“That explains how they could poison any wolves that attacked the burrow, but it doesn’t explain how they got to Copeland and Linc.” Grinding my teeth, I fought the urge to scream in frustration.
“I don’t know the answer to that either.” Fletcher cursed and banged his fist on the arm of the chair. “From the document I read, it takes multiple treatments over many weeks to reach toxic levels in the test plants. There’s no way they could’ve snuck onto the lands enough times to raise those levels. Besides, we haven’t even been here that long.”
He was right, which meant they had found another way to use the toxin. We hadn’t even gone out where there were groups of people where someone could’ve bumped into them like a secret agent from a spy movie and injected them.
“Could they have tampered with the water supply?” I asked.
Fletcher stared at the floor, mulling over the suggestion. “No. The amount they would’ve needed to poison that much water would be impossible to sneak into pack lands without being caught.”
We fell into silence, both of us racking our brains and trying to figure out how the wolves could have been exposed. I thought back over the last few hours; the guys making me breakfast, swimming and making love in the lake, our slow walk back home where we crashed into bed.
Nothing stood out.
Not until I remembered the field.
It had been so beautiful. The wolves running through the towering flowers and grass while brilliant butterflies and tiny finches took flight. The petals had fallen around us, as pollen had clung to the wolves’ fur.
“It wasn’t pollen,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“What?” Fletcher asked.
But even as he asked, I could see the realization dawning on him as well. They’d turned their toxin into a powder. How had they known we would go through the wildflower field?
They couldn’t have known.
Which means they'd probably spread it all around the cabin. There was no way of knowing how many acres of the woods and fields surrounding us had been dusted in the stuff.
“We can’t let any of the pack members come up here and risk being exposed to the toxin. How are we going to get the men to the hospital?” The few bites of sandwich I’d swallowed were doing their best to come back up.
“I found the keys to their Jeep. If necessary, we’ll force the wolves to let us take them to the hospital.” Seeing my distress, Fletcher moved around the table to wrap his arms around my shoulders.
“I don’t think it will take much force. They are barely responding right now,” I croaked, my voice breaking.
Fletcher kissed the top of my head. “Don’t stress too much, Charlee. Wolves are one of the most powerful shifters in the paranormal world. Their immune systems are probably justworking to destroy the toxin. The pack doctors will give them fluids that will help flush the toxin out quicker.”
“But what if the hospital can’t? What if they fail? What if Copeland and Linc die?” Tears slid down my cheeks. “I’ve brought them nothing but trouble.”
Fletcher squatted beside me. “Stop that. The guys would probably flip you over their knees and spank you if they heard you talking like that.”
He picked up a chip from my plate and held it to my lips. “Open. You have to get some food in you before we leave.”
“You aren’t going to feed me like I’m a toddler?—”
“Hush.” Fletcher shoved the chip into my mouth. “I wanted you to myself, but I knew you’d need more than I’d be able to provide by myself to survive your heats. Watching those arrogant wolf-men make love to you the first time just about broke me.”
Shocked at the admission, I obediently opened my mouth for another bite, not wanting to interrupt him.
“Everything inside me was screaming that they were nothing but horny dogs seizing the opportunity to get some action. I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t have a choice if I wanted you to survive.” He cut a bit off the sandwich, feeding it to me before continuing. “But when I pushed past those feelings of jealousy, I realized I’d been wrong. I recognized the look in their eyes because I’ve seen it in my face when I look in the mirror. It was the same with the way they touch you; I knew they were just as drawn to you, just as in love with you, as I am.”
Swallowing the bite, I started to speak, but Fletcher shoved another bite into my mouth.
“I’m telling you this so that you will stop feeling guilty. You didn’t set fire to the woods, you didn’t hire coyotes to attack the cave, and you had nothing to do with the toxin. Copeland and Linc are big boys who can make their own decisions, andthey’ve made it clear”—Fletcher tapped a finger against the wolves’ marks on either side of my neck—“that you belong to them. To us. We are a family now, and we’ll face whatever comes together.”
“Thank you,” I sobbed, throwing my arms around his neck, nearly toppling us onto the floor.
“You have nothing to thank me for.” Fletcher patted my back, then grabbed a clean napkin from the table. “Now dry those tears and let’s get your wolves to the Jeep.”
Ihad expected the men to put up a fight, but the fact that they didn’t was a testament to how sick they truly were. By the time we got them into the Jeep, and were headed to the pack house, both Fletcher and I were soaked in sweat, and I was pretty sure I’d pulled at least three muscles.
