Chapter 39 - Secret Investigation

Lucille and Trixie walked quietly into the dimly lit bedroom where Delta Marlon lay on the bed. The room smelled faintly of herbs and incense, an attempt to provide some comfort and healing. Delta Marlon's once-strong frame now appeared frail and weakened, his skin pale and clammy. He was propped up with several pillows, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity despite his obvious discomfort.
Lucille approached the bed first, her face etched with concern. She gently took her husband's hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. "Marlon, are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly. "You look so weak. What happened?"
Delta Marlon managed a faint smile, trying to reassure her despite his condition. "I'm fine, Lucille," he replied, though his voice was barely above a whisper. "It's just... a bit of fatigue. Nothing to worry about."
Trixie, standing at the foot of the bed, looked at her father with wide, worried eyes. She had never seen him like this before, and it scared her. "Dad, this isn't just fatigue," she said, her voice more forceful than her mother's. "You look like you're really sick. What happened? Why do you suddenly look so weak?"
Marlon sighed, glancing between his wife and daughter. He knew he couldn't hide the truth from them, but he didn't want to worry them either. "I’ve just been feeling a bit under the weather lately," he admitted. "It's nothing serious, Trixie. I've been pushing myself too hard, that's all."
Lucille frowned, not convinced by his explanation. "Marlon, you need to rest," she said firmly. "You can’t keep pushing yourself like this. We need you healthy and strong. Have you seen a healer?"
Delta Marlon nodded weakly. "Yes, I've seen the healer. They gave me some herbs to help, but it will take time to recover. I just need to rest, that's all."
Trixie wasn't satisfied with his answer. She could see the pain in his eyes, the exhaustion in his every movement. "Dad, this isn't just about rest," she insisted. "Something else is going on. You need more help than just herbs. What did the healer say exactly?"
Marlon closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "The healer said that it might be some kind of... magical drain," he said finally. "They think someone might be using dark magic to weaken me, but they’re not sure who or why."
Lucille gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Dark magic?" she whispered, horrified. "Who would do such a thing? Why would anyone want to hurt you?"
Marlon shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "But we have to be careful. Someone is trying to undermine us, and we need to find out who it is and stop them."
Trixie felt a surge of anger and fear. She couldn’t bear the thought of someone hurting her father. "We have to find out who’s behind this," she said, her voice trembling with determination. "We can’t just sit here and do nothing."
Lucille nodded in agreement. "We need to talk to the pack leaders," she said. "They need to know what's happening. They can help us find out who's behind this and put a stop to it."
Marlon sighed, feeling the weight of his family's concern. "I know," he said. "But we have to be careful. We don’t know who we can trust. If someone in the pack is behind this, we need to tread lightly."
Trixie clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with determination. "We’ll find out who’s responsible," she said. "And we’ll make sure they pay for what they've done."
Lucille gently squeezed Marlon's hand again, her eyes filled with love and concern. "We'll get through this," she said softly. "Together. As a family."
Marlon smiled weakly, grateful for their support. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I don’t know what I’d do without you both."
Trixie moved closer to the bed, placing a gentle hand on her father's shoulder. "We’ll find a way to make you better, Dad," she promised. "We won’t let whoever's behind this get away with it."
Marlon nodded, his heart swelling with pride at his family's determination. "I know you will," he said. "And I'll do everything I can to get better. We have to stay strong, for each other."
Lucille leaned in and kissed Marlon's forehead gently. "Rest now," she said softly. "We'll talk to the pack leaders and start figuring out who's behind this. You focus on getting better."
Marlon closed his eyes, feeling a sense of peace despite his condition. He knew he was in good hands, and that his family would do whatever it took to protect him. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt a renewed sense of hope and determination. They would get through this, together.
After making sure Marlon was comfortable, Lucille and Trixie stepped out of the room, their expressions determined. Lucille turned to Trixie, her eyes filled with resolve. "We need to speak to the pack leaders as soon as possible," she said. "They need to know what's happening so we can start figuring out who's behind this."
*****
Alpha Shane sat behind his massive oak desk, his eyes narrowed as he contemplated the perplexing situation with Delta Marlon and Trixie. The revelation about their incompatible blood types troubled him deeply. As the leader of the Silver Stone Moon Pack, it was his duty to ensure transparency and truth within his ranks. He couldn't ignore the gnawing suspicion that something crucial was being hidden from him.
He glanced at his assistant, Leo, who stood by the door, awaiting further instructions. Leo had been his right-hand man for years, a trusted confidant who always executed his duties with precision and discretion.
"Leo," Alpha Shane began, his voice low and serious, "we need to get to the bottom of this. I want a secret investigation to determine who Trixie's real father is. This isn't just about Delta Marlon's health anymore; it's about the integrity of our pack."