We ate dinner at Melanie’s house and decided to retire for the evening. It was really hard to act ‘normal’ knowing that a rescue was being launched. How can we act naturally when we have to wait for news of whether or not the rescue was a success or not?
Anthony was the wild card in this whole situation. We had to hold him together. He was a wreck. Not knowing how Melanie was doing was driving him crazy. He couldn’t feel her through the mate bond nor could he communicate with her anymore. That meant that they put silver back on her or she was unconscious.
His Grandparents did a good job helping to calm him down while we waited for news of Melanie. Mom made her specialty tea to help calm Anthony while everyone waited to hear about me. News did not come in until after 1 AM that I had been rescued and was on a plane back to them.
The excitement was short-lived when they explained my condition. I was suffering from silver poisoning, running a fever, and was currently unconscious. The doctor who was taking care of me had me on an IV solution. It would be all hands on deck when I arrived at the pack hospital.
The plane finally touched down around 4 AM and we arrived at the pack hospital around 5. Haggard and worried faces met Commander Maddox and Tate Windlestaff as they entered the pack hospital. Dad greeted them as they took me into an exam room. Introduced them to everyone present and allowed them to explain what transpired.
“Commander Maddox, thank you for bringing my daughter back home to us. Our family and our pack are very grateful to you,” exclaimed my Dad as everyone gathered around them in the waiting room.
“It was my pleasure to bring Delta Melanie home sir. May I introduce Tate Windlestaff …” was all he could say before growls and people lunging at him started to create a chaotic situation in the waiting room.
“Whoa! Everyone, Stop! He was the inside man in the operation! Stand Down! NOW!” commanded Commander Maddox to everyone.
“What?! The inside man?! I don’t understand! Explain yourself. NOW!” commanded Alpha Richard in his Alpha voice.
“Yes, Alpha. I am Tate Windlestaff. I am part of Commander Maddox’s team and I am a wolf. I knew what Prince Michael did to Delta Melanie and I was furious. When I caught wind of Maurice Perkins sending out feelers for men to help rescue Prince Michael, I approached Commander Maddox,” Tate explained with some hesitancy.
“He wanted to help wrangle in Prince Michael. He knew that someone on the Council was going to try and free him so he could escape justice. So, we decided he would join their merry band of rescuers. As long as he didn’t kill anyone, he was good to go,” explained Commander Maddox.
“Which I didn’t. I didn’t kill any of the guards. I was the lookout. In fact, I can name every single person who took part in the extraction of Prince Michael and killed the guards. I know exactly where they are so they can be collected as well,” offered Tate as a peace offering.
“Write down their names and where we can find them. It would be helpful. Now, explain why we shouldn’t kill you where you stand,” commanded Alpha Richard.
“As I was saying Alpha, we devised a plan to make sure Prince Michael didn’t get away. I didn’t know he was going to go after Delta Melanie. When He did, I made sure he didn’t hurt her or her baby. When he raped her while she was unconscious, even his cronies gave him hell for that saying that was low even for him. It was my idea to go to Ravina, Wyoming,” explained Tate to everyone.
“Why Ravina, Wyoming?” demanded Beta Micah.
“Because of me,” declared Commander Maddox. “My force is stationed twenty minutes from there. We could easily overtake them with minimal force and disruption from the local population.”
“Exactly and the cabin we were staying in belongs to a friend of mine on the force who happens to be away on a cruise at the moment. I knew that Mr. Miller would be looking into all rental and owned property of people even remotely associated with me. Thus, the cabin was an easy choice to make. Prince Michael was desperate to find a place to hide in a remote location,” explained Tate.
“Okay, you explained the cabin, but you didn’t explain how you went from the rescue to getting Melanie to arriving at the cabin. You need to fully explain yourself. Not here, but later in the conference room when the Alpha King arrives. Understand?” commanded Alpha Richard.
“Understood, Alpha,” replied Tate.
“Delta Troy, have you notified Alpha King Friedrich and Duke Vladimir that she has been found?” questioned Alpha Richard.
“Yes, I have Alpha Richard. They are on a plane as we speak back on their way to our pack lands. They are very anxious to see her for themselves,” advised my Dad.
“Good, very good. I have advised Alpha King Matthew as well. He is on his way here. Beta, we will once again have a house full of guests. We need to make sure the guest rooms are ready for them,” commanded Alpha Richard.
“Yes, Alpha. Already on it. Delta Troy, how many will be arriving with Alpha King Friedrich?” inquired Beta Micah.
“Seven. I believe six will be staying here at the pack house and one will be staying at Melanie’s house,” advised my Dad.
‘Anthony, what’s going on in there? What are the doctors saying?’ inquired Dad through the family link.
‘They’re trying to figure out why she’s running a fever. She’s suffering from silver poisoning from the silver shackles Prince Michael had on her legs. The baby seems fine for now. The doctor knew what he was doing when he gave her the IV solution. It had an antibiotic in it to control the poisoning and help with the fever. Now, it’s just a waiting game. We have to wait until she wakes up,’ Anthony explained sadly to Dad.
‘Okay, when can we come in? I really want to see her. Staying out here is killing me. By the way, Tate Windlestaff was an inside man. He helped keep her safe,’ advised Dad to Anthony.
‘Okay, thanks for telling me. I’ll ask them when you all can come in,’ sighed Anthony as he ended the family link.
Two minutes later, Dr. Adams came into the waiting room to report on Melanie.
“At present, there isn’t much I can tell you other than she’s suffering from silver poisoning from the silver shackles she had on her legs. She’s running a fever-from the poisoning. She’s unconscious. The doctor who took care of her knew what he was doing. He gave her the right stuff in her IV solution. We just have to wait for her to wake up and her fever to break. The baby seems to be just fine. We will be moving her to another room shortly. You can go in and see her if you want to. Just be prepared for how she looks,” advised Dr. Adams to everyone in the waiting room.
“Thank you, Dr. Adams,” replied my Dad as he guided my Mom toward the room so she could see me.
“Are you ready my love?” Dad asked Mom before he opened the door.
“Yes, I am. I need to see my baby girl,” Mom declared with a shaky voice.
With those words spoken, Dad opened the door and escorted Mom into the room. Mom gasped loudly as she saw me lying on the bed shivering from the fever covered in a sheen of sweat. My skin was milky white. Mom rushed over to me.
“Oh, my baby girl. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s going to help you get better,” sobbed my Mom as she caressed my face with her hands.
As if I knew her touch, I leaned into her touch. Mom sat down next to me and continued to talk softly to me while touching me like she did when I was little.
“Sorry Anthony, you’ve just been replaced. Her Mother has always had a special bond with Melanie,” chuckled my Dad as he saw the look on Anthony’s face when my Mom swooped in.
Everyone chuckled at Dad’s comment even Anthony. Everyone needed a little levity at the moment and thankfully Dad was able to provide it. When it came time to move me to another room everyone left except Anthony and Mom. They went with me.