Oh my God. I'm so sorry. This chapter is so freakin ridiculously long. I don't even know why I let it get this out of control. Someone needed to take my laptop away from me. Don't judge me!

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::CHAPTER 25::

3rd Person POV [Orion]

Orion's eyes shot open; frantic and wide as he scanned the room for some unseen danger. He rose from the bed and relaxed. "Dad," he mumbled, voice still hoarse from sleep but no less sympathetic for it.

As a born Second, he was abnormally attuned to the erratic emotions of Alphas. It had helped him a lot when he'd had to help his friend-turned-boyfriend. It was now perfect for those days when his father needed something more than Pack; when he and his animal needed family.

Orion left his room and spotted his father in the kitchen at the end of the hall. He was busy rummaging in the fridge for something to eat. He moved on quiet feet though he knew Asher would hear him anyway. His fingers trailed against the tiny, pup scratches in the wall as he walked. A childhood habit. He preferred to ground himself in touch in some way or another.

Even with his back turned, Asher straightened like a man who knew he was being watched. Luminous silver flickered over his shoulder and turned on his son. The wolf was especially prominent in his eyes tonight.

Orion could feel a sense of dread in Asher. That same sense had been powerful enough to wake him up. He knew better than to confront him head on. Alphas had a thing about being coddled. It infuriated Orion to no end dealing with the two Alphas in his life, but he'd learnt how to resist wanting to murder them in their sleep. Their stubbornness made it difficult for him to help them when they needed him to.

Grabbing some milk and cereal, Orion figured he'd have a midnight breakfast if it meant he could corner his father. The older man eyed him warily, not at all fooled at the teen who was seemingly ignoring him. Still, he went about slicing his cheese and toasting the bread as if he hadn't noticed. He knew Orion could turn off his Second's instinct no easier than he could turn off his Alpha's instinct.

Asher braced himself for the inevitable fight that he'd lose.

Orion slid onto a seat and began eating far slower than he usually did, trying to figure out every nuance of what his father's wolf was feeling. Each emotion was an almost bitter taste lingering on his tongue. Literally. It warped the taste of his cereal but he didn't complain.

His "taste" for Alpha emotions was a growing development that was getting used to. This emotion wasn't simply bitter. There was a near sourness to it too. He made a face, though the "taste" was a fleeting thing.

Sadness. Frustration. Orion knew these "tastes" all too well lately. Asher wore them more often than not. It was the tangy flavor that worried him. That was the "taste" of grief. He'd learnt that by force. He wished he didn't have to because he also knew what caused that "taste".

"Veda," Orion's spoon plopped into his bowl, "What happened to him?"

"He didn't make it. They think it was the pain that killed him."

"I'm sorry, dad."

"This isn't your fault. I'm the one who should have protected the village better."

"No one is blaming you."

"That doesn't mean anything," he ran fingers through hair that was already too silvery white to grey under stress.

Orion let his animal out to roam. The wolf's presence went straight to his father wolf. He relaxed once fur brushed against fur and their noses touched. They were mixed with tiny, affectionate nips to the ears. Orion's wolf never held back. It loved openly and without reservation.

It was part of what made him better suited as a Second than he ever would have been as an Alpha. His heart was too big to make the big bad decisions of the head wolf in charge. But he sure as hell could ensure that the one in charge didn't get buried too far in the dark that the decisions negatively affected the Pack.

Asher had been prepared to get Orion's help. He'd planned on insisting that his son didn't always have to be the one who was there for him. He hadn't expected the boy to be so sneaky about it. The tactic was new. Orion had bypassed the human and went straight to the animal. Asher was big enough to acknowledge that he didn't have a chance when Orion was there; a mule headed presence determined to be there for an Alpha who had no Second of his own.

"Can we sleep in second form?" Orion asked. Asher could tell from the almost unfocused gaze that it was a question from one wolf to the next. He frowned, "You're Danyel's Second. Not mine. You don't have to keep trying to balance us both out."

Orion matched Asher's frown so perfectly that the older man wondered how often his son had mimicked him. "You know what I think?" Orion folded his arms and stuck out his chin, "I think you never found a Second because you already had one in your life. And, no offence, you're too obstinate to ask for help."

Asher's eyes narrowed. Orion's did the same. Asher's dominance was infinitely higher than Orion's. Orion could feel the dominance display heightening, but he refused to be pushed away even if it forced him to lower his gaze and back down for a moment. He couldn't let that happen when Asher would wake up tomorrow to face their grieving Pack all alone. The man needed to be calmed now, not later. The animals were too unpredictable to take chances.

"Don't fight me on this," Orion's voice was soft. He knew when to push hard and get vicious and when to be placating. "I want to help, dad," he dropped his arms and turned to go to his room. He knew Asher would follow him. Only child as he was, Orion was not above abusing his father's adoration if it got him what he wanted.

Asher grumbled all the way, but he pulled off his t-shirt and jeans and tossed them aside before shifting forms. The large, snowy wolf paced around the room a little before finding the perfect spot. Orion followed suit and tucked himself into his father side, animals both content.

He wouldn't admit it aloud, but Asher woke up incredibly calm. It was as if nothing negative could affect him. It was like walking on water and air and fresh fallen snow. The serenity of waking up beside Pack did wonders.

The crushing weight of Veda's death, as well as what that would mean, had been too much. He couldn't go to his mate with this either. His submissive had dealt with the overbearing animal too often in this month alone.

Getting to his four legs, Asher gently nuzzled his pup and offered a little lick to the nose before he grabbed his clothes between his teeth and returned to his mate's side. The new calm and happiness was multiplied once he settled beside her.

Everyone woke up pretty late that morning. It was already ten o' clock when they dragged themselves out of bed one by one. It didn't make sense to go to school at this hour. Instead, Orion and Asher decided to go down to the den together and get some work done.

There was a Pack funeral to help organize, town enforcement to notify, security to tighten and then normal every day duties to take care of. Asher had a lot on his plate today and he was very much aware that that was partially why Orion had come along at all.

He didn't complain about the coddling this time. Asher had to admit that he was feeling a lot less overwhelmed than he would have without his son's help. His head was far more clear than it had been last night and that was always an advantage.

The pair walked in with so much companionable silence between them that Orion was shocked to see Danyel walking on ahead of them in the distance. Orion rolled his eyes at his boyfriend while his father turned down a corridor, not noticing Danyel at all.

"I leave you for one day and you use that day to skip school," Orion called out.

"Did you expect me to go?" he scoffed, "Honestly?"

"No, not really."

"Good boy," Danyel planted a peck between his brows.

Orion smiled, his wolf sighing at the touch of their true Alpha. His Second instincts were particularly designed for Danyel and the wolf didn't mind one bit. Orion hadn't realized why back in the day, but he'd been drawn to Danyel pretty strongly because of this when they were younger.

He'd assumed it was a crush or something. After all, he'd never felt that connected to anyone before. Certainly not a human. He didn't know that the feeling was his wolf trying to connect to his Alpha like a Second is always supposed to.

The animal had been trying to form a bond so that, when the right time came, he could be the stabilizer in Danyel's life. And at a time when he was just a child with a wolf who was too strong for him to totally control, Danyel had worked as a stabilizer for him too. The animal, in his youth, had grown possessive. All it took was the scent of Richard on Danyel's skin for it to get pissed.

It was trying to communicate with Danyel; tell him that he wasn't happy with him and Richard being friends when he was Danyel's friend. The animal, unfortunately, had been the one controlling the body at the time instead of Orion. It couldn't gauge it's strength like Orion could and, in its anger, hurt their Alpha. Orion hadn't understood what was going on then, but now he got why the guilt was so bad.

Just the presence of the Danyel standing there now eased any stress and upped his mood. It was a confusing thing. He spent a lot of time analyzing and overanalyzing everything about the reaction he had to him.

Alphas were very few, but Seconds were even fewer. There was hardly any information about them. The Seconds who came before him never bothered with leaving behind what they'd learnt. That meant each Second started from scratch.

Orion wanted to change that. He kept a file on his computer that worked as a backup for the notebook he was quickly filling. He'd had it since he was ten. In it, he recorded everything he'd noticed. Things like his reaction to Asher as an Alpha as opposed to his reaction to Danyel, his dominance level growth over time, his animal's preferences and how his abilities worked. Crucial things like that.

It was pretty straightforward information, but it was information he wished he'd been given in the beginning. It would have saved him a lot of confusion and worry as a child. He certainly wouldn't have been as ashamed of himself as he'd been.

It had been an important time for a Chosen; when his body was rapidly changing and growing. Except he was feeling things and no one had answers to the dozens of questions that bothered him.

All of the others in his classes were learning to control their animals and he was still spending most of his time in his second form. Parents had whispered to each other when he was near and gossiped about the Alpha's kid who couldn't learn control like the others did. Asher had grown protective of his son. Even going cold when a little, eight year old Danyel questioned why Orion was in wolf form so often.

No one had realized the problem. Orion was a Second and the Alpha who he should have been assigned to had no active wolf. So instead of Danyel, Orion couldn't help latching onto the hectic, daily emotions of his father's animal. He was taking on the dominance of another animal that was far stronger than he'd ever be. It was stunting his ability to work with his own animal.

No one had seen his strength until long after the damage was done. He'd gone for too long being the broken one in training.

He hoped that he could find out more from the Seconds in foreign Packs. Maybe they had different stories. Different experiences. He knew Danyel hated anything research related, but his boyfriend couldn't deny the value of what he was doing. Danyel was an incredibly supportive part of this and it was nice having someone in his corner.

Orion couldn't help wondering if the feelings he had for the boy was more to do with him reacting to the Alpha-Second connection than anything else. Surely all couples got that happy buzz when they were in proximity to their other half. The instant calm. That feeling of Pack times one hundred. It was an addicting feeling. It was difficult to let go of even when it seemed like it was nearing a time where he should.

Focusing on what was going around him, he saw that Asher was a couple feet away talking to uniformed soldiers. Orion hadn't been given his orders yet, so he stuck with Danyel for the time being. Danyel was busy talking to the matron who looked after the children in this area before he turned back around.

"Why are you down here? Are you taking a bunk for the night?" Orion asked.

"No. Nothing like that," Danyel shook his head, "I'm good at Aunty's for the while. The wolf and I don't need to sleep in the den so soon again."

"Then how come you're not at home or the garage?"

"I wanted to see Veda's son," his voice was quiet, "When I last saw him, he mentioned a son."

"Oh. Mikhail," Orion was a little surprised that he hadn't thought of the child, "Yeah. He has a little seven year old. Bright boy."

"Is he Chosen?"

"Yes. A submissive. I mean so submissive I can't even sense his animal. Anyways, like I said. Bright boy. Even for a Chosen."

"Aunty told me that Chosen orphans stay in the den," Danyel's voice seemed strained, "So I'd hoped…so I thought maybe I could check."

"It's not your fault that Veda died, you know. It was the bastards who attacked him," Orion scowled at the traces of guilt the "taste" in the air, "You Alphas. I swear It's like you can't help but blame yourselves when it's got nothing to do with you."

"Where would they keep him, Ri?" he changed topics.

Orion gave up on trying to convince him. Taking his hand, he tried to ground his stubborn Alpha before he could upset the kids when they got there. "Shield your wolf," he reminded him, "The kids won't be able to handle you." Danyel nodded at the warning before they entered a nearby room.

Some kids were coloring and some were playing with wet clay. Some were building model rockets and planes while others drew in small groups. It was far more well behaved in here than it was in the kindergarten. That section was in a state of constant pandemonium and it would be impossible to pinpoint any one kid at a glance. In here, it was easy to spot Mikhail.

"That’s him over there," Orion pointed.

"I figured," Danyel let go of his hand, "Wait for me?"

"Of course, man."

Orion took a seat nearby enough while Danyel went over to the child. Mikhail's skin was a softer, paler brown than Veda's. His hair reminded Danyel of the image of the boy's mother he'd seen in Veda's head. The boy sat all alone. He was looking down at his swinging feet, dwarfed in a jacket that was eight sizes far too big for him.

Danyel glanced back at Orion who lent his support from afar. Visibly taking a breath, Danyel took the empty spot beside Mikhail. The boy's eyes remained on his feet though he stiffened. Such a submissive would be incredibly uncomfortable around Danyel and the older boy had to remind himself to be careful.

"I like your jacket," Danyel commented, "Where'd you get it?'

"T'was my daddy's. Still smells like him," he replied as  clear as day, "So they finally sent someone."

"I sent myself," Danyel said, "I wanted to come."

"Why? We're strangers."

"No. We're Pack and that's a different kind of family. You were one of the few things on your father's mind before he passed. I wanted to meet you."

"You knew my father?" his tone was crisp and no-nonsense even with the childishly high pitched voice.

"I was there when we found him. I only met him that one time. It wasn't for long, but I saw into his head. I saw who he was in his last moments. He hurt a lot, but he held on for you."

"Really? Wait a minute. Are you him?" Mikhail voice was a bare whisper as turned big brown eyes on Danyel with awe, "The man who took away the pain?"

"I−well yes."

"I heard them talking about you when the soldiers were getting me settled in. They said you sacrificed your…your everything. For a man you just met."

"For Pack," he corrected.

"Are you suicidal?" Mikhail peered up at him with a frown, "It's bad enough getting close to another dominant. You know can't just go around messing about in a Chosen's head. You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"I'm aware," Danyel smiled at the kid who had gotten up to level a glare down at him, hands on his hips, "But your father needed me to do what I did. I had no choice."

"This Pack has been devastated enough without losing more people."

"It happened either way, didn't it?" Danyel said before changing his train of thought, "Devastated. That's a big word for a seven year old, isn't it?"

"What?" the line of questioning seemed to take him off guard but he was quick to make a face and wave off the comment, "Not really. Verisimilitude or megalomaniac maybe."

"Bright boy," he repeated Orion's words.

"Hmm," Mikhail seemed uncaring of the compliment but he was polite enough to say, "Thank you, sir."

"You can call me Danyel," he said.

"Danyel," Mikhail tried it out, "Okay. Well Danyel, I'm glad you helped my daddy. I don't like to see him hurt."

"Neither did I," he admitted, "And I don't want to see you hurt either. I want to make sure that you get through thisd alright."

"I'm good, all things considered," Mikhail shrugged, "No tears, no tantrums, I do my chores and finish my homework. I don't bother anyone."

"See, now I'm worried. You're pretty young. Too young to be in this much control of your wolf's emotions. Not after all of this."

"I don't feel anything. 'Sides, daddy hates seeing me sad. It hurts him. He should be happy with Ahmose. I don't want him hurt anymore."

Danyel looked at the tear free face and took in his strong will. He hugged the boy, "You're brave. You're strong. Just like him. And I'm going to be Alpha one day so I know strong." Mikhail's eyes grew big and he looked at Danyel with a different kind of awe than he had before. His tiny hands flew up to cover his mouth, but all you could see was tons of jacket sleeve. "Really?" he whispered, "Alpha Alpha? You? Cool." Danyel laughed, liking seeing the boy act his age for the first time.

Suddenly his eyes widened. "Is that how you can do that magicy thing?" he whispered even more quietly leaning closer, "Going into someone's mind and stuff?" Danyel glanced over at Orion who was quietly grinning to himself. Danyel nodded and went into all the details of how he did it. Hearing that kind of information should have been too soon for a wound this fresh. It didn't seem to faze Mikhail one bit.

He was a curious kid. He wanted to know just how things worked. Just exactly. Danyel was patient. He was kind. He could give the boy a distraction if it was needed.

At some point, they'd migrated to the science section of the play mats. The two set up a molecular model over easy conversation as they stacked a pyramid shaped thing. Orion recognized it as the molecular structure of a  diamond they were building and rolled his eyes. "Nerds," he muttered to himself, knowing he'd be just the same if someone put a molecular model set in front of him.

Danyel helped with the mindless task of setting up the model, but he was more interested in Mikhail than the 3D puzzle. He wanted to find out more about this family. No other attack had resulted in a child being orphaned. A blow like this should have had a completely different reaction in Mikhail, yet he was as rational and clear headed as anything. Danyel was concerned.

He'd wondered if the boy had perhaps been ill-treated when his father was alive. He didn't want to think ill of the dead, but he had to consider it for the child's sake. It seemed that, thankfully, he was wrong.

Mikhail had been happy to go on and on about his father and all the things they would do together. He talked about the trips they'd go on together and the birthday parties his father would throw him in school so that all of his friends could have pizza and cake and fun hats at lunch time.

Veda seemed to be a wonderful dad and his son evidently loved the man, but Danyel couldn't see why the child was so calm and cool about this whole situation. "How's your wolf?" he asked the child, "How's he taking it?"

Mikhail frowned but he shrugged, "Good." It was the shortest answer that he'd been given all day. He was immediately suspicious of it, but something in the back of his mind said to leave it be for now. Now was not the time. Danyel decided to go with his Alpha's instinct. It hadn't steered him wrong yet.

 Danyel stayed until it became impossible to hide that he wasn't feeling well. Mikhail was the one to notice that he looked a bit green and that his eyes were losing focus from time to time. The boy got to his feet and dragged the man up with him. "Come on Danyel," he tug tugged until Danyel was in front of Orion.

"I don't think he's doing so hot," Mikhail pushed Danyel forward, "He's probably not 100% after the thing. It's not contagious is it."

"No. It's not. But it's a good thing you noticed," Orion clapped the worried boy on the shoulder.

Once he'd assured Mikhail that Danyel would be fine, Orion called Asher to let him know that he'd be borrowing the truck for a little bit. Orion then sped back to Danyel's house to get him settled in.

Richard and Tommy were lounging out on the front steps of Richard's house, laptops and beer keeping them company. Richard's laugh died on his tongue once he saw Danyel coming out of the car in a daze.

Orion got him upstairs and Richard was right behind. "I thought your aunt told you to stay in today," he demanded. The sheepish look that crossed his face said it all. "I swear to god, Nye," he groaned, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He moved as if to reach out but aborted the motion half way, opting to keep his hands to himself. Orion didn't question it when Danyel didn't. He didn't pretend to understand those two. No one did.

"I'm just a little dizzy. I'll be alright, Richie. Promise. I only wanted to go see someone for a sec."

"Who? Who on earth is so important that you can't wait until you're fully recovered to go god knows where?"

"Mikhail St. Clement. He's−."

"I know who he is. I've babysat for him before. What did you need to see him for?"

"His father is the one who was attacked. This morning I found out that he didn't make it."

"What?" Richard leaned against the nearest wall, "You don't mean… Veda? That poor kid. He and his dad were so close. And his mother's gone too."

"The boy's taking it oddly well," Danyel settled back into bed looking about to pass out, "He's almost amazing about this actually. I'm concerned about that."

"He used to remind me of you when I looked after him. You were a bit like him as a kid."

"I was cuter. Let's not kid ourselves," Danyel puffed out his chest even as he paled further.

"Yeah. Sure you were," Orion pet his head, "Look I have to go return the truck to dad okay? He'll need transport if anything goes down."

"It's okay. Go on. The last thing we need his him stranded when he needs to get somewhere important."

Orion left the room and rushed to the truck. By the time he turned on the ignition, he spotted Richard already returning to his house. That in itself was weird enough that he paused to look. Richard never left Danyel's side when the boy was sick. He would have asked but now wasn't the time to question it. Asher needed a vehicle constantly available to him at a moment's notice.  

Minutes later, he left the truck in the den in the same space where he'd found it and gave the keys to one of the guards out front. They would give it to Asher when his father was ready for it. Right now it was past lunch time and Orion was starving.

Knowing his mother wouldn't be using her car today, he hopped a ride to his house with another soldier in the hopes that she'd lend it to him. It was useless hope. Orion's mother doted on him as much as his father did. It was rare that she denied him anything.

He grabbed the car back at the house and decided to spend a little of the paycheck he'd collected yesterday on a decent meal. Stomach growling, he found the closest restaurant that wasn't Crusty's. He and Danyel had spent too many years eating there and then getting sick off the grease mixed with Asher's training. He couldn't stomach pizza like he did back then.

In the end he wound up at a restaurant and bar. A decent enough one too, if not a little overpriced. The music was upbeat and the ambiance was some of the best you could expect on this side of the forest. A lady met me only four steps into the place and had me seated at the bar; the only place to logically seat someone eating alone in restaurant during lunch time rush.

He ordered a mojito and a shrimp burger with Swiss cheese and green salad before spinning in the chair to take in the crowd. Waiters and waitresses walked up and down in front of him with plates and drinks in hands, but there was one in particular that caught his eye. This one was, once again, not in uniform but seated about three chairs down the bar from him. Orion could recognize the tattoos anywhere.

"Hey, it's you," he said before he could stop himself. Sucking on the straw, the boy turned his bored gaze on him and Orion belatedly wondered if the guy even remembered him. He and Nye had only eaten at that restaurant once after all. There had to be tons of customers that would come in daily.

"And it's you. Hi there," the guy's gaze warmed and his lips tipped up at the corners, "Meeting up in another restaurant? We're starting a bad habit here."

"Seems so," was all Orion managed toying with the basket of nuts on the bar top.

"Where's your boyfriend?" the guy turned around as if looking for someone, "He came along too?"

"Uh, no. He's sick at home."

"Oh," his smile faded, "I hope he feels better."

"Thanks. What are you doing on this side of the forest?" Orion raised a brow, "People from town aren't supposed to be here."

"I live here. Partially. Well I have family here at least. There's a reason my supervisor was giving me crap that night."

"Ahh. Makes sense now," Orion said, "I should have expected it. You were pretty friendly for a human from town."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was. I'm Orion, by the way."

"I know," he scoffed, "Everyone knows."

Orion couldn't deny that one. The boy slid his money across the bar top when the bartender came over. "Nice seeing you again, Orion," he smiled and Orion felt his stomach clench at the sound of his own name paired with the toothy little smile. Struck dumb for a second, he nodded and watched the guy get up to leave.

"Hey, what was your name again?" Orion called not sure why this was so important all of a sudden. The guy stopped and glanced over his shoulder, "Does it matter?" He escaped through the door before Orion could say yes. Yes, it did matter. Why it did was the big mystery.

His food arriving startled him out of his thoughts before he could think on it for any longer. He ate blindly, not really watching what he was putting into his mouth. His mind was elsewhere.

If there was one thing Orion thought was irritating about being a White, it was that way people just automatically assigned status to him. It went beyond the while Alpha's son treatment. It was this whole nonsense about being a descendant of one of the first Chosen too.

He didn't think he was better than anyone. He never had. He could admit that his shyness made it seem otherwise. Popular as he was already, it would surprise most of the Pack to know that he was absolutely terrible at plucking up the courage to talk to new people. That was Danyel. Danyel could mix and mingle like nobody's business. In fact, he was the first to stick out a hand and say hi. Orion was all sweaty palms and lip biting with super short phrases to avoid the inevitable stuttering to come.

Orion had his wolf to thank for lending him the boldness to say hi to Danyel the first time they'd officially met. Orion had insisted that he didn't want to go embarrass himself and the wolf insisted otherwise. They'd fought with each other in the shadows of the trees that night before Orion gave in and approached Danyel.

Now he could look back and understand why the wolf needed him to go talk to his Alpha. He got why he'd been pestered so much. It didn't change that he'd been nervous as hell even though it was White Day; everyone treated the White family extra nice on that day.

Today, the wolf hadn't had a thing to do with his sudden boldness. He'd plucked up the courage to talk to this complete stranger on his own. He had to admit that he was a little bit proud. He never ever did that.

What on earth is up with me today? Orion munched on his salad, thinking about how quickly the guy had bailed. Then again, it could have gone worse. It wasn't like the guy had ignored him or been a dick about it. Hell, he'd been fine with having his alone time interrupted and being approached by someone he'd only talked to once in his life.

Orion took a gulp of his mojito. It was pretty good. Refreshing in the warm day. He'd have to order another soon. His fingers drummed against the polished bar top as he poked at a cranberry in the salad.

Eyes sliding over to the now empty seat three chairs away, he found his curiosity flaring up again. People always teased him about that. Especially Danyel and his mother. He'd barely been all that curious when he'd asked for a name but now that he hadn't found out the answer he was pretty damn curious.

He'd said "Does it matter?" Like Orion had only been playing polite to ask in the first place. As if someone like him wouldn't actually care whether his name was Bob or Tim. Or maybe that Orion would forget his name altogether about three minutes after he left the place, more interested in the sandwich than him. Orion frowned. He didn't like that tone he'd used when he said "Does it matter?" Of course it mattered. Everyone mattered. Everyone was important. Being a White didn't lessen that.

Finishing up the salad and running a stray shrimp through the dressing left on the plate, Orion finished his meal and downed his drink before he paid and left. Back into the midday sun. Orion hated to be out in the sun despite the fact that his animal loved it. There was a great reason why he didn't have the tan that Danyel sported. He avoided the sun at every turn. If he was pale because of it, well it wasn't like his surname wasn't ironic enough paired with his hair and eyes.

He slid into the air condition car as fast as possible to get out of the heat and decided to go check on Danyel before he went to hang out with Kenny. He could probably help out at the den after that if he was up to it. They were reconstructing the training room obstacle course this week and he was curious to see what it looked like before the Danyel did.

Parked in front of Danyel's house, he spotted Tommy walking around the Crowley's front yard. The man was talking into a headset with a phone in one hand and a tablet in the next, alternating between the two and rattling off figures and terms that meant nothing to Orion. For once, Orion had to admit that he seemed like the CEO powerhouse Danyel claimed the man was meant to be.

Tommy's belt was unbuckled, but he still wore the suit pants. His feet were bare and his button down shirt was left open, but there was a t-shirt underneath and sunglasses tucked into the collar. A quick scan of Tommy's clothes told Orion that he − and most likely Richard − had gone to a meeting or something recently. Both men were annoyingly equally magazine-pinup ready when they got dressed up and Orion frowned.

He hadn't particularly enjoyed Danyel's tendency to hero-worship Richard as a kid, but he'd take that any day over the hearts and stars in his eyes when he looked at the man now. You would think the sun rose and set out of Richard Crowley's ass the way he talked. "Richie did this" and "Richie thinks that" and "Richie said the funniest thing today". And the amazing thing was that Orion could tell he was holding back on his gushing.

Yes Orion was jealous, but it was expected. He'd been in this relationship for a year and his boyfriend was going starry eyed over another guy. A part of him knew he had to break it off, but it was hard to give up on a relationship after putting so much time and effort into it.

In the beginning, it had been a task just to get Danyel in any state of mind to be okay dating anyone. Far less him. Orion know he had this coming though. It was his own fault for taking advantage of the situation. He'd liked Danyel but he shouldn't have pushed him into a relationship so early when he and his wolf were emotionally vulnerable.

Both were in terrible shape; high off their behinds most days, reckless and moody, drunk and always on the verge of a tantrum. Orion should have left Danyel to handle his own problems and come to him on his own. Instead he'd turned a Pack kiss into something deeper and far less platonic even with Danyel's cheeks wet with angry tears and his mouth tasting of alcohol.

It was his own fault that Danyel accepted him as a crutch. He'd expected more than he had any right to in thinking they'd get past that. Now that Richard was back and they were reconciled, Orion should have expected as much. The wolf no longer had to grieve the lost of their friend and neither did Danyel.

He could tell that Danyel had meant it yesterday when he said he wanted him. When he said he needed him. But something didn't sit right with any of it. It was as if he was clinging to him like an emotional life raft. He knew what that felt like. That's what he'd been for a large part of last year pre-dating.

Orion took a breath and pushed the thoughts aside.

Saying hello to Danyel's uncle on the way inside, Orion headed up to the bedroom two stairs at a time and wasn't even remotely surprised to find Richard there. He groaned internally. How is it possible that someone who obviously has no feelings for my boyfriend is so incredibly, irritatingly, gratingly devoted to him? That was the million dollar question.

Richard's devotion went way past friendship and danced on a line without crossing it. He'd spend all day and night at Danyel's side if you gave him half a chance. That had been the case even as Danyel was six and seven and eight and too young for there to even be real feelings involved.

And still, here they lay. Side by side; one in boxers and an old t-shirt that he had sweat through in his fever while the other was in a button down designer shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, tie loosened and slacks that obviously was meant to be paired with the equally expensive jacket tossed on the table nearby.

Skin sweat slicked, sick and nauseas, it didn't matter how gross Danyel was or how sticky he must have felt. Richard had the boy held against his side, his palm flat against the bare skin of his back under his shirt. Offering touch comfort even though he isn't Pack. The thought of that, oddly enough, didn't upset Orion further. It was actually really nice that Richard would try anyway.

Danyel was the only one asleep between the two, snores soft and even. The older man was staring at Danyel with frown lines between his brows.

When Orion entered the room fully, Richard only glanced up for a second. Something about the scene, seeing them close up now, felt private. Intimate. Not something meant for others to see. And that was the real problem Orion had with their friendship. It made you feel like you were watching something more about to happen at any given second.

The way Richard used his free, noticeably unsteady hand to stroke Danyel's hair. It felt like a means to calm himself as much as it was to calm the sick boy tucked against him. Their faces too close, their bodies too close, their hearts closer than Orion's could hope to get with another person.

"I'm worried about him," Richard confessed in a voice quiet enough not to wake him, "I-I've never seen him sick like this. I don't know what to do."

"There is nothing you can do," Orion replied because it was obvious he was looking for consolation.

"There has to be something. Some medicine. Anything."

"There are too few Alphas and even fewer who could manage what he did long enough to get this ill. No one has thought to go research meds for this," he sighed.

"So we just wait and hope it goes away."

"No, not hope. It will go away in a little while. Give him a day or two. He used a lot of his dominance levels out there and then had to get it back into himself. It's trying to learn to shake off the taint of another sick body."

"Okay…okay," Richard nodded and looked down at Danyel, "We'll wait. And you'll get better and be a pain in my ass real soon."

The man gave a shake of his head and spoke to Orion instead, "We told him he wasn't ready to be up on his feet yet. So stubborn. His heart's way too big. Willing to risk his health for father and son both. Our reckless idiot." Orion agreed. He wanted to stay and make sure that everything was all right, but he felt out of place here just like he had earlier. Like he was intruding. "I'll pass by later once he's gotten some rest," he said and got the hell out of there.

If he kept this up, he'd lose track of how many times he ditched Danyel since this incident because he couldn't handle being in the same room as him and Richard.

Orion busied himself with hanging out with Kenny and working at the den until late. Even then, he opted for going home instead of back at Danyel's house. He was too tired and too tense to take standing there and feeling like he was the other boyfriend.

That's it. That's what it feels like. Orion hadn't been able to label it at all but now it just came to him. He always knew that he and Danyel would have to break up in the future. He'd known ever since Prophetess Ramla had visited the class last year. She'd already told them that they weren't meant to be with each other like that. She'd been right about that like all the other, admittedly rare predictions she'd made over her lifetime.

In fact, Prophetess Ramla had already said that Danyel was fated to be with someone else. He was mated. Mating was a choice, and the choice was with Danyel, but who on earth ignored a mating? Another wolf to be your soul mate was the kind of blessing people didn't simply turn down. Orion wasn't arrogant enough to think he was turn-down-your-mate special.

I wonder how his mate is going to deal with the Nye/Richie bro-love fest. Orion bet the person would feel like a third wheel too, mate or not. He rolled to a cooler spot on his bed and hugged his pillow. It was while he lay there, drifting off to sleep and too tired to think did a memory flit back to him.

Him and Danyel in class with Prophetess Ramla. Her teaching the topic of mating. He remembered being outside the cracked door as he overheard Nye ask about the possibility of a Chosen and a human mating.

Orion got up, eyes wide. She hadn't denied it. In fact, she'd very well said it was possible. The memory was a little fuzzy in some parts, but Orion remembered that Danyel had asked the question like he was desperate to know.

"No. He can't be. He can't," Orion muttered. Still, he remembered all of the times they'd almost had sex. The way Danyel seemed to be trying so hard to get there and then not managing to go through with it. It made sense now. It was no less of a shock though.

A human and a Chosen together. Mated. A mated Alpha couple. The impossible mating. Orion didn't want to think about the town's reaction. They were still getting used to the idea of an Alpha who'd spent only a little under half of his life as a human. This blow would hit hard and it wouldn't be pretty. Most people were inherently disturbed by the idea of a human and a Chosen in a relationship.

But he didn't even tell me. He could have told me and I would have understood. I do understand. Orion would have felt betrayed by this if he didn't notice a huge fact. Richard obviously didn't know. He and Danyel had reconciled three days ago but he continued treating Danyel like the adorable kid brother he never had. He can't bring himself to even tell his mate. Why would his boyfriend get anything more?

Orion fell back onto his sheets and rubbed his eyes. He was far too tired to deal with something this big. He had no idea what it would have been like to be sixteen years old and find out that you had someone more permanent than a husband. Orion couldn't even imagine getting married at eighteen, far less mated. It was a scary thought.

It was a big step too. Definitely something not to rush. It would take a lot of time to think through. And Ahmose, he was going through this alone. Orion could bet anything that he hadn't told anyone yet. No one in his corner to give advice or perspective. No one to help him through the worry that went with coming out to the town as a human/Chosen couple. People probably wouldn't accept an Alpha who dated a human. Surely not one mated to one.

It was seen as an unnatural pairing as far as we learnt at temple. The fact that most of us been taught that you couldn't theoretically mate with a human made it even more difficult to believe.

Orion made the decision to talk to him tomorrow. Knowing Danyel, the boy was going to bail on the mating and try to make it work with Orion.

He couldn't pass blame for that decision. The odds weren't fairing well after all. It seemed to be a mating set up to fail. Orion saw that he was the safe choice. The easier one. And at the same time, the harder one. Because it must hurt like nothing else to find your mate, love him like he was now sure Danyel loved Richard, and to know that he couldn't have him. And if he tried to have him that one way or another, it would all go to shit.

The next day, Danyel didn't make it to school again. Orion knew that Danyel was at least enjoying this part about being sick. The day was as uneventful as a day of school could be, but Orion spent most of it feeling nervous. His wolf was more anxious than him once they returned home afterward.

He had a paper due the next day as well as a test, so he didn't leave the house until night time. Maybe I should get him something to butter him up. He was unlikely to be very happy about finding out someone had figured it out − and from a memory no less. It was like having the universe out you before you were ready. Or even comfortable with the situation enough to talk to family about it.

If circumstances were different, that was to say if they weren't dating, Orion would have waited until Danyel was comfortable with the situation and was ready to share that part of his life with him. The fact that it seemed like he hadn't told anyone − likely not even his aunt or uncle − meant that he still wasn't ready.

"Ice-cream. I'll get ice-cream," he decided aloud. There was actually no other food Danyel would cave faster for. It would at least put him in a good mood before he did this because confrontations and Danyel usually could get pretty messy.

First he stopped off at Kenny's house to return the blade she'd lent him a while ago. He had no shame in admitting that he was procrastinating. She was busy blow drying her hair to go out dancing with some of her girl friends, but the moment she saw his face, she stopped him.

"What's the matter, sweetie?"

"Nothing. I'm…I'm going to go see Danyel."

"I saw him earlier today. He's feeling a lot better."

"I know. I messaged him. I'm not worried about that," he said.

"Oh," Kenny stepped back, "You're going to finally break up with him, aren't you?"

"Finally?"

"Yeah. I've been wondering how long it'll take you to come to your senses."

"Too long," he admitted.

"My sweet, Winter child," her teasing tone was as patronizing as her hand patting his cheek, "I have over a year's worth of calendars where I've been marking off the days, waiting for you."

She pointed to her most current calendar on the living room wall. "Hey! I thought you just liked ex-ing off days," Orion shot her a look, "So you just had that hanging there as some inside joke." She gave a shrug, gave him a supportive peck on the lips and wished him good luck before promptly kicking him out. "And don't come back until you're single!" she called through the living room window.

He could still feel the touch of Pack against his mouth and it was the most comforting thing as he drove to his and Danyel's favorite ice cream parlor. Though it was night, lots of people were there getting their dessert fix. Orion took a chocolate marble cheesecake for himself and was about to order ice cream when he stopped mid-order.

Through the mirror behind the counter, he spotted a familiar sports car parked in the distance and two people sitting on the hood. He backed out of the second order, paid for his own and walked outside again.

Danyel had spotted him first and waved him over. Stomach in knots, he made his way over. Both greeted him with mouths full of ice-cream sundaes; Danyel looking happy and contented and far less pale while Richard was simply glad that Danyel was better again.

Orion couldn't bring himself to do it. Not yet. He stayed, mostly quiet, and ate his giant slice of cheesecake until the end. The pair tried to include him in the conversation, but he offered hardly anything. It would have been difficult anyways considering that they already said the same thing at the same time and finished sentences in the most rapid fire conversation ever.

The wolf nudged at him to go on. Above all else, it was the image of Kenny smacking him over the head to just do it already that made him clear his throat.

"Hey, Danyel?" he said, "Can we talk for a second? In private?"

"What, something you don't want Richie to find out?" he wiggled his brows.

"Get a room, you two," Richard pretended to make a face and cover his ears.

"Shut your face," Danyel grinned and hopped off the car.

Danyel followed Orion in the parking lot until they were far out of the human hearing range. Orion chewed on his lip and Danyel's eyes moved from the nervous habit to Orion's eyes.

"So what's up?" Danyel asked suddenly somber.

"I don't think we should see each other anymore," he said and then immediately flinched. He hadn't meant to blurt it out like that. Orion didn't realize until now how bad he'd be at breakups.

"What?" he chuckled, "You're joking right?"

"No," he shook his head, "I’m not. I'm sorry, but I can't do this." Gosh it was like he'd read a bad How To Break Up With Someone book.

"Wait a minute. You're serious? Let's just talk this out okay?" Danyel tone started leaning a fraction toward the panicked side.

"Sure," he could give him that though Danyel's panic felt confirming that he really was clinging to Orion as a safety net above all else.

"Where's this coming from? Did I do something? Or forget to do something?"

"Depends on how we're looking at it. You either didn't tell me you were mated to Richard or forgot to tell me that you were mated to Richard.

"Orion," his face went stony, "How did you find that out?"

"I figured it out, man. Ramla's foresight helped and you two did the rest."

"Right. Of course. Outed by the prophetess. Awesome," Danyel said with a dark sigh and his wolf's anger in check, "Look I wanted to tell you, but I knew you'd do exactly this if you found out."

"This breakup was inevitable either way," Orion pointed out, "You couldn't stay with me forever."

"I don't see why not. Mating is optional. It's a choice and I made mine."

"No you didn't," he said before motioning in Richard's direction, "You settled for me when you saw that you couldn't get your choice."

"Sorry," Danyel said the word with a heavy weight to it, "I didn't want to keep any of this from you, but I wasn't ready to let anyone know that…"

"That you're mated to a human," Orion's voice lowered on instinct as if it were a dirty secret and Danyel felt his cheeks warm, "That you're in love with one."

"Yeah. That."

"You were supportive when I came out. Why did you think I wouldn't be there for you?" Orion took his hand.

"Come on, Ri. How many Chosen/Human relationships do you know about?"

"None right now but there were a few."

"And they ended horribly. This village can get as vicious as the town about this kind of crap. And I'm going to be Alpha. There'd be no mercy."

"I know. And that's why I'm not mad that you didn't say anything," Orion hugged him tight, "To be honest, I don't know if to congratulate you or send my sympathies."

"Sympathies would be nice," his voice dulled, "This mating is a disaster. Don't tell me you can't see that. We can be together if I don't accept it."

"I'm not dating a mated man, Danyel. I'm sorry. I don't want to be the second choice. Hell, Richard only likes you as a friend and he still loves you harder than I ever could."

"You seriously want to end this," he muttered.

"Yes. Are you even hurt by this breakup at all? I mean actually hurt."

"No, not really. Doesn't mean it sucks less," he said, "So we're still gonna be friends right?"

It nearly broke his heart to see that unsure way Danyel looked at him as if half expecting him to actually say no. "Don't be an ass," Orion smiled, "I'm not going to turn on you over this. I'm fine with the whole human/Chosen deal. You do your kinky thing." Danyel looked at him as if doubting it a little but he'd smiled a little at that.

They walked hand in hand back to Richard's car. There was a distinctly just-friends feel about it and that was okay. Orion watched Danyel hop back onto the hood of the car and take back his ice-cream.

It was weird to look at the pair together now that he knew, but Orion felt his animal's joy over their friend finding a mate. The animal didn't care that people wouldn't support it. It adored Danyel's wolf and was over the moon about the news. It was happier to know that it was no longer one of the problems standing in the way of the mating.

Orion let his mind wander. He wondered if Richard was even aware of the way he looked at Danyel. There was so much adoration for the boy. And he was so incredibly tactile too. As if he'd been craving touch like a man starved to death and it was only now that he was getting his fill. It wasn't far from the truth.

Orion almost groaned. The eyes. The man had waltzed back here with a totally different eye color and I'd just assumed it was contacts. Everyone seemed to. It was such a blatant thing.

Orion found himself growing more curious about the pair. He knew he should be feeling heartbroken or nursing his wounds at home alone. He wasn't and couldn't bring himself to. He'd spent too long forcing a dead end relationship to work.

From the beginning, Danyel had always been a little distant but Orion had pegged it as him still working out his crap. He'd become so used to their distant brand of affection that he didn't question it anymore. It took this to realize that they hadn't been working out for a long time.

They'd always been better off as just friends. As Alpha and Second. It made sense in retrospect why his wolf had never been bothered about any boyfriend problems with Danyel.

At the moment he couldn't help but be a little ecstatic for him. A mate. An actual real live mate. It was so rare to find one that no one ever thought they would. It was a one in one thousand chance. Not great odds considering the few Chosen that existed around the world.

And his best friend had found his. Orion wanted to hug him and ask him everything about what it was like. Sure he had mated parents, but he wasn't going to ask them about that. Gross.

Orion didn't hold it against Danyel for what he'd done or the secrets he'd kept. If Orion was honest with himself, he might have done the same. He actually admired his friend.

To survive losing your mate for four years and in total silence was such a feat. He must have been in a constant state of heartache. And his animal would have been far worse off. Latching onto something stable and seemingly good was a selfish thing but it was a desperate thing too.

Danyel didn't chose to do this like someone chose to eat at a feast. He chose to do it like a person chose to amputate a cancerous limb. He did it for his animal. To salvage his happiness and sanity both. No one could fault him for it.

And then there was Richard. The poor guy. If he remembered Prophetess Ramla's words right, the human mate would be going through changes to make sure their bodies were compatible for the mating. It explained why Richard looked older than Tommy. He was bigger boned and appeared to have more strength to him than your average twenty-two year old.

Orion frowned. There had also been something about the human's sex drive increasing tenfold. Orion's stomach felt like it fell through the floor. Oh Ahmose. No. No single, human body was designed to handle that kind of sex drive. And with a body becoming more Chosen compatible, he'd need the physical contact of someone else.

Orion worried about what this mating would have dragged Richard through. What he would have had to put himself through to survive what impossible things it demanded from him.

He felt a little ill at the thought. Orion knew himself well enough to know that if he'd been forced into that by his own body and didn't know why, he'd come out of it more than a little fucked up. Because Orion was an intelligent enough to piece together the situation now that he put his mind to it.

At fourteen, Danyel had matured enough to shift for the first time and it was during mating season. He'd been too young to go through the sexual hunger that came with mating seasons, but Richard would have been old enough at nineteen. He would have definitely felt it.

Orion wondered if the heat had come at full force. He doubted it. Richard had returned in full glory. That kind of thing should have shred him body, mind and spirit to experience a heat without his mate or any proper outlet. Even as Orion doubted it, he did have to consider that it was a possibility. Danyel had survived the impossible too after all.

Clearly this mating was a strong one, but the mates involved weren't too weak to take it. He got the feeling that they'd get past this.

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It's like the opposite of Writers' Block. I think my mind had so much Writers' Block for so long that now it's on a roll and just can't stop pumping out chapters. My gosh that was long.

But I'm sensing that the Orion-centered chapters (there'll be only 6 or 8) will all be pretty long. The next chapter will be another one. There'll be far more of Orion's little waiter. He was only here for a bit because I wanted Orion fully unattached before the guy is there longer. My my I can't wait to get into that guy's backstroy and relationship heheheheeheheheh *RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET LAUGHING* 

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