Chapter 54: Sickness

(Saigon)

I placed the bowl of chicken alfredo on the table and took my seat. Archer simply stared at it. Watching him, I dished my plate. He looked pale.

"It's good. We've had it before, remember?"

He nodded and grabbed a piece of bread. I started to eat while he picked at the crust.

"Did something happen?"

Archer shook his head.

"Did someone come by?"

"No." He took a deep breath and scooped some of the noodles onto his plate.

"We could go running in the morning. It's the weekend, so I can sleep in after."

He didn't respond.

"You haven't been going lately. Did anything happen? If you want me to go with you, just say. I thought you were okay going by yourself, but I'll get my lazy ass out of bed from now on," I said with a chuckle.

His breathing started to sound labored and what little color he had in his face vanished. Archer knocked over his chair as he ran for the stairs. I sat there, unsure of what to do. Standing, I followed him and heard the sound of throwing up coming from the bathroom.

The door was mostly closed, so I remained in the hall. I wouldn't want someone watching me when I was sick. I rubbed my arm. I hadn't been sick for years. Pups would catch weird bugs every now and again, but all werewolves grew out the moment their healing enzymes came in strong.

"Archer?"

"I'm fine," he gasped. "I'm fine."

"Do you want some water?"

"I just need a minute. I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay. Yell if you need something." I slowly went downstairs to the kitchen.

Getting a water bottle out of the fridge, I put it on the counter. This couldn't be caused by the full moon. That usually made Archer feel better, not worse. I sat down at the table and pushed my food around. My appetite was gone. With a sigh, I set to work cleaning up dinner. I doubt Archer wanted any after throwing up.

Maybe I should call Darius. I put my plate in the sink. Archer would kill me if I told anyone. I might be able to talk to Cyrus and Liam about it and get Archer an appointment in Midfield. They'd tell Darius. They weren't going to do anything without alpha approval.

After the food was put away, I took a washcloth and wiped down the counters. Archer still hadn't come down even after I finished and loaded the dishwasher. Grabbing the water bottle, I went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"I'm fine."

"I brought you water." I touched the handle. "Can I come in?"

Archer didn't respond.

Pushing open the door, I shuffled inside. My poor mate was slumped over by the toilet. It made my chest hurt to see him looking so ill. Twisting off the cap, I handed him the bottle.

He took a small sip before putting it to the side.

"Do you feel better now?"

Archer shrugged. "I haven't thrown up in like ten years." He forced a laugh. 'That was the most unpleasant experience."

I sat on the edge of the tub. "Do you want to move to the bedroom? You could lay down."

"I feel dizzy when I stand up."

"You haven't been eating a lot and it didn't look like you ate anything I left you."

"I've been nauseous all day." He took another sip of water. "You mated a disaster."

"Well, that only makes you my disaster and that's what worries me." I took off my shirt and stood. After removing the rest of my clothes, I shifted forms. "Come here."

He put his arms around my neck and I somehow managed to shuffle through the door opening. Archer must be sick to not even complain about me carrying him. If he was feeling even slightly capable, he never would've let me do this.

Going to the bedroom, I laid him down.

"Help me take this off." He tugged at the bottom of his shirt.

I helped remove his clothes so he wouldn't have to sit up. Archer shifted forms with a groan and his eyes started to close soon after. After making sure all the blinds were closed, I laid down beside him and gathered the poor werewolf in my arms.

"The humans are wearing me down," he muttered.

"I'm worried something else is wrong."

He took deep breaths and relaxed against my chest. "The full moon will fix it. It washes it all away and I'll be good as new."

"Humans have never affected you this badly before."

"I shouldn't have gone alone. My body freaking out. I'll be fine."

"It still doesn't make sense why you're this sick. If it gets any worse, I'm going to take you to Midfield to see one of their doctors. This isn't normal."

He was slight for a moment. I peered across the room, struggling to stay calm myself. My mate was sick and I couldn't fix it. This was a new kind of helplessness.

"The last time I threw up," breathed Archer, "was when you left."

I glanced at him. "We weren't that young when I left?"

"I tried to visit you in Harper's Creek." He swallowed hard. "You can't tell a soul about this. Darius or my father can never find out."

I nodded. Rupert was best to keep in the dark about all major secrets.

"The others were giving me a hard time. I wasn't a super fast runner yet compared to the older boys. My father kept saying I hadn't gotten my top speed, but that didn't stop the others from giving me a hard time. I wanted to see you. I heard you had gone to Haper's Creek to attend human school," he muttered the last part. "I didn't go the right way."

Tucking his head under my chin, I rubbed his arm.

"I ended up in the hunting grounds."

My fur rose on the end.

"They shot at me." He was shaking. "These humans and their guns, they had all these dogs and they kept shooting at me."

I tightened my hold. "It's okay."

"I ran." He swallowed hard. "I ran and ran until I couldn't hear the guns or the dogs." Archer reached for his leg. "One bullet hit me. It skimmed my leg."

Grabbing his hand, I brought it to my muzzle. "You're safe here."

"I threw up," he let out a weaving breath. "I puked and just sat there and cried. I didn't know what to do. I was scared to go home because I just knew someone would notice. Someone would figure out I tried to see you and ended up on forbidden land, and Darius would demote me. I was going to end up a middle rank for the rest of my life."

His breath caught. "So, I went to the stream and washed my fur to get rid of the blood. I spent hours just sitting there in the water, waiting for the bruising to fade after the wound healed. I got so cold that I puked again on the way home." He covered his eyes. "I used it as an excuse as to why I was sick. I told my parents I had gotten stuck on a rock where the river's current was strong. My father was furious while my dad was practically crying because I honestly looked like death." He forced a laugh. "Humans scare the shit out of me. There's nothing stopping them from killing us. It's not a crime for them. We're just another animal to shoot."

"I don't believe that," I whispered. "There are bad humans and good ones. But you have every right to be scared. I'm so sorry this happened. I should have been there for you more."

"Don't," he muttered. "Don't make me feel even more stupid. I went and got myself into trouble. I was too proud to ask my dad if I could call you. I didn't want you to see me as weak."

"You've fought for everything you have, Archer." I nuzzled his cheek. "I've been given everything. My rank had made my life easy. I've never had to fight for my place in the pack."

"It sucks." He smiled slightly. "If you were wondering..."

"We figure out what's wrong, okay?"

"I don't want Darius to find out. Even if it was years ago, he might still punish me and if he doesn't my father will."

Nodding, I let out a huff. "Rupert would lock you away, so even I couldn't find you."

"And hunt down those men who shot at me," added Archer. "It's been tenish years, but he still finds some way to track them."

"Rupert scared the shit out of me for that reason," I laughed. "You get worked up around humans, while I do the same around your father."

Archer hummed. "That works for me. At least, I know this secret will remain one."