Chapter 10

9/9/2056

Justin was barely keeping it together mentally when they arrived at the orphanage. Chad was concerned about what might happen if Justin's power was released. He helped Justin to a chair and knelt in front of him.

"Justin, look at me," he said sternly. Justin forced himself to concentrate on Chad's voice and looked at him.

"You need to concentrate on your breathing," Chad said. Justin struggled to control his breathing because his chest kept constricting.

The office door opened, and Sister Katerine stepped out. She opened her mouth to say hello when she noticed that something was off.

"What's wrong?" Katerine asked in a concerned voice.

"We have an issue," Chad said. Katerine stood in front of Justin, who was breathing heavily and looked pale.

"My father," Justin stammered. Just as Justin said, "He's here," the front doors locked themselves.

"Be careful, Justin," Chad said, holding his hands. Then a book flew off a bookshelf. Justin was breathing heavily.

"Is it too late?" Chad asked in a worried tone.

"Yes," Justin said quietly.

Everything happened like it was moving in slow motion. "You take care of your soulmate while I gather the staff and orphans," she said. "We have an orphanage and a prince to protect," Katerine said. When they arrived in their old room, Chad channeled his pheromones so he could calm Justin down. Justin was still mentally fatigued, but was calmer. Chad laid Justin on the bottom bed and sat down in a chair beside it. Everything was calm and quiet until a wolf howled outside.

Justin's eyes snapped open, and his breath hitched. "Is it him?" Chad asked. Justin glanced at the window and nodded. "Just take deep breaths, and everything will be alright," Chad said. But it wasn't okay because the wolf's howl was now outside their door. Chad noticed that Justin's green eyes had turned gold. Seeing this, he knew that Justin's wolf was about to show up if anything else bad happened. Justin's wolf appeared in a flash, crouching and growling, when the door opened and broke from its hinges.

A massive black and white wolf with black eyes stood in front of them. "If you harm my mate, you will deal with me," Chad warned, flashing his inner wolf.

"Mind your place, pup," Erec said.

"Do not talk to my mate that way," Justin growled. "We aren't in the homeland anymore," "You're on my turf," he said.

"I don't know you, but it's best if you leave," Chad said.

"You don't tell me what to do, mutt," Erec snarled. "I am a king!"

"No king in his right mind believes that murdering his son because he is different is the right thing to do," Chad said.

Erec growled and charged at Chad. Out of nowhere, he found himself being flung into the hallway.

"You were told to leave," Justin said, baring his canines.

"I'll leave for now," Erec said, getting up and brushing himself off. "But this isn't over," he said. Justin's energy level plummeted, and he collapsed while shifting to his human form.

"Justin, No!" Chad yelled. He ran to Justin as his body hit the cold floor.

Nurse Parker came around a corner, stepped up, and examined Justin as Chad held him in his arms.

"What happened?" Chad asked, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It looks like he exhausted himself by using his power," she said, checking Justin's vitals.

"Will he be alright?" Chad asked, wiping his eyes.

"Yes," the nurse said, nodding her head. "He needs rest to regain his strength," she said. Sister Katerine walked up to them.

"His father was powerful, but our prince was stronger," she said.

"If Justin was stronger, why did he pass out?" Chad asked.

"He's still learning how to control his gift," Katerine said.

Selene was notified about what happened and rushed over. Her blood boiled to find out that Justin's father showed up and tried to harm him and his mate.

"I don't know when he'll wake up, so I'll be over to attach an IV," the nurse said.

"I'll try to get in touch with his mother and tell her what happened," Selene said.

"You should be proud of your prince," Katerine said. "He risked his life to keep the orphans and his mate out of harm's way," she said.

"I feel like I failed him," Chad said. "I'm supposed to protect him," "Not the other way around," he said.

"When his father threatened you, his instinct kicked in," Selene said. "Now, let's get you two back home," she said.

An hour later, Justin lay on his bed while Nurse Parker set up his IV. Chad sat on the edge of the bed and caressed his hand. Tears brimmed his eyes.

"He'll be okay," the nurse said. "He just needs to rest and recharge," she said. The nurse finished setting everything up and checking Justin's vitals before leaving the room. "If there are any changes, any at all, contact me," she said. Selene entered the kitchen and fixed some hot cocoa.

Selene filled two cups with the hot drink and headed to the bedroom. She knocked lightly.

"I have some hot chocolate," she said, stepping inside.

"Thank you," Chad said, accepting the warm cup.

"I can set up a cot in the room for you," she said.

"Thanks," he said, smiling. "I really appreciate this," he said. "When he told his father that we were mates, I felt like hugging him tightly," Chad said.

A makeshift bed was set up in the room for Chad to use. The alpha didn't sleep much because he wanted to be awake when Justin opened his eyes. Even with everyone telling him to rest and not worry so much, Chad couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened. Nurse Patrick came every morning and evening to check Justin's vitals and IV before saying goodbye. Chad felt somewhat better hearing that Justin wasn't suffering from any permanent damage. He was simply bruised and mentally and physically exhausted. Before Chad laid down Sunday night, he went to Justin's bed and said, "I miss you, please wake up,"