Chapter 6 6. CHAPTER FIVE

Outside, the pack soldiers and doctor gathered around a figure in the middle. Dusk was fast approaching, which meant that the pack house was deserted. The wolves had gone into the forest to prowl.

Luna Ivory breathed in relief because of this latest development, as she made her way through the throng of people to the centre. They easily moved aside for her- for she was the Luna.

Her eyes almost bulged out of its sockets, at how dirty her brother, Ripp was looking. He looked completely terrible, though he still managed to take deep shallow breaths.

She went on her knees, cradling his muddy face in her hands. She searched his face repeatedly like she could see past the mud to his wounds. At that moment, Alan's words rang into her ear. Ripp was as good as useless. She tried to push those words down to the pit, but it kept rising stronger. There was no way she was going to step down for a weak Alpha! She would be doing her people a great favour instead.

"How did this happen?" She snapped at Ripp as she pretended to care in front of the pack.

He spat out the saliva, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I shouldn't have run out of here like I did. I disrespected you so much. Now, look at me!" He managed in between slurs.

She shook her head, letting go of him as she stood to her feet. "We will talk about that later. Now, it's important to get you cleaned up. Doctor Winn, please take him to the sick ward. I will be right behind you."

The petite doctor nodded, enlisting the help of some of the soldiers to take Ripp to the ward. They hoisted him up, as he whined in pain, leading him towards the pack house.

Luna Ivory stood, watching him leave. Now, she'd resolved to kick him down, and show him where he belonged, she needed to figure out a plan

.

She mind-linked her beta, Craig to come to where she was. He had led the whole pack on the run, so that explains why he wasn't here when all these was happening.

Exactly ten minutes later, she could make out the brown fur of Craig's wolf dancing through the trees as he hurried to meet her, with a cloth between his fangs. Then, she couldn't see him anymore, which meant, he had gone to a secret spot to change. She found this ridiculous because they should have grown past those nonsense shyness at this point.

"I'm sorry, I got here too late. I had to delegate tasks to the pups," He said softly, as he made his way to her.

She waved it off. "That's all right. I called you here to give you a very important task." She informed him.

Craig visibly straightened up, dusting the invisible dust from his trousers. "I'm all ears, Luna," he said with respect.

She nodded. Then, looked around, making sure they were safe from prying ears. That's another good thing about talking like this in the open, you could easily spot the eavesdroppers here.

She used her index finger, to pull him closer towards her. "Ripp almost died out in the forest," She said sadly

"Oh, my goddess! How did that happen? I will find out who did this to our Alpha!" He shot out.

Luna Ivory tried not to show how displeased she was with his words. Ripp was never going to be called an Alpha! She would make sure of that.

"Enough, Craig! I'm not done yet. I don't know what went down, but I'm so sure, it's because of the state of his birth. I'm not comfortable with him being called an Alpha anymore. I know I insisted, but now, I'm repenting," She informed him.

Craig frowned slightly, but nodded still. "What happened was indeed terrible. If we have to protect him, we should take the title down for the time being. At least, two strong wolves can't rule a pack at the same time," He pointed out smartly.

Luna Ivory gave him a look. "Who is the other strong wolf? I do know that father had cursed him by tying him to a mate. But, he has never tried to get better as a wolf. He is as weak as they come. I only wish he wasn't, then the pack wolves wouldn't feel so bad then." She said bitterly.

Craig spat on the ground, nodding at those words being said. "Yes, Luna! You're right. To make his life bearable, we need to demote him to one of the omegas. Then, when he finds his place, he can step in his rightful place," He said softly.

Luna Ivory tried not to show how displeased she was at her Beta's words. It only implied where his true loyalty lied, and she sure as hell, didn't like that.

The moon-goddess was making a big mistake, siding with her weak brother. She was the only true ruler of the Blood-Moon pack, and she would surely make everyone see the truth of those words.

"This would be like a shock to Ripp, so I think it's best we hide it from him. Send my order around the pack, so that none would make a mistake of calling him an Alpha. At least, I would have peace that he wouldn't be targeted by the men." She ordered.

Craig bowed his head low. "As you wish, Luna!" He said with reverence coating those words.

Luna Ivory left him there, going quickly to the ward. She went directly to the sick ward, careful not to touch the beddings of the place.

She took the stairs, one at a time, and then she finally arrived at the designated private ward that had been set aside for royalty. The back of Doctor Winn's greying hair looked back at her. She pulled on a sad face as she made her way to the room.

"Luna," Doctor Winn said simply.

She gave him a curt nod in response. Streamlining herself, she entered deeper into the room. Ripp was fed with para septic, and was completely cleaned up. His eyes were half-closed.

"How is he, doctor?" Luna Ivory queried.

"He will live. I've given him a high dose of FibreMenthane to boost his healing up. He should be up and running within two hours," The doctor informed her.

She looked over at her brother. He was slowly opening his eyes, and regaining consciousness. She decided she had to be with him. There was so much they needed to talk about.

"Give me some minutes, I need to talk to Ripp." She said easily.

The doctor bowed and then left the room. Luna Ivory walked closer to the bed, sitting down beside her brother. His eyes fluttered open, but he seemed disoriented. She took his hands in hers, holding it close to her thigh.

"Sister," he managed to say.

She shook her head. "Shush, you don't need to say a word at this time. Try to gather your wits around you. That's the most important thing," She said softly, patting his pale hands.

He tried to get up, but she pulled him back down. "Rest, Ripp." She said in the same soft voice.

"I'm sorry, I proved stubborn. I shouldn't have run into the thick forest like you said. From now on, I will do as you say." He whimpered.

"Didn't I say that is enough? We will talk about it all later. Now, rest. Let the medicines do their jobs. The human part of you is very weak," She said softly.

He nodded, pulling his head back down on the pillows, and going into the world of dreams. Luna Ivory kept tapping his hands, softly and quietly. She was going to take the form of a doting sister now. If anything, it should be more intense than before.