by Grosso, Kym
Hearing the actual words of Toby’s death felt like someone had shot him; his gut burned in grief. It wasn’t possible. How could he be dead? Both boys were like sons to him. He and Logan had unofficially adopted them when they were just pups, late teenagers really. They’d lost their parents in a territorial fight, and Tristan found them wandering the city streets. He took them into his pack, gave them shelter and food, sent them to school. The other mothers in the pack helped raised them. Pack was like that. It was everyone’s responsibility to help raise pups. A parent was never left short of support.
Tristan held Julie, hysterically crying in his arms. He stared at Ryan, praying to the Goddess that it wasn’t true. It didn’t make sense. Gunshots could seriously damage a wolf, but a shift would surely heal most wounds. It could take several shifts before they were truly back to normal functioning, but most wolves survived.
Filled with rage and sorrow, Tristan stoically shoved his emotions away. He’d deal with it later. Right now, his pack needed their Alpha. The calm in the storm, he’d guide them out of the pain.
“Julie, what happened to Toby? Have you talked with Ryan?” he inquired.
Wiping her tears, Julie sat down again next to Ryan and held his hand. “Toby was shot, multiple times. But I think they may have used a knife,” she cried; her voice wavered. “The doctor wouldn’t let me see him. Whatever it was, it was awful.”
Tristan moved to the other side of the bed, sat in a chair and took Ryan’s hand. He stopped and sniffed Ryan’s wrist.
“Did you smell it?” he questioned her with a firm voice.
“I know, Alpha. He smells…he smells…”
“Human.” Tristan finished her words as she nodded in confirmation. “What the hell happened? We both know he’s wolf.”
“He took something,” Julie replied. “Before you ask, I don’t know what it was. He was awake for like a minute and said they’d been at a college party all afternoon. He and Toby took something…a drug.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. I know my boys; they don’t take drugs.”
“I know. But what else could it be? Something had to do this to him.”
Tristan shook his head in confusion. None of it seemed real. Sensing Logan, he worried they would make it down to the room, given the rules. But then again, a little rule breaking was the least of their problems. Before he had a chance to ask Julie to go get Logan, both Logan and Kalli came into the room.
“Sorry we’re late. Traffic was a killer as usual. Had to sneak in here ’cause they said only two people were allowed, so I arranged for a distraction. What is going on with…” Logan’s words ended abruptly as he noticed it too. He rushed toward the bed and sniffed. “What’s wrong with Ryan? What did they give him? He smells…” Perplexed, Logan ran a hand over Ryan’s forehead in concern.
“Human. I know. We smell it too. Julie said he may have taken something,” Tristan added.
“Where’s Toby?”
“He didn’t make it. He’s gone.”
Logan stumbled toward a chair in shock. “No, no, no.”
Julie ran over to Logan and hugged him as they both wept openly.
Anxiety seized Kalli as she came to terms with what must have happened. There was no way in hell someone went from wolf to human without intervention; without CLI. Someone had taken her pills, and that same someone had given them to Tristan’s wolves. Someone took the CLI, and used it as a weapon just like she’d imagined in her worst nightmares. Her heart sank in guilt and anger. Like it or not, she had to confess.
“CLI. Canis Lupine Inhibitor,” Kalli whispered. “It’s why he smells human.”
Stunned, Tristan turned to Kalli. Did she just say she knew why Ryan scented human? How did she know this? Missing pills. On the balcony. She’d said that they took something from her apartment. His vision tunneled onto her, and for a few seconds, he felt as if he was seeing things through a kaleidoscope. Kalli was involved in Toby’s murder?
Before he realized what was happening, he’d sprung out of his seat, growling. Logan jumped in between them, holding up his hands. “Calm down, Tris. Just let her explain,” he pleaded.
“You knew about this?” Tristan accused Logan.
“No, I don’t know anything. But we need her help. She might be able to help him or at the very least, tell us what the hell is going on.”
“By all fucking means, Dr. Williams, which probably isn’t even your real name, explain away. I mean, one of our young wolves is dead. And Ryan, here, is apparently human. For once, I’d like the damn truth,” Tristan yelled at her.
Both Julie and Logan cringed slightly upon hearing his voice raised. Tristan was consistently calm, even during the most tense discussions or negotiations. But Toby’s death had sent him completely off the edge; he was boiling over in anger.
Kalli, unable to deal with the situation on a personal level, reverted back into her professional persona. The only way she could deal with violence or death was to compartmentalize the information, otherwise she’d simply break down in tears, especially knowing it was her formula that had caused this. She straightened her spine, readying to face the Alpha.
“I tried to tell you earlier, Tristan. You know I did. But we…we ended up, you know what happened,” Kalli insisted. “Can I look at Ryan? I mean, I need to see him to be sure.”
Tristan nodded furiously and gestured for her to move toward the bed. He was pissed at her, and he was pissed at himself for fooling around on the damn balcony. He should have pressed for all of the truth but instead, he was weak. He darted his eyes to Kalli, watching her grab a stethoscope off the wall. She inserted the ear tips and began pulling open Ryan’s hospital gown.
“I’m sorry Tristan. So sorry I didn’t tell you everything but I was scared. And now,” She looked down to Ryan. “Well, you wanted the truth? Here it is…the sad horrible truth. I told you that my parents died, but what I didn’t tell you was that I was pack. That’s right. My son of a bitch father was wolf, and my mother was human. And I was a lowly hybrid. Cross that. I was a lowly hybrid, who managed to survive abuse day after day. I was the hybrid that the great, almighty Alpha planned to utilize as concubine for the wolves who weren’t allowed to breed. I hated that pack and everyone in it. So I ran far and wide. Changed my identity. But it wasn’t enough. I needed to be human. Nothing else would do. They’d find me. Excuse me a minute.”
Kalli stopped to listen to Ryan’s heart. Then she picked up his wrist to listen to his pulse. Tristan and Logan stared at her in disbelief as she continued her confession. “I’ve been working on the formula ever since I was in grad school, but it wasn’t until two years ago that I perfected it. No more shifting during full moons, waking up alone naked in the woods. No more fear of being discovered and dragged back to that hellhole. For once in my life, I could just live quietly with my work and my animals.”
Kalli pushed the hair out of her face, and walked over to the other side of the bed. Her voice started to waver as tears brimmed her eyes. “And if I hadn’t gone for a walk that day, saved your damn snake, I’d still be living that way. But that wasn’t in the cards. The wolves I saw, they’re from my old pack; I recognized the faces. As for the pills, someone, I don’t know who, knows about my research. It’s what they were looking for. They took my spare pills, and it’s without a doubt what is running through this boy. But after looking at him, it appears that they didn’t give him a full dose. Maybe they slipped it in his drink and he didn’t drink it all?”
Kalli pulled the ophthalmoscope off the wall, lifted Ryan’s eyelids and examined him. “I’d say, from my experience of taking CLI, he should be able to shift in another two to four hours. It’s wearing off already. Whoever gave this to them knew what it was supposed to do. They probably were testing it, wanted to see if he could shift when injured, because that is exactly what this drug does, prevents shifting.” Kalli sighed, looking to the exit.
She’d had enough: enough lies, enough violence, enough of pack. B
ut at least it was out in the open; they all knew. And even though she was terrified the wolves from her old pack would find her, the worst thing was how Tristan was looking at her; she couldn’t bear it. She feared that he’d never forgive her. Even though she hadn’t intentionally set out to hurt him or anyone in his pack, her creation had killed that boy. Sure, it kept her hidden from others who’d see her dead, but now someone out there was using it to kill wolves.
Feeling as if she was going to be sick, she made toward the door. She had to go. She didn’t belong here with Tristan or his wolves. After everything she’d told him, she wouldn’t be surprised if he loathed her.
Tristan balled his fists at his sides, reeling from her confession. She was a fucking wolf and hadn’t told him. He wanted to hate her, yet his wolf wouldn’t allow it. But his human side was enraged. He watched in astonishment as she tried to leave the room, without even discussing it. So not happening, Doctor.
“And where the hell do you think you’re going, Kalli? Is that even your real name?” he sneered.
“I told you that I had to change my identity. I had no choice. They’d find me. But just so you know, Kalli is my real name. Williams isn’t, but I’m still the same person inside. And for all intents and purposes, Dr. Williams is who I am,” she countered, stifling a sob.
“It’s one thing to lie to me, but don’t lie to yourself. You aren’t human, no matter how much you want it or how many of these pills you take,” he spat at her. “I can’t talk to you right now. Fine, you want to go; then just go. Get out of my sight. I can’t even look at you. Logan, take her to your condo. Move her things.”
“I’ll just go to a hotel…”
“The hell you will. Listen to me, Doctor, like it or not, I may need you to find the sons of bitches who did this…the fire…Toby’s murder,” he choked out, trying not to scream. “You’re not safe. If anything, you’re in even more danger. They know where you live; where you work…I will not lose you.” Tristan shook with passion, well aware that he still wanted her badly. Conflicted, he needed space. As much as he hated the idea of her staying with another man, he knew he could trust Logan with his life.
As she realized that Tristan no longer wanted her, Kalli’s heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces. Filled with shame and disappointment, she deserved it, she thought. But, still, how could he send her off to live with another wolf? Logically, she shouldn’t have been surprised given how she was raised, and the way the males treated the females. It was just that with Tristan, he seemed so progressive, kind…loving, even. Feeling downcast, she silently accepted that she’d have to move. Why bother arguing? He needed her to help him find the killers. She needed his protection. So she had to stay with Logan. Who else would she stay with anyway?
Raking her fingers through her long hair, she looked at Logan. “I’ve gotta get out of here. I’ll be in the waiting room. Come get me when you’re ready.” Casting Tristan a sorrowful look, she walked out of the room, fairly certain that he and Logan wouldn’t try to stop her. It would cause a scene and she was pretty sure they didn’t want that.
Tristan considered going after her, but the doctor entered the room at the same time. Concerned that they already had too many people in the room, he looked to Julie to leave. With a nod, she understood, and left.
The doctor looked to be about forty years old with short, thick curly hair, wearing a traditional white coat with her name embroidered on it. Regarding the two males, she extended a hand to Tristan. “Hello, I’m Dr. Shay. The nurse said she’d filled you in on Ryan’s injuries. He’s a lucky kid,” she commented, looking down at her patient. “Almost bled out, but we got to him before he hit hypovolemic shock, so he’s going to make it. Both shots were fairly clean, in and out, but apparently he sat in the alley for quite a bit before someone found him. So we’re going to keep him here for a few more hours just as a precaution, then he’ll be transferred down to the fourth floor. Once he’s released, he’ll have to come back for follow-up to have the stitches removed. My biggest concern right now is the risk of wound infection. Even though we cleaned it out, bacterial infections still occur. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes, it is my understanding that anything we discuss needs to be kept in confidence, is this correct?” Tristan asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, that’s right,” she replied.
“I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t want you to repeat it, not even to the nurse. Nor do I want it entered into his record,” Tristan explained. “I’m not sure how much experience you have with supernaturals, but I’m Tristan Livingston, Alpha of Lyceum Wolves. And this boy, he’s mine.”
The doctor flushed at the revelation. “Why yes, of course I’m aware that there’s others. Those who aren’t human. But sir….well, there’s no way he’s wolf. I just operated on him, so I think I’d know if he weren’t human. No, this can’t be,” she protested.
“Well, Doc. Sometimes things aren’t always as they appear.” He shot a look at Logan who knew he meant Kalli. “And when that happens, it truly is a bitter pill to swallow. Let’s just say that I’ve come into knowledge that Ryan, here, was exposed to something very dangerous that thwarted both his shifting and his natural healing abilities. Both of which would have prevented him from visiting your fine establishment. We think he’s going to shift in a few hours, and we’d like to stay with him until he does. Afterwards, we’re going to walk out the front door.”
“Well, I don’t know. But I guess if he shifts, then I can’t really oppose his release, but I’ll need to examine him first,” she insisted.
“Thank you for your cooperation. But there’s one more thing. That dangerous thing Ryan was exposed to…I need you to keep a tight lid on it until we find out who gave it to him. Tony…Detective Bianchi. We’re going to have to meet with him too. He’ll back up what I’m telling you. We’re looking at a murder.”
The doctor nodded solemnly. “Yes, I just spoke with the detective, but as I told him, I didn’t see the other boy. He was found dead on the scene. The paramedics said he’d been shot and stabbed quite badly. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Tristan said quietly. The meeting with Jax Chandler couldn’t come soon enough. When he found the wolves Kalli had helped to sketch, they’d die a slow death at his hand.
The doctor exited the room, leaving Tristan and Logan. No words could describe the loss of Toby. All that was left to do was to wait until Ryan shifted so they could find out what had happened. How did he even get the drug? He knew Ryan and Toby partied hard, but nothing that most college students didn’t do. They never took drugs; he’d scent in a minute if they’d tried. No, someone gave this to them without them knowing, perhaps as Kalli had suggested in a drink or maybe even food.
The vigil was broken as Ryan stirred in his bed. Slowly opening his eyes, he licked his dry lips.
Logan rushed to hold his hand, while Tristan stood on the other side of the bed. He rubbed his hand over Ryan’s matted hair, and leaned in to talk to him.
“Take it easy, Ryan. You’re safe. We’re all here with you,” Tristan comforted him.
Tears filled Ryan’s eyes. “Toby…he didn’t make it,” he whispered, weeping silently. “We couldn’t shift.”
“We know, Ry, we know. Trust me, we’ll grieve. And we’ll avenge his death. I promise you. But right now, I need to know what happened. Who drugged you?”
“We were at a party. Nothing big. A girl. Lindsey. She asked us if we wanted to take something. You know us, we said no. I swear it,” Ryan asserted. His eyes locked on Tristan’s. “We stayed for another beer, and left to go home. We walked. We always walk. Two men. Wolves. They had a gun and backed us into an alley. We knew we could’ve taken them, Tristan. But then we couldn’t shift. We tried to run, but our wolves wouldn’t come. I hid in a dumpster after I got hit, but Toby…” his voice trailed off as he looked away and closed his eyes.
“You listen to me, Ryan. This w
asn’t your fault. Someone drugged you. There’s no way you could have known. You need to rest now. Kalli said you’d be able to shift in a few hours. Afterward, we’ll get out of here. See…Julie’s here. Logan’s here. We’re all here for you. And when we get home, you know you’ll be pawing off the pack mothers; they’re never going to let you out of their sight. We’ll make it through this.”
Lindsay? Wasn’t that the name of the girl from Kalli’s office? He planned asking Tony to send someone over to UVH to find her. Tristan stood and turned toward the door in an attempt to hide the pain that threatened to rip him in half. Listening to Ryan recount what had happened through guilt-tinged tears killed him. It shouldn’t be this way for them. They were only kids, yet someone deliberately went after his pups. Killed Toby. One thing was certain, blood was about to rain down in his city and it would be Lyceum Wolves who shed it this time. There’d be nothing sweet about this revenge, but it would happen.
“Logan, keep an eye on Ryan. I’ve gotta find Tony,” Tristan grunted. He needed to tell him everything he knew about what had happened. There was no way in hell he’d let P-CAP take over the investigation. For all they knew, a human had been shot and killed. But on the off chance they decided to become involved, he’d call Léopold and seek his assistance. As much as he despised Alexandra, he knew he could count on her as an ally.
As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of Tony engaged in an intimate conversation with Kalli. What the hell? She nodded her head in agreement to whatever he’d just said to her. Her baby blue eyes, rimmed in red from crying, were focused on the detective.
Without a doubt, Detective Tony Bianchi, Sydney’s former homicide partner, was one of the best cops in the city. Tenacious but good natured, the good-looking Italian detective never left a clue unturned. But Tristan could tell by the looks of him, that tonight he’d seen Toby’s body. His dark, olive-skinned face appeared to be drawn and his cropped raven hair was no longer carefully coiffed. Like a bloodhound knowing where to find his bone buried deep in the yard, Tony was busy digging for his next lead.
