thirty one
Driving up the gravel road to the packhouse garage, Aldric frowns in concern at the number of patrolling wolves they seem to pass. Some keep to the edges of the trees, their coats flashing amongst green as the truck rolls past.
Milton is tuckered out, face squished into the side of his car seat, mouth open and drool plastered to his chin. They'd had a very productive morning.
Smelling of mud, sweat, and little like grass, Aldric pulls the car up to the large set of garage doors where yet another member of the pack stands beside it with a walkie talkie in hand.
He rolls down the window, "What's going on?"
The man, John, leans on the edge of the truck with a sigh, eyes catching the sight of Milton dead to the world in the back before focusing back on Al.
"There's been an incident in town. Councilmen had been up to no good. Reckon you've got a pretty panicked husband waiting for you upstairs."
"Thanks for the heads up, guessing we don't know any more details on said incident?"
The man shakes his head, stress oozing from the wolf as he gives the truck a pat and waves Al in to the now opening garage doors.
It doesn't take long for Al to park, collect a floppy Milton from the back while shrugging the bag packed with extra snacks, clothes, toys and the like onto his shoulder.
His boots are caked in dirt, but it doesn't stop him marching up the stairs to his apartment's floor, knuckles rapping softly on the door.
Cal opens it with a pale face, curls wild around his face as he immediately grabs for the boy, planting a hasty kiss to his husband's cheek as he pulls them inside and locks the door behind them.
Al's already got his hackles up, eyes scanning his love for any signs of injury, noting the man is still in his dressing gown – he hasn't left the house.
It takes him a minute to pick up on the other scent, Matthew, who's still perched on their loungeroom couch, hot water in hand.
"What's going on?"
"Henry didn't call?" Cal rushes out as he rocks the boy in his arms, more to sooth himself than the oblivious (and still sleeping) child.
"My love, you know I don't have good reception out in the fields."
Cal makes a strangled sound in his throat, his scent building up as layers of stress and fear begin to leech from his skin. Stepping close, Al brushes his hands over his mate's shoulders.
"Let me take a quick shower and then you can fill me in on what's happened, okay?"
Cal nods, curls bouncing with the motion as he leans in for another quick kiss.
It takes no time at all for Al to wash the morning away and change into comfy loungewear. He leaves the bathroom fan on, hoping it will help suck some of the sour smell of fear out of the house.
He steps into the kitchen with a hand towel around his shoulders, filling the kettle and setting out three new mugs as well as a bottle for Milton.
Cal is still rocking him as he walks around the apartment, trying to sooth himself and his wolf.
Once the drinks are made, delivered to all occupants, and everyone is seated, Al finally asks, "What happened?"
Matthew lets out a long sigh, recapping what he told Callum only moments before. Al's frown deepens as the tale continues, a hand reaching up to scratch at his chin.
"I suppose Milton won't be allowed off pack grounds for a while then."
Callum nods. "Both Matt and Milly can't leave. Not until we know why the Georgia and Paul are doing all this."
Al watches the human on their couch, his downcast eyes and pale skin. He looks... defeated. He doesn't know Dr Perin all that well, but from what he does know, the man isn't the type to give up so easily, yet he looks a second away from melting into their carpet.
"Do you know what the councilmen would be wanting?"
Matthew lifts a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. "I- I don't know. I don't know if this something personal or if they're after something bigger. I deal with a lot of shifters. I have patient files, medical records, test results. It's all locked away, but..."
"It doesn't really explain why she was tailing you." Callum finishes for him.
Matthew takes a sip from his too-hot tea, wincing. "She doesn't need me to get access to anything; she's a council member for wolf's sake. She would have all the resources available to bypass security and access patient information. I just – I'm scared."
He laughs, the sound hollow.
Cal shifts closer and wraps an arm around his shoulder, minding Milton is passed out against his chest, fingers curled in the man's dressing gown.
"I'm scared of the woman who I once trusted my whole life to. And I hate that I never saw this side of her coming. I should've known something like this was going to happen."
Aldric hums in response, mind wandering through different scenarios. "How long do you keep blood samples at the clinic?"
The human takes a breath, rubbing at his brow. "A couple of days. We send them to the lab in the next town over where they're either destroyed or kept for an additional month or so after that."
Cal frowns. "Milton's sample?"
The doctor manages to turn an even lighter shade of white. "It's... it's still at the lab. There was a 'do not destroy' order on it from the council."
Aldric rises to grab his phone from where he left it in the kitchen, immediately calling Henry to let him know. The Alpha curses before abruptly hanging up, no doubt to try and stop any other break-ins from happening in the town over.
"They already have the results though, I don't understand why they still need his blood." Cal frowns as he pats Milton's back, the boy snuggling closer.
Aldric heaves a sigh as he leans against the kitchen counter. "We know he's not exactly a normal human, not really. For now, we need to try and stay calm. Alpha will fill us in when he can."
His love isn't satisfied with the answer but moves on to gently rousing the sleeping human to put his bottle in his mouth. Milton instantly latches on and begins to drink, eyes half-lidded as he fights the want to sleep in flavour of the sweetened milk.
"Is it alright if- if I stay a while? I don't think," Matthew swallows. "I don't think I can be alone right now."
Callum offers a gentle smile. "You can stay the night, if you'd like. Might have to sleep on the couch, but you're welcome to stay."
The doctor nods,smiling back a little hesitantly, but his shoulders relax at the invitation.