When Derek stepped into his father’s room, he took his lips in as he beheld his father’s frail nature on the bed. How had he deteriorated to this in a twinkle of an eye? His father had been full of life last night when he had last saw him. So, what was this? What was happening?
Beside his father on the bed, was his mother trying unsuccessfully to control her emotions. Tears were already seeping out her eyes in one or twos. It was only a matter of time of seeing her mate in this condition and she was going to let open the gates. He knew his mother enough, and of course he didn’t blame her. He would be unable to stop the train of his tears if he should see his little witch besotted with such a situation. Looking at his father this way was very unnerving.
He walked further to room, aware that Maya was by one corner of the room, holding Eva on her lap, comforting her. His little sister shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be seeing their father this way. With an eye gesture, he communicated to Maya to take Eva out of the room. Maya immediately complied, but as she tried to pull Eva away with her, the little girl shrieked out.
“I am not going anywhere! I need to stay with papa!” she creamed, tears running out of eyes, but it didn’t move Derek from his dispostion. His mother wasn’t moved either. She just sat still looking at his father’s face. Probably lost in thoughts. He figured, nodding his head at Maya to get on with Eva out of the room. Maya gave a curt nod back before lifting a wailing Eva to the saftey of her arms, trudging out of the room with a sullen look on her face. Her uncle’s sickness was really telling on. She would have actually preferred that her father be the one that was lying down there. Her uncle was a good man unlike her ruthless evil father. She hadn’t forgiven him yet for making her drink the panjyo potion which had been detrimental to her health and her bond with Leo.
After Maya had left the room, Derek walk toward his mother and dropped his hand on her shoulder, seeking to give her comfort. She needed it the most. She accepted it, by placing her palmn on his hand which was on her shoulder.
“I can’t bare to watch him leave me, leave us… it is too soon.” Melvina muttered, as more stringsof tears flowed down her smooth cheeks.
“He won’t be leaving us Mom. He would recover. Dad is a strong man. He has always been that. He would fight and come back to us. There is no way he would desert us, at least not now. We need him the most.” He said. ‘I need him now.’ He thought to himself, feeling his own eyes beginining to water. He couldn’t afford to lose his father at this critical stage of his life. Who would counsel him then on the entireity of leadersip and the pack. Yes, he had Anthony and Agrip, but still, he needed his father. His old man couldn’t just leave him. No, he wouldn’t let that happen.
“What did Jack say?” He asked, referring to the pack’s doctor who was also Ava’s father, and Agrip’s son.
“According to him, your father was poisoned.” Melvina replied, bursting into fresh tears as she remembered what Jack had said. Her mate just had twenty eight hours to live, unless they found the antidote. But how would they do that, when they didn’t even know the name of the poison that had been used for this wicked purpose. Her heart was shattering into pieces as the thought of losing her mate.
“Poisoned? I… don’t… understand…” Derek stuttered, feeling a huge dread fall over him. “How did that happen?” He asked, unconsciously letting his hand drop from his mother’s shoulder. He staggered backwards, feeling his head begin to pound. That would explain the drastic decline of his father’s body health. But who had dared to poison his father? His mind went to his uncle and stayed. The wicked man was capable of anything. After all, the man had tried to kill him once.
“We are not sure.” Melvina replied, crying unhinderedly now, perhaps tired of reining in her emotions. “But according to Jack, your father has about twenty eight hours to live, unless the antidote is found. But how can that be when the poison is of an unknown origin?” She asked, crossing her arms across her chest, trying to comfort herself, hiccupoing at some point for the rate of sobs that flowed out of her mouth.
Derek fell to the ground, feeling his own tears begin to flow. Twenty eight hours?
He was about asking his mother about Jack’s final input when Anthony stalked into the room.
“Derek, what are you doing sitting on the ground?” Anthony asked, disappointment flashing across his eyes in a nanosecond.
***
“What are you talking about? Margo betrayed us. You know that. You saw it yourself.” Tempest stated, furrowing her eyebrows. She couldn’t believe that Ketura was reconsidering where the loyalty of her ex friend lied.
“Then why would Leonarya tie her up? Why torture her that way if they are allies?” Ketura asked, her voice rising a bit. She was beginning to question a lot of things now. Perhaps, Margo hadn’t really betrayed them. Perhaps, she had been working for their good indirectly.
“Maybe because Margo failed a task that Leonarya gave to her. You know how wicked and ruthless my sister is. This shouldn’t be your concern now. Go check on Emma, and perhaps the pack. Find out the latest developments.” Tempest said, and Ketura nodded, standing up from the chair.
“Ketuta…” Tempest called, just when Ketura was about to turn. “Thank you for staying by me. But be careful. I know that Margo was one of your favourite teachers. But you have to be careful. Promise me, you will be.” She said, after getting Ketura’s atttention.
“I will be. Thanks for trusting me.” Ketura repied, knowing that Tempest had indirectly given her the permission to investigate Margo.