Rift. (Rewritten in 2010)

Endwinter, Year Two (11th Moon)

It was late afternoon, and, despite the cold, Damon had gone to sit outside with Alex. Now that Péron's final trial date was set, he and Kriston felt they could relax. Damon had begun to settle into compound life, and he and Alex, who had developed an intense desire to be outdoors in the latter months of his pregnancy (which convinced him that his litter was mostly wolfe), had taken to garden lunches.
"Think he's mad at me?" Damon pondered aloud, looking up from the untouched plate before him.
"No, I think he's worried about you." Alex responded. Damon nodded, but still looked concerned.
"He's been acting funny lately. Like he's avoiding telling me something." Damon furrowed his brow for a moment, considering what to say next, and just then, Kriston came up behind him. He covered Damon's eyes with his right hand, then lifted it to reveal a small bunch of flowers clasped in his left. Damon smiled and Kriston took his hand.
"C'mon, let's go. I want to steal you for a minute." Kriston nodded towards the building, and Damon glanced back at Alex, who waved goodbye, then got up to follow.
"Where're we going?" Damon asked, smiling as he followed his alpha towards the portico that led inside.
"Just for a walk." Kriston held the door for his mate, ushering him in with a widely exaggerated gesture.
"Indoors, Kriston?" Damon asked, laughing, as Kriston led him by the hand to the elevator.
"We just have to stop in for a second." the wolfe reassured, kissing his mate's neck.
"Kriston, where are we going?" Damon giggled as the elevator stopped. Kriston didn't answer, only led him out and down the hallway. Damon grew slightly nervous.
"Kriston?" When the wolfe remained silent, Damon's apprehension magnified, but he followed his wolfe anyway. When they reached the end of the hallway, Damon suddenly realized where he was. Hesitation quickly bloomed into full-fledged hysterics.
"Why are we at the infirmary, Kriston?" Damon backed away from the looming double doors.
"Because, puppy, we need to take care of some things."
"I'm not sick, Kriston, I feel fine."
"I know, puppy, it's not about that."
"There's nothing wrong with me, Kriston, I'm fine, I don't need to go in there." Damon pulled his hand away from Kriston and crossed his arms.
"I know you're fine, pup. We just have to go in for a minute, OK? Just a minute, then we can leave."
"Why do I have to go in?"
"It's just for a minute, puppy."
"I'm not going in!"
"Damon..."
"You can't make me!"
"Damon, that's enough."
"I'm not sick, Kriston!" Kriston sighed and there was a moment of silence. Then, swiftly, he surged forward, closed his arms around Damon, mindful of his now-sensitive belly, and lifted him. Damon kicked viciously, wriggling to get free, but Kriston kept control easily, his strength overpowering his young mate. Inside the infirmary doors, a nurse joined in the scuffle, on Kriston's side, and helped restrain Damon to a bed. Damon tugged at his bonds sadly for a moment, then whimpered and looked pitifully up at Kriston. His eyes were full of a hurt and betrayal that made the wolfe cringe.

~~~~~

Kriston stood behind the glass, watching silently. The doctors had been sifting through Damon's memories for an hour now, and had enough evidence to determine a sentence for his five abusers. Though the procedure was not painful, Damon had had to be sedated, and now lay sleeping. At last, the doctors finished, and Kriston was allowed to take his mate home. Refusing offers of help from his lieges, he lifted Damon's sleeping form himself and carried his mate back to their floor. He laid Damon down on the bed and tucked him in, then climbed in next to him.

When Kriston awoke, he was alone in bed, but Damon's presence was evident. Clothes littered the floor around the closet, and the distinct smell of Damon's cologne lingered on the air. There was a rustling in the bathroom, and Kriston sat up to look. Damon jumped when he came out of the door, seeing Kriston awake and sitting. He reflexively pulled his T-shirt down to cover his stomach, but Kriston leapt forward to stop him.
"Show me." the demand was softened into something like a question. Damon flushed, but did as requested and lifted his shirt just enough to show his stomach. Kriston was mesmerized. He reached out to stroke Damon's belly, not looking at his mate.
"How long has it been?" he asked quietly.
"Four and a half months." Damon said without intonation.
"I've missed a lot of it, haven't I?" Kriston's regret was evident in his words. Damon was quiet.
"I guess so." Kriston frowned, then took Damon's hands in his own and pulled him down to lie on the bed. As they laid there together, Kriston moved, stretching his body over his mate's and nuzzling Damon's neck gently.
"Love you, puppy." he murmured against Damon's skin. Damon shivered with the sensation and turned into his alpha's touch. “And I always will.”

~~~~~