Chapter 107 The Beta’s Dilemma
Thomas’s POV
We didn’t waste a second. I scooped the bleeding maid up myself…her body lighter than it should’ve been, like whatever had been inside her had sucked half the life out already…and we sprinted for the infirmary, boots pounding, blood dripping down my arms in hot streaks from her mouth.
Warriors cleared the halls ahead of us, shouting for everyone to move. The girl’s head lolled against my shoulder, eyes half-open and glassy, still mumbling some things I couldn’t understand.
We burst through the infirmary doors and I laid her on the nearest table. “Healer! Now!”
The assistant…a nervous omega named Clara…froze, hands full of bandages. “Beta… the lead healer’s not here. He left at dawn for the outer pack in the east. He was summoned by their leader to help cure a mysterious disease that is attacking their pups. Said he’d be back as soon as he can.”
I slammed my fist on the metal tray so hard the instruments jumped. “He just left the kingdom? Without a word to the king or me? To anyone? What kind of bullshit is that?”
Clara shrank back. “I…I don’t know, Beta. He’s never done that before. He…”
One of my men, Jax, stepped forward quickly. “Beta, we have to send for the human doctor. Mr Dominic. He’s good. He patched up half our scouts after that raid last month.”
I spun on him, teeth bared. “The king gave a direct order…no humans involved, no risking them, end of story. We keep our shit away from their camp.”
Philip moved in beside me, voice low but urgent. “Beta, we can’t let her die. She’s the only one who might know what Morgana’s planning, and how deep this rot goes. If we lose her, we lose the only connection to Morgana. Don’t you think having five warriors around Dominic the whole time…guarding him, will be better than watching her bleed out?”
I rubbed my face in frustration. Adrian was going to lose his mind when he heard we dragged a human into this even after what happened last night. But the maid’s chest was barely rising now. We don’t have a choice.
“Fine,” I growled. “Five men. Go get Dominic. Be nice and gentle. Smile if you have to. No alarms in the human settlement. Tell him it’s an emergency but keep it light.”
They nodded and took off running.
The maid’s body twitched on the bed…once, twice…like something was still fighting to get out. But the stench? Gone. Just regular blood and antiseptic now.
My stomach dropped as my thoughts drifted. Had Morgana jumped ship already? Slid into someone else while we were busy playing hero? Or had she finally burned out and left? Either way, the palace suddenly felt even bigger, every shadow a possible new skin suit.
I paced, mind racing. Where the hell is that new priestess we sent for? She was supposed to be here early this morning for the cleansing. One good ritual and maybe we scrub this black magic out of the walls for good.
I’d heard the stories about Morgana my whole life…every pack member has…but none of it added up.
Her real name wasn’t even Morgana…no one knew where that came from. Some old wolves swore she was a vampire who fed on fear. Others said she was a dragon, while others said she was a Lycan rogue.
A few whispered she was the twisted sister of Sheila, the greatest priestess who ever lived…the one who was all light and protection. Sheila was real, at least…we’d seen her magic work. Morgana? Just myths passed down around campfires. No facts. No real face. Just enough terror to make grown alphas check their backs at night. And now she was here, wearing people like coats.
A commotion exploded outside the infirmary doors…shouting, heels clicking, guards arguing.
I pointed at two of my men. “Stay with her. Don’t let anyone near her till the doctor gets here.”
I shoved the doors open and stepped into pure chaos.
Lady Margaret was in the middle of the open arena, arms flailing, face purple with rage, three guards trying and failing to keep her back. Her hair was half-down, dress wrinkled like she’d slept in it.
“Who let the dog out?” I called, loud enough for anyone outside to hear. “Sorry…who let Lady Margaret out?”
Her head snapped toward me like a whip. “It’s a new day, you insolent mutt! We were supposed to be freed at sunrise! How dare you speak to me like that? Who gave you the right?”
I crossed my arms, dripping her maid’s blood all over the marble on purpose. “Oh, that? That was the king. Your nephew. He gave me every right.”
She screeched so loud the windows rattled. “I demand to see the king! We were locked up unjustly! Our things are being thrown out like garbage! And not one word from my son’s fiancée…what is he even doing as the king?”
I exhaled slowly, bored as hell. “The king is resting. Take care of your own shit for once. As for getting tossed out? His direct order. You don’t step foot in this palace again unless you’re summoned or there’s an official gathering. Period.”
“I am royalty!” she hissed, stepping closer. “This palace is where I was born! How dare you throw me and my son out like common criminals?”
I leaned in, voice dropping cold. “Watch your words, Lady Margaret. The king’s not here, and I’m not as nice as he is. Never liked you. Not once. Keep pushing and you’ll find yourself in the dungeon for days…no food, no visitors, just you and the rats. We’re still cleaning up the mess you and your precious Prince Levi caused at the human camp. And here you are, being an absolute bug.”
She opened her mouth for round two, but I cut my eyes at Philip and jerked my chin. He stepped out smooth, all calm and respectful on the surface.
“Philip,” I said out loud, “don’t let her out of your sight. Not for a second.”
I gave him the tiniest wink. He knew exactly what it meant…stick close, keep feeding her lies, keep reporting back. Watch the scheming woman as she plots her own downfall.
Margaret started ranting again, but the front doors to the arena banged open and in walked Dominic, human doctor himself, dragging a massive rolling suitcase and a duffel bag like he was moving house. Our men flanked him, looking awkward but polite.
I blinked, thrown off. “Doc… it’s one girl. Why all the bags?”
Dominic didn’t even slow down, already heading for the infirmary like he owned the place. “No point running back and forth to the human camp every time you people need me…which, given your former healer’s sudden absence, I figure will be a lot. So I moved some things closer. Makes sense if I’m living here permanently.”
I stood there stunned, mouth half-open. Living here? Permanently? On whose permission? Adrian was going to flip—
“Show me the patient,” Dominic called over his shoulder, already disappearing through the doors.
Before I could chase after him, one of my warriors jogged up, holding out a cellphone like it was a live grenade.
“Beta,” he said, voice tight. “The king is on the line.”
The hallway went dead quiet except for Margaret’s distant screeching and the faint beeping of the heart monitor from inside the infirmary.
I took the phone, heart slamming against my ribs.
Whatever Adrian was about to say, I already knew this day had gone from bad to apocalyptic.