\[Rosco’s POV\]
My eyes grow wide as I watch Denali collapse on the ground while blood explodes from her mouth. Fuck! I should have known that she would do whatever it took to get answers from her father.
‘Help her!’ Fabian whimpers. ‘You shouldn’t have let her go alone!’
‘You don’t have to tell me that!’
Surging forward, I gather Denali into my arms and then shoot a glare in Roger’s direction as he watches on in amusement.
“It seems she is still the same pathetically weak omega she has always been.”
A low growl of warning escapes me as I fight the urge to slit the bastard's throat. Not now. Not yet, when a more severe punishment was waiting for him. Soon, he wouldn't be so cocky, and I looked forward to seeing him get every fucking bit of karma he deserved.
Fighting my very instincts, I slowly stand with Denali in my arms and then turn to leave.
“Enjoy the time the two of you have left!” Roger calls from behind me. “Because once things are in motion, your end will come.”
“I don’t know what you’re going on about.” I hiss through gritted teeth. “But the only one whose end is coming is yours.”
With that, I begin to move, making my way toward mine and Denali’s room, where my mother is waiting with Serenity. Honestly, I had never been happier to see her and didn’t waste a single moment passing my daughter onto her to care so I could chase my mate.
When I arrive, my mother’s gaze shoots straight to Denali, who sweats prefusally in my arms.
“What happened to her?” She gasps.
“She pushed herself too far.” I respond, placing her on the bed and then reaching out for Manny, Emerald Moon’s healer.
‘Something wrong?’ Is his immediate response once we are connected? ‘Is it mother or child?’
‘Mother.’ I respond immediately. ‘Get your ass here now.’
Cutting off our connection, I take in Denali’s unmoving form while my worry begins to grow.
“She’s going to be alright.” My mother murmurs, catching onto the shift in my mood. “She’s strong.”
“I know.” I sigh, though knowing that doesn’t help me feel any better.
Since we found each other, one thing after another threatened her life, and since I came too damn close to losing her too many times, I just couldn’t relax.
“I’m about ready to lock her away in a cage.”
At my words, a soft laugh escapes my mother.
“As if she would go along with that.”
As I open my mouth to respond, the door to our room opens, and Manny barges in with his medical bag in hand.
“Give me the rundown.” He orders, bypassing greetings. “Did something go wrong with her body after birth?”
“No,” I respond immediately. “She used the command.”
“Mmmm.”
Giving a slight nod, Manny busies himself looking over Denali, and once he finishes, he digs in his bag.
“Hasn’t she been warned about this command?” He asks, pulling out a syringe filled with clear liquid. “Why would she risk it? Especially when she is already so weak?”
“Because that’s the kind of woman she is.” I huff.
Even if she was weak physically, she was strong mentally and was just growing stronger by the day.
“It seems to be a trait of her family.” Manny grumbles.
“Hm?” Instantly, I feel my interest piqued as Roger’s warning hits me. If the curse came from her family, would this doctor know anything about it? “Did you know her mother?” I ask slowly, testing the waters. “Or was that before your time?”
“Before my time?” Manny barks, fixing his light blue gaze on me. “How old do you think I am, boy? Do you think you get this many wrinkles and this white hair from being young? I’ve been a part of Emerald Moon for well over fifty years.”
Feeling my hope flare, I decide that if Roger wasn’t willing to talk, then maybe someone who knew Denali’s mother's side directly was our next best bet.
“Did the past Luna ever say anything about a curse?” I ask, throwing caution to the wind. “Or possibly the one before her?”
For a moment, Manny doesn’t speak as he takes me in. Beside me, I feel my mother's wide eyes come to rest on me while she tries to make sense of what I’m asking.
“A curse.” Manny repeats, rubbing his chin. “I’m not quite sure what you mean.”
‘He’s lying.’ Fabian growls, not missing the slight hesitation in the healer's voice. ‘He knows something.’
‘“I think so too.’ I respond, beginning to debate whether or not I should use my alpha command against him.
Although Denali and I had led this pack for almost a year, there were still many who weren’t quite accepting of us yet, but they went along with their duties regardless. Because of this, I tried to not be too overbearing. If I wanted their respect, I had to earn it honestly and not by force.
“I apologize for asking you then.” I finally say. “But do know that it is extremely important that we learn as much as we can about this.”
Once again, Manny examines me as if he is wondering if he can trust me.
“Rosco,” my mother says while the silence grows thick around us. “What is this that you’re talking about?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Right now, the only thing I was focused on was getting answers, but if the healer wasn’t willing to give them to me, I would have a hard time getting them.
“Is there a reason you’re asking me this?” Manny asks slowly. “It isn’t just for...”
The rest of his words get lost as Serenity begins to stir in my mother’s arms, and before I can say anything more, Manny’s eyes shoot to her wrist as she lifts it.
“So it has begun.” He whispers, reaching out and gently grabbing her hand. “It looks like we were lucky for too long. Alpha, I think it is time that I show you something.”
“Will it give me answers to my question?” I ask, raising a brow. “Or will it be a waste of time?”
“It will possess the answer you seek. But be prepared, because you might not like the answer that you get.”
Flinching, I try to ignore the trickle of fear that starts to rush through me.
No. I wouldn’t let anything bad happen, as I promised them.
“Whether I like it or not, I won’t let whatever it is come true.” I growl.
“No matter how strong you are, you can’t stop fate.” Manny sighs. “Luna will be fine after some rest. Please come with me.”