When Lycell reached the bottom of the stairs it was a shouting match between Wilder and Ramsey, Mena’s father. They turned when they heard Lycell’s footsteps hit the dark wood floor.
“I was just informing your brother that he broke a promise and dishonored my daughter. Now no one will mate with her. He promised me that she would marry one of you and then he sends her back at the insistence of that human female,” he said not quite finished with his rant, “since when do the mighty Samsa brother’s allow a human to dictate our laws?”
Lycell observed as Wilder grew progressively angry at the tone in Ramsey’s voice. Wilder’s ears stood straight, his brow furrowed, his large eyes narrow. Then he calmed. He took in a deep breath. Wilder cooled his hot blood. Lycell would have attacked without thinking or warning if Ramsey had said those words about Adrienne to him. But then that’s why Lycell was never the highest Alpha werewolf.
“Since when do you dictate to me anything,” Wilder replied. “You have come to my home and speak about my mate in a disrespectful manner. I never disrespected your daughter and she was not defiled even though I could have done what I wanted to her,” Wilder warned.
“You said that she would marry one of your brothers,” Ramsey reminded him lowering his head.
“I had no right to dictate to them who they would mate with. They are all Alphas. They have the right to choose their mates. They refused to mate with Mena. What could I do about that?” Wilder said in a strong unapologetic voice.
“You have the authority over all of us werewolves. If you can’t enforce your authority over your brother’s then how do you expect the packs to obey you,” Ramsey said countering his argument.
“They are Alpha’s like me. They have equal status in my pack,” Wilder said turning away looking out into the open window with the dark staring back at him amidst the large full moon. This was not a time for wolves to fight among themselves. Their heated blood could cause a war between the packs. Lycell knew this and that is why he tried to make peace.
Lycell stepped in and said, “It’s my fault. What do I have to do to prevent this war?”
“Mate with my daughter and give her status in your pack.”
“He can’t do that,” Adrienne said.
“And why not?” Ramsey said looking up at the top of the stairs where the voice originated. Adrienne stood looking down from the railings.
Lycell and Wilder said in unison, “Adrienne go to bed.”
“I’m not going until you tell him why this can’t happen,” Adrienne said collapsing. Lycell and Wilder ran leaping up the stairs three steps at a time. Then Wilder took her to her room and placed her in the bed and Lycell called the doctor.
“I’ll answer that question for you,” Drayton said walking out of the shadow of the kitchen. “We are in love with her and she’s the future of our pack.”
“Wilder prevented werewolves from marrying humans and now we are fated to die out and he is planning to control our packs with his half human dogs,” Ramsey said surrounded by the powerful Samsas.
“If I were you, I would leave. Leave now before I won’t be responsible for tearing your throat apart,” Drayton said.
The old werewolf who had seen many battles did not scare easy, but he was no match for all of the Samsa brothers, especially during a full moon. “This is not over. I will see...” And he thought better than to telegraph his actions.
Ramsey hurried out, then turned and shot a serious gaze at Drayton. He had seen that look in Ramsey’s eyes before. It was during a challenge by a younger werewolf.
Drayton was a young man when his father brought him and his brothers to visit the pack in Alaska. “The werewolves of Alaska,” his father had said, “are tough, resilient, fearsome, and resistant to change. They are true werewolves. I need my sons to learn from them. These werewolves aren’t spoiled by the comforts of shelter. They seldom shift, but when they do, it is to disguise their true intentions.”
Drayton’s father noted, “The Alaskan werewolves remain in their wolf’s state longer because of the unforgiving cold northern climate. They sleep in the cold, hunt game and eat it raw.”
Drayton remembered the lessons taught by his father.
***
When Drayton turned, he spotted Lycell running down the stairs. “Is the doctor here? He assured me he would be here in ten minutes. Lycell paced at the door like a wounded animal.
“What is it Lycell? Is it Adrienne? Is she OK?”
“I don’t know. She was turning blue. Her eyes rolled back and her lids closed. She felt cold.” Lycell shook when he told Drayton.
Drayton had never seen him like that. Normally nothing affected Lycell. He remembered when their father flew them to the Alaskan wilderness when they were mere pups, and Lycell wandered away to hunt without telling anyone. A blinding snowstorm rose overnight, it was days before the pack found him, and when they did, he had fought off a bear and took over its cave as a refuge. Lycell never lost his sense of humor when his father said that he looked like hell.
Lycell quipped, “You should see the bear, father.”
Wilder rushed down the stairs with Adrienne wrapped in a blanket just as the doorbell rang. Lycell standing at the door, and Drayton standing behind him, opened the door.
“I brought an ambulance. From your description she needs to be in the hospital,” the doctor said. He took a look at her lying in Wilder’s arms. He placed a finger at her neck. “She should be there now, she has a low pulse. Wilder placed her on the gurney and the attendants wheeled her out with Lycell following.
“You stay here Lycell. You are too upset. I won’t let anything happen to her. You know that.” Lycell looked at Wilder. “I need you here in case Ramsey returns with his pack.”
“Which one of you is the father?”
“I am,” Lycell said walking to the door to exit.
“Are you married to her? Are you at least the fiancé?” The doctor questioned.
“I’m the fiancé,” Drayton said with the doctor looking to him in wonder.
“Then you need to go to the hospital too. You will have to fill out the forms and if there is a choice between saving the babies or Adrienne, then you have to make the choice.”
“I can’t do this,” Drayton said shaking his head. He looked to Lycell, and Lycell sunk into a chair defeated with his hands covering his eyes. Tears began to pool and they dropped on his hand.
“Where is my doctor?” Wilder inquired.
“I called him because he left orders that I’m to call him if I receive any calls from this number. So I did, and he’ll be there when she arrives. “You need to get to the hospital soon,” he said turning to Drayton.
Drayton ran to the Mercedes, leapt in the driver’s seat, hit a button and the powerful Mercedes took off.
***
As Drayton rushed out of the car heading for to the emergency entrance, the valet hopped in. He ran behind the gurney carrying Adrienne. Nearby was Dr. Wells and a nurse. He looked at Drayton. “If she is going to live, I need to take the babies. I’m not sure they will make it because they are small, but that is to be expected since they are werewolves. If I don’t perform the cesarean now, she will die.”
“Do what you need to do Dr. Wells,” Drayton said.
“Does Lycell understand that the pups and the woman can die?” Drayton didn’t answer. His mind was on Lycell. He knew why Wilder wanted him to stay and it was a good thing he did because if anything happens to Adrienne and his pups, Lycell could slaughter the staff without thinking. “He understands, Dr. Wells. You’re the doctor, do whatever you can to save them,” Drayton said and then he sat in the waiting area. He pulled his phone out and text Wilder.
She’s OK. Get here as soon as possible.
Don’t bring Lycell!