The Alpha's Mistake

Chapter 7

She wants to die! Atlas cried out.

In seconds, Alaric was by her side. Picking her up, he moved as fast as he could while trying not to jostle her too much. He burst into the pack hospital while Atlas whimpered.

"Doc Peters! I need help!"

Hustling at the sound of a panicked wolf, he was startled to see Alaric carrying a limp she-wolf in his arms. "Set her down here, and I'll check her out."

Please come to the front room. He mind-linked a nurse.

"What happened to her?" He bent over to listen her her heart, and Alaric growled at him. Whipping his head toward the possesive sound, he wasn't prepared for the next words.

"She's my mate. I don't know what's wrong with her."

His eyes widened. I need everyone here, NOW! Your Luna is in trouble! He broadcast to all his staff.

In five seconds, his other doctor and nurse came running. He barked orders. "Get her in OR stat!" He turned to Alaric, who held her hand. "You've got to let go so we can help her."

Atlas snarled a warning, making the doctors and nurses bow in submission. Todd came running in and slapped him on the back.

"Stop scaring them and let them do their jobs." He pulled Alaric away, using all his strength.

"I promise we will do everything to save her." Doc said before running to the surgery center.

Alaric punched a wall in the waiting room. "I want them all locked up!"

"Do you want your dad to know she's your mate?" Todd whispered, yelled. "She's in enough danger."

Turning his attention to Todd, he sneered. "What do you mean?"

Be careful. He's hanging on by a thread right now. Atlas is going crazy.

"I told everyone not to say a word about this morning. With a penalty of dungeon time. You need to calm down."

"Calm down?! My mate is in there, probably fighting for her life! What other danger are you talking about?" His eyes changed color as he tried to keep control of Atlas.

"I know she is. But we don't know what's really going on here."

Seething, he paced back and forth. "I can't lose her."

"Doc Peters is the best there is. She's in good hands."

Hours later, a gentle throat clearing caught their attention. A she-wolf stood at the entrance, tears pouring down her face. "Is Em going to be ok?"

Todd furrowed his brows. "Em?"

"The girl Alaric carried here."

"Her name is Heidi." Alaric ground out.

"Really? I like that a lot better."

"Why did you call her Em?" Todd asked.

She shrugged as more tears escaped. "No one knew her name. Most of the nicknames they called her started with the letter M."

"Like mutt." Alaric clenched his fists. "What else?"

"Um, mateless, the moon's mistake, among others. I never did." Her eyes pleaded to him to believe her. "I called her Em, so I could tell the others I was insulting her differently. I wanted to help her, but the first time I did, they beat me up." Sobbing, she slumped into a chair.

"What's your name?" Todd pressed.

"Violet." She sniffed.

"How long have you lived in the packhouse? We haven't met you before." Todd hoped the girl would help distract Alaric. He patted her knee awkwardly.

"I was born in Phantom, but my parents live on the outskirts. They have a circle of friends nearby and only socialize with the pack when it's mandatory. I moved into the packhouse over a year ago after I turned eighteen. Em, I mean Heidi, was already there. I'd never seen her before. I felt bad for her. It doesn't matter that her parents were rogues. She was just a kid when they abandoned her."

"What did you say?" Alaric turned his angry eyes on her.

"Her parents were rogues?" Her terrified voice was barely a whisper.

"Her parents were the betas of this pack! Where did you get this nonsense?"

Before she could answer, the double doors leading to the infirmary opened to reveal a tired looking Doc Peters. Alaric was on his feet instantly.

"How is she?"

Sympathetic eyes rested on the younger wolf. "She's alive. For now."

"What do you mean for now?" His relief changed back to fear.

Doc glanced from Alaric to Todd, then Violet. "I'll go to my room. I hope she pulls through."

Once she left, Alaric said. "You can talk freely."

Nodding, Doc took a deep breath. "Where did you find her?"

"Find her? Why is everyone talking in riddles? She's been in this pack her whole life!"

He paled. "Alaric, I have never seen that she-wolf. I've been a doctor here for five years."

"What the fuck is going on in this pack?" He punched another wall. "Tell me what's wrong with her."

"She has a skull fracture that's causing brain swelling. It needs to subside in the next twenty-four hours for her to survive."

"Shouldn't her wolf be healing that?"

"I see no evidence of her having a wolf."

"Impossible! She has beta blood in her veins!"

"Her x-rays show a different picture."

"Show me." His eyes black and voice deepened as Atlas demanded to see what happened to his mate.

Bringing them into a triage room, Doc set up the computer to display the images on the TV. "Her right wrist is broken. If her swelling goes down, we can fix it."

"When, Doc. When, not if." Gnashing his teeth to keep from lashing out at the person trying to save her.

Coughing, he continued pointing out all her current and previous bone fractures. "Her left foot is shattered, four broken and three almost healed ribs, her right femur, tibia, and fibula have mended but not correctly. Her left arm is the same. All have been broken and mended crooked. If she had a wolf, her bones wouldn't show any trauma."

A primal roar escaped Alaric. He left the room as Atlas started shifting, but Todd grabbed him around the neck.

"Don't you dare run off Atlas! She needs you more than ever. Get ahold of yourself and go hold her. Let the mate bond help heal her." They struggled a few minutes, Atlas trying to snap at Todd.

When Alaric contained his wolf, he walked off, smelling for his mate. The sight that greeted him tore his heart in two. She lay in a bed, almost as white as the sheets. Tubes ran everywhere, in her arm, nose, and finger. Wires were attached to her chest and temple. A temporary boot cast was on her ankle, a splint on her wrist, and her head was wrapped in bandages. He was next to her in the blink of an eye, holding her free hand in both of his. Tears ran down his face while Atlas howled mournfully.

"I'm so sorry. This is my fault. If I hadn't run away yesterday, you wouldn't be here right now. Please come back to me." His wet tears fell on her face as he gently pressed his lips to her cheek.

"I'd tell you it wasn't your fault, but you never listen to me anyway." Todd quietly said as he dragged a chair to her bedside.

"It is my fault that she's lying here."

Todd sighed. This is going to take a long time. "Stay with her. Right now, it's all you can do."

Alaric's eyes never left her face, her swollen lip and bruised jaw cutting him like a knife. "I'd give anything to trade places with her."

"I know. I know." He placed his hand on Alaric's shoulder, trying to offer some strength. The only sound for a long time was the beeping from the monitors.

A loud bang, raised voices, and nurses running past the room made both of them turn to the door. Flinging it open, there stood the last person Alaric wanted to see.