A week had passed.
Tan and Luke had returned the night following their contact and telling Calix that their plan had been exposed, but they didn't seem to have been followed by any enemies, thankfully. Instead, Luke cut his contact completely from his old pack and was bonded to the Blood Moon pack after he and Tan officially mated a few days after they returned.
Kegan knew Calix was still skeptical about letting someone new into the pack, but he seemed to relax once Tan and Luke mated. He later told Kegan that fully bonding into another pack through mating was the only way to ensure that a wolf was secretly talking via mind link to their old pack, so it brought a lot of relief to Calix and the other overprotective Alphas in the pack.
Yet, Calix still was very much against Luke living in the pack house with them. He'd ended up storming off to their room when Kegan scolded him for saying that Luke should stay in the cell since he wasn't fully trusted yet.
When Kegan questioned him, Calix said it was purely instinctual, but Kegan knew he was still sensitive and overly aggressive due to Luke and Tan encouraging Kegan to run off and take part in their plan.
To add to Calix's overwhelming protectiveness, Kegan was nearing his heat, meaning whenever Calix wasn't doing work and making sure their pack was safe, he was all over his mate. Not that Kegan minded, since Jade loved the attention, but he didn't feel particularly safe when Calix scented him or cuddled him, since he could sense his mate's paranoia.
It was making him go insane, knowing that his mate didn't feel safe and when Jade wasn't basking in affection, he was pacing the walls of Kegan's mind, thinking he'd done something wrong.
That's how Kegan felt when he woke up early, a few days before his heat would start. He hadn't begun to form any safe space yet so he knew it wasn't going to suddenly hit him, but he could feel it nearing.
"How is he still tense and anxious in his sleep?" Jade asked, slightly panicked. "We didn't mess up in our sleep, right?"
"Calm down, we talking to Astra and Kai about this. He's just stressed and trying to protect our pack so it carries over," Kegan said soothingly.
He knew that Jade freaking out wasn't going to help him in any way, especially since he was extremely reliant on Jade during his heats.
Jade whimpered, not at all convinced. "But he's in his space with our scent! He should be more relaxed and less tense!"
"Alphas are different than Omegas, Jade," Kegan sighed, knowing that it was useless to try to reason with him but leaving his Omega counterpart to panic alone would just create a rift. "The entire pack is his space and he feels threatened. This space is our space and it's where you and I can relax because we're not in charge of an entire pack."
"But... I thought Omegas could calm down Alphas! Why isn't he calm?!"
"He's not having a panic attack! You're getting pretty close, however," Kegan said, pressing his face into Calix's chest and wishing Jade would shut up and calm down. "Please just relax before I get worked up."
Jade huffed before settling down, though the pit of anxiety remained in Kegan's gut. He groaned in irritation at the discomfort he felt, but tried to calm down since he noticed Calix stir a bit in his sleep, sensing the anxiety in the room.
"Are you awake?" Calix asked softly.
Kegan nodded against his chest. "Did I wake you?" he asked in concern, knowing how hard it was for Calix to get to sleep lately.
"No," Calix said, sitting up and stretching. "I have to go patrol this morning."
"You've patrolled every day," Kegan whined, knowing he sounded clingy but not at all caring. "Can't you just sleep in a bit longer and let me make you breakfast?"
Calix shook his head, kissing Kegan on his forehead. "I'm the Alpha," he said, voice full of sorrow. "I've got to be with them."
"You're the future Alpha and it's been a week! Wouldn't they have attacked us by now?" Kegan inquired, crossing his arms and barely holding himself back from clinging on to Calix and demanding he go with him.
"Leon isn't the most level headed," Calix said, not bothering to put on a shirt since he'd be shifting once he got outside anyway. "We don't know when they're going to attack or if they're going to, but we cannot let our guard down."
Kegan sighed. "We told you they'd attack during your ceremony."
Calix shook his head. "Tan and Luke said that would be the best time and they discovered they were liars," he said irritably. "So we have no clue when they will attack, especially if they assume we're prepared, which we will be."
"Fine, so we don't know anything!" Kegan exclaimed, getting out of bed and grabbing Calix's arm. "But I don't think one wolf being there now versus later is going to change what could happen."
"I'm going to be the Alpha. I need to be there."
"And I'm going to be the Luna and you won't let me leave the house!" Kegan snarled, still holding onto Calix.
Calix sighed, pulling away from Kegan before grabbing both of his mate's hands. "I want you safe, love. You're a few days from heat and-"
"That's another reason to stay!"
"I need to be there as much as I can because I won't be able to leave you during heat since we're going to be mated and it's a big commitment to mating and I won't be able to leave," he explained, trying to keep from snapping at Kegan, especially since he was making a lot of good points. "I want to stay here with you, but I can't right now."
Kegan sighed and sat back down on the bed. "If we weren't going to be marking and mating officially you'd be able to leave?" he asked, eyes slightly narrowed.
"Yes. During your last heat since we weren't mating, I was able to stay away from you, even though it irritated Zakai and Jade. Once we mate, our connection will become so much stronger and your heats become that much more painful and my instinct to protect you and care for you will be incredibly strong. It will start as soon as we mark each other."
Kegan hummed, no longer looking at Calix.
"Kegan?"
"Yeah?"
Calix narrowed his eyes, walking over to his mate and sitting on the bed so their thighs brushed together. "What's on your mind? I know you're thinking about something and from your expression it's not something you enjoy," he said, leaning his head on Kegan's as if he'd be able to hear his thoughts.
Kegan shrugged, turning and cuddling closer to Calix. "I mean... if you're really worried about this attack we could just put off mating and I can spend my heat alone," he mumbled, hating the words as they spilled from his mouth.
In an instant, Kegan found himself on his back, Calix hovering over him with his eyes completely gold, showing Zakai had control of his mate.
"We are not putting this off." Calix's voice was much deeper and angrier than usual, making Kegan shudder and Jade panic. "I need to mate with you and you can't be alone. It'll hurt."
"I've done it before," Kegan said softly, earning a growl from both Calix and Zakai. "I left for the good of our pack, so you and Calix should be able to leave me for the good of our pack."
"No," Calix grumbled, climbing off of Kegan only to seize him in his grip and growl at the idea of leaving his mate while he was in pain. "We are not waiting. I need to protect you and I want to be mated with you."
Kegan sighed, settling into his grip. "Me too," he said, knowing that there would be no dissuading his mate. "I'm sorry I tried to get you to stay. You should go."
Calix shook his head, and Kegan could tell that Zakai was still influencing his actions.
"Calix... go," Kegan said more firmly, irritated when Calix growled. "You'll be with me for a full week once my heat starts. Our pack needs you right now."
"I'll be back soon," Calix said, his normal voice back. "You'll be okay here?"
Kegan hummed in affirmation, kissing Calix before he left.
As soon as Calix shut the front door, Kegan began to feel uneasy. His vision blurred and his head suddenly began to pound, similar to the pains he experienced whenever he was sick.
Then, he felt hot fluid flow down his legs, the scent sickly sweet. Panic flooded his entire being as he tried to call for Calix, but his mate was already gone.
He didn't understand it; he had no real preheat or desire to make himself a safe space.
Yet, his heat had begun.