Thirty-one

"Alpha?"

Zane was on a laptop in a chair beside Whisper's bed when he heard the soft voice. He looked up to see a familiar face. "What are you doing here?"

Simone smiled and walked further into the room. "Thought you'd want some support?"

He rose a brow. "And you'd offer support even though you'll be delivering soon?"

Simone shrugged. "I'm pregnant, not weak."

Zane chuckled and looked at his mate. It's been almost three days. Whisper finally had color to her skin, finally had a steady heartbeat, but it wasn't as strong as before. She had oxygen being forced into her lungs for extra stability and all the blood had been transfused. Now, she just needed to wake up.

"You're doing a lot better than Reed ever did," Simone observed.

"I highly doubt that."

"I'm serious. He couldn't even work while I was under."

Zane shook his head. "I'm not working. Not really."

"Well, you're not staring at her nonstop."

Again, Zane chuckled. "I've had plenty of staring at her for nonstop. It's just I'm not getting anywhere with finding the culprit."

As if just remembering, Simone brought out a folded piece of heavy paper. "Does this help?"

He took it and looked down. It was the infirmary hallway at Simone's pack. It was dark except for the exit sign at the end and a light from a room window on the left side of the hallway. Thanks to these two lights, the shape of a head was seen, but no clear details of who it could be. He didn't wear a mask or anything, but kept his identity open. He looked closer at it, but couldn't get a very good reading on it. "Do you have anything else, like the actual footage?"

Simone held up a finger and left the room. Zane heard her down the hall some, talking to someone, before she came back. The golden-haired woman handed him a CD. "Fast forward about five minutes. That's when you first see him."

"How do you know this?"

She smiled. "I make sure to have knowledge of everything that goes on, especially when it concerns someone breaking into a hospital."

Zane entered the CD and clicked the video, doing as she said and fast forwarding it. When he started to play it, a man came up from behind the camera, walking towards the exit before turning to the window that was lit from within the bedroom. He just stared for a minute or two before putting his head down and entering the room, keeping himself hidden. The only thing Zane saw was tan skin.

For the rest of the video, nothing happened. They guy didn't even come out. It was weird and Zane was confused. When the video ended, he re-winded it back to where the man was just entering the room, and paused it. He stared at him for a long time before Simone came up and pressed a few keys. Blinking, Zane saw the screen zoom in on the picture and clear the blurry sight before he was able to see the man's face more clearly. Zane leaned forward.

"Simone, didn't you almost get poisoned by your old pack doctor?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, but Reed said he disappeared not long before I did." She paused. "But, then he told me that he was hurting your mate. Is that true?"

Zane nodded. "Do you remember what the man looked like?"

Simone shrugged. "Just his eyes. I didn't like him all that much."

He glanced at her. "Can you zoom in anymore?" She did so and he pointed to the screen. "There are his eyes. It's hard to tell, but if you look just under his eyelid, you can catch a sight of the color, see?"

Simone looked, turning the computer towards her. Zane watched her, scanning her face. He was satisfied when he saw her eyes widen telling him he had guessed right. "He did it?" she asked, turning to him. "He is the reason your mate is dying?"

"Afraid so, and I have a feeling his partner was not far from the scene."

"Who's his partner?"

"Will Beda. My mate's brother, sadly."

"If I weren't pregnant right now, I'd go kill them myself!" she growled.

"Oh, come on now, Beautiful!" Reed said from the doorway. "It wouldn't be fair to put you up against them!"

She spun on him. "They would get what they deserve!"

Reed smirked. "No doubt, but this isn't our fight. Not really. Zane and Whisper have more right to kill them than we do."

"What if he worked with him?" she asked, sounding close to tears.

"He didn't. I checked."

Zane furrowed his brows. "Worked with who?"

Reed shook his head. "Someone Simone ripped apart. But I checked his contacts, and Rovell wasn't one of them."

From the bed, all three caught the sound of a small moan. Zane shot to his feet and strode over, looking down at Whisper. "Little Wolf?" he breathed.

Nothing happened. If it weren't for the hopeful faces behind him, he'd have thought he imagined the sound. Reed took a look at the computer screen. "I can't say I know his reasoning for this. I don't know why he'd want to hurt someone so innocent."

"It doesn't matter!" Zane growled. "He's dead!"

A knock on the door caught their attention and Zane instantly became alert at the sight of Nico's haggard form. "Alpha, we have trouble."

"What?"

He gulped. "Will and Rovell are here. They attacking the homes and families."

"How many?"

"Thirty. Maybe fifty."

Have Anton gather those who cannot fight; elderly, children, most of the women. Set a guard on the hospital and a person in this room. Anton knows where to take the pack members. Get the warriors and save the families then hold the line. I'll be out in a minute."

Nico nodded and ran away. Behind him, Zane heard Simone and Reed arguing. "I don't care if I'm pregnant! I want to help!"

"I don't want to lose our child, Simone! If you shift, there's a chance the baby will die. If you're out there, there's a chance you'll get hurt."

"But, Reed!"

Zane turned to them and smirked at the female. Her stomach was protruding a little more than the last he saw her, but he knew she could still put up a good fight. "Stay here and guard my mate."

Both turned to him. Reed was beyond mad. "No! She's not staying here!"

"There will be guards inside and outside this building. One will be stationed in this room. There will likely be no attack happening here because it will happen where we will be. My men understand the risk of letting an intruder inside to hurt their Luna and my mate. They will fight until their last breath, and then continue fighting 'til they can no more. She will be alright here. Plus, I want someone here who Whisper will feel comfortable with if she wakes to see a man in her room. She'll be comfortable with Simone, probably a little scared, but comfortable."

Reed closed his eyes while Simone looked at him hopefully. Finally, he sighed. "Fine, on one condition." He looked at Zane. "She doesn't fight. She helps the guard take Whisper out of here and runs away. She will do no fighting."

"Perfect!"

"What!"

Zane shrugged. "I know you're not weak, Simone, but even I do not care to have your baby dead over my cause. I do not want the little one's blood on my hands or my mate's hands. Because it will be if I agree to let you fight and it dies. I might be an Alpha, but I do not like to challenge other Alpha's perspectives on how their mate's should be taken care of, not when I'd do the same for my mate."

Reed kissed Simone chastely. "I know you don't like this, but as long as I know both of you are safe, I can fight easily alongside Alpha Zane.'

"What if the guard dies and Whisper still isn't awake? What if I'm the only one?"

The Alphas' gazes met and they came to a silent agreement. It would be inevitable by that time to escape. Reed looked at her and rested his forehead against hers. "You may fight as long as promise not to shift and not to let them come too close."

"Okay."

They smiled at each other as a bulky man walked in. "Alphas, Luna," he greeted.

Zane nodded to him. "If someone makes it inside, grab the women and go. Just start running and I'll do my best contact you after the whole thing is over."

The guard nodded.

Zane looked at Reed. "Ready?"

"Let's go!"