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Chapter Thirteen: Who's Afraid of the Hunter?
Ruby had to scoot over to hold Derek's hand. He squeezed it and glared at Ruby's supposed father.
The man sighed, "I see you've been taking care of my daughter."
"Seems that way," Derek said through gritted teeth.
The man sighed and made sure to stay a safe distance from Derek's look.
"I am her true father," he said, knowing Derek had doubts.
"You mean the one that painted a target on her back?" Derek said it as an accusation.
He tilted his chin up and said, "Seems that way."
Ruby moaned, "Daddy."
The man moved closer but stopped when Derek sat down beside her and he realized she was talking about him. He looked away from them, clenching his jaw.
He spotted the other beta sleeping on the futon.
"Don't suppose you'll say your name?" Derek asked.
"I'm Charles." He told him. "I've come for my daughter."
Derek still kept on a stone cold expression for him. "First thing you can do is sign for medication."
"I can do better than medication," he said, walking forward. He stood face to face with Derek, "If I can have a moment."
Derek stepped back but made sure to stay close.
Charles smiled softly at Ruby and asked, "How's my little gemstone?"
Ruby sat farther back into the bed. Charles' shoulders slumped and he slowly reached out for her hand.
"Don't be scared of me, darling." Charles pleaded gently. "I'm going to make you feel better."
Ruby sat a little closer and took Charles' hand. He stroked it with his thumb longingly, then reached up and cupped her pale face. Ruby leaned into his grip and held his hand with both of hers.
Derek watched as Charles stroked her cheek, smiling at her reassuringly. Suddenly, the veins in his hand turned black, the poison pulsing through his wrist and up into his arm, spreading out through his body. Charles shivered slightly, but let it run through him. Ruby's eyes started drifting as she held his hand closer. Her skin was going back to its usual color, her rosy cheeks going back to normal. Then, her expression turned to peace, like she was experiencing pure bliss. Charles slid her down into the bed and stroked the hair from her eyes, pulling the blanket over her. He kissed her temple and whispered, "Goodnight, baby doll."
"What about you?" Derek asked quietly. "Won't you get sick?"
Charles shook his head, still staring at Ruby and rubbing her back. "I'm immune to it. I'll be fine."
Derek nodded and looked over to Isaac. Isaac had always been a heavy sleeper from what Derek had seen.
"Thank you," Charles said suddenly, still adoring his child. "For taking care of her. Lord knows I've done a terrible job."
"I heard," Derek snapped.
Charles sighed and turned to him, nodding, "Rumor's reached here, I suppose."
"It did," Derek assured. "What really happened to her mother? Her pack?"
"I thought you already knew," Charles said.
"I want to hear it from you," Derek said. "I want to know the truth. She has nightmares about it every night."
Charles shook his head sadly, stroking Ruby's hair. She stirred, but didn't wake.
"First full moon's hard," Charles started. "I'm sure you know that."
Derek stayed still and lifted his chin, gesturing for him to go on.
"They were people I knew. The new betas. Worked in a hospital for a few years and thought they deserved a second chance. Most of them accepted. I thought they could handle it but, one got loose, the others followed."
Charles stopped and looked at Ruby for a few seconds before finishing, "They got Ruby's mother, some others. I thought they got her, too. But then I come here," He looked over to Derek, "And I see you buying medicine for her."
"You followed us," Derek concluded.
Charles nodded, "What else was I going to do? Leave her here? After that hunter threatened me?"
Derek stayed silent, staring down at Ruby. He has a feeling of dread inside him.
"Are you going to take her back then?"
"Yes," he said turning to Derek. "She's all I have left, I can't leave her here."
"I understand," Derek forced out. And he did understand. Charles losing her would be like him losing Laura.
But it hurt him, too.
"I need another day."
Charles smiles, looking down at her again, "Of course. It seems she's gotten to you."
Derek nodded and sat down on a chair. Charles sighed again, stroking her arm.
"She'll be fine now," Charles said, standing up.
Isaac's heartbeat sped up a bit and he sat up on the futon, "What time is-"
He stopped when he saw Charles and stood up quickly, almost falling over.
"It's fine, Isaac," Derek said. "He's Ruby's father."
Isaac looked from Charles to Derek, then said, "Didn't he-"
"No," Derek warned, "Chris was wrong."
Isaac gulped and said, "Okay. Uh, I'm gonna go get coffee."
Derek nodded as Isaac walked past him.
Charles looked to Derek, "Maybe we should let her sleep. Go get some coffee, too. I'll buy."
Charles started to leave and Derek sighed and began to follow.
Derek, Isaac and Charles sat in the cafeteria, where Isaac asked Charles questions.
Isaac asked question after question, each to which Charles answered calmly. Even after the first twenty minutes of them.
Charles decided to ask questions then, "Have you seen any sign of the hunters?"
Derek shook his head, "Not yet."
Charles nodded in relief, "Glad she hasn't shown up yet."
"She?" Isaac asked.
Charles nodded, "Yes, Penny. I'm sure that's her name."
Derek vaguely remembered the name, "What did she look like?"
Charles thought for a moment, "Brown hair, possibly...blue eyes? Kind of short, around five feet."
Derek had a look of deep concentration on his face.
"Have you seen her?" Charles asked.
Then it shot into his mind like a bullet.
The pharmacist.
"I think so," Derek said. He stood up and threw the coffee away. "Isaac, call Boyd and Erica."
Isaac whipped out his phone and Charles walked with Derek up to Ruby's room.
The ride up the elevator was excurtiatingly long.
"You're sure it was her?" Charles asked, a hint of worry in his tone.
Derek nodded, slamming on the button some more. "Fits the description."
Charles nodded, prepared to jump out of the elevator at any moment.
.
Mrs. McCall signed the papers for Ruby. "I can check on her," she told the doctor.
Mr. Smith nodded and turned away as Mrs. McCall started to leave.
"Checking out?" Asked another nurse. She brushed her brown hair behind her shoulder.
"Not yet," Mrs. McCall said, smiling at her. "I have to check on a patient first."
"Oh, I can do that for you." She said. "I'm sure it's been a long shift."
"Oh, well, that'd be great!" Mrs. McCall smiled at her savior, "Thank you. Uh, her name is Ruby Stark. She's in room 325. She's six, so just don't say too much to her, okay? Don't want the poor thing getting nightmares."
The nurse nodded, "Of course."
"Thank you..." She looked to the nametag. "Penny."
Penny smiled, "Of course."
Mrs. McCall left then, with Penny starting on her way to the room.
She set the sheets on the table and checked her pocket. She flinched as the needle pricked her finger and pulled it out. The black liquid wolfsbane moved a bit, a small air bubble shining.
No worry, she thought. Like that'll do any harm.
She looked inside, smiling as she saw no one. She slipped inside as the little brat popped her head up groggily.
"Daddy?" She mumbled.
"Go to sleep," Penny said soothingly. "Just take a nice long nap."
Ruby nodded and closed her eyes again, falling fast asleep.
Penny smiled, thinking, Let's see what the damn alpha makes of this.