The Poison

Jake's P.O.V


My heart was pounding hard inside my chest almost like a bird that was stuck and trying to escape as I quickly pushed the door open to my room. The air around me was filled with the familiar smell of woodsmoke and dust wrapping around me like a blanket.

I could feel my legs moving me fast down the hallway which was dimly lit and the wooden floorboards creaked loudly beneath my hurried steps. My mind was racing with the shocking news I had just received Alpha Karl had been poisoned. It struck me so strongly that it felt like a physical blow leaving a heavy feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.

I could sense that chaos was starting to build up all around me ready to overwhelm the pack. I knew I had to reach the infirmary quickly. I needed to find out what was going on to assist in any way I could and to take action before it was too late.

The torches flickering on the walls created long moving shadows that seemed to dance around me. I urged myself to run faster feeling a strong sense of urgency to reach the infirmary.

My mind was filled with vivid images – I could see Brian the Beta to Alpha Karl his face contorted in anger as the pack began to break apart. I tightened my fists feeling the tension in my body.

I knew I needed to arrive at the infirmary quickly before everything escalated and got completely out of control.

As I turned the corner I noticed that the door to the infirmary was not completely closed it was slightly open. From inside I could hear the sound of voices that were raised breaking the quietness of the hallway.

The atmosphere was thick with tension and anger which felt intense and painful. I quickly came to a stop and I focused my ears in an effort to hear bits and pieces of the intense and emotional conversation that was happening inside.

“Please Rian just step back for a moment! You really have no clue what kind of situation you are getting into!” Brian shouted his voice echoing with a deep thunderous anger.

The intensity and power behind his words made me feel uneasy causing a chilling sensation to run down my back.

He was known for being unpredictable and having outbursts but at that moment there was something about his rage that felt more intense wild and uncontrollable.

“We are trying very hard to save him Brian! Fighting against me is not going to help Karl at all!” my father Alpha Rian replied firmly. His voice had a strong and powerful tone filled with a sense of anger and control.

You could feel the tension in the air with every word he spoke it was almost like the air itself was thick and heavy with unexpressed threats and emotions.

My heart began to race faster. Without even thinking about it for a moment I opened the infirmary door and stepped inside putting myself right in the middle of the chaos that was happening around me.

The light inside was dim making the shadows on the walls stretch out long and eerie. But despite that I was completely focused on the main event that was taking place in the center of the room.

Brian was standing directly facing Rian his fists tightly clenched. He looked very tense and his whole body seemed to give off a feeling of anger and hostility. On either side of Brian were two guards who were very tall and looked really intimidating.

They were prepared for anything with their hands positioned close to the handles of their weapons ready to react if necessary. On the other side Rian's guards stood in a similar way their faces rigid and tense as if they were stretched bowstrings just waiting to snap.

The atmosphere around them was extremely charged like a powder keg that was just waiting for a single spark to ignite and cause an explosion.

“Jake!” Rian called my name loudly and then he turned his attention from Brian to me. His usual friendly and warm eyes now looked serious and troubled reflecting how important and intense the situation had become. “Please stay back!” he warned me.

“That's definitely not going to happen.” I replied confidently taking a step closer to them. “Can you please tell me what is happening here? Why are you two arguing and fighting with each other?”

“It's really not something you need to worry about!” Brian said sharply his body language becoming even more confrontational. I could almost sense the heat coming off of him his anger was so intense that it felt almost tangible.

“Your dad is making a big mistake. This situation is very serious! What Karl really needs right now is our support not more fighting or disagreements!”

“Brian I think the only real problem right now is how you're letting your anger get the best of you.” I replied trying to keep up with the strong emotions he was showing.

“It's really important that we concentrate on the situation at hand. The way you're acting is not going to help him at all. What Karl truly needs from us is to work together as a team not to be fighting and arguing with each other.”

Rian raised his hand to get everyone's attention and his face showed a bit more understanding and gentleness. You could see that even though he felt angry there was also a hint of worry in his eyes.

He said “We really need to stay calm right now. If we let ourselves get unstable and upset it will only make Karl's situation even worse. He is going through a lot of pain and suffering.”

“Then show me that you really care Rian! Instead of just trying to prove that you’re in charge why not actually take some real action and do something meaningful?”

Brian's voice was filled with emotion and his hands were shaking at his sides struggling to stay under control.

“That's enough!” I exclaimed interrupting the ongoing conversation. I could feel a strong and instinctual feeling emerging inside me. It was like a deep-rooted urge to protect those around me and to bring everyone together as a team.

“We need to stop this bickering and focus on what really matters. What’s happening right now isn’t going to help Karl in any way. We are dealing with something much more important here than just your individual disagreements.”

At that very moment the door swung open with a loud bang and in walked Becky. She was strong and determined and as she entered the room it felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck completely changing the mood.

The air became charged with a sense of possibility bringing a small glimmer of hope to the tense situation that everyone was feeling. “Stop what you are doing!” she exclaimed loudly her voice strong and authoritative. “I have found a way to save Karl!”

My breath caught in my throat as I felt everyone’s gaze suddenly shift to her. I couldn’t help but ask forcefully “What are you talking about?” For a brief moment I completely forgot about the tension and anger that had filled the room just seconds earlier.

The hopefulness in her voice and the strong belief shining in her eyes brought me a small spark of relief. Perhaps just perhaps there was still a chance to save Alpha Karl after all…