Phoenix's Wolf

Chapter 5

“What happened?” Grant asked anxiously as he helped lay Jakon on a bed in the medical wing. Jakon was still unconscious.

“He confronted the school wrestling team because they were breaking into mother’s car at the school while we were talking with Mr. Jenkins in the science building. I was headed back to the car when I saw them. Jakon and a couple of the other football team boys had gone back up to the school to look for Helen. I guess maybe he had seen them too. He grabbed that metal pipe from one of them and after they had all ran away, he collapsed,” Phoenix said, pointing to the metal pipe that Wes was holding wrapped in a towel.

Grant took the pipe and towel from Wes and took it over to a table. There he carefully unwrapped it as he asked, “Has it made contact with anyone else’s skin since Jakon touched it?”

Everyone in the room shook their heads as they watched Grant take a long Q-tip and swab the surface of the pipe. He then wiped the swab onto a glass slide and placed the slide under his microscope. He was quiet while he examined the slide.

“He will be okay after a while. He was dosed with what looks to be cyanide. It can kill a human very quickly, but it only knocks our kind out for a little while. His hands may hurt because there looks to be some silver metal shavings in the cyanide, but all in all he will be okay,” Grant said, turning around to face the small group that had brought in Jakon. “However, this does lead to bigger and more questions than answers, Luna Casey. How did those wrestlers know that you guys would be there? But the biggest question of all, and the one that I am scared to know the answer to is, how did they know to put silver metal shavings in the cyanide?”

“Another question I am wondering is, did they know that it wouldn’t kill Jakon? What if he had been human?” Casey asked, moving to stand next to Grant.

“I don’t think it would have. The human was holding it with his bare hands,” Phoenix said, thinking back on the strange encounter. “Jakon snatched it from him when he tried to hit him. Then Jakon hit the kid with it across the face. That was when they all ran off.”

“I think that kid had to have something on his skin to keep the Cyanide from soaking into his skin,” Grant said, turning to reexamine the metal pipe. “There looks to be only the oily substance on one end of the pipe. The other kid was probably holding the non-poisoned side of the pipe.”

“What I am really curious about, mother, is why the principal was there so late. And he seemed to hesitate when we asked him if he could take us to that room,” Phoenix said. Pulling out her phone, she continued, “I saw a strange red mark on the ground up next to the board at the front of the room. I took a picture of it just before I walked out into the hallway.” She handed her mother her phone.

“That looks like blood,” Casey said, showing the picture to Grant.

“It most definitely does,” Grant agreed. “Phoenix, would you have access to that room during school tomorrow?”

“With the video showing that Helen was last seen going into that classroom before her body was found, they will probably have it locked up tighter than Fort Knox. But I can try. Why do you ask?” Phoenix answered.

“I want to see if you can possibly get a swab of what you took a picture of,” Grant said. “We need to find out who did this. I know the human law enforcement officers are doing all they can to find her killer, but we need to be sure that this was random. That she was not taken from our pack in this manner because of what she was.”

“Grant, are you saying that you believe she was killed because she was a wolf?” Shane asked as he entered the room.

“A part of me is thinking that, yes. But it only crossed my mind after this most recent incident with Jakon,” Grant admitted. He motioned for Shane to take a look at the microscope.

“What exactly are we dealing with, Doc?” Shane asked as he stepped up next to Grant and looked into the microscope. “Is that silver flakes in the gel?”

“Yes, it is. That gel is cyanide. I have checked all of Jakon’s vitals and he seems to be fine. It’s like he is just knocked out. That is the only thing that I know of, that can do that. My guess is that the flakes are to make sure that the gel gets into the skin faster,” Grant answered.

As Shane and Grant were talking, Phoenix felt a stirring in her mind.

What the...hell happened? Jakon asked weakly. Phoenix glanced over to where he was lying on the medical bed.

You were drugged by those guys that were breaking into mother’s car. How are you feeling? Phoenix sent.

Like I got hit by a Mack Truck, but other than that I think I am okay. How are you? Where am I? Jakon asked a little stronger this time. Phoenix seen his head move slightly.

I am fine. You are in the medical wing at the packhouse. Do you remember what happened? Phoenix asked.

Yeah, I smacked that kid with the metal pipe. It’s after that, that it all goes hazy. Jakon answered. But I don’t think those guys were who you thought they were. I mean, I didn’t recognize any of them. I don’t think they even go to our school.

The more I think about it and listen to Grant talk, I am beginning to think the same thing. I mean, the wrestling team would never be there that late. I was just going off of their jackets and builds. In the quick glance I got of them, I never saw their faces. But if they didn’t go to our school, then how did they know your name? Phoenix said.

That is a really good question, Jakon sent as he slowly opened his eyes and groaned slightly as he tried to sit up. Grant rushed to his side and gently pushed him back against the pillows.

“Relax, buddy. You are okay, but you might be a little disoriented for a bit. Just lay here and rest,” Grant said, as he checked Jakon’s pulse and then his heart rate.

“I am fine, Grant. I promise. I just have a headache,” Jakon said as he tried to sit up again.

“I am just wanting to make sure that you are not having any reactions to the cyanide or the silver flakes. Are you sure you are feeling okay? I need you to be honest with me, Jakon. This is serious and not a time to act tough,” Grant said, watching Jakon’s movements closely.

“My right hand is a little tingly from where I grabbed the metal pipe. But other than that, the only thing that is really bothering me is my head,” Jakon admitted.

“The silver flakes must still be in your skin then. We will need to extract them before I let you go,” Grant said. “You may have to miss school tomorrow, I am afraid.”

“What?! I can’t miss school tomorrow. We have the spring game after school tomorrow. I have to go,” Jakon groaned. “It’s just a headache.”

Big baby. Who knows what that cyanide will do to you if it still in your system by the time you play in that game. For once, will you listen to someone other than yourself? Phoenix sent as she turned and left before anyone could see the sudden tears that were threatening to fall again.

What in the world is wrong with me? Why do I suddenly care about what happens to that jerk? I think I am going crazy, she thought to herself as she rushed to her room upstairs.

You are not going crazy. It is not so crazy to have feelings for your mate, Jakon answered her thoughts for her.

There is no way I am mated to someone as arrogant and selfish as you. NO WAY! NOW STAY OUT OF MY HEAD! Phoenix sent angrily. Her wolf growled at her statement.