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"We have to get her home as fast as possible," Degar said, stepping forward, "You've been shot. Let me take her, Alpha King."

"No, I can hold her," Wolfaraine replied through gritted teeth. He pulled her closer to his chest, his arms tightening around her, "Stay with me, Ena, please. Her breathing is too shallow."

"It's all because of these monsters. Cronus, you monster! You don't get to die so easily, dammit!" Alpha Asisy stormed to the traitorous Werewolf Alpha's dead body, shifted to his tiger form, and ripped out his other arm.

Ratinus, just as mad, shifted into his Rat form and joined Asisy. Using his sharp, long claws, the Rat Alpha tore through the body of the male, making a mess out of him. Asisy devoured the mess.

The other Alphas didn't join, but they watched the huge rat, and an even bigger tiger take out their rage on the traitor's body.

The Rat was almost the size of a human with a tail that had thorns—a hazardous weapon in battle which can vertically divide a human into two halves when it lands on the human's head.

Now, the Rat Alpha was using it to cut Cronus's body into tiny little pieces while the tiger enjoyed the meal ravenously.

The other Alphas winced at the gory sight.

"Where is Alfred?" Wolfaraine asked, leading the way out of the underground Lab. "Did any of you see him?"

"I think he's hiding in one of the rooms upstairs. I caught his scent when I walked past the hallway during the battle." Adanel responded, walking behind the Alpha King.

Alphose hopped ahead of them, "I'll find him."

Adanel came forward and stopped in front of the Alpha King, successfully halting him. "It will take us at least five hours to reach Naturiah. It'll be too late before Harhan examines her. She's still human. I suggest we take her to a human hospital and get a private doctor to look at her."

"That's a very good idea, Alpha King. We can't take her back to Naturiah like this. We might lose not only the child but the Rahinna too." Alpha Morose agreed in a soft tone.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Ratinus countered, back in his human form looking all bloody, "She's miscarrying a changeling baby. They are much more tricky than human babies, I doubt if that medical television of theirs can be of any help."

"You mean a sonogram?" Rodarh asked, his lips pursed.

"I don't care what the name is, but I know what it's used for, you overbearing elephant." Ratinus shot back.

"At least, I know what it's called."

"Did you kiss your mama with that mouth? "

"Not now, you two. You can't possibly be bantering at a crucial time like this." Alpha Morose chided.

Both Alphas looked guilty and muttered an apology to their King.

Wolfaraine simply looked at Adanel, "I think you're right. My concern at the moment is to get her thoroughly examined to ensure she's alright. She has lost a lot of blood. If the humans can help her, I don't mind taking her to them."

He sounded pained as he added, "Her life is more important to me right now than our baby's."

"One of mine is a doctor in the human world. Last I heard, he's the best doctor in New Jersey. It's better if one of ours treated her, I believe. We can make it out of New York to New Jersey in twenty, thirty minutes, using the private jet." Alpha Asisy offered, hopefully.

Ratinus scoffed, "A Tiger Changeling is a doctor in the human world? Hilarious."

"The private jet is ready. I called for them before this battle started." Degar injected, staring expectantly at the Alpha King.

"Let's go, then." Wolfariane’s steps were hurried, his shoulders rigid, his face filled with concern. They made it out of the Lab, coming out in the middle of the forest.

Alphose came out last with a dirty, tired-looking Alfred whose eyes widened at the sight of his daughter.

His face crumbled, "My girl, how is s-she doing?"

"She took a bullet. We are taking her out to get her treatment. Are you alright?" Wolfaraine asked, giving the man a once-over.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I hid very well until Alphose came to get me."

Wolfaraine nodded. He faced the Alphas, "Asissy will take us to the hospital. Ratinus, Rodarh, and Adanel take Alfred and our prisoners back home. We will be back tonight."

They all nodded in affirmation. Rodarh added that he'll be praying for the Rahinna before they all disbanded. It didn't take long for the private jet to come.

Two hours later, Wolfaraine could feel a small part of his body going numb. He'd forgotten that he'd taken a dangerous bullet to his left shoulder.

They were seated just outside the hospital room Ismena was in. The moment they'd entered the hospital, the tiger changeling, Dr. Fernandez, dropped all his other duties, took Ismena from them, and went into the operating room with several nurses trailing behind him.

The sound of the door opening made the four restless changelings straighten, looking expectantly at Dr. Fernandez as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

"How is she?" Wolfaraine was suddenly beside the doctor.

The doctor bowed his head respectfully before he began, "We removed the bullet, and dressed the wound, she lost a lot of blood, but she'll be fine.

Fortunately, the wound wasn't infected, and the bullet didn't heat any vital organ.

We detected an untested drug in her that her immune system was fighting, which caused the excess fatigue, nausea, and unnatural tremors, but thankfully, we found a treatment that is helping to flush the drug out of her system. She will be fine, Alpha King. "

For the first time in hours, Wolfaraine felt like the blockage in his lungs was removed, and he could breathe normally again. He wasn't the only one. Audible sighs of relief filled the air around them.

"Thank the gods," Ratinus muttered, inhaling deeply.

Alphose saw the twinge of concern, dread, in the Alpha King's eyes. The unspoken question.

"She was pregnant, Healer." Alphose voiced out softly, dreadfully, to the doctor, "How is the baby?"

"Our Heir is fine." Dr. Fernandez declared happily, "As a matter of fact, the punch forced the baby to reposition and move to the uterus, and I ran other tests, which shows the fetus is developing well.

Although the Rahinna Queen needs more care and bed rest in the next few days, but I can guarantee you that with the drugs I recommended and hopefully an acupuncture treatment from Harhan, they will be perfectly fine. "

Wolfaraine didn't know how much he needed to hear those words until he actually heard them. His heart expanded with happiness, and his arms contracted as he moved forward and hugged the doctor.

"Thank you, Fernandez. You do not know how badly I needed to hear those words."

Dr. Fernandez almost swallowed his tongue, freezing at the unexpected gesture from the Alpha King.

He'd heard the rumors about the King finding his mate and the complicated relationship between them, but he never believed the recent rumors that the Alpha King cares for his mate.

Everyone knows how much their ultimate leader hates humans.

He never believed it until today.

Dr, Fernandez didn't want to be placed in a position where he would have to deliver bad news to their fearsome leader, so he'd given it his all while treating the Rahinna Queen. He was most relieved, delighted, to share the good news that came as a result of his hard work.

"The pleasure is all mine, Alpha King." The doctor's voice was filled with awe and reverence.

The Alpha King nodded, pulling away.

"You did a good job, Fernandez." Alpha Asissy praised him.

The doctor's heart almost burst at the pride in his Alpha's voice. The tiger changeling bowed to his Alpha, "You're being generous, Alpha."

"I'll like to tend to the Alpha King's wounds too.

" Fernandez added, "I know you'll prefer the Royal medicine man's treatment, but it's still a long journey home.

I have medicines that can make those cuts and bruises feel better, clean out the bullet wounds and have them sterilized.

You'll feel better by the time you get home.

Then, the medicine man can take it from there. "

"No, I would like to see my woma—" Wolfaraine began.

But Alphose cut in, "That will be great, Healer."

Wolfaraine swiveled his head towards his dear friend, his brows arched questioningly.

Alphose sighed warily. "I'm sure the Rahinna Queen needs her uninterrupted rest right now. It's the perfect time to get cleaned up, don't you think? Besides, she will only worry if she sees those dried blood and bruises."

The other Alphas nodded too. Wolfaraine sighed, giving in reluctantly.

He allowed the doctor to lead the way to a different room. With the news of Ismena and his child unharmed, he finally allowed the thrill of his victory today to fill his body.

He finally got his revenge on them for what they did to him in the past, what they did to Ismena. They'd won the battle against those monstrous humans. The taste of revenge is indeed a sweet nectar.

By the time they arrived in Naturiah, it was late at night. Ismena woke for the first time after they crossed the border, feeling drowsy, and for a moment, she felt lost too.

Then it all came rushing back to her in flashes. Their escape, being shot, stabbing a soldier, hiding...

She groaned, palming her head. It feels heavy.

The furs that enveloped her told her that she was riding in his werewolf form, and from the wind blowing all around her and the glimpse of trees, they were back in Naturiah.

Wolfaraine felt her wake and went from full-shift to a half-shift. Suddenly, she was cradled in his furry arms instead of his back. It feels good to see his handsome face again.

"You are awake," he said in the gentlest tone.

She nodded and blinked slowly, "Where are we?"

"We're almost at the Tower. Almost home. Hang in there."

"And the lab...?"