Chapter 19

Melissa's POV

As I looked at my children, I could feel an unexplainable nagging sense of urgency that wouldn't be ignored.

Yes, Knox said I should hold off on treating his son, but I had a pressing feeling that something needed to be done for the boy—and soon.

After spending time with my sons, I made the decision to head to the hospital. If I was going to treat Knox's child, I needed to ensure that the facility was even equipped with everything necessary for the treatment. The last thing I wanted was to be caught unprepared.

I headed downstairs and told the doctor to take me to the pack's main hospital which was almost an hour away from the guest house.

I would have to physically move the equipment closer for me to work effectively.

The hospital was busier than I expected when I got there. It was a bustling hive of rushing doctors and nurses, far busier than a local pack's hospital should be.

As I approached the reception desk, the nurse on duty looked up, and I watched her eyes widen in surprise as she glanced at my ID card.

"You're Dr. Melissa Winters?" she asked, her voice full of awe.

"Yes, that's right," I confirmed, feeling slightly self-conscious with how unashamedly she was staring at me.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" I playfully asked and she quickly shook her head.

Her reaction was almost comical as she fumbled to find the words. "No, it's just that We... we've heard so much about you. It's an honor to have you here ma'am." She stuttered.

I offered a polite smile, though inwardly, I felt a mix of pride and discomfort for being this famous. Sure I was a pretty darn good doctor, but it was a little strange to be recognized like this, to see that my reputation was held by the pack doctors in such a way.

6 years ago, this people would have never given me the time of day, but now they looked at me like I was some kind of legend.

The nurse led me to their storage room and showed me all their latest medical supplies and equipment.

As I began my inspection of the supplies, I noticed more doctors and nurses gathering, to peep at me. It was as if I had become some mythical figure, the one who might finally solve all their problems.

It was kinda weird.

I think they finally realized they were weirding me out, because one of the nurses, a young woman with wide eyes, finally approached me cautiously.

"Excuse me Ms Melissa?" She said tentatively and I gestured at her to continue. "We heard you're going to be the doctor who'll save the Alpha's son," she said and I could here that her voice was filled with a hopeful excitement.

I nodded, acknowledging her statement. "Yes, I'll be overseeing his treatment."

The awe in the room was pretty thick at this point, and I could feel the heat of their expectations drilling into me.

These people saw me as a miracle worker.

It was both flattering and scary, to know that so many people were looking to me, a former Omega as their literal hope.

As I continued my tour of the facilities, something else caught my attention. There was a suspiciously large number of patients who were admitted into the wards for one problem or the other.

This wasn't normal. It felt like almost half of the pack was here I frowned, taking in the scene with growing concern.

Feeling worried, I approached another nurse, who was busy organizing medical supplies. "Hi, Why are there so many patients here?" I asked, as my gaze passed across the crowded rooms.

The nurse hesitated, then sighed. Her expression was one of exhaustion. "These are survivors of the recent attacks on the pack. Most of them are badly injured, but we can't complain because at least they made it out alive right?" She said but I felt like she was just saying that to cheer herself up.

"Dear goddess." I moaned. "I didn't realize it had gotten this bad. "So how have you all been surviving?"

The nurse sighed again. "I'm not gonna lie, The losses have been very bad. But there's more hope now that you're here."

I blinked at here. "What?"

The nurse explained. "Well everyone believes that once you cure the Alpha's son, things will start to change for the better. So we are all so thankful to have you Miss Melissa."

I was honestly taken aback by the connection drawn between my part in the boy's illness and the attacks.

They honestly believed that his recovery could somehow influence the safety of the pack? Wasn't this just desperate hope on their part?

"Why do they think that?" I asked the nurse then because I was genuinely curious now.

The explained. "It's said that the attacks have increased ever since the boy fell ill. Some think there's a connection, that the sign of a sick successor is the sign of the Alpha's weakening power. If the boy dies, all our enemies will become confident enough to attack us. With no heir, we have no hope," the nurse explained and I could hear that her voice was tinged with anxiety. "But if you can help him, maybe it'll show that the pack is strong again."

Her explanation was the most troubling thing I heard today. It meant that the fate of the pack rested on this child's ability to stay alive, which in turn rested on my own ability to keep in life.

The conclusion of it all, was that the pack's fate rested on my own shoulders. Fuck!