Chapter 441
Four hundred and forty three
Emma POV
The drive out of Iron Wells was quiet. Wesley kept his eyes on the road, occasionally sneaking glances at Alexander through the rearview mirror.
I sat in the back with Alexander, who leaned heavily against the door frame, using one hand to prop up his head. He shut his eyes, and every time the car hit a bump, his jaw clenched tight in pain.
“Here, move over a bit,” I whispered gently, reaching over to shift his weight so he could lean back against the seat cushions. “Is your arm feeling stiff p>
Alexander managed a tired smile, though it barely reached his eyes.
“I’m fine p>
“No, you’re not,” I muttered softly, guiding his head onto my shoulder. “We’re going to the nearest hospital. They’ll run tests, and if something’s broken, they’ll fix it p>
He let his head rest against me, his chest rising and falling in labored breaths.
“Sitting here with you… it feels like the happiest day of my life p>
I smiled even though my heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. I wished more than anything that we were alone, but even if it were just the two of us, he was in terrible shape.
Slowly, his hand moved down and rested over my stomach. I placed my hand right over his, holding his fingers against my belly.
“There’s nothing to feel yet p>
“Doesn’t matter,” he murmured. “I’m so lucky p>
He closed his eyes, his breathing slowly evening out as he drifted off.
We arrived at the medical center in Alpha Kieran’s pack under full emergency status. Wesley took charge immediately, ordering a toxicological blood panel and a complete assessment of Alexander’s physical injuries, demanding doctors who were vetted by Alpha Kieran.
While they wheeled Alexander down the hall, I pulled Wesley aside.
“Wesley… do you think this could be Meridian?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Wesley sighed. “It’s possible. The symptoms, the deliberate poisoning attempts fit their style. And if it is them, there could easily be an insider trying to finish the job p>
The thought made me sick.
He led me to the waiting area while the medical team went to work.
“When he wakes up, we need to address his witness,” I said to Wesley. “He mentioned his father’s royal guard, who’s locked inside Zachary’s prison p>
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Wesley rubbed the back of his neck. “Emma, let the court do its work. We can’t just go barging into prisons, pulling out old guards without proper legal clearance p>
“You have to help me,” I said, staring him down. “You can’t just stop halfway p>
I looked up at a scuffle in the lobby where a security guard was refusing Lucas entry. I headed forward and let him through. Lucas looked his usual self, rough around the edges as usual. He didn’t even bother acknowledging Wesley’s presence.
“Where is he, town girl?” he asked gruffly.
I nudged Wesley with my elbow before he could snap at Lucas for being impolite. “He’s in the emergency room. The doctors are examining him right now p>
Lucas grunted, looking around with a glare.
“Did Alexander have any underlying health issues before he was arrested? Anything at all p>
Lucas shifted uncomfortably, his brow furrowing as he looked away.
“We’re just trying to help him,” I pressed. “If there’s something we need to tell the doctors, you have to say it now p>
“Those fucking bastards… If they hurt my Alpha, I’ll tear that place down p>
He looked back at me, scowling as I waited for the response I needed.
“For a few years now, he’s had this sharp sensation on the left side of his chest,” he grumbled. “He usually brews some herbs that Kamala prepares for him. Whenever he takes it, the chest pain settles down p>
“Why didn’t he get it checked at a real hospital? The beatings from the guards probably made it ten times worse.
Lucas didn’t answer.
A doctor came out of the examination room, one I recognized immediately. He was a longtime friend of my family, someone who had even helped Luna Lisa back when she was pregnant with Wesley. He snapped his fingers at Wesley, gesturing for him to come inside.
I jumped up. “Doctor! Is he okay? What’s going on p>
The doctor held up a hand, giving me a stop gesture. “Give us a moment, dear p>
Wesley followed him into the room, and minutes felt like hours. When he finally walked back out, his face was drawn tight.
“What is it?” I asked, rushing over to him.
“It doesn’t look good,” Wesley said. “The initial scans show high levels of targeted suppressants in his blood. And there’s something abnormal sitting in his chest tissue p>
My throat went dry. “Meridian p>
“The doctor has studied Meridian attacks for years,” Wesley said. “He hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, but all
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the initial indicators point straight toward them p>
“What the fuck is Meridian?!” Lucas barked, stepping forward aggressively.
“It’s a cult,” I said as the reality settled in. “They target Alpha bloodlines. Most of the time, their attacks destroy or corrupt the victim’s wolf p>
“Except it doesn’t look like his wolf was targeted this time,” Wesley added, looking at me. “It’s his human body.
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I frowned, confused. “Isn’t that better? If it’s just his human body, can’t they just operate or treat it p>
“No, Emma,” Wesley said grimly. “If your wolf is attacked, you go through fever and delirium, but the wolf can heal over time. If they target the human body directly, it means they want you dead permanently p>
Lucas exploded. “Who the hell is in charge of this Meridian shit?! Why haven’t you Alpha leaders wiped them out yet?! Are you all in on it together p>
“Hey! Watch your mouth!” Wesley snapped.
“Stop it, both of you,” I pleaded, stepping between them. “Alexander is going to survive this, Lucas. Wesley survived a Meridian attack years ago, and Alexander is just as strong. He will make it through p>
Wesley ignored Lucas and faced me.
“If Meridian is actively targeting him, then everything was likely an elaborate setup to execute him without raising red flags. But we need the blood panel results to prove it p>
“Are you actually going to stand up and help him, then?” Lucas sneered at Wesley. “Or are you just going to talk?
“Not with your mouth running like a fucking child,” Wesley retorted coldly. “If you can’t behave civilly, then there’s the door p>
Lucas turned and headed to the other end of the hall while I gave Wesley a pleading look.
Wesley pulled out his phone. “I’m calling Charlie p>
“We don’t need him involved in this p>
“Trust me, Emma, you need every ounce of leverage you can get right now,” Wesley insisted firmly, tapping the
screen. “You can’t afford to be stubborn p>
“Put it on speaker, then,” I said.
Wesley pressed the speaker button just as the line connected.
“What?” Charlie’s voice came through the speaker, sharp and clearly irritated.
“We’re currently at your pack’s hospital,” Wesley said, ignoring Charlie’s bite. “The doctors here are seeing clear signs of a Meridian attack on Alexander p>
A long silence hit the line.
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“Have they confirmed it?” Charlie asked, his tone dropping its initial hostility, though he remained cold.
“The full blood panel is running right now,” Wesley replied. “Do you know anything about Zachary’s affiliation with Meridian p>
“How would I know? Do cult members wear badges on their shirts? Besides, for all we know, Alexander could be part of them himself p>
I forced myself to stay silent. Engaging with Charlie’s spite would get us nowhere.
“I’m giving you a heads-up because as soon as these lab results are finalized, I’m taking them directly to your father. If you keep acting like Zachary’s personal bodyguard, people are going to start asking questions about where your loyalties lie. Watch your step, Charlie p>
I didn’t want to hear another word coming out of Charlie’s mouth. Without waiting for his response, I turned on my heel and walked away down the corridor, leaving Wesley to finish the call alone.
Lucas followed me toward the waiting area near the back exit.
“Is Anna, the cook, cooperating at all?” I asked Lucas once we were out of earshot.
“She hasn’t said a single damn word. She’s pissing me off so badly I feel like blowing her head off p>
“Don’t do that!” I warned him. “She’s our only direct witness to what happened before Alexander was taken! If you kill her, the council will just assume you made everything up. You were locked away for years, Lucas-they won’t take your word alone. We need Anna to speak p>
“Then you better come talk to her yourself,” Lucas growled. “Because I’m out of patience p>
We spent the rest of the morning in the hospital waiting room. Around mid-afternoon, Wesley left briefly to handle stuff, but he returned a couple of hours later, and he didn’t come back alone.
Alpha Kieran walked in right beside him.
Lucas grumbled, “Bastard,” under his breath, glaring at the regional Alpha with deep-seated hate. I shot Lucas a warning look before stepping forward to greet Kieran.
“Alpha Kieran,” I said, feeling a sudden wave of relief. “Thank you for coming.” 1
Kieran gave me a gentle side hug, patting my shoulder. “Of course, Emma. But you shouldn’t be running around putting yourself under this much stress. It isn’t good for the baby p>
“I just want to help my mate,” I said softly.
Kieran nodded and walked into Alexander’s room. The medical team had sedated Alexander earlier to manage his pain, so he was fast asleep when we walked in.
I stood near the door as Alpha Kieran, Wesley, and the head doctor gathered around the monitor, discussing the preliminary findings in low, hushed tones.
Everything now rested on those blood test results. If the panel came back positive for Meridian toxins, it would prove Alexander was being targeted for assassination–and it would be our ultimate ticket to securing his freedom.
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I stared at Alexander’s pale face on the hospital bed. I knew how deadly a Meridian attack was. I knew the horrific toll it took on a person’s body. But as I stood there in the quiet room, a selfish, desperate thought crossed my mind.
I was actually praying the tests came back positive for Meridian. It was the only thing standing between Alexander and his freedom.
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