After naming them all, she falls asleep from the long exhausting day. If she even knew just how exhausting it was, she would worry, and that is exactly why I chose not to tell her. Staying by her the whole time, I try to sleep in the most uncomfortable chair there is. When I move just a few inches, it grates against the tile floor, while making an unbearable noise that hurts my ears.
After I tell the guards to be on high alert for Alpha Andrei, my eyes eventually close, but the moment I hear someone open the door, I sit straight up in the chair and look right at him. While staring at the doctor, he glances at me quickly before going to check Arabella’s blood pressure. He must have thought that I had gone home, and he could slip in without waking anyone.
Of course, I couldn’t leave her side at a time like this. Alpha Andrei is still on the prowl and who knows exactly when they will strike again. This is certainly not the time to be leaving her alone for my nice, soft, warm bed back at home.
Just thinking about it, makes me want to stand up right now and grab my pillow and blankets from the bed, before returning. However, I know the moment I leave, they will take it as a sign of weakness and deliver the fatal blow. Knowing this, I content myself with the squeaky chair and the fact that I can only trust myself right now.
As I sit and watch the doctor check her vitals, I begin to wonder something, “Could the doctor be in on it? If he was, surely, he would have killed her on the operating table. Or would he wait for a more opportune time, where it looks more like an accident?” With all these thoughts running through my brain, I watch him more and more carefully now.
When he withdraws a syringe from his jacket coat, I get a little suspicious and ask him, “What is that?”
He glances at me casually, before he pushes it into the I.V. that leads directly into her arm. When he is finished, he turns to answer me and says, “It is just a mild sedative to make sure she sleeps through the night. She has had a long surgery and sometimes our bodies just need to sleep it off.” And then he smiles before capping the syringe.
Before he leaves the room, I stop him briefly and ask quietly, “Have you heard any whispers of what is going on around here? While you were operating on Arabella, I had to kill several rogues just outside the operating room. They were supposedly hired by Alpha Andrei, although I am questioning if it was really him or someone else.”
He motions for me to follow him, so I do. When we are just outside the room, he mentions, “I have heard whispers of several of our people hiring the rogues. They seem to think that once the two of you are gone, they will rule it together. Alpha Andrei will be King, and Beta Stephan will be his right-hand man. I also have heard that there is a woman among them who stands to gain a considerable advantage if she helps them. So, just watch what you do. Who knows what might happen next?”
When I look into his eyes, they look honest, and I can tell that he isn’t lying about this at least. “Thank you, I needed confirmation before going after him in the morning. Thank you again.” After I say this, I give him a friendly pat on the back, just before he walks off to do the rest of his rounds.
Now I know what I must do. Taking out my phone, I call the security team for a meeting. I need to get to the bottom of this now and take care of it before Arabella and the pups go home from the hospital.
When they all arrive, I sit them down in the next room. I have Beta Charles sit in with Arabella just in case someone picks that time to attack her again. In the back of my mind, I know they would attack while I am not at her side.
“First thing’s first. Has anyone heard from Alpha Andrei or seen him?” I look around the room while judging everyone’s reactions.
They all shake their heads except for one, Beta Chance. He sits in the back quietly and doesn’t say a single thing, even when I bring his silence to the attention of everyone. “Do you have anything to say?” I ask while staring directly at him.
“No. I’ve been sick and up in my room for the most part. I haven’t seen or heard from anyone. Sorry.” He states while staring off into the corner.
Why don’t I believe anything he says? Is it because the moment our eyes did meet, I could sense the betrayal within them? It looks like a sort of hatred or envy, but either way, he is in on the whole thing. Or he knows something he isn’t telling us.
“Do you mind walking outside in the hallway with me for a few minutes? I need to have a one on one with you.” I fake a smile and then gesture for him to lead the way.
When he stands up, he seems hesitant and then finally walks towards me. Once he is in front of me, my wolf takes control, and he slams him up against the doorway of the room next door to where we were. My wolf roars, “Tell me now!” Before my claws dig into his sides and lift him off the ground.
He cries out, “Alright. Stop.” Before I drop him, and he lands on his knees in front of me.
Regaining control for the moment, I shake my head. Once I can think again for myself, I ask, “So?”
“Alright, alright. Alpha Andrei told me that if I cooperated with him, he would make me chief of security after we killed all the others that were loyal to you. I am sorry.” He says before begging for his life.
Tears cascade down his face as he cries out, “I will do anything, just name it.”
Thinking about this, I decide to spare him for the time being. He may prove to be useful very shortly. In the meantime, I will have the others keeping an eye on him.
“O.K., if you want me to spare you, you have to do something for me. Got it?” I stare him right in the eyes and see unbridled fear.
He hesitates and when I become impatient and threaten him with a raised claw, he whimpers and says, “Fine, anything for my king. What do you want?”
“Listen closely, you are about to go tell Alpha Andrei to come to the lobby in 20 minutes. Tell him that I will be alone and that I am upset because Arabella isn’t doing well.” I instruct him exactly according to plan.
What he doesn’t know is the fact that I plan on having everyone else there and we will attack whatever Army he brings with him. Then and only then, I will take him on one on one. This way it is fair for a change.
Nodding, he stands up after I take a step back and gesture for him to get up. While standing there, I almost feel bad for him, because I know that even if Alpha Andrei were to win this duel, Beta Chance wouldn’t make it out of this alive. Of course, if I win, he will be dead, because I will never be able to trust him again.