Chapter 21

“You think I’m fuckin’ with you?” Smokey asked, staring at Cain. Then shaking his head, he said, “I wouldn’t do that…not after what you went through.”

Cain studied Smokey but he couldn’t figure out what game he was playing, so he decided to call his bluff. “Where’s Jackson?” he asked, certain Smokey would have to ‘fess up’ that he was kidding.

Smirking, Smokey headed for the operating room door. “Wait here,” he said to Cain. “I’ll be right back.” After seeing Cain nod his head in agreement, Smokey opened the door, stepping into the hallway, before closing it firmly behind him.

Cain waited a few moments before exploring his surroundings. Looking at the medical equipment lining the walls, along with the table he’d been on, he had to admit he was in a hospital, but whether he was at the Blackwood Pack was yet to be determined. Nothing in the room gave any indication it was meant for shifters; he could see no collars or cages for restraining them in their animal form.

Opening every cupboard, Cain saw only clothes like those Smokey had given him and white sheets, which had him wondering why he’d been wrapped in one. Shrugging, he moved over to the door Smokey had used, placing his ear to it. But when he heard nothing, he paused for a moment, considering his options.

The ‘stay or escape’ question kept running through his mind as he shifted from foot to foot while thinking about what Jackson had said about choices. This is my choice…now what do I want to do? After thinking it over, he turned away from the door and walked over to the operating table. Hopping up on it, he sat with his hands clasped in his lap…and waited.

Hurrying down the hall, Smokey peeked into several rooms, looking for anyone who could get word to Jackson that Cain wanted to see him. He was puzzled as to how Cain knew the Alpha, but according to Oracle, it was okay with Jackson if Smokey used his abilities to save him. Finally reaching Mac’s office, he heard voices behind the closed door, and burst into the room.

Startled at the sound of the opening door, Jackson saw Smokey standing in the doorway with one hand on the doorknob. Annoyed by the interruption, he asked, “What’s the problem, Smokey? Is it Theo? Does he need Ian or Mac?”

Shaking his head, Smokey replied, “It’s Cain…he wants to see you. I left him in the operating room so I hope that’s okay.”

“He’s alive?” Jackson asked, disbelief in his voice.

“Yeah…well he was when I left him. Why?”

Stunned, Jackson turned around and looked at Ian. “Can this be true?” Not waiting for the doctor to answer, he strode out of the room and down the hallway to the operating room where, if Smokey was right, Cain was alive and well and waiting for him. He’d just reached the door, when he felt Smokey grab his arm. Intent on seeing Cain, he uncharacteristically snarled, “Let go of me or I’ll knock you on your ass.”

Knowing the Alpha had the power to carry out his threat, Smokey removed his hand quickly before blurting out, “Wait a minute…there’s somethin’ you should know about Cain. ”

As eager as he was to confirm that Cain wasn’t dead, Jackson stopped himself from going into the room and turned his attention to Smokey. “The only thing I have to know is whether Cain is alive or not. Two doctors and my brother with healing powers told he isn’t. Now you tell me he is…what more do I need to know except to see him with my own eyes.”

“He’s alive…trust me…but he doesn’t remember anything except being shot...and even that’s a bit foggy. He hasn’t asked me who healed him and I didn’t volunteer it was me. Whatever you tell him…please don’t mention my abilities…my life as well as my mates depend on it.”

“What does he know?” asked Jackson, his agitation now abated.

“Only that Mystia brought him to the Blackwood Pack hospital.”

Nodding, Jackson replied, “I promise not to say a word about you or what you did for him.”

“Thanks,” Smokey murmured, before stepping in front of Jackson. Pushing the door open, he scanned the room, smiling when he found Cain sitting on the operating table. “I got Jackson for you.”

Cain’s eyes lit up. “You did? I mean, you did…thank you.” Sliding off the table, Cain stood still, his eyes searching Jackson’s face but failing to find a welcoming smile, he said nervously, “I stayed here…where Smokey told me to.”

“Cain,” Jackson whispered, staring at what appeared to be an apparition standing before him. Even though the man looked alive, Jackson’s mind couldn’t grasp that he actually was .

When Jackson said nothing else, Cain’s fears—long buried after his parents had deserted him—began to surface, causing him to panic. Suddenly he blurted out, “I didn’t do anything wrong! This prisoner came in and shot me and then Dale told me to hang on and the next thing I knew I woke up here. You gotta believe me…I didn’t escape…Smokey said the witch brought me here so maybe she got permission from the guards…you should ask her why she did it…I didn’t force her …honest!”

Jackson walked slowly over to Cain and stopped in front of him, finally realizing that Smokey had done the impossible. Smiling, the Alpha held out his hand and said, “ Cain Foster, welcome to the Blackwood Pack.”

Hope bloomed in Cain’s eyes as he shook Jackson’s hand. “I can stay? Really? You decided to accept me into your pack?”

“I have,” Jackson said. “I was going to tell Oracle that I had decided, but then I got word that Mystia brought you here because you were shot.”

Nodding vigorously, Cain replied, “I was…Dale was trying to help me…but I must have passed out because the next thing I knew I woke up here with Smokey.”

“Who shot you?” Jackson asked. “And how did they get into your cell? Did Frank let them in?”

“I didn’t know the prisoner who did it…or how he got in,” Cain replied. “I was reading one of the books you gave me and then the cell door opened and when I looked up there was this fucker pointing a gun at me.”

“Did he say anything before he shot you?” asked Jackson .

“He wanted me to join his army…but I said ‘no’ and then another dude came in and told the first guy to shoot me because I was human. So the first guy did…I mean, shoot me…and the only thing I remember after that was Dale telling me not to give up.

“What army was he referring to?” asked Smokey.

Glancing at Smokey, Cain shook his head. “I don’t know…he didn’t say anything else.”

“Do you know who the second prisoner was?” asked Jackson.

“Nope…but I’m pretty sure they both arrived at the prison after I got put into a cell by myself.”

“Why do you think that?” asked Smokey.

Shrugging, Cain said, “Cuz I never saw them before that.”

“And you would have, right?” asked Jackson.

“Yeah…maybe not their names, but definitely their faces.”

Just then, the door to the operating room opened. Jackson glanced over his shoulder and grinned at Steel. Then turning back to Cain, Jackson said, “Cain, meet my mate, Steel. He’s the Alpha Mate and if you have any questions or problems and I’m not available, he’ll be able to help you.”

Steel stopped next to Jackson and held out his hand, “Nice to meet you, Cain.”

Hesitating, Cain looked at Jackson and, after his nod, grasped Steel’s hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, too, sir.”

“Steel, please. Sir just makes me feel old,” he said, chuckling .

“Steel, okay...okay.”

“Steel will show you to your room and I’m pretty sure we can scrounge up some clothes for you for the time being. Are you hungry?”

“No…” Cain started to say before his stomach growled, then sheepishly added, “Well...maybe a little bit.”

“C’mon, Cain,” Steel said, smiling. “I’m sure I can find something for you to eat that should tide you over until lunch.”

Nodding, Cain stepped around Jackson, but before he could go any further, he felt a hand on his arm. Stopping immediately, he looked down at the hand and then up at the person to whom it belonged. Having a sudden panic attack, he hallucinated that Jackson was going to tell him it was all a mistake, that Cain wouldn’t be staying after all.

“I’m really happy you’re here,” Jackson murmured to Cain. “Remember…choices belong to you…and don’t let anyone else make them for you.”

“I will…I promise,” Cain whispered back and, when Jackson released his arm, Cain walked over to Steel. “Ready when you are, sir…I mean Steel.”

Chuckling, Steel ushered Cain out of the room. “Do you want to see your room first or eat?”

Jackson didn’t hear Cain’s answer as the door swung closed, but he’d bet the choice would be food. Shifting his gaze over to Smokey, he asked, “What are your thoughts about an army made up of prisoners? Do you think it’s real or do you think the guy was using it as an excuse to kill Cain?”

“The answer to that depends on who it was that shot Cain. ”

“I agree. I’ll talk to Dylon…his father might be able to help us find out the names of prisoners admitted after a certain date.”

“Riley can get me that information,” Smokey offered.

“He works for Ghost…right?”

“Actually for Glenn.”

“Okay…good to know that there’s another option, but for now, I want to keep this in-house. And, Smokey?”

“Yeah?”

“Who and what Cain is stays between us…for now.”

“Sure…but my mates are gonna know.”

Grinning, Jackson said, “So you finished the claiming!”

“Yup…I claimed my two mates and they have claimed me and each other.”

“Congratulations!” Jackson replied.

“Thanks…and thanks for helping Theo and Norm with it.” Then he added, “Just so you know…I accepted.”

“Never doubted it for a moment,” Jackson said, grinning.

“What about my mates knowing about Cain?”

“It just means I’m gonna have to have the pack meeting sooner than later,” Jackson replied. “But would you ask them to keep quiet about him until I have the chance to talk to everyone about why I’ve chosen to accept a human into the pack?”

“Sure…anything else?”

“Just this…Cain’s had a tough life and he needs a friend…someone he trusts…” Jackson began .

“I can do that.”

“Good…and I might as well tell you that I’m assigning Cain to help Theo in the garden. He’s interested in gardening and I think getting his hands in the soil and watching things grow will also benefit him in other ways.”

“Okay, but I hafta ask…is he a threat to Theo?”

“What does your bear tell you?”

Smokey was quiet for a moment, then said, “He’s okay with it, so I guess I am too.”

“The other reason I want Cain to help in the garden is Theo’s pregnancy. Gardening is hard work…I know because I helped my mother when I was young. Having Cain as his assistant will avoid Theo having to lift heavy stuff, you know, bags of soil, compost, and whatever else, which, according to Mac, is something he shouldn’t be doing at this stage.”

“I know…Norm and I were trying to figure out how one of us could be with him anytime he’s out there.”

“You still can be, but now neither of you have to worry about it if you can’t. Even though Cain is human, he’s young and strong, so I’m sure he’ll be able to do what Theo needs done.”

Nodding, Smokey headed for the door. “I better get back to my mates who are probably wondering where I am.”

“Thanks for saving Cain,” Jackson said softly as Smokey walked past him.

Stopping, Smokey turned and looked at Jackson. “Thank you for saving Theo and Norm from that asshole, Arald…and you should also be thanking them be cause they encouraged me to finally accept who I am.”

Smiling, Jackson replied, “It seems the Fates have been busy making sure Cain will live to fulfill his purpose, then.”

Pausing for a moment, Smokey thought it over, then started to chuckle. “They do work in mysterious ways…most things seem to work out the way they’re meant to be, I guess.”

“Very true. Oh and by the way, tell your mates I don’t want to see them back here until tomorrow morning. Steel and Sofia are handling the meals and will also be delivering yours to the clearing. So have fun and enjoy their company.”

Smokey’s face lit up. “Really? Fuckin’ A! Hey, you should probably tell Steel he shouldn’t come knocking if the leaves are shaking…if you catch my drift!” he exclaimed, smirking.

Bursting out in laughter, Jackson shook his head. “I’ll make sure to do that.” After Smokey left, Jackson sat down on a stool, breathing a sigh of relief. Cain was alive and safely in his custody. But there was still the unanswered question of how and why he got shot in the first place. Oracle had said no harm would come to Cain while he was considering the Fates’ request, but obviously she was wrong. He would have to ask her about that, but first, he needed to see Ian, Mac, and Colton about Smokey and the need for them to keep quiet about his abilities.

~/~/~/~/~

As Kieran dashed up the steps to Brian and Reif’s house, Logan glanced at Remy and asked, “You comin’? ”

“Yup, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Remy said. “One of my favorite toys when I was a kid was the stuffed Nessie my parents gave me.”

“Do you still have it?” Logan asked.

“Nope,” Remy replied chuckling. “One day, I decided it would be great if he could show me his underwater world.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah…by the time my mother found us in the pond behind our house, he was soaked and even though she tried, it was impossible to save him.”

“Your mother was a witch, right? Why didn’t she use magic to resuscitate him?”

“My parents couldn’t risk using their magic once I made my first light sphere.”

“So you grew up without magic?” asked Logan.

“Not exactly,” Remy replied. “My magic was so weak that my parents felt it would be safe if I used it for my lessons.”

“Doesn’t sound too exciting, from the sound of it,” Logan said, smiling.

Shrugging, Remy said, “It was more like ‘why bother’ since I’d never be able to do anything with it.”

“It must have been a big shock when you found out you were the Ruler of the Mystic Realm.”

“That’s an understatement.” Remy chuckled. “Thank goodness I had Carson to help me figure out what to do.”

“Mates make all the difference, don’t they,” Logan replied. “I don’t know what my life would’ve been like if Kieran hadn’t appeared like a ray of sunshine in it. C’mon, our spirit is telling me the first egg will be hatching in a few minutes.”