Unwanted Mates

Chapter 9

Robert Stone had awoken early and had been working in his home office since then. He had no meetings until after noon and could take his time. He was the director and lead researcher at a clinic he had established years earlier outside Munich, Germany. Robert specialized in the treatment of ailments in vampires. Growing up, he had seen how difficult it was for a born vampire to receive proper medical treatment, and he had made it his mission in life to change that.

He leaned back in his chair and tossed his pen onto his desk. Robert was exhausted from not sleeping well. Word had gotten to him about his brother, William’s daughter, filling him with concern.

Robert was not surprised his brother had not called him. The one time he met William’s mate, Amelia, he was less than complimentary about her being a werewolf. That had led to him being scolded like a child by their mother, Eleanor. She had made it abundantly clear where she stood and would defend Amelia and her grandchildren to the bitter end. Robert would admit he had been disrespectful to Amelia without cause. He had been forced to deal with a rather snobbish and egotistical alpha werewolf earlier in the day, and it had soured him to all he met. Amelia was unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of his rage.

He was staring at his cell phone, sitting on the corner of his desk. Robert wanted to call his brother and offer assistance, but he was unsure if it would be accepted. From what he had been told, he had seen cases similar to his niece’s. Robert had already begun to draw up a treatment plan, but he would need to meet with and examine the girl before he made any recommendations.

The cell phone startled Robert when it rang. He grabbed it and saw it was his brother, William, calling. They had not spoken in the years since he had disrespected Amelia, so he knew this was a serious situation.

“William?” Robert questioned as he answered his phone.

“Yes, Robert. How have you been?” William asked.

The weariness in William’s voice made Robert feel ill. He could nearly feel his brother’s fatigue and worry about his daughter through the phone.

“I have been well,” Robert replied. “I would ask you the same question, but word has reached me that your daughter is unwell. May I ask what is wrong with her?”

“She is why I’m calling you. Our youngest daughter, Willa, has an uncontrollable bloodlust. With her older sister, all we needed to do was give her blood replacements, supplemental blood, and supplements. With that treatment, she quickly outgrew them and is a thriving, healthy five-year-old,” William explained. He sighed and continued, “The same seemed to work for Willa until recently. In the last week, she needed more and more, and yesterday, she attacked one of her aunts.”

“What do you mean she attacked her aunt? Isn’t she very young? How much could she do?” Robert asked, not understanding what was meant by the girl attacking her aunt.

“Amelia’s sisters Darla and Everly had shifted into their wolves and let the girls ride them to enjoy some time in the forest and meadow. Darla is an alpha, so she carried Isla and Everly carried Willa because she is smaller. Darla had taken Isla ahead because Willa had fallen asleep, and Everly was going slow not to wake her. When they neared the Meadow, Willa jolted awake and started biting Everly’s wolf on the back, shoulders, and neck. These were not little bites. Robert, it looked like she was trying to rip out chunks of flesh. The girls had to use their auras to hold Willa off, so she did not keep attacking them and her sister until help arrived.”

“Dear gods,” Robert muttered under his breath as he leaned back in his chair. “Where is your daughter now?”

“Willa is in the hospital. She had to be restrained and sedated in the forest, and she has been under some level of sedation since then. The medical staff here is doing as much as they can, but I am the only vampire many of them have had contact with, which means they have no idea what to do with this. Dr. Clark and Dr. Reese are excellent, but they also know when they need outside help. Willa is one of those cases,” William said with a sigh. He paused before he asked, “Robert, would you be willing to come here to Obsidian and help my daughter? I know how you feel about werewolves and are not thrilled that my mate is one, but please help us with this.”

“Will, I do not dislike your mate or even werewolves as a whole. I very much got off on the wrong foot when you, your mate, and our mother popped in unexpectedly while you were in Munich for business,” Robert explained with a smile. “I had spent over a week dealing with an exceedingly arrogant werewolf, and when I felt Amelia’s alpha aura, I snapped and said things I should not have. I have several apologies to make for that.”

“Then you will help?”

“Of course, I will help you. Plus, if I did not, I have the feeling that Elise Emery might show up on my doorstep and try to roast me like a Christmas goose. That is not something I would like to experience,” Robert chuckled.

“That is quite possible,” William agreed. “Thank you for doing this. Do you need help making travel arrangements? I can call Tyson and arrange the Emery jet if needed.”

Robert smiled as his brother spoke, “I can manage my transportation, Will. Focus on your family and taking care of them. I will handle the travel arrangements. If needed, I will call Mom and have her help with it. The only thing I need from you is for all of Willa’s medical records to be sent to me. Give them my personal email, not my work email. I want to be able to access them without everyone knowing. A case like Willa’s can often turn into a science experiment, and I do not want that for my family. Understood?”

“I understand. Thank you, Robert,” William said.

“Thank me after we have Willa on the road to recovery, not before,” Robert said. “Will, I want you to understand that I will do everything I can to help you, but I have never heard of anything quite like what you are describing. Please do not expect a miracle because one might not happen.”

“I know, Robert, but right now, we don’t even have an explanation for why this is happening. We will be happy if we need to give her medications, supplements, or anything else that will let her have a relatively normal life,” Will said as his voice caught in his throat. “We don’t want miracles, we want hope.”

“I will give you hope, and I will devise a treatment for her. We might not be able to cure whatever this is, but I'm sure we can find a way to help her. I will see you all soon. Tell her doctors to send me what they can.”

“I will, and thanks again,” William said before hanging up.

Robert sighed as he looked at the phone in his hand. He had to admit, there were things far worse than an unplanned trip to Obsidian. The few times Robert had visited, he had enjoyed himself. He had been welcomed with open arms and treated like an old friend by everyone he had met. Robert smiled as he thought about it and dialed his phone. He needed to leave as soon as possible, and there was one person he needed to tell in person.

“Hello?” a groggy voice came from the other end of the line.

“Hi. Mom. I’m coming to Obsidian to help.”