RALPH
Isabella’s brow furrowed in thought. “He might have reasons for keeping it secret. Perhaps he doesn’t want to alert the traitor before he can deal with them personally. Or maybe he’s trying to protect someone.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered, frustration evident in my tone as I exhaled heavily, trying to piece together the puzzle. “Whatever his reasons, I need to find out who it is. If they’re hiding within the pack, they’re a danger to all of us.”
Isabella nodded. “Agreed. We’ll need to be vigilant and discreet. If Damien knows who it is, he might return, and next time, he might not be so easily repelled.”
“You’re correct,” I acknowledged, scanning around. “But right now, you have to help me attend to the injured.”
Isabella nodded before saying, “I’ll do just that.”
With a nod of appreciation, I turned and headed inside and upstairs towards my room, my mind already shifting to thoughts of Keilah. I needed to see her to ensure she was safe. The pain on my side was still present but bearable.
As I approached my room, a sense of dread began to creep over me. I pushed the door open and froze. The sight that greeted me stopped my heart cold. Keilah lay on the floor, unconscious. My heart skipped a beat, and I rushed to her side, dropping to my knees.
“Keilah!” I called out, my voice filled with panic. I gently lifted her into my arms, checking for any signs of injury. Relief washed over me when I found no visible wounds, but her unresponsive state kept my worry at a peak.
I carefully laid her on the bed, my mind racing to figure out what could have caused this. I scanned the room, looking for any clues, but everything seemed in place. A mix of fear and anger surged through me. Had Damien done this? Or was there another threat I hadn’t anticipated?
“Keilah, wake up,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Please, wake up.”
As I held her, a faint glow began to emanate from her body. It was subtle at first, but then it grew brighter, surrounding her like a protective aura. I watched in astonishment as the light seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat. I could feel a strange, soothing energy washing over me, easing the pain in my side and calming my racing thoughts.
Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me with confusion.
“Ralph?” she murmured, her voice weak but steady.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. “Keilah, you’re awake,” I said, my voice filled with relief. “What happened? Are you okay?”
She nodded slowly, her eyes still trying to focus. “I’m okay, I think,” she replied. I heard a woman’s voice telling me to stop Damien, and when I began to head out, I felt a strange sensation, like something was pulling at me, and then everything went black.”
A chill ran down my spine at her words. “A woman’s voice?” I repeated, my mind racing. “Did you recognize it?”
Keilah shook her head. “No, it was unfamiliar. But it felt… powerful.”
I nodded, absorbing her words with a sense of unease. “We’ll need to figure out who that woman is and what she wants.”
Keilah’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Who could she possibly be? And how did she know about Damien?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, my mind racing with possibilities. “But for now, the important thing is that you’re safe. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
With a nod of agreement, she sat up slowly, still looking a bit shaken.
I reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer reassurance. “You don’t have to worry about that right now. I promise I’ll find out who she is and what she wants from you. Just stay here, and I’ll send Dahlia to stay with you. She’ll keep you company and ensure you’re safe while I figure out what’s going on. And if you feel like you need me, just mindlink with me, and I’ll be here instantly.”
There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but she nodded.
Heading back outside, I found Isabella tending to the injured members with practised efficiency. Her healing magic worked wonders, easing pain and speeding up the recovery process. I approached her, my gaze scanning for any signs of trouble.
“How are they?” I asked, my voice low with concern.
Isabella glanced up, her expression tired but determined. “They’ll pull through,” she replied, her voice tinged with reassurance. “But they’ll need time to heal.”
I nodded, grateful for her expertise. “Thank you, Isabella. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
She offered me a small smile. This is my home son, don’t forget that. “This is my duty,” she said simply. “But we need to remain vigilant. Damien may have retreated for now, but he won’t stay away for long.”
I grimaced, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. “I know,” I said, my voice determined. “We’ll be ready for him.”
There’s another thing I would want you to help me out with. I started, my tone indicating the urgency of the matter.
Isabella paused in her ministrations, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What is it, son?” she asked, concern etched in her features.
“It’s about Keilah,” I said, my voice low. “When I went to check on her, I found her unconscious and something strange happened. A faint glow started emanating from her body, and it grew brighter until it surrounded her like a protective aura.”
Isabella’s eyes widened in surprise, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity crossing her features. “A glow?” she echoed, her voice tinged with incredulity. “What do you mean?”
I sighed, trying to find the right words to explain the inexplicable. “I know it sounds unbelievable, but it happened. And that’s not all. She mentioned hearing a woman’s voice just before she lost consciousness. The voice urged her to stop Damien.”
Isabella listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each passing moment. “This is concerning,” she remarked, her tone thoughtful. As I see this, “It’s possible that she possesses some latent abilities we weren’t aware of. Or perhaps she’s connected to something-or someone-with significant power. I’ll look into it deeply and let you know what I find. But one thing is certain: whatever it is, it doesn’t seem harmful.”
“Do you really think so?” I asked, seeking confirmation, and she responded with a nod.
I looked around, my eyes scanning for any sign of Dahlia. “Have you seen Dahlia? I haven’t seen her anywhere.”
Isabella paused for a moment, then shook her head. “She must’ve gone off to do her own thing. You know how she is.”
I gave her a sceptical look, not entirely convinced. “Isabella, this is Dahlia we’re talking about. She’s usually right in the middle of things, especially when there’s a crisis.”
Isabella quickly jumped in, sensing my concern. “Son, Dahlia being a werewolf doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s a woman. She sometimes needs her own space and time to herself.”
I took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. “I get that. It’s just… with everything happening, I’m worried.”
Isabella offered a reassuring smile. “I understand your concern, son. But Dahlia is strong and capable. She’ll be back soon, I’m sure. In the meantime, let’s focus on what we can control and keep an eye out for any more signs or clues about your mate’s situation.”
Alright then. I’ll call out for a pack meeting. I said and started walking away, but she called out, stopping me in my tracks. “Son, wait, don’t do that just yet,” she urged.
I turned back to her. “And why not?”
“You won’t get what you want,” she explained, her tone calm but firm. “Calling a meeting now, in the heat of the moment, will only lead to chaos and fear. They will be defensive, and you won’t get the truth.”
“So?” I interjected curtly, the urgency of the situation making me impatient.
“Give me a little time,” she continued, her voice steady. “I’ll gather some herbs and make a truth spell. It will compel whoever it is to reveal themselves. This way, we can handle this discreetly and avoid unnecessary panic.”
“How long will you need?” I softened my tone, realizing the wisdom in her approach.
“Not long,” she assured me. “Just a few hours to prepare everything properly. We need to approach this carefully. Rushing into it could cause more harm than good.”
“Alright then. I’ll trust your judgment on this.”
Isabella nodded, her expression determined. “I’ll first check on your mate, though,” she said, her voice resolute. “Let’s go.”
Once upstairs, I pushed the door open and found her just getting out of the bathroom, looking tired and like she was about to pass out again.
My heart clenched with concern at the sudden pallor of her features.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Isabella hurried past me to her side, offering her support. “Keilah, dear, you don’t look well,” she said with concern evident in her voice.
Keilah managed a weak smile, but it quickly faded as she sank onto the bed. “I feel nauseous,” she admitted softly, her voice filled with discomfort. “I think it’s this voice I heard. It’s like it triggered something in my body.”
Isabella furrowed her brows at Keilah’s words, her expression shifting into a moment of deep contemplation before she turned her attention back to me.
My worry deepened as I watched Isabella’s reaction, sensing that something was amiss. “Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice tinged with concern.
Before Isabella could respond, she swiftly moved to cover Keilah with the bedcovers, then grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the room with urgency.
Confusion clouded my features as we stepped into the hallway. “Isabella, what’s going on? What did you see?” I asked, my voice laced with worry.
“When did it happen?” Isabella questioned, her tone urgent as she turned to face me.
I furrowed my brows in confusion. “When did what happened?” I replied, trying to make sense of her cryptic question.
Isabella’s eyes widened in disbelief before she let out an exasperated sigh. “When did you and your mate… you know…” she trailed off, her words carefully chosen.
Realization dawned on me, my eyes widening in shock. “Wait, are you saying…?” I started, unable to finish my sentence as the implications sank in.
Isabella didn’t mince words. With a sharp smack to my belly, she exclaimed, “Are you that dumb? Your mate is pregnant!”