Little Red

Chapter 22

Samuel's POV

After disposing of the carcass and dealing with the aftermath of the attack, I head to the pack hospital.  Ara's daggers are wrapped up in a thick cloth in her room.  Derek is the only one I trusted to handle them properly, and he accepted the task without complaint.

Today surely has not gone as planned, and I can't help but feel responsible.  If I never left her side, this wouldn't have happened.  But at the same time, that boy may be dead had she not stepped in.  I experience a flicker of pride when I remember her takedown - quick, efficient and deadly.  But I won't mention that in front of Demitri.

A nurse at the desk bows her head as I walk past, following Demitri and Ara's stale scents down the first floor hallway.  I'm surprised to find her in the room alone.  Poking my head back out, I stop a young nurse scurrying down the hall.

"Excuse me, did Alpha step out?"  I ask, forcing somewhat polite-ness into my tone at her surprised face.

She looks at me in confusion.

"Alpha?  He's not here."  She remarks. 

I thank her before slipping back into Ara's room.  I haven't heard from Demitri since shortly after the attack but I expected to finish our conversation here.  I wait for 40 minutes, but after I still receive radio silence from him via mind link and he doesn't show up, I decided to go on the hunt.

Where the hell is he?

..........

His yells boom throughout the dark corridor leading to his office. 

"How could you let this happen?!  You were supposed to be patrolling!"  He shouts.

"I-Alpha, we were!"  A shaky voice pleads.

"Then tell me, how did that wolf get so far into our territory?!"  He demands.  I hear a thump, and assume he has punched his desk again.  I'm surprised the thing hasn't cracked by already.

Silence. 

"Get out.  Now."  He commands.

I move out of the way as the door is thrown open, 3 young wolves running out with their heads bowed in shame and metaphorically, their tails between their legs.

I enter and close the poor, abused door behind me before settling into a familiar chair before him.

Demitri continues pacing in front of his desk, head down, hands behind his back. 

"Idiots!"  He fumes.  "How could they let this happen!  How could I let this happen?"

More prepared to take on an angry, stubborn Alpha, I pause.

"It's not your fault."  I state lowly. 

He looks up at my words, as if realizing for the first time that I'm there.   I get somewhat comfortable in the small chair as he walks back to his chair and sits down.

He sighs heavily, placing his head in his hands on the wood that isn't cracked.

"This is my fault."  He argues, but his voice is hollow, the previous anger gone.

"It's not your fault, the only fault lays on that wolf."  I reason.

At the mention of it, his head snaps up, eyes ablaze.

"Whoever is behind this will pay for what they've done.  Not only to those wolves, but to my Ara as well." 

My Ara?  Interesting choice of words.

"I agree.  Who do you think is behind it?"  I ask, trying to find a more comfortable position.

He looks down again, fire gone.