Suspicion

Ashton got ready for the school next day and was about to leave after a quick breakfast when he was surprised to see no food or the twins at the table, "No breakfast today"? He asked skeptically. 

"It will take some time. Change into something comfortable will you"? She asked him, giving him a suspicious look. Ashton was taken aback for a moment before he replied, "What are you talking about? I am going to school. You know giant baggy clothes are my disguise".

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, after yesterday's event they canceled all the classes in the town. Even I don't have to go today". She shrugged. "Wait what"! Ashton's eyes widened, "but… what happened exactly"?

"I don't know. Miss Mrazek informed me that it's all because of animal attacks that's been going on in the town. She is a human so she doesn't exactly know the real situation. All I am aware of is that the parents, mainly the human ones requested the safety of their kids until the situation comes under control". She explained. 

"Are you sure my school is suspended as well"? He asked just to clarify. Not that he was dying to go there and evade a holiday on purpose. He tried to look like a nerd, but he wasn't that much of a nerd for real. He just didn't want more absences in his record.

"Yes, I am positive" she replied and handed him her phone after opening something on it. Ashton looked at the screen to see a notification saying the classes were canceled for a week. So all he had to do was stay in for a whole week.

He was a bit worried about the situation, but he had nothing that he could do about it without jeopardizing his identity. He spent the whole day playing with the twins who were in fact glad that their brother woke up. The twins, despite going early to the bed last night cried themselves to sleep while hugging each other.

He felt bad for putting his family through all of that. Even though they don't talk about it he knew that they miss their Dad. Seeing him like that must have brought back the old memories. Unlike him, his (adopted) father didn't get the antidote on the right time. Whenever he thinks about it, it makes him even more furious. 

As much as he would like to stay away from the trouble, he wasn't sure that he would be able to or not. He feared that his true identity was pretty much exposed now, even if Caleb kept that secret, that attacker was bound to tell him.

In the evening he received a call from an unknown number which he recognized from last night when he saw numerous missed calls from the same number. "Hello". He picked up reluctantly. 

"Hey"a strained voice answered from the other end. He recognized that voice after a moment of thought, "Caleb"? 

"Yeah, I want to ask you to stay low"! He said in a rush despite his haphazard breathing. 

"What are you talking about"? Ashton asked him. His first guess would be that they knew and were after him or his family for keeping this a secret. Nevertheless he popped that question hoping to be wrong. 

"They caught your scent twice, you are their prime suspect! Just stay low"! He ordered. Taken back by the other's urgency of the words he nodded before he realized that the other can't see him.

"They know who I am"? He asked in a whisper. "No, that's… still a mystery" he answered while panting.

"And you don't suspect me? Why are you telling me this"? Ashton asked annoyed. He liked the fact that someone trusted him, but it also annoyed him because he had enough reasons to be suspicious at this point. "I told you not to get swayed away by kindness"! He scolded Caleb, recalling that maybe he was being like this because he helped him once. 

"Relax kid, I have enough reasons to think otherwise"! Caleb said in a derisive tone that Ashton was certain that he was rolling his eyes at him. "Don't worry, if you do something like tha..." he paused trying to suppress a painful groan, before taking a deep breath "As I was saying, if you harm someone with wolfsbane or anything else, I will kill you myself".

"Are you alright"? Ashton couldn't help but ask. No matter how much he was focused on his own problem he just couldn't ignore that Caleb was in some sort of distress. 

"Yes, it's just the heat" he replied. "Wait, why are you calling me then? You family can hear you"! Ashton exclaimed at him in a louder voice.

"No they can't, my... cabin is far away… from the house". He replied to him. Caleb wasn't in the condition to talk, but somehow talking kept him distracted from the pain. "No one is allowed… near me… in my heat" he informed Ashton. "I gotta go" Caleb spoke abruptly as he hit a new level of pain and hung up. 

Ashton stood there shocked as he stared at his screen. He remembers how touched Caleb was when he took care of him, was it the reason? Did he always spend his heat all by himself? Even as an Alpha he knew it was hard on the person because while growing up he had seen his mother suffer through that, but he and his dad always took care of her.

When he moved he thought that this place was safe, especially for the omegas. With his sisters coming to age he could use the security this place provided to them. However, despite that it seemed that this place was not free of its prejudices. 

He was sure that if the pack finds out who he was, they will at least kick him out if not kill him. He never felt more proud of his decision to keep his identity a secret.