Can you heal old scars?

Chapter 12

Quin woke late, his body feeling weak and trembling. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened, and only vaguely recalled how he had ended up in his room but he felt oddly safe.

A gentle knock at the door had him sit up, still in his clothes from the day before. He slowly got up and opened the door a crack, and was relieved to see Niles outside with a shy smile and a cup of herbal tea.

"Mama Gail asked me to check on you, said you should drink this... Are you ok Quin? She said you were sick last night..." He asked as Quin let him in the room, taking the tea and sniffing curiously.

"I think I'm ok, at least I feel better now. Thankyou for checking on me Niles, I appreciate it." Quin said as he inhaled the aroma of the tea, his headache easing slightly.

He took a few sips, grateful for the moisture as his throat burnt and ached painfully. The more he drank, the less things hurt until he finished the cup with a happy sigh, headache gone for once and no more throat pain.

"Mama Gail said if you still felt sick that you could stay in the house today, she said I should stay with you in case you needed something." Niles said, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.

"I feel much better, and I think the fresh air would do me some good, if that's ok with you?" Quin said, wanting to get outside.

"Besides I know you work at the dock in the afternoon, I'd be happy to help you again?" Quin asked, Niles looking up briefly with an excited grin.

"Really? You don't mind? I mean I'm sure you could find much more interesting things to do, or people to talk to..." He said shyly, fiddling with the hem of his forest green jumper. He was adorably cute and Quin couldn't help but feel protective of him, choosing to pat Niles on the shoulder and smile.

"I'm positive, let me get changed and I will be down in a minute, ok?"

Quin spent the day working at the docks with Niles, a lot of people were going about doing various things, building and fixing the many structures around the village.

Quin couldn't help but notice the dwindling supplies in storage, as different members popped in and out through the day to collect lumber and other building supplies.

Perhaps he could offer to help some time, maybe pay for more things so the pack could repair their buildings ready for winter. He didn't want to talk to Ryan however, so he kept the thought to himself for now. Maybe he would try and talk to him about it at some point, if he could manage to.

On their way back to the house for the evening to help with the meal, Quin's nerves kicked in again, spotting Ryan looking haggard and annoyed as he headed into the house ahead of them.

Quin couldn't help but hesitate, Niles staying close by him the whole time. He must have noticed Quin's anxiety as he gave Quin's arm a gentle squeeze.

"It's ok, Ryan won't hurt you. I know he might seem scary being the Alpha, but he has always been good to me. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, maybe he just had a bad day at the human village?" Niles said, prompting Quin to start moving again.

Niles escorted Quin inside before saying goodnight and leaving, Quin heading for the kitchen where he knew Gail would be.

Sure enough Gail was busily cooking in the kitchen, making some kind of burgers. Quin wandered over and she smiled up at him as he approached.

"Hello Quin, sweetheart. How are you feeling today?" She said sweetly as Quin washed his hands in the sink.

"Better, I apologize for yesterday, I don't know what came over me.." he said as he watched Gail making patties with the meat, and started to do the same. She smiled as he began helping, a warm Motherly feeling radiating from her.