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IflinchedwhileDr.West took some blood.
“Well, my dear, I don’t see anything wrong with you. I think you just haven’t been getting rest. You've lost a bit of weight. Have you been eating properly?” he asked. I shifted nervously, not wanting to look at anyone.
“Tuli?” Markus asked. A hint of suspicion in his eyes, letting me know that he would be able to tell if I lied to him. I sighed in defeat.
“Yes, but sometimes I forget to eat. I used to eat half a meal a day. I feel bloated when I eat too much and want to throw up. I've been eating by myself this past week, so instead of grabbing a full dinner, I just eat fruit instead,” I answered. Markus stiffened at my words but didn’t say anything. I could feel anger coming off him now that I had lowered the barrier I didn’t know I put up, and I wanted to whimper at having made him mad.
“Well, with your history, we need to make a bigger effort to eat. Your body needs all the nutrients it can get. You were getting better, and we have backstepped a bit. I know it takes your stomach a little while to get used to not being empty, but you need to push through it. We need our luna healthy and strong. I am going to give you some melatonin for sleep. It’s a natural medication, so it shouldn’t upset your stomach. I am also going to suggest you drink some calming tea about an hour before bedtime so it will help you get a restful sleep. I will send this blood to the lab and let you know if I see anything out of the norm when the results come back,” he said, and I nodded.
“Come Tuli, let’s get some breakfast, then you and I will spend the day together.” Markus wrapped his arm around my waist and led me out of the hospital.
We went into the kitchen as Mrs. Wendell was cleaning up. She usually assisted Mrs. Wriley with the food prep.
“Do we have everything we need for pancakes?” Markus asked as he led me to a seat on the counter.
“Oh, I can whip some up for you, Alpha,” Mrs Wendell said, pulling some pans out of the cupboards.
“No, no, I want to cook for my luna. You’ve done a lot this morning already. Just take a break,” he said while he escorted her out of the kitchen. I smiled at him when he came back in and started rummaging through the pantry.
He took out his phone and started looking up a recipe. I did my best to hold back a giggle, knowing he was trying to be sweet.
“Do you need some help?” I asked, clearing my throat.
“No, I am cooking for you. You just sit there and eat some raspberries while I cook,” he instructed, pulling some fruit from the fridge and putting it in front of me. I leaned back on my chair and watched him.
This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?Kara asked, giggling inside my head.
Oh yeah, I said.
Twenty minutes later, I continued to watch a flustered Markus trying to flip his fourth pancake. I was trying my best not to laugh, but he had flour everywhere and on everything, including himself.
I can hear Atlas growling. I think they are fighting over how to make a proper pancake,Kara wheezed out.
“Markus,” I called out tentatively. I could hear him muttering to himself angrily. I finally decided to intervene when he threw the fifth watery pancake in the trash and went to the freezer to grab some frozen waffles I’d bought for the omegas in case they missed breakfast while completing their tasks. I gently grabbed his hand and pulled him around the counter and away from the mountain of powder and broken eggs. He had flour on his nose, and looked utterly defeated. I let out a small giggle, and he sighed.
“I am a failure of a person. I can’t even cook a pancake.” His pout made me laugh and shake my head.
“You just need the right tool,” I said and shook the box of frozen waffles in front of him. He looked at me with an incredulous expression on his face as he barked out a laugh and tried to hug me, but I ducked and ran to the other end of the counter. He looked slightly hurt at my actions, but I laughed and shook my head again at him. “You’re not hugging me with half a pound of flour all over you!” He looked down and noticed the state of his clothes for the first time. Popping his head back up with a twinkle in his eye, he let out the most beautiful laugh, then gave a toothy grin as his canines descended which made my body shiver.
“Oh, but mate, we need to hold you. It is our right.” Markus’ voice was mixing with Atlas as he spoke.
Oooooh, mate loves the chase. Let’s give him a challenge!Kara encouraged me, and I didn’t need telling twice. I ran out the door and out the pack house squealing. I took my favorite shirt off and shifted as quickly as I could manage, letting my wolf take control. Kara ran for our lives, with Atlas hot on our tail. He was fast, but we were faster. We dashed into the woods and out the other end. Atlas occasionally gained on us, but we made it to the river without getting caught. We stopped at the edge, and Atlas came barreling into us, unable to stop in time. We rolled down the embankment with sounds of yelps from our wolves echoing as we went.
We landed at the edge of the river with an “Oof!“. Kara was shaking the dirt and water off her fur when Markus rushed to us with concern and guilt in his eyes. He started feeling for injuries, making Kara ticklish. She rolled onto her belly and panted.
“Kara, are you okay? Celeste, baby, can you hear me? I’m so sorry. We were too caught up in the chase, and we didn’t realize you had stopped because we were at the river.”
Kara, do something. He thinks he hurt us,I said, not liking to see Markus in distress.
Kara got up and pushed her snout into his arms, practically vibrating with joy at the chance to have her human touch her. Markus held her face and looked at us with so much love in his eyes. Then Kara licked his entire face, and he relaxed, finally seeing that we were alright.
“You’re fast. Atlas has never had trouble catching anyone before. You’re definitely his new favorite challenge.” Kara wagged her tail. “Come on. We should get back. I was going to take you to a picnic today, but I think since we’ve had our outdoor fun, I’m taking you on an actual date in town.” Kara jumped on his shoulders and licked his face again, making Markus laugh and cover his face. Kara trotted a few steps and turned to him, laying down expectantly. Markus’ eyebrows shot up. “You want me to ride you back to the pack house?” Kara nodded and let her tongue fall out of our mouth. Markus seemed to think about it for a minute, then shrugged and climbed on. Kara took us back to the pack house at a gentle trot. Gillian was outside waiting for us with clothes, finding his view amusing.
“You’re looking very Lady Godiva right now,” he teased Marcus as he dismounted from us, then scratched behind our ear and laughed when Kara’s leg began to twitch.
“Kara wanted to keep stretching her legs. I didn’t see the harm in it,” he said, shrugging as he donned his robe.
Gillian gave him a robe for me and turned around. Kara receded to the back of my mind and allowed me to push forward.
