His Savior

Attempted Murder

~Cory~

               I had an amazing morning. I spent it with Luna Amara, and she is amazing. Zahara is very similar to her mother. I can see where she got her caring, nurturing nature. Zahara's kindness led her to make friends with me when no one else would, and I just know she got that from the Luna.

               Luna Amara took me on a tour around the pack, and it was wonderful to see how her pack takes to her. Never have I seen Margaret loved like that. The pack respected her as their Luna, but it didn't seem like many liked her, let alone loved her. Not too many members of the pack took an interest in me, but I'm okay with that. I wouldn't know how to introduce myself anyway, so I prefer to keep the questions away.

               The Luna and I had a picnic lunch in the garden, and she told me many stories about her childhood. She also told me some great stories about Zahara as a child. I could almost see a young Zahara running around the pack grounds, enjoying life as a child. Spending time with Luna Amara kind of made me wonder how my own mother was. I hope that she was like the Luna, I think that would have been amazing.

               I head upstairs toward my floor, lost in thought. I don't notice anyone in the halls until I run into someone as I attempt to walk into my room. I hear a gasp, and I focus on what's in front of me. "Zahara, I'm so sorry. I didn't notice you there. Are you okay?" Zahara stands up straight and starts to straighten out her clothes. She puts a small smile on her face, but there is something in her eyes that worries me.

               "I'm fine. I'm sorry, I had been waiting for you. I couldn't find you earlier."

               "I was actually hanging out with your mom." Zahara gives me a look of surprise.

               "You....you were with my mom?" I smile and lean in the doorway against the door.

               "Yeah. I ran into her during breakfast and we spent the morning together and had lunch. Your mom is amazing. You are so lucky to have her." Zahara smiles at me and leans against the other side of the doorway.

               "Yeah, I have to say that I got lucky with my parents. I'm very grateful." I stand and take Zahara in. She is undeniably beautiful. I just wish that I was more for her. She deserves everything and then some.

               "Uh, you said you have been waiting for me. What's up?" The look on Zahara's face changes, and she stands up straight.

               "We really need to talk, it's important." I can feel my heartbeat start to speed up. I wonder if she has decided to reject me now. I mean, she would be smart to do so, but that doesn't mean that it won't hurt. I will accept it when it comes, Zahara deserves everything this world can give her. I take a deep breath and open the door, motioning Zahara inside.

               "Let's talk in here."

~Zahara~

               We settle on the couch in the room. Cory sits with a straight back against the couch. I can't sit still, so I get up and start to pace back and forth in front of the couch. I really don't know how to tell him what I need to, but I know that I need to. This is a disaster, and his reaction could be just as devastating. I don't even know how I would react if I were in his shoes, so I have no idea what to expect.

               I continue pacing back and forth, wringing my hands as I go. "Uh, you are making me really nervous right now. Whatever it is, please just say it." I stop moving, and I take a deep breath. I sit in a chair adjacent to the couch, leaning over with my elbows on my knees.

               "So, you went to see the doctor this morning." Cory nods in response.

               "I'm trying to get my pills refilled. I usually don't have to worry about it. The doctor even took some blood. He said he wanted a baseline for me." I have to say that Dr. Kilgore did well with that excuse. Nothing at all to be suspicious about. I drop my head in my hands and take a few breaths. I pull my head back up and look Cory in his eyes.

               "The doctor called me to discuss what he found. Those pills.....well, they weren't what you thought they were; what they told you they were. Those pills, actually, have been poisoning you." Cory has a confused expression on his face.

               "I had the wrong prescription?" I shake my head.

               "Cory, those pills had wolfsbane in them. Someone has been feeding you wolfsbane." Cory stands up and starts to pace in front of the couch, but he says nothing. "Also........" Cory stops pacing and looks at me. "The tests that the doctor performed.....well......you are not wolfless."

               "What?" Cory deadpans.

               "Cory, you have a wolf. The wolfsbane you have been taking for so long is probably why you have never heard him or felt him. The wolfsbane has been suppressing your wolf all these years. If you stop taking the pills, you should start to feel your wolf. Well, in theory anyway. Dr. Kilgore isn't sure what exactly will happen when those pills get out of your system. You have been taking low doses of wolfsbane for so long now. He isn't sure about the long term damage."

               I watch Cory start to pace back and forth again. I can see the range of emotions on his face: shock, anger, sadness, fear, and they cycle back again. Tears start to fall down Cory's face, and my heart breaks for him. I have no idea what he is going through right now. I can't imagine learning that people were, essentially, trying to kill me all of these years. It's bad enough they used Cory as a punching bag and a slave. Trying to kill him just makes his treatment that much worse. Why do they hate Cory so much? This all started when he was a little kid. What could he have done at such a young age that would warrant such horrible treatment? How different would his life be if he had his mother or father around still?

               I want to grab him and wrap him up in my arms. Something in me knows that would be the worst thing I could do now. I know Cory needs time to process and deal with all of this, no matter how badly I want to make things right for him. "Cory? Are you okay? Do you need anything?" He shakes his head softly.

               "I.....I just....I think I need some time alone." Cory's voice is barely above a whisper. I slowly stand up and head towards the door. I turn back to Cory, but his back is facing me. I want to say something, to comfort him, but I just can't. I turn back and walk out of the door, softly closing it behind me.