By the afternoon, things had settled down at the pack house. News of Prince Michael’s arrogance toward Duke Vladimir had gotten around. How? I don’t know, but the entire pack had found out about it.
Alpha Richard once again reminded the pack through the pack link that they were still under Alpha’s command not to interact with Prince Michael in any way shape or form. Also, to restrict their movements around the pack house for the next few days. If they didn’t need to go to the pack house for anything, please do not go there. A resounding, ‘Yes Alpha’ was heard through the pack link in reply to his reminder.
Now that the reminder had been done, Alpha Richard was free to complete the other tasks assigned to him by the Alpha King and the Council. He must admit having them here was more daunting for him and the pack because they require a lot of time and attention away from his daily tasks.
Nothing much happened for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Everyone was still waiting for the European Council to arrive and for me to regain consciousness. It was still a waiting game at this point.
Mom and Anthony took turns sitting beside and talking to me. The European Council finally arrived at the pack house around 2 AM. The first thing they did was to inquire about my condition. They were told I was still unconscious. They all retired to their rooms to rest until breakfast.
Breakfast was served at 8 AM in the dining room. Tensions were high between the European and U. S. Council due to the actions of Prince Michael. Luckily Prince Michael was in custody at the moment under heavy guard. Now that the European Council was here, they had their own guards (warriors) assume the role of guarding Prince Michael, which Alpha Richard had no problem allowing them access to him.
The public stripping of Prince Michael’s title and position within the U. S. Royal family was scheduled for 4 PM that afternoon. Elder Hawkins would be officiating the Ceremony. It would be live streamed on the Royal Pack Social Media Website.
Preparations for the ceremony were underway and didn’t take long to set up. They set up the Grand Ballroom for the Ceremony per Elder Hawkins instructions. Now all they had to do was wait for the ceremony to begin.
Just before the ceremony was to begin, I woke up which caused the ceremony to be delayed for a short time. It seemed everyone made a bee line to the pack hospital to see me and to check on me.
____________
I began to wake up and I had a hard time opening my eyes. I could smell Anthony near me. I felt him holding my hand so I tried to squeeze his hand as well.
“Mom, she’s waking up. She just squeezed my hand. Melanie, baby. Please open your eyes,” Anthony cooed as he caressed my cheek lovingly. “Please baby, open your eyes for me.”
“Oh, my baby girl. Wake up for Mommy. Come on, wake up for me,” cooed Mom as she was holding my hand.
‘Troy, Melanie is trying to wake up. She’s trying to wake up!’ Mom exclaimed in our family link.
‘I’m on my way over. I’ll let everyone know,’ declared Dad as he ended the link.
“Mellie, my baby wake up for Mommy,” cried my Mom as she continued to coax me awake.
My eyes fluttered open to see Mom and Anthony in the room. Mom had tears trickling down her cheeks while Anthony had a dazzling smile on his handsome face.
‘Troy, she’s awake! She’s awake!’ Mom cried out in our family link. ‘Let everyone know.’
“Oh, my love, I am so glad you are finally awake,” declared Anthony as he swooped in for a kiss.
“I made it back home,” I weakly said as I tried to hold my arms up for a hug.
“Yes, you are home. You came home a day and a half ago. Everyone is on their way to see you. They are so happy you are finally awake. How do you feel?” inquired Mom with tears still trickling down her face.
“Mom, please don’t cry. I’m sorry … I worried you. I’m tired. …I feel weak. …Otherwise, I guess … I’m okay. How’s the baby? Anthony, are you okay?” I questioned him with concern in my weak voice.
“You just woke up and you’re worried about me? I’m doing much better now that you are awake. The baby seems to be just fine. The baby’s heartbeat is strong and steady. We just need you to get better and stronger,” explained Anthony as the door burst open to allow Dad, Daniel, Alpha Richard, Uncle Friedrich, and Uncle Vladimir into the room.
“Melanie! I am so glad you are finally awake! I missed you! I love you big sis,” cried out Daniel as he ran to the bed to engulf me in a hug and a kiss which caused the room to erupt into chuckles.
“What? Can’t he show me any love anymore? Geez. What’s a twin supposed to do these days? Hmm?” I teased as everyone continued to chuckle at our expense. “I love you too, Daniel. I’m sorry you worried about me. And for the record, I missed you too.”
“How do you feel Melanie? That’s what everyone wants to know.” Dad questioned me.
“I feel tired, weak, and out-of-sorts. I’m sorry I worried everyone. My wolf needed time to regain her strength from the silver poisoning because she protected our baby as much as possible,” I explained to everyone present.
“You do not need to explain yourself to anyone here. Ever! You hear me?” declared Uncle Vladimir. “This whole situation was beyond your control. You and your wolf did what was necessary for you to survive. End of story. Understand?”
“Yes sir. I understand. How is everyone else? Did anyone suffer any ill effects from the gas attack?” I asked my Dad.
“How did you know it was a gas attack on the pack?” inquired Alpha Richard.
“Easy, how else could they incapacitate an entire pack at the same time? It was a logical deduction,” I answered him.
“Wow, no wonder she’s the Delta here. She’s good,” Anthony praised me as he brought my hand to his lips and kissed my hand gently.
“Now you understand why I keep saying she has exceeded my expectations. She thinks things through very thoroughly. Even when she’s not at 100%, she can get to the bottom of things,” Dad explained to everyone present.
“You still didn’t answer my question. Did anyone suffer any serious side effects from the gas?” I asked again.
“No, Delta Melanie. We were lucky in that respect. Everyone was just extremely groggy for a few hours after they woke up,” explained Alpha Richard.
“So, does anyone know when they are going to let me out of here?” I inquired to no one in particular.
“Melanie, you just woke up less than an hour ago. Dr. Adams hasn’t even checked you out yet. What’s the rush?” chimed in Dad.
“You know I don’t like the pack hospital. I seem to be racking up frequent flyer miles in here lately. I don’t like it. I want out. ASAP. Now, can someone please go find Dr. Adams so he can check me out of here, please?” I asked them with a smile on my face.
“She really is bossy isn’t she?” complained Anthony as he chuckled with everyone else.
“You have no idea. She’s not really bossy just forceful in her way of dealing with people,” explained Daniel.
“Ha, ha, very funny. Don’t hate. Love you too little brother. I’ll remember that next time when you’re in the hospital,” I teased Daniel with a gleam in my eye as Dr. Adams walked through the door.
“Good afternoon everyone. If I could have everyone but her mate leave so I could examine her. Thank you,” commanded Dr. Adams.
Dr. Adams checked me and the baby out to see how we were doing. He asked me how my wolf was feeling and I told him she felt weak but she wasn’t ready to shift just yet. He said that was understandable considering the silver poisoning we went through. He would release me only if I went home and remained on bed rest/couch rest for a week. He didn’t want me to perform any duties or work during that time. Done.
He allowed everyone to come back into the room. When he explained that I agreed to a week of bed rest/couch rest for a week, my Dad almost blanched.
“You agreed without an argument. Really?” insisted my Dad as he tried not to laugh in my face.
“Yes, I did. If I didn’t agree I couldn’t go home. I promise to behave. I promise to take good care of myself and the baby. I will follow all directions that the doctor gives me. I do not want anything to happen to my baby,” I decreed as tears started to trickle down my cheeks.
“My love why are you crying?” cooed Anthony as he sat next to me on the bed wiping my tears away.
“I will do anything I have to do not to lose our baby. I promise to be extra careful. I just don’t want to be cooped up in the hospital. I feel caged here. Please, I just want to go home where I can be surrounded by you, my family, my friends, and my pack. Please,” I sniffled as more tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Oh, my love. We will let you go home where we can help you take care of yourself and the baby. Okay?” cooed Anthony as he held me.
“Mellie, we will all help you as much as you need us to. Just let us know what you need us to do for you. I didn’t mean to laugh at you. I was just surprised that you agreed. I’m sorry,” cried Dad as he came over to me to offer a hug and kiss as an apology.
“It’s alright Dad. I just feel so weak and useless right now. It will take me a minute to get used to asking for help. So please bear with me, huh?” I explained to everyone.
“We will give you all the time you need Mellie,” Uncle Friedrich said as someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” commanded Dad.
“Ah, Delta Melanie. I was so happy to hear that you have finally awakened. Dr. Adams has informed me that he is allowing you to go home and be on bed rest for the next week. I hate to ask this of you but since you were the third party at our negotiations. Is it possible for Melanie can be present for the Stripping of Prince Michael’s Title Ceremony today? She can be sitting down, but we would need her present since she is awake,” inquired Elder Hawkins.
Everyone looked at me for an answer. I just looked at them. I shrugged my shoulders like ‘I don’t know.’
“What does Dr. Adams say? If he says I can be there and then go directly home afterward, then yes, I will be there,” I answered Elder Hawkins.
“I already asked Dr. Adams and he said you can attend. You will need to be carried or taken there in a wheelchair. Then, you must remain seated for the ceremony,” explained Elder Hawkins.
“Okay, it looks like I am going to the ceremony. When is the ceremony?” I asked Elder Hawkins.
“We can delay the ceremony. It is supposed to start in 10 minutes. We will delay the ceremony until 4:30. Will that work for you Delta Melanie?” questioned Elder Hawkins.
“Yes, it will. Thank you,” I replied. With that, everyone left so I could prepare for the ceremony.