“Here,” he held out his hands to her which held small shiny things, they looked metallic. Puzzled and curious, she gently took them in her own hands, quietly examining them. The Alpha had shut his closet drawer and reentered his bathroom, leaving her to hold the objects and try and guess what they were. They looked like oval metallic wires, and as she pushed on one side, it popped out of the metallic sleeve on the end to reveal a sharp end.

She wondered what it was for and why he had given it to her.

In her intense examination, she did not realize that the Alpha had emerged from the bathroom again, holding something in his hands.

“Careful,” his deep voice startled her, making her jump and accidentally prick her finger on the sharp end, a stinging pain that lasted for but a second.

“Ow,” she whimpered on instinct, but before she could even try and look at it, the Alpha was immediately on her and gently grabbing at her hand. Overpowered by his now very evident scent and his warm touch, she simply looked at his actions with wide eyes and flushing cheeks. His face was very close to hers as he bent to examine her finger, eyes dark and brows furrowed.

It looked almost… cute?

When he was assured that it did not do much damage, there wasn’t any blood really, he let out a deep sigh of relief and stood back up. Robin didn’t fail to notice though that he kept her hand in his, snug and tight.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have startled you,” he looked down at her, the scowl still on his face that accentuated his very stone-like features. He genuinely looked like a stone statue at times, and it made Robin wonder how this beauty of a man could have such a bad reputation, especially when he was fussing over a small injury like so.

“It’s alright, it didn’t even hurt that much,” Robin mustered a smile, speaking in an even tone to try and assure the big and hulking man. “If I had known that it was sharp, I would’ve been more careful as well.”

At that, the Alpha had raised a brow at her, looking even more confused than before. “You do not know what this is?”

Shaking her head, she lowered her head, feeling insecure. He had sounded incredulous, like he was surprised she didn’t know. It made her feel somewhat small, ideas of him thinking of her as stupid forming in her head. If her jittery and weird behavior would not put him off, her ignorance might. What else did she not know what she is supposed to?

As if sensing where her thoughts had gone, he tugged on her hand slightly to bring her attention back to him. He was looking at her softly now, his eyes holding hers very intently. “It’s alright. I can teach you.”

With that, he finally held out what he had taken from the bathroom. It was his pair of shorts, the one that she had tried to wear this morning but couldn’t because of the size. “Here, try these on. I’ll teach you how to use these.”

Exchanging the shorts and the tiny things with him, she moved a bit of a ways away to try and slip the shorts on. Cautiously, she was watching him from the corner of her eyes to see if he was looking. While she felt safer with him, she did not know whether he would still creep on her or worse, and she wanted to be assured at least. Thankfully, he had turned intentionally to face the wall, waiting patiently for her.

Undeniably, it surprised her and tugged at her soul a bit.

When had Jan ever looked away when she was-

Shaking her thoughts away, she approached him now, bunching up the shorts to hold them up to her waist. She was wondering how those tiny things might be able to help her with this. “I’m done.”

He turned back towards her, observing her with dark eyes that had her toes curling into the floor below. His meaningful looks always made her feel so exposed, but she never even knew what he was thinking. He was peculiar to her, and he did not act like Jan at all.

All she really ever knew was Jan and the Claws, and they were more than a bit mean.

He knelt before her, surprising her enough to make her take a step back. He glanced up at her, though due to his tall height, he did not have to raise his head much, a reassuring look on his face. “Don’t worry, I’ll just teach you how to use this so you can wear my shorts for now.”

Somewhat reassured, she nodded her head and approached him again. He slowly took the bunched up part of the shorts she had in her hand and started to unhook the tiny things. “These are safety pins. They help with a lot of things, and they can help tighten the shorts around your waist. Here, watch how I do it,” he was explaining to her softly, and she focused her eyes on what he was doing. He was piercing the cloth so that they would pinch together and hooked the “safety pins” back. Letting go, her mouth dropped slightly seeing how the shorts were now snug against her waist.

The Alpha stared at her quietly as she started shaking her hips slightly to see if it would fall off, but it held very well. The grin on her face came easily, and she directed it towards the Alpha who now had a small smile of his own. It was one of those smiles again, so small and barely there, but one that still warmed her up in the inside.

“Thank you!” she couldn’t help the enthusiasm, testing out her now snug shorts by walking about in circles. It did not occur to her that she might have seemed quite comical, but the Alpha did not seem to mind as he stood up again, looking quite pleased.

“You don’t have to thank me. It helps the both of us anyway,” he ran a hand through his wild dark hair. “Now I won’t have to lose my mind, and you can move around better.”

She did not understand the part about “losing his mind”, but she agreed greatly that it helped her better. Now she didn’t have to worry about accidentally showing parts of herself to people she shouldn’t. Even Jan had taught her to be careful with such things.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you some of your own clothes soon so we won’t have to worry about this forever,” he whispered, his eyes staring intently at her again as he looked at her up and down. She shivered slightly, though she found that it was not in fear, as a small smirk tilted at the corner of his lips. “Though I don’t really mind seeing you in my clothes, and you don’t seem to either.”

Not knowing how to respond to that, she simply covered her mouth and cheeks with her arm. “I-I uh…. They are nice Alph- Titus. I will wear your clothes if that is what you like.”

Not as if she didn’t like it too, but she was far too embarrassed at this point to say that.

At her words, his smirk faded into a slight smile. “I’m only teasing, Robin. You’ll have your own clothes, ones that don’t drown you. I’ll take you shopping someday.”

“Shopping?” the word immediately perked her up, and she was now staring expectantly at him. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. He was going to spend money on her?

“Yes, shopping. But for now, I think let’s get your bruises checked out,” his voice had turned quite grave at the last words, and his eyes had turned dark again. Even so, he held out a hand to her then, and she willingly took it, slightly leaning into his side as he led them out of his room.

They were back now at the part of the building where she had first woken up in. She could recall the familiar white walls and floors with the familiar wooden doors. Some of them were open, and she could see different looking beds and machines, though the rooms were empty. Others were closed, which she guessed were occupied. She wondered if the girls were in them then, and she told herself to muster enough courage to ask the Alpha eventually.

She really did want to see Blue and was slightly upset that she was not able to after the mess this morning.

The Alpha was leading her easily through the corridors, and eventually came upon a closed door with a sign on it. It had the words “in” written on it in bright green letters.

Without even knocking on the door, the Alpha simply went in, tugging along a completely oblivious Robin. She was quite nervous really, and became even more so when she realized that there was another person inside, staring at her wide-eyed while seated on a big fluffy chair behind a desk.

It was a woman, much older than her, and she was staring at Robin so intensely that she quietly hid behind the Alpha’s form. Sensing her discomfort, the Alpha squeezed her hand gently and finally broke the silence. “Robin, this is Nora. She is the head healer of our pack. Nora, you know Robin.”

Robin peered at her cautiously, but started to relax when the old woman… Nora…. Flashed her a very big and warm smile as she rose from her chair. Robin noted that they were about the same height, and Robin was a very short girl herself. She just barely reached the top of the Alpha’s stomach when she stood by his side.

“Finally, Alpha. I was wondering when you would bring her back to me,” Nora’s voice was very soft and approachable as she teased and chided the large man in front of her. Robin was even more surprised to see that the Alpha was not at all mad at the old woman for speaking to him like that and just raised a brow.

“Are you calling me a bad mate, Nora?” The Alpha even teased back, now settling himself on a nearby chair comfortably, though her hand was still in his. Not knowing what to do, she saw that there were no other nearby seats in this office-like place and was contemplating to remain standing when she was gently pulled towards the Alpha who sat her on his lap.

Startled, she looked back at him, her face most likely as red as an apple, but he shot her a reassuring look that had her relaxing a tad bit. Though, it was still hard not to keep tensing every time she noticed his warmth behind her, and how she was literally on top of him. If she was more honest and confident, she would not deny she would have buried herself under his chin already.

“Oh my my my, and here I thought it would be a mess after what I heard happen this morning,” Nora continued, looking pointedly at the Alpha, who now had a frown on his face. Robin felt herself give outa little frown as well as she was reminded of the…. Outburst.

“We’ve figured it out, somehow,” the Alpha responded silently, though the tone in his voice meant that he did not want to speak much more on it. Nora simply sighed, resting her hands on her hips. “Alright, alright. Now Luna, would you mind if I took a look at you for a bit?”

It took Robin a while to realize that Luna had meant her, though her mind had kept telling her that it wasn’t really true and that they were mistaken. Still, she shut her mouth and simply nodded her head, though she was tense. She was worried that they would hurt her, or worse… judge her.

Maybe he would finally see that I don’t look all that pretty with all the damage.

Nora approached her slowly, and as Robin tensed, she could feel the Alpha adjust himself behind her so his warmth was pressed more firmly against her. He was on edge as well, but his closeness made her feel a bit more… safe.

Carefully, Nora had lifted her arms and turned them over, her bright blue eyes scanning over them intently. Robin tried hard not to squirm and fold in on herself, but couldn’t help but jerk when Nora gently touched the edge of her shirt.

Nora let out a small reassuring smile at Robin. “Is it ok if I can see? I only want to help you. I will not touch you, my Luna.” Her warm tone was enough to comfort Robin, and she nodded in approval at Nora. “Ok.”

As her shirt was lifted, Robin watched as the older woman’s eyes turned glassy and quite sorrowful as she saw the damage. Robin knew how bad it was, and knew what the older woman had seen. The Alpha was looking anywhere but at her, and she could see that his hands were fisted and his shoulders were stiff and tense. She could not properly see his face, but he looked more than displeased… angry even.

It tore at her, thinking that maybe he found her ugly.

As if reading her mind and thoughts of insecurity, the old woman spoke. “He does not think of you that way, my dear. He is only upset that you are hurt.”

Robin looked at her, then at the Alpha who had now turned to her, eyes still dark but with a look on his face that told her he had agreed with what Nora had said. In all honesty, she could see the slight worry in his eyes. Was he worried about her?

“Well then,” Nora straightened up again, and as if an invisible barrier had been lifted, the Alpha had hurried wrapped his arms around her torso and brought her closer, tucking her under his chin. He was holding her so tenderly but frantically that she looked up worriedly at him. His eyes were shut tight as he held her close.

“Are you alright?” she asked quietly, and he responded with a tight nod. It seemed he did not want to talk too much about it and simply cuddled closer to him, trying to give him silent comfort in her touch. Hopefully, she was as warm to him as he was to her.

Nora had moved back to behind her desk where glass cabinets lined the back wall. Robin could see many bottles and boxes that Nora was now rummaging through, looking for something. When she had found what she was looking for, Nora grabbed it and scurried back over to them.

She held out two things, one tiny orange bottle and a white plastic tube. “The orange one is a pill, to help your wounds and bruises heal faster. You can take it before you sleep. The other is a cream. You wipe it on your wounds and bruises so that they will fade.” Gently, she placed them in Robin’s hands so she could see them up close.

“Thank you, Nora,” the Alpha had spoken first, and Robin quickly thanked her after as well.

Nora brushed their thanks away with a wave of her hand. “No no, don’t thank me. Just get better. The pills also help you get proper sleep; the other girls had slept well last night after taking it.”

Robin immediately perked up at her words, and she sat upright on the Alpha’s lap who loosened his arms on her a bit to allow her to move. “Other girls?”

Nora smiled at her kindly. “Yes, the other girls. We had them moved to the rooms in the infirmary for monitoring. There was only one, other than you, who had found her mate… her name was Blue, I think?”

Now Robin stood, breaking away from the Alpha’s gentle warmth to hold onto the older woman’s shoulders. Nora looked at her startled, but Robin’s mind was racing quite badly. “Blue, can I see her? Is she here?”

“She was taken into the care of her mate’s parents yesterday, and I thought it best seeing that the poor boy Jared was throwing a fit seeing her in such a state.”

Blue did not really understand who this Jared was, but she knew now that the others were being taken care of and that Blue was here…. Blue was safe.

“Would you like to meet her?” it was the Alpha that spoke to her now, as he stood behind her, eyes peering inquiringly at her.

She nodded vigorously up at him, her eyes most likely wide. “Yes, please. I want to see if she is ok if that is alright.”

She didn't even have to say any more before the Alpha nodded at her. “Of course. I’ll tell Jill and Quinn that we’ll be visiting them and Blue after lunch.”

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