Chapter 201: Love struck madness
(not the right Chapter, sorry)
"You’re up?" Noah asked, and Michael looked at him as he walked into the room. He quickly recalled his dream but dismissed it.
"Yeah. What... What time is it?" He asked, sitting up with the blanket covering only his lower half and exposing his chest.
Noah had left quite several marks all over his body, and seeing this, Noah cleared his throat, looking away.
He felt proud of his accomplishments.
"A little past 12," he said, and Michael’s eyes widened.
"What? That late?" He quickly flung the blanket. "We need to go check on Olivia. She must be upset that we haven’t come to see her. Quick, hurry and—"
"Relax," Noah said to him, pushing him back to sit by the shoulders. "I already stopped by the hospital. Olivia has had breakfast and she’s doing fine."
"You went without me?" Michael asked, shocked and confused. "Why didn’t you wake me up?" It was no wonder he was fully dressed. He was probably just coming back from the hospital.
"Because you looked like you needed the sleep more than anything," Noah answered. "You were sleeping so peacefully. I couldn’t just wake you up when there’s no emergency."
Michael shoved his fingers through his hair.
Ah, that’s right. There’s no danger. He needs to calm down a bit.
"Now, you need to have your bath, wear some fresh and clean clothes, and then have brunch so that you’ll look for when you go see our daughter again," Noah suggested and Michael nodded.
Noah smiled and then stroked his hair. He was such a worrywart.
He kissed the top of his head and said,
"Alright. Up with you. Time to bathe."
After that, Michael got dressed and they went to have brunch at a restaurant.
The restaurant was warm, filled with the low murmur of voices and the clinking of cutlery.
The midday sunlight spilled across the wooden tables, and for the first time in days, Michael allowed himself to take a slow breath, to taste food without his stomach twisting in worry or losing his appetite halfway.
Noah sat across from him, his gaze lingering more on Michael than on the meal. He couldn’t help it.
Besides, if he didn’t look at Michael, where else could he look?
(Maybe the food in front of you?)
"You’re staring," Michael said, munching softly and slowly as he avoided Noah’s eyes.
"I’m admiring," Noah corrected with a smirk, twirling his fork between his fingers. "You look... Almost radiant."
Michael’s lips pursed into a thin line, acting like that compliment didn’t get to him but his ears betrayed him as they turned into a light shade of red.
"Stop saying things like that in public," Michael said and Noah let out a soft chuckle.
"Why? You’re mine," he said simply, his voice calm but heavy with certainty. "The world should know how much I treasure you."
Michael set down his fork, his chest tightening slowly. Noah always said such words so casually, as if he were saying a simple ’good morning’ or ’have a great day’. He made it a habit.
And though those words sounded so casual, stuff like ’You’re mine’ they held a deeper tone in his voice and landed heavily on Michael’s heart.
He reached for his water, sipping slowly, and then placed it down.
"Right, right. Why don’t you announce it on a billboard while you’re at it?" Michael teased and Noah laughed.
"Should I?"
Michael paused.
Wait, he wasn’t going to do that, was he? Hopefully not.
Noah chuckled softly as if reading Michael’s thoughts and then leaned back in his chair. He wouldn’t push it. Not yet, at least.
After brunch, they walked together through the streets, Michael insisting they buy Olivia some fresh fruit and more flowers before heading to the hospital.
His hands lingered over a small bouquet of white daisies along with the soft smile on his lips.
This was the first time in so long that his heart felt free.
"She’ll definitely like these," Michael said and then raised his head. "Alright, let’s go."
When they finally arrived at the hospital, Olivia was sitting up, sunlight spilling across her bed. Roland was at her side, but as soon as she spotted Michael, her face lit up.
"Papa!" she called, her voice small but full of life.
Michael nearly dropped the flowers in his rush to her side, pulling her into his arms carefully, as if she might break if he held too tightly. His throat burned, tears threatening, but he forced a smile instead.
"I’m here, baby," he whispered, kissing her hair.
"Papa’s here." Olivia cheerfully announced as her father enveloped her in a hug and rained kisses on her face.
"Did you miss me?" Michael asked, still showering her with more loving kisses and she giggled.
"Of course I miss you, Papa. Come play with us."
"Alright, dear." His eyes brimmed with tears of relief but he quickly wiped them off so as not to worry his daughter. "Let’s play."
Noah stood by the doorway, watching the pretty scene unfold.
His chest tightened again, not with jealousy, but with something heavier and deeper.
This was what he wanted to protect. Michael’s smile. Olivia’s laughter. The family he had sworn to give them both.
And as he watched Michael cradle Olivia, he whispered again in his heart the promise he had made the night before:
I’ll make you mine completely. No matter what it takes. I’ll give you a family.
Steven watched this from where he was sitting. That sickly love-struck madness in Noah’s eyes... He never thought he would see something like that in the eyes of an Alpha from the Blue Moon pack.
A pack that never knew the word love and threw out all forms of compassion.
Guess it all changed with this guy. It was probably for the better.
At last, the week ended. Discharge papers were signed, bags packed, and both families prepared to head back to Manchester.
Since they were going the same way, they ended up boarding the same plane home. Steven’s plane.
It was mainly because the flight was going to be very long, so the kids could play together and expend that enormous energy together.
For a long while, silence stretched between Noah and Steven as they sat across from each other, each with their child leaning against them.
Michael was asleep in a cabin. He slept early due to exhaustion, leaving Olivia in Noah’s care.
The hostility between the two Alphas that once kept them no closer than an arm’s length seemed to be far away and waxed with familiarity, like they were friends.
Finally, Noah spoke, calm but firm.
"I didn’t want to say this before, but I’ve finally settled my mind." He said. "Your boy... He transformed because he felt a strong sense to protect Olivia, isn’t that right?"
Steven’s jaw tightened, but his eyes gleamed with fierce pride.
"I guess that’s about right." He said but this seemed to anger him a bit.
Because Josh wanted to protect Olivia, he put himself into danger. It was heroic but nothing short of stupid coming from a child.
But he couldn’t even blame anyone because it seemed like his son had set his priorities and Olivia was above his own life.
Such a relationship.
"I fear my boy will be a fool for your girl." He suddenly mumbled and Noah grinned.
If that was the case, then it was fine.
"Maybe... maybe that means Olivia will be safe with him no matter where they go in the future."
"Maybe," Steven swallowed hard, his tone rough but honest. "But that only means my boy will keep throwing himself into danger because of her." He tightened his fist.
From a parent’s perspective, it wasn’t something to be proud about. For one’s own child to be put in danger because of another.
But regardless... It was their own choice. He had no right to interfere.
"Don’t worry, my girl won’t be that weak where she’ll need your boy to protect her all the time," Noah stated. "Let’s not forget. She threw herself into danger first before he opened his eyes."
"Yes, yes, she’s amazing." Steven gruffly accepted and then laughed.
And just like that, a truce, unspoken but real, settled between them.
They finally landed in Manchester and thanks to their houses being next door, they ended up going the same direction once more.
Once Olivia got home, she waved at Josh and said,
"Come visit me, okay? Or... Should I come visit?"
A shy Josh nodded. Whichever she wanted, he was fine with it.
This was a little boy smitten to the core. A young, very young boy. By the time he was older, he would probably be a love-struck idiot for Olivia.
That is... If things don’t change between them.
The next day, the kids were allowed to stay home. They didn’t need to rush and resume school but since the semester was almost over, they couldn’t let them stay home the whole time.
So, after resting a whole day with Ven coming back from the pet cafe and Olivia showing him off to Josh, they were to return to school the next day.
