Diamonds and Ice

With a dreary heart, I go check on the wounded.

The doctor sees me coming and he knows why. “Don’t worry Miss Sterling. He’s going to be okay. He was shot in the lower midsection, but luckily missed the liver. I removed the bullet and started him on antibiotics and pain relief. Now, he just need to rest.”

“How’s Liam?”

“He’s going to be okay too. I removed a bullet out of his lower leg, his shoulder and arm. Also, I saw that he was previously injured in the back and the wound got a bit infected. He’s being treated for that too. Don’t worry Miss Sterling. My nurse and I got this all under control and both will make a full recovery,”

“Thank you, doctor,” I sigh with relief.

“Of course,” he nods.

“May I see him? May I see Liam?”

“No miss, I’m afraid you can’t. He left as soon as the Alpha and Beta send for him.”

“Where may I find Gabriel, do you know?”

“He was visiting Liam when he was called too.”

The pack is having a meeting and my exclusion is troublesome. It tells me that it’s about me and Mika and what’s to be done with us.

“Can I see Mika then?”

“This way. He’s already in his room resting,” the doctor takes the lead.

Knocking first, I enter the room the doctor brought me to. With his torso all bandaged up, Mika is far asleep. First thing I do is put my hand to his forehead. No fever. No cold sweat. The medicine must be working well.

There’s nothing left to do, but wait. Wait for him to get better. Wait to the pack’s meeting to be over. Wait to see where life will take me next.

All this waiting ends when Liam enters the door. His right leg is wrapped in bandage and his left arm is in a cast.

“Liam,” I jump up from my seat.

“Hi, Victoria,” there’s weariness in his smile.

“How are you feeling?” my hands twitch.

“That’s the thing - I can’t feel a thing. My pain medicine is working overtime.”

“You shouldn’t be walking.”

“I’m going back to bed as soon as I’m done here.”

But he’s reluctant to start.

An awkward silence eats away at me. There’s something he wants to tell me and is trying to find the words to explain.

“Liam?” I can’t bear it any longer. “Just tell me.”

“Okay,” he shifts his posture. “I’m sorry Victoria, but our Alpha, my father decided that Mika will be brought to the hospital fist thing tomorrow morning. He thinks that we can still make this work to our advantage. Our sent trail is very hot and it will lead the mountain men's hounds right here to Winterlight. But it will be to their dismay and we will trap them."

"How?" I'm too distressed to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

"Tomorrow morning, Mika will be transferred to the local hospital to be treated for his gun wound. The family will be notified of the unfortunate outcome of joining those hunters and the village sheriff will be brought to him to take his statement against them. When they come, they'll be placed under arrest and the rest will be up to the judge and jury."

"Oh thank the Lord! So this is over," relieved, my hand hits my chest to catch my speeding heart.

"Far from it," Liam doesn't look as excited.

"What do you mean?" my eyebrows shifts in confusion.

"It's not over for you. They know you're alive and they know who you are," for some reason, he drags.

"Liam, what's happening?" my relief is short lived and my mind is in panic mode once more.

"They can't find you here. You'll have to leave. You'll have to disappear."

Shocked by such crazy idea, I let out a nervous laugh. "You could just fire me."

"If they find you, they will kill you."

"That's extreme, don't you think?" my ears can't believe what they're hearing.

"You don't know these men like I do," closing his eyes, Liam shakes his head.

“Please, no,” I swallow back my tears.

“I’m sorry, Victoria,” heartbroken, he fights to keep what’s left of his dignity. “This is not up to me, but if it was-”

“It wouldn’t make a difference," I interrupt, refusing to entertain a fairy tale ending and tell it like it is.

Even if it was up to Liam, the outcome would still be the same. Being Alpha means to put his pack first, always, no matter what. If Liam dared to put his personal wants and desires first, the pack would strongly object, maybe even challenge his position. There's just too much at risk and not worth the heartache.

"I'm so sorry it came to this," he can't fight the tears any longer.

“I’m sorry too,” I’m beyond repair.