64 The turn …


    Ramsey


    Two yearster .


    1


    The Pack Hospital’s light shone brightly on me where I sat motionless in the reception area , my legs spread out in front of me , staring nkly at the floor .


    My clothes were stained with blood , and dark red streaks that had long since dried but still smelled fresh in the air around me .


    My fingers wrapped tightly around a ne which I clutched like a lifeline its pendant warming against my palm , a stark difference to the cold that had settled in my chest .


    Around me , Pack Doctors and Nurses including Healers rushed in and out of the operating rooms , their faces tensed with fear … I couldn’t me them , they had two lives to save .


    Two operations were happening at the same time .


    Two lives hanging by a thread .


    Alpha Logan , Alpha of the Blue Ridge Pack was in one of the rooms fighting for his life .


    And in the other room , my grandfather , Elder Eldric , was the only family I had left .


    When I held him in my arms after the attack , I thought he was dead .


    1


    He’d been motionless , with blood gushing out from one side of his throat .


    I grew up with my grandfather , we didn’t agree on a lot of things but I love him .


    He was the man who shaped me into whom I am today .


    He had swallowed his pain and fought hard after losing his mate , so I wouldn’t be alone anymore .


    He was the same man who pushed me out of the way , hours ago , and had taken the Feral’s bite it should be me on that operating table and not him .


    We were on our way back from the Annual Moon Goddess Worshipping Ceremony at Golden Moon Pack and were just outside the borders of the White Moon Mountain region when a dozen Feral Wolves suddenly sprung out from the forest and attacked .


    They had easily overpowered the hundred warriors that had gone with us , and injured three Alphas renowned for their fighting skills , including Alpha Logan who was a top – skilled Alpha


    Warrior .


    I had watched as the warriors dropped dead , how six elders , have been killed with such swiftness that I didn’t see .


    I had almost died , too , if my grandfather had not pushed me out of the way and taken the bite for me .


    Alpha Logan had jumped in to save him from the Ferals and had equally been defeated .


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    The Ferals , after that , didn’t attack me … they all regrouped , and stared at me for a few minutes before they headed back to the bushes from where they had emerged .


    I nced up briefly , my gaze drifting to Alpha Logan’s wife , Luna Vanessa and her daughter , rissa .


    They sat huddled at one corner of the reception , their eyes red and swollen , tears streaming silently down their faces .


    The loss of a mate was not the worst thing that can happen to anyone – it is being helpless .


    Sitting there not knowing what to do hour to help and if your mate would ever make it back


    14 :


    04 The turn


    alive .


    I watched as they clutched each other as if they were the only thing keeping each other from shatteringpletely .


    My heart clenched at the sight – I had failed them .


    I had failed to protect the people who served me .


    “ Alpha Ramsey ,” Lenny hovered nearby , his face full of concern .


    “ You need to go home and get cleaned up .


    You can’t stay here like this , if the people see you in this state , they’ll worry .


    It’s already enough that the entire country is in fear … this will not help , ” he said softly .


    Trying for the third time to get me to leave .


    “ I’ll stay here and tell you as soon as they finish with the operation , he added .


    “ It’s easy to console me , Lenny when you’re not in my shoes ,” I said quietly .


    “ I have failed .


    everyone … a hundred warriors killed , six elders dead and three Alphas wounded .


    Alpha Logan is barely alive and if anything should happen to him … they will never forgive me .


    This is my fault .


    ” “ It is not , Alpha ! ” Lenny sighed drawing closer to me .


    “ No one had anticipated the Ferals .


    Thest time we saw one was four years ago .


    ”


    “ We were supposed to return a day after , Lenny .


    Do you think maybe that would have made the difference ? From all the other packs who travelled two days after the ceremony , they all arrived at their packs safely .


    I have made a lot of children fatherless , Lenny … ” I sighed .


    “ So , I cannot leave .


    “ Just clean up and offer a word offort to the bereaved – the families of the warriors who died .


    It could go a long way .


    “ And who willfort me , Lenny ! ” I raised my head to look at him .


    “ I too , I’m hurting … let’s just hurt today … or at least until I know that my grandfather and Alpha Logan are fine , then maybe , I’ll be able to offerfort .


    ”


    Despite Lenny’s insistence that I should go , I ignored him .


    I hadn’t moved in hours and had no intention of leaving now .


    My muscles were stiff from sitting for so long but I barely felt the difort .


    I couldn’t leave .


    Not until I knew .


    Not until they told me .


    It was well past midnight when the doors to Alpha Logan’s operating room finally opened .


    I rose to my feet for the first time , my heart pounding violently in my chest as the doctor walked out , his face was pale , his eyes were downcast and I knew from his expression before he even spoke .


    seen that look too many times before .


    rd se


    “ I’m sorry , the pack doctor said quietly , his voice filled with regret .


    “ Alpha Logan didn’t make it .


    ” Luna Vanessa’s cries filled the room as she copsed to the ground in sobs , her daughter clinging to her .


    I felt the grief wash over me but it didn’t settle .


    It couldn’t .


    My mind was too broken , my emotions were all over the ce .


    The pack doctor looked at me , pausing as if waiting for some response but I just nodded slowly .


    There were no words I could offer that would matter now .


    As if on cue , another pack doctor emerged from the second operating room .


    There was a tired


    smile on his face .


    64 The turn


    “ Elder Eldric is stable ,” he informed me .


    “ The surgery was sessful though recovery will take time but he’s fine now .


    ”


    I nodded again – then without a word , I turned and walked out of the hospital into the cold night


    air .


    The moment the doors closed behind me , I changed into my wolf and broke into a run .


    I ran , pushing my body past its limits , trying to outpace the guilt that wed at my heart .


    The wind whipped against my fur , and the world around me blurred as my feet pounded against the


    earth .


    burned .


    It was


    I ran until the moon rose high in the sky and my muscles screamed and my morning when I finally started back to the pack house still clutching the ne .


    Waiting for me at the entrance of the pack house were several clders , including Elder Mira , all wearing sombre expressions .


    She stepped forward , her face lined with sadness .


    “ Alpha Ramsey ,” she began gently .


    ‘ We’re deeply sorry for what happened and we’re grateful to the Moon Goddess for preserving your grandfather .


    “ And what did Alpha Logan do to her for her not to be merciful to him ? ” I retorted , ring at her .


    “ We understand that you’re still in shock but it’s hardly anyone’s fault .


    idents like this happen all the time .


    ”


    “ Right ! ” I scoffed .


    “ Starting from this moment , there’ll be no Annual Moon Goddess Worshipping Ceremony to start with .


    When the council gathers , you’ll pass it intow.


    We cannot keep spending resources over frivolitics like that .


    ”


    “ Alpha , I know you’re hurt but … ”


    “ State your business , Elder Mira ! ” I interrupted her .


    “ I need to freshen up and carry on with


    duties .


    my


    She drew in a deep breath and then sighed .


    “ It’s about Blue Ridge Pack .


    Now that they’ve lost their Alpha , they need a new one to prevent chaos and protect her pack members from those who would take advantage of this moment of weakness .


    ”


    My jaws clenched .


    I knew where this was going .


    “ We were told that the Alpha heir is locked up in the holding cells .


    Given the circumstances , it’s time to release him .


    He’s Alpha Logan’s legitimate sessor and with his help , he can help the Alpha’s family n the burial .


    ”


    “ We can have the Beta take over certain duties for now .


    I still have a lot of scores to settle with the Alpha Heir .


    “ Not when there’s an Heir .


    He has trained all his life to take over at times like this .


    You have kept him for four years … whatever he had done , I’m sure we could look for better ways to resolve it .


    If you do not release him , the Alpha council will revolt .


    ” Another elder chimed in .


    “ I heard what you said … you’ve been telling me the Alpha council will revolt for years and yet they’ve never ”


    <


    64 The turn …


    “ You cannot keep him locked up indefinitely , ” Alpha Mira bristled .


    “ The Pack needs an Alpha .


    They need someone to lead them and make decisions .


    You cannot deny them that much .


    Whatever issues you have with him , must be put on hold now .


    ”


    I rolled my eyes .


    “ Fine , I’ll release him .


    ”