3. Three

~ Harper’s POV ~

I needed to see my father immediately after getting the grave news of the murder of three innocent children. The incident was creeping into my conscience and was making me and my wolf feel reckless, vengeful, and guilty at the same time. So, that's exactly what I did.

I walked over to the hospital and got my daily dose of coffee before mustering up enough courage to read the news to him. I knew the news would hit him hard. As an alpha, it was his job to take care of the people in the pack, as well as the people of the town. And to fail so miserably at the heavy task was a blow to one's confidence. 

I gave myself a mental pep talk before entering my dad's room. Mom and Katelyn had gone to the pack house to get fresh and change into new clothes. In all this drama, I didn't get enough time with my baby sister and I wanted to change that but there was no way in hell I could sit around while a dangerous enemy was looming in the background.

I walked inside the room to find him flipping through the channels of the TV. He perked up when he saw me, but something in my expression must have thrown him off because he immediately switched off the TV and gave me all his attention.

I greeted him and sat down beside his bed. I didn't know how to give him the news, but I knew that I needed his advice too. I wanted him to guide me and help me make the correct decisions regarding these rogues who had driven every ounce of peace in my life and threatened everything and everyone that I cared about.

"Tell me, Harper. What happened?" Dad asked me gently. His voice sounded so gentle and supportive, so unlike the man I had grown up with, that I found myself telling him everything I came to know about at the police station. I pulled out the note from my jeans pocket and handed it over to him. 

He carefully looked at the piece of evidence and I watched as different thoughts crossed his mind at an alarmingly high speed. Dad sighed. "They want us to know that no one is safe. They can get anyone if they want to."

"I know. That's what I'm afraid of. It would have been hard to protect the pack, but now to look after every human in the town, it's just impossible. There are thousands of people in this town. How are we supposed to look after all of them?" I wondered.

"We will have to try Harper because that's our responsibility. It's your responsibility." He reminded me.

"I know it is. I'm responsible for everyone living in this town. Their safety depends on me but it's such a daunting task. I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and wipe off half the people living here." I sighed, confessing my fears about leading a pack and keeping an entire town safe.

"I know that it seems like a daunting task because it is. And you will fail once or twice because you may, but you need to learn from your mistakes and learn to put the welfare of those under you, before the needs of your own. Sacrifice yourself if you feel that it may do good to those who you are responsible for. Because with great power comes great responsibility. You have been born with great powers, you are a werewolf, a white alpha and have the gift of compulsion to aid you. With these exceptional gifts, comes the responsibility of hundreds of lives, in addition to your own family. And you need to learn to cope with that."

I nodded. "It's just, the attack and all these rogues make it all so real. It somehow feels more real than it ever did before. I never really knew what it all meant, to be a great leader, to be the alpha, and now with everything happening, it's just too much." I shook my head, frustrated I couldn't even describe how I felt. 

My father nodded like he understood and probably he did. He once stood exactly in my position, ready to take over the pack from his father. Did my fears and insecurities consume him too? 

Dad handed me back the note and I put it back in my jeans. "The rogues have made their stance very clear. They have warned you that every life in this town is in danger. No one is safe now."

"I know. I have the best trackers looking out for them. I'm hoping the trackers will come up with the location of the rogue settlement." 

"No, you don't understand, Harper. These rogues have made it clear where they stand and now it's up to us. Now, every death that occurs is on us because we failed to protect them. If someone dies now, it's on us." The words sent a chill to my heart but I knew that it was true. 

I closed my eyes to ward off the uneasiness at the sudden weight of all the responsibilities I had, which was a package deal with being an alpha. And I wasn't even the alpha yet. 

Suddenly, the heart monitor started beating wildly and my eyes flung open to see my father in the middle of a seizure. Dad's body was rigid but still moving like he was being electrocuted, all while the heart monitor was beeping in the background. I looked in shock as he kept moving and a few nurses and doctors came in the room with a crash cart.

The doctor used the pulley of the hospital bed to help my father lay down, all the while I watched in shock. It was so much different seeing this scene in person than watching one on television. 

My voice got stuck in my throat and my brain refused to cooperate with me. J wanted to help my father but I knew if I made another move towards him, I would only be hindering the people who could help him. So, I stayed back, willing my body to not go in a state of panic.

A nurse came over to me and must have said something but I couldn't hear her. My ears were ringing. I could see her lips moving but nothing she said, registered in my brain. 

She held my arm and then pulled me out of the room. My feet moved on their own and I followed her out of the room, and let the doctors do their job. 

My dad was having a seizure. He had gained consciousness yesterday and having a seizure wasn't a good sign. I had watched enough medical shows to know that. 

Not being able to do anything was a crippling realization. I took a deep breath and found a seat at the nurse's station, aware that a doctor would find me after they were done taking care of my dad. I needed to sit; I was afraid my legs were going to betray me any moment.

My mom was not going to take this news well. The only time my mom decides to leave the hospital, my dad has a seizure. Typical timing in our typical family.

"Hye, what happened? Why are you sitting here?" I turned my head to see Aiden take the seat next to me. 

"Dad's having a seizure," I whispered.

"Oh, shit!" Aiden cursed. "I had news which would have risen your spirits up." 

I scoffed. There was hardly any news that could lift my spirits right now. Before I could ask him, the doctor who had taken charge to calm my dad down, walked in my direction. I quickly got up from my seat and met the doctor halfway.

"How's the alpha, doctor?" I asked.

"He is fine. We were able to calm him down in a short time, which is good for his condition. He is asleep now and I would recommend giving him space right now. Don't talk to him about anything which could give him stress. I think stress is what caused him to go into a seizure." I nodded at the doctor. He bowed down to me and Aiden and walked away.

"Well, that's some good news." I sighed in relief, feeling good that Dad was alright. "What is it you wanted to tell me?" I turned to Aiden, hoping that he could take my mind off of Dad.

"The trackers found a large group of rogues. A large group of around 60 rogue wolves is stationed due East, ten miles away from the border. We think it's the same group that has been attacking us. The trackers have been observing these rogues for a few days and they said that their scents matched with the ones found at Elijah's body. Also, several of the rogue wolves from the particular settlement were seen in the pack borders during the attack. So, we think they are the same rogues." 

"Well, that's good news." 

"I think they are the same group because the elementary school, where the children were murdered is also closest to the eastern border. I think we should attack them. They may be a fraction of rogues who have been targeting us but we will eliminate them and take some as prisoners for getting information."

"Fine, then. Gather the pack warriors. We will attack them as soon as possible. The world could do without these rogues." I cracked my knuckles, ready for a fight. My wolf was jumping in excitement. It was like he knew that these rogues were exactly the ones we were looking for. Which was a good sign. A Wolf's gut was almost always right, which meant that eliminating them, will surely eliminate the threat looming over all of our lives.

"Er, Harper?" 

"Yeah," I asked, wondering why he wasn't hyped about the rogues we were going to kill. If they were the same rogues who were threatening our pack, and I had a really good feeling that they were, it would be a bonus. My wolf was howling inside, which was a good reason because he believed that it was the same group of rogues. 

"Harper, we can't attack anyone without our alpha leading us." 

Oh, shit.