Tapping his foot impatiently he pushed off against the wall running a nervous hand through his short dark hair. His sterling gray eyes shifting back and forth from nurse to nurse as they bustled in and out of his room. The ones that came in carried clean white towels with dark wooden bowls filled with clean water.
The ones that came out, carried the same towels that had previously gone in but were now coming out soaked in blood. The smell of iron trailed down the hallway after them.
Nobody was telling him what was happening. He’d demanded to know and they all had the nerve to disobey their alpha. They wouldn’t look him in the eye, they’d mutter under their breath about having to hurry and how it’d be over soon, then they’d scurry away.
He was sick of hearing that response!
He drove his already bloody and cracked fist into the wall, creating yet another large hole in the soft yellowed wall of the living room. It only added to the five other holes that were punctured throughout. He rarely ever lost his temper, but right now the situation called for it.
His hands dove into his hair, tugging relentlessly. The pain at his scalp was nothing compared to the pain his mate was in. This was his fault.
The sound of his mate screaming echoed through the walls of their home. She’d been wailing for almost twelve long hours, he couldn’t stand here anymore!
He didn’t think twice as he flew past his beta who was stationed at the foot of the stairs to stop him. His body rammed into the wall as he pushed himself to take the stairs three at a time.
Emily was crying for him, he could hear her. She wanted him and he was coming for her.
Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his gut and in his heart.
Just as he reached their door, the sounds of her cries stopped. The smell of her blood filtered from beneath their door.
As he smashed their bedroom door off its hinges, a sharp sensation went through him. He growled, a low ferocious sound that had the doctor and all the nurses shaking as they stood around his bloody bed.
His heart stopped, coming to a sudden halt as he dropped to his knees. The pain that swept over him was taking a part of his soul. It was as if sharp claw like daggers had dug themselves, piercing his flesh, digging deeper as it tore out chunks of his being.
The part that belonged to her.
His mate.
His Emily.
He could barley keep his eyes open as the pain continued to course through his body. But they managed to settle on the still dead form of his mate. Her matted blonde hair swirled around her, her face was so very pale, he loved when she blushed, when that pink tint would steal its way into her cheeks whenever he bent down and spoke to her lovingly.
He let his tears flow, the air was still and cold as her death lingered in the night.
Her lips were parted and chapped, her green eyes that often reminded him of the springtime grass were glazed over and lifeless.
Her white nightgown was bunched around her hips, blood soaking the lower half of her as well as the sheets beneath her. Her long thin legs were parted, blood was smeared down the inside
It looked as if someone had come in and tore her apart.
But that wasn’t the case.
He swung his murderous eyes towards the doctor, the man who was supposed to take care of his luna, the man who was supposed to deliver their pup.
Wide brown eyes gazed back at him before he dropped to his knees, baring his throat.
“Bring her back” Artemis roared earning scared shrieks and small whimpers all around him.
The doctor visibly shook in his overly large white coat, his balding head staring back at the alpha, “you-you, know I c-can’t do that” he managed to say.
The sickly smell of fear wrapped around Artemis like a warm blanket, urging him to kill for his mate. To avenge her death and the death of his pup.
“Alpha I-I’m so sorry, but there’s nothing we can d-do. The Luna and your son didn’t make i-it” a nurse stuttered as she cowered against the wall.
Artemis let out a hoarse wild cry as he slammed his fists down onto the carpeted floor. The house seemed to shake a moment for settling.
Bones cracked and thick dark misty gray fur broke through his skin as he continued to cry out for the lose of his mate and first born.
Why was the universe punishing him? What had he ever done wrong?
He’d been kind, and gentle with every single one of his pack members. He’d taken out contenders when needed but other than the occasional threat for the title he was pleasant and warm.
No longer.
This is what he gets for trying to lead the right way?!
“Get out!” He roared, the words coming out were grated and almost unrecognizable as he shifted.
The nurses bolted, their feet thumping against the carpet as they flew out of the bedroom door and rushed down the stairs to the front door.
The doctor stayed, with his knees on the floor, his forearms pressed against the carpet and his head bent waiting. Waiting for his punishment.
“What happened!?” Again the words that came out weren’t recognizable but the doctor knew what his alpha was asking.
The older man swallowed thickly, gripping the plush white carpet beneath his fingers, he was going to die. He knew that, he’d lost their luna, their alphas mate and he was going to pay with his life, “L-Luna Emily was trying to p-push, but the babies umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. He died before we could deliver him. ” he said, Artemis again roared as the shift set in, he towered over the doctor on four paws. He watched the doctors eyes lift for a moment settling on him before looking over at the small bundle at the foot of their bed. “Luna Emily had a uterine rupture, her heart rate increased and her blood pressure dropped. There was so much blood...” he said trailing off.
A part of Artemis knew this wasn’t the doctors fault but something sinister snapped within and he wanted retribution.
He stalked closer and let the man feel the heat of his breath on the back of his neck. A low sickening growl vibrated throughout his body and only increased as the doctor whimpered.
His mate was gone, his pup had never even lived to take its first breath and he was stuck here, to rule over his pack alone.
Artemis attacked. His jaws opened and clamped down on the back of the doctors neck, the man scrambled as his arms and legs flailed until Artemis bit down, enjoying the sickening crunch as the doctor went limp.
The hot stench of death hung in the air of the small room.
He dropped the body and walked away, towards the bed. He hopped up being extra careful to step around his lifeless mate. He sniffed the small bundle at her feet.
Past the stench of blood he could smell his pup, the sweet divine newborn scent. He nudged it with his nose and let out a heartbreaking whine.
The bundle was still and lifeless.
Artemis through his head back and let out a loud heart shattering howl. Soon his pack mates joined in. They sang their loss to the moon. While Artemis cursed the moon to the deepest pits of hell.
He curled around his bundle, his fur touching his mate and he drifted off, knowing he’d never be at peace again.
