CHAPTER 80: 80

XAVIER

As I stood there, hearing Nylah say those words. And as those questions, the same questions I should have asked the old man when the female was brought in, I felt like a disgrace to my pack.

I felt like I had disappointed my people. How did I miss that?

When the female was brought in the previous day, I was informed by one of the guards, and I was told that she was attended to. She had some claw marks on her body. They were severe from what I heard, but I didn’t take it seriously.

As far as the girls handled things at the hospital, she would be fine. Usually, when victims get themselves, they tell the rest of us what happened to them and how they were attacked.

That morning, when I was told that she lost her life, I did my duties as the Alpha. Although her death was shocking, I tried not to act shocked or shaken by it. I made sure to compensate the family of the bereaved, but before I went for the burial, I sent for the pack advisor.

Apparently, I didn’t need to tell him anything. He had heard the news from the mouth of the pack members, and he came bearing a solution, which was to strengthen the faith of the pack members in the hospital once again.

"We lost someone today. How do you think that makes the pack members feel?" He asked when he came to me.

"Fear. Uncertainty. Anger." He listed the emotions the pack members would feel concerning the whole thing.

"From what I heard, this is the first time the pack hospital is losing someone even with the use of the plant of life, which used to be the pack members’ faith and hope. Now, they are scared. Scared to go out to scavenge or even leave the pack for any reason. We need to gain their trust back in us." He concluded, looking at me for the next move.

"How do we do that?" I asked, curious. I didn’t want my pack members to live with fear in a pack that was supposed to provide protection to them.

The pack was one of the strongest packs in the region. If other Alpha’s hear about what happened, they will begin to plot their attacks. Especially Alpha Dmitri, and I couldn’t bear to let him see any opening to strike.

"We need to redefine the pack hospital. with what has happened in the pack, the people will be scared to trust the doctors for treatment since the last one didn’t go as expected. Their fear will be; what if I am the next? Will I be the next?"

I nodded thoughtfully.

"Once they begin to think that and spread that fear amongst themselves, it would lead to a rumour. Something that will spark the city and make the pack become a target for many others."

"As long as those two keep leading the hospital, the fear will continue to grow. They need to take some rest first. At least for some days, then we pick up from there and transform the hospital." What he said made sense to me.

I heard some pack members murmuring during the funeral. I was certain that most of them were scared, and if this fear lingers, it might destroy what we have been trying to do all the while.

"So we need to get those two out of the way first?" I asked, and he nodded slowly.

"You can leave them to me. I will handle them myself." He added before walking away.

However, after hearing Nylah’s words, I felt bad within myself. I had let the need for my pack not to look weak cloud my judgement.

My judgement should be natural, and I should have made sure to find out what the cause of her death was. It was even more mysterious as it happened within the pack. No one could tell.

I walked over to where I saw Nylah and the other two talking, and the old man and Nylah’s friend were still standing on the spot we left them.

"Come with me." I said curtly and walked away. My order was directed to the man, so he obeyed without hesitation.

When we were far enough from where anyone could hear us, I began to ask him some questions.

"Why don’t we start from the basics?" He arched his brows at my question. As confused as a clueless person.

"Why don’t we start from the simple questions we should have answers to before you change the leadership of the hospital? What attacked the girl in the forest, and what killed her in the hospital over the night? Her body was found cold." I asked, looking him dead in the eyes and expecting answers from him.

He looked stunned and confused at the same time. As if he was wondering why I was asking these questions all of a sudden.

"You said you heard from the goddess, right? I believe she should know what wounded her, why it wounded her, and what killed her?" I repeated, explaining it to him so he doesn’t act confused.

"I— I.." he stuttered, but I shook my head.

"I understand that the pack members will be scared because one of their own didn’t make it but what they will be more scared of isn’t the hospital, it’s the forest where she was attacked. They will be more scared of what is out there. If it is still out there and why was it out there in the first place." I pointed out, and he just stared at me.

He didn’t expect me to bring this up.

"I guess I will have to consult the goddess to hear from her. She has been unusually quiet." he replied with a slight bow and turned to leave. He tried to keep his face neutral, but I could see the hint of disappointment on his face.

"I would appreciate it if you make it quick." I added as he left, but he didn’t say anything.