Moving away from Nathan, Sean carefully took a seat on the edge of the Mark's hospital bed. Glancing between the two, he asked them with a little concern. "So... What happens now? The Zeta council will just have to accept our decision, right?" Nathan shrugged as his only response, putting the ice pack back to his bleeding nose. Mark took a few more sips of his soup before answering gruffly. "I'm not sure. There seems to be a lot of things I'm doing out of order and... It has complicated things." Sean bowed his head, mumbling out. "That's my fault." Mark's hand reached out to touch his, before telling him in a comforting voice. "You weren't ready, and we both had things to work through." Sean turned his hand over to intertwine his fingers with Mark's. Mark started to lean in like he was going to kiss him, until the door was shoved open a bit aggressively. Sean couldn't help jumping, while Mark only tensed up and turned his gaze to the door. Nathan bolted up to his feet, lowering the ice pack from his face as he let out a low aggressive growl. Mark's dad growled back at Nathan, before his eyes discovered Sean. Doing a double take, Cliff asked him in a shocked tone. "When did you get here?"

Sean opened his mouth to answer, but Cliff held up a hand to stop him as he quickly added out. "Nevermind. I don't care. Mark, the other Zetas and I have decided to put together another event. It will allow us to find you a decent Beta from among our Pack." Mark shook his head, defiantly stating out in a firm tone. "I've found my Beta. Nathan defeated me. An Alpha. That puts him leagues ahead of any young Beta we have. He has experience in fighting. Not just play fighting, but real fighting." Cliff briefly glared at Nathan, before growling out to Mark a bit darkly. "That's my point! He's an Outsider that beat you. This could be how Zedekiah plans to infiltrate us! By using HIM! You can't put him in a position of power! You can't trust him!" Mark straightened up more on the bed, the heartrate monitor beeping a little faster now when he coolly retorted. "I know that, but it's my decision. I'm choosing to accept the risk." Cliff shook his head, growling out louder. "You'll take the risk that he won't kill you?! NO! I've let you bend tradition, time and time again... but not this time! Not when he comes from a rival's Pack that we are on the verge of war with!"

Mark shrugged, looking away from his dad when he said flatly. "Well that is not your decision. As Lead Alpha, I get to choose. And I choose. Nathan." Cliff's stern eyes turned on Sean, prompting a soft whine from him. Cliff was angry. He could sense it and the wolf in him didn't want to fight him. Both Mark and Nathan responded to his whine by unleashing protective growls and moving closer to draw Cliff's attention away from him. It worked. Cliff's attention went directly to Mark. Their eyes locked on each other for a moment and their growls conveyed how they felt toward the other. Nathan inched closer, grabbing Sean's arm to coax him off the bed slowly. Sean obeyed, letting Nathan pull him behind him. Sean wasn't sure what was going to happen. Were they going to fight again? Should he say something? After a minute, Cliff stopped growling to tell Mark bluntly. "I raised you better than this. Can't you see that you are being used. By BOTH of them!" Sean's jaw dropped at his words. It hurt to be accused like this. He didn't get a chance to defend himself before Cliff blurted out in a softer voice to keep others in the hall from hearing. "You know why they were out there. I could smell him on him. The doctor could smell it. Yet, you still want these two at your side?"

Sean's heart fell to the floor. Hugging himself, he looked only at Mark. Mark stared unblinking into his dad's eyes, answering in a low stubborn tone. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't upset him and chased him into Nathan's arms." After saying it, Mark glanced at Nathan to add in quickly. "No offence." Nathan shrugged it off, but Nathan's eyes turned to stare at Sean in light warning. Sean could sense what was coming too. Cliff placed his hands on the mattress, growling out to Mark seriously. "You know Pack law. If you pick that tramp as your Luna and he pops out puppies that aren't yours... He'll be chased out and shunned. And the offending Sire... will be killed. Along with his bastard pups. Do you want that?" Mark lifted his chin, telling his dad honestly. "No. But that's something I'll deal with IF it happens." Cliff huffed, uttering out a bit snarkily. "If...?" Nathan took a step forward like he was going to say something, but Sean pulled him back. Nathan glared at him, and Sean glared back, until he saw Cliff's eyes on him. Mark glanced between Cliff and Sean, before asking nervously. "What's going on?" Cliff straightened up, growling out bitterly to Sean. "Are you going to tell him? Or shall I?" Mark's heartrate monitor began to spike as his expression became confused.

Sean shifted on his feet uncomfortably. This isn't how he wanted to tell Mark. He didn't want to answer, but he didn't know what else to even say. Nathan stared at Sean, before suddenly blurting out to Mark. "This is because of the blood test that I refuse to take. For the reason that I told you." Mark nodded solemnly, while Cliff now looked between them confused and asked perplexed. "What?" Sean stared at Nate in disbelief. He had told Mark that too? Wasn't he afraid of people knowing his family bloodline? Sean felt a little flattered that Nathan was trying to take the pressure off him by changing the subject enough to distract Cliff. Cliff looked to Mark, looking like he was going to ask him about it, until a Zeta woman walked into the room slowly. Leaning on her cane, she looked between Cliff and Mark as she calmly stated out. "Where is your acclaimed Luna?" Sean instinctively raised his hand, then blushed when everyone looked at him. Hiding behind Nate, he asked over Nathan's shoulder. "What do you want?" The Zeta woman smiled nicely to him, beckoning him over. Sean crept slowly around Nathan and over to her. In the doorway, the other Zetas stood watching him with neutral looks. He felt like he was on trial and nervously shifted on his feet.

The old Zeta woman reached out for his hand, soothingly telling him. "Easy, child. We just want to ask you something." Sean eyed the eldest members of the Zeta Pack, feeling like they could see right through him with their weathered eyes. Cliff stiffened, straightening up to say a bit defensively. "Mother..." Ignoring him, the old Zeta woman pulled Sean closer as she told him with a warm smile. "Kneel for me? My eyes aren't what they used to be." She slowly sat down in a chair that a doctor rushed over to her. Slowly sinking to his knees in front of her, he swallowed. Squeezing his hand, she released it to cup his jaw and asked him as she leaned in closer to his face. "Do you love Mark?" Sean started to look at Mark, but she kept him from looking him and said softly. "Don't look at him. Just answer me. Do you?" Sean nodded a bit nervously, before answering honestly. "Yes." Her slightly ghostly brown eyes looked over his face, before she told him openly. "What do you love about him?" Sean thought that he'd have to think hard to find something, but the words rolled off his tongue. "He's my best friend. He accepts everything about me. Even my mistakes. I've always been able to count on him. He's... He's more than I deserve."

Cliff stepped up, trying to slip into the conversation gruffly. "Mother, he is a-" She shushed him without looking at him. Waving her hand to gesture Cliff back and he obeyed with a sharp distressed whine. It was weird hearing a whine like that come from an adult. It usually came from puppies that didn't get their way. She then cupped Sean's face in both hands, informing him more intently. "He's chosen you. He loves you. Whether you feel you deserve him or not. He will need your love and your help. Being a Luna and Lead Alpha is a heavy burden. One you must learn to share. It will test you. It will break you. You will set the example to others within the Pack. Do you think you can handle it?" Sean took a deep breath, answering confidently. "I can... and if I can't... I know Mark will teach me how." She smirked a little, then asked him coolly. "You slept with the Outsider? Yes or no." Sean felt a twinge in his heart but answered truthfully. "Yes." Cliff blurted out. "HA! See?! He's-" She shushed him again with stern eyes this time, then asked Sean nicely. "Mark knows?" Sean nodded, feeling his eyes brim with tears, but he forced himself to answer. "Yes."

She nodded, then asked him in a low whisper. "Would you bare all for him? Give yourself completely to him as he would do for you?" Sean nodded, prompting her to release his face before saying gently. "I believe you, Sean Mcloughlin. But now you have a choice to make." Sean stayed very still and quiet to let her continue. Looking to the other Zetas, she told him as nicely as she could. "If Mark is to officially take the position of Lead Alpha, your union will have to be consummated. Since you ran out on the Festival... You leave us with two opinions. When Mark is better, we can gather the Pack and you can mate with Mark in front of them. Or we can do something more private among the Zetas." Sean licked his dry lips, then asked her softly. "Does it have to be... watched?" She chuckled softly to herself, then touched his chin to tell him. "It's an old tradition. Seeing the Lead Alpha and Luna together shows us how happy and prosperous the Pack will be under your reign. It is a way for us as Elders to witness the passing of a generation and the start of a new one. Witnessing your first mating as a couple allows us to say for sure that the Alpha and Luna made their offspring, and should something happen, we are there to give advice."

Nathan snorted, asking perplexed. "Advice? Like what?" She looked in Nathan's direction now, answering professionally. "It is not uncommon for virgins to be scared and unsure about what to do. Sometimes being told how to mate isn't as helpful as guiding one through it. Omegas in pain can scare their partners into thinking they are doing something wrong. Having an Omega there to tell them something is normal can be comforting. There are also the rare cases when we keep Alphas or Betas from getting too rough during their first time with an Omega during their Ruts." Nathan's humor about it vanished and he shied away to look out the window. Sean guessed that he was thinking about their first time. Nate had kicked a couch clear across the room. Sean blushed a little thinking about it. He felt fortunate that Nate had more control than the other City Wolves he'd encountered. She returned her attention back to Sean, brushing the bangs off his face as she told him. "I was uncomfortable with it too. However, it is not as bad as you think. Mating is nothing to be shy over. We've all done it." Sean glanced at Mark, who just gave him a small comforting smile.

Exhaling heavily, Sean bowed his head and mumbled out. "Can we do something with just the Zeta council?" Patting his head, she told him soothingly. "Of course." Sean wasn't too happy about it but the thought of Ethan not being there was comforting enough. He didn't know if he could handle years of judgement on his sex life. Cliff growled to himself, then stated aloud. "Mother, you can't be supporting this? Think of your nephew!" She slowly rose to her feet with the help of her cane, locking eyes with her son when she said clearly. "I am. Mark needs his Luna. The torch must be passed. You can only protect him so much. He's at the age where he must step out of your shadow. The Pack needs him to help unite the young with us... wiser dogs." Cliff pointed at Nathan, snapping out. "And him?! What about all the things he has done? The effect he's had on Sean!" She raised a hand to stop him, then clearly announced in a calm tone. "Mark wants to make him his Beta. So be it. We'll keep an eye on him. But we have more pressing issues to handle." Cliff and a few other Zetas grumbled under their breath, but she quickly added in. "This Pack needs to get itself together. Zedekiah will seek out weakness. We need to start patching before we sink."

Sean rose to his feet, prompting her to put a hand on his shoulder when she stated sweetly. "We'll start by celebrating the new Lead Alpha and his Luna. Then we'll work to get the Pack under control." She looked at Sean then, lifting her chin to proudly tell him. "We'll lift the bans on you. You can return to work if you wish. As of this moment, you will be treated like a Luna, but it won't be official until the mating. Which won't happen until you both are healed. So, I'd prefer you get lots of rest. Understood?" Sean nodded, until she pulled him closer while everyone was distracted with minor chatter. Closer to his ear, she whispered under the noise to him. "Take warm baths and nibble on crackers before getting up out of bed every morning. Lessens morning sickness." Sean's eyes widened as he faced her. She only touched her nose with a smile before slowly walking away. Cliff gave them all one last look, then helped his mother out with the other Zetas. The Zetas were all talking about preparation plans and the mating ceremony. It was a lot to take in. Rubbing his neck, Sean reluctantly told Mark. "I... I should probably go home. I'm tired and... I've got a lot to think about."

Mark set his bowl aside, reaching out for him. Walking up to him, Sean hugged him. Mark kissed his neck lovingly, asking him hopefully. "You can always just rest here with me? You sure you want to go home?" Sean kissed his cheek, pulling away to answer honestly. "Ya. I have something to tell my mother, and I need to eat something. I'm feeling... weird." Mark kissed his hand, before releasing him to say sweetly. "Do you want Nathan to escort you home? I don't want you getting too sick to drive or walk..." Sean kissed Mark's forehead, chuckling out. "That's why I have to leave now before it gets worse. And no. I'd feel better knowing Nathan is here watching you." Mark pouted, but Sean didn't give him enough time to protest. Locking eyes with Nathan, he told him as he backed away. "Keep an eye on him. And no more fighting!" Nathan scoffed as a response. Heading out, Sean climbed into his car and rubbed his stomach. The strange feeling made him feel a little lightheaded and queasy. He hadn't eaten in a while and had a strong craving for spicy wings. He hated spicy food... but he suddenly had a desire to eat the spicy wings Mark used to eat a lot as a kid. Clearing his throat, he pulled out and drove to the restaurant. He told himself that he'd get the smallest box and give them to Mark if he didn't eat them all.

Instead, he walked out with two boxes. The smell of them had gotten the better of him. On his way home, he stopped off for some gas and found himself nibbling on a wing while he waited for it to fill up. He just couldn't wait. He was starving. He was enjoying the crispy chicken, until he saw Ethan heading out of the gas station with his friends. They were chatting over their phones, and he hoped they didn't see him as they moved by. They almost didn't, but Ethan turned to point at something for his friend and saw him. The moment their eyes met; Sean exhaled heavily but kept eating like he hadn't noticed him. It didn't stop Ethan from venturing over though. To Be Continued...