Alpha King Matthew just stood in front of the cell holding Prince Michael. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there looking at his son. The look of disappointment was prominent on his face. Prince Michael simply hung his head low and turned his back to his father. Alpha King Matthew let out a long sigh and walked away from his son and didn’t look back.
As he walked away from his son, Alpha King Matthew couldn’t help but think where did he go wrong as his father? How did I let him down? How am I going to explain all of this to his mother? This is going to break her heart.
The Alpha King continued to walk until he reached his suite. He found his mate in the living room reading a book while she was waiting for him to return.
“My love, why do you look so troubled? How may I help you?” Queen Diana inquired as she beckoned him to come sit next to her.
“My love, I’m not sure how I can tell you all the things I need to. I know it’s going to break your heart but I have to prepare you,” began King Matthew to his mate.
“My love, I know you have to tell me what Michael has done. Why don’t you just tell me? I know I won’t like it but I need to know it ahead of time so I can prepare myself mentally for the backlash. I know he has done some awful things. Just tell me,” soothed Queen Diana to her mate.
“After he had Delta Melanie kidnapped, he raped her while she was still unconscious. He placed silver shackles on both of her legs above her ankles. Now she is suffering from silver poisoning. The doctor isn’t sure when she will wake up or how the silver poisoning has affected the baby. What was our son thinking? We didn’t raise him to be like this,” lamented King Matthew.
“No, we didn’t Matthew. Michael has changed a lot in the last three years and not for the better mind you. I wish I knew who or what influenced him to change him so,” sniffled Queen Diana.
“My love please don’t cry. He doesn’t deserve your tears. He deserves his punishment and then some,” declared King Matthew.
“I know my dear. He’s still my son. I will stand by you and the judgment of the Council. He deserves his punishment but in the end, he is still my son,” sobbed Queen Diana in the arms of her mate.
“I’m so sorry that he has caused you this pain and distress, my love. What can I do for you? Hmm? How can I ease your pain?” inquired King Matthew.
“Just hold me and love me, my love. That’s all you can do for me,” sobbed Queen Diana.
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The next day Alpha King Friedrich, Queen Philipa, Duke Vladimir, Princess Sophia, Prince Mason, Princess Ophelia, and Beta Yared arrived from Europe at the Brookwood Pack. Mom and Dad greeted them at the pack house last night when they arrived. They caught them up to speed on everything that had transpired and my condition. They decided they would all get a good night’s rest and meet back up at the pack hospital tomorrow morning.
Mom and Dad showed up at the pack hospital early to give Anthony a break so he could take a shower and change his clothes. The only change in my condition had been that my fever had finally broke. Now, I just had to wake up.
“She looks a little better this morning. Her coloring is starting to come back. Now all she has to do is wake up,” mused Mom to no one in particular.
“She’ll wake up soon, I hope,” soothed Dad as he wrapped his arm around Mom’s shoulders and kissed her forehead.
“Thanks Mom and Dad for watching over her so I could clean myself up. She does look better doesn’t she. The baby’s heartbeat sounds stronger this morning too,” exclaimed Anthony as he came to sit down next to me on the bed and hold my hand after he kissed my lips. “I love you Melanie. I can’t wait to look into your beautiful jade, green eyes again. I want hold you in my arms again.”
“You will be able to hold her again soon, I hope,” stated my Dad.
No sooner had those words left his mouth than my door opened up and visitors started coming in. Everyone wanted to see how I was doing with their own eyes.
“How’s she doing today?” inquired Uncle Friedrich as he walked through the door.
“Her fever broke during the night. Her coloring has improved and the baby’s heartbeat seems stronger. I’d say she’s doing better,” announced Anthony to everyone who entered the room.
“Good, very good news. Now, she just has to wake up,” declared Uncle Vladimir as he came over to gently kiss me on the forehead and caress my right cheek. “I love you, Mellie. Wake up soon, hmm?”
Everyone came over to greet me with kisses and caresses. Dr. Adams came in before anyone could say anything else. He gave them an update on my condition which was exactly what Anthony had said. Now, it’s just a waiting game for me to wake-up. Dr. Adams left my room leaving only family.
Uncle Friedrich announced that the European Council would be there by tomorrow. They had decided since Prince Michael was already in custody here, they would go ahead and have the trial for him here. He just hoped that I would be awake when they got here.
“Where is this prick who attacked and then kidnapped my niece? I want to see him,” demanded Uncle Vladimir.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea Vlady?” questioned my Mom.
“No, but I need to see this monster that dared to hurt Melanie and disrespect her in such a fashion. I want to look the coward in the eyes,” growled Uncle Vladimir.
“I will have to get special permission for you to be granted permission to cast your eyes upon him in the dungeons. He is under heavy guard as you would expect. I will seek permission on your behalf,” advised my Dad. “Who else wanted to join him?”
No one else raised their hand or voiced an option to go with him. So, Dad sought permission through Alpha Richard to escort Duke Vladimir to the dungeons to ‘see’ Prince Michael. He just wanted to cast his eyes upon him-he did not want to talk to him. He just wanted to see him. Permission was granted, but Beta Micah was to accompany Delta Troy and Duke Vladimir when they went to the dungeons to see Prince Michael.
Vladimir was glad that permission had been granted. He wanted to go now and see who this person was. Dad told everyone they would be back shortly.
Dad reminded Uncle Vladimir that he could not say anything to Prince Michael. Uncle Vladimir understood. They went down into the dungeons to where Prince Michael’s cell was. They found Prince Michael pacing back and forth in his cell.
Prince Michael stopped pacing when Uncle Vladimir stood front and center along with Beta Micah and my Dad in front of his cell. Prince Michael stood up straight and looked Uncle Vladimir in the eyes as if to challenge him. Uncle Vladimir didn’t blink. He held eye contact with Prince Michael and stared him down. It was Prince Michael who averted his eyes.
Prince Michael demanded to know who he was to challenge him like that.
“Who are you to challenge me?! How dare you challenge a Prince?” demanded Prince Michael.
No one answered Prince Michael. Uncle Vladimir only narrowed his eyes and maintained eye contact with him.
“Answer me! Now! I demand an answer! Who are you?” commanded Prince Michael.
Still, no one answered him. Uncle Vladimir only growled at him so loudly and fiercely that Prince Michael cowered in the corner in fear. Then, they walked away. Prince Michael was still yelling at them demanding to know who Uncle Vladimir was and why he didn’t answer him. Prince Michael didn’t know that he was powerless. He held no power the moment the Council decided to strip him of his title.
As they were walking away, Vladimir had to fight to control his wolf. His wolf wanted to rip that pup to shreds for hurting his precious Melanie. He had to remind himself that he could not do anything to the pup. He would have to wait for justice to be done at the hands of the Council. Soon, you will have blood my friend, soon. Is what Vladimir told his wolf to appease him enough to get out of the dungeons. He knew that he would have to go on a hunt later.
The arrogance of the pup infuriated Vladimir-who did he think he was? Here he was behind bars and still trying to challenge someone for superiority? Then, demanding answers? This pup truly doesn’t live in the real world.
“Delta Troy, I will need to shift soon and maybe hunt some local game if possible. Can you arrange that for me? That pup is a piece of work. I’m sorry I lost my patience with him,” apologized Uncle Vladimir.
“No apologies necessary Duke Vladimir. Why did he try to challenge you? Then try to demand answers? That was just weird, right?” my Dad asked Beta Micah and Uncle Vladimir.
“Yes, it was Delta,” replied Beta Micah.
It was decided that Uncle Vladimir needed to have a run sooner rather than later. Anderson and Noah took him on a run around the reservoir. When he had worked off some of his aggression and frustration, then he returned to the pack hospital.