CHAPTER 6. JAKE'S POV

'Jane, knock them out.' I mindlinked our healer who nodded slightly because moving. Jane was not a magical healer, but she was one of the brightest. Studying the flora for so many years, she became an expert and was able to prepare all kinds of potent medicine, potions and powders using what nature had to offer and a little bit of science. I knew she had brought what she calls the Sleeping Beauty powder. One sniff and you're out as a light.  She moved so fast that neither Thomas nor Delilah had a chance to react and a second after, they both fell asleep. Delilah, who was standing, fell right into my arms and I could sense Marte's happiness for us having an excuse to hold her again. 

"I am so lost right." Gilan - the youngest among us - said, gesturing explosions by his temples to show that his mind was blown by what had just happened. 

As soon as he finished his comment, we all looked at one another and every single one of them started talking at the same time. 

"...Change the plan..."

"... and what the fuck...?"

"...how did you not know...?"

"...Wolfsbane..."

"...why did you capture her if...?"

"...let her choke you..."

"...lost your mind..."

"She is my mate." As soon as I said the four words, silence took over. Before they could actually react, my brain processed one word that stood the hell out while everyone was talking simultaneously. "Did you just say you smelled Wolfsbane, Kendra?" My question made all eyes shift from me to her. Afterall, not only was Wolfsbane extremely rare nowadays, but we were also aware of Kendra's past. She didn't have to say anything or even nod for me to know that I'd heard it correctly. Her face was pale and she looked tired all of the sudden. 

You see, Kendra isn't affected by wolfsbane like most wolves are. Her body developed a very high tolerance to it. No, what made her suddenly seem in such a bad shape were her memories. The memories that hunted her and still made her have nightmares almost every night. 

Just like Ian, Jane and Kyle, she was an orphan rogue wolf. Unlike them, when she ran into hunters, she was helpless and alone. She wasn't able to escape. They didn't kill her, but I don't think any one of us will ever forget the expression on her face when she told us that for a long time, she wish they had done it. Instead of killing her, they had sold her to a group of radicals who believed that the wolf gene was a disease which must be cured. She was taken to a warehouse, kept in a cage and day-in day-out they ran experiments of her. Most of these experiments were related to wolfsbane. It took her over two years to grow enough resistance to be able to turn completely. We were heading back to our brand new packhouse when we heard her wolf howl loud and in pain.

It wasn't easy, but we killed every human that came out of that warehouse that night and freed her. Despite being scared and so ready to leave that place, she asked us to retrieve the body of other wolves that were captured like her, but didn't survive. Kendra was the last one alive and I can never imagine how it felt to watch everyone around you die from being tortured. While we made sure to get all the bodies out, so we could give them a proper burial back at our territory, she went to their lab and burned their whole stock of wolfsbane. 

This damn plant... Until that night, I was certain it was extinct. Decades ago, when humans found out how harmful it was to wolves, packs all around the globe came to the agreement that they couldn't let it become a weapon against our species. For many years, wolves sole mission was to find and destroy wolfsbane. I had only ever seen it in pictures. Even that night, Kendra didn't want us to get close to it, because she feared the smell there would be strong enough to hurt us.

"The boy... I don't know why or how, but you have to believe me: There is wolfsbane in his system." Reacting to her answer, Marte pushed forward. Our wolves always have sharper senses, so he would probably be able to sniff it out. Kendra shook her head, raising her palm, as if asking Marte and I to wait. "When I found him, there was a cut in this hand. It is probably healed by now, but the scent of his blood was mixed with it." This was her turn to sniff. "Shit." She said, before lowering herself until she was on her knees beside him. She raised his hand and showed his palm to us. The cut wasn't completely healed yet. "It wasn't deep, why isn't he healing?" Kendra asked, looking at Jane for answers.

"His wolf hasn't showed yet, but he stood should have been healed by now." Jane said, getting closer to examine him. Curious as always, she sniffed the cut and immediately screamed in pain. "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!" She said, distancing herself from my half-brother. "It's so faint, why does it burn so much?"

"We were never exposed to it before, so it probably makes us super sensitive." It was Ian's reply and Kendra nodded, agreeing with him. "Do you think that is why he looks so sick all the time?" He asked Kendra, who nodded once again. It was clear by her expression that she felt sorry for him, that she understood exactly why he felt.

"Probably small dosages, but..." She replied, seeming a bit lost in thoughts.

Ian and Henry exchange a look, before they both turned to me. "I'm so sorry, Alpha. I mean, we have been watching him for months. How can I not have seen him taking this shit? I've failed you. I'm sorry." Ian said and Henry added his apologies. I could see they felt guilty over this, but I also trusted them. 

"I doubt that whatever is going on with him is something simple or obvious. Don't feel guilty just yet. We are going to find out exactly what the hell is happening once we get to the packhouse and they are awake." I promised them and myself.