“I’m Smokey…who shot you?”
Blinking several times, Cain thought back to the moment when another prisoner had entered his cell. “I…I don’t know,” he murmured. “I never saw him before.” Then feeling his strength returning, Cain tried to sit up only to find his lower body still wrapped tightly in the sheet.
Looking down at his body, Cain found his prison uniform gone, leaving him as naked as the day he was born. It felt strange, which was ridiculous when he stopped to think about it, since he’d gotten used to it when he’d spent time in the high-security cell.
Following Cain’s gaze, Smokey muttered, “Oh shit! Uh…uh…gimme a second…I’m sure Colton has somethin’ in here you can wear.” Turning away, he hurried over to the only cupboard in the room, sighing in relief when he found some scrubs inside. Returning to Cain, he handed the clothes to him.
“Thanks,” Cain murmured, hopping off of the operating table and pulling on the pants. “By the way, my name’s Cain…Cain Foster.” Then tugging the top over his head, he asked, “Where am I? I don’t recognize this room.”
Smokey paused for a moment before answering. “You’re at the Blackwood Pack hospital…Mystia brought you here.”
Stunned, Cain stared at Smokey. “Blackwood Pack,” he whispered to himself before saying out loud, “You’re fuckin’ with me, right?”
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 tothe 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!”
