Dead Luna
Chapter 83

Alexander's POV

I realize, naturally, that the goddess is right. Everything that was wrong with Amelia's mate bond was a direct consequence of my mistake in rejecting and abandoning Juliette. If I had not, Amelia would have grown up understanding who and what she was, and there would have been no misunderstandings between her and Leonard. And I would not have been stuck in a loveless mate bond for so many years, lonely, and with no heirs.

I never wanted to be like my father, ruthless and unfeeling, love of power being his driving motivation. And here I was, acting no differently than he had done, demanding obedience of my heir in taking a chosen mate for political purposes. But if it results in no heir at all, and the Emerald Kingdom should become unsteady and fall as a result, then I have failed my father (May he rot in peace), my people, and myself.

I have to make things right, somehow. Unfortunately, it would likely involve some amount of pain, sacrifice, and suffering on my part to do the job properly. If I had the foresight to know it would be required, I could have brought anti-venom from the capital along with me. But as I had no thought beyond collecting my mate and daughter and bringing them home, willing or not, I had not even considered it.

Amelia is staring at me, anger and loathing in her eyes, waiting for my response. As the Lycan King, I can command her to do all sorts of things, but I cannot command her to love me or to respect me. That is something I will have to earn. And so far I have failed miserably at that.

"Take me to Leonard," I tell her, resigned to the fact that I must make some effort to appease my daughter, or I risk losing her forever. "I will see what I can do for him."

Amelia studies my face, suspicion evident in all her looks. Finally she nods, then turns around in a huff and walks off. I follow her out of the crowded mating ball to the little pack medical clinic. A small contemporary concrete building with no more than 10 beds, a small operating theatre, and a laboratory with only minimal equipment.

The first thing I notice upon entering Leo's room is my mate, Juliette. She takes one look at me, then looks away. She is not ready to forgive me for breaking our daughters heart. And after having suffered a chosen mate, and also seen the difference between that and a fated mate, I don't know why I have done this to my only child.

One glance at the state of Leonard, and I know he has very little time left. There is no chance of getting anti venom brought from the capital in time, and after an inquiry of the pack doctor I replace this little clinic has neither the equipment nor the expertise to make it. His only chance is a blood transfusion, of pure Lycan blood. It will make Leonard immune to the venom, plus give him extra power of healing.

Leonard's mother Deirdre is making a fuss and growling angrily at me, while standing between her son and I. I realize the entire situation is my fault, but the she wolfs antics are far from helpful. It's unfortunate, but I had to order her removal from the building, screaming and cursing at me the whole way.

I start ordering most people out of the room, and have another bed brought in. I remove my suit jacket, my tie, and my shirt, then lay down on the empty bed. I pray that I will get through this with some small measure of dignity left. Then I order the doctor to begin. And I watch, feeling faint, as the doctor begins to prep my arm for the transfusion.

"Wait!" I shout, suddenly realizing that I'm going about this all wrong. "Have the ceremonial dagger brought here at once!"

"Do we have time for this?" The doctor asks nervously. I glance over at Leonard, who is looking pale and devoid of life already. But the heart monitor continues to slowly beep as his heart pumps 30 beats per minute.

"I pray to goddess that we do." I say, and lay back on the hospital bed. Trying not to appear too panicky. I needed these few minute reprieve to try and calm myself while we waited.

A few minutes later the dagger is brought in by Leonard's Beta, who tries to hand it to me. But I tell him to give it to Alfred, who along with Glen is carrying in the heavy stone slate of the kingdom, embedded with an enchanted emerald. Then I have Alfred cut my hand, as well as Leonard's. A few drops of our blood are smeared onto the emerald, and then I grip Leonard's hand firmly as I begin my oath.

"I, Lycan King Alexander William Worthing of the Emerald Kingdom, do hereby declare that Alpha Leonard..." I stumble, not knowing his full name, and I start to panic as the blood is draining from both our hands at an alarming rate, in my own mind. I want to pass out at the sight of it, but I'm also worried that word might get around at my squeamish aversion to blood.

"Leonard Johnathan Hart," the packs Beta supplied, coolly. Was that a knowing smirk upon his face?

"Johnathan Hart of Bull Run pack," I continue quickly, feeling relieved as well as very light headed. "Is henceforth declared my son-in-law as well as heir apparent to my title, to all my lands, my wealth, and my subjects. So help me Moon Goddess!"

I finally let go of Leonard's hand, and see that the wounds have partially closed and are only dripping at this point. I tell the doctor to begin the transfusion immediately.

I pray to moon goddess that she forgive me, and to save Leonard, now my heir to my entire kingdom. And then I pass out as I feel the tiny prick of the needle being inserted deep into my vein.

The next thing I become aware of is Alfred, nudging me back to consciousness, and insisting that I drink something and eat a cookie. I see he brought me macaroons, my favorite. I also see that my arm sports a bandage now, as the transfusion has been finished for some time, and the doctor is now busy monitoring his patient for progress.

Near the doorway I hear Amelia's Gamma saying her shift is in 2 minutes, so she needs to get outside. I hop off the bed I was laying on, and get people organized to push Leonard outside as well, still in his hospital bed. If this has worked, his Lycan will be enormous, and could cause considerable damage to the little clinic. I tell the doctor to be ready to remove all the monitors at once if he sees any sign of Leonard either beginning to awaken or shift. No Lycan would tolerate such things, or being confined to a bed for that

matter.

I start ordering most people out of the room, and have another bed brought in. I remove my suit jacket, my tie, and my shirt, then lay down on the empty bed. I pray that I will get through this with some small measure of dignity left. Then I order the doctor to begin. And I watch, feeling faint, as the doctor begins to prep my arm for the transfusion.

Juliette's POV

Amelia and I watch from the doorway, having been ordered to leave the room, but not having been told that we cannot watch. My wolf Lavender sighs in appreciation of the view as my hunk of a mate removes his jacket and shirt. We had been apart for less than a full day, yet we had missed Alex terribly.

I grow concerned when the pack Beta passes by us and enters the room, bringing the ceremonial dagger with him. Then Alfred and Glen are bringing in the Emerald pack ceremonial slate that is embedded with an enchanted emerald. What in the world is Alex doing? I gasp when Alfred cuts into Alex's hand, and then does the same to Leo, and surprised at the oath Alex then makes. Then the transfusion begins, and I can clearly feel his fear and panic that this might not work. He is taking an awful risk in doing this. If Leo never wakes up enough to agree to the oath, Alex will continue to bleed. And he will already be depleted of a couple pints for the transfusion as it is. Either they both live, or if Leo dies, then Alex could potentially bleed to death. Stupid!

I watch as the minutes tick by, and nothing seems to happen. The heart monitor is showing some improvement, as Leo's heart beat has gone up to 55 beats per minute. The doctor stops the transfusion at that point, which relieves my mind a little. But there is no sign that Leo will awaken anytime soon.

Jackson comes to tell Amelia that she should ready herself for her first shift, which is 20 minutes away. She agrees softly, out loud, but Amelia doesn't go anywhere. She continues to watch Leo, hoping that he will awaken soon. And so do I.

With only 2 minutes to go until the full moon has arisen, Alex hops off the hospital bed, and announces that they should move Leo outdoors just in case he should start to shift. Everyone is suddenly rushing out of doors. And Amelia asks me to unzip her dress, as she doesn't want it ruined.

We have to wait only 10 seconds before my darling daughter cries out in pain, as the change begins. Her bones crack and rearrange themselves as she whimpers in pain, and then she begins to grow tufts of silky looking dark brown fur over the entirety of her body. I talk to Amelia as she shifts, and hold her hand until it has become a paw, trying to keep her calm and relaxed. Telling her how beautiful and amazing she is. And she truly is!

A first shift will normally take much longer than that of a more practiced wolf, and for Amelia that is no exception. In all, it takes more than 15 minutes for her, a lot of that time spent in agony. But the results are incredible! Her Lycan Ambrosia is quite a majestic creature to behold! I turn to Alex to ask what he thinks of his daughter, and I'm surprised to see that he is not by my side as I had thought. Instead I see him over next to the empty hospital bed. My eyes widen in awe and wonder at the sight of what has become of Leo.