CHAPTER 10

*First Person's Perspective*

~Alpha Lucas~

Slade, Alpha of the neighboring pack had called me in for a meeting. I told Marcus about it, but he claimed to have bad feelings about it

“You shouldn't go there Lucas, you know how that man is sick in the head” he reminded but I waved it off dismissively

"Don't worry about that, Marcus. I'm sure he just wants to talk" I said but he remained Adamant

“He has something up his sleeve, Lucas, I just know it" He said

“Well, it would be rude of me to decline a friendly invitation, wouldn't it?" I asked and rose to my feet

“I'll go with you then, and we will take a lot of guards along with us" He said and I simply rolled my eyes

“Marcus, will you relax? Slade can't do anything to me, that would only mean that he's asking for war, wouldn't it?" I asked and he sighed

“You don't know that man as much as I do" He pushed

“Fine then, you can come"

We got to the Dark Ridge Pack. And got ushered in

"Alpha Lucas. It's nice to see you after a long time” Slade said as soon as his eyes met mine. He had a smile plastered on his face, one that didn't reach his eyes

“It's good to see you too" I responded with an equally fake smile

We talked for a while. He was going on about how he had a hard time living in the midst of humans

“Can you just cut to the chase, Slade. Why exactly did you call me here" I was tired of hearing it and just had to come clean. He smiled

“Oh Lucas, the man who worked with time" he said. I kept silent and just stared at him

“Well, just as you requested, I will cut to the chase. Give me the doctor” He said that so casually like there was nothing wrong with that statement

I couldn't help but laugh

“I'm sorry, what?" I asked and he shrugged

“I want the doctor" he answered still causally. “Why?"

“Because I need her" his response was so shallow I tilted my head a little, my eyes asking the obvious question but either he noticed and chose to ignore it or he was clueless, I don't know. No answer came, no clarification

“First of all, what doctor are you talking about?" I asked

“The one you hired, Denise Richards, the woman who looked like your late wife? The one you killed?" Was he doing that to rile me up?

“I didn't kill my wife" I said. My voice was neutral. Not harsh, not soft either

“Really? You want to argue about that now?" He asked and I rolled my eyes

“What do you mean, give you the doctor? Like she's some kind of asset or something. She's not my property"

“She's in your pack, so yeah, she is your property" He answered nonchalantly and I scoffed

“Well, if that's the case then I'm not giving her to you. I hired her for a reason, which is to take care of my daughter and help her recover from her heart condition. Why should I give you to her? There are many other doctors out there, if you need one. You could just hire. It's that simple". I said to him. He didn't look pleased to hear that

“You think I didn't know that?"

“Why do you need the doctor that I hired. Why do you wan her so badly? What exactly is your problem any way? Are you trying to pick a fight with me for no reason?" I asked, leaning forward, my gaze locked onto his.

Slade's smile widened, but his eyes darkened. “Let’s just say… she has certain skills I find invaluable.”

“Skills you can find in any other qualified doctor,” I countered, my voice edged with suspicion.

Slade chuckled, low and menacing. “Ah, but not every doctor has the patience to deal with wolves like us. And certainly not every doctor has your… peculiar history.”

My jaw tightened. He was baiting me. “If this is your way of picking a fight, Slade, I suggest you choose your battles carefully.”

“Oh, Lucas,” he said, rising slowly from his chair. “I never pick battles. I let them come to me.”

“You're the one who is going to pick a fight if you do not give her to me. Tell her that you don't want her anymore and I would hire her"

“I heard that she's the best there is, I want her. I tried to hire her, but she chose to go to your pack instead, so give her up"

“I told you it was no use coming here, didn't I? This guy is sick in the head. Let's go" Marcus chirped in and I nodded

“I honestly should have listened when you warned me, Marcus" I responded and rose to my feet

“Thanks for hosting me in your great pack, Alpha Slade, but I have to go now. Thank you very much once again" I turned around to leave but then he stopped me

“Alpha Lucas" he called out, I turned around and before I had time to process it, he pulled the trigger

I didn't see it coming, I couldn't prevent it

“Ow!" I groaned and fell back but Marcus was quick to catch me before I reached the ground

“I hope she tends to you well, after all, she's the best there is" What a psycho

Blood gushed out of my stomach. I don't know what substance the bullet he shot into my body contained, but what I do know is that it definitely was not silver

It was more than that as it was eating into my body faster than silver ever would

It didn't take long before I passed out.

The next time I awoke, I was in my bedroom. Pain seared through my whole body, I couldn't even move a limb

“You're awake" Marcus said, I turned my head sideways to see him sitting on the couch in my bedroom

“I can't move" I complained and he chuckled

“The doctors already said that, and you shouldn't try to, either as it will delay the healing process" He said and I sighed

“That guy is a psychopath" I said

“He is and I hate to say it, but I told you so" He said and I laughed. Wrong move

“Ow!" I winced as pain shot through my abdomen. “I'm that going to kill that bastard" I groaned

" He's asking for problems. And sure, we're going to make him pay, but you need to focus on your recovery first, after that, we would try to find out what that bullet was made of” He said and I acknowledged

I was an Alpha. Of course it wouldn't take too long for me to recover. In two days, I was back up and kicking

“Doctor Denise" I called out to her as she walked out of the building. She seemed to be in a rush

“Oh! Alpha Lucas. You look well" She said and I nodded

“How do you feel now?" She asked, observing me

“I feel better"

“That's good to hear" she said and turned to leave again but I stopped her

“You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you headed? I can drop you off" I offered and she politely declined

“It is true that I'm in a rush but you're unwell. I cannot put you through such tedious exercise" she said

She was too humble if you asked me. Now I see it. I was too blinded by the resemblance the first time, that I couldn't see the difference in their characters

Enise used to be shy and very delicate, but this woman here nothing near shy, she was outspoken and was not scared to say things the way she saw it

“I really don't mind, it's just driving, there's nothing tedious about that" I tried to insist but she was adamant

“Alright then. But I want to say thank you. I was told about how you had helped take out the bullet from my body. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be here. Thank you very much" I thanked and she nodded with a smile

“My... — her cell phone began to ring, she checked who it was and turned back to me— pleasure is all mine. I have to go now. Good bye" with that, she dashed out of the house

I squinted by eyes suspiciously. Where was she of to in such a hurry?

I contemplated following her but that would be invading her privacy right? It wouldn't speak well of me so I let her be. I had work to do anyway

Few hours later, a guard came in and handed me a box. It was a gift box

“All presents from pack members are to be received by my secretary, right?" He dropped his face

“This is not from the pack members, Alpha. Alpha Slade sent it" He informed

“Put it in the trash. I don't want it" I ordered

The guard remained standing

“You heard me, didn't you?"

“Alpha. Please you need to open and see what's in it" he insisted. I eyed the box suspiciously and gestured for him to bring it to me

When I opened it, my eyes grew wide

*For everyday that you refuse to give the Doctor to me, you'll receive a head*