We all follow behind as my dad's stretcher is being wheeled toward the emergency room. They stop us at the door, of course, that's as far as we're allowed to go. I am restless and couldn't sit still. Pacing the length and breadth of the limited space in front of the emergency room.
I can't help but think about how he has lost so much color. How he now looks much older than his usual robust self. I just pray the doctors will be able to repair whatever damage the silver bullet might have done to his internal organ before it's too late
I hear footsteps coming down the hall and I look up to find the Alpha and Beta of the Night Howlers pack coming toward us. He's about my dad's age and also one of the strongest Alpha in North America but this is the f irst time I'm meeting him in person, I'm sure Justine would have met him on several occasions during council meetings and pack businesses. I'm the bastard son after all.
I walk toward them to meet them halfway
"Alpha..." I say and bow my head a little in respect and my men also follow suit. I didn't need to bow to him though since he's not my Alpha but I did anyway, courtesy demands it. Especially when the old wolf generously agreed to share his medical facilities with us and apart from that, his Night Howlers pack might not be as big as the Silver Moon pack but big all the same. It's good to have a wolf like him as an ally
He couldn't hide his surprise when I respectfully bowed to him. It's clearly written on his face
"Thor!..." He booms out my name with a huge smile on his face like we've been acquaintances for years.
"It's great to finally have to meet you!" He says again, stretching out his hand to shake with mine. "Don't get me wrong, please. I'm not saying I'm happy that your father was attacked and fighting for his life. No, far from it. I'm just glad to finally be able to meet the future Alpha of the Silver Moon pack."
"Thank you for having us..." I say and force a smile so I will at least have some kind of happy emotion on my face since it's not something that comes to me naturally.
"But did you just call me the future Alpha?... That is yet to be determined, you know. We all don't know who the future Alpha will be until in two days but thank you all the same for your vote of confidence."
He laughs at my failed attempt to appear humble
"Cut the bullshit son! I know you know that I'm not blowing smoke up your ass. Hell, anyone that matters in the Shifter world knows who the capable wolf is and I hope the capable wolf wins, despite all the foul plays that might take place to hinder him even before that day." He says with a warning undertone.
He stretches out his hand again and I take it in mine.
"Every facility we have on this pack is at your disposal, Alpha Thor. A house and hot meals are being made available to you and your men as we speak, please don't hesitate to let me or my Beta know if you find anything wanting."
"I appreciate your kind gesture, Alpha Nate. I'm not sure my dad would have survived if you hadn't generously agreed to accommodate us. Thank you once again, and I hope I will be able to pay you back for your kind deed one day." I say even though I hate to owe favors to anyone. I would rather it be the other way round.
He smiles and nods to me, letting go of my hand "My Delta is waiting outside to lead you to the provided accommodation whenever you're ready to freshen up or rest your eyes. I'll come back to check on your father later in the day. He is a tough wolf, I'm sure he would have been okay by then." He says and turns to leave, immediately followed
by his Beta who gives me a curt nod and also got the same in return.
"You know, you really should practice your smile in front of a mirror over and over again to master how it's done before you decide to show it to the outside world. Seeing you smile reminded me of a very dangerous predator." Eric says and I scowl at him making all of them laugh, except me of course
"He is a good man, isn't he?" Henrik says when all the laughs die down
"Maybe he is... or maybe he's just seeing his future son-in-law in Thor. I heard he has a beautiful blond daughter who is yet to find her mate. Would you like me to set up a meeting while we are here?..."
"No, I would like you to shut the fuck up right this moment and let me think Eric!"
"Yes, Alpha..." He replies teasingly with a bow. "Now on a serious note. Do you guys hear what he said about foul play? I think he's trying to warn us about something or am I mistaken?..."
"Yeah. Isn't that what's happening with my dad right now?" I ask no one in particular and before anyone can reply, the door to the emergency room opens and a doctor walks out.
We all immediately hurry toward him, talking at once...
"How's my dad?
"How's he?"
"How's the Alpha?"
The doctor's face breaks into a huge smile on seeing how anxious we all are.
"He's okay. Please gentle wolves, let's sit down over here..." He says with a smile pointing to the stainless steel bench in front of the emergency room.
We all sit and so does he on the bench that is directly opposite ours
"As I said, the Alpha is okay now. For a wolf his age, I'm surprised at the rate at which he's recovering. He immediately started healing as soon as the wolfsbane and vampire venom that was injected into him was flushed out of his system
I stiffen
"The wolfsbane and vampire venom was injected into him at once!? I ask with surprise. Even though I smelled the poison and venom in the air when we got to the scene. I never knew all would be used on him since only one of them is enough to kill a wolf who isn't used to them. Especially a wolf his age.
"Yes... The doctor replies. "It seems whoever did this really wanted him dead and to say the fact, I don't know how the old Alpha managed to survive that considering his age. He was shot twice. Although there was no damage from the silver bullets. I found just one exit wound. He told me he dug the remaining one out himself with his claw inside the car but he still lost a lot of blood as a result of not being able to heal himself.
What made him lose consciousness was the wolfsbane which slowed down his heart rate. That was a good thing in this situation actually because the vampire's venom would have made him suffer a great deal leaving him with the feeling of being burned alive.
Your father is lucky. He might be a tough wolf, but he would have been dead if you had not acted fast. Five more minutes of the combination of these two deadly substances in his system and he wouldn't have survived. This is really a miracle because hardly would any wolf be able to survive the wolfsbane alone not to talk of adding vampire venom and silver bullets.