“Agrip, my mother is still waiting for your answer.” Derek pointed out, seeing that his mentor had zoned out for a couple of seconds.
“Oh, sorry… my Luna.” Agrip apologized, bowing down a bit. But Melvina waved it off. She could care less about her titleship and the benefits it came with. She just wanted him to say something concerning her mate’s condition.
“Just tell me, if Peter will be okay.” She uttered, looking at Agrip earnestly.
“I am not sure about that. The pill is for pains according to Agog…” Agrip stated, although remembering that the pill had healed his broken leg without any further first aid on his part. Could it do the same for Peter?
“So, how long does he have till the antidote arrives?” Melvina asked, choosing to be rational and clear at this point, instead of wailing out her eyes again. Crying wouldn’t solve any problem. She had finally thought to herself. It was time to take some actions, of which finding that Esther was the top on her list.
To think she had thought the girl good and kind. What a waste of time and food she had spent on her!
“At least a week…” Agrip said, opting for a huge bout of hope at the moment.
He gave himself a tap on the back mentally for an answer well given when he saw the emotion of relief that clouded Melvina’s eyes, including the sighs of happiness that escaped the lips of the other occupants of the room.
“Thank you so much, Agrip!” Melvina thanked him profusely, still holding onto his hands, tears of gratitude slipping out of her eyes.
“It’s alright Melvina. It is my job to the pack and to the Alpha; to be of help when I can.” Agrip cited modestly, before shifting his gaze to the other occupants of the room.
They were all staring at him with eyes full of gratitude. He felt he didn’t deserve it though. He believed that the person deserving of this gratitude was Agagog, not him. But all the same, it was fine. He would communicate goodwill back to the old sage when next they meet again.
He didn’t know or understand why, but he felt that they might be seeing sooner than he thought.
“Thanks Agrip.” He heard Derek and Anthony voice out at the same time, and soughed, especially as he saw them advancing toward him.
Were they going in for another hug?
He sighed again as they engulfed him in the hug the next minute.
So much for wishing for the opposite.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw his son checking on Peter’s pulse with a smile on his face.
He smiled then, happy that he had been of help to his son too. In some way he still hadn’t gotten over the incident of those years ago when he couldn’t save his mate.
That had been the most trying season of his career as the pack’s doctor. He had almost given up, especially in the face of his son’s verbal attack, but for the vows which he had taken before taking up the office of the pack doctor.
Now, he felt a bit fulfilled, especially when his son’s gaze met his and stayed, a huge smile on the latter’s lips and a quick nod of his head to show appreciation.
“Thanks Dad.” He heard through their private link, and sighed in contentment.
Thanks, Agagog for this. He mentally sent across a word of appreciation to the old sage, wishing that a misty bird could take the message to the good old sage.
A sniff from Melvina, and Agrip shook his head. The hugs should be okay now. He thought, pinching Derek and Anthony at intervals.
A wince and a low scream of ‘aish’ and ‘eish’ and they broke away from the hug, leaving Melvina in the arms of Agrip.
“Melvina…” Agrip called her by her name, and she looked up, meeting his gaze, knowing that whatever he wanted to say at this point was very important.
“Yes, Agrip.” She replied, taking a few steps away from him.
“How is Eva? Does she know of this?” He queried, staring at Melvina deeply.
“I think so.” Melvina replied, furrowing her eyes as she thought on the matter.
Well, she should. Agrip mused to himself. Amongst other things which Agagog had told him, the old sage had mentioned the abilities and giftings of the little five year old girl. It was as if the goddess had been preparing them for the battle ahead, by equipping them with the necessary arsenal.
“Alright. You should check on her then. Has she eaten?” he asked Melvina, and she shook her head slowly, a guilty countenance overshadowing her face. She had left her young daughter to fend for herself!
Quickly, she muttered a thank you to Agrip once again, before swiveling around and running out of the room, towards the direction of Eva’s room.
“What now, Agrip?” Derek asked, sliding his left hand into the front pockets of his black denim jeans.
“We look for the antidote. You already gave Mike the assignment. So, when he reports tomorrow, we can see how we could go from there about the antidote and about the attacks.” Agrip replied.
Derek nodded, a short smile slithering across his lips, happy that Agrip had managed just in time to save his father and guide him during this rough transition into an Alpha.
“So, that’s out of the way. Who is Esther? And since when is a witch’s abode right here in the pack?” Agrip asked, remembering the conversation that they had been having before Peter’s violent seizures had begun.
But before Derek could give a reply to that, Jack interrupted the flow of conversation.
“Dad, you have to rest first. I believe you are just coming back from the journey. Don’t worry, I can tell you about Esther when you have duly rested and eaten. I’m sure Ava would be delighted to see you. She had been asking for your return all this time.”