Alpha Owen (Broken Series)

4. Hope and distrust.

Erika

The car entered the Dark Moon pack at full speed. Never in my life had I imagined that I would be entering the biggest pack in the country, Owen’s pack. Three cars filled with his pack members were following us, no one had any intentions of stopping us. I was experiencing some panic as this was the first time I had ever been in another pack.

For the last two hours the car had been traveling at top speed but I could not sit still or rest for a moment as Adam was worrying me with his burning fever. I had already been concerned that he was sick but as soon as he had been snatched away from me his fever had spiked. He was currently snuggled in my arms, he still had his eyes closed while Owen sat right next to me. His heartbeat was as fast as mine, he was worried for Adam, wanting to take him in his arms as well.

I could feel his stare drilling a hole into the side of my face due to the fact that Adam had only been stable in my arms. He had to give me Adam back as it had only been in my arms that he had been reacting and moving a little which was a good sign. But on the other hand he was burning like a sun at the moment. I had been totally ignoring Owen as my eyes were only fixed on Adam.

His condition was getting worse. I lifted my eyes only to see where we were when I noticed a big, beautiful, admirable pack house was only a few seconds away. In reality it was a mansion. My ex-pack house had nothing in comparison to it. The driver stopped the car as the Gamma, whose name was Robin if I remembered correctly, stepped out quickly. Adjusting Adam in my arms I had also decided to step out but as soon as I had placed my hand on the door it had opened itself.

My eyes met with Owen's. Had he not been sitting right next to me? When had he gotten out? He was waiting for me to stand up.

“Do you want me to carry you?” He inquired but the next thing I knew I was in his arms!

“No! I can walk!” I had no idea how promptly he would act! Adam was laying on my chest while I was in his strong arms. I looked around and found his Gamma wore a look of surprise. He acted like he had not been watching us like the others but my face turned red. I was so embarrassed.

“Then walk quickly,” his voice was very quiet but still heavy. I nodded as he put me down on the ground slowly. Tall, handsome, strong pack members were eagerly waiting for Owen’s arrival near the door but an unknown face with their Alpha was surly raising many questions in their mind.

"Call Dr. Reed immediately," he ordered one of the pack members as we made our way inside the pack house but I had noticed that he was walking right beside me. Had he thought that I would flee with Adam? The pack house was not overly crowded but they had all given us a clearpath and worried looks. Their eyes moved between Adam and I.

“He is coming,” someone voiced. This caused me to get distracted, I was about to trip up the stairs. I let out a fearful shriek as my face was about to hit the stairs but a strong arm wrapped around me tightly. I opened my eyes, finding Owen right behind me. His large hands were on my waist so softly that it made me shiver. I could not lie that my body had reacted to his touch like always. I glanced at him over my shoulders only to notice that his face was so close to mine.

“Careful. My son could get hurt,” he declared, almost whispering, walking ahead. It was like he was telling me he saved me just for Adam's benefit. I followed him up the stairs then we entered a big, beautiful room with many paintings.

I quickly lay Adam on the bed as I sat next to him. My body was wet but I had covered him with two thick, soft blankets so that he was dry. Owen was on the other side of the bed as he was stroking his hand gently over Adam’s head. I kept my hand on his neck feeling that his fever had risen even further.

“No, now he is not moving at all,” I panicked. Owen’s face had turned white at my words.

This was not good! Quickly picking him up I held him tightly. His breathing was so slow. I was calling his name, moving him a little, talking to only him to get him to move a little.

“Why the hell isn't the doctor here yet?” Owen roared in anger, making me look at him.

The fear of losing Adam had increased inside of him. The Doctor tripped on the way into the room when he heard his Alpha’s tone but he still managed to enter at full speed. He quickly bowed to Owen, climbing on the bed. I laid Adam back down as Owen moved out of the way to give the doctor space to work.

“Please allow me to check your baby,” The Doctor had a gentle smile on his face. I nodded worriedly.

“He is my son! Not her baby!” Owen’s angry voice interrupted.

“Sorry Alpha,” The Doctor flinched while checking Adam. His hands were shaking. I glared at Owen, he was standing in front of the bed exuding arrogance. Our angry eyes were locked with each other like a magnet. His son? I was going to take Adam from him at the first opportunity. I knew he was about to read it on my face and could tell what I meant. That was when he c****d his brow, giving me an intense look. I felt my heartbeat speed up from the look he was giving me. I quickly glanced away.

"Wow! What is going on?” A man wearing shorts with messy blonde hair and blue eyes stopped near the door frame but had not entered. He had a glass of juice in one hand while the other was in his pocket. He looked young, maybe eighteen. His eyes were on the Doctor and Adam, then finally he noticed me.

“Is she our Luna?" His eyes lit up as he spotted me on the bed. He gave me a side smile while looking at my wet clothes.

“So f*****g beautiful!” He commented. I kept my hand on my chest as he was acting like a bit of a creep. I knew my clothes were wet and stuck to my body. The Doctor’s eyes snapped at me in surprise thinking that I was his Luna. My eyes instantly went to Owen who was still watching me intensely. What was wrong with him? But as soon as the blue-eyed blonde had commented he had received a glare from Owen that made him jump.

The next thing I knew Owen was slamming the door in his face without saying a word. The man had asked him to open the door, so that he could meet me but Owen would not. That was when I noticed something strange. Owen kept his hand on the door and just sat on his knees near the closed door.

“AAAhhh!” He let out a small scream holding his head in his hands tightly as if he were in pain. His eyes were clenched tightly closed. I panicked when I saw his red face. Was this due to his head injury? What was happening to him?

“Alpha!” The Doctor jumped off of the bed to check on him but Owen showed him palm.

“Treat Adam!” After getting a command from him the Doctor had to sit on the bed quickly and continued checking Adam. I noticed Owen putting his trembling hand into his pocket. He pulled out a plastic box that appeared to be a pill box. What was that about? Maybe he was going to take something but then he looked over his shoulder at me. His blue eyes were staring deeply into mine. I turned my eyes away.

“He has a high fever. If you had brought him back any later then we could have lost Adam,” The Doctor confirmed giving him an injection. Owen just put the box back in his pocket coming closer to the bed. My heartbeat came faster hearing that I was going to lose him.

“But why isn’t he opening his eyes? He is not even crying. Why is he like this?” I questioned in one breath. His face had lost all color and his clothes were also a little dirty as he had been on the ground beside Emma earlier. The Doctor took a deep breath like he was thinking about something.

“This has happened because Adam is a sensitive child. My experience says he was away from his mother for at least a week to ten days. A child as young as him only wants his mother’s warmth that he was apparently deprived of. He was getting more sick day by day but no one paid attention to that,” the Doctor explained, looking at Owen and I.

“What? She kept my son away from her for ten days?” Owen frowned. His angry aura had filled the room, almost choking the Doctor and I. He and his wolf were already over protective of Adam. My eyes watered looking at Adam. He had gone through so many difficult things but I quickly wiped them away. This was no time to be weak. That was never going to happen again. I would not let him get sick again.

“When will he open his eyes?” The Doctor sealed his mouth tightly with Owen’s question. His expression and silence scared me.

“Dr. Reed, I asked when I will be able to see my son’s beautiful eyes open?” He repeated his question but there was a pure threat behind his words. My hopeful eyes were fixed on him, waiting to hear some good news. The Doctor looked between Owen and I nervously before saying.

“For a little boy like him this fever is a dead sentence. I am surprised he survived this long. I have given him an injection and done everything I can to stabilize him but if he can survive the night then he will open his eyes, otherwise I am afraid...” It thundered and lightened outside while sheets of heavy rain pelted down but I felt as if that lightning had struck me. So if he did not make it through the night then I was going to lose him. Owen and I looked down at Adam together. I could not stop my tears anymore. I leaned down and kissed my sleeping boy’s forehead.

“My baby would never leave me,” I said with a sob. If he did not survive then it was also the last night of my life.

“Open your eyes, Adam. Please do it for me,” I murmured as I bent down to kiss his nose, loving him. I was unable to bear it any longer. I could not lose him.

“Adam,” Owen had already sat on the other side of the bed. I had no idea that he was also touching his head.

“Umm…” My red teary eyes shot open as soon as I heard Adam’s little voice.

“He made a noise! That is a good sign!” Doctor Reed exclaimed. It brought a smile to my face as well as Owen’s. I picked him up again, cuddling him to my chest. He was making little whimper-like noises. I was ecstatic with happiness. It meant that we had hope.

“But how did it happen so quickly?” Owen was confused and so was I.

“I believe that it was happening because of this lady’s touch. He is reacting to her warmth and love,” the Doctor declared. Owen made a face then looked at me from the corner of his eye. He understood the Doctor was not lying but he had not wanted Adam to stay with me.

“We need this female to stay close to Adam, Alpha. Her warmth and care will cure him. He only wants her, her touch, and love. She is the only one who can make sure that he will survive tonight,” he added in a low voice. He had understood that his words were not pleasuring Owen. His eyes were on my hand that was rubbing Adam’s back, offering him comfort. He looked at me for a few seconds, reading me then got up from the bed filled with resentment.

“Come back in the early morning to check on my son,” he ordered. The Doctor nodded worriedly. He checked Adam one last time before leaving.

“Please call me if anything changes,” Dr. Reed advised me.

“Thank you,” I gave him a small smile that he returned.

“You also need to change clothes. It seems that you were wet. I will ask someone to send clothes up for you. Well, what can I call you?” He asked, getting up from the bed. I clenched my fist tightly at my sides. If I tell the Doctor my name then Owen was going to hear it. Would he recognise me after learning my real name? I felt his eyes on me again. He was waiting impatiently with keen ears.

“Erika,” I replied, glancing at Owen. His eyes shone a little as he raised his brows but it didn't seem like my name reminded him of anything. I dug my nails into my plam making my skin bleed a little. What had I been expecting?

“Okay, Erika. I will be back in the morning,” the Doctor excused himself after bowing his head to Owen. The door closed quietly as I found myself trapped alone with Owen. His head had stopped bleeding long ago. The blood was dried now. But his white shirt was stained red in the back due to the blood. Like me his clothes were also wet. My eyes went to his damp hair. A drop of water rolled down his neck, it attracted my attention immediately. His sleeves had been rolled up, which was giving me a good view of his forearms.

“Are you done checking me out?” He asked, leaning against the wall. He had a body like a model.

“Can’t you leave?” I snapped. I had been aware of him checking me out in the car, on the stairs, and while sitting on this very bed. He made his way to the wardrobe as I watched him pull out some clothes.

“This is my room,” he replied, shocking me. Now I understood why this room was soaked in his scent, cigars and whiskey. Even this bed. I was sure that now I also smelled like him.

“Then why did you bring us to your room? I am sure there are plenty of other rooms to choose from in this pack house,” I was sure he had not wanted an outsider in his room. For a few seconds he was silent, standing still like he was pondering something.

“I will not leave my son alone with you,” he turned, showing his distrust.

Owen

“I don't believe you,” I added, earning her sharp gaze. I had to admit that she had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. No matter how much I was used to understanding people, this woman was a mystery to me. If she thought that just because Adam was reacting to her warmth that she could stay with him it was her mistake. My son would only be living with me.

“I am not here to prove myself to you. If you don’t believe me then that’s your problem,” she snapped. I also had to admit that she had a sharp tongue combined with a beautiful face. I had never had a woman talk back to me before. They were all submissive and I hated them for it. This one was different in far too many ways that were grabbing my attention.

“That’s great. As soon as the rain stops you can leave my pack without Adam,” I declared. Her eyes widened in shock as she tightened her grip on him.

“No! I can’t!” I clenched my fists holding in my anger. She was indirectly telling me she was not going to leave him.

“You…” I was about to shout at her but Adam’s little cry stopped me. She and I looked down at him together as I climbed on the bed. I ran my fingers through his tears. Finally I could hear his voice. I leaned down to kiss his forehead. I was dying to hear him cry. It raised my hopes that soon he was going to wake up.

“He cried,” She smiled with tears in her eyes. Both of us picked him up then she held him in her arms. Let him cry a little more. My body automatically drew closer to her as I had no intention of being away from him. She noticed me but had not said anything. She started to calm him down but he was not stopping. I panicked when he was crying as he was in pain. She started to rock him in her arms with a smile.

“Ooohhh. My Adam is a good boy. He does not cry but only smiles for mommy,” I blinked my eyes when she called herself his mom but he stopped crying. She looked at me from the corner of her eye. So now she was calling herself his mom as well? So she had not given up the idea of staying with him?!

A maid knocked on the door. I quickly moved away from the bed. She came inside with some new clean clothes for her. The maid left but I saw she was not ready to leave Adam with me to go change. What the! He was my son! She thought that I would hurt him? She was acting like when she came out after changing her clothes he would disappear or I would steal him. She was the one who was a child thief!

“Alpha, I have good news!” I heard my Beta, Victor. He was in the hall. I heard his eager footsteps while he came running up the stairs with excitement. So he had come back? I had sent him to my uncle's pack to handle some misunderstanding that had been caused due to some pack member's personal issues. I exited my room not bothering to close the door.

“Alpha,” his running legs came to a stop right in front of me as he took a long deep breath. His hair was sweaty; it seemed like he had run all the way here.

“Catch your breath,” I suggested but he just shook his head.

“I can't! I have good news!” He exclaimed.

“What is it?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Your sister is pregnant!” He nearly shouted while showing me her pregnancy test. I was shocked. Cora had been trying to conceive for the last three years and finally the Moon Goddess had blessed her with a child!

“That’s great! When will Noah bring her for a visit?” I questioned.

“Soon!”

“I can’t believe I am going to become an uncle. We will throw a party…” I replied taking the results from him but before I could grab them from him, they fell to the floor. I looked at Victor. His mouth and eyes were wide open, all of his attention was inside my room. I followed his gaze to find that his eyes were locked with Erika’s.

“What’s wrong?” I looked back at him. He blinked his eyes focusing back on mine.

“Nothing,” he shook his head trying hard to bring the same smile and excitement back. His eyes dragged themselves back to her as he asked.

“Who is she, Alpha?” I felt a sudden change in his voice and expression even though he was trying to smile.

“I caught her with my son and had to bring her back with us as Adam needs her right now,” I explained. He looked confused then gave me a little smile while picking up the file. I looked back to Erika then to Victor again.