Chapter 5

Jenna POV

            “We need to get her to the Pack hospital now,” I say to Adam.  He stands up mind-linking Jack to advise we were moving.  Jack comes in once Adam unlocks the door and picks Josie up as we all run to the Pack house.  Adam had also mind-linked Doctor Rivers, the Pack Hospital doctor, to have a gurney ready when we arrived.

            Doctor Rivers and one of his nurses were waiting and rushed Josie to the designated room.  Adam came in behind me with Jack guarding the door.  Doctor Rivers excused the nurse waiting for her to leave before looking at me waiting for an explanation.  As the door closed, I looked to Doctor Rivers, “I am trying to heal her as I started to heal her brother,” I say to him.  He looks at me confused and looks down to Josie.

            “Why her?” he asks me.  “She was innocent in all of this; she deserves a second chance,” I reply to him.  He nods as he moves around starting to attach different machines to Josie.  “What happened when you started to heal her?” he asks.  “I was working on her stomach, I pulled back for a break before I finished the final piece.  She replied she felt that she was dying,” I share with the doctor.

            Adam remains in the background.  I know he and Jack are not comfortable that she is out of the cell and Adam has cuffs ready to put on her hands and ankles.  Josie would be a strong wolf and without holding her down on all four points, she could easily shift and escape.  That could not happen. 

            “I do not think she would die from a healing session,” Doctor Rivers replies.  “She is likely feeling the effects of healing, which could well feel like death for her.  Death of her old self, and the feeling associated with this tarry substance you have referred to,” he continues.  “What do we do?” I ask the doctor.   “The best thing you can do is complete the stomach, and then see where she is at that point,” he replies.

            Adam steps forward.  “I want to put these cuffs on her first,” he says.  They were wrapped so she would not be burned by the silver, but they were silver none the less and should also work toward limiting her ability to shift.  After Adam had secured her to the bed, which was then bolted to the floor, I moved forward with Adam at my side to complete the healing.

            I was pleased to see that the mass that was left had remained contained in the one area.  I focused on that area as Adam and Doctor Rivers, both watched me complete the healing session.  Josie’s heart rate started to rise, but Doctor Rivers murmured to ignore it as I continued.  I delved in and at that moment I felt my breath taken away.  This was the part of the mass that held the most toxins and would leave me weak when I finished.

            I plugged on, wanting to get rid of this section before I would fall into Adam’s arms.  Adam moved closer to me, I could sense I was going pale, and sweat was on my face.  I felt a cool cloth wipe away the sweat as I continued to fight with the toxins.  I finally broke down the compound as it rushed for a new home inside my body.  It was almost like the toxins took on a life of their own.  They knew they were being destroyed and the only way to hold on would be to find another host.

            As I cleared the final piece I came back into my body and started to crumble when Adam grabbed a hold of me and pulled me into his lap.  I could feel him tense as he started to absorb some of the pain I was feeling.  He held me rocking me gently in his arms murmuring words of encouragement.  As I sat there basking in the warmth of his body and focusing on cleansing myself internally, I suddenly heard the sound of a flatline.

            Startled out of my own healing, I jumped up and look at Doctor Rivers.  He looks to me before grabbing a syringe full of medication he uses to stab into Josie’s heart before he pulls the crash cart over.  I pull down her shirt to help the Doctor hook up the wires to her body.  Calling “clear,” I step back as Doctor Rivers zaps Josie.  Once, twice, and finally a third time.  It was the third time that he got her back and her heart started to stutter before it became stronger. 

            “I think as you heal her, this will happen each time.  A part of her is in fact dying to be reborn,” he murmurs as he looks at Josie.  I pull her shirt front back up but not before I see the scars marring her body.  She had them all over.  I looked over at Adam who had also noticed the scars and he shook his head in disbelief.  Whatever had happened to Josie over the years, she had not had an easy life.  No wonder she was so untrusting of people.  If she had been betrayed by her father or others, she would not trust anyone to be good to her.

            Stepping back into Adam’s arms we sit back down as I curl into his lap and continue healing myself.  Adam brings water to my parched lips, as I sip the water before resting against his chest. Adam stirs beneath me, “We should go, Red, and have you eat before getting some rest,” he murmurs.  I nod knowing he was right.  I still had more healing to complete on Josie.  It would take a couple days, but I knew it would be easier. I had tackled the hardest today and was confident it would get easier over the next couple days.

            Moving forward I put my hand on Josie’s shoulder before letting Adam take my hand and we walk away.  As we entered the hallway, Adam and Jack spoke about setting up a guard to take over for Jack at some point in the evening.  Jack was not keen to let just anyone take over, so he was going through his warriors to decide who would be best to choose for the task.  Adam trusted Jack and left him to it, as we headed toward the kitchens. 

            Dinner had already been finished, so Adam and I went into the kitchen to find leftovers with our names on the plates.  I loved our thoughtful Omegas.  They never ceased to amaze me.  I made a note to get them something special to thank them for their continued thoughtfulness for the Pack. 

            Adam and I dug into the delicious food prepared for us.  We talked quietly about our experiences today.  We were both shocked with how docile Josie was.  It was the first we had seen of her true self.  She was a beautiful spirit and one that the world needed in it.  I wonder what would have happened had she been raised by her mother.  Was her mother truly dead or was she alive?  We would never know for certain.

Sam POV

            Lana and I finally woke up well past breakfast after an exciting night.  I had not felt so alive in a long time.  She was open to anything and everything, she had a lot of passion in her and she was not afraid to share it.  We had agreed we would do some sightseeing today – she had some fun spots she wanted to show me.

            As we finished in the shower, I thought she had no spare clothes with her.  What I had not realized was that she had brought her bag in from her bike.  “I always like to be prepared,” she says with a smirk.  See that’s what I am talking about.  A free woman who is not afraid to go for what she wants.

            Walking by her I smack her bare ass as I move to my own bag pulling out clean jeans and a t-shirt.  Grabbing my black leather jacket, I turn to see her pulling her shirt over her luscious bare chest.  She grabs her black leather jacket, “Let’s get something to eat, I am starving,” she says.  “Lead the way, my lady,” I say to her.

            We walk out of the hotel and find a quaint little bistro serving brunch.  We take a table outside in the sun and place our orders.  “What is there to do around here that is fun?” I ask Lana.  “There is not a lot to do within the town, but there is a lot to see around the outskirts.  Are you game for some touring around?” she asks me.

            Smiling, “I would be game for just about anything with you,” I say to her.  She smiles, “So tell me about yourself,” she says.  I feel a little uncomfortable.  I cannot simply say I am a wolf, that is something that would come once I knew her better.  “I am a vice president of a company,” I share with her.  Not quite a lie.  Being a Beta of a Pack is like a vice president of a business.

            “I see,” she says.  “And what about you beautiful?” I ask.  “Oh, I do a little of this and a little of that.  Usually whatever takes my fancy,” she says.  “So, kind of like a free spirit?” I ask her.  “Exactly,” she says taking a sip of her coffee.  “Nice,” I reply.  Clearing my throat, “Maybe you would like to come and visit where I live sometime?” I ask her.  She looks up surprised, “I think I would like that very much,” she says quietly.

            I smile feeling good about suggesting she visit.  Our meals arrive.  They are superb.  Maybe it is made better with the company I am keeping.  “What is so special about where you live?” Lana asks me.  I pause my eating, “I live in a small community, that is in the forest.  It’s beautiful, really, and there are lots of things to do there.  Probably one of the most enjoyable things I like to do is exploring in nature,” I share with her.

            Not a complete lie, I do love being outside.  I simply enjoy it most often in wolf form, I think with an internal chuckle.  I could not wait to show her how we live.  And my wolf.  My bigger concern was would she accept it since she was a human?  Taking her hand across the table, I hold it softly. 

She looks at me surprised.  “I just love touching you,” I share with her.  “Be careful there cowboy, I will start to think you like me,” she replies with a chuckle.  I laugh, “I think it is safe to say I like you,” I say to her squeezing her fingers before releasing them.  “Hmmm I think I like you too,” she replies with another chuckle.

“You think you like me?  You mean you aren’t sure!” I feign hurt grabbing my chest.  She bursts out laughing.  “Okay, okay, I like you … there is a lot to like,” she says implying reference to the evening before.  “Back at you, sexy lady,” I reply.  As we continue our banter back and forth, the server removes our dishes and brings the bill.  Before I can grab it, Lana has it and is paying for brunch.

“You do not have to do that, sweetheart,” I say to her.  “I know, but I want to,” she says as she bounces to the counter to pay.  Admiring her rear view, I catch the scent of a wolf.  Looking around I cannot detect where the scent is coming from.  Lana calls to me, “I am just going to scoot to the washroom,” she says.  I nod and smile before looking away as my smile turns to a scowl.  Show yourself, whoever you are, I think to myself.

Not that I was worried.  We had Pack agreements with the Packs I have entered so far.  Those agreements allowed us to travel within our regions without any complications.  However, this was a human town and human towns were neutral towns.  As a courtesy we usually make ourselves known to one another in neutral zones.  In this case, this wolf was hiding, and I was uncertain why.

An uneasy feeling rolled over me.  But as soon as I scented it, it was gone.  Lana came up behind me wrapping her arms around my waist.  Distracted from my search, I hold her arms as I turn around to face her.  Enjoying a lingering kiss, I take Lana’s hand as we head off toward our bikes.  Lana takes the lead and I follow her as we head off to do our sightseeing.