to the conversation he was forced to have with Alpha Borya about the man's own son.

A mate getting rejected and in return, the rejected wolf nearly Smothered its own human counterpart.

Pushing past the doors of the pack hospital, Alpha Roland glanced up before swallowing thickly as he saw one of his trusted Beta's approached.

With a cellphone held in her outstretched hand, a dreadful luck in Arya's eyes as she mouthed the Council to her Alpha.

Do they have eyes and ears hidden within our very shadows?

Clearing his throat nervously, Roland accepted the device and put it to his ear. "Alpha Roland speaking."

The female voice that chimed through the device made Roland inwardly feel grateful and yet cringe at the same time. While he never personally had met Lady Alurea, he knew that she was strict but just.

But also a woman that shouldn't be angered, like her tone heavily implied.

"Alpha Roland, please be so courteous to explain to me how one of your own pack is in the process of being Smothered?" The Phoenix Council member asked, tone ice cold and clipped.

The werewolf shivered at the sudden chill that raced over his spine as Lady Alurea added "While I do appreciate it that you took action and alerted us yourself, that still doesn't clear your name in this event. Now, explain."

The Alpha didn't manage to stifle the whimper that slipped past his lip, nor could he prevent his wolf from forcing him to bow his head respectfully, even if he wasn't in the Council's physical presence.

"Yes, Milady." Roland replied to the command before slowly explaining what he knew, leaving not a single hint of detail out of his story.

He waited dreadfully, pacing back and forth as an eerie silence settled over the phone. "Another pack was involved you say?"

Biting his tongue, he nodded while verbally affirming, making the Phoenix sigh tiredly.

"Vladimir and Alaric will be sent over to your respective packs. They will help conduct the investigation and make sure that nobody is withholding any information. Inform your pack and Alpha Borya if you must, but know that anyone suddenly leaving the premises will be seen as a silent admission of guilt."

The werewolf shivered at the names of the two vampires, realizing the unspoken threat of the Council by simply sending those two individuals over.

"Now, Alpha Roland. I want you to find Alpha Borya and hand him the phone, please. I have some words for him as well."

Alpha Roland lowered his head in defeat, uttering a soft "Yes Ma'am" while dreading the arrival of the Councilmembers. Still, what little interactions the Alpha had with the Council, he knew it could be much worse.

His feet silently guided him across the room, tracing back his steps to where he found Alpha Borya. The man looked up with a frown, averting his attention away from his son, who avoided looking straight into Alpha Roland's eyes.

The Alpha bit back a low growl, looking to the Russian Alpha before extending the phone to him. The curiosity and confusion flared to life in Alpha Borya's face, quickly diminishing into frigid acceptance as Alpha Roland Spoke.

"The Council wants a word."

Borya's pup paled, swallowing audibly in the air as his father accepted the phone before bringing it to his ear.

Everyone in that room could hear the conversation, even if Lady Alurea didn't raise her voice in the slightest. It was a curse of heightened senses; the only private conversation to be had, was in a sound proved room.

"Alpha Borya, it has come to my attention that during this Alpha-to-be exchange, that we approved off, your pup has not only broken the agreed upon rules, but also rejected his mate. Am I correct?"

The dark haired Alpha lowered his head respectfully with a gritted, "Dah." Fingers tightening on the phone and a muscle twitching in his jaw as he begrudgingly added "May I say that it was not at all what I anticipated when I reached out for the exchange?"

There was a scoff on the other end before Lady Alurea spoke "I would certainly hope this wasn't all according to your plans, Alpha Borya." The Phoenix hissed calmly. "After all, that would mean you planned to break Council Law. And that is something you can't do lest incurring heavy penalties."

The Alpha shivered as he amended "I know that, Milady. I just wanted to get any misconceptions out of the way and inform the Council that this is not at all what we had planned. We came here to make alliances, strengthen bonds a-"

"Honestly Alpha Borya, we couldn't care less about your reasons for this exchange. What we are always called for, are result of someone's actions or inability to act."

The chilling silence after felt oppressive, making all the werewolves in the room cringe at the fuming rage that was near palpable.

"Just like we've done with Alpha Roland, we're sending Council members to your pack to investigate this case properly. You and your pup are allowed to go back home under certain conditions."

Alpha Borya sent a surprised look to Alpha Roland, not having anticipated that by the actions of his own pup, Victor had condemned both packs to a thorough investigation.

"When our representative arrives, you and your pup better be there to present yourselves to the inspection. Should either of you be missing from either your own or Alpha Roland's pack, we will deem it fair to assume you and your son are in hiding. You know what this means."

Nobody in the room needed an explanation. If Alpha Borya and Victor would flee to avoid persecution, they would be deemed traitors by the Council.

They would be hunted down without remorse. A free for all for any willing Council member that had a thirst for a pound of flesh.

Alpha Borya shot a look at a shaking Victor before murmuring another "Dah. We will return home immediately, I'll have to book us a flight and-"

"No need. The Council will make sure that you're granted access to one of our planes at the nearest airport." Lady Alurea murmured. "I have good faith in you, Alpha Borya. Do not disappoint me."

The Alpha shuddered but agreed nonetheless. "Of course, Milady. If I may have one question before we leave...who is the Council member that will inspect my pack?"

At that, there was a soft chuckle, hollow and void of amusement. "Oh, when this turn of events came to us, he all but volunteered to set you straight. Vladimir and Alaric will go to Alpha Roland's pack. Vlad Dracul Tepes will be coming to yours."

The phone slipped from numb, trembling fingers and cracked on the floor, all of them frozen and wide-eyed.

"Dracula..."Alpha Borya breathed fearfully, hands clenching in his hair as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Oh..." Alpha Roland replied, realizing just how serious the Council was taking this event. He swallowed thickly and prayed that their packs would make it through unscathed.