The Alpha and the Mistake

Chapter 29

Ryder

I laid on the bed next to Brook as I told her how much Dean had been babying me lately and how he

kept asking me if I'm alright when he gave me my lunch today. The hope time I wished she'd open her

eyes and prove to me everything was going to be okay. Brook had been in a coma since she fell. Mom

said she'd heal better that way, but I hated not being able to talk to her or hear her voice.

Harry and Brook's mom came into the room as I finished telling Brook about Dean. I sat up. It was

awkward lying next to Brook with her Mom in the room. "Hi," I said rubbing a kink out of my shoulder.

Man, I hated these beds.

"Hello Ryder," Brook's mom said with a tight smile. She smoothed down Brook's hair although it looked

fine. Must be a mom thing, mine did it all the time to me too.

A moment later Mom joined us. "Good you're all here."

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound as worried.

Mom gave me a brief smile. "The full moon is tomorrow, and plans need to be made," she told me and

turned her attention to Harry and his mate. "Brook's recovery is going well, but as expected, she's still

not healed enough that I feel comfortable with her first shift. My team and I have a devised a plan, and

with your okay, we'll begin moving head tomorrow evening a few hours before moonrise."

Harry and Brook's mom nodded, waiting for Mom to continue.

"If we give Brook a super dose of muscle relaxants and painkillers, she will suffer much less trauma

during the shift, especially with Ryder with her-"

Brook’s mom interrupted her, worry on her face. "Wait, how can he be with her. He's going to shift like

the others and how would he help?"

"He'll be here in his wolf form and Brook will be able to sense Ryder near, and it will help keep her

calm. However, we'll be prepared to introduce her into a deeper coma if need be."

"Is that safe, putting her under so deeply?" Harry asked, holding his mate's hand. "And why can't you

silver her to prevent the shift?"

"It'll be safe. We're capable of putting her fully on life support if needed and I want to avoid silver if at all

possible. While the typical silver-filled plastic zip ties prevent a shift, it's stressful on the werewolf which

is something we have to avoid at all costs."

Harry looked at Brook's mom and gave her hand a squeeze. "It's your call. What do you want to do?"

She shook her head. "I don't know I can make an informed decision on this. What do you think Harry?

This is your people, your world, does this sound reasonable or like it will work?"

Harry gave her a kiss on her temple. "It's our world Nan, but yes, this sounds like Brook's best chance.

I think we should do it.”

"Okay, do what you have to do, Emily."

"I'll begin the preparations immediately. I promise I'm going to take the best possible care of your Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

daughter," Mom told them.

"You?" Harry asked, looking as confused as I was.

One that I shared. I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure you need hands. Mom gave us a tight smile. "I'm

going to silver myself, so I may be able to see the whole procedure through. Painkillers and I'll be fine."

Mom sounded like she could be saying that for herself as much as us. Silvering on a full moon was far

from pleasant. "You don't have to do that Mom."

She shook her head. "Yes. I do. She risked her life to save my mate and children. The least I can do is

share a little pain with her tomorrow night to make sure everything goes as it should. Now if you don't

have any more questions, I'm going to start getting everything ready."

As the full moon came closer, the tension grew. I hardly slept or ate. My wolf was close to the surface,

making me more anxious.

"Ryder, it's about time to change," Mom said the evening of the full moon. Dad was with her. "Before

Nancy and Harry arrive, we should discuss something. While I know you won't harm Brook, I am a little

concerned about the staff. Try to focus on the fact everyone here is going to do everything they can to

save Brook. None is a threat."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"We can be more instinctual when in wolf and despite what instinct may tell you doing nothing will be

better than doing something. If you can't help yourself, Gwen has a sedative especially for you ready."

Now I got the point. If I got in the way, I was out. "Don't worry I won't."

Mom smiled and gave me a nod. Nancy and Harry arrived shortly after. She went through the process

with them again. When she finished, she gave Brook the muscle relaxants and painkillers. "Alright,

every wolf out. I don't want any shifting in this room. Ryder that means you too. Go get changed and

get back here," Mom said.

"Good luck, Em," Dad said, kissing her cheek and left with Harry.

I wanted to give Brook a kiss too, but it was just too weird with her mom right there, so I just left to shift.

There was something completely liberating in wolf form. I shook out my fur before nudging the

bathroom door open with my snout. A chorus of howls had already begun outside of others who'd

already shifted. I started to reply with my own howl but remembered I was in a hospital hallway. The

war had filled all the rooms with the injured, and they needed their rest. I admit,

I was a little disappointed I couldn't be out there, but tonight my mate needed me. I trotted towards my

mate's room and jumped up on her bed. Sweat beaded along her brow and the edges of her mouth

turned downward. I look over at my mother. She seemed anxious and scratched at the zip tie around

her wrist. When Mom saw me watching, she gave me a tight smile. "It's beginning. Stay close to her.

Keep her calm in you can."

Worry peppered through my mind but I snuggled up against my mate, laying my head next to her

shoulder. The beeping of the machine started to beep more often, and I glanced up at my mother. She

licked her lips in a nervous gesture as she kept her attention on the machine and many others. Mom

made adjustments here and there. I turned my attention to my mate, I saw her face looked more

strained than before.

I hint of fear coming from her. I gave off a worried whine and rested my head against her shoulder once

more. The beeping kept going faster and faster, and soon other machines started making more noises.

I smelt more fear coming from my mate and mom's was serious.

"I didn't think something like this was possible," she said, as one of the nurses showed her something.

I whined, pleading for her to explain.

"Her body is trying to fight against the shift, even to the point her antibodies are nuts."

"Can she somehow sense the shift coming?" A nurse asked.

"It's possible. Brook is scared of something, I can smell it. Either way, if she keeps going through this

level of stress, she'll never survive."

My heart jumped up into my throat, and I let out a fearful whine.

"Alright. Let's do this," Mom began then looked to me. "We have five minutes Ryder. Do anything and

everything you can to assure her," she said then looked at the others. "If he can't manage it then we

take her down as far as we can. We have to get her calm."

I inched up towards my mate's face and brushed my snout against her cheek, it was cool with sweat

and only made me more worried. I huddled up as close as I could to her, hoping maybe my body heat

would keep her from getting too cold. I made a small, pleading whine; begging her calm down. She was

alright and safe. I was alright and safe. The annoying beeping slowed down some, and my mother

gave me a look of approval.

Don't be afraid, Brook. You're just changing into one of us. I thought with all my strength as I

whimpered as I brushed my head softly against hers. Please, be strong just a little bit more. Please,

Brook. I can't lose you! With a pitiful whine, I sent my thoughts to the goddess next. Goddess, please

protect my mate. Please help her through this. She can't die now. Not when she sacrificed so much for

us. Please, please, please!

"Good, Ryder. Keep it up. She's calm now," My mother said, patting my back.

I gave her a wolfish grin then licked Brook's face through the saltiness of her sweat was a little gross.

I'd forgotten about that. I continued my prayers to both Brook and the goddess and making soft noises

so Brook would hear me. Hours seemed to pass, Brook's clothing and blanket were drenched with her

sweat. I kept continuing to whine and whimper, sending her my encouragement as best as I could.

My mother watched the machines like any predator, not willing to miss even the smallest movement.

She was silent most of the time which drove me insane with worry. I had no idea what was going on.

Was Brook doing okay or did things look bleak? Suddenly the machines started making a bunch of

noise. All the nurses and my mother jumped into action, pressing buttons here and pushing them there.

Brook began to convulse on the bed, and I jumped to my feet, unsure what to do. I didn't know if I

should lay on her to keep her from falling or stay back. I whined with indecision and looked to my

mother for some direction but she was staring at Brook in surprise. "I don't believe it," she breathed.

I looked back down to my mate and made a startled yelp. She was shifting, like actually taking a wolf

form! I figured with the coma, the muscle relaxants, and everything, she wouldn't actually shift. "Hold

her down," my mother ordered the nurses. "But not too tight, let her bones morph as they should."

The nurses all fell around me, holding Brook's arms and legs. She convulsed and twisted violently. Her

muscles contracted and relaxed in grotesque waves. I'd never seen anything like this before. At a

snail's pace, her form began to twist and change. Despite the coma and painkillers, her face twisted in

agony. It made my stomach turn, and I was afraid I was about to get sick. My first shift, while it hurt like

hell, Brook's shift seemed worse.

Minutes seemed like hours as Brook changed. I wanted to comfort her, but I was too caught up in my

own fear of what was happening. I was helpless, completely helpless. My mate was suffering, and

there was nothing I could do to help her. "Ryder," my mother said to me sharply. "Relax, she can detect

your fear now. So calm down and keep talking to her."

I swallowed, forgetting now she wasn't human she could do that. I laid down next to her but not too

close, I didn't want to hurt her and whimpered to her again. All the while, silently sending her

encouragement. Finally, Brook's shift completed and part of me expected her to wake up or do

something but she just laid there. She was a small wolf, her fur was brown with bright auburn and gray

highlights.

She looked like a red wolf, and she was beautiful. I looked up my mother worried Brook wasn't moving.

She was leaning over us, looking at Brook. She checked her blood pressure, among many other things

that I didn't know what was for. "It's done. Ryder. She's going to be okay."

I gave her another wolfish grin. I stood up, stretched then curled up around my mate, sharing my

warmth with her and placing a paw over her. Now, this was over, I swore she'd never had to go through

anything like this again. I took in her scent, taking in the small changes to it now she was a werewolf.

Good job, Brook. I'm so happy you're alright. Feeling myself relax for the first time in at least two

weeks, I drifted off to sleep.