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.”
