Chapter 7

8/18/2053

Because the orphanage had a couple of new kids, Chad and Colin were moved to a larger room so they could bunk together. Devin was considered an aggressive alpha, so he was moved to a separate ward. Chad hung his clothes on one side of the closet, while Colin used the other.

"Would you prefer the top or bottom bunk?" Chad enquired.

"I want the bottom," Colin stated.

Colin lay on the bed and glanced up at the bed above him. "Chad, when we're older, what would you like to be?" he asked. Chad rolled onto his side and looked over the edge of the bed.

"I'd like to be a cook or a painter," he said. "How about you?" he asked.

"Well, I'd like to either work with flowers or do interior design," he said. "Have you painted before?" Colin asked.

"No," Chad said, shaking his head. "But I'd like to try," he said. "I'd go with working with flowers because I've seen how calm you are around them," he said.

Colin was outside picking flowers when Brother Damian stepped up to him.

"Nurse Parker wants to see you," he said.

"Okay, I'll go right over," he said, standing up. Colin headed over to the clinic and knocked on the door.

"Thanks for coming," she said. "Come on in," the nurse said.

"What did you want to see me about?" he asked. She motioned for Colin to follow her into the office and sit down.

"I have heat suppressants and birth control pills for you to start taking," she said, placing two bottles in front of him.

Colin glanced at the small, white bottles and groaned.

"Nobody likes to take medicine, but it's a must," he said. "So, by the way, how have your nightmares been?" she asked.

"I still have them, but having Chad around helps," he said.

"Do you have any questions for me?" she asked.

"I'm not sure if you are the right person to be talking about this, but is there a way to control my, you know, power?" he asked.

"Relaxing your mind before going to bed is a good start," she said. "During the day, meditation might work," she added.

Colin took the bottles and walked towards the door. "I've been picking flowers to stay calm," he explained as he turned to face her.

"Do you want to be a florist someday?" she inquired.

"Yes," he agreed with a nod.

"I've got an idea," she said. "Why don't you assist me in redecorating this clinic?" she asked. "It looks so plain," said the nurse.

"Really?" Colin inquired, his eyes bright with excitement.

Colin opened the door of the clinic to leave and was met with Chad, who was breathing heavily.

"Oh, there you are," he said. "I saw you go to the clinic and got worried," he said.

"I'm fine," Colin said. "The nurse needed to talk to me," he said. When they reached their room, Colin grabbed a clear vase, filled it with water and put the flowers that he had picked

Into it. "I have great news," Colin said. "The nurse wants me to help redecorate the clinic," she said.

"That's fantastic news," Chad said, hugging him. "When will you start?" he asked.

"Tomorrow after breakfast," Colin said.

Chad noticed the bottles on the nightstand and asked, "Are you on medication now?"

"Yea, as much as I hate pills, they will help," Colin said. "You don't want me yelling at you all the time," Colin said.

"You're an omega?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, yes," Colin said, sighing heavily.

"Why so glum?" Chad asked.

"Omegas aren't treated that well," he said.

"What makes you think that?" Chad asked.

"Trust me, I know," Colin said, thinking back about his father.

Chad noticed that Colin's mood had changed for the worse. "Let's shift and go for a run," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are we allowed?" Colin asked.

"Sister Katerine said it's okay," Chad said.

"Thank you for being my friend," Colin said as they headed outside. "You know exactly how to cheer me up," he said.

"I don't like to see you sad," Chad said. "Let's do this before it gets dark," Chad said.

Colin and Chad shifted into their wolf forms and ran all around. It was like all the tension that Colin felt melted away. Colin felt liberated while in his wolf form and running with his best friend. The warm breeze ran through their fur as they chased each other. They shifted back to their human forms and dressed when the sun started setting.

"I had so much fun," Colin said as they entered their room.

"I told you that you'd feel a lot better," Chad said, as he plopped down on his bed.

"In my wolf form, I feel free and alive," Colin said.

The next morning, Colin gathered his medications after he showered and dressed. When he entered the dining hall, Chad glanced up from his meal and waved. Colin grabbed his food, smiled, and sat down beside Chad.

"Did you sleep well?" Chad asked.

"Yes, thank you," Colin said.

"You were still asleep when I woke up, so I left you alone," he said.

"I needed it after the run we had yesterday," he said.

Looking at the time, Colin snarfed down his breakfast and took his medicine.

"I promised Nurse Parker that I'd help decorate," he said, getting up. "I'll see you later," he said.

"Don't wear yourself out," Chad teased. Colin playfully stuck out his tongue at him and giggled. Chad smiled back and waved goodbye. Colin headed to the clinic and met Nurse Parker.

"Are you ready to start picking out flowers for the exam room?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, nodding his head.

"Let's do a summer theme," she said, handing him a book to look through.

"Okay," he said.

Colin sat down in a chair and browsed through the book. "This might be girly, but I like the various purples," Colin said. "I am thinking that we use spiny mums, peonies, rose buds, and hibiscus," he said.

"I like that idea," she said. "And it's not girly," she added. Colin smiled from ear to ear and blushed big time. "I'll order these while you do some meditation," the nurse said, heading into her office. Colin found a secluded spot in the clinic and sat cross-legged on the floor. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly.

When a hand suddenly touched his shoulder, Colin's defenses came up.

"Don't touch me," he yelled. Whoever it was got flung across the room. Colin opened his eyes when he heard a groan coming from beside some boxes. Panic rose when he saw whom he had used his power on. Chad lay in front of him, holding his injured arm.

"I told you," he stammered. "I'm a monster, and now I've ended up hurting you," he said. Tears streamed down Colin's cheeks as he dashed out of the clinic. Colin packed up everything he owned and left the orphanage.