Chapter 5: If She Dies, You Die

Diane's POV

My mate unlocked my cell doors, grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the prison hallway and then we rode what seemed like a service elevator to the top of the castle. When we reached the top floor, he opened a door at the end of the hallway and pushed me inside. Before I could do anything again, he closed the door, and I heard him lock it.

I studied the room for a few minutes and discovered that it looked like an office but my instinct tells me that it was his private study room. It was exactly what I had envisioned for a man who commanded such authority as the Alpha King - dark wood, leather furniture, a large bookshelf, a huge standing lamp and a scary artwork of a big black wolf. I must say his pack has so much more modern technologies and equipment than what I have seen in places and my pack.

Almost all the things I have seen in his pack are top-notch, from the way his prison cells are to the elevator and so many other things that I have never seen in my life and also didn't know their functions.

I sat in the room for what seemed like an hour lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice when my mate opened the door, walked in and stood a couple of deets away from me.

“Are you ready to talk now?” he asked, his voice cold and filled with authority.

His voice caused fear to grip me and I flinched. I sat on the floor and continued to stare at the scary artwork. I wasn't sure of what to say to him. I have told him the truth and still, he doesn't believe me. My encounter with his cousin has made me realize that I might just have to accept my fate.

“The faster you talk, the lesser your punishment will be. So, I suggest you start talking now,” he finally said after we'd spent a few minutes in silence.

I lifted my head and looked at his face. I looked into his eyes and saw that it was gold, meaning he was having an inner battle with his wolf who was on the edge of revealing itself. But that did not last long, he gained control over his wolf, and his eyes returned to their normal brown color.

“Are you really not going to answer my question? The people you're working for are they worth dying for?” He growled, and his voice echoed in the room like the thunder during the storm.

I wanted to tell him that I had no idea about what he was saying, I had no idea how he got to the forest, and who was trying to kill him. I also wanted to tell him that I was sorry that the moon goddess had to pair him, a powerful Alpha King with a weakling like me who couldn't fight to defend herself and her Pack.

But before I could say anything I began to feel dizzy and gradually everything began to blur and I was drifting in and out of consciousness before darkness finally took over.

**Jayden’s POV**

“Bridget!” I yelled out to the pack doctor.

“Yes, Alp—oh my,” she gasped once she saw the state my mate was in.

“Set her down on the bed,” she ordered and I ignored the feeling of growling at her and making her submit. No one had the power to order me around but I knew I was only taking this nonsense because of my mate who was currently in a delicate situation.

“Please you will have to excuse me, Alpha King?” Bridget asked.

I tried my best to suppress my anger and that of my wolf, Kane, which was clearly directed at Bridget for ordering us around, and then I left the room. I hated the way Bridget was ordering me around, and if she doesn't get a hold of that character of hers, it won't take long before I slit her throat with my claws and she ends up like the last three doctors.

I stood outside of the room thinking about the circumstances in which I met my mate. She seems very fragile and innocent, but I don't know why I keep having doubts. Although I think it's more of a reality check than a doubt because I know for a fact that no sane and innocent person would be living in the city of Briarwood. That city was filled with the most hardened of criminals and all types of shapeshifters.

So she's definitely not as innocent as she claims to be or appears to be, and even if she is, I need facts to prove that. I can't afford to be betrayed again by someone close to me.

“Alpha?” I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up to see Bridget in my front.

“How is she?” I asked, trying to get a glimpse of Diane through the door but Bridget kept on getting in my way, so I growled at her.

She flinched a little before speaking, “I’m sorry Alpha, I think it is best I speak to you in my office,” she gestured to her office and then bowed her head down to show respect and submission.

I nodded and let her lead the way. Once we were seated, I cut straight to the chase. “What is wrong with her?” I asked.

“Alpha, that young lady in there has neurocardiogenic syncope,” Bridget explained.

“OK? What is neurocardiogenic syncope and what causes it?" I asked, my heart beating faster and my stomach tightening in a way I hadn’t felt before. I was feeling very nervous, a feeling I hardly associated with myself—or at least not in a long time. I also wasn’t sure if I was feeling this way because I was afraid of losing my mate or if I was more afraid that I wouldn't be able to get the vital information I needed from her.

“neurocardiogenic syncope has something to do with the Vagus nerve, a cranial nerve that connects the brain to the body-”

“Enough on the Neurocardio stuff and just tell me what is the cause of this thing you're talking about,” I said, cutting her off. “ I don't care about that neuro stuff.”

"Okay, Alpha. Emotional trauma, stress, heat exposure, the sight of blood, or standing for long periods of time can trigger it. We can also associate it with starvation and dehydration. But what baffles me now is that pneumonia was getting to her, which is weird because she's a werewolf and her wolf should have fought off the infection in her system.” Bridget explained.

“How can we treat this?” I asked, gritting my teeth in anger. At this point, I'm not sure if I should feel sorry for my mate or angry because it's absurd that one person could have all these illnesses that Bridget just mentioned in such a small and fragile body. I just pray and hope that there is a cure for my mate's sickness and that the moon goddess preserves her life so I can get the information I need to get from her.

“I can give her all the necessary food, nutrients, blood and a few other medicines she may need through the IV until she regains consciousness. It should help her body heal faster.” Bridget replied.

“Whatever it is you have to do, do it,” I instructed.

“Yes, Alpha,” she replied.

I turned to leave, but then stopped in my tracks and looked at Bridget.

“Bridget. If she dies, you die too. Have that at the back of your mind,” I warned her.