Chapter 83
Over the next few days, we noticed that fern wasn’t improving. She seems to be stuck in this child-like state. It’s like what humans worry about when they age. As wolves, we don’t normally suffer from the same degradation of our brains as they do. It’s theorized that we are always healing fast so whatever causes the issues never get a chance to take hold.
The coven is convinced she had been poisoned at some point while she was healing. So it was not being caught because she was already sick from the large spell, that no one noticed. That meant that for a week the poison was working its way through her system. But how could she have been poisoned and who did it? The young girl no one seems to know or think is real at this point. If I had not talked to her myself I would question my own memory. The ward has been tested a few times now and like she said only Michaela and I can enter the room. So how was the nameless girl in here?
Sitting in a chair next to Fern's bed going over reports as she sleeps. Since only two people can enter her room for now we take turns watching over fern. I have kept true to my word and not told Michaela about her birth. High priest howler requested a meeting with me and Michaela. Michaela is set to take over as high priestess as fern can no longer perform her duties. I thought the meeting would be about that but I was wrong. He wanted first to hand-fasted to Michaela not understanding the mate bond. After explaining that due to her being mated to my delta she can not bare pups. Same-sex mates tend to adopt orphaned pups since they can not produce their own.
Thankful for that excuse so I didn’t have to forbid it due to her being his daughter. He then proposed a mating between him and anyone in the pack. He needs to produce an heir and he is not getting younger. “well if you can convince them to mate with you willingly then I will accept it. But if any magical persuasion and it will be the last thing you do.” Hoping he tries something. With him not having an heir to pass the coven to Michaela would become the head of the coven. Something deep inside me feels this is the was supposed to be. But I have no say over coven politics as they don’t have a say in the way the pack runs.
I start to feel very tired. Standing to stretch and get my blood moving again I head out to the kitchen to get dinner for fern and I. Making it to the kitchen without seeing anyone I wonder where they all are. I can hear hushed talking from the kitchen. I know it’s rude but I still crept up to listen.
“he's so old and greasy.”
“did you say that to him?”
“Of course not do I look stupid? No, I told him I found my mate. Thank the goddess he doesn’t know what a mate mark is” the girl giggled.
“girls that are enough. How would you feel being that old and never finding your mate?” Anne’s raspy voice drifts out to me. Wait. what? Does he tell people he’s never had a mate? Why would he do that? Is he trying guilt and manipulation because I forbid magic? I need to keep a closer eye on him. The last thing I need is a fox in the hen house.
Walking into the kitchen “ladies, how are you?” smiling while I grab a few bowls to get some of Anne’s hearty stew. “alpha. We could have brought you a cart.” Tracy rushes out. Waving my hand to dismiss it. “I needed some fresh air and to stretch my legs. Besides this way, I get to see you all and thank you for everything.” I smile at them. They all nod and smile back. “so what’s new with you all?” “umm alpha can I ask you something?” Sam stumbles out. I can see she is nervous but she doesn’t need to be. “of course. As a matter of fact, you never need to ask if you can ask me anything just ask okay.” She nods her cheeks going red.
“Okay. Well so um. Okay, you know Johnathan howler?” she rings her hands nodding “I do.” “well, he said that you told him he could take me as his mate. But I don’t want that so I told him I found my mate. Am I gonna be in trouble if he finds out I lied?” biting my tongue to stop my growl. Clearing my throat a few times before I can form my thoughts. “first I gave my permission for him to mate with a she-wolf IF she was willing. I did not say he can force someone or that I ordered it. And of course, you are not nor will you be in trouble. I made it clear the she-wolf had to agree willingly.” I can see her shoulder relax as the stress leaves her.
I tire of this man.
Once I have the girls relaxed and the dinner tray made I head back to ferns room. Sitting outside her room is a new air mattress bed. Along with bedding. On top is a note. “so I’m tired of that cot figured you were too so I ordered this for us to share. Enjoy. M.” she is turning out to be the best sister-in-law.
Opening the door I take the tray in the retrieve the bed stuff. Fern is still asleep so I go about setting up the new bed and pushing the cot out in the hallway. Someone will be by later to check if I need anything and take the tray. I’ll ask them to have it taken back to storage. So it was so easy to put up. Pull it out of its bag. Set it with the bottom side down. Plug it in and turn it on. Walk away it will self-shut off when it’s full. If left on and plugged in it will maintain the air pressure. After it stops you can add or take out air to your liking then turn the nod to maintain.
While it inflates I wake fern take her to the restroom the feed her dinner. Today is a bad day. She's nonverbal just grunts and points. I wonder if this is what having a toddler is like. Turning cartoons on after dinner I make the bed. Looking over I see fern has fallen back to sleep.
Laying down I close my eyes just to take a moment.
