The Midnight Pard

Chapter 3

Bellamy

"You know, you probably shouldn't threaten the Alpha of your Pard, or your potential mate." Bellamy teased Jax. He would have been harsher on the panther but understood Jax had also been hurt by their past. Jax was silent for awhile as he sat, allowing Anton to run his hands through Jax's fur. "Perhaps, but our mate will be our equal. Alpha or not." He stood, darting around the clearing before looking at Anton expectantly.

Chuckling, Anton gave into his panther, Lev immediately ran up to brush alongside Jax, before both taking off to run through the trees. Jax was flying, enjoying the difficulty Lev was having keeping up with him. Even an Alpha could barely keep pace, it was wonderfully freeing. They had been running, walking, and lying next to each other for over a few hours when the sound came blaring from the pard-house. The border guards had alerted to trouble.

Jax stood, immediately racing for the border. Living with the wolves had made him brave, he knew how to protect and having found his mate, he had no intention of allowing anything to get to his mate, or their Pard. It didn't take long for the acrid decayed smell of a rogue vampire to reach him. He turned slightly, racing off in that direction. A part of his mind registered that he was well ahead of Lev, that was alright. He would catch up, the warriors would need all the help they could get. Vampires were fairly rare even in their world. A rogue among them was near unheard of, but when it did happen they were exceptionally difficult to deal with. It was the smell of fresh blood that had Jax fully taking control, pushing Bellamy to the back of their mind.

Anton

Lev heard the sound, stilling in surprise. Attacks on their land were almost unheard of. It was Jax's quick reaction that had him kicking into gear. Trying to follow the other panther, he quickly realized exactly how unmatched he was. Fear overtook him as the smell of the rogue reached him. Why the hell was Jax running towards it. He wasn't a warrior if he got hurt. Lev snarled, racing past the last few trees where he saw Jax latched onto the vampire's back, his claws leaving giant gaping wounds. There was a slain warrior a few feet away, and another severely wounded warrior attempting to keep attacking. Lev didn't hesitate immediately going for the vampire's throat. The creature screamed, turning in time to fling Jax off of him and catch Lev in mid-air. He heard Alpha Richard's snarl and saw the vampire's eyes go wide, dropping him. Lev turned immediately, only to see Richard's panther. Tristan, standing over the vampire, it was clear to see where the vampire's neck had been ripped out. Lev turned to look for Jax, immediately shifting back at the sight of Bellamy's body against the base of a tree.

Racing over Anton knealt over the motionless body. He knew better then to try to move him. If he had any spinal or brain damage it would only make the recovery take longer. He held his hand close to Bellamy's face, feeling the breath eased his own nerves. Lev was snarling now. "Why did he try to fight? He could have been killed." Anton felt tears in his eyes, replying softly out loud. "I don't know."

Richard moved slowly closer to his son. "Anton, do you have Lev in check? I hear the medics coming but they can't help if your panther is trying to defend Bellamy from them." Anton nodded mutely, turning to look at his father, "Do you know what happened?" He wasn't asking as an Alpha needing a report, he felt more like a small scared kid asking a parent to make things better somehow.

The pity was evident in Richards eyes as he slowly helped Anton up, moving him away from Bellamy as the medics made it to the clearing, "We can talk about that back in your office, your beta's can join us." He took two spare blankets from one of the medics, handing one to Anton.

Anton looked around at the mention of his Beta's, seeing them standing, one near Bellamy and the other near the other injured panther. He watched them speaking softly with the medics. It sounded like they had seen some of what had gone down, and were trying to give as many details of witnessed injuries as possible. Anton looked back at the rogue, seeing for the first time a second one further back. It seemed that one had been dealt with before he even got there.

"Devin, Jonah, my office the moment you finish up here." They both nodded and he turned to his father, "Give me a moment and I will be right there." After his father turned away he slowly went up to the medics near Bellamy, only to be stopped by a younger girl, he recognized her as the one he spoke to earlier. "I am sorry Alpha, but we cannot let you near while we work." He held up his hands, taking a step back. "I have Lev under control. I want to know what his state is, and leave my expected whereabouts to be contacted immediately for any changes." Anton tried to keep his voice as even as possible as he spoke.

Allissa looked at the other medics behind her, "Alpha, he is stable, but he will most likely remain unconscious during his healing. His head trauma is quite severe, and for the other part of your request. As you know, we cannot give out that info except to family and mates, I am sorry." Allissa quickly bowed her head, the slight smell of fear coming from her. Anton fought Lev back down, "Allissa right? You've aced every medical test we've thrown at you, it is quite impressive." He lowered his voice so as not to be overheard. "Bellamy is my fated mate, but he has not accepted me yet, as such I don't want the Pard to pressure him, which is why I haven't announced it yet." He watched her face carefully. "I can understand your predicament Alpha. However, I cannot officially give you any of his information without your bond being officiated, but if I happen to be taking a walk and thinking out loud in your vicinity, it would keep your secret. Would that be acceptable?"

Anton breathed slowly out, "Thank you." He turned, quickly heading off to the pard-house. His office was silent as he walked in, noting his Beta's and his father all sitting at his desk, waiting patiently. He spoke as he walked over to his chair. "Before the attack, I learned from Bellamy that he had been offered a place among the wolves pack. I must assume that is because, as a kid, I threatened him, which all of you are already aware of. Before we get into that, I want reports on what happened, what the casualties are, and then we can talk about how to deal with the wolves who will be waiting to hear from Bellamy, who now is not able to correspond with them." He hadn't missed the way the other three tensed at the idea of the wolves taking Bellamy from the Pard. It helped calm Lev and Anton.

Jonah spoke up first, "Myself and Devin were on patrol, not on the same route, but close. The 2 rogues came through my side of the perimeter. The panther I was with immediately engaged, I slammed the alarm and ran off to help. At some point, Devin and the panther on his route showed up. We were losing badly, my partner was killed, and then Jax showed up, distracting one of the vampires. Devin's partner split to help Jax while we finished off the one we had. We heard Alpha Richard charge past us as we were making sure the thing was well and dead. I looked up and saw you and Alpha Richard near the other vampire."

Devin spoke next, "I'll keep it short, since a lot of it overlaps, me and my partner caught the scent, got there, and just as we were engaging the vampire we took out, it killed Jonah's partner. The rest is all repeat." He looked down, softly speaking, "Is Bells, sorry Bellamy okay?" Anton gave him a small nod, "He's stable but that's all we know."

Richard spoke up next, "I was just nearby, had been going for a run. I heard the commotion and then smelled the blood. I got there in time to see Jax being thrown, and I saw you in that thing's grip. I lost control, Tristan took over completely."

Breathing was painful as Anton took in what they were all saying, "Are all of you telling me that Jax was holding his own primarily against a rogue vampire?" Lev snarled in his mind, their mate was strong but he shouldn't have to be, he should not be in that much danger. Anton agreed silently, feeling bewildered. He knew Bellamy and Jax were different, able to outrun Lev, and now almost winning against such a crazy strong opponent. He just didn't know what it meant. "So we have one panther dead, and two severely injured?" At their nods he continued, "I want all three families brought one by one into my office to speak with them. Bellamy's father last, there is a lot more to say to him. After that we can discuss everything else.

They left his office and he mentally prepared. The first family in his room was a female panther, holding a small baby. The widow of the deceased panther, she had broken down in tears. They had been chosen mates not fated but still deeply in love. He offered her every single comfort and help he could. Eventually having a friend of hers escort her back to her room. Surprisingly, Allissa was the next one in his office, the little sister of the injured panther. He gave her information on how to get any help she might need within the Pard, and then excused her to return to her duties, which included tending to her brother. She quietly let him know that Bellamy was resting in the Pard-hospital, still unconscious but stable.

Anton's nerves were frazzled by the time Harvey walked into his office, "Alpha Anton, I heard my son was involved in the attack." He paused looking incredibly scared, "Is he alive?" The words were soft, broken, and the man behind them in that moment matched them entirely.

"Yes, yes he is alive, he is in the Pard hospital being tended to by our doctors. He is stable, last I heard, and your duties are, of course, suspended, so you may spend as much time as needed with him. However, that is not the only reason I've brought you in today. I do not know if he has told you as of yet, and if he hasn't, I'll beg both your forgiveness. However, last night during the ceremony it was discovered that he is my fated mate." It was clear from Harvey's reaction that he had not known. 'We have not made this news public knowledge at this time. Due to the past, he is not sure he would like to accept me. Until a decision is made I would like to keep this mostly need to know, for his own privacy."

Harvey nodded slowly, "I can understand that. If it is on need to know, would I be correct in the assumption that me being his father wouldn't normally be enough for you to breach his privacy?" Anton nodded, "We may need a diplomat with the wolves before Bellamy manages to wake up, it shouldn't need to be immediately needed and we could do most of the work on our side right outside his hospital room if needed. However, you are the next person with any experience dealing with them and their customs. Will you be able to help us moving forward?" Harvey closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, "I can help. Anything to make all of this easier on him when he wakes." Anton sighed, "You may go, I am going to be speaking to my father and my beta's for awhile, but when we are prepared for how we want to handle the Pard we will go down there. If it is alright with you, I would like to spend time there as much as my duties will permit as well. Because we are not publicizing being mates, I do need your consent to be around his room." Harvey bit his lip, "I have great respect for you Anton, I've watched you grow from a boy to a proper Alpha, but I do remember the young boy that tormented my son, far more then my son tried to allow me to know. I haven't forgiven you. However, if you can look me in the eye and swear you will never hurt him again, I will allow your visitation uncontested." Lev was near snarling in his mind at the idea they might be kept from their mate, but Anton simply allowed his head to drop into a nod, meeting Harvey's gaze. "I give you my word, I will never harm or do anything to knowingly cause harm to Bellamy ever again. I also give you my word that I will do anything, including give my own life to protect and save his. Even if he rejects me." Harvey nodded, taking a slow deep breath, "thank you Alpha Anton." He stood and slowly made his way out of the office.

Anton called his father and Beta's back into the room, closing and locking the door behind them. "Now what do we do about the wolves? Depending on what he has told them, they may not take us negotiating without him well at all, and it may become an even more tense situation if they are told of what condition he is in. However, I also believe that if we attempt to conceal this at all, and they find out some other way, it may look bad enough that they outright declare war on us. What he went through, what I did to him wasn't just bullying, it was direct abuse. I'm lucky I never caused permanent damage levels of abuse." He fought not to flinch under his father's glare, he knew his father was beyond furious hearing the extent of it, but his father's wrath would be nothing compared to how angry he already was at himself.

Devin spoke first, "If we send first contact to work out negotiations as a formal invite, that would put us as only having to write your name on the corespondence, and it may be easier to explain the situation fully if they are also here." Richard spoke up, "It may not be that easy, they are also in the midst of a shift of Alpha, and they may not be able to make an in person visit, however it may work to buy some time for Bellamy to heal, even if they are unable to make it. Since they would have to give a formal response, and that could take up to a few days. The sooner we send ours will be for the better, though. They were most likely expecting him to return immediately, whether or not he was going to be joining their pack officially."

Raising his head from his hands where it had fallen in frustration, Anton nodded, "If they do decide to make an official trip out to speak with us, who should we expect and how many of them should we expect, I want to have accommodations made well before they ever step paw on Pard land." Richard's face scrunched in contemplation, "Either the Alpha or acting Alpha, and not knowing where they are in that process it is even harder to guess if that will be Alpha Nate or Alpha Seth, they will probably be accompanied by one or both of their chosen Beta's, 1 diplomat, and a handful of Gamma guards,anywhere between 2 and 6 depending on what type of show they are trying to put on." At least this information was workable, Anton turned adressing Devin, "Please have some of the omegas prepare 10 of the rooms on our guest floor." He nodded, standing and leaving the office, Anton turned to Jonah, "I want you to make sure that any resources the families of todays tradgedies could need are available." Jonah stood, gave a quick nod and left just as quickly.

After the door closed behind Jonah, Richard stared at his son. "I don't need to tell you my thoughts of your past. You know them, what I will tell you, is that if I ever hear of you doing anything like that to a member of this Pard again, I will challenge you." Anton felt like he had the wind knocked out of him, he could hear Lev whine in his mind. "I swear to you, I will protect every member of this Pard to the best of my ability." Richard stared silently at his son for several more moments. "You have no idea how much I wish I could believe you right now." He stood without another word and left. Anton sat there in stunned silence, it was only when Lev gently asked about Bellamy that he began making his way to the infirmary.

Harvey stepped out of Bellamy's room as Anton approached, "I won't stop you from being in there with him, but no buisness in his room. We handle that out here." Anton nodded, "We are officially inviting the wolves here to discuss the matter of their claim to Bellamy becoming a member of their pack." Harvey nodded, "I can work on drafting it, should I presume based on the contents, that you would prefer to be the only signiture on the letter?" Anton nodded, "Yes, we hope it will provide a better chance to explain the situation with no misunderstandings." Harvey nodded, "I've got my laptop in the room, we talk buisness out here, but I can work on it while we both sit in there, unless you have something else?" Harvey reached for the door, allowing his hand to rest there as he awaited Anton's answer, "I have as much free time as I'm going to be alloted." He followed Harvey through the door, immediately concerned by the amount of tubes connected to Bellamy, and to the massive bandaging on his head and left side.