His Savior

Wolfsbane

               I make it to the hospital in no time. The entire trip, I kept trying to think of what the doctor would have to tell me. I keep coming up empty because Cory was just in the hospital, and any issues would have been caught during his stay. Though I'm no doctor, I assume it must not be a medical issue.

               As soon as the receptionist sees me, she sends me into Kilgore's office. I walk in and sit across from him. "Hello Alpha. I'm glad you were able to make the time to see me." I nod in response.

               "You have me worried. What is it that you need to tell me about Cory?" Kilgore takes a deep breath and runs a hand down his face.

               "Cory came to see me this morning and asked me if I could refill his prescription. He said he has been taking these pills for years because he dealt with anxiety and panic attacks that would make him pass out." I'm lost because I fail to see how this could be troublesome. "The pill bottle had no label on it which is weird for a prescription. Cory said he didn't know the name of the pills either. When I took a look at them, I became suspicious. The pills are a gray color and I can tell you that is not a normal color for a medicine."

               "So, do you think he wasn't taking a medicine at all?" If that is the case, what was he taking? Was it something that was meant to kill him? Is he dying? Who would do something like that to a kid?

               Kilgore nodded. "I decided to analyze the pill, and I took three vials of blood from Cory just to check." Kilgore goes for a file on his desk and then pauses. "I just want to thank you and your father again for the upgraded lab. Without it, there is no telling how long this all would have taken." I nod and laugh a bit. I actually convinced my father to create a detailed lab here. He thought it was a crazy idea because we are werewolves, and we heal at a crazy rate. He didn't think there would be any need for the equipment. I agree that we may not use it as often as a human clinic, but with this lab, we can do some great things. Not only can we use it to train other wolves, but experiments can be conducted. It has actually gotten some good use over the few years it has been operational.

               "What did you find?"

               "The pill is a combination of a few things, but the most outrageous ingredient is wolfsbane." WTF?! Wolfsbane? That can be deadly to wolves if we have prolonged exposure. It definitely suppresses our wolves and keeps us from healing. How in the world did Cory get a hold of wolfsbane? "The pills had enough wolfsbane to have the desired impact, but it wasn't enough to kill him quickly. I will say though, it's possible that death may have been on the horizon." I jump out of my chair and start pacing back and forth. Aria wants to come forth so bad and take the Wild Tail pack down, but I'm struggling to keep her in. "I checked Cory's blood and not only is there a steady stream of wolfsbane in his system, but.....well.....he has a wolf."

               "Cory has a........" My voice fades out as I try to wrap my brain around what the doctor just told me. Cory has been taking a small dose of wolfsbane for years and had no idea. On top of that, Cory actually has a wolf; he is not wolfless like he believes. There is a wolf inside Cory that he has never met. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Aria with me. The moment we met, I felt more whole as a person. She is truly my other half, and I would be lost without her. I go back to the chair and slump down in it. "What do we do? What CAN we do?"

               "I suggest he stops with the pills, and luckily, he only has a bit left. I will just get rid of them, so he doesn't have to worry." I nod in agreement. "I think he should know what's going on. The next few weeks may be hard for him to deal with. He will be, basically, going through withdrawal. He has taken this pill so long, his body has gotten used to it. Not only that, he will be getting his wolf. That first shift will be horrible, given the fact that he has been suppressed for so long. He will need all of the comfort and help he can get." I close my eyes and quietly contemplate everything the doctor has just said. This changes so much with us. How I feel about him hasn't changed, nor the fact that I want him by my side. This may give Cory a better outlook on himself and everything around him. This may aid in our journey toward each other.

               "How long will it take for the pills to get out of his system?" Kilgore shakes his head.

               "I'm not exactly sure. I've never come across anything like this before. It could be weeks, and it could take longer. This is going to be a tough road." I nod. "I still want to analyze the pills more. I want to know what else is in there, but I need to use an outside lab."

               "Do what you need to do, but keep me updated." Kilgore nods in agreement. "I will go talk to Cory." I get up and make my way out of his office and out of the hospital. What a revelation! I'm still trying to deal with the shock of it all, and I can't understand how this could have happened. I don't know how to tell Cory all of this, but I know that it has to happen as soon as possible. He deserves to know what has been done to him, and I just hope he can cope with it all. I don't know what my reaction would be if it were me, but Cory seems to be a gentler soul than I am.