Chapter 4

Derrick

“I could have died back there…” Cami’s voice came out as a soft whisper as the doctor left our ward, “But you saved me.” She laced her fingers with mine, and I responded with a reassuring press on her skin. I breathed in relief as my eyes trailed to her right ankle, covered with an elastic bandage. Thankfully, her injuries were not life-threatening; all she suffered from was a sprained ankle.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

I shook my head slightly, “I’d do it over and over for you, Cami.” My hand slowly moved to her leg, making sure my massage was as tender as possible. 

Her lip curled upward to form a hearty smile. Unfortunately, it didn’t infect me. I was battling with my own unrest inside, too. We won the war, but our losses were not small either. Our doctors have been trooping in and out of anterooms restlessly, and nurses are busy wheeling our injured warriors on stretchers to various ward rooms. Never have we faced this magnitude of attack from rogues. 

And then there’s Dahlia, for some reason, her injuries are not healing. A wounded back and a deep claw injury to her neck, at least that’s what I can presume from what I saw; it could be worse. Laila has been performing surgery on her for more than thirty minutes now, and as much as I hate to admit it, it bothers me. My wolf has been restless ever since. Dahlia is a fine warrior. I thought handling a rogue or two wasn’t a problem for her. But one minute I was entrapped in fighting four on my own, and the other…she’s pinned to the tree, gasping for her life.

Maybe I should just check up on her. I won’t be able to bear it if something happens to her. Not because she’s my wife, but ultimately she’s my Pack member. 

“Hey…” Cami flipped her thumb and index finger in front of me, snapping me back to reality. “Is something wrong?” Her brows creased in worry.

“Nothing,” I tried to assert with a smile, but my muscles had grown stiff. “I think I should check up on Dahlia, see if she’s fine.” I stood up from the stool, but Cami whimpered as her hand latched to her side. 

“Are you in pain?” The question burst out of me with the speed of light. She freed a deep exhale that did nothing but heighten my anxiety. 

“I’m fine…” she released, her words barely audible. 

“Let me see,” I tried to reach for her side, but she stopped me. 

“Really, Derrick. I’m fine,” she moaned.

“I’ll get the doctor–” 

She grabbed my wrist, stopping me abruptly. She might say she’s fine, but her eyes were betraying her. She’s far from it!

“I just…” Her lips pressed into a thin line, trapping the rest of her sentence. “C-can you stay with me, please?” she patted the bed space by her side. “With you here, that’s all the comfort I need.” 

I glanced at the door and then back at her before releasing a deep exhale. Dahlia will be fine; she’s in safe hands, that’s what I told my wolf before returning to my seat. Holding on to Cami like she’s my life source. She breathed in relief and started to draw circles on the back of my palm. No words were needed; my presence was all she desired.

The door suddenly opened, and Laila marched in with her white lab coat and bleary eyes. Although they turned irritated at the sight of Camilla and me holding hands. 

“How can you be here when your wife is suffering?!” she spat with enough iciness seeping into her voice. “Her wolf isn’t healing her because of you! And here you are—”

“What do you mean she isn’t healing because of me?” I snapped with a sharp frown as I gradually peeled away from Camilla. 

“I don’t know what you did that hurt her deeply, but her wolf is in pain!” her breaths furiously stormed out of her. 

“I didn’t do anything!” I rumbled. She got hurt by the rogues, not me!

Her chest heaved up for a moment before deflating alongside all her fury. “Thankfully, the surgery went well. She’s still unconscious, but she’s resting.” 

“Can I see her?” 

Before she could answer,

“Derrick!” Lucas barged in, panting as he had just finished battling the hordes of hell. His clothes were ripped, and his skin covered in bruises, too. “Your father!” 

My brows pulled together even deeper.

“He was helping some of our injured men and suddenly collapsed. The Pack doctor says he’s dying!” 

“What?!” Camilla and Laila blared at the same time.

My heart skipped, and my eyes widened to their limits as cold energy ruthlessly encroached on my skin down to my toes.

“Follow me!” 

“I’m coming too!” Cami interjected.

“Stay there! It’s family only!” Laila scowled, but I was too shaken to care. 

I followed him immediately, my steps even faster than his and Laila's, till we arrived at the private wardroom waiting room where Uncle Bode, our Beta, was busy trying to comfort my weeping mother. Teresa, my red-haired sister, was seated on one of the chairs. Arms crossed, face red and swollen from tears.

“Where is he?!” I demanded, about to break into the room, but Lucas restrained me.

“You can’t.” 

“Out of my way, Lucas!” I roared, but he held my shoulder, giving it a light press. 

“Please…the doctor is still with him.” 

So I’m supposed to wait here and die from despair?! On one hand, Dahlia is unconscious, and on the other…I’m about to lose my father. My hand latched onto the roots of my hair that I nearly pulled out. I wanted to tear everything down, to yell my lungs out, but I can’t. I’m the heir; I have to be calm. Composed. A beacon of support for the others. I can’t break down. 

My eyes met with Uncle Bode, and his gaze did justice, passing all the words that needed to be said. My family needs me. And so, I painstakingly took deep, shaky breaths before managing to steady myself. I went to my mother first, but she didn’t bother listening to my words. She just gripped me, soaking my shirt with her tears. Laila stayed with Teresa while Uncle Bode left. As the Beta, he has to keep the order in the Pack.

The next fifty minutes were the most hellish wait of my life until the Pack doctor appeared. His tongue failed him for the first couple of seconds,

“I’m sorry, Luna Angelina…but our Alpha is old. His body is too weak to survive the magnitude of his injury–”

We were far too gone beyond reason to wait for the remaining rehearsed lines. I barged in first, and there he was on the bed, all patched up. But his breathing was slow and lacked vigor. Life was draining out of his life, yet my old man still managed to pull up a tiny smile.

“Dad!” I sped to him in a flash. My mother and Teresa joined too, stealing his attention from me. I watched both of them wail while my father kept trying to ease them, like everything was going to be alright. I couldn’t tell which one was a bigger battle between keeping my thumping heart at bay and stopping my eyes from bleeding. 

“My boy…” My father finally reached for me, and I clasped onto his hand with mine. 

“D-a-dad…” Just that one word and his waning warmth made me lose the battle and let my lashes get soaked.

“How is Dahlia?” he strained to ask.

“She’s–she’ll be fine. She’s in good hands,” I batted my lashes, and he grinned.

“Your old man has lived long enough, don’t you think?” if this was his attempt at a joke, then it hit the sore spot for me.

“Don’t! Don’t leave us this way…” I shook my head. “Not like this!” 

“Promise me,” My father’s grip tightened. “Promise me that you and Dahlia will always protect the Pack.” 

“No…no…no…Dad…” I winced. I don’t want to make a promise I know I can’t keep. 

“That both of you will never leave each other…” 

“Dad!” More tears flooded out of me. Even in his last breaths, he’s still enforcing Dahlia on me.

“That you will always love each other…” 

I nodded slowly, but it wasn’t convincing enough for our old man.

“I promise…” my voice dropped low, it almost couldn’t be heard by the others except him. He shot me his widest grin before heaving in relief.

I’m sorry, Dad. But I can’t keep this one. My mind is made up, Cami will be my Luna.