AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I ended the call and took a moment to collect myself before driving to the hospital.
Elliot Elkins was pacing in front of his son’s room and talking with one of the shifter doctors. The second Mr. Elkins saw me, he stopped dead. His face was pale, the bags heavy under his eyes, and it looked like he’d been swiping his hand through his hair for several days. His shoulders were tense, hunched around his ears. I’d already clued in that there wouldn’t be the greatest news awaiting me, but the older man’s actions had me more worried than before.
“What’s going on?”
“My son’s wolf is missing.”
What? What did he mean that his wolf was missing?
“I’m sorry, come again?”
“Zander’s wolf is missing. He’s no longer a shifter.”
Was I hearing him correctly? How was that possible?
The doctor put his hand on Elliot’s shoulder to pause his pacing. Then he looked at me. “Mayor, when Zander was first brought in, his scent was strange, but we thought it was from being held captive by the hunters. We thought that once he rested and recovered, everything would return to normal. Now that he’s been lucid and we’ve been around him, talking with him, it’s become clear that whatever happened to Zander… well, it changed him significantly.
“He smells, acts, and is essentially like a human since he woke up. He doesn’t recollect anything about shifters or anything paranormal. Since that’s been the case, we have said nothing to him about it. We don’t want to induce panic or make him any more uncomfortable or angry than he already is at his memory loss. We felt it warranted your attention. This is dangerous territory that we don’t know how to approach. We have no idea if this is safe or if there’ll be serious repercussions.”
Human. Zander Elkins, a born alpha shifter, was nowhuman. Holy fuck.
Staring at the doctor and then Zander’s father, I tried to wrap my head around this information. I’d never heard of a shifter losing their wolf. The hunters had obviously done something unnatural to Zander.
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” I managed. “This is gravely serious. I’m assuming you’re keeping him closely monitored?”
“Yes. At the moment, that’s all we’re capable of doing, unfortunately, until we’re given some answers or until we collect enough data.”
Mr. Elkins resumed pacing, looking lost and withdrawn. “Mayor, what’re we going to do? That’s my boy in there. He doesn’t know any other way than to be a wolf. What’s that going to do to him when his memories return? How will he be able to protect himself? He’s never been weaker, and with his drinking, he needed to be stronger for all the scrapes he found himself in. What’s going to happen to him?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out,” I tried to reassure. I’ll work night and day to get answers for you and Zander. To get answers for all shifters.”
This was wrong on all accounts, and I couldn’t fathom how it was even possible. I started putting all the pieces together. The hunters’ healing pills had some sort of connection to a witch. The room Zander had been found in had spell markings etched all over, and he’d had those marks on his body. Kyle had also mentioned someone named Giselle and that she was arriving soon.
That was where they’d taken Zander. She must’ve been a powerful witch who had done something to Zander’s wolf. That was the only explanation I could come up with.
Those pills had potent healing properties. They had literally restored us to brand new, as if nothing had happened.
Could a witch be that powerful? Strong enough to remove a wolf from a man?
Was that what had been happening when people said wolves were disappearing? They weren’t being killed, but made human. Was the memory loss all part of the hunters’ experiments? To ensure the packs could never find their people and figure out what the hunters were doing?
“Can I see Zander?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“Of course. Follow me,” the doctor said.
Lola Kipling was in the room with Zander. He was making googly eyes at her while she kept up an easygoing conversation.
I watched them for a moment and reminded myself that Lola didn’t know anything about shifters. I kept a running tally of every human who did and didn’t know of the supernatural world. All the shifters in town did, as it wouldn’t be wise to slip up in front of the wrong human.
The shy psychiatrist wasn’t one of them. A newcomer in town, she seemed to keep to herself. Despite my mate’s efforts to befriend and protect her, she appeared to be struggling to build connections.
“Hello, Dr. Kipling,” I greeted. “I’m sorry to butt in, but would you mind if I cut into your session for a moment and speak with Zander alone?”
“Yes, of course, Mayor Blackwood. I’ll head to the cafeteria and grab myself a coffee.” She turned to Zander and smiled. “I’ll be back shortly, and we can finish talking.”
Zander gave her a goofy grin, and then, as soon as she closed the door behind her, he glared at us and started complaining, “You know, I’d appreciate it if people stopped interrupting whenever the pretty doctor and I are trying to make a breakthrough in my memory loss. The interruptions hinder the process.”
For a moment, I wanted to chuckle at the major lie I was scenting off the man. He was more concerned about not having alone time with the pretty doctor than regaining his memory. I was all for that, because then he might leave my mate alone. Zander had been attempting to mess around with Tori since she’d arrived in town. It didn’t matter that my mate could handle herself. My wolf and I still wanted to go at his throat every time we witnessed it.
