Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Four

“Okay, hit as hard as you can, right here.” Ajax held out his palm.

He stared at me challengingly and I did my best to look intimidating. I kept my stance but bounced a little to give myself an extra push when I attacked him.

I kept my right foot in front of my left and my hands into a fist.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Are you ready, Princess?” He raised a brow.

“Well, I don’t want to hurt you,” I said.

He smirked. “Because you’re dangerous, Delanie.”

I took advantage of his lapse in concentration and stuck out my arm and slammed my fist into his palm.

I slipped on the grass. Ajax stuck out an arm and caught me before I hit the ground.

“You need more practice,” he laughed.

“I was going easy on you,” I lied.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my neck.

“Ouch, babe,” I winced. He squeezed too much on my injury.

He pulled back. “Sorry, I forgot you don’t heal as fast as me.”

Ajax came out with a few bumps and bruise from the failed invasion but they were all gone by this morning. I still had a wrap around my middle I might keep it for a couple of days.

Oscar was taken to a bigger hospital in the nearby tribe pack. He’d be safe there. He hadn’t woken up when we left him last night. Everything was a mess but the invasion failed but Mystic Pack held all the damages.

The beta army had been halved!

The pack wasn’t happy I couldn’t blame them. Everyone wanted answers and Alpha Odin was hiding out in our house. I hadn’t mentioned his deal with Oscar to Ajax as much as I wanted to it didn’t feel right just yet with everything going on.

General Maximus wasn’t around during the invasion he was probably still in Star City but Ross said he was returning to handle things. I don’t know what difference it would have made with him around.

“Something was odd about that invasion,” Ajax said as we walked back to the house.

“What do we mean what are invasions supposed to feel like?” I asked.

“Planned. Their Alpha wasn’t there neither was a general or a high ranked beta. That’s not how invasions work or attacks.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

His shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to know, Delanie. I just want to help the pack.”

I stood in front of him and rubbed his shoulders. “Don’t get discouraged. You’re the Alpha Warrior, remember?”

“A warrior who couldn’t protect his own brother. I threaten him all the time but I love him I care about him. “

If only that were the case for Oscar.

“I’m sure Oscar will be fine. I guess you’ll have a lot to talk about when he wakes up.”

Ajax nodded but I didn’t think he was looking forward to it.

We entered the kitchen and both froze when we discovered General Maximus in the living room talking to Alpha Odin.

“Oscar’s awake,” Max blew out a breath.

Ajax draped his arm around my shoulder out of protectiveness and support.

“And?” Ajax asked.

“It’s better we go and hear what the doctor says.”

***

“This can’t be happening to me. It can’t!” Oscar raged.

The four of us were crammed into the tiny hospital room. The doctor had just told us Oscar had lost mobility in his legs because of a spinal cord injury.

“We’ll talk to the best healers, Oscar. There’s always more than can be done,” Max said but his voice was void of emotions.

“Magic? Please, the doctor has the final say. Damn the Diamond pack!”

“Don’t be stubborn you asshole. The healers and seers have healed Alphas and shifters long before you. It’s not changing now. Max, get all the pack’s healers to the pack house. This isn’t going to remain like this.” Ajax spoke so passionately but there was fear in his eyes.

Max bowed and walked out of the room.

“My enemies will enjoy this. You’re happy aren’t you, Ajax? How the hell will I be Alpha now?”

My blood boiled. Ajax dragged him to the clinic in the dead of night and he spat in his face. Oscar’s clearly never been slapped before!

“Oscar, enough! Now isn’t the time for that. The pack’s a mess and you’re confined to a bed.”

Oscar seethed but it looked like he was going to cry. He balled his hands into fists and stared at the ceiling.

“My wife. Where is she?” he demanded.

I frowned. Did he expect Reign to come? She’s made it clear he wasn’t her first choice. It pained my heart a little to think this was her chance to leave him.

“I’ll call her,” Ajax grumbled.

“Good. I need her.”

A part of me should feel bad for him but I wasn’t there yet. I tiptoed and whispered in Ajax’s ear, “I’m going to get coffee.”

He kissed my forehead before I walked out. The hospital was a thousand times nicer than the little clinic I volunteered at. They had an elevator and three floors. The clinic didn’t even have an ambulance.

“Delanie,” a deep voice said from behind me.

I turned, clutching my little white coffee cup. I looked up to meet General Maximus’ intimidating eyes. I swallowed and backed up a little. Every time he looked at me I feared he would see my Mother’s face.

The man before me knew if my Mother was alive and he probably killed my Dad. Rage built but it wasn’t hot enough to kill the fear I had for him. He wanted me dead the minute I entered this world. If it wasn’t for the kindness of Hansel I would never have seen the light of day.

“General Max, sad news about Oscar,” I said nervously.

“Tragic, just like the mess we’ve been left to clean up.”

“The Mystic Pack will survive. It has to right?”

The corners of his mouth raised. I wanted to get out of this conversation quickly.

“Tell me something, Delanie. Who are your parents?” he asked.

My heart slammed forward. “Mom left when I was a baby. She moved to the city never looked back. Dad was killed in an attack by the Mystic Pack.” I recalled the story Grandma Amy made up.

“Shouldn’t you hate Ajax then? His pack was involved in making you an orphan.”

“No, no, it had nothing to do with him. It was a long time ago anyway.”

Max nodded slightly. “One more thing. How old are you?”

Pretty basic question. “I’m twenty years old.”