Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 74

Alex was alive?

PETRA was alive??

I didn't understand. I watched Petra die. Bob ripped her throat out right in front of me; I watched her dead body fall into the creek and float away. There was no way she could be alive.

How was it even possible that Alex was alive? Granted, I didn't see what happened after I left with Mateo, but from the way Bob was going for him, I thought for sure he would have died in that fight. Did Bob let him escape?

Marlon was pacing around the study; panic was clear in his expression, even though he would never let himself break down. He was too strong for that, and he always felt as though he needed to remain strong for everybody else. My heart was heavy against my chest, and I thought it was going to stop working for a moment.

"Here," I said to Kamala, passing her Mateo.

She grabbed him without hesitation; I held onto my chest and pressed my back against the wall. I had to focus on my breathing. I wouldn't allow myself to have a panic attack right now.

Marlon stopped pacing and he scanned my body; worry was now in his gaze as he rushed over to me.

"Deonna?" He said as he rushed to me. "What is it?" He asked.

Pressed his palm over mine, which was placed on my chest, and he gazed, worriedly, into my eyes.

"It isn't anything," I assured him, though I didn't sound too sure in my tone.

I sounded more strained than anything.

"You're in pain," he said; it wasn't a question.

"Come sit down," he ordered, pulling me towards the couch on the other end of the study. "It's going to be okay. I'm not going to let them hurt you."

I knew he was true of his word, but that didn't make me feel any less worried.

He looked over at Bob who was staring at me with concern in his expression as well. At least he was paying attention to me and not Kamala; I'm sure Kamala felt weird with Bob eyeing her like she was some kind of sex treat to him. It was disgusting how he could just use women in such an ill manner.

Kamala is the new pretty face around here, regardless of if she's dark-furred or not, that never stopped Bob from wanting to assert his dominance. I made a mental note to keep my eyes on Kamala while Bob was around.

I didn't trust him.

"Call Dr. Lovewitt," Marlon ordered him.

He nodded and headed towards the door.

"Wait, no," I stopped him before he reached the door. "I'm okay. I promise. I'm feeling better."

I sat up and took in a deep breath. It wasn't a lie. My chest no longer ached, but I was still breathing heavily as it felt as if there was no air left in the room.

"I would feel better if he checked you out," Marlon insisted.

I knew better than to argue with him. I nodded and Bob left the room to give Dr. Lovewitt a call.

"Let's get you into my room so you can rest," Marlon suggested as he helped me to my feet. He glanced over at Kamala. "Can you bring Mateo?" He asked.

She nodded; she looked a bit dazed as well. She didn't even know who Petra and Alex were, let alone know why we were all so worried about it. Her face looked a bit flushed, and I wasn't sure if it was because of Bob's attention to her, or because of the sudden panic around the room.

She followed us through the halls and through the foyer until we reached the stairs. Winston was staring at him, an unsettled expression on his face as he looked over Kamala. She gave him a sheepish grin as she made her way up the stairs after us. It was clear nobody approved of the fact that there was yet another dark-furred wolf residing in the manor and being subjected to special treatment by Marlon.

We reached Marlon's room and I slid under the comforter in his bed. Laying my head on his pillow, I felt a sudden shot of pain coursing through my chest that made me nearly tumble over. Kamala and Marlon gasped as I yelled out in pain. It was a pain I had only felt back on the slave farm; Kamala had seen me react this way in the past. I was hoping since my surgery, I would be well again and not have to worry about this. However, they did tell me I needed to stay away from stress. Stress was all I've been feeling lately.

"Deonna!" Marlon shouted, rushing to my side.

I could feel sweat beading on my forehead and a slight chill crawling up the spine of my back. A fever was returning.

This couldn't be happening to me right now.

I couldn't be getting sick again.

I nearly died the last time, and this wasn't even supposed to happen again. I couldn't leave this world knowing I hadn't completed my job yet. I couldn't leave knowing Alex and Petra were still out there somewhere. I needed to make sure that Mateo was safe. "What can I do?" Kamala asked him; concern clear in her tone.

"Water," Marlon ordered her.

She nodded and scurried out the door with Mateo.

"I promise I'm fine," I lied, trying to hide the pain in my voice.

Marlon's frown deepened.

"You are not fine, Deonna. You are in pain," Marlon said, wiping the dampness off my forehead.

I felt ridiculous but another shot of pain went through my body. He held me tightly as I curled into a ball and screamed out in agony. Something was wrong; something was seriously wrong.

Bob came in shortly after with Dr. Lovewitt trailing closely behind. He held his bag of medical equipment tightly in his hands as he stood on the other side of the bed.

"You can't seem to stay out of trouble, can you?" Dr. Lovewitt asked as he looked me over carefully.

I wasn't sure if he was talking to Marlon or me, but I had half a mind to laugh. Dr. Lovewitt had not only helped save me once before, but he saved Mateo as well. I could tell it was something he didn't want to do, but he feared Marlon more than he feared anybody. Not that I blamed him; Marlon was fierce and most wolves around the kingdom feared him. The nobles envied him, and the royals were watching him.

Marlon had lived with a target on his back his entire life. I knew exactly how that felt. I never knew what tomorrow brought. On the slave farm, I never knew if it was going to be my time to die.

"Let's see what we have going on in here," Dr. Lovewitt said as he placed the stethoscope over my chest.

We all stayed silent for a moment; I winced at the coldness of the scope as he placed it in different directions around my chest. He seemed concerned for a moment, but there were no signs of panic just yet. "Take a deep breath," he ordered gently.

I inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly; I repeated the process a few times as he continued listening to my heart. He eventually stopped and wrote down some notes on his clipboard.

"What is it?" Marlon asked, impatiently.

"It's hard to tell," Dr. Lovewitt answered, still focused on the clipboard. "It definitely sounds a bit erratic. A little out of place. I need to take a closer look. I'll draw some blood as well and do some tests."

He pulled out a small needle and took a hold of my arm. I had to look away as he stuck the needle into my vein and drew out some of my blood. He wrapped the needle in a container and placed it securely in his bag.

He then grabbed my wrist and stuck another needle into my wrist; this one was attached to a thin tube. He took out an IV bag and placed it securely on the nightstand beside me. I felt the cold liquid of the IV pumping into my body and soothing away any of the leftover pain.

I sighed out in relief as the pain began subsiding.

"That'll keep the pain away for a little bit while I run the tests on your blood. I need to run back to my office. I'll be back in a few hours," Dr. Lovewitt announced.

Marlon nodded his thanks as he left the room. Kamala came back shortly after with a glass of water.

I sipped the water slowly and allowed the coldness to soothe my aching throat.

"Mateo's sleeping," Kamala told me as I noticed she was no longer holding Mateo.

I felt drowsy myself; this IV bag must have been making me tired. Marlon could see the tiredness on my face and adjusted my pillow, so I was lying flatter on my back. "Get some rest," he told me, kissing the top of my forehead.

I smiled up at him.

My wolf was content and happy with his care for me.

I was content and happy.