thirty two
They all spend the rest of the day in various states of resting.
Milton is finally relinquished from Callum's arms and placed in his own bed.
Matthew takes a fitful nap on the couch while Callum digs out their spare blankets and pillows – re-sorting the entire linen cupboard in the process.
Aldric sits in bed with a book cracked open in his lap, pages untouched.
At lunch Al decides on making toasted sandwiches for everyone while Callum feeds Milton some warm pumpkin soup. Milton wanted to try and feed himself, but the man wasn't really paying attention to what he wanted, so with a pout he conceded to being fed.
It isn't until Al's phone dings with a text that the weight in the room begins to lessen. A little.
"All pack is required to attend dinner in the main kitchen at six."
Matthew blinks, glasses askew on his face as he peeks over the back of the couch. "Does that mean me too?"
Aldric nods. "As long as you're staying here."
Milton perks up at this, not having realised the doctor was asleep on the couch most of the day. He waves at the man, who in turn gingerly waves back, righting himself and his glasses.
Callum tries to put another spoonful of soup in his mouth, but Milton makes a noise in his throat and turns his head away, smearing pumpkin across his cheek.
"Shit, sorry." Cal hurriedly cleans in up, the blank look in his eyes fizzling out to concern as the human wriggles in his lap.
Milton points at the doctor and signs 'couch' still wriggling. "Sorry, baby. I forgot to tell you Dr Perin was here when you woke up. He's going to be staying down the hall for a bit while..."
Al jumps in, "While his place gets fixed up."
Milton's eyes brighten and he manages a crooked smile as he's taken over to the couch and placed beside the man.
"How are you?" Dr Perin croaks as he signs to the boy, hair fluffy from sleep and voice still a little hoarse.
Milton signs back 'good' and fumbles over the placements of his hands to ask the same of the other human. Dr Perin, Matthew, smiles.
"You're getting better at your signing. You been feeling okay?"
Milton nods, eyes bright as he points to his leg and signs that he's been exercising.
"That's great! Do you feel strong enough to try standing yet?"
Milton's smile falters and he shakes his head. He hadn't tried. He wasn't sure he wanted to yet.
Callum comes to the rescue and turns the tv onto an animal show Milton likes, taking a seat beside him. "Why don't we watch some of your show before we go down to dinner?"
Dr Perin watches the two interact, how Callum responds to the tiniest change of emotion in the boy and how, in turn, Milton's body language easily mimics that of a pup in need of their mother. The way he leans into Cal's warmth, face turning to brush against the man's side.
Matthew knows how wolves work, and it seems like their little human friend unconsciously knows how they work too.
He'll need to talk to Al about it.
"Alright." Al claps his hands lightly, making Matthew jump. "Time to head down."
He didn't realise they'd been sitting on the couch for so long, thoughts far away as the show on ducks plays in the background.
All three rise from the couch, Milton in Callum's arms as they make their way out of the apartment and downstairs.
Al can feel the nerves oozing from both Callum and Matthew. He leans to press a kiss to his love's forehead as they enter the kitchen, murmuring words of affection as they move into the dining area and take their seats at the table.
It would be a difficult few days for them all.
All the pack members able to attend greet each other with less enthusiasm than usual, but that's to be expected. It helps Callum keep calm, most of the louder families that filter in sitting at tables further away from their own little group.
Matthew picks at his slice of lasagna, completely uncomfortable as more and more wolves fill the space or lean across the table to serve food, drinks and salad. A few sniff at him, eyes lighting in recognition before they turn away or offer a pitying smile.
Oh how he hated those smiles.
Milton, on the other hand, is having a great time. Lasagna is easy to eat. Smooth pasta that melts in his mouth along with cheese and sauce. He's seated on Al's lap, fork in hand as he tries his best to feed himself with a shaking grip.
Cal reaches out at one point to assist, but his husband is quick to grab his hand with his own and kiss is gently. A clear message – let the boy eat in peace.
Milton's not dumb. He knows something's up, but he also knows it's probably better that he doesn't know. Whatever it is, Al and Cal will sort it out. He's sure of that much. For now, he continues with his pasta until a familiar face appears across from him.
The girl from the other night.
"Good to see you again!" She chirps, sliding onto the bench seat across from Milton.
The boy blushes a little, regretting his decision to remain in Al's lap rather than take a seat on a stack of pillows like last time. It doesn't seem like she cares though, too busy helping herself to a plate and a large square of lasagna with a side of bread.
Milton waves at her with his free hand, other hand busy digging at his own much smaller piece of food.
"Martha's lasagna is the best. I've been waiting for this all week." Anne drags out her words comically as she tosses a spoonful of salad into the mix as well.
Milton nods along in agreement. The lasagna is really good.
They eat in relative peace after that, Anne chirping with comments or funny little jokes about the other people living in the apartment complex. It isn't until she mentions something about her parents that Milton realises her younger brothers aren't with her.
He doesn't know how to ask this, so tries to communicate by holding up two fingers and pointing at the empty spot beside her.
Anne grins. "My brothers have been banned from lasagna night for throwing a baseball at one of mum's vases. Unfortunately, that means mum also misses out on lasagna night, since they can't be trusted to be alone."
Milton blinks before giving a single nod, scooping up more lasagna and getting most of it into his mouth.
Some lands back on his plate, the red sauce splattering on his shirt.
Embarrassment climbs its way up his neck, but Anne doesn't seem to care or notice as she shovels a forkful even bigger than what Milton had, pasta sauce lining her mouth.
She groans in delight and the little human can't help but grin at the girl across from him, delighted that he's not the only one making a mess.
They continue to eat and talk, Callum picking at his food until his husband growls at him, which spurs Matthew to also stop picking at his food.
Soon, other wolves are bringing the three adults into their conversations, tenderly commenting on how nice Matthew looks in his sweater or how it's nice to catch up with him outside of his doctor's office.
He relaxes a little as none press him for answers or question him about the incident.
He's sure they all know by now, but maybe not. It's hard to tell with wolves.
Towards the end of the meal, Milton is still buzzing with energy from his rather laid-back day in the apartment and Anne takes the opportunity to ask him a question. "Me and some of the others are going to watch a move in the main lounge. Did you want to come?"
Milton hesitates, looking up at Al. "If you'd like to go, you can. We'll be right here."
Milton hums before giving a short nod.
Anne squeals, scoffing down the rest of her meal before patiently (kind of) waiting for Milton to finish his own. It's hard to eat with her so focused on him, so he calls it quits with about a third left on his plate, signing to Al that he'd had enough.
Al chuckles as Anne jumps to her feet, the other children at the table ranging from six to sixteen all getting up and making their way into the lounge as well, some also scoffing down their food before an adult scolds them.
"Now, Milton's still not up to walking, so if he needs anything make sure you come and get either myself or Cal, okay?" Aldric says as he lifts the boy into his arms and carries him to the abundant couches.
"Where would you like to sit?" Milton hesitates as he looks over the couches, the collection of pillows and beanbags steadily filling with children as they hunker down in a variety of friend groups.
Anne pops up beside them. "Next to me!" She jumps over to a spot on the main couch that's empty, plonking herself down and patting the free space next to her.
Milton blushes as he's delicately placed next to her, Al thinking ahead and chocking him up with a pillow too.
Anne smiles, grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch and placing across both their laps. Al leaves quietly with a little chuckle, glad Milton is still happy to step out of his comfort zone.
As they wait for the other kids to settle, one of the older children dims the lights and turns the tv on, some of the younger kids already demanding he hurry it up.
It's not until one of the younger wolves, maybe around eight or so, sits up from his spot on the floor near the couch and looks at Milton, finally realising a new person has joined them.
"What's your name?" He asks, kneeling on the beanbag as one of his friends pushes him out of his way.
Milton flushes pink the dim light. He can't speak.
"This is Milton, he's new." Anne does the introduction for him, leaning a little closer.
The boy frowns. "Don't you speak?"
Milton shakes his head, fingers beginning to play with the blanket in his lap.
In doing so, the blanket lifts to reveal his braced foot, the boy and his friend both looking at the odd contraption.
The other boy, hair a mess of brown curls points at it. "What happened to your foot?"
Milton makes a noise in his throat, not knowing how to deal with the attention. He didn't even really know what happened to his foot.
Another wolf, a younger girl with pigtails pops up beside them, leaning on the arm of the couch as she takes a good sniff at Milton. He shies away, body tilting back towards Anne as the little girl gets too close.
"Why you smell weird?"
Milton's cheeks turn red. Did he smell weird? He'd had a bath. His hair was clean.
As other kids turn their attention to the newcomer, Milton tries to pay attention to all the questions and comments, his mind turning into a jumbled mess.
Anne puts an arm across his chest, pushing herself in front of him with an angry snarl, teeth on full display as she glares at the children who'd been making their way closer and closer.
They back up at the sound, the pigtail girl falling backwards off her perch on the arm and onto a beanbag.
Anne doesn't need to say anything. Her body language does all the talking and soon all the children are back to minding their own business.
A kid's movie is put on and Milton gently signs 'thank you' to the girl as she settles back into her seat and re-positions the blanket across them.
"Don't you worry about them," Anne grins. "I've got your back."
Matthew, having noticed the small kerfuffle when he was walking back from the bathroom, turns away from the group now that he knows Milton's safe, his mind wandering at the lack of alarm from Milton when Anne snarled and acted like, well, a wolf.
It seemed like the boy didn't care or didn't know that her behaviour isn't very human.
He hums, making his way back to Callum and Al where they sit pressed against each other, warm tea in their hands.
Cal raises a brow at him. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah. Just checked on Milton. He seems to be having fun."
Cal offers half a grin, leaning his head against his love to stop himself from getting up and checking on the boy himself. "Good. That's...good."
Al gives him a squeeze.
It's late by the time the movie wraps up and the wolves disperse. Children are picked up from their beanbags in various states of sleeping, parents carrying them up the stairs with gentle hands and soft kisses.
Milton passed out a while ago, the overwhelming number of emotions having worn him out.
Anne stayed awake. She half watched the movie, and half watched the little human who had fallen asleep against her arm, a little bit of drool trailing down his chin.
She kept checking on him, sniffing at his hair and listening to the soft sound of his breathing.
When Callum comes to collect him, he smiles warmly at the young girl, thanking her.
"He's going to get better, right?" she asks.
Callum pauses. "We hope so. He's already come so far."
Anne nods before taking her leave.
Milton doesn't stir as he's carried to bed and tucked beneath the blankets.
"You sure you'll be alright on the couch?" Aldric asks Matthew as he arranges the blankets.
The man waves him off. "It's fine. Thank you. I appreciate you guys taking me in."
Al pats his shoulder as he turns to leave. "We look out for our own."
It stings, but Matt tries to swallow it down. It's hard to be a human in a world full of shifters. It never really bothered him when he was younger, but ever since... well, it's a lot harder to ignore who he is now.
Cal climbs into bed with his love's arms wrapped around him. His heart thumping hard in his chest, remnant of spending the night with the rest of the pack. Al hums lovingly, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.
"I think our boy has made a friend."
Despite how anxious that makes him feel, Callum still smiles softly in the darkness. "Yeah, I think so too."