\[Rosco’s POV\]
“I told you I was fine!” I hiss as Maria and Olga fight to keep me in bed. Many hours had already passed since Elise, Charlie, and Jose went to save William and retrieve my father, and despite the time, no one had contacted me yet. “I can’t just sit here while my people could be in danger!”
“Rosco!” Denali sighs. “You can’t take your frustration out on the ones attempting to help you.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but I stop as I realize that she is right. However, that didn’t mean that this was frustrating. To sit back and not do anything with such things happening in my old pack lands drove me crazy.
Sighing, I prepare to try to reason with them, but stop as the sound of a car pulling in reaches me.
Hearing it too, Denali moves, making her way to the window, and when I see her tension disappear, I know that the others have returned.
“Thank the Ggoddess.” She sighs, bringing a hand to her chest. “This means that they won, right?”
“It has to.” I agree, forcing my way off the bed while Olga gives me a disapproving look and Maria tsks. “Let me see.”
Ignoring the two irritating women, I begin to move, heading toward the window so I can watch Charlie and Jose climb out. They make their way around to the back of the vehicle and then open the back door so they can pull Uncle Jaxon out. Once he is out of the way, William follows, but something about him leaves me uneasy.
Frowning, I keep watching for Elise and my father, but neither seem to appear.
“What?” I growl, immediately feeling like something was off. “Where…”
“Elise,” Denali gasps, turning her large gaze to me. “She isn’t with them.”
Nodding, I don’t speak as I try to make sense of the woman’s absence. Not only was she missing, but so was my father. What the hell did this mean?
Not waiting for the trio to come find me, I begin to move, heading out of the infirmary while Denali follows behind me.
“Rosco!” She gasps. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to get a report.” I respond easily, but when I reach the stairs, I’m winded and have to stop. “They’re back, so it is only right for me to figure out what happened.”
“Why are you so stubborn?” Denali demands. “Look at you! You’re still recovering, yet you’re pjushing yourself!”
Her tone is much harsher than it should be, and I’m certain that she is worried about Elise.
“Calm down.” I murmur, reaching out and rubbing her arms. “I’m sure she’s okay.”
“We’re talking about you.” She counters, though her worry is clear in her gaze. “I’m sure Elise is fine too.”
Remaining silent, I take her in until the door just below us opens and everyone piles in. Pulling my gaze from Denali, I watch as they look around until they spot me.
“Alpha!” Charlie calls, his annoyance coloring his features. “Why are you up and moving?”
Grumbling in frustration, I begin to move again, slowly making my way down the stairs until I reach the group.
“How can I possibly lay in bed when I know that all of you are doing something dangerous?”
As I speak, I take in their exhausted faces, which are covered in caked-on blood, dirt, and what looks like ash.
Sniffing the air, I realize that the smell of smoke sticks to their skin and my bad feelings grow.
“What exactly happened?” I ask. “Where are my father and Elise?”
As the words leave my lips, William’s face darkens, and I notice for the first time that his eyes are red and puffy.
“Charlie,” I say slowly. “Tell me what happened.”
“Well,” he begins, looking uncomfortable. “We tried our best to retrieve everyone involved, but...” He stops for a moment, looking to William and Jose for help, but neither speak. “Jaxon planted many bombs around the pack house in case he was overthrown.”
“Bombs,” I repeat as Denali lets out a gasp behind me. “And do these have anything to do with my father's and Elise’s absence?”
Instead of responding, Charlie simply nods.
“I’m sorry, Alpha; we tried our best to bring everyone back, but the place collapsed and...”
“And what?” I demand, anger flashing through me. “Are you saying there were no fucking bodies to bring back?”
“Rosco!” Denali hisses as a coughing fit escapes me. “You’ve got to calm down.”
“They were taken to the morgue.” Charlie explains. “The authorities wouldn’t allow us to bring them back without written consent from you.”
“They must have a death wish.” I growl, still unable to believe what I was hearing. “So all you need is written consent, and they’ll release Elise and my father so we can properly bury them, yes?”
“That is correct.” Charlie responds. “I will personally see to it that they are brought back here and sent off properly. If we had a body for Marty, I would do the same for him.”
“Body or not, he too will receive a proper funeral.”
There was no other option when it came to any member of my pack. He sacrificed himself for my family, and as such, he would be remembered properly.
Letting out a long breath, I look at William once more and realize that he looks just as he did back then when Marigold was taken from him.
“I’m sorry.” I say slowly, patting his shoulder. “But know…”
“I don’t need your sympathetic words.” He growls, brushing me off. “Since we’ve reported back to you, I’m heading to the hospital to wait for them to release Elise.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he is turning and heading toward the packhouse exit, but before he reaches it, Charlie grabs him.
“What?” William snarls, whirling on him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Instead of responding, Charlie balls up his fist and lets it connect with the top of William’s head.
“Do you really plan on going up there like you are?” He demands.
“Like what?” William asks, looking down, as if just realizing his dirty appearance. “Does it really matter how I look? They already know what happened.”
“Go get yourself clean first.” Charlie orders.
“Who are you to boss me around?” William challenges.
I watch as Charlie simply looks at William as if he is a spoiled kid. I’m sure that the anger and acting tough are just a front, so no one can see just how bad William is hurting, but he didn’t need to try to keep his true feelings from us since we were all family.
“Let him go.” I sigh, stopping Charlie before he pushes further. “Nothing is going to get through to him right now.”