Gravity

4. Mating Call

“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

― Robert Frost

Filtiarn has had this itch that he can't seem to scratch because it's the one on his mind. No matter what he thought or tried to distract himself from it, it's all he could think about. It has gotten so bad that he, the Alpha of the Northern Mountains, stood from his desk and shifted as he jumped out of his window.

It was human. He doesn't know why it's bothering him so much; his wolf and gut says that there is something up and he trusts both of those even if one of it is often annoying. It's been a while since they've argued to the point that he broke down and did what the f*****g wolf asked.

He caved and ran in wolf form to the small cottage that the girl and her children lived in. It was on the edge of his territory, but it's still part of his jurisdiction, so he inevitably keeps her safe from rogues who kept killing humans and made it seem like they were simply missing.

Äiti should know when to stop being so lovely, he grumbles to himself while he paws even faster through the snow. He could feel every fiber of his body, pushing everything he has to take more distance in.

We're getting close, Armo says in his mind, he perks their ears to the direction of the sound of curtains hitting a glass window. He knows it's the cottage since it is the only house near the territory.

What is wrong with you? Filtiarn asks, his annoyance evident in the tone of his voice. But he is met with the cold silence of Armo, who was too busy focusing on the job at hand. The role of looking for that human's cottage.

Filtiarn huffs in annoyance at the stupid wolf that wouldn't listen. So, they ran as fast as their paws could get to the small and cold and isolated place. What kind of teenage Mom would choose a situation like this to live in? Someone who is hiding something, that's for sure.

He has never seen the humans before, and he has to spend dinner with them later, which he is already late to. He could afford to be delayed if it meant he'll figure out what this human is up to. He even did his own research about humans. He made a background check, but for some reason, it was all empty, which could only mean two things. The girl is important enough that she has connections that can wipe out her background information, or someone is helping her hide, and that sounds like what his Mother would genuinely do for a stranger.

All he knows is that they're Japanese citizens, and there are a little girl and boy who are siblings with a very single mother. But no father. It's typical for human fathers to just leave since they often have no spine at all.

When he was close, his nose was stuffy due to the cold and wet snow. He surely knows that once he shifts in human form, it would be red and a bit painful to breathe through it. Goddess the trouble I go through for this stupid human that overthinks of herself as a victim.

He shifts back to human form once he sees it. The quaint little house was once owned by someone in the pack but chose to let some humans rent it due to his Mother's request. He isn't like this with other humans who move to his town, but the story is different if your Mother frets over them like a lost faun.

She was the one who spent her time arranging everything for them, their transfer papers for their education, the things they needed to be able to stay in the country, and even this stupid small house. It was simply not adding up. Something is off with this family, and he isn't sure if his Mother knows anything.

It took him to open the door before he smelled it. The smell that sent Armo crazy in his head. It knocked him down to his knees as his stomachs coils and uncoils at the scent that he will be addicted to till the end of mankind.

Honey and Sand

That's the scent smelled like as if he was in the middle of a vacation in the tropics. Armo is running in circles in his head as both of them try to recover from the scent. The scent of their mate.

It took everything in him to get himself together and stand from the ground. He couldn't believe it, the human that he despised for months now, is his mate. Just from her scent, his wolf is already trying to bond with the human even when she wasn't here. Armo wanted to know more by snooping around the house, and that's what he did.

He wouldn't admit it himself, but he also wanted to know more about her. He convinces himself that he's trying to fulfill the main objective before discovering she was his mate, but Armo only laughs at him.

The house was homey, but he noticed the only source of warmth they have was still the fireplace in the living room and an electric heater on the master bedrooms. At first, he thought that she was selfish and didn't even give any source of heat for her children, but then he saw the second room.

The mattresses were bare, there were no pillows or blankets. Not even an article of clothing for little humans, but he all found them in the master bedroom's closets. He takes another observing look at the bed. That was when he saw the strands of hair, three different strands.

She's sleeping with them Armo says approvingly, liking the fact that their mate has such a potent maternal instinct that she couldn't bear the thought of them being alone.

Filtiarn clenches his teeth. His mate had children at a young age with someone else. In a rage, he thought that perhaps she was a slut that pranced around with different men, and one actually knocked her up at a young age. He could burn in his veins at the stupid thought that he couldn't control himself and punched the nearest wall.

Something fell from the wall that he didn't notice that was hanging there. He snaps his gaze towards it, and it was a photo of his mate and the two kids. His mate had lovingly put her arms around the two while both kids look up at her in awe. They look at her as if she was a goddess, which he agreed that they should.

She was young Armo softly says, he's mad as well, but he's a wolf. To them, their mates are forgivable as they are the most unique gift the moon goddess gave to them. She is a devoted mother who lost every support she has and works multiple jobs to provide for her family. Imagine what it's like to be loved by someone like her, doesn't that amaze you?

Filtiarn sighs, "She's going to be trouble, we have a lot of enemies and with those two children tagging along as well? How can we protect them? It's been awfully long since an Alpha had a human mate."

You sound like a worried and doting father and mate already. Armo snickers You won't admit it, but you want her already, and you're claiming those children as well.

Filtiarn doesn't reply. He hated everything his wolf has said.

He took the picture from the floor and got rid of the broken picture frame and the glass with his bare hands and threw them safely at a distance so that the kids won't get hurt. He decides to throw them a few meters away from the house. The kids wouldn't be able to get hurt if ever they played in the snow.

He left the cottage with a hole on the wall and a picture in his pocket. A photo he is keen on having in his office with a new frame to put it in.

But for now, he has a think a lot of things through

***

Amihan

"Miss!" I abruptly sit up from my seat as I hear the loud slam. I blink in front of me to make the blurry image of the teacher to focus. "I would appreciate it if you would not sleep in my class."

There was a chorus of laughter that made me blush. I nodded silently while I look down on the paper in front of me. I just remembered that we're in the middle of an exam.

That I don't remember was starting or anything.

"I'm sorry," I whisper while trying to scribble down everything that I know, which wasn't a lot from being so tired. I didn't even know what day it is today.

The class ends, and I find myself going around the halls to my locker. For some reason, it was harder now than I remember to get to it. When I finally did see it, I see Sven leaning on the locker with a stern look on his face. A rare expression on someone like Sven.

He spots me, then his expression changes. He looks concerned, deflated even, which makes me worry. An unsettling feeling in my stomach came to me.

"Ami, there was an emergency," Sven says once I got close.

"What?" I say, on edge. Every hair on my body is at attention at this moment. "What's wrong?"

"Mom said Yume has a fever—"

Before he can finish, I dropped everything and took off with my car keys in my hand. My heart beating loudly in my ears.

Oh God, please please please please be okay. I hear Sven following close behind me, and he even climbs in the car with me.

I was about to shift into gear when his hand goes on top of mine. I snap my gaze at him, a bit irritated that he's stopping me. Yume must be in so much pain right now.

"Ami, you have to relax first. Yume is going to be fine, it's just a fever."

"It's not just a fever!" I shake his hand away as I continued to drive out of the student parking lot and drove as fast as I can on the road.

"What do you mean?"

"He's always been sick and too easily at that. Have you ever wondered why he's such a soft-spoken boy?" I went over the speed limit. I don't care about anything as I can just see in my mind the image of my baby boy in that hospital bed again. "Whenever he gets sick, it's just horrible."

"Okay, okay, I understand, but driving this fast and dangerously is not going to make anything better."

I scoff, "It does, just please trust me on this. He's my kid."

He frowns, "Okay, okay...I'll tell Mom that we're on our way to get him."

"Thank you."

***

"Mama, I'm...mookay," Yume whispers near my ear. His neck buried close to my neck while I walk up to our porch. Sven opens the door for me.

"I know baby" I caress his back softly while I put him on the sofa. I took the large duvet and snugly covered him: his lids half-closed and his cheeks and nose red.

"Is there anything I can do?" Sven says, standing in the middle of the room.

"Yeah, can you please pick up Sana from school?" I glance at the wall clock. She'll be out soon, and I don't think I can leave Yume like this. "I don't want her to wait for long."

Sven nods. "Done then. But remember what Mom offered earlier, you guys can stay in our house since it's warmer there and lots of people that could help."

Right, I almost forgot their offer when I came rushing in to take Yume. The busybody in me couldn't stay still. My instincts just told me to stoke the fire and to make sure the room is warm.

"I'll think about it. For now, we can manage," I smile softly at him while making the fire larger.

"Ami, it's okay to ask for help," Sven sighs, his tone rising. He's been mad at me for a while now. I know I've offended him back at school. I don't even know why.

"That's the problem, Sven. Your family has helped me enough, and honestly, we are grateful, but I think we've caused you enough trouble" I stand from crouching near the fire and wipe my hands on my jeans.

There was already a list in my head that I have to do. I needed to warm the room, make dinner, make Yume drink his medicine, boil some water to give him a towel rub, and make sure that Sana goes to bed on time and doesn't get sick too.

"You're no trouble, Ami" his words were frustrated and exasperated.

The broken me wanted to recoil and stand in a corner. Avoiding conflicts has been the top of my priority when I was on my own, but this time it's different. I'm not alone anymore, not as lonely as I was before. I have these two to think of.

I take a large breath of courage and to calm the shaking broken part of me to face the aggravated and mad Sven. "I know, but I think you should go pick up Sana now or make her wait. She'll worry"

He sighs again. "I'll go pick her up then."

I nod with a smile. A feat I'm trying to maintain as everything in me just wants to wash my hands and run away.

A large, aggravated man has always been one of the fears instilled in me even if he is a friend.

Sven leaves without a glance at me. He's too pissed to even look at me, something I often seem to make my friends feel when they're around me. This is one of the reasons why I didn't keep any of my old friends anymore.

"ma...ma," I hear his weak voice grasping in the warm room.

"What is it, baby?" I sit by his side. I didn't take his hoodie and beanie off to make him warmer. "Does anything hurt?"

He shakes his head, his eyes remained unfocused. "I...am...sick agwain"

My heart cracks. I force a smile as I look at him. "Yes, but you know how it is in our family. At this age, we often get sick."

His lips widen into a smile, "I... am wike you."

"Yes, you are because you're my baby."

His eyes slowly close fully while his smile is still plastered on his face. "I am."

"you are," I caress his forehead. He still feels incredibly hot, and in the middle of his fever. "You shouldn't believe what they say," I whisper to him even if I knew he went to sleep. "they can't get to us now. They're too far, and no one is going to think that you're not mine here. we're safe."

The cold tear rolls down my cheeks without permission. It pissed me off that I'm crying when Yume has a fever. I wipe my tears away while I moved to do other things on my list.