SOULLESS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lionel woke up from his wife's side and headed down stairs. He went to the kitchen and found Cybele sitting alone in the garden, lost in thought. He went over to her, handing her a cup of coffee. She accepted the cup from him, looking into it.

'How long have you been out here? You just donated blood and should be resting. Were you able to get any sleep?', he asked her.

She shook her head, saying nothing. He sat beside her sipping his coffee.

'You know your mother and I are here for you, but we can't do anything if you don't talk to us', Arnold said making Cybele look at him.

'I don't know what to do dad', Cybele finally responds.

'About what?', her father asked

'No matter how I think about it, I can't stop blaming myself for what happened to Ari', Cybele replied.

'This isn't your fault Cybele, you can't blame yourself for your mate's actions', her father responded.

'She didn't want to marry him. She told me it didn't feel right and it was so obvious in her body language that she was not comfortable with the whole arrangement, but I thought that if I allowed them to be together he would learn to love the both of us. I didn't expect it to come to this, and now she's hurt again because of me.'

'Cybele, your intentions were noble but you have to learn you stop sacrificing yourself to satisfy your mate. The mate bond isn't supposed to be one sided.Your mate isn't supposed to learn to love you, the love must flow between you naturally', Lionel responded.

'Then why does he hate me so much dad? He can barely stand to be in a room with me', Cybele asked almost crying.

'Cybele, I'm sorry you're experiencing this. If you are truly unhappy being with Ricard, we can call off the whole ceremony', Lionel stated

Cybele shakes her head and responds, 'Everyone will only blame me for influencing you against him and blame you for embarrassing our alpha and the pack. I also have to consider what is best for Oasis, she needs both her parents', Cybele responds.

'You don't have to sacrifice yourself Cybele, for me or your mother; let me worry about the pack', her father responded

'He's convinced I'm the reason Ari hates him, that I turned her against him. If I reject him now, it the pack will think I planned to embarrass him. I must follow through', Cybele said looking at the rising sun.

'Cybele, look at me', Lionel said making her turn to him.

'You are strong and I am very proud of the woman you have become but you deserve better than all of this. If your mate doesn't recognize your worth, let him go', Arnold said and raised his hand when Cybele wanted to respond.

'Listen to me Cybele. I know you think you are doing the right thing by supporting your mate regardless of how he treats you, waiting for the day he will recognize your efforts. However, the truth is; the more you chase Ricard, the more he will flee from you. Don't punish yourself when you have done nothing wrong. You said it wasn't you that attacked your sister in the hospital and your mother, sister and I believe you, isn't that enough? Why does it matter what Ricard thinks?', Arnold continued making his daughter cry.

Arnold hugged her saying, 'let him go Cybele, you lose nothing by taking the time to love yourself again. I assure you that the moment he realizes he has lost you, he will do everything under the sun to get you back and keep you by his side. When that day comes, the choice to be with him will be up to you'. Father and daughter stayed in that position for a few minutes until Cybele calmed down.

'There you are' said Sarai walking towards them.

'Cybele?', she asked worriedly, walking faster upon noticing her daughters tears.

'I'm fine mum', Cybele responded cleaning her tears with her sleeves but her mother gave her an unconvinced look making her smile back.

'She's okay honey, we were just having a heart to heart talk', Arnold said to his mate, standing up to his full height to embrace her.

'I need to get back, Oasis will soon be up and I need to care for her before I go back to the hospital', Cybele says standing up but she staggers a little upon taking her first step.

'You aren't going anywhere young lady but upstairs to your room to rest', her mother said coming to her side.

'Mum, my daughter...', Cybele said but was interrupted by Arnold

'Is safe with the alpha and luna. I will have an omega bring her here so you can see her when you wake up. Now go upstairs like your mother said.'

Cybele walks with her mother back into the house, while her father watches them go. He feels someone trying to connect with him through the mind-link and opens up.

'Lionel, where are you? I have been trying to reach you but you keep blocking me', Arnold asked through the link.

'I was addressing a family issue and didn't wish to be disturbed. Is the alpha requesting to see us?', Lionel asked flatly.

'No, I have just been informed that duke Farad has ordered Ricard's imprisonment.'

'What! Why?' Lionel responds

'Apparently he tried to force his way with in the hospital and got himself arrested by the royals for going against the princes order.'

'Does Ramos know?', Lionel asks again sounding tired.

'Yes, he's on his way to the dungeons to see Ricard now.'

'And what about you?'

'I am going to the hospital, I need to find out what happened and file a report myself in case the royals demand for one.'

'I'll meet you there soon', the beta responds

Both men arrived at the hospital and notice the atmosphere is eerie with the hospital staff barely talking to each other. Arnold looks for Frank but is informed that he has been called to the alpha's mansion. Lionel walks to Ari's floor and finds that the security details have increased. He questions the royal guards about the incident involving Ricard and they answer his questions, but leave out the fact that their prince had spent the entire night in the room with his daughter. They politely informed Lionel of their new instructions and advised that he meets with doctor Gina to gain access to Ari's room.

Lionel meets up with Arnold and they both exchange the information they've gathered. 'I can't believe that Ricard has changed so much in such little time, if he continues down this path, the pack will be ruined', Arnold says

'Power reveals a man. I guess we didn't know him as much as we thought we did. I personally don't care how he runs the place as long as he stays away from my daughters', Lionel replies as both men walk around the hospital looking for Gina. They find her coming out of a lab on the second floor of the hospital and hurriedly approach her.

'Good morning doctor', Arnold says gaining her attention. She looks up at him and smiles saying, 'I was about to send word to the both of you,, but now that you're here, it makes it easier. '

'Is something wrong?' Lionel asks worriedly

'I would be more comfortable having our discussion in my designated office. Can we please meet there?' she requests

Both men follow her into Franks office and sit on a double sit leather chair placed adjacent her working table, waiting for her to speak up.

'Head warrior Arnold, I am happy to tell you that your daughter is responding positively to treatment and will be discharged in a few days', Gina said

'And what about Ari?', Lionel asked impatiently. Gina looks at him with an unreadable expression not knowing where to start.

'Head warrior Arnold , you may go to see your daughter. She has been moved from the emergency ward to one of the private rooms on the third floor. I need to speak to beta Lionel alone' Gina said looking at the tall Hispanic man with sharp green eyes.

'Whatever you need to say, can be said in front of the both of us', Lionel said to Gina; making her look at him before closing her eyes and exhaling loudly.

'Is Ari dead?' Lionel whispered in a soft but broken voice.

'No, quite the contrary, she is very much alive and recovering quickly, far too quickly for a human.'

'How do you mean? What happened?' Lionel asked.

'Before I answer that, I need to ask you a few questions' Gina said back to him and proceeded to ask, 'before your daughter was declared wolfless, did she have any pre- existing medical condition?'

'No, she and her sister were very healthy, they never got sick.'

'And after the shifting ceremony, did you notice any changes?', she asked again; making Lionel agitated.

'Doctor please just tell me what's wrong?', Lionel asked impatiently.

'When your daughter was brought in yesterday, her condition was far worse than it looked and her chances of survival were very slim. The lacerations on her back were really deep and she lost alot of blood but after the blood transfusion, your daughter made a full recovery back to health in less than twenty four hours, which is impossible even for a royal', Gina responded.

Both men stared at her like she had grown two heads trying to make sense of her words.

'What do you mean by full recovery?', Lionel finally asked.

'I mean that your daughters wounds are completely healed with no scarring, and her blood work shows no traces of silver. I have been a royal doctor for over a decade and in all my experience even the king can't make such a recovery in such a short period of time '

'What are you saying?' Arnold asked

'I am telling you that right now your beta's daughter is in alot of danger unless someone starts talking. As a servant of the crown it is my duty to report this phenomenon. If the royals do not come for her, many others will once the find out about her', Gina replies bluntly.

'But you used her sisters blood for the transfusion. Cybele is a white coat wolf, obviously it is Cybele's blood that caused the swift healing', Arnold replies Gina again but Lionel looks intently at her saying nothing and Gina looks back at him, holding his gaze.

'What are you not telling us doctor Gina?', Lionel asks

'I should ask you the same question beta Lionel', Gina responded before rapt knock on her office door gained her attention.

'Come in', Gina said and a tall lanky teenager in a warriors uniform came in and bowed saying, 'Forgive my interruption my lords but the alpha requests your presence at his residence immediately.'

'We will be with him shortly', Arnold responded and young warriors eyes glazes over as he mind-links before exiting the room.

'You may go to your alpha now, we will finish our discussion later. I need to warn you that for the safety of your daughter, what you have just learnt must remain unknown to anyone else, do not trust anyone in your pack. Believe me when I tell you that your greatest ally right now to protect Ari is my prince, he won't let anything happen to her.

'Can I please see her?' was Lionel's response.

'When you return, I will take you to her', was Gina's response before standing up and walking out of the room, leaving the beta and head warrior alone.

'What do you want to do Lionel?' Arnold said looking at Lionel who reclined into the sofa staring at the ceiling.

'I just want to take my family and disappear from all of this drama', Lionel responded.

'Hope you have room for my kayak because you know I can't go anywhere without it', Arnold said to him. Lionel turned to look at him and both men chuckle before standing up and leaving the room.