CHAPTER FORTY - THE ATTACK

MONA'S POV

My eyes widened as I looked from Luka to Aster with a shocked look on my face.

“What do you mean, he has been attacked?” I repeated, not wanting to believe what I just heard.

“He was out with some men near the pack border when some rogues attacked them, we are with him at home now,” the voice yelled at me, sounding desperate.

“Okay? I am coming home now,” I said as the line went dead and I looked back up to find Aster and Luka giving me a worried look.

“Who was attacked?” Aster immediately asked as I stood up from the table, grabbing my bag with shaky hands.

“My father,” I echoed out, trying to calm myself.

He was probably fine, at least that was what I wanted to think.

“Oh my goodness, is he okay?” Luka asked, reaching for my hand.

“I don't know, I am going home to see how he is,” I said, removing my hand from his grip.

“Then I am coming with you,” he said firmly.

“Me too,” Aster added, giving me a considerate look and I nodded at them.

We arrived at my house to find both Beta Isa and Gamma Ethan in the living room.

“Thank goodness you are here,” Beta Isa said, rushing over to my side. “Your father has been asking for you, he is in his bedroom.”

“What exactly happened?” I asked him, wondering how my father got attacked in the first place.

“We believe that there might be a mole among his men, someone is helping the rogues from inside the pack and that is why they almost succeeded in killing your father today,” Beta Isa said as we walked towards his room and my stomach sank.

My father could have died today and I had fought with him. If he had actually died, I would have never been able to forgive myself.

“He is in there,” Beta Isa said, giving me a considerate look as we paused in front of his door.

I sighed deeply, before I pushed the door open, stepping in.

My father was laying on his bed with a small towel draped over his face, his shirt was open, revealing multiple scars and new injuries. There was an old man, standing beside him.

“You must be Mona,” the old man greeted me, “I have heard so much about you.”

“Um.. who are you?” I asked, my gaze flickering back to my motionless father.

“I am the pack doctor, I was called over to help your father with his injuries.”

“Mona?” my father called suddenly. “Are you here?”

“Yes dad,” I replied, rushing over to him.

“I will leave you both now,” the pack doctor said. “Alpha, I will be outside if you need anything,” he said, walking out of the room.

“Dad, who did this to you?” I asked him, sitting by his side as he pulled the towel off his face.

“Was it Ramon? The man from earlier?” I asked, looking at his injuries. There were two long wounds on his stomach and from the look on his face, I could tell that they hurt like a bitch.

“No, it was his subordinates, if Ramon had attacked, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” he said with a slight laugh and my heart squeezed in pain.

What if this morning was the last time I had seen him? 

What if the last moment I had with my father was a fight?

My stomach sank in dread as I thought about the possibility and I reached for his hand, taking it in mine as tears filled my eyes.

“I am so sorry dad,” I apologized, “I was so selfish this morning and I—”

“It is fine Mona,” he said with a smile. “I am still here and I will be here for as long as I can be,” he replied, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

“This was a warning, and with how slow my injuries are taking to heal, it is clear that we have even less time than I thought,” he said, his green eyes locked on mine.

“I know that things are moving too quickly for you, but you will have to make your choice by the end of this month Mona,” he said and my stomach dipped in dread.

I could not even argue, seeing him like this was the indicator of how serious my decision was for the pack, there was no time to be selfish anymore. Whatever I wanted didn’t matter, I had a serious decision to make. 

The pack doctor was outside the door when I stepped out.

“He is asking for you, he said that the pain is back,” I said to him, not meeting his eyes.

“You are a very special girl Mona,” the doctor said suddenly.

“Has your father told you how special you are?” he said, reaching for my face, I backed away immediately, giving him a weird look

What in the hell did he mean by that?

“Lucian!!!” my father called out, making the doctor turn away from me.

“I supposed, I will see you again Mona Togarde,” he said like it was a warning.

I walked back down the stairs, still weirded out by what had just happened. By the time I reached the living room a whole new situation was happening.

Beta Isa and Gamma Ethan stood with their sons by their sides as ten men were gathered in front of them, all on their knees.

“Um…. what the hell is happening?” I asked, walking up to where they stood, my confusion apparent.

“We are going to find out which of these men betrayed your father today, one of them is working with the rogues and I am going to find out which,” Beta Isa said, not even giving me a glance.

“Guards, bring out the whip of truth,” he ordered and immediately, two guards left the room, while I stood there still confused.

“What is the whip of truth and how do you plan to catch the mole?” I asked, just as the guards arrived, holding a long black whip lined with sharp edges in their hands.

They handed it over to Beta Isa who only gave me a small smile as he turned back to the men.

“Watch and see.”