Derek
I fell to my knees as the pain of separation hit me. My wolf was raging. He wanted our mate.
Melody is gone.
She didn't choose me. She chose Dorian.
She chose that bloody Dorian over me. How could she?
I couldn't speak because my mouth tasted bitter. I couldn't swallow the bitterness. The pain was excruciating. It was becoming difficult to breathe.
My pups are gone.
Melody is gone.
I clutched my chest and gritted my teeth.
"Was that Melody?" Sophia chose this moment to add salt to my bleeding heart.
Why did she have to ask that now?
We all saw what happened, didn't we? We all saw Melody shift. It was a real wolf, not a caricature. It wasn't the creation of magic but a real-life wolf and we all witnessed it.
Why did she have to ask the obvious?
"You saw it too, didn't you?" She went to my Malcolm. "Malcolm, Melody had the goddess' crown. She is the...."
Sophia couldn't speak the rest of the words. She placed her chest on Malcolm's chest and cried. Leaving me to wonder if it was tears of joy or sadness.
I was down on my knees head bowed and tears struggling to pour. Wolf fighting to be let out.
I didn't know what to do.
We were all stunned by the turn of events. No one moved. The Wayne family just stared at the leaving ship. They were dumbfounded.
Turns out they didn't know who their daughter and sister were until now. No one knew that Melody was the goddess' reincarnation.
The viscount was in a bad shape. He looked like he had lost his voice. His eyes were fixed on the sea like he would jump in at any time.
Malcolm and Malfoy were no less. They didn't move at all.
Right at this point I wish I practiced witchcraft. I would have summoned them back here with alacrity and cast a spell to keep them rooted here where I could see them.
"Does anybody know where that Dark Flame Pack is?" My mother asked out of nowhere.
I raised my head immediately as realization hit me. All hope is not lost.
No matter how far it is. As long as it's on the surface of the earth then I can go there and bring back my pups and mate.
"Across the sea, I guess."
I stood up and composed myself. I was back to being the imposing Derek. My old demon was awakened.
Melody tamed it, but now that she's gone he is back with fury.
"Get the best men ready to go overseas. The Dark Flame Pack has something that belongs to us."
Mother spoke my mind.
Instead of sulking at my loss, I will go after them and find a way to convince Melody that she belongs with me alone.
"Maximus will lead the troop on the search." Father joined in.
I know that no matter how mad he is at me, he wouldn't want to lose his precious grandkids. Especially after seeing how strong and special they are.
"Viscount Maximus," I called him, expectantly.
He comes first whenever it's about hunting Melody and now he's speechless. Or is he probably cooking up some plan in his mind?
"Maximus," Father also called, but the Viscount didn't respond.
The loud call of the Viscount's name probably snapped the other members of the Wayne family back to their senses and all eyes turned to Maximus.
"Prepare the men in the easiest route to Dark Flame. We leave at noon."
Maximus was inert.
He didn't speak or respond to my orders. He stared fixedly at the floor.
"Did you hear me?" I raised my voice. "I said prepare the men for the travel. We leave for Dark Flame at noon."
Still no response.
Now, I'm sure that something is wrong with the Viscount.
"Father?" Malcolm touched his father.
No matter how harsh or cruel he is. A father will always remain one.
"He is not responding," Malcolm looked at Malfoy and announced.
"Father," Malfoy joined in. They both called out to the Viscount to no avail.
"Take him to the hospital!" Father ordered.
Viscount Maximus is my father's best friend almost like his brother. They love each other so much which is why Father never sees him in the wrong.
"What happened to him?" Father demanded as the doctor checked the viscount.
"What happened to him?" The doctor countered with a question of his own. "Forgive me, majesty," he apologized as he realised that he just spoke the wrong words.
He was checking the viscount, he frowned as he carried out some test on the Viscount who was staring fixedly at one spot.
"Will you keep moving around or will you tell us what is wrong with him?" I asked impatiently.
I was silently praying that the Viscount was okay because I needed his plans to get back Melody and my pups.
"Majesty, this is strange." The doctor looked at the Viscount.
He was perplexed.
"What is?" I also looked at the man lying on the bed. He looked healthy and hale, but just kept staring at a fixed point like he's suddenly become a statue.
"Everything seems fine with the Viscount," the doctor relayed, further confusing me.
I mean, if the man is hale and hearty. Why isn't he speaking or moving? His eyes are open, but he doesn't seem to be seeing anything or anyone.
"If everything is alright with him, then why isn't he talking?" Malfoy was almost yelling as he demanded for an explanation of his father's condition.
"I think his condition is related to whatever happened before he was brought in."
Hearing the doctor's diagnosis, we all exchanged knowing gazes.
Is this about Melody?
I don't understand what could have suddenly happened to the Viscount upon Melody's departure.
"What do you mean?" Malcolm came forward to ask.
The doctor knew how desperate we were for an answer which he probably doesn't have. He gulped and looked from one to another as he said,
"I think he's gone into shock."