Gabe rifled through his pockets and came out with a small packet of old fashioned headache powders. “These?” he asked. Scott nodded. “Do you know if the box was already open? Think, Scott!”
“Damn, I don’t know. He had it in his pocket. I think he keeps a box in his office. He just opened one up and threw it back like he does. ”
Gabe turned to the beta. “Did he vomit anything before he collapsed?”
“Yeah, just as he started to get up. He said he wasn’t feeling well and…” The beta yelled to one of the guards. “Go upstairs and find me some samples. Don’t let anybody clean it up. We need to get the samplesto a lab. ” He turned back to Gabe. “You think he reallywas poisoned?”
Gabe shook his head miserably. “I don’t know, but like I said, he was fine when he left our room. It doesn’t make any sense. ”
The doctor shook his head. “So far nothing to indicate any kind of illness or attack. He’s very weak, though. He must be given blood immediately if he is to survive. ”
“Then give him some, damn it!What the hell are you waiting for?”
“Zack’s an alpha, Gabe. ” Scott told him. “Only another alpha’s blood will work. Jamie’s his beta, and he gave him some already, but it wasn’t enough, and there’s only one other alpha in our pack—Tim—but he’s not here. He left early this morning for the mine,and we haven’t been able to reach him on his cell phone. Jamie’s blood is the strongest we have to give him, and it’s probably the only thing keepinghim going this long. ”
“Get some more damn alpha blood then! Howcan we?”
Jamie spoke up. “The nearest alpha is in North Carolina, another alpha of the Dark Hollow Pack, named Marco. I’ve called him already, and both he and his battle commander, another alpha, agreed to come and are on their way. Trouble is, it will take at least a couple hours for them to get here on the mountain roads. I don’t know if I can keep him going long enough. ”
A tiny sob burst from Gabe’s throat, but he quickly stifled it and turned to Scott. “Load him into a car, Scott, and call the alpha back. Tell him we’re on our way from here,and we’ll meet him halfway. It should cut our time in half. ”
Jamie and Scott looked startled over not thinking of the idea themselves. Scott ran from the room to make preparations while Jamie pulled out his cell phone.
Racing along the mountain roads, Zack’s head in his lap, Gabe never was more frightened in his life. Not of the breakneck speed with which Scott was taking the curves, but of the possibility of losing the loveof his life, the one person he simply couldn’t live without.
When he left the compound a few days before, he’d cried going down the mountain at some of the hurtful things Zack had said to him, however true they might have been. He’d been a little scared too, that too much had been said, and he’d pushed Zack too far.
Yet he’d known deep down Zack would come for him. They both knew it was an elaborate game they played and though feelings may get hurt and tempers might flare, in the end they would work it out. There simply was no other option.
This was different, and Gabe was too wounded for simple tears. His grief at Zack’s possible loss was stark and desolate. He gazed down into Zack’s face, watching his breathing, listening to Jamie on the phone while Scott drove like a madman on the mountain roads, lights flashing and horn blaring.
Jamie hung up and turned to Gabe. “That was the doctor. He says cyanide traces are in the packet, crushed up into a fine powder like those headache powders. If it hadn’t been for his strong wolf metabolism it would have killed him immediately. ”
“Damn it!” Scott banged his hand on the steering wheel. “We were within the compound— it’s supposed to be safe!”
Jamie looked over at Gabe. “We’re questioning everyone, and nobody knows anything. ”
“Somebody does,” Gabe said tersely. “And when we find them…”
“I just got off the phone with Marco and Casey’s driver. Marco and Casey are the alphas from North Carolina. We think we’re about fifteen minutes away from each other. I’m going to give him some more of my blood. It’s not helping much, but if it can just keep him going there’s a chance. ”
Jamie got on his knees, leaned over the front seat, bit into his wrist, and placed it next to Zack’s mouth. Gabe applied pressure on the hinges ofZack’s jaw to get him to open up enough to let the blood in, and then massaged his throat over and over to get him to swallow. A slow process, but it helped Gabe to be able to do something—anything—other than just sit and wait helplessly.
Jamie smiled at him encouragingly. “When Zack wakes up, he’s going to be so proud of you. ”
For the first time since they got in the car, Gabe’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh,Jamie,” he whispered. “Do you really think he might wake up?”
Jamie nodded. “I really do, Gabe. He’s one of the strongest people I ever met, and he’s got an awful lot to live for. ” Defying pack law, he reached over with his left hand and squeezed Gabe’s arm. “Don’t give up. We’re almost there. ”
Scott called out excitedly. “I see them ahead! I’m pulling over. Brace yourself,Jamie. ”
Jamie, still bent over the front seat, grabbed hold of the seat with one hand and held on tight as Scott swerved onto the shoulder of the road. He jumped out and opened the back door. Things started happening quickly.
The door beside Gabe opened too, and a tall, very good looking man stood there looking down at him with compassion. “I’m Marco. If you’ll move, I can get in to help him. ”
His voice was kind, but Gabe couldn’t bring himself to move. He had a sudden, unreasonable fear if he moved, he’d never see Zack alive again. Marco was shoved out of the way and a beautiful face looked in. The young man was blond with startlingly blue eyes, and he smiled sympathetically at Gabe, his voice low and soothing.
“C’mon, Gabe, let me help you get out. ” He took hold of his arm and tugged gently. “Marco is here to help Zack,and he won’t let him die. Will you, Marco?”