ten
The whirring of the blender makes Milton's ears ache, but he tries not to let it bother him. Rather, he focuses on the device as it blitzes the veggies inside – something he'd never seen until today.
He's sitting in a chair at the kitchen bench, propped up on a stack of pillows, a blanket tucked over his legs. Callum stands in front of him on the other side of the white stone, a chopping board beside him.
"So, we have carrots, spinach, lemon juice..." He frowns in thought, pausing the blender to take the lid off and dip a finger in the puree.
Milton watches with wonder as Callum pops a few pieces of apple in the blender, turning it back on until the orange-ish puree is smooth.
Tipping it into a bowl, he takes two spoons from the kitchen drawer. Taking a comically big breath, Callum dips a spoon in and tastes. Milton watches with big eyes for any kind of giveaway as to whether it's good or not.
Cal gives no such indicator. Instead, he dips the second spoon and leans over the kitchen bench, popping it in Milton's open mouth.
"What do you think?"
Milton hums as he swallows, the sweet taste making him smile. It's earthy, the lemon giving it a nice fresh zingy aftertaste that makes him want more. Cal smiles, picking up the bowl and moving to sit beside his charge on another stool, carefully spoon feeding him their creation.
"I think we can say this one is a success."
He'd looked up a few recipes online, some included things like turmeric and celery, both of which he didn't think Milton would like, but by the small smile on the boy's face, this one is definitely a success.
Together they finish off their bowls, Milton unknowingly humming every now and then in content as he finishes off his puree and watches as Callum gets up and puts the bowls away in the dishwasher, tidying up the rest of the kitchen from their morning experiment.
"What do you think we should do next?" Callum asks as he wipes his hands, turning to face the little human still sitting on the stool.
He really did look very small sitting at the island bench swallowed by blankets.
Milton blinks, not knowing what to say to that.
He still hadn't been able to really get his words out, but he did feel like he had more energy today, his body didn't feel so weak.
Callum had gone back to giving him the liquid pain medication and a few other vitamins (all in fruity liquid form) that seemed to be helping. At least, he felt like it was helping.
"What about some tv?"
Milton only blinks again, letting Callum pick him up carefully into his arms with a hand supporting his head like a child and carry him to the couch where he's yet again tucked in, his leg propped up on a pillow resting on the coffee table that Cal pushes closer.
He switches the tv onto a nature documentary, the volume on low as he places the remote back on the couch beside the little human where he grabs another blanket to place over Milton's lap.
"I'll be right back, just getting your hot water bottle." He gently brushes Milton's hair away from his face with a smile before disappearing back into the kitchen.
The kettle is hot to touch, having been boiled while Cal cleaned up the kitchen. He carefully tips it into the bottle along with some tap water before buttoning it back into the teddy-bear cover.
Just as he finishes, the tell-tale sign of keys jingling at the door lets him know Aldric is home, his husband walking in with a big paper bag under his arm and keys in the other.
Callum smiles at him, pressing a kiss to his lips in passing before he goes back to the couch and tucks the bear under the blankets.
"Al's home. Let me help him with the groceries and I'll come watch tv with you. Okay?"
Milton nods, a little thrill of joy wrapping itself around his chest as a kiss is placed on his head.
It's such a simple gesture, one Milton knew shouldn't make his heart feel so warm and loved, but it did.
These strangers were becoming more than just strangers too him.
It... scared him, sure, but the longer he stayed in their care, the longer he was doted on, the more he was beginning to crave it.
Watching the butterflies on the screen, Milton sinks back into the couch, listening as the two men go about putting the shopping Aldric brought away, quietly talking amongst themselves.
"So," Aldric begins, casting a glance towards the loungeroom before turning to his love. "I have some... interesting news."
Cal frowns, putting the carton of milk in the fridge.
"What kind of interesting news?"
"Marcy called me." Callum's frown turns to one of concern.
"W-why? Is everything okay?"
Aldric pulls Callum closer, rubbing his hands up and down his love's arms. "It's good news, for now anyway."
"That doesn't make me feel better."
Aldric sighs. "Let's just call her together. I'm sure she can explain it better than I can."
Callum bites at his lip, pushing his husband away as he gestures for him to go ahead, the nerves beginning to bubble in the pit of his stomach.
It doesn't take long for Marcy to answer the phone with a small chuckle. "I'm assuming you're now home with that lovely mate of yours?"
Aldric smiles, leaning against the kitchen bench. "Yes. I thought it would be better for you to explain."
Marcy sighs, the sound of pages flipping in the background. "So, I ran a few more tests on the blood samples we have on file after you mentioned the medication. You said it seems to work faster that the human prescription he was on?"
Cal nods. "Yeah, I thought it was because it's made for wolves so it's a bit stronger than the human stuff."
"Well, it turns out your little human has werewolf blood running through his veins."
Callum blinks.
"W-what?"
Aldric smiles, placing a hand on his love's own in comfort.
"He's not one of us." Marcy explains, "but he does have the same enzymes and platelets in his blood stream. My guess is that he had a blood transfusion from a were in the past."
"W-what does that mean?" Callum asks in barely a whisper.
There's a pause on the phone for a moment before Marcy answers. "It means his body should be able to heal itself a lot faster than we thought. It also means he's been in contact with the supernatural at some point, which we already suspected."
Aldric pipes up this time. "Why would anyone give a human wolf blood?"
It wasn't wise to mix bloods. Just as an A blood type couldn't accept a B blood type, a human couldn't be given werewolf's blood. It didn't turn them, but it could cause a severe reaction – often leading to death.
"It means someone was either desperate to save him or they did it to purposely speed up the healing process for whatever injury he had at the time."
Callum sucks in a sharp breath of air. That didn't mean anything good.
"H-Henry already knows, doesn't he?"
Al purses his lips as Marcy answers. "Yes. He was the first person I told. He's already informed the council of our findings. They want to send a representative down to speak with Milton."
Callum shakes his head. "No. No, they can't talk to him, he's still healing. Al, we can't let them interrogate him."
Marcy clears her throat. "I'm sorry, I had to tell the Alpha. I'll let you go, but please call me if you need anything."
Aldric puts the phone down, turning to his mate. "Cal—"
Callum shakes his head. "Milton hasn't said a word yet! He can barely keep his eyes open for more than a few hours and you think this is okay? To- to let them try and bring up all those bad memories?"
Al frowns. "I didn't say I thought it was okay, Callum, but we don't have a choice."
Callum growls at his mate. "You're not even going to try and stop it."
He spins on his heel, leaving his mate in the kitchen as he goes back to check on Milton, heart beating hard in his chest.
Al pinches the bridge of his nose, breathing hard. He didn't know what to say to make this better. How was he supposed to go against the council and his Alpha? He was already pushing his luck with Henry; he doubted the council would be so lenient.
The bigger problem here was that both his Alpha and the council were keeping secrets. They had given them this child to care for but refused to tell them the whole story. Why? What were they hiding?
Aldric clenches his jaw. He didn't know what to do. It hurt, having his love growl at him like that, blame him for something that wasn't in his control. He understood his mate's frustration, but to growl at him like that?
Huffing, he picks up his keys once again and leaves the apartment, intent to try and get some information from the man who threw them into the mess in the first place.
The walk to Alpha Henry's office is quick, and it gives Aldric time to let his anger stew. Henry had a file on Milton, he'd shown it to the couple after all, but there must be more to the story.
Knocking on the white wooden door, Al waits for the muffled order to enter before he straightens and takes a step into the small space.
It was made to be cozy with warm tones, a big rug and of course the two blue armchairs designated for conversations with pack mates without it seeming like a trip to the 'principal's office'.
It felt like only yesterday that he and Cal sat in those chairs with their hearts in their throats as they were given the file on Milton.
"We need to talk."
Henry looks up from the paperwork on his desk, a pair of glasses perched on his nose. At Aldric's voice he straightens in his chair, taking his glasses off.
"This about Milton?"
Al growls low in his chest. "No. It's about you keeping my mate and I in the dark."
The Alpha frowns at his tone. "I would calm down if I were you, Al."
Aldric rubs at his chin, walking further into the small room, swallowing another growl. He didn't want to fight, he just wanted answers.
"Where did Milton come from?"
Henry watches him, leaning back in his chair as he flicks a pen between his fingers, not answering the wolf.
It was a much harder question to answer than Aldric realised.
There was a reason the leader had kept some information to himself, why he couldn't give them the answers they were looking for.
Not until the council member arrived anyway.
"Why does it matter?"
Aldric snarls, stepping up to the desk and slamming his hands down on the surface. "Why does it matter? You gave us a ticking time bomb!"
Henry growls right back, sitting up straight and tossing his pen to the desk. "I did no such thing. Milton needed a pack who could look after him, a place where he could heal."
The wolf scoffs at the excuse. "If it were just about him healing, then the council wouldn't be coming down here to sniff around!"
Alpha Henry rubs at his eyes in frustration, there's no way for this conversation to go well. Aldric is fiercely protective of his mate, always had been and if Callum was upset... Aldric was even more so.
"They were always going to come down and visit at some point."
Aldric frowns, taking a step back. "What?"
"Al, I can't go into details, not without permission from the council."
"You can't tell me, the one who's been looking after the kid?" He crosses his arms. "Why?"
It's only now that Alpha Henry stands from his desk, moving around it to stand in front of his pack mate, reaching out to give his shoulder a squeeze.
"I can't. I wish I could, but I took a vow, Aldric. If I were to break it now... the council would treat us as hostile and take Milton away."
Dread washes the anger away, draining Al's skin from its rosy colour. "What? Why – what is going on?"
The Alpha shakes his head, a defeated sigh leaving him as he moves away and sinks down into one of the couch seats. "Honestly, it's a lot. I don't even know the full story, but whatever it is, they're determined to keep it under wraps."
Al takes a seat across from him. "Why get us involved? You know Cal wouldn't be able to say no... I just, why couldn't you have picked someone else?"
Henry shakes his head. "Who else could he have gone to? All the other couples in our pack have pups already running around or are expecting."
"Another pack?"
Both wolves frown at each other, Aldric regretting the words immediately.
There were not many packs out there the size of theirs and they were well known in the werewolf circles for their rehabilitation program.
It would have been odd if the council didn't pick them to care for the boy, human as he may be.
"I'm sorry, Al. When we took him in, I thought it would be good for you and Cal. Give you two something else to focus on."
It's Aldric's turn to sigh as he looks around the room. As angry as he is over the situation, he doesn't regret making the decision he and his mate made to take Milton in. He was just... frustrated. No, he was worried.
Worried for his mate, worried for Milton. Worried for the heartbreak and pain that seemed to loom around the corner.
"When will they arrive?"
Henry rubs a hand down his face. "Two months."
Two months until they had their answers. Two months for Milton to start talking. Two months of waiting.
"Milton hasn't spoken a word since he's been here."
Henry nods. "I know. I've told them. It's why they're waiting so long, otherwise they would be at our doorstep today."
There was a chance he may not be able to speak even by then.
Aldric stands from his spot, Henry doing the same as they head towards the door. As Aldric grabs the handle, he pauses, bowing his head towards the higher ranked man.
"I'm sorry for my temper, Alpha."
Henry smiles, big arms crossing themselves over his chest. "It wouldn't be the same around here without it."
Aldric smiles before leaving the office and making his way back to his mate. He didn't have his answers, but it was something. He and Callum only need to be patient.