Chapter 37 - Troubling symptoms

It was a quiet afternoon at the mansion clinic as Alpha Shane, Leo, and Doctor Barnes stepped out of the examination room. They had just finished attending to Delta Marlon.
As they walked down the hallway, Doctor Barnes let out a deep sigh, drawing the attention of the two werewolves beside him. "Something weighing on your mind, Doctor?" Alpha Shane asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Doctor Barnes nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid I may have uncovered something troubling regarding Delta Marlon and his daughter, Trixie."
Alpha Shane glanced at his second-in-command, Leo, who returned the look with equal gravity. "Go on," the alpha urged, his tone serious.
"Well, as you know, in our werewolf community, a child is always of the same blood as both of their parents," the doctor began, adjusting his glasses. "However, when I was running the tests on Delta Marlon and check Trixie’s history medical, I noticed some irregularities in their genetic markers. They don't seem to be a perfect match, which suggests that Delta Marlon may not be Trixie's biological father."
Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you certain, Doctor?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Doctor Barnes nodded again, his expression grave. "I'm afraid so. The blood work doesn't lie. Delta Marlon and Trixie are not as compatible as they should be for a parent-child relationship."
Alpha Shane frowned, his brow furrowing deeper. "This is a serious matter. If Delta Marlon is not Trixie's father, it could have significant implications for our community. Have you shared this information with Delta Marlon?"
"Not yet," the doctor replied, shaking his head. "I wanted to discuss it with you two first, before breaking the news to him. I have a feeling he may not take it well."
"Understandable," Leo murmured, his gaze shifting to the closed door of the examination room where Delta Marlon rested. "This is bound to be a difficult revelation for him to accept."
Alpha Shane nodded in agreement. "We'll need to handle this delicately. Delta Marlon is a respected member of our pack, and the news of him not being Trixie's biological father could be devastating for him." He paused, his expression thoughtful. "Have you considered the possibility that Trixie may have a different father?"
Doctor Barnes sighed heavily. "That's exactly what I'm worried about. If Delta Marlon is not Trixie's father, then it means his wife, Lucille, must have been unfaithful. And that could have serious consequences for our community."
Leo's brow furrowed. "Do you think Lucille has been cheating on Delta Marlon?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
"It's a distinct possibility," the doctor replied, his tone grave. "Unless, of course, there's another explanation that we haven't considered yet."
Alpha Shane nodded, his expression pensive. "This is a complex situation, and we'll need to tread carefully. Let's go to my office and discuss this further. I want to understand the full implications before we confront Delta Marlon with this information."
The three men made their way to Alpha Shane's office, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. Once they were seated, Alpha Shane turned to Doctor Barnes. "Alright, Doctor, let's hear your full assessment of the situation."
Doctor Barnes took a deep breath before speaking. "As I mentioned, the blood work indicates that Delta Marlon is not Trixie's biological father. This means that either Lucille has been unfaithful, or there's some other explanation that we're missing."
"And what would the implications be if Lucille has been unfaithful?" Alpha Shane asked, his voice low and serious.
"Well, it would be a serious breach of our community's trust and values," the doctor explained. "Infidelity is not something that's taken lightly among werewolves. It could cause significant upheaval and even conflict within the pack."
Leo frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. "But surely, there must be another explanation. Delta Marlon and Lucille have always been a devoted couple, and Trixie is their only child. It's hard to imagine Lucille betraying Delta Marlon in such a way."
Alpha Shane nodded in agreement. "Leo's right. Delta Marlon and Lucille are well-respected members of our pack, and this would be a complete departure from their usual behavior." He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "Is there any chance that the test results could be inaccurate?"
Doctor Barnes shook his head. "I've double-checked the results, and I'm confident in their accuracy. The genetic markers simply don't align as they should for a parent-child relationship between Delta Marlon and Trixie."
Leo leaned forward, his expression troubled. "If that's the case, then what could be the explanation? Are there any other possibilities we should consider?"
Alpha Shane nodded, his expression pensive. "That's a good question, Leo. Doctor, have you considered the possibility that Trixie may have been adopted or conceived through some other means?"
Doctor Barnes nodded slowly. "Yes, that's certainly a possibility we should explore. It's conceivable that Delta Marlon and Lucille adopted Trixie, or that she was born through some form of assisted reproduction, which could account for the discrepancy in the blood work."
"That would certainly make more sense than the alternative," Leo said, his voice thoughtful. "Delta Marlon and Lucille have always seemed like a devoted couple, and it's hard to imagine Lucille betraying that trust."
Alpha Shane nodded in agreement. "I agree. We should explore those possibilities before jumping to any conclusions about infidelity." He paused, his gaze shifting between the two men. "How do you suggest we proceed from here?"
Doctor Barnes cleared his throat. "Well, I think the first step would be to have an open and honest conversation with Delta Marlon. He deserves to know the truth about his daughter's parentage, and we should offer our full support and guidance as he navigates this difficult situation."
Leo nodded, his expression somber. "I agree. Delta Marlon has been a loyal and trusted member of our pack for years. He deserves our compassion and understanding, no matter the outcome."
Alpha Shane leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. "Very well. Doctor, I'd like you to sit down with Delta Marlon and share the results of the blood tests, but do so in a sensitive and understanding manner. Make it clear that we're here to support him, regardless of the circumstances."
"Understood," the doctor replied, his voice grave. "I'll speak with him as soon as possible."
Alpha Shane turned to Leo. "And you, my friend, I want you to keep a close eye on Delta Marlon and Lucille. See if you can uncover any information that might shed light on Trixie's parentage. But do so discreetly, without arousing their suspicion."
Leo nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll handle it with the utmost care, Alpha. You can count on me."
How is Delta Marlon faring, Doctor? I couldn't help but notice he seemed to be in a great deal of discomfort during the examination."
Doctor Barnes let out a weary sigh, adjusting his glasses as he spoke. "I'm afraid Delta Marlon's condition is still quite serious, Alpha Shane. The injuries he sustained were quite severe, and his recovery has been slow and arduous."
"I see," Alpha Shane murmured, his brow furrowing with worry. "What exactly seems to be the issue? Has he been experiencing any new or worsening symptoms?"
The doctor nodded gravely. "Yes, unfortunately. Delta Marlon has been reporting persistent nosebleeds and bouts of dizziness and fatigue. I'm concerned that there may be some underlying issue that we haven't yet identified."
Leo, who had been listening intently, spoke up, his voice laced with concern. "Do you think his condition could be related to the original injuries he sustained? Or is there something more serious at play?"
Doctor Barnes shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid I can't say for certain, Leo. Delta Marlon's injuries were extensive, and it's possible that there are lingering complications we haven't yet addressed. However, the severity of his symptoms leads me to believe there may be something else going on."
Alpha Shane's expression darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line. "This is troubling news, Doctor. Delta Marlon is a valued member of our pack, and the thought of him suffering needlessly is unacceptable." He paused, his gaze shifting between the two men. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Well, for now, I'd like to continue closely monitoring Delta Marlon's condition," the doctor replied, his tone grave. "I'll need to run some additional tests to try and pinpoint the underlying cause of his symptoms. In the meantime, I think it would be wise to keep a close eye on him and ensure he's receiving the best possible care."
Leo nodded in agreement. "Do you think it would be appropriate to inform Lucille and Trixie about Delta Marlon's condition? They may be able to provide valuable insights or even assist in his recovery."
Alpha Shane considered the suggestion, his expression thoughtful. "That's a fair point, Leo. Delta Marlon's family deserves to be kept informed, and their support could be crucial during this time." He turned to Doctor Barnes. "What do you think, Doctor? Should we bring Lucille and Trixie into the loop?"
Doctor Barnes hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "I believe that would be the most prudent course of action," he finally conceded. "However, I would recommend speaking with Delta Marlon first, to ensure he's comfortable with us involving his family in his medical care."
Alpha Shane nodded, his gaze resolute. "Agreed. Let's go and speak with Delta Marlon, then. I'd like to get a better understanding of his current condition and his wishes regarding his family's involvement."
The three men made their way to the examination room where Delta Marlon had been resting. As they entered, they were greeted by the sight of the weary werewolf, his face pale and his expression troubled.
"Alpha Shane, Leo, Doctor Barnes," Delta Marlon acknowledged, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is something wrong?"
Alpha Shane stepped forward, his movements deliberate and his expression sympathetic. "Delta Marlon, we're here to check in on your condition and discuss the next steps in your recovery. Doctor Barnes has informed us that you've been experiencing some troubling symptoms."