Oops! Still Your Mate

Chapter Nine

The stench that hit Zeke when he walked him almost made him gag over.

“What's this?” He asked baffled.

The pack doctor walked over to him, a grave expression on his face.

“Alpha” He gave a small bow.

“Explain this to me,” Zeke demanded.

“It's….” He heaved a sigh “Howling rot” He said, his voice hoarse and low.

Zeke's eyes widened slightly and he clenched his hands as he turned to Lucas who mirrored the same expression.

“Who are the victims?”

“Mostly pups” The doctor said.

“Let me see the kids” Zeke demanded.

“Alpha, I'm afraid…”

“Let me see the kids” Zeke roared, his eyes quickly turning red.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Let's go” The doctor gasped and quickly led the way.

The harsh smell hit him instantly and he took a step back, his eyes roaming the hall. Pups were tied in chains, howls echoed across the pack house, threatening to pull it down.

“This is bad” He heard Lucas mutter beside him. His eyes blurred as he looked away.

“Mate” He heard his wolf growl.

“Be quiet” He rebuked.

“Mate” His wolf growled again, this time more urgently.

“Keep them safe” He ordered and turned on his heels walking away with Lucas following him closely.

“What are we to do?” Lucas asked immediately they entered into Zeke's office.

“I don't know” Zeke slumped into his seat, massaging his temples.

“Bring all books on werewolf illness” He ordered and Lucas nodded, getting to work immediately.

“This illness had not been recorded for the past three centuries” Lucas said, raising his head from the book he was reading.

“And it only occurs when the Alpha is making a grave mistake or when something is not working or it can act as an activation for a curse”

“I'm reading the f*****g thing Lucas” Zeke growled, his eyes flashing a bloody red.

“I'm sorry” Lucas shrunk away, returning his focus to the book.

The door flung open inviting sunlight in, lightening up the dim room.

Lucas and Zeke raised their heads, eyeing the intruder. Ivy.

“Luna” Lucas breathed out in relief. Zeke was crashing out and refusing to take a rest. They had been at this throughout the night.

“Stoneheart” Ivy walked in, moving quickly to Zeke's side.

“Mate” Zeke's wolf howled.

“Be quiet”

“She can heal them. Drop your pride” He admonished and Zeke gulped down nothing before turning his attention to her.

“I heard the news this morning and rushed in to see you” Ivy said, her voice low and cautious.

“I'm good” He said, his eyes not leaving the book.

“You didn't sleep throughout the night”

“Didn't catch even a wink.” Lucas backed up.

“I said I'm fine” he spat.

“The people need you. How can you help them if you're doing this to yourself?” Ivy questioned.

“You know right? You know your refusal to accept my rejection is the cause of this right?” Zeke suddenly raised his blood-shot eyes to stare at her.

“What if it's you rejecting me that's the cause?” She rolled her eyes before dropping on the couch beside Lucas.

“You're so stubborn” Zeke muttered, looking down on the book before him. Piles of books that he had read laid behind him and even more piles of the unread ones stood on his table.

“Thank you.” She scoffed and then continued, her voice dropping low, almost hesitant. “I can try to help”

“You can what?” Lucas asked, his head jolting up to glance at her.

“Alright, let's go” Zeke sighed and stood up. He couldn't stop his wolf from growling in his head.

“What?” Lucas mouth dropped down as he followed after Zeke. Ivy was also surprised and a snarky comment came out of her throat but she held it in.

He was looking tired and exhausted. The whole sickness thing was taking its toll on him.

“Call the people for an announcement” Zeke ordered. Lucas nodded and quietly left to carry out the order.

Zoe stood on a podium before the members of the pack including the elders. They waited anxiously for his announcement. Worry clouded their faces. The howls of the pups echoed over the gathering sending chills down the spine of all present.

Some parents whose kids were affected by the illness stood to the corner of the hall, wiping away silent tears.

“I have looked over all the clinic doctors and have come to a conclusion that…” He paused allowing his words to digest into the people.

“Ivy Hale would be joining the pack doctors in trying to heal the pups” Gasps echoed across the hall, parents wiped their tears, a faint scoff sounded.

The people were torn into two, accusing eyes found Ivy and bared their claws at her.

“Let's go” Zeke nudged her and pulled her away with Lucas staying behind to send the people off.

The door of the office flung open and Lucas stepped in.

“What's the people saying?” Zeke asked in a tired voice.

“They are divided” Lucas sighed.

“About what exactly?” Ivy questioned.

“They believe Ivy is the cause of the illness” Lucas said and Ivy scoffed.

“What do they mean by that?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Take it easy, they are just devastated and you're not a certified doctor” Zeke said.

“They believe she not agreeing to the rejection is the reason the moon goddess inflicted a curse upon the people” Lucas continued. “Because if her par…”

“That's enough” Zeke cut in, his voice booming across the room.

“What's the issue about my parents?” Ivy picked up on that.

“It's nothing” Zeke replied, almost immediately.

“I want to know” She insisted.

“The pups won't cure themselves, let's go” Zeke changed the topic and stood up, his ice cold expression back on his face.

Ivy's jaw hardened but she nodded and followed after him, her eyes glaring at Lucas as if telling him that he needed to explain later. Lucas shrugged and looked away, his heart thumping in his chest on what Zeke would do to him.

The smell ushered them in, frenzied howls echoed across the clinic and Ivy's eyes watered.

“This is bad. So so bad” She muttered and Lucas nodded.

Her eyes swept across the clinic taking in the kids.

“Luna” A small voice called, she turned instinctively, he was a sick pup. The room stilled, all eyes turning to Zeke to see his reaction.