Home sweet home

The Alpha and soon-to-be Luna arrive home from the Luna’s birthday break. Blaze was pacing in front of the packhouse waiting for them, whatever magic or force was used to tie him to that hellhound was strong, it was hard for him to fight the urge to go to it, but since the Alpha had threatened to remove his balls if he had followed them, Blaze had decided that it was in his best interests to remain where he was on the pack lands. There was, however, not a cat in hell’s chance that he would let the Princess out of his sight undefended. The Alpha was one thing, but that hellhound was bound to him.

Finally, the car pulled into view in front of the packhouse. “There you go, your dog’s home now, you can stop wearing a hole in the drive,” Loki said, slapping Blaze on the shoulder as he dashed past, his enthusiasm for winding his brother up knowing no bounds, he pulled Ash from the car and into a tight bear hug before launching into a speech full of the pointless pack gossip that Blaze knew would not interest Ash in the slightest but may be useful for her to know. Ash’s eyes met Blazes over the little brother's shoulder, a gaze that told him she could tell there was something wrong, he ignored it as he let the hound free of the back of the car.

Micah grabbed their bags from the boot of the car, staring after his mate who was currently being herded inside by his brother. His face was carefully schooled, not to show any emotion, but his eyes followed the girl with a heated gaze.

“Your hound distracted my mate…. it was most inconvenient” Micah growled at Blaze as they stood alone on the drive.

“Shadow says the same thing about you” Blaze replied with a shrug, quickly jumping out of the way of the blow aimed at his face, “hey, not the face man!” He added with a laugh.

The two walked into the packhouse together, Blaze slipping into the shadows with his hound as if they called to him while Micah drew the attention of everyone they passed without meaning to. It allowed Blaze to watch, observe and assess the pack. No one noticed him in the shadows until he wanted them to.

Micah was aware of the faerie and the hound following him up to the apartment in the attic, he had seen the man disappear into the shadows just behind him, much like the hound did when threatened. Their connection was something he couldn't work out, how does one come to meet someone with control over hell hounds, let alone have one bound to you for life? What must the man have done? It was no secret that he was unseelie, considered to be the darker side of the species, much more secretive if that were possible, self-serving even. And yet, here he was and there was no denying the bond between him and Ash, it was clear for all to see. How they had missed that the fucking wizard was an imposter baffles now seeing Blaze and Shadow with Ash.

They reached the entryway to the apartment and Micah felt a gentle nudge on his back. “No, go in, I want to talk to you,” Blaze said from the shadows. Micah hadn't even realised he had made the decision to just launch the bags through the door and head back downstairs.

Confused and unsure how the other man knew what he was planning before he consciously made a decision, Micah headed into the lounge anyway.

“What is it?” He demanded when Blaze showed no signs of speaking, only fussing over the hound. “Surely you don’t need me here to watch you play with your dog?”

“Grumpy…”

****************************************************************

Micah had left the flat at speed once Blaze had finally told him what he needed to. Blaze followed him in the shadows. He had only been gone for a week, how had this happened in a week? 5 warriors sick in the hospital? And what on the goddess's green earth could even make a werewolf sick? They didn't get sick once they got their wolves. He had to come up with a way of containing this. They couldn't afford to lose any more people for goddess only knew how long. Werewolves don’t get sick. What is going on?

“Doc, what is this? Have we dealt with this before? What’s going on?” Micah demanded the second he set eyes on the doctor, who was pulling a face mask from his face.

“Ah, Alpha, well, I wish I had some answers for you, I really do. All I can say right now is that it seems to be spread by close contact. All of the affected persons were in close contact with each other in a day or two before they became ill. The first symptoms seem to be a rash, and a loss of inhibitions before an uncontrollable fever sets in that causes delirium, hallucinations and eventually coma, the rash covers the whole body, turning the skin bright red and incredibly sensitive to light, touch and prone to injury. We have been trying to work out who was infected first and how but they are all unconscious now, it is of some blessing, they were in a lot of pain. Perhaps the Luna-”

Micah cut across the doctor however “No, My mate will come nowhere near this until we have a better handle on it, she does not need to be exposed”

“Alpha, with all due respect, the answers could be in the history books. And we do not know if the Luna is even susceptible. Blaze has been here since the first warrior became sick and he shows no signs despite being in close contact with all the victims with little protection… Alpha, this could be a sickness that only wolves are susceptible to”

“That is not the point, my mate does not need the stress of this”

“Micah, I get it, my stomach is in knots at the thought of her being anywhere near this, but this is what she is destined to do. She is here to help you with these kinds of things or record them for the future, she needs to know” Blaze said softly from where he stood leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the corridor.

Shaking his head firmly at the pair of them, Micah walked in the direction of the dark room where his warriors lay. Ignoring both men’s cries that he needed to wear a gown and face mask at the very least.

“Dude, be sensible! You can’t leave her yet, what if this is deliberate? What if they are trying to get to you?!” Blaze called, it was too late though, Micah was already in the middle of the room.

The Alpha fell to his knees with his head in his hands, “I don’t understand… wolves don’t get sick… how?” He asked no one in particular as Blaze lifted him back to his feet and dragged him from the room.