Page 50 of Alpha's Forbidden Bond

“Because I need to talk to Andreas,” I went on. “And make sure Sarafina is okay. None of this is her fault, and I need to apologize for—well, for a lot of things.”

“Nah, I’m not taking you back into town. The whole pack will want to know what happened tonight, and we might need you to answer some questions as well. So much for keeping your little affair with Andreas a secret.” He smiled sympathetically at me. “I’ve got a gut feeling that after tonight—everything’s going to change.”

Mikeal and I sat on the uncomfortable plastic chairs outside the room where doctors were treating Sarafina. I learned from Andreas’ younger brother that the compound had two fully licensed medical professionals as well as a woman who studied magical healing from a so-called witch before moving back to Silverleaf.

“That’s probably the only reason Sarafina is still alive,” he said. “Because just taking a copper bullet out and patching her up won’t be enough. Someone needs to make sure that there isn’t a single trace of copper left inside her; otherwise, it would still be poisoning her, and she would never heal. That’s where magic comes in. They need someone to draw the metal out by means more potent than modern medicine has to offer.”

“So silver doesn’t hurt you guys? It’s copper?”

“They both do damage, actually, but copper is the more deadly one. We’re honestly really glad that the movies always harp on silver, though. It keeps people from finding out what can really kill us. I wonder how Stanley found out about using copper bullets.”

I looked down guiltily at my hands. This was all my fault, and if I didn’t come clean to Mikeal, Andreas would tell him eventually. “Stanley’s son used to research werewolves,” I said. “He used to have a blog about them. The kid knew general stuff, like about copper, but also that you guys lived outside of town, and he had plans to try and get real proof one day.”

Mikeal raised a brow. “That’s why the guy came here? To finish his son’s business?”

“No,” I said. “Er—well, he came here because he thinks you had something to do with his son’s disappearance about ten years ago.”

“But how did he know where to look exactly? And when to come?”

I sucked in an audibly sharp breath. “I accidentally led him here. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t shown up unannounced last night. Andreas told me to stay away—that I should never come back to the compound, and I should’ve listened.” Tears fell from my eyes, and a heavy sob escaped my mouth the next time I opened it. “If Sarafina dies and the merger doesn’t go through, that’s going to be my fault as well. I’ve ruined everything.”

For a second, I felt like I was going to be sick. I wrapped my arms protectively around my stomach and rocked back and forth in the chair. I’d never seen anyone get shot before, and if Sarafina didn’t pull through, then I would have witnessed a murder on top of everything else tonight. I would have to live with having her blood on my hands for the rest of my life.

Mikeal cleared his throat like he was going to say something but then fell silent again. Honestly, I was glad he didn’t try to comfort me. There was nothing he could’ve said that would’ve made me feel better.

The door to the room opened shortly after that, and Andreas emerged. He was wearing scrubs with one of the pant legs rolled up. He had a bandage around his calf but looked otherwise uninjured. I leaped from my chair when I saw him.

“Is she going to make it?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. It’s still touch and go, but I was just taking up space in there, so I’m going to let them do their jobs and get out of the way. Mikeal, would you mind staying here in case they need anything? I want to talk to Diana alone.”

“No problem,” said his little brother.

I could feel the tension radiating off of Andreas’s body as I followed him down the hall towards the infirmary exit. We’d been through so much tonight. A part of me just wanted to go lay down and get some rest. Andreas clearly needed some sleep as well, but I knew he wouldn’t go for the suggestion. Whatever was on his mind, he had to get it off his chest right now. That much was obvious.

“Wait! Diana!”

The voice came from the far end of the hall, where another door led out of the infirmary. Andreas and I turned around, and my jaw fell open in shock at the sight of Georgie running towards us. She paused briefly to give Mikeal a curious look but then moved right past him.

“Di,” she said again as she approached, now a little out of breath. “Thank god I found you. We have to talk.”

“Georgie, what the fu?—”

“I know, I know.” She put a hand up to stop me. “You want to know what I’m doing here, how I got here, why I dared to come to the compound when everyone in the Vilks family scares me to death.” She looked at Andreas. “No offense.” He was too stunned to speak. “And I will answer all of those questions in due time, but I’m here because I think you’re in danger.”

“Me?”

She nodded but then pointed to Andreas. “And him too. And everyone else in the pack except one person.”

Andreas’ stupor finally broke. “Explain,” he demanded. “Now.”

“I will, but can we go somewhere safe?” she asked. “Where nobody is going to overhear us?”

“Fine,” Andreas said in a fierce tone. It was clear that Georgie’s interruption and that she was on the compound at all was only adding to his bad mood. I was surprised he even agreed at all. “We’ll go back to the house.”

“I’m coming too,” Mikeal said. “The doctors have everything they need, and if there’s more trouble going down tonight, I want to be there when it happens.”

Andreas must not have had the energy to argue because he said nothing in response and continued leading the way outside and across the lawn to his house. We all sat at the kitchen table, and Mikeal grabbed a six-pack out of the fridge. He and I were the only ones who partook. It would seem Andreas was too on edge, and Georgie had too much to say.

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