Erika's POV
Derek and I walked into the next room. Derek pulled up two chairs for us and turned on the screen.
Then Steven appeared on the screen.
"This is the monitor room," Derek told me.
I nodded. We both sat down. Derek put his arms around me.
I had a vague idea of what Steven was going to do. We stared at the screen, waiting to see what would happen.
The timer finally started to tick. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Steven pulled out a flute and started to play. It was a melodious piece of music and it made me a little drowsy. It must be the flute. I turned round to see that Derek was in no way under the influence of the flute. He was Alpha and wouldn't be so easily influenced. I yawned and shook my head, forcing myself to concentrate on the screen.
"Are you OK? We can go back if you want to sleep," Derek said gently.
I nodded and leaned against his chest, adjusting my position to be more comfortable.
With the music, Hugh slowly opened his eyes. He looked blankly and motionless at the ceiling.
Steven put the flute down and pressed a button on the bed. The bed rose slowly. With the support of the bed, Steven sat up and looked at Steven in confusion. Steven walked around the bed and sat down on the bedside.
As Hugh sat up I could see his face clearly and his glazed eyes startled me. Frankly, he looked like a robot, devoid of emotion or thought.
I looked at Derek and asked through mind-link. What's his gift?
"Hypnosis," Derek said.
That was ... awesome. Such a gift really existed! I had always thought that Steven was just a very good doctor.
"Yes, it's a rare gift.”
What will he do? Will he erase Hugh's memory? I asked through mind-link out of curiosity.
"No. It's too complicated. Steven will change how Hugh thinks, feels and reacts. For example, Steven will water down his hatred of you and make him believe that it is Richard that he hates. He will make up a story if necessary. But control of his mind will only last for three months. After three months, Hugh will start to doubt us," Derek explained.
Three months. That's enough. I mind-linked his mind.
"Yes, of course," Derek said. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
I turned to look at the screen. Steven kept murmuring something with his back to us. Even though I had good hearing, somehow I couldn't hear him clearly. It was as if his speech was coded and difficult to understand. But Hugh could easily understand him because he nodded from time to time.
"Look, he is talking to Hugh. He is making up a story, a story that can make Hugh hate Richard," Derek explained.
I nodded and turned to the screen.
Steven mumbled on for a minute and then suddenly stopped talking. He stared at Hugh, watching the slightest change in Hugh's expression. Suddenly, a look of alarm appeared on Hugh's face which was originally expressionless. Then Hugh began to speak. He must have bought Steven's story.
After a while Steven got up and walked to his chair. He sat down and pressed the button again. The bedside went back to normal. Hugh closed his eyes as Steven picked up the flute and the same music played. Hugh seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
"It’s over," was Derek's comment.
Wow, that's amazing.
Steven left the room and came towards us with a smile on his face.
"Done. Hugh goes back to sleep. When he wakes up in the morning, he'll tell us everything he knows."
"Good. By the way, do Luna a full check-up later, to make sure the poison has no effect on her body," Derek said.
"Yes."
What? My gaze shifted between them.
I don't need a check-up. I'm good enough. I mind-linked them.
I knew I might need one. But I just didn't want Steven to do it after seeing how easily he could change one's mind.
"Luna, it's better to have a checkup. I'm not sure if the poison has other side effects, like affecting your reproduction. We can't afford to take any risks," Steven explained.
"I don’t care about reproduction. But you're not afraid, are you?" Derek asked with a grin on his face.
Of course not.
I mind-linked and glared at him.
I followed Steven into another room with medical equipment. He asked me to lie down on one of them.
I did as he said. But suddenly I was so tired. I stared at the ceiling and told myself I couldn't fall asleep. I had to stay awake until the check-up was over.
I did fall asleep.
The next morning, I woke up in Derek's arms.
Wait, the check-up... I thought to him in confusion.
"You fell asleep before the check-up was finished," he said as he brushed his finger across the bridge of my nose.
Really? How is that possible? I mind-linked him.
"Of course," Derek replied without hesitation.
I wondered if Steven had done something to me and made me fall asleep, but he had no reason for doing that.
Well, maybe I was thinking too much.
We got up and ate breakfast together. We would meet Hugh later.
Thirty minutes later, in the room where Hugh was staying.
Steven had already been there. As Hugh lay on the bed, Steven was putting ointment on his wounds.
Hugh looked over, recognizing me. Then he looked respectfully at Derek.
"You must be Derek. Thank you for saving my life," Hugh thanked Derek as he bowed his head in submission.
"No need to thank me. We have the same enemy, Richard," Derek said in a low voice.
"Yes, I know," he said firmly, taking on a pained expression, "I can't believe he wanted to kill me for a single mistake. He is heartless!"
Although I knew Hugh must have changed his mind, I still couldn't believe my ears. Hugh seemed to be completely different and it happened overnight!
Derek nodded and looked at him with a satisfied expression. "Don't worry. He can't hurt you anymore. I hate him as much as you do. I think we both agree that Richard shouldn't be the Alpha of your pack, right?"
"Yes, he should be dead," Hugh said through clenched teeth.