Alpha of Dahael

Chapter 10 - The Calm

He woke up feeling like the whole world was on his shoulders, he sighed and turned towards the cool part of his bed relishing the coolness that greeted him.

He glanced at his phone, half-expecting a message or a call from Aaron or perhaps even the doctor's office, but there was nothing, just the quiet hum of his apartment.

With a sigh, Audeion decided to focus on the immediate tasks at hand. He needed to check his emails, catch up on work, and perhaps try to get some important stuff knocked off for the day.

As he settled into his work routine, a nagging thought tugged at the back of his mind. Should he go back to the doctor's office tomorrow?

Audeion couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something significant about their meeting, something he hadn't fully grasped yet.

The hours passed in a blur of emails and paperwork, he paused when he heard his phone vibrating. He looked at his phone and saw 10 missed calls from Aaron t he had 10 missed calls from Aaron.

He answered and was greeted by the front desk secretary, "Hello Mr. Daheal there's an Aaron Burns downstairs trying to get you, should I let him up?"

Audeion looked at the time and rubbed his head. Time had flown past him and he didn't even notice. The sun was setting, casting shadows across Audeion's apartment. He glanced at the clock, realising it was late, he had gone the whole day without a single bite to eat. As if to echo what he thought, his stomach rumbled like a hungry lion.

"Fxck," he muttered. "Send him up Caroline, I'll meet him at the entrance." There was an audible click and then a brief, "Okay Mr. Dahael sending him up now."

He quickly threw some clothes on and opened the door heading towards the elevator. Even if the secretary sent him up, without the code he could not enter his hallway, he quickly typed in the 6-pin code and out stepped Aaron.

"We need to talk," Aaron said urgently, walking through the front door and removing his shoes. Audeion's heart pounded as he closed the door behind them.

Audeion's curiosity mixed with apprehension as he gestured for Aaron to take a seat. They were alone in Audeion's apartment, the silence punctuated only by the soft hum of the refrigerator, the fan and the occasional distant sounds of the city outside.

"What's on your mind, Aaron?" Audeion finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.

Aaron took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Audeion. "I've been doing some digging," he began, his voice low yet determined. "About the doctors you've been searching for."

Audeion's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "What did you find?"

"There's a pattern," Aaron continued, his tone serious. "All the doctors you've contacted, the ones who ended up missing or dead, they were all connected in some way."

Audeion's mind raced, connecting the dots. "Connected how?"

"They were all part of a research project years ago," Aaron explained. "A project that was meant to explore enhanced senses in werewolves."

Audeion's breath caught in his throat. Enhanced senses were not uncommon among werewolves, but a research project dedicated to it was another matter entirely.

"Who was behind this project?" Audeion asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aaron hesitated before answering. "Walter."

The revelation hit Audeion like a physical blow.

Walter, his father's right-hand man after the beta.

One he had always looked up to as a child for his strategic thinking and operation tactics, was somehow linked to the disappearances and deaths of the very doctors Audeion had sought for help.

"Why would he do this?" Audeion muttered, more to himself than to Aaron.

"I don't know," Aaron admitted. "But I think there's more to uncover. I've been gathering information, trying to piece together what has happened and what was still ongoing."

Audeion's mind whirled with conflicting emotions. Anger, disbelief, and a sense of betrayal battled within him. "What do we do now?"

"We keep digging," Aaron replied firmly. "We need to find out the truth, not just for your sake but for everyone affected by this."

As the night wore on, Audeion and Aaron delved deeper into the mystery, poring over documents and making connections. The more they uncovered, the darker the truth became.

By morning, they had a clearer picture of the research project, its goals, and the potential consequences it had brought with it.

Audeion's stomach began to groan loudly as waves of nausea hit him, he had done a full 24 hrs without eating.

"Ya, I do feel hungry and we've been up all night doing this thing."

"Breakfast on the go?" Aaron said as he got up from his stagnant sitting position.

"Go?" Audeion asked confused.

"To Dr. Edane's office before it's too late."

They quickly headed out, grabbing a bite as they made their way down to the south side of the state. Audeion allowed himself to take a short nap for 45 minutes before switching with Aaron so he could get a nap as well.

An hour and a half later they arrived at the Doctor's Office which was still closed due to how early they were.

Audeion quickly hopped out of the vehicle and walked to the front door giving it a loud knock. He stood there waiting patiently before finally, a door opened, and a figure emerged.

It was Dr. Edane. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived as he noticed the tension in the doctor's expression.

"Mr. Dahael, please come in," Dr. Edane said, his voice distant.

Audeion followed him into a consultation room, Aaron trailing behind. The air was heavy with unspoken words as they took their seats. Audeion wondered in his head how he could warn the doctor that he might die without sounding like a lunatic.

"I must be honest with you, Mr. Dahael," Dr. Edane began, his tone sombre. "I understand the urgency of your situation, but I fear that I may not be able to help you as you hope."

Audeion's heart sank, a wave of disappointment crashing over him. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with emotion.

The doctor sighed, his gaze sympathetic yet firm. "Your condition, it's not something that can be easily remedied. I've seen cases like yours, and the outcomes have not always been favourable."

Audeion felt a knot form in his stomach. After months of searching, of clinging to hope it seemed to threaten to unravel before his eyes. "But there must be something you can do," he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

Dr. Edane hesitated as if choosing his words carefully. "I can offer treatments and therapies, but I cannot guarantee a cure and even those options come with risks and uncertainties."

Audeion's mind raced, grappling with the harsh reality of his situation. The weight of his inheritance, his future within the pack, bore down on him like a heavy burden.

"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I can't go back like this."

The doctor's expression softened, and empathy shone in his eyes. "I'll try my best to do what I can, Mr. Dahael, but you must understand, that some things are beyond our control."

As the doctor continued talking, Audeion's hope flickered like a dying flame.

Audeion left the doctor's office looking dejected, the reason for his visit forgotten as the news of failure filled Audeion's head.

Audeion entered the vehicle and shook his head to Aaron, "Doc says that cure is next to impossible."

Aaron started the vehicle with a sad look on his face, "Sorry to hear that man, so what are you gonna do next?" They slowly drove out of the parking lot and onto the street.

"Maybe get some much needed sleep?" Audeion and Aaron chuckled to themselves and nodded.

Two black vehicles passed by heading in the opposite direction.

"By the way, did you give him the warning?"Aaron said, stepping on the gas eager to get home to his soft bed.

"Warning?" Audeion said, confused.

Aaron stepped on the breaks and turned to face Audeion. "Yea the whole reason we came here was to ask the Doctor to get out of here or stay low for a bit."

Realisation hit his face as Aaron made a 180 and headed back towards the end of town to the Doctor's office. As they approached the building, a sense of unease settled over Audeion, the air felt heavy with anticipation.

"We have to be cautious," Aaron whispered, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

Audeion nodded, his senses on high alert. They entered the building cautiously, each step echoing in the quiet corridor. The reception area was still empty; the receptionist had not come in yet, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The flickering light did nothing to calm their nerves.

"Hello?" Audeion called out, his voice echoing slightly, there was no response.

They made their way down the hallway, checking each room carefully. The tension in the air was palpable as they reached the door marked 'Dr. Edane's Specialized Office.'

Audeion tried the doorknob, but it was locked. Without hesitation, he kicked the door, breaking it open.

The office was in disarray, papers scattered everywhere. The furniture was overturned, and there were signs of a struggle. In the centre of the room lay the lifeless body of Dr. Edane, a look of shock frozen on his face.

"No, no, no," Audeion muttered, rushing to the doctor's side. He checked for a pulse, but it was futile, there was one last flutter, and the doctor was gone.

Aaron's expression darkened as he surveyed the scene. "Someone beat us to him," he said grimly. "And they didn't just want information."

Audeion's mind raced with possibilities. Who could have known they were coming? Why would they go through such lengths to silence the doctor?

Before they could investigate further, they heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Without a word, Aaron and Audeion hid behind the overturned furniture, preparing for whoever was coming.