Chapter Fourteen
1024 Words
At the other far end of the pack, the atmosphere was more heavier, mixed with emotions wolves felt more differently. Fear. Panic.
Lucas was walking down the hallway, searching for that particular face that has been etched into his memory. One he was afraid to admit.
He had just walked past the clinic when he felt it. Doctors and nurses running from one end to another. Teeth gritting together. He heard all of that but nothing prepared him from what was to follow next.
The smell hit him like a strong wave. A smell they all thought was gone for good. It had returned, and was even stronger. The fever.
He paused in his steps and turned his head towards the clinic door. A doctor saw him and rushed towards him. “Beta Lucas,” She panted, gripping on his hands for a stance.
“It's bad.” She started. “It's getting even worse. I've never seen anything like this before. I think Ivy should be fetched,” She rushed out the words in one breathe.
“I know, I know,” Lucas' face became pale as he looked past her into the clinic. Pups were sprawled on their beds, gasping for breath.
“How bad is it?” He sighed.
She straightened at the question. “Bad, beta. Worse even but we're managing and doing our best but I don't think we can hold it off for long,” She replied and Lucas nodded.
He pulled away from her grip and took a U-turn, heading towards Zeke's chambers.
The door to Zeke's room flung open and Lucas stepped him. His eyes landed on the Alpha sitted on his working desk, going through some filed while the letter from Uncle Darius laid untouched before him. The Alpha carrying so much burden on his shoulders, ones he didn't know how to place down.
Lucas face softened and he slumped into a couch, it was then Zeke looked up. “What's wrong, Luc?” he asked.
“The pups…” He sighed and Zeke straightened instantly.
“What's wrong with them?”
“The fever. It's returning, “ Lucas replied simply and he saw the change in Zeke's demeanor. Tired. Defeated. Helpless. All crashing down for a moment before he slipped the neutral mask back on his face.
“How bad?” He asked finally.
“Not yet critical but soon…” Lucas stood up, Dustin imaginary dust from his sleeves, letting his words hang in the air. He didn't need to tell Zeke what to do. He knew, but was just relunctant to act on it.
“I would be at the clinic,” He added and Zeke gave a nod before he retreated out of the chambers.
With Zeke alone in the room, he ran his fingers through his hair, down to his face before releasing a deep breath. “Now, what next?” He shook his head, his eyes falling on the letter at the corner of his desk. Sent from his uncle.
The contents of the letter showed up, uninvited in his mind. His conscience screamed wrong but he knew there was only one way and this was it.
His fingers brushed the edges of the letter before he returned his gaze back to the files. Sitted there quietly, working. Doing nothing.
Bothered but at crossroads. Acting meant Ivy was right. Meant Lucas was right and he was wrong. It meant he was on the verge of losing again but it wasn't happening. So the files on his laptop screen seemed more important.
Lucas' feet skimmed over the tiled floor lightly as he headed back to the clinic. There was nothing he could do, except passing the message or was there?
Could he maybe disobey Zeke and get Ivy instead. He shook his head aggressively as if trying to push that thoughts away. Disobedience was out of question. His oath was with Zeke and so was his friendship and loyalty. Betraying that trust even for a better outcome was something he wasn't about risking.
He arrived the clinic that had become characterized with whimpers and aily coughs. The clinic was dark as the pups had been tucked in to bed but even in sleep, some were still restless, releasing a sigh from time to time, while throwing coughs around.
A bed creaked and he walked over to the bed, watching. A wrapped figure sat up from the bed, hands over her mouth as she swallowed back a cough, she looked around the clinic before her eyes landed on him and her eyes brightened instantly.
“Uncle Lucas,” She called and Lucas hummed a reply, lowering himself to kneel before her.
“Kena,” He managed to say, patting the girl's head.
“I've been asking for the Alpha since morning but the nurses had continued refusing,” She said and coughed.
“Why are you looking for Zeke?” Lucas asked, patting her back slightly as the cough subsided.
“I wanted to make a request,” She said in a tiny voice. “Can you help me pass the request?” She asked, hope glimmering in her eyes. Lucas gave a short nod.
She shivered lightly, her little hands clutching on Lucas' shirt as she started coughing. Her chest moved uncontrollably as she coughed while tears rolled down her eyes. Lucas panicked before hurriedly fetching a cup of water and holding it to her mouth.
The cough subsided after some time and Kena went into a fit of wailing. Lucas tried consoling her as he knew nothing about what he was supposed to do.
When she finally stopped crying, she looked at Lucas with teary eyes as she let out short gasps. “Where's the Luna lady, I want her back,” She sobbed when she got back her breath.
Lucas froze for a moment, head hanging down in despair before moving and holding the girl yo his chest, rocking her and patting her hair.
“Luna lady would return soon,” He wanted to say but he wasn't sure of how soon. Zeke could be stubborn at times.
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