CHAPTER 40: GRAND THEFT AUTO ALPHAS AND THE AMBULANCE

Felicity’s POV

I went up to Friday’s room to check on her. She was tossing and turning in her sleep. I put my hand to her forehead. She was still cooler than normal for warm werwolves. My little girl had a wolf now, according to Fang. I was happy for her. I knew how she longed to be a part of things. My heart was aching. I had hurt Farris deeply. That had never been my intention. I sighed, sitting on the edge of Friday’s bed. She stirred.

“Mom!” Friday exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

I pulled her into a hug and tears began to flow down my cheeks. Friday took a handkerchief and wiped them away. The initials MM were on the handkerchief. I smiled

“Maze Mason. Malachi also carried around handkerchiefs like some old man even in his twenties,”I said, laughing through tears.

“Maze had handkerchiefs too! But this one belongs to Malachi,” Friday admitted. I was surprised.

“He gave it to me after he wiped my tears with it when I was crying at that awkward dinner party between our family and the Mason family,” Friday explained. “He had also given me his jacket cause I was cold but Maze made me give it back and put on his jacket instead.”

I smiled, liking the idea of Malachi being good to Friday, but something troubled me.. “You went to the balcony to cry that night?” I said. “Yeah,” admitted Friday. “Wasn’t it obvious?” she said.

I raised my eyebrows. Was I that daft of a mother? I could not anticipate my own daughter’s emotions. Of all my children, Friday had gotten the least attention, the least nurturing. It was not on purpose, but by the time she was born, my life was very complicated and fraught with secrecy. I had to compartmentalise to keep my lies straight and Friday had been in the crossfire. Farris was sent away by Malachi and I went away with Malachi. Nanny Mallison took care of Baby Friday and the boys.

“I’m sorry, Friday,” I whispered tentatively. “I’m so sorry for all the…pieces missing in your childhood. You deserved much better.”

Isniffled, letting the tears flow freely. I blew my nose in the handkerchief. It smelled like Malachi. I smiled.

“Malachi told me he always wanted a daughter like me, a little girl that looked just like you,” Friday said brightly.

I bit my lip, picturing how Malachi’s face must have lit up when he admitted that. He had brought me so much pain and so much pleasure over our lifetime together thus far. He was my stronghold, my rock, and yet he was also my greatest weakness. I had never thought I would be an adulteress, cheating on my husband and a mistress, helping someone else’s husband cheat.

“You know Malachi used to…” I paused. owns this text.

Something was wrong. Malachi. I felt him through our mate-bond. We had never actually severed the mate-bond and it only strengthened over time. I clutched my chest. A searing pain coursed through me.

“Malachi!” I shrieked. as the gripe or ine neat grippea ner, Sne groaned but continued to Olow me. ineo came running towaras us as we exited the pack house.

“It’s Malachi! He’s in trouble!” I cried. “I’ll drive you!” Yelled Theo. “Get in!”

Fang came hurtling towards us along with Fargo and Fallon. We all piled into Theo’s car. Thank goodness, his car seated seven. I was in the passenger’s seat next to Theo. Fang held Friday to his side in the back seat. There was a third row where the twins sat, wide-eyed and wondering what was wrong with me. I was sobbing uncontrollably as Theo sped towards Prestige Gardens.

Malachi’s POV

A searing pain coursed through me. Farris, my own former Beta, had shot me! In all fairness, I had been sleeping with his wife for the entirety of their marriage as well as my own marriage. I had not moved in time to grab the gun but I had knocked the bullet off course. It hit my chest on the right side, avoiding my heart. I could not tell if my right lung had been pierced or not. All I felt was burning white-hot pain. I allowed my claws to come out on one hand and swiped at Farris’ leg as he aimed at Elizabeth who had come to see what the commotion was about. I owed her that much as Maze’s mother and a dutiful wife. None of this was her fault. I would not let him shoot her. He dropped the gun as he stumbled and fell over, blood soaking the leg of his trousers. I snatched up the gun and Farris made a run for it in his getaway car.

Elizabeth rushed to me, cradling my head to her bosom. I felt my energy draining as blood poured out from my chest. I closed me eyes, picturing the first time I had seen Felicity. She had been a rogue, wild and beautiful, untamed. I had been captivated by her. I had not given her the life she had deserved. She was worth so much more. She was worth dying for.”

Thaddeus’ POV

We had technically stollen the first car we came across when we left the woods. We went to the edge of the woods that was away from the pack house for Friday’s wellbeing. I was speeding as fast as I could, flooring the accelerator. Maze was directing me frantically. Something terrible had happened to his father. He was not sure exactly what but a wolf always trusts his instincts, especially an alpha.

Maze was trembling a little. He looked so wide-eyed and frightened like a little boy. “Hey,” I said softly. “It’ll be ok, I promise.” “You can’t promise me that,” Maze whispered. “Yes, I can and I just did,” I said, smiling. Maze smiled sadly. Maze’s POV

My father’s alpha aura was fading. He was possibly gravely injured. I was grateful that Thaddeus was driving because my hands were shaking. My father and I had never seen eye to eye but he was my

father and I loved him. I wished Friday was here. No one calmed me down like she did but right now, we had to be apart for her own safety. I directed Thaddeus to Prestige Gardens.

Friday’s POV

Something was wrong with Maze’s Dad, Malachi. I hoped he was all right. He had been so kind to me after all and if anything happened to him, that would crush Maze and my mom. I had never been to Prestige Gardens before. It was the richest part of the suburbs in Marigold. The houses were far apart with some families having acres of land. They were all mansions, tall and proud and gleaming, well-kept with perfectly green lawns and people with exceptionally white teeth strolling through the neighbourhood. nim!

Nothing! I have nothing against Maze’s Dad. I’m excited for…another reason. I really hope Maze’s Dad is ok, she said.

I was suspicious. She was hiding something from me, some knowledge she had. She was very quiet and my senses felt dull all of a sudden. The recently improved eyesight and sense of smell that my wolf had given me were suddenly almost gone. Why was she stopping me from smelling things? She was a weird one. I forgot about her as the pain gripped me, causing me to contort me body a little, trying to get comfortable. Fang squeezed my arms gently.

Elizabeth’s POV

I held Malachi’s head to my chest. Tears streamed down my cheeks. His former Beta had shot him, confirming what I already suspected. He was in love with Felicity, the wife of his former Beta. I shakily called the ambulance and it was not long before they arrived, sirens blaring. They extricated him from my clutches. I realised there was blood all over my dress. I stared down at my bloody dress blankly as I climbed into the back of the ambulance.

They rushed him to a resuscitation room as soon as he came. A doctor asked me some questions while a team of doctors worked on him, drawing blood for tests and to request blood if he needed a transfusion. They said the bullet missed his heart and vital blood vessels nearby but it punctured his right lung so that lung had collapsed. If he had been human, he would probably die but as he was a werewolf and an alpha at that, they were able to stabilise him. They rushed him to the operati mask on his face and fluids running intravenously into him.

My father had been a merchant but my mother had been a doctor. She had quit her job because my father had not wanted a working wife. My father had not wanted a daughter with a career either. My husband, Malachi, had never cared what I did or did not do since the moment Maze was born. I had served my purpose. I did not hate Malachi.

It was not as though I had a mate to run to if I left him anyway and staying with him made me feel vindicated in a way. I had been smug about it every time I saw her. Felicity with her tired eyes and in her simple house dresses. I was always clad in designer duds. I knew Malachi gave her money, lots of money. She spent none of it on herself apparently. It all went to taking care of those four rugrats and that drunkard of a husband. That bastard had shot Malachi. My eyes stung. The tears fell of their own accord.

Felicity’s POV

I had Theo change his course slightly, heading towards the Prestige Gardens Private Hospital . I could feel Malachi faintly. I willed him to hold on. I ran from the car before it was even properly parked. I followed

the bond. It led me up a staircase and down a hallway. Various doctors, nurses and security guards implored me to stop. I knocked right into someone. She caught me before I fell over. I looked at my hands and dress. Blood! I looked at the woman. It was Elizabeth Mason. She was covered in blood and she had gotten some on me when we collided. I sniffed the air. It was Malachi’s blood! Theo, Fang, Friday and the twins caught up with us.

“What have you done?!” | screeched, panicking, glaring at Elizabeth. If she had hurt Malachi, I would tear her apart.

She looked outraged. She laughed maliciously. “What have I done? Ask your husband what he did?!” She screamed hysterically. “Your husband shot my husband!”

I swayed on the spot. Fang and Theo steadied me.

“Farris shot Malachi?” I said, my voice barely a whisper. My vision was cloudy.

My Dad had shot my mate’s Dad. Why was my life so complicated? I hoped Maze’s Dad was ok for Maze’s and my mom’s sake. I cared for him too. He had been good to me. He was so very like Maze.

“Mrs Mason, is Malachi ok?” I said, my voice thick though tears. I realised I was crying.

Mrs Mason glared at me. She hugged herself tightly and nodded stiffly. Relief washed over me. My mom ran past her and into a room. I tried to follow her but Fang stopped me.

“Give them some time ok, Alpha Friday,” murmured Fang, grabbing my wrist and moving me towards a row of chairs. We were in a white-walled white-tiled hallway that also functioned as a waiting room.

Fang was incredibly tense. I realised why. “We should not have let Friday come,” he said to Theo, Fallon and Fargo. “What if there are unmated males here and they catch a whiff of her scent?”

I shivered. I did not want anyone near me that was not my Thaddeus or my Maze. My Maze! He would be devastated. He craved his father’s approval like nothing else. I knew there was a deep love under that need to be accepted by his critical father. I sighed, standing close to the guys. They formed a circle around me for protection and continued their conversation over my head as they were all much taller than me sol was not blocking anyone.

Maze’s POV

I made Thaddeus bypass my childhood home. My father was not there. I sensed him further away. We kept driving. I realised where he must be. The Prestige Gardens Private Hospital was up ahead. Thank goodness, they had gotten him to the hospital already. Thaddeus did not even park in a spot. He just left the car in the middle of a lane in the parking lot. He tossed the keys to the security guard.

“It’s stolen,” he said matter-of-factly to the guard, “Needed it for official alpha business. Get it back to its owner please.” Boomed Thaddeus in his Alpha voice.

“Yes Alpha!” Said the guard eagerly. “Alpha!” He repeated as a greeting to me.

Inodded stiffly and ran into the hospital, Thaddeus following me. I bounded up a staircase. No one stopped me. They recognised me as their Alpha. They also recognised Thaddeus as a neighbouring Alpha. I ran down a hallway. I had been so engrossed in finding my Dad. It had taken me a while to realise something smelled outrageously delicious. I stopped dead in my tracks flinging an arm out to stop – Thaddeus. He picked up the scent too and his eyes went black.

Oh no, or perhaps, oh yes! Friday was here!