Chapter 11
I heard a beeping. I slowly opened my eyes to very bright lights. I was in a hospital room. I could tell by all the white and the smell of the sterilizer. The beeping was a monitor, and it was making my head pound so loud. I looked around and no one was there. I sat up in my bed slowly. I started to panic about where Katie was. The monitor started beeping rapidly. I pulled the wires off and it went flat. Suddenly, three people came rushing in. One in a lab coat, Eric and Katie. "Mom, are you OK." Katie cried as she jumped into my lap. She had taken to calling me Mom over the last two years, as kids normally don't call their parents by their first names.
"Katie." What I presumed was the doctor said. "You must not overdo it, Miss Carnell is still very weak."
I glared at the doctor. I hated being called weak. "Katie my dear I am fine." I picked her up to reposition her and started to tickle her. "I am stronger than ever." This wasn't exactly true but I wanted to put on a good front for Katie, so she didn't worry. "Katie why don't you go find Reagan so the doctor can examine Filli?" Eric said. I quickly took a look at him. He sounded so natural with her. When did they become friends? Katie jumped down.
"I guess," she said. "You will look after her though, won't you Eric?"
"Yes. With my life." Eric responded and picked Katie up to send her on her way. Once the door had closed, I settled back on the bed. Eric turned back to me with a concerned look. "How do you really feel?" "Yes Miss. Carnell," the doctor said. "Is there pain or anything?"
"I have a bit of a headache," I replied.
"We can fix that. I will go get some meds. Anything else?" I shook my head no. He nodded and left me and Eric alone.
"So how long have I been out?" I asked.
"Two weeks," he said.
"Two weeks!"
"Yes. It was strange your injuries healed quickly, like most wolves, but you just wouldn't wake up. I may have something to do with you having magic and being a royal." He smiled at me.
"I'm not a royal. Or at least I don't think I am." I don't know much about my mother's line, but if I were royal wouldn't they have looked for me?
"Well, you have some power. You killed all the rogues before you passed out. This saved us even more casualties. Only two lives were lost that day and it would have been more had you not been there." "Really I don't remember much. I remember seeing a small brown wolf..."
"That was Beth. She was a new warrior and sister to the Beta who had just turned 17. We all mourn her loss." He said with his head low. "The Alpha, Beta and I had been away only planning to return that night. That is why she went. Alpha Vincent is very angry he wasn't here to protect them, and Beta John is still grieving. I think she was part of the second wave. She just wanted to protect her pack. She would have made a good Luna."
"I am sorry. I couldn't save her." I responded with a tear rolling down my cheek.
"No one blames you. Well, almost no one. Michael came back to tell everyone what you had done to help. You could have run but you didn't. You stayed to help even though we are not your pack."
"I don't have a pack and I know what it is to lose everything to rogues," I said. "I am sorry for your pack's loss of their Luna."
"No she wasn't Luna yet," Eric said. "It is just everyone kind of expected it. You see Vincent hasn't found his mate and, since she wasn't old enough, it made sense. Even though she wasn't his mate, she was beloved by the pack."
"I see. It is a great loss then." I looked at my hands. If only I had the power to do what I did earlier.
"I can tell by that look you may blame yourself. If it wasn't for you, more would have died." Eric grabbed my hands. I looked up at him and gave him a little smile. He smiles back, the doctor comes in and he removes his hands from mine.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
"Here is your medicine. You really do need rest." The doctor said while handing me the meds and a glass of water.
"Yes, I will be on my way. Tomorrow, if you are better, the Alpha would like to meet you." Eric said before he walked out.
"Dr..." I stopped. I didn't know his name. He was an older gentleman with greying and thinning brown hair. He wore spectacles that hung from his neck with a stethoscope. He was clean shaven and tall like most wolves.
"Dr. Rosenbaum" he said, with a smile that reached his brown eyes.
"Thank you. Dr. Rosenbaum," I said. I hesitated to ask my next question. "Is your Alpha as mean as he is made out to be by my old pack? I mean we are taught to fear the Violet Moon pack."
"Most Alphas are mean when they must. I think it is in their blood." He paused to gather his thoughts before saying, "I guess our Alphas have been fierce to outside packs. It is how we have the largest and strongest pack next to the royal family of course." Not sure if this was said for his or my benefit.
"I can say that his pack loves him and does not fear him." He continued while checking my vitals. "I, however, would not like to be on his bad side. He has a wicked temper when angered."
"Thank you," I said.
"Now get some rest, Doctor's orders. I don't want to be the reason you are not able to meet with the Alpha." With that, he left the room so I could rest.
After he left, my nerves were a mess. I was just lying there with my thoughts. In popped Katie.
"Hi darling but I don't think you are supposed to be here." I scolded, but was thankful for her presence. I couldn't feel Sasha, she must still be resting. "I am glad you are here. What is behind your back?" She walked over to me and gave me a package all wrapped up. "I took it from the kitchen." She said with a huge smile. I opened it to see a large cheeseburger. "The kitchen is huge and has so much food... Filli, they let me eat anything I want and Mr. and Mrs. Brown. That is Eric and Reagan's parents said I can stay with them until you are better." As she rattled on without taking a breath. "Although I hope you are better soon. Eric said maybe you would stay once you are better. He sent for our stuff. Did you know he is friends with Mr. Harold? Eric told Reagan he thinks the Alpha ..." "Katie, darling, take a breath." I said, putting my hands on her shoulders. "I am glad everyone has been inviting to you. Also, thank you for this burger, it is great." I took a big bite.
"You're welcome. I thought you would like it. That is what we had for supper tonight. Can I stay with you tonight?" she looked at me with those big green eyes. How could I resist?
"You will have to let me rest. There is a chair over in the corner that I think reclines. If you think you can sleep on the chair it will be fine." I motioned to the chair. She jumps up and down and runs over there and get curled up.
We talked for another two hours about the Browns. It seems like she was treated exceptionally well. I will have to thank Eric. She talks about how sad everyone was about the two wolves that had died. That Michael thinks I am some sort of hero sent in time to save them. I'm not sure what that means.
Katie falls asleep shortly after 9 p.m. I finished the burger she brought and leaned back. Being able to hear her breathing is comforting and I fall into a deep sleep.
I wake up at just about dawn. It feels like someone is in the room, but when I sit up no one is there. Katie now has a blanket covering her. Someone had been in here and there was a lingering smell of the forest and cherry. The smell is familiar and comforting. As I start to drift back to sleep, Sasha pops up and says "Mate."