Chapter Text
Linden was crouched in a bush.
Everywhere on his body panged, the sensation on his skin worsening from his position and the twigs and leaves scratching his flesh.
But how’d he even get in this awfully uncomfortable predicament?
A little while ago, Linden had unfortunately been laid off from his office job. Of course he found ways to make money here and there while he searched for new employment, but never made enough to pay off the bills. Then came the eviction notice.
Linden, now homeless and tired of suffering, took drastic measures: asking his parents for help. They had blocked him on damn near everything, and if he tried to reach them a new way they'd simply block him there too. So, Linden had to walk to his parents house, carrying only a backpack full of what he’d been able to pack, a smile, and hope in his eyes.
They turned him away. Actually, they refused to even talk to him at first, but Linden stayed there, out in the front yard for at least two hours until they opened the door. They got to talking but couldn't come to an agreement. Linden begged. He had tried to convince them to let him stay, he really did, but his parents only had so much patience- and a lot more resentment for their son.
His father told him to go, but Linden refused, eventually forcing his way into the house- his house in his eyes.
Father didn’t like that.
Linden had tried to swing his backpack at the man to keep his attacks at bay, but his mother helped. The bag ended up rolling over, contents spilling out.
While arguing with his parents, Linden had told them he hadn't had an accident in months, convincing them that his ailment was gone- that he was their normal son again.
The diapers falling out of his bag ruined all of that.
So now, Linden was here, in god knows where, body hurting from the scuffle with his father, the bush, and his earlier fall down a hill (which fucked up his leg).
But why was he out here specifically?
Linden didn't know either.
He’d just put up his hood and walked out of town, trying to escape it all no matter where he ended up. He hoped he'd end up dead, if anything.
After seeing the diapers Mother took Linden’s bag, leaving him to watch her stalk off with all his belongings as his father pounded his fists into his midsection.
Despite their hostility, Mother was still... well, his mother. He knew her. Knew what she did best. Gossip.
After Linden had his first accident, Mother had joked about telling her friends about it. She told Linden she wouldn't really have done so, but the second time came around, and she threatened Linden with it again, telling him to get it together or she really would tell. If there was something Mother loved, it was benefitting herself at other’s expense.
And, her audacity was insane. She wasn't even his actual mother, just the girl Father had been cheating on his real mom with until she died in labor. Poor woman. At least she got to escape from these crazy bums.
Anyway, while Father beat Linden into the floor of the entrance hall, Mother was pulling up her Facebook, positioning the camera. And just like that, Linden’s life was over. The town they lived in was fairly small- everyone knew each other around here- so when his mother posted something, it was likely news would spread. And fast.
So Linden, seeing no other option, left. How could he possibly show his face there? In a place where everyone knew the deepest most vulnerable part of himself? And, since his parents took his bag, he had no way to pay for stuff or even think of a means of where to go next.
So off he went. Miserable, lost, and without any hope in the world. Until now.
Walking was extremely difficult with his injuries, so, after falling down the hill, Linden settled for crawling across the terrain. His palms were littered with cuts, and there were bits of sticks and leaves in his black hair from when he had to go under a low branch.
More than once, to Linden’s dismay, he’d needed to use the bathroom. And “needed to” meant his body just went, no warning or signal provided. He had put on a diaper earlier, but he wasn't going to sit in a dirtied one. And now, he didn't have his bag so he had to take it off and hope he wouldn't go in his pants anytime soon.
Anyway, he was taking a break from his exertions when he heard people talking. Some part of him, stupid and scared, thought maybe people from his town had ventured way out here. But that couldn't have been true- nobody ever left the town, and certainly not this far.
Linden peeked out from behind the tree he was leaning against, spotting a group of people a bit ways off. He wasn't close enough to make much out, but they were holding… weapons. A few of them had satchels, and they seemed to be looking for something. Their attire was weird, not like something from this decade, and curiosity got the best of Linden.
He followed them. At a distance of course. Which brings us to the present, with him in this bush, watching them. This was by far the closest he’s been to them, and he was just buzzing with glee. It was nice to have something catch his interest in his era of despair and isolation.
“Ssss.”
…
Linden looked around, seeking the origin of the sharp, close noise.
“Ssssss!”
Too close.
Linden looked to the ground beside him, a large black snake raising its head towards him.
“Fuck!” Linden screamed, scrambling away. His movement rustled the bush greatly and caused his leg to twinge. He cried out from the pain, but then Linden was crying out from a hand on his ankle, dragging him out of the bush.
“I knew something was up. I got him,” a voice called.
Linden put his hands over his face, peeking through his fingers to see a man crouched down. He wore no shirt, and his clothing seemed to be fur with buckles and straps that attached a knife to his person. His hair was orange and wavy, reaching his scarred chest and framing the tanned and freckled skin of his face.
No way. Is this really how I die? Linden’s eyes welled. Killed by some caveman dude?
The guy moved closer, grabbing the front of Linden’s shirt and shaking him. Linden squealed, bruises flickering in pain. Brown eyes stared down at him, forcing Linden to shut himself up.
“Uh… hello. Would you please let me go..?” Trapped under the not-so-nice gaze, Linden realized quickly that he really should be quiet, but he couldn't help himself. “I wasn’t doing anything bad. I was just… er, traveling.”
“Traveling through our territory,” the man said. “It is understood that no outsiders are supposed to trek upon Stonemist land. Even the dumbest of your kind should know that.”
Stonemist? Linden was sure he’d heard that before… somewhere. “Yes, well, I'm sorry. Really, I apologize-”
The man continued. “Quiet. I oughta tie you up and leave you for the animals to deal with.” He shook Linden again, who could no longer hold his pain in and whimpered. “Get up and go home. Do I make myself clear?”
Linden nodded, falling onto his back once he was let go. He turned and started crawling away as fast as he could, wincing with every effort.
“Cedar, don’t be so cruel,” a woman said behind him, seemingly talking to the ginger man. “He’s clearly injured! You don't propose we just leave him this way? He’ll die for sure.”
Linden stopped, looking back to see that a brunette woman in similar clothing had stepped up from the group. She had her hair held in a bun, a bow strapped to her back.
The man- Cedar, Linden assumed- scoffed. “Serves him right.” He crossed his arms and glared distastefully at the woman.
She held his gaze. “God forbid you have even half a heart. Or half a brain. What if he saw something he shouldn't have? What if he tells others about things here? We can't just let him leave. We should take him to Orion. It's the best course of action.”
Cedar said nothing for a while, letting his silence stretch out uncomfortably until he finally nodded. “Do as you please. I'm not carrying him though.”
The woman flicked Cedar’s arm. “You have to. The rest of us have to carry the fruits of our hunt.” She sighed and turned away, heading back to the group.
Cedar came closer to scowl down at Linden.
Linden bowed his head. “Uhm… I can crawl if you truly don't wish to-”
His breathing hitched as he was hauled over Cedar’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes,the man wrapped an arm around him to secure him in place. It was done so quickly and his body ached with the motion.
“You’re disgusting,” Cedar deadpanned. Okay, yeah, Linden had been crawling through mud and dust and worse but he wasn't that bad…
“Could- ah- could you-” Linden scrambled for words. He tried squirming and scooting to make this more comfortable but couldn't.
“What?” asked Cedar, voice gruff as he walked over to the others.
“Hurts,” Linden managed to mumble.
Cedar dipped to pick something else up, and slung it over his other shoulder. “Sorry.”
The apology surprised Linden a bit, and he wanted to say it was okay so he turned his head.
The dark eyes of a deer met his own. Linden stilled when he saw the blood on the animal’s head, how its mouth was slightly ajar, its body limp. He looked around, realizing everyone was carrying dead animals of some kind, and had to take a moment to compose himself. He tried to ignore the fact that he was a few inches away from the head of a dead deer, closing his eyes for the whole trip which seemed to take ages.
❀
They eventually made it to a large cave. The air was cool inside and it smelled like fruits and a smidge of sweat, but it was welcome over the exposed wilderness any day. There were obvious signs of life, like the weapons hung on the walls and the various tables and seating areas. There were also small openings in the stone walls that led to other caves. Cool.
People buzzed around, some stopping to gawk at Linden. Cedar had left him leaned up against a wall. He waited as Cedar, and the woman from earlier, went into one of the other cave-room-thingies to “talk with the Alpha.”
Hm. Wait.
Linden worked through his brain as another sense of familiarity went through him. Then, he caught a memory and tried to cling to it.
Mother had been talking to him- a much younger him. Linden proposed moving out of town when he got older, but his mother shook her head.
“You can’t just leave. Everywhere surrounding here is pack territory,” she’d said.
“What’s that?”
Mother scoffed. “Nothing for you to worry about. Just groups of people who literally run like a wolf pack. They don't go to stores, they hunt. They dress weird and use weapons. It's like they're stuck in another century. Buncha primal weirdos. But they're dangerous.” Mother’s voice had lowered. “And they don't like us modern folk. How we suppress ourselves and look for advancement.”
“Do they have names? For their little groups?” asked Linden.
Mother had nodded. “I think… the ones I've heard of most are the Stonemists.”
The Stonemists. Oh, great heavens. Linden was going to be killed and eaten for sure.
“Hey.”
Linden looked up, seeing Cedar and the woman return. The sun began to set, letting red-orange light pour into the mouth of the cave.
Cedar picked Linden up bridal style, ignoring his soil covered hand smearing dirt on his skin. “Alpha wants to see you. We’ll get you patched up best we can, and then you are going to rest. Tomorrow we leave for the village. Understand?”
Talk to the leader, get treated, sleep, and then hopefully… figure it out from there. Great. Linden could manage that.
This part of the cave network was lit with candles, a desk of sorts sat in the middle along with a bed in the corner. A man leaned against the wall, staring off into space, but he looked at the three as they entered.
Just from a glance, Linden knew this was “Alpha” as they called him (why did they call him that? Was there only one alpha among them? Maybe). He was almost as muscular as Cedar, with long, straight black hair that he held in a half up half down sorta style. His green eyes pierced Linden’s soul, making him avert his gaze. He looked mean, tough and scary, and Linden fought the urge to run off when he started getting closer.
“This is the stray, I assume?” the man asked.
Stray? Well, excuse me.
Cedar nodded.
“Yeah, he’s pretty beat up, huh?” He reached out, pushing Linden’s hair away from his face and studying him carefully, frowning at an ugly bruise on his cheek. “What’s your name, dear?”
“Linden,” recited Linden.
The man smiled, and it brightened his whole face. He looked a lot less intimidating and almost… friendly. From big bad wolf to docile and domestic dog. “I’m Orion. The alpha of the Stonemist pack. Because you are injured-and don't seem to have ill intentions- you will be allowed to stay with us for as long as you need.”
Linden’s heart twirled and jumped for joy. So he wasn't going to die! Awesome! “Uh, yes- I, uh- thank you.” He tried to seem composed.
“Brook,” Orion nodded at the girl. “Assess his injuries please. Treat them if you can.” Then he sat at his desk, writing something. “Then bring him back here, please.”
Brook and Cedar left the room, going into yet another part of the cave where Cedar laid Linden down on a bed.
“Can you get his shirt for me?” Brook, the woman, asked, leaning over the bed to peer at Linden’s face.
Cedar started removing Linden’s top. He did so slowly, but Linden was wincing anyway, face twisting in pain with every pull or tug. Eventually it was off.
Brook lifted Linden’s arms one at a time. She poked and prodded, running her fingers along his skin. She asked if anything hurt while she did, and Linden said no the whole time but clearly she could see on his face when something was wrong.
“Pants,” Brook said when she finished checking Linden’s stomach.
“Woah. No. No, thank you.” Linden pushed Cedar’s hands away. He didn't have boxers on! Without his sweatpants he’d be totally naked. “I- well- I don't have on underwear.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Brook nodded at Cedar, telling him to continue. “That saves us from having to remove that as well.”
NO.
Linden bucked and squirmed when Cedar’s hands met his waistband, trying to get away, but the pain that resulted from his efforts made them ineffective.
Then his pants were at his ankles. His hands flew to cover up his crotch and Linden groaned quietly, shutting his eyes. Cedar took off his shoes, then his socks while Brook looked over Linden’s thighs. No one was in here but them, but if someone walked in right now Linden would burst out in tears.
“You’ve got bruises everywhere…” Brook mumbled, mostly to herself. “How did this happen, love?”
Linden opened his eyes but kept his gaze on the cracks of the cave roof. “I… well it’s….” he didn't know where to start- if he should start at all.
Brook patted his knee. “It’s okay you don't need to tell me.” She frowned. “Let me put some ointment on you though, okay?” She asked Cedar to go retrieve something and the man left the cave. Brook tapped a finger against Linden’s hand. “Could you lift these for me?”
“No,” said Linden.
“…Linden, please. I'd like to check you everywhere. Why are you so against being seen there?” she asked slowly, as if truly confused.
“What do you mean why? I'm not just gonna let you see my privates! I value modesty.”
Brook said nothing for a minute, then nodded. “Alright. Modesty. You modern people and your unnecessary social norms.” She chuckled, moving to look over Linden’s legs. She lifted the right one, resulting in nothing but the usual pang, but when she touched the left Linden let out a horrible, high sound of pain.
“Oh! Oh, Linden, I'm so sorry…” Brook let go of his leg just as Cedar came back. She reported to him immediately. “Besides the bruising and some minor cuts, his left leg is badly hurt.” She took something from him- a wooden jar. “And he wouldn't let me check around his crotch.” Brook swooped up some of the dark green cream and began rubbing it along Linden’s skin.
Eyes narrowing, Cedar grabbed Linden’s wrist. “Let her do her job. We are helping you, do you understand?”
Linden whined, too tired to fight but Brook bumped in.
“Just let him hide himself. He’s probably scared and uncomfortable enough as is.” She massaged his arm lightly. “You’ve been cleaning yourself? No itching or pain? Is your urine normal?” she asked. Linden was grateful he got questions instead of an observation based check.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” he answered and Cedar released his hand.
Brook set aside the container, reaching for the drawer by the bed and getting out a cloth. She carefully wiped at the cuts on Linden’s knees then got a new cloth- this one a different, more breathable material- and used it to wrap the worst of the gashes.
“There we are.” Brook patted Linden’s head and he froze. “Take him back to Orion please.”
Cedar picked Linden up again and he realized with a start that- “Wait, wait! My clothes!”
“You will have a blanket.” Brook started cleaning up the bed.
Linden groaned and kept his head down. Luckily (strangely), no one glanced his way even though he was very fricking naked. Good for me, I guess.
Back in Orion’s room, Cedar laid Linden down on the bed, drawing the covers up over him. Linden thought it was too early to sleep, but he knew he needed this. Besides, there wasn't much he could do while awake anyway.
❀
“…I suppose we could try.”
Linden awakened to the sound of talking fading into his ears. He yawned, stretched, and tried to roll over onto his side. Hands pushed him right back onto his back. Opening his eyes he saw Orion, Cedar, and Brook looming over him. Orion was in front of him, with Brook to the left and Cedar to the right. Linden felt the alpha’s hands on his hips so he looked down and-
“Ah!” Linden exclaimed, shuffling backward until he hit the headboard. “W-what are you- what did you-…”
Orion removed his hands. “Good morning. You wet the bed in your sleep.” Fuck. GOD, WHY? He gestured toward Linden’s lower half, which was no longer bare but swaddled in a makeshift cloth diaper. “Hence this.”
Linden rolled onto his side and started crying. Just great. He’d thought maybe he’d have a chance at a better life here- a fresh slate to start from- but no. He ruined it immediately.
“Oh, honey,” Brook mumbled, running her fingers through his hair as he curled up. “It’s okay. We don't mind, we won't judge you. We just want to help you remember? We’ve already come up with a way to make this… more manageable.”
The care in her voice was unmistakable but Linden didn't care, he just kept letting tears roll down his face as he shook. He didn't care if he looked like a little bitch right now, he was distraught. One of them had changed him in his sleep! They saw his dick!
“Linden, you need to calm down,” said Orion, putting his hand on Linden’s shoulder. “We have already decided to take you into our pack. You’ll live with us, and we'll take care of you, and your wetting problem.” He paused. “You will be considered and treated as a pup until you can manage yourself. Or until further notice. Is that okay?”
“What?” Linden groaned, barely hearing the words over his cries. “Nooooo, you can't do that…!”
Orion ignored him, moving away from the bed. “Make sure he’s alright then prepare for departure. Get him something to eat. Maybe some water.”
Then he walked away, leaving Brook and Cedar to fuss over poor Linden.