Rift. (Rewritten in 2010)

First Winter, Year Three (1st Moon)

When he came to, he was lying down, but on a softer surface this time, one which he quickly identified as an infirmary bed. There was light, and the familiar sound of hushed voices and muffled movement. Kaz inhaled deeply. He knew he was in one of the private rooms, although apparently only so in name, as he opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by the Doctor, First Alpha Mate Alex, the Beta Doctor, and several of the other nurses. He blinked up at six concerned faces.
"Here." Alex offered him water in a cup, which he gratefully took, gulping it down without stopping. The Beta Doctor took the cup from him and set it on the bedside table.
"You fainted." she stated simply. Kaz swallowed thickly and tried to sit up. Her hands on his chest held him down. "You need to rest." he shook his head and tried again. Alex frowned worriedly and looked across at the Doctor.
"I'm OK, guys, really." The Doctor exchanged another look with Alex and promptly excused himself from the room, taking with him two of the nurses. One, Blit, remained, and he immediately took up a seat on the now unoccupied stool across from Kaz's bed. The silence and worried stares were beginning to make him nervous. "Honestly. I'm fine. I'm just a little tired because I've been working so much lately." Kaz tried to give a bright smile, but it came out a bit forced and so he gave it up altogether and just tried to look sincere. "Maybe I overdo it a bit, yeah?" Alex bit his lip.
"Well, you won't be, anymore."
Kaz's face fell and his heartbeat heightened about thirty paces.
"Why not?"
"Kaz, you're six and a half weeks pregnant." Horror started to form a pool at the bottom of his stomach.
"I'm not." his voice sounded disconnected, distant from himself. "I can't be; I'm not bonded to anyone." Alex exchanged a look with the Beta Doctor.
"We know." he edged his chair closer to the bed. Kaz's eyes grew larger and he shook his head violently.
"I haven't - I don't - I'm not like that."
"It's OK, Kaz, we'll work it out. But you need to talk to us right now."
"I'm not with."
"Kaz, we need you to tell us who the father is." This snapped him out of his trancelike state, and he looked at Alex with firm, resistant eyes.
"I can't."
"Kaz, we need you to tell us."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know who the father is?" Alex's brow furrowed deeply and Kaz considered his choice of lie.
"I can't tell you, please." Alex exchanged a long look with the Beta Doctor.
"Kaz," she began, "If you don't tell us, then we'll have to make an evidenced assumption. Which means that we'll name Mikal to be investigated." Kaz looked shocked. "An investigation, you're aware, will be listed on his permanent report." She looked sternly at Kaz.
"No!" he cried, trying to sit up again. "It's not him, he's not the father! Mika didn't have anything to do with this, don't get him involved, please?"
"Well, Kaz, if you don't tell us who the father is, we'll have to have him investigated. Until you can provide us with some new information, he is the most likely candidate." She crossed her arms and stared resolutely back at him. Alex leaned in closer and took one of Kaz's hands in his.
"Kaz, if you help us, we can help you. Tell us who the father is." Kaz swallowed as well as he could with a mostly dry mouth and looked slowly up at Alex from the floor.
"He - " Kaz drew in a hitching breath and tried again. "I - I didn't want to." Kaz drew his knees up to his chest in the bed, mangling the blanket which had, up till then, been peacefully resting over his legs. "He made me. I didn't want to do it." Alex moved onto the bed and put one arm over the young man's shoulders. Kaz was shivering now, which worried Alex. "Am I in a lot of trouble?" he asked to no one in particular, eyes drifting back down to the floor. Alex exhaled.
"Well, that depends on how much you feel like helping us." he rubbed Kaz's shoulder with the hand that was there and leaned back. "You have to tell us, Kaz."
The young human opened his mouth to speak, then looked panicked.
"Will you promise me something first?"
"What do you need?" the Beta Doctor asked, leaning in close.
"I don't want to give up my litter." Kaz frowned and chewed on a thumb. "I want to keep them, have them. OK?"
Alex nodded, as did the Beta Doctor, though from the expression on her face, he could tell she thought this was a particularly illogical request.
"OK." Kaz took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He turned his head to the left, focusing on a spot just off in the distance. "It's Péron." Alex frowned, uncomprehending, but the Beta Doctor slowly leaned in closer, resting one hand on the edge of the medical bed.
"Kaz..." she began slowly, "Military Officer Péron?" Lights went on in Alex's head. He knew the name from Damon's recent case. Kaz was nodding, and now tears, uncontrollable, were beginning to pour from the corners of the young wolfe's eyes.
"OK, Kaz." the BD took Kaz into her arms, holding him gently and expressing more tenderness than Alex had ever seen her show.
"Are we going to have to tell people?" he whispered and she nodded.
"Just a few."
Kaz swallowed again and nodded.
"They'll think I'm lying."
The BD didn't disagree.
"They may have your memories searched."
"Why would they think he was lying?" Alex interrupted. "Péron's a known criminal." Both the BD and Kaz looked up at Alex in confusion.
"Pardon?"
"He's being tried for severe abuse of a beta, assault with intent to kill, challenge of a superior, and conspiracy to treason. He's being held down in the lower levels."
The BD tightened her lips.
"The lower levels..." Kaz frowned in concentration. "Then he's to be destroyed?"
Alex shrugged.
"I wouldn't know."
The BD turned to Kaz.
"Kaz, you have to be good now. We're going to have to take this to Garron and the Council, right away."
"No!" Kaz pushed away from her arms, violently. "No! They'll kill them!"
"Kaz - "
"They will and you know it!"
"Kill who?" Alex was confused by this sudden change in atmosphere.
"My litter." Kaz whined, his hands wrapped tightly around his stomach.
"Why would they do that?" Alex asked, bewildered, but the BD ignored his inquiry.
"Kaz, now, you have to think about what's best for them."
"No!" Kaz was openly sobbing now.
"Kaz, think of the lives they'd have."
"Don't take them! Please, don't! Don't make me."
"Kaz - "
"I'll take them away, I'll leave, but don't kill them!" Kaz's hysteria was rising exponentially, and the BD decided that the best course of action might be to leave the subject alone.
"Alright, Kaz. We won't take your litter." Kaz looked desperate and hopeful at once.
"Do you promise?"
"I promise." the BD now stroked his head gently, fingering the curls that were interspersed with tiny, short braids. "But only if you promise to get some rest now. And that you won't overwork yourself anymore. And you have to start eating better, or someone will accuse you of neglect." Kaz nodded vigorously.
"I will."
"Alright, then." she got to her feet as Kaz laid back down in the bed and pulled the blankets up to his chest. "Have a nap, and we'll come get you when it's time to go home, alright?" Kaz nodded again and the BD went to the door, gesturing for Alex and the nurse to follow.

~~~~~

Away from the private rooms and back towards the main entrance, she stopped.
"First Alpha Mate Alexei, do you think it would be possible to contact your mate at the moment?"
Alex shrugged.
"He may be in conference, but I'll call for him."
The doctor frowned, then looked off down the hallway towards the room where Kaz was sleeping.
"They won't let him keep the litter." she said, thinking out loud. Alex looked at her, surprised.
"Then you lied."
She glanced briefly at him, then shrugged and nodded.
"If he's telling the truth, they'll probably give him Recall therapy anyway. He won't remember it."
"If? You think he's lying?"
This time she looked genuinely surprised.
"No. I know Kaz. And, unfortunately, I know Péron." she paused. "I've seen him, these past months, skulking around here, and I've noticed him talking to Kaz. It didn't seem especially strange; these males all do seem to adore him, and I supposed Péron was just joining the masses." she sighed. "But I do wish I'd been more careful now." she looked back to Alex. "At any rate, we'll have to report it."
She continued on down the hallway and Alex walked up, trying to keep pace with her as Blit trailed behind.

~~~~~

Upstairs, in the mid-level conference room, one of the wolfes at the table was looking up, slowly entering the conversation.
"Kaz?" he leaned back slightly in his chair, a smile creeping across his face. "I know that one. Nurse, isn't he? Came in to give me my physical once." The edge of his mouth quirked into a smile that Mikal didn't at all appreciate. "I offered twice to return the favor."
The other wolfes roared with laughter, but Mikal just narrowed his eyes at the wolfe staring easily back at him from across the table. The wolfe squared his shoulders and Mikal tensed to growl.
"Easy," Kriston chuckled, "Easy, he's only making fun. He's no intentions for your mate."
The wolfe looked surprised.
"He's your mate? My apolog - "
"No." Garron cut in, laughing. "They're not mated. He's protective already and he hasn't even got his lit in him yet."
At his elder wolfe's teasing and assurance that the other meant him no harm, Mikal relaxed, just a little.
"Haven't even got my dick in him yet." he amended, and the laughter renewed.
"Well, you haven't pursued him, really." Kriston pointed out mildly. "He's probably no idea how serious your intentions are."
"Go and get him if you want him!" another of the wolfes cried out.
"It's not that simple." Mikal mumbled, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
"What's the problem?" another anonymous voice ventured.
"I don't think he'd want me."
"What, has someone got him already?"
"No, no one's got him. I dunno why,” Mikal admitted, shifting uncomfortably. “It's just what I think.”
Garron shook his head.
“No, it's what you're afraid of. But it isn't true, you know.” he laughed, “I've seen him keep a seat for you at noonmeal for half a year now. And wasn't it him who had your sparring clothes smelling of jasmine the entire springtime that he was working in the laundry?”
Mikal blushed furiously. He'd been teased about that for two years now.
“He was trying to be nice.”
“Of course he was, because he's in love with you.”
“But the others - “
"- all think you're already after him." Kriston interjected. Mikal suddenly began to greatly dislike this discussion.
"Well, that's wrong. I haven't got any intentions for him, and he hasn't got any for me."
"Oh, we've all got intentions." One of the older wolfes spoke. "It's actions that are important."
"Listen, what's his favorite food?" Another anonymous voice.
"Gualup meat, broiled lightly, with lots of cheese."
"And what color are his eyes?"
"Green, with little bits of brown and gold."
Some of the wolfes laughed.
"You're desperate over him." one of the Elder wolfes said, smiling. "So tell him that you'll have him in for dinner and make gualup. Take him outdoors, watch the sun set, lead him to the hot baths, and you can have him nursing by this moon next year."
The other wolfes around the table nodded and Mikal considered the suggestion.
"Maybe." he frowned. "It's always hard to get him away, though. He works so much."
"Long hours, at his age?" Garron queried. "Who's allowing that?"
"No one," Mikal responded, quick to defuse any potential situation. "He volunteers to do it sometimes, then sneaks in and stays anyway when they send him home. He just loves being able to help."
Garron grunted.
"Well, there's something you'll have to break him of once you're his mate."
Here, another of the older wolfes added:
"You know it isn't good for them, the young ones. Too much work, too much stress – makes them infertile and ill-tempered. To have one of those qualities in a mate is misfortune, but two is just unbearable."
The other wolfes chuckled at this.
"Anyway,” Garron went on, “You're going to have to go and talk to him; tell him what you want from him now, or you'll never get it."
"OK." Mikail nodded, trying to end the conversation. "I'll do it. I'll talk to him after we conclude here."
"Excellent!” Garron, ever the troublemaker, beamed, “Because if my Legion have no further objections," here he looked meaningfully around the room, "then we can close and you can go and do it right now."
Mikal paled a little.
"Now...now?"
"Yes. Rirrorin," he said, gesturing to one of the other wolfes, "Call my mate; tell him that he and Kaz are urgently needed at the council room."

~~~

Alex heard the wall call his name as he passed, and he froze in place, then backed up to answer it.
"Um, hello?"
He felt incredibly stupid talking to a wall, but the Beta Doctor didn't look perturbed, and Blit just looked worried about Kaz, who was standing close to the wall and looking a bit worse for the wear, so he figured it couldn't be too out of the ordinary.
"Sorry to disturb you, First Alpha Mate Alexei, but Our Alpha requests your presence in the council room as soon as possible."
Alex quirked one eyebrow.
"An uncanny coincidence, as I was just on my way there."
There was a pause at the other end.
"Good. Good, then. Also, he says to bring the nurse named Kaz. Someone here would like to speak to him."
Everyone in Alex's party carried matching looks of shock. Well, everyone except for Kaz, who simply continued to look as if he were about to be ill.
"We'll be there immediately. Who am I speaking with, liege?"
"Officer Rirrorin, First Alpha Mate."
"Ah, da, OK." Alex tried very hard to remember which one Rirrorin was. "See you soon, then. Dosvedanya."
"Dosvedanya, First Alpha Mate."

~~~

The group arrived and, at the Beta Doctor's suggestion, Alex went in first to speak to Garron and discreetly lay the foundation for the admission that was to come. Immediately recognizing both the delicacy of the situation and the incomparably poor timing, Garron defused the entire thing by teasingly telling Mikal that Alexei had issues of a human nature to discuss with him, and perhaps the Colwinter Festival in three weeks would be a better time for Mikal to publicly present himself to his future mate. More relieved than curious, the young wolfe did not question his good fortune, but left immediately, following Rirrorin, his camp leader, and Second Alpha Wolfe Kriston towards the outer perimeter of the compound for midday patrol rounds. Kaz, waiting in the opposite hallways, managed to miss him.

~~~~~

"These accusations are quite disturbing, First Alpha Mate Alex." the Elder wolfe sat heavily down. Around the table, looks were being exchanged. Alex was seated at the center left, with a red-eyed and miserable-looking Kaz beside him. Garron sat across the table, praising the moon for her cleverness in sending Kriston out on patrol before this issue could come up. Discussing Péron with the Second Alpha at the table was like setting fire to a stack of hay and inviting a tank of gasoline.
"We're aware. But they are true."
the Elder nodded, then turned slowly to Kaz.
"Kaz, we're going to need you to tell us exactly what's happened."
Alex looked at him and Kaz nodded.
"Péron and I met six months ago; I was treating him for burns after a South Woods struggle. He was OK then - kind of indifferent to me, it seemed. But then about a week later, he showed up at the infirmary. Said he was still getting some pain from his burns, and some other body aches, so I told him that I would look him over." Kaz swallowed. "And it seemed like he was kind of coming on to me, but I didn't want to be vain. I took him to one of the rooms, and it was OK because, you know, they're glass. But then he wanted to go to a private room. So we went, and then he started asking me all these questions - like if I was bonded yet, and I told him no, and then he really was coming on to me, and he – well, he's Péron, he's so powerful, I didn't..." he trailed off.
"You're frightened of him?" another wolfe prodded. Kaz didn't say anything - just looked shiftily around. "It's alright if you are, Kaz. Just remember that our authority outranks his. Even if he told you not to, you have to tell us everything."
Kaz looked desperately up at the Elder.
"He's so...big. I just didn't want him to be angry with me."
"You meant to refuse him?"
Kaz nodded.
"It's just that I don't - I mean, I know that he's a very powerful and respectable and worthy wolfe, but he's just...not my mate." Kaz cast desperately around for understanding. The wolfes around him exchanged glances.
"Go on, Kaz."
"In - in the private room, he locked the door, and that made me nervous, but I couldn't get past him to unlock it and I didn't want to make him upset. Then he started to ask me stuff: whether I had any family, and why I wasn't bonded. Then he started coming closer to me, and I panicked, and I just wanted to make him leave me alone, and so I told him that I was tested sterile. I know that it's wrong to lie to a superior wolfe, but I just thought it would put him off me." Kaz trailed off. "But I think that's exactly what he was looking for." There was a disturbed silence.
"Then he asked me what the first thing was that I'd learnt in Academy. And I told him - obedience. And he asked me if ignoring a direct request from a superior wolfe would be disobedient. And I didn't really understand where he was going, so I said yes. And then he told me to come to him, and I was really scared then, because he had this look, and I kind of started to know what was happening." Kaz focused hard on the table in front of him.
"My friend, he told me before that sometimes really powerful wolfes can take you as a mate without your consent, and that you have to accept them. So I kind of thought that maybe Péron was doing that, because I didn't think that wolfes did things like that to betas without mating them. I guess that was wrong." There was more silence at the table, and Kaz scrubbed at his eyes with one wrist.
"So he said to come to him, again, and I came, even though I was scared, because I didn't know what else to do, and he said not to be afraid of him, and then he started to touch me, and -" Kaz's voice hitched and the tears started to come again.
"Come, Kaz." Alex rubbed his shoulder. "The quicker you tell, the quicker this can all be over with." Kaz nodded, swallowed a knot in his throat, and went on.
"And he started to undress me, and I asked him to stop and he didn't, and I told him that I wasn't ready, and he growled at me, and I got scared so I pushed him and told him to stop, and he hit me, hard, and said that maybe I would have already been mated if I wasn't so damned disrespectful. He said that I should thank him for what he was about to do because it would be helping me; he said he was going to teach me my place in the Pack. And then I really knew what was definitely happening, and I went for the door, but he grabbed me by my neck and I couldn't get away anymore, and then he -" his voice broke again, "he had me."
"Right there?" one of the Elders asked. Kaz bowed his head again, humiliated.
"On the desk." Kaz was starting to tear up again. "And it hurt, really bad, and then I thought about what he said, and…I know I don't always do exactly what I'm supposed to; I can be disobedient, and I can be kind of insolent sometimes, even without meaning to. And in Academy, they taught us that bad things happen to bad betas, so I don't know. I just thought maybe..."
Kaz shook his head, light brown curls falling forward over his eyes.
"But at the time, I was mostly just confused because I didn't understand why, if he thought I was such a bad beta, he would try to mate me. So then I asked him, after - " he stopped again and took in several long breaths. "After he finished. I asked him if he was going to mate me now, or if he would wait until I was finished my training because maybe I would be a better beta then, and he laughed and said that he would think about it." he swallowed slowly. "Then I understood. Then it made sense. And I felt really dumb." There was a pause, and one of the elders spoke.
"Please go on, Kaz. I know it's hard." Kaz glanced a thanks at him and started again.
"Then I tried to get up, but he told me to stay where I was." the tears were coming again, and Kaz sucked in a ragged breath and didn't bother wiping his eyes. "He just made me stand like that, forever, and everything still hurt, and I felt -" Kaz stopped himself, and closed his eyes to take three deep breaths in.
"And then I cried, and he told me not to cry, because I had pleased him." Kaz's lip trembled. "I'm so stupid."
Alex rubbed his shoulder and leaned close to him.
"You're not stupid, Kaz. Tell them the rest."
Kaz picked at the table and tried to slow his breathing.
"And he told me not to say anything about it to anyone, because if I did, then he'd say that I offered myself, and I'd get put in the Lower Levels." Kaz turned desperately to Alex.
"But I don't deserve that, First Alpha Mate - I didn't do anything! I didn't offer myself, I swear. I don't deserve the Lower Levels - you have to believe me!" An elder raised a hand, and Kaz quieted.
"When did you next see him after that, Kaz?"
Kaz hesitated before responding.
"He would come to my room."
"When?"
"At different times. But he always knew when I was home, I think." Kaz glanced up at Alex. "That's why I started working so much. I thought that if I was always there, then he couldn't get to me. But that was stupid, too. He started to come to find me, and I was scared that he would make a scene if I didn't go with him, and besides, I thought -" Kaz trailed off and shook his head.
"Please go on, Kaz." Another of the elders spoke gently to him.
"I thought that maybe if I did what he wanted, then he'd think that I was obedient, and that I was a good beta, and then he would bondmate me."
A wave of pitying looks passed around the table.
"Did you go through your Change alone, Kaz?"
The human nodded.
"I just...I mean, I knew, from working in the infirmary, what was going to happen, so I just took some of the pain dopes home with me that day and then I just...stayed home."
"That's a very dangerous thing to do, Kaz. Any complications could have occurred, and no one would have even known to help you." one of the Elders scolded.
Kaz looked frightened again.
"I had no other choice, Alpha. Please, you have to understand me; I couldn't tell."
"Kaz, did you even think this through? You knew that you were not sterile. You had completed your Change for this wolfe, and now...what? You would simply hide the pups, or pretend they didn't exist? How could you possibly think this would be kept a secret?"
Kaz took a long moment and concentrated very hard on not looking at Alex when he answered.
"I used iodine."
A murmur went up through the room, and the Elder who had been questioning him sat back in his seat, seemingly stunned into some kind of satisfaction. There was some argument, a few raised voices before Garron made a plea for order and glanced viciously at Alexei, who shrank back a bit himself.

"Kaz, another question, if you can." the gentle Elder from before was speaking. "You said he would come for you, sometimes in the middle of the day. Where did he take you when he came for you like this?"
If the iodine question didn't do it, this one did: Kaz looked quite on the verge of sickness now.
"To his office." There was a shocked silence in the room. Kaz went on. "But, I didn't see anything! No papers or plans or anything like that, I swear. I wouldn't have looked anyway, Elder, because those things are not for a human's eyes, but he was careful never to let me."
The silence drew on until finally, one Elder stood.
"His memories will have to be searched. Take him to the infirmary immediately."

~~~

Back in the infirmary, Kaz sat nervously in the chair while Alex held his hand and the nurses bustled around him.
"This won't hurt the puppies, will it?"
"No; it won't hurt you, either, OK?" Kaz nodded, then sighed.
"How long will it take?"
"Only about twenty minutes; but you're going to have to stay here for a few days while the information is reviewed." Kaz sighed again, and Alex rubbed his shoulder reassuringly.
"Everything's going to be OK, Kaz."
Kaz looked hopefully up at his mentor.
"Nothing - nothing's going to happen to me, right?" Alex eyed the nurses as they moved away, then leaned conspiratorially in to whisper in Kaz's ear.
"I swear on my life that I won't let them hurt you."
Kaz grinned thankfully up at Alex, who patted his head and turned to go.
"I'll see you as soon as they're done."

~~~

The depth of his memories meant that it took more than three days for the Council to decide Kaz's fate. Alex came to see Kaz on the morning of the verdict, bearing news of what the Council had called.
"Good news! You're free to go without illegal use of contraception charges."
"I am?" Kaz was ecstatic. He threw his arms around Alex and squeezed him tight.
"Yup." Alex smiled and sat down next to his friend. "Just one more quick scan, and then you can get out of here."
Kaz breathed a sigh of relief and Alex stroked his hair.
"Everyone's missed you at the infirmary. Place isn't the same without you. Even patients ask."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh. And there's one warrior-medic in particular who's been very concerned about you." Kaz shook his head at the mention of Mikal.
"It's only because he doesn't know.” he said, morosely. “He wouldn't want me anymore if he knew."
"Kaz." Alex fingered one of the braids in Kaz's hair. "Mikal loves you."
Kaz shook his head in denial.
"Not if – not if I have a fatherless litter. He'll hate me. He'll think I'm disloyal. And he won't want me infertile because I'm nursing pups that aren't his. He'll make me give them up too early, and they'll die."
Kaz stated all of these things with a sort of matter-of-fact resignation, and Alex wasn't sure what to say in response, so he just stroked Kaz's hair and tried to be a comfort. Just then, the door cracked open and the Recall therapist poked his head in.
"One last one, Kazzy."
Kaz groaned, but the Recall therapist just smiled, shook his head, and started to set up his machine.

~~~

The whole thing went pretty quickly, Alex reflected. In less than two hours, the machine was gone, the nurses were cleaning up the room and bringing fresh flowers, and Kaz was sleeping peacefully. The Recall therapist nodded gently to Alex as he headed for the door.
"That was quick."
"Since the Council had sifted through his memories so thoroughly for Péron's trial, the ones meant to be deleted were already distinctly tagged and marked. Erasing them was a breeze, First Alpha Mate. And when he wakes up, he can go home."
Alex nodded.
"And the li -"
"Gone. He'll never know." Alex nodded and the Recall therapist smiled at him and left.

~~~~~

Mikal was pacing outside of the room where Kaz was being treated. He didn't know what was going on, or what was wrong with Kaz, and no one would tell him anything, which only made him worry more. Alex had come through one or two times, looking slightly concerned, but had just patted Mikal on the shoulder and told him that everything was fine and Kaz would be alright by the end of the day. Finally, the door cracked open again.

"Mikal?" Alex's face poked out and he smiled.
"First Alpha Mate Alexei! What's going on? Is he OK?"
Alex grinned at the young wolfe's concern for his soon-to-be mate.
"Come on; he's awake and everything. You can come in. They say he's ready to go, as long as someone will escort him to his room." Mikal smiled wide and rushed into the room, almost pushing Alex out of the way, and slid into the chair by Kaz's bedside. Alex, figuring that the two could probably use a little time alone, stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
"Mika!" the relief on Kaz's face was palpable.
"Kasska." Mika took Kaz into his arms and held him for long minutes.
When he finally let go, he smiled broadly.
"They said I can take you home." Kaz's eyes widened a little and Mika frowned, embarrassed, and shook his head. "I meant walk you home. Walk you home."
"Oh." Kaz said, looking away and playing with a thread from his blanket.
"What happened, Kasska?"
Kaz wrinkled his nose.
"I had the Lack. It must've been really bad. I don't really remember much."
"Really?"
"I guess they weren't even sure what it was for a while - I was quarantined."
Mika nodded in understanding. Unknown diseases were always quarantined in Wolvish compounds. Disease could spread at terrifying rates with so many living so close together. Quarantines were also kept secret, to prevent general panic. That explained why no one would tell him anything about Kaz, and why he'd passed out in the infirmary.
"But you're OK now?"
"Mmhmm. They gave me my shots, fixed me all up. I'm feeling much better." Kaz grinned cheekily. "So yeah, you can take me home now."
Mika reddened a little.
"I'll get a chair for you." he turned to go, but Kaz's hand stopped him.
"Mika, I'm not that sick. I can walk, you know."
Mikal looked doubtfully at his companion, but Kaz set his jaw and took up a determined posture, and Mikal didn't want to upset him.
"OK. Well, we can go then."
As they left the room, Alex caught Mikal by the wrist and stopped him.
"Garron told me to give you a message; now that Kaz is well again, he sees no point in waiting for the Festival. He expects a speech at dinner tonight."

~~~~~

Dinner that night was tense. Mikal and Kaz were invited to dine at Garron's table, and were seated three chairs down from their respective Alphas. Garron kept throwing glances Mikal's way; the longer the night went on, the more disapproving they became, until finally, the young wolfe simply couldn't stand it anymore. But what could he do? He knew what was expected of him; Garron and he had had a long discussion earlier. He knew that it was make or break time; he would have to propose to Kaz, and he would have to do it tonight. At dinner. With everyone watching. How could -
"You look uncomfortable, Mikal." Garron's voice invaded his thoughts. Mikal shook his head.
"No, First Alpha Wolfe Garron. I am simply...hungry."
"You've already eaten." Garron pointed out reasonably.
"I have an appetite tonight."
"Well, that promises for Kaz."
Mikal almost choked on his water.
"My First - "
"I think it's time, don't you?" Garron looked at him meaningfully, while Kaz, who had noticed the commotion, turned to look after his wolfe friend, patting Mika lightly on the back.
"Are you OK? Are you choking?" Mikal nodded, and smiled meekly at Kaz.
"Just swallowed wrong." Kaz nodded, and Garron looked hard at Mikal, and Kriston began to notice what was going on.
"Time?" he asked mildly, and Alex tugged on Garron's sleeve.
"What's going on?" Garron shook his head as Mikal got to his feet. Kaz mouthed a question, but Mikal pretended that he hadn't seen it. Garron cleared his throat, and Mika waited until he had the attention of the room, then spoke.
"As you all know, I have just recently received the honor of my position." There was an approving murmur around the room. "And, this being true, my First and I have come to conference on certain topics." Mikal paused, and for a moment, Kriston wondered if he would be able to do it after all. He felt a bit sorry for the young wolfe – after all, he himself hadn't had to go to such public and extraordinary measures when he'd taken a mate. "There is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time, and I would like you all to take part in this with me."
There was a quiet but confused murmuring, then Mikal spoke again.
"Kaz." Mikal spoke his name so low that most didn't hear it, and even his table had to strain. Kaz met his eyes, rapt with attention and questions.
"I have..." he trailed off, and Garron leaned forward in his chair. "I have loved you for a very long time now. If you would do me the honor of considering becoming my mate, I would be forever in your debt." All eyes shifted to Kaz, who was staring hard at the table.
"Don't tell me no, Kasska." Mikal wished softly.
Kaz didn't respond at first, just continued to stare at the table, and Mikal began to feel real fear. Around the room, there was a muffled shifting. Kaz bit his lip and looked up at his wolfe, his companion, his best friend in all the world.
"I would never tell you no, Kalya. Of course."
Applause rang throughout the chamber, and Kriston and Garron both let out an imperceptibly held breath. Mikal smiled wide, and lifted Kaz bodily from the chair to kiss him.
"You'll mate me, then?" he whispered against his beta's ear.
"Of course."
"Tonight?" he asked eagerly and Kaz laughed.
"Tomorrow." he kissed Mikal's ear. " And every day thereafter."

~~~~~

First Winter, Year Three (3rd Moon)

Winter had progressed, and with it, the date of Péron's execution had grown closer. All efforts on the part of any pacifists and progressives had been to naught and the night before Damon reached his seventh month, Péron and his men had finally been put to death. Kaz had gotten a sudden headache upon hearing it mentioned in the infirmary, but this had been attributed to stress over an upcoming bonding and so he had simply been sent home to rest. Damon had made his mate swear never to take from him the last thing he truly possessed, and so Kriston had agreed to leave his memories alone. Subsequently, Damon had been put (or forced, rather) into therapy and Kriston, who had spent the earlier months of his marriage and mate's pregnancy maintaining the same level of distance that he had in his bachelor years, had been told to get involved or get out. Wisely, he had adjusted to spend more time with his mate and Damon grew increasingly used to (and even happy with) his new life.

One afternoon while Damon was napping and Kriston was going over the monthly crop reports, there was a frantic knocking at the door. Kriston went to open it and saw there a tired-looking young nurse. He bowed.
"Sir, First Alpha Mate Alex is birthing."
"Now?" Kriston asked worriedly.
"He's early. First Alpha Wolfe Garron has sent for you."
"Is Alex alright?"
"The doctors say there's no need for worry, but he's well into it, practically at the important part, so we should hurry." The nurse bowed again and turned. Kriston went to the bed and shook Damon awake.
"Darling, come on, we've got to go." Damon lifted his head.
"Wha-why?"
"Alex, love, he's in labor."
"Oh." Damon shook himself awake, and Kriston helped him out of bed. They followed the nurse through the halls to the nursery level, and then into a small room. Two doctors stood against the wall to the right, and Alex lay on the large bed that occupied most of the room. Alex was crying out in pain and writhing as Garron, decked out in med gear, worked at attending to him. Garron looked up when he heard Kriston enter, and relief flooded his features.
"Damon! Calm him, please! Kriston - here?" Garron was more panicked than Damon had ever seen, and it made him anxious. He went to stand next to Alex's head and bent over his friend, stroking his hair.
"Easy, boy, it's going to be OK, buddy, you're doing fine, alright?" Alex looked up at him and nodded. He squinted against the pain.
"Aagh, Damon..." Alex reached desperately out for his friend.
"I'm here, just keep breathing." Damon took his hand.
"This thing hurts." Alex squeezed tight. Damon swallowed.
"I know, but it'll all be done soon." Alex whimpered.
"Alex! The first one is crowning! Push, puppy."
Alex managed to do as he was told, and thirty-four grueling minutes later, the last puppy was out. Alex, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness, had finally decided on out, and Garron was gently cleaning his sleeping mate.
"Wonderful." Kriston said, kissing the top of Damon's head. "You were such a help."
Damon accepted the praise, but was silent. He was silent as he followed Kriston and Garron out of the room. He was silent as they helped Alex into a bed. He was silent on the walk back through the halls to the Alpha quarters.
It was only when they'd arrived back at their own wing that he spoke.
"Kriston,” he said, his voice having qualities of both terror and utter calm, “I can't do that." Kriston blinked at him.
"Do what?"
"THAT." Damon gestured vaguely, and Kriston turned to look behind himself. "What Alex did. Actually have the puppies. I can't do that." Kriston blinked again, in surprise, before enveloping his mate in a hug.
"Of course you can."
"No!" Damon resisted the embrace, but Kriston didn't let him go.
"Yes. I'll be there the whole time, I promise. It'll be fine."
"S'easy for you to say." he mumbled against his wolfe's chest.
"I swear I'll take care of you." Damon ground his jaw for a minute, then laid his head on Kriston's shoulder.
"What if something goes wrong?" he asked in a small voice.
"Nothing's going to go wrong, I'll see to it." Kriston laid a kiss on his mate's forehead. "Now why don't you go back to sleep for a while?"
Still worried, but no longer interested in talking about it, Damon nodded tiredly and allowed his wolfe to lead him to bed.

~~~~~

One week later, Damon and Kriston went to Alex's nursery to see the puppies. There was a large, low bed in the center of the room, and Garron and Alex were spooned together on it. Around Alex were 5 tiny babies, three with tails and two without.
"Day." Alex smiled weakly when they entered. Damon smiled at his friend.
"Alex. You look wonderful. And your litter is perfect."
Damon looked down at each of the tiny, wriggling bundles adoringly. Kriston came up behind him, sliding his hands forward and around, supporting Damon's stomach.
"We'll have ours soon." the wolfe reminded him.
"I know." Damon answered, tensing under his wolfe's touch. Kriston felt it and pulled back.
"What's wrong, cub?"
"Nothing, I just - may I talk to Alex?” Damon asked, then added, “Alone?"
Kriston raised an eyebrow, but complied and moved away.
"Sure." Kriston looked to Garron, who was removing himself delicately from the bed. "We'll be outside."
Once they were gone, Damon curled up next to Alex in Garron's vacated spot in the bed.
"You don't look so good." Alex observed, cradling a puppy in his arms. Damon just groaned.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, watching two of the pups wiggle.
"Like hell." Alex grinned wryly. "But it's worth it." Alex picked up one of the babies. "They're so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined." Damon smiled.
"They're going to love you." Damon grinned at his friend. "Do they have names yet?"

~~~~~