nineteen
Milton falls asleep quickly, drool immediately escaping his lips as his muscles relax under the pile of blankets. When the tiniest of snores reaches Callum's ears, only then does he leave the boy's side, holding back a groan as his knees protest with the movement.
He sighs as he watches the human with concern for a little longer before gently patting his face to shake it off and finally leave the room.
The stress was getting to him.
Pulling at his cardigan sleeves, Callum searches out his husband who's already in the kitchen filling the kettle.
"Do you think I should call Dr Perin?" Cal asks, biting at his lip.
Al frowns, flicking the kettle on and leaning back on the counter to face his little mate, taking in the creased eyebrows and reddening lips.
"Why? Is Milton, okay?"
Callum shakes his head. "No, no. Milton's fine, I just... want to apologise for scaring him."
Aldric sighs through his nose, pushing off the counter and stepping up to his mate, tugging him into his arms for a well needed embrace. "My love, you don't even know what it is that made him upset. It could be completely unrelated to Alpha Henry and the phone call."
His mate tries to shrug in his arms, face smooshed against his chest.
"I know, but still. What if we made him uncomfortable? I don't want him to start- to start avoiding us. Or Milton."
"He won't do that." Aldric kisses the top of his fluffy hair. "He's a professional, love. A very talented one at that. In no way shape or form did he imply he no longer wanted anything to do with us. If anything, I think the man has become attached to our little human."
Callum hums, fingers drumming against his mate's broad back.
Obviously, Dr Perin had a duty of care, but the man seemed like he could be.
.. more. There weren't that many humans willingly staying within pack grounds.
Very few know about the supernatural world, and any that did never tend to stay in one place.
It would be nice for Milton to have someone like him.
Someone to look up to while he learnt about their world.
They weren't going to keep him in the dark forever.
"I'm going to call him." Aldric's arms tighten a little, but when Cal pushes away, the man is quick to release him.
"Can I ask what you're going to say?"
Cal shrugs, leaning across the counter to reach his phone that had been left beside Milton's exercise instructions.
"I just want to see if he's okay. Ask if he needs a friend."
"You think the man really wants to be friends with a wolf?"
Callum scowls up at his husband. "If he hated us that much he wouldn't still be working with our pack."
Aldric raises his hands in surrender, turning back to the kettle as it finishes roaring, steam rising from its silver spout.
It's not that he doesn't want his mate to be friends with the man, but he worries. Worries the doctor's past will continue to haunt him and in turn, haunt his beautiful mate.
With everything else happening, did they really need to add to the stress?
Callum sighs, looking down at his phone before glancing back up to his love, watching as he makes the two of them tea with tensed shoulders.
He understand his mate's concern. They don't know the doctor all that well, and the bits and pieces they did know came from rumours that circulated the pack house. Was it wise to reach out to the human who would be treating their boy? To go beyond the parameters of a professional relationship?
Shaking it off, Callum flicks past the lock-screen photograph of himself and his mate in each other's arms and opens the phone app, quickly pressing the number beside Dr Perin's yellow icon as he lifts it to his ear.
The phone rings. And rings.
Callum can't help but bounce a little on his toes as the worries bubble up.
What if this was a bad idea? What if Dr Perin was just being polite when he said they could call him? What if he really didn't want to see them anymore?
His thoughts are cut short as Dr Perin answers. "Hello? Is Milton, okay?"
His heart melts as the man immediately asks about the boy. Dr Perin really is a good doctor.
Callum clears his throat. "Hi, um, no, I-I mean yes, he's fine. He's asleep. I just – well I thought that maybe..." He blows out a breath of air, fingers gripping the kitchen counter.
Dr Perin patiently waits, the soft sound of a keyboard clicking filling the silence for only a second before Cal is able to get his voice back.
"I just w-wanted to apologise. Again."
"Apologise?"
Cal has half the mind to just hang up the phone, but the gentle hand of his mate on his back strengthens his resolve. Even if Aldric disagrees with him, he's still there to support his decision.
"I- I realise that you were uncomfortable earlier. I just wanted to apologise if there was- if there was anything I did, or we did, that might have made you feel... unwelcome?"
The silence returns and the keyboard sounds stop. Cal isn't even sure the human is breathing on the other end of the line, only for Dr Perin to hum in an unsure manner.
"It's nothing you did." He speaks slowly, voice changing from its usual professional tone into something softer. "As you know I have a bit of a... history with wolves."
Cal didn't know. Not exactly, but he hums in acknowledgement. The rumours are after all, just idle gossip from busy-body wolves.
Dr Perin sighs. "The council and I... don't get along all that well."
Oh. Oh.
"I-I didn't even think of that, I'm so sorry Dr Peri-"
"It's Matthew."
Callum pauses, leaning back into his husband's arms who still stands behind him.
"Matthew. I'm sorry. I didn't realise."
The doctor sighs. "It's not something I like to talk about, but I do apologise for leaving so suddenly and causing you to worry. That was never my intention."
Cal bites his lip. "Well, if you ever do want to talk, I'm here."
"I appreciate it."
There's another pause, but it's less stilted, allowing Callum to take a breath.
"A-and if you ever just want to hang out with Milton or I, to take a break from your work, y-you're more than welcome to." Callum tacks on, words quietening as he turns a little bashful.
He felt like one of his past students asking a classmate to attend their birthday party or something.
"That's very kind," Matthew begins, hesitancy leaking into his voice, "but I worry that it may muddy our relationship as doctor and patient—"
Callum is quick to jump in. "I- I know it may make things complicated, but- but I want you to know that we don't consider you to be just a doctor... y-you're still part of this pack, Matthew. Our pack."
The human's voice hitches, his words stumbling as he tries to respond to the gentle werewolf who had shown nothing but respect and care towards him.
He barely knew the man, yet he couldn't help but want to.
Perhaps it was the feeling of acceptance or knowing that they didn't see him as lesser for being human – after all, they had a human of their own.
"Thank you." He chokes out, clearing his throat once again.
Cal smiles, tilting his head back so it thumps against Aldric's chest. "Anytime."
They hang up, Callum putting the phone back on the counter with a big sigh of relief. His mate is quick to spin him around, hands interlocking at the small of his back as he smiles down at his love.
"You are... the most caring person I have ever met."
Callum blushes.
"Where would any of us be without you?" Aldric leans down to kiss his love and breathe in his sweet scent.
Cal accepts the kiss, a soft croon in his throat as he chases his mate's lips for another, but Aldric pauses every so briefly, squeezing his lovely husband in his arms. "Just please remember that if it all becomes too much, I'm here for you."
Callum swallows, nodding softly before he's pulled into another loving kiss.
Milton wakes with a start, slightly inhaling his own saliva before sputtering, heart pounding in his chest as he tries to sit up in bed, eyes watering as he realises what's happened again.
He doesn't remember his dream, or nightmare, all he knows is that he's woken to the feeling of his soft pyjama pants cooling against his skin in an uncomfortable dampness.
A whine is strangled in his throat as his shaky limbs try to throw the covers off, hands not cooperating as he grabs at the soft blankets.
Panic bubbles up as a sob builds in his chest, the light from the hallway casting a glow through his dark room as his door is opened, Callum stepping in wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt.
"Milly? Sweety, are you okay?"
The little human sniffs, mouth opening as a sob tears through his throat, arms shaking terribly as he reaches out towards the man.
He didn't care that he was acting childish.
The panic and humiliation at the situation made him want to crawl into his carer's arms and pretend nothing happened. Nothing.
"Oh, baby. It's okay." Cal shushes, reaching out to run his hands over the boy's face, pulling him into his arms and away from the wet sheets.
He quickly carries him to the bathroom, settling the small boy on the closed toilet seat as he runs the bath.
It's only late afternoon, the sun still fairly high in the sky, the light highlighting the dark colour of his ruined pants.
He turns his head away, instead watching through blurry eyes as Cal leans over the bath, testing the water as it steadily fills the tub, the strawberry scented bubbles filling his nose as he sniffs pathetically.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Cal asks in a concerned voice, kneeling at Milton's feet as he begins to pull off his socks.
Milton opens his mouth as he tries to talk, garbled noise escaping before he ends with a hiccupped gasp, more tears falling down his face. Frustration bubbles at the surface making him throw his hands down in his lap, flinching as his skin touches his cold pants.
Callum hums, reaching out to brush his cheeks. "Hey, you're okay now. Take a breath, my love."
A hand on his chest helps to ground him, his body still wracked with tremors.
Callum smiles with reassurance, quickly and carefully pulling down the boy's pants in one swift movement, careful to remove them from hooking around his cast.
Unfortunately, the solid plaster is slightly damp on its outer layer, Callum humming calmly to the still sniffling boy.
"Let me wrap your cast and then I'll get you in the nice warm bath, okay?"
Milton nods sadly with snot and drool making its way down his face.
Why is this happening again? Again! One accident was bad enough, but two? What was wrong with him?
Callum is quick to settle him in the warm water, one hand holding Milton up as he begins to gently wash him down with a soft washcloth. Milton clutches at Cal's arm, not wanting to let go, but reluctantly doing so as the man washes him.
Every movement is slow and calm, Callum softly whispering and pressing little reassuring kisses to the side of the his head.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Milton calms down, eyes falling half shut as he sits miserably in the water.
"Did you have another nightmare?" Callum asks again now that his charge is calm.
Milton shakes his head, pausing as he does so before changing his answer to a nod accompanied with a frown.
Did he have a nightmare? He didn't remember it if he did, but last time... last time he had been scared. He'd woken without being able to catch his breath, heart racing alarmingly and pain coursing through his body. Similar to this time.
Callum hums again, gently washing his pale chest, the warm water soothing Milton's muscles. "You don't know?"
Milton nods again.
Cal only offers him a sad smile, continuing to wash the boy in relative silence. "Do you mind if I talk to Dr Perin about it? Maybe he can give us some advice to help."
Milton makes a noise of protest in his throat, tears burning his eyes again. He didn't want anyone to know. He was embarrassed about the whole situation already! He didn't want to recount the whole thing!.
"I know, I know it feels embarrassing, but it's not. Things happen, Milly. You've been through so much," Callum's voice wobbles. "This is just a little hiccup, nothing that we can't fix."
Milton nods, swallowing heavily.
They finish the bath relatively fast, Milton watching the water swirl down the drain as he's lifted into a fluffy towel.
He doesn't want to think anymore.
Cal cuddles him close as he carries him back into his bedroom, the sheets having already been stripped from the bed, a fresh waterproof mattress protector and new set of mint green sheets already re-dressed on the small bed.
Aldric has even gone and put a new quilt on, this one a dark blue decorated in little howling wolves and yellow crescent moons.
Cal tries not to snort at the choice, instead focusing on how Milton's slightly absent gaze brightens at the sight of little cartoon wolves.
"I think we have some pyjamas that'll match this set..." Callum murmurs, still holding Milton in his arms wrapped in a too-big towel as he rummages through the boy's dresser. Milton only blinks, leaning his tired head on the man's shoulder as he watches half-heartedly.
Gently, Cal sits Milton on the bed beside his fresh set of clothes, carefully maneuvering Milton's arms through the sleeves of the soft button-down pyjama top.
"See? I told you we had some that match." He smiles at the little human, poking at the small grey wolf on the breast pocket of the light blue cotton top.
Milton looks down, blinking hard before the wolf registers in his tired mind and he offers a weak smile.
Cal tries to keep his own soft smile on his own face despite the growing concern gnawing at his gut. He needed to be brave. To show the human that everything is okay, or at least, is going to be okay.
Milton isn't coping. Mentally, the boy is exhausted and having a second accident with no real cause isn't helping his situation.
They hadn't heard Milton make any noise like with his previous incident and there had been no change in his scent either. The sudden sounds and sharp smell accompanying Milton's cries had startled both Callum and Aldric.
Pulling Milton's pants up his legs, Callum makes a mental note to ask Matthew about the cast. Perhaps they could move his x-ray forward to see if they could get it taken off – there was no way they could keep the soiled plaster on for several more weeks.
Aldric pokes his head around the door, hair a mess as he knocks on the doorframe.
"Did you need me to get anything?"
Cal turns to the boy. "Did you need anything, love? Would you like something to drink?"
Milton blinks blearily at him, wobbling on the bed as he struggles to stay upright.
His muscles sore from the exercises earlier in the day, but now his body was aching from the tremors that had run through his system too.
He doesn't answer. He doesn't know what he wants. He's tired, sore and completely humiliated by the whole thing.
He didn't want to think.
Cal rubs his legs, softly cooing to the boy as his instincts push him to shower the boy in affection and touch.
"I'll make us all something warm to drink." Aldric hums, disappearing from the doorway.
Cal climbs up onto the bed, pulling Milton into his arms as he leans up against the clean pillows smelling a mix of his and Aldric's scent.
He pulls Milton to his chest, tucking his head against his shirt as his wolf rises to the surface to release a soothing sort of purr. He presses a kiss to the boy's head, unintentionally releasing his scent yet again as he tries his best to soothe and support the hurting boy.
Milton's eyes fill with tears, shoulders beginning to shake as he silently cries into his caregiver's chest. Cal keeps holding him, rocking them gently as he presses kiss after kiss to his little human's damp hair.
Aldric, on the other hand, is taking his time making tea for his mate for the second time today, listening to the soft sounds of Milton crying.
He wants to go back and comfort them, but this is where he needed to be right now. A warm drink would sooth all three of them.
Callum's phone buzzes on the bench, Lucille's name flashing on the screen. Al groans quietly, hip resting on the counter as he contemplates letting it ring out... but with a roll of his eyes he picks it up and answers.
"Hello, Lucille."
The woman makes a huffing noise. "Where's Cal?"
"Busy."
The woman is... intense, for a lack of a better world. She loves Callum, but she didn't always have the most friendliest of approaches.
"He hasn't been answering my texts. I've been worried!"
Aldric sighs, turning back to the two mugs set out alongside Milton's bottle, pouring the hot water as the kettle finishes boiling.
Honestly, he probably needed a coffee to get through this conversation, but with the steadily falling sun he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep later if he had caffeine pumping through his body.
"We've been quite busy, I'm sure it just slipped his mind."
The woman clicks her tongue in annoyance. "Maybe I should drop by for a visit and help out, if you're that busy."
Aldric pulls the phone from his ear for a moment, a grimace pulling at his mouth at the thought of having the woman staying in their apartment. Now that Milton was situated in the spare room, they didn't have room for another body.
No doubt the woman would demand she have their bedroom.
Aldric clears his throat, taking on his work voice to answer her. "Lucille, while I appreciate the sentiment, we don't have the capacity to have you stay with us at the moment."
"So, it's true?" she squawks.
Al frowns. "Is what true?"
"That you've taken in a human."
The wolf growls.
Who told her? Milton's whereabouts isn't well known outside of the pack and Lucille isn't pack. How she got her hands on that information was beyond him.
"Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist." The older woman huffs. "You both know I have connections to the council. Nothing gets past me."
Al dips the teabags again before discarding them in the bin beneath the sink. "Doesn't matter who you have connections with. That information is supposed to remain private for a reason."
He can almost hear the way the woman rolls her eyes at his tone, unperturbed by his wolf's low growling. "It was bound to come out at some point, it's not as if a human can exactly blend in."
Aldric sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Her words make him nervous. Had she spoken about this to others in her pack? Was she the only one who knew? Or was the boy's private information been spread around like wildfire?
"The point isn't to blend in, Lucille. Our pack is here to help those in need. By spreading their personal information, you've made the healing process that much more difficult."
The woman scoffs. "I've done no such thing."
The conversation is going nowhere.
"Look, I've got to go, but I'll let Cal know you've called."
"Now hang on a minu—"
"Goodbye, Lucille." Aldric is firm in his words, hanging up and dropping the phone to the counter with a clatter.
Instead, he focuses on making Milton his bottle, adding the boy's usual dose of pain medication.
He would need to have a discussion with Henry about the breach in privacy. Even if Lucille was family, it didn't give her the right to discuss private information with her pack or with whoever decided to open their mouth.
Finishing up in the kitchen, Aldric tucks Milton's bottle beneath one arm and makes his way back into the boy's bedroom, heart aching as he sees his mate gently rocking the boy who shakes with tears.
He gently places the two mugs down on the side table, passing the bottle to his mate who thanks him with a wobbly smile, eyes glassy.
Together the three all sit on the bed, Aldric gently rubbing up and down his mate's stretched out leg as his love in turn rubs up and down Milton's back until the boy begins to calm, face red and eyes swollen.
He easily slips the bottle into Milton's mouth, gently wiping the tears and snot away with the edge of his own shirt.
"We can call Matthew tomorrow." Cal whispers, glancing down at the human before focusing on his husband.
Aldric hums in agreeance. "We also need to call Henry."
Cal frowns. "Why?"
Al sighs, leaning across the bed to brush a strand of hair from the boys face. He wants to take both his mate and the boy and tuck them into his arms, but he could see how the human was already beginning to fall asleep.
"Lucille called."
Callum tenses causing Milton to whimper softly before both wolves softly shush him.
"What does she want?"
"She knows about Milton. I'm not sure who told her, but I don't want our situation to turn into pack gossip." He holds back an annoyed growl, his love's face twisting from guilt to anger and hurt.
"I should have called her sooner. I-I've just been busy with everything else..."
Aldric squeezes his love's leg. "She should respect that we can't just drop everything when she asks. I know she's family, but she's pushed too far this time."
Callum bites his lip, pulling Milton closer. "I'll talk to her."
Aldric shakes his head. "I'm still going to talk to Henry about this. She said someone from the council told her. That's a complete breach of privacy. Who knows what else is being spoken about."
Callum hums, pressing a kiss to the human's head. "You're right, sorry."
Al huffs as he pinches his mate playfully on his bare leg. Cal jumping a little.
"Don't apologise. I know how much she means to you... but we have Milton to think about now too. We can't brush it off this time."
Callum nods, offering a cheeky smile. "Sorry for saying sorry."
The larger man rolls his eyes. "Sorry for making you say sorry."
The two grin, taking the moment to simply breath in each other's scent from the small distance between then, calming their emotions from the sudden roller-coaster their afternoon turned into.
For now, everything was okay.