Page 89 of Wanted

“The pills,” I say out loud to let Dr. Drake in on the silent conversation taking place. “They were used to trap her wolf.”

Chael nods. “Yes, apparently.”

It’s my turn to narrow my eyes as I stare at him. “Apparently,” I repeat the word, as if he misspoke.

Chael doesn’t misspeak, though.

“We’re still not certain that’s the case,” he replies, looking at me as he talks so that I can understand. “She hasn’t shifted yet. And the tests Dr. Drake ran aren’t definitive.”

“But her blood did have traces of wolf’s bane.”

Wolf’s bane is a rare but extremely dangerous plant to us wolf shifters.

“Didn’t that son of a bitch Rufus use wolf’s bane in his experiments?” Chael asks.

“He did,” I agree, recalling the traitors’ attempt at creating a concoction that would separate us from our wolves. “He also was working with a few lone wolves. Like the ones that attacked Reese at her home,” I remind him.

My brother grits and bares his teeth, leading me to believe he’s growled out loud. An image of Emery pops into my mind and a growl emanates up my throat.

I don’t have to wonder if I’ve done so out loud. The way both Dr. Drake and Chael look at me, I know they heard it.

“Somebody’s been lying to her for years,” I say. “And poisoning her.”

She started taking those pills when she was eleven years old.

“Her parents?” Chael asks.

I clench my teeth so hard my jaw aches. “I don’t know for sure.”

I had Marshall look into the Clarkes, the couple that adopted Emery and Ashley. They’re originally from Florida where Craig Clarke went to medical school.

“Emery’s biological parents were from a small pack in Florida. Her father went to medical school with Craig Clarke. That’s how they met and became friends,” I tell my brother of the information I’ve gathered on Emery’s parents so far.

Though I haven’t told her what I know just yet.

“Ms. Cynthia texted me a couple of days ago. She finally remembered her parents from that picture Emery’s sister showed her weeks ago. We had a video call,” I tell him.

Chael and Dr. Drake listen intently as I tell them what Ms. Cynthia told me.

Chael cocks his head to the side

Though Rufus and the human doctor he was working with are dead, there is the possibility that there are more people out there. The fact that Emery’s been taking those fucking pills for years means this was a long-term plan.

Someone was behind those prescriptions. I don’t trust anyone from Emery’s past until I know what the hell is going on. I know eventually, I’ll have to tell her because this means her sister might be in danger too.

So far, all of the information I’ve been able to find on the doctor she told me prescribed her the pills has been on the upand up. He has no negative history in his career and by all accounts, is an upstanding physician.

But he was the one who gave her those pills for years, so I know his public demeanor is bullshit. It remains to be seen if Emery’s parents were involved in the lie as well.

A muscle in my jaw tics.

My brother doesn’t miss it either. He raises an eyebrow, turning his head to the side.

Is there something you want to say, brother?

Emery is my mate,I tell him, looking him in the eye.I have to keep her safe.

Unsurprisingly, Chael’s expression morphs until a huge grin spreads across his face.Your mate? I thought you didn’t have one of those.