Chapter 143

Art POV

Our Blessed Goddess Medical Center - Intensive Care Unit

Wright was giving me a headache. Again.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I breathed out hard, trying to pop my ears to relieve some of the pressure in my head.

All I managed to do was make the nurse in the room with me hop back from me like a rabbit before a wolf which wasn't too far off considering my personal afflictions and nature. I wasn't in danger of giving in to my thirst, but she did smell delicious. I wondered if she had fae blood in her.

"What were you saying?" I coaxed, trying to get her to resume the conversation we'd been having before Tyler Wright called.

"His blood shows poison. Signs of poison," she corrected, "Doctor Thomas ordered a full blood panel when he wasn't responding to treatment."

I prayed for patience as I stood beside Ethan Flores in his bed. He was breathing on his own, but he was completely comatose, virtually unresponsive to stimuli, and showing no signs of improvement even though he had no signs of distress either.

"What kind of poison? Was your test able to detect anything specific? I can't make a case without something concrete to take before the Alpha Council," I said.

The animal in me wanted to shake answers free of the nurse while the rational part of my mind insisted I go easy with her. I wouldn't get anything useful from terrifying the poor woman.

My thirst begged me to get closer to her throat where her blood was rushing through her veins. I could smell her fear almost as well as I could hear her heart beating in her chest, churning all her delicious blood around inside her. She'd make a delicious snack.

I felt as if I could drink dry half a dozen nurses at present though I knew it was only the greed of the vampire demon in me rather than actual thirst.

Shaking her head, she apologized, "I don't know the specifics. I know the blood was sent for specialist testing and results were conclusive. The doctor can come in to brief you himself. I'm not given the information you're looking for, Alpha Inspector, as it's not necessary for the patient's direct care."

I nodded and thanked her. I knew better than to ask her when Doctor Thomas would be making another round. The nurses were no more well-informed regarding the doctors' movements than visitors.

Doctors operated under their own set of rules. I thought they must be granted some sort of sense of self-righteousness along with their medical diploma because they all had it.

The intensive care unit at the wolfen medical center wasn't different from a similar room in a human facility. Everywhere were medical devices of varying purposes; only one lounger chair was in the room by way of additional furniture. A rolling tray table was placed beside the bed for the nurses to use since Ethan was clearly in no condition to need it himself.

Collapsing into the chair, I let my legs sprawl wide, taking advantage of having the room to myself outside of Ethan. I was used to people trying to make me smaller. I always utilized as much space as possible for myself as I wasn't keen on shrinking to make others comfortable.

"You know, Flores, I said you were too much for an omega. Seems I was right. If they've been giving you wolfsbane for very long? It's probably to keep your Alpha gene hidden. You might inherit your mother's home after all this is over," I murmured, hoping some part of Ethan could hear me.

The boy needed a reason to wake up. I couldn't think of one for him from before this incident so I was trying to give him one now.

"Your mother is alive, too," I continued, leaning over the railing of the bed to touch Ethan's arm, "I haven't found her yet, but I will. I'm very good at my job. I'm sorry about the blood I gave you. I hope it doesn't come with any side effects. I just couldn't let you die."

Rachel wouldn't have been able to handle losing Ethan. I didn't need her to tell me she needed him to live for me to know she wouldn't be able to handle losing her only brother. Her family was limited enough; Rachel needed Ethan in a way only wolfen families clung to each other.

My wolf kept the vampiric demon in me at bay. I thought another Alpha wolf would be able to do the same. Ethan might not even get the vampire curse from my blood.

I could just be borrowing trouble as the old saying went.

"I'm going to get Patrick down here today. We'll close one chapter of your story, Ethan. I'm just sorry you're not awake for the big finish. I have a feeling your dear old dad isn't going down easily," I muttered.

Giving Ethan's arm a final squeeze in farewell, I heaved myself out of the cair before leaving the ICU. I didn't care if anyone overheard me on the phone. I did care if my call disturbed any of the other patients.

They had enough going on if they were in a wolfen ICU. No one needed my extra trouble.

Once I was outside the unit, I called Patrick Flores. He waited through three rings before answering which spoke to his tenacity of spirit.

The man was a Hell of an omega. I kept wondering if he'd been classed wrong. What if he was an Alpha? Could that happen? An Alpha being classed as an omega their whole lives?

I knew I was being stupid even as the thought floated through my mind.

Patrick Flores was devious, not destined for greater things. He hadn't been the one poisoned within an inch of his life. I knew he had to be behind his son's poisoning, too.

No one else would have had lifelong access to Ethan or the reason he had to keep his son suppressed. The boy was not going to like the news I gave him when he woke up. I was still speculating, too.

Where was the damned doctor when I needed him for answers?

"Flores," I snapped into the phone, "You have to get back to this hospital. Ethan is still comatose and his blood results came back positive for poison. We need another transfusion. Your blood will help him more than a stranger's and you know it. Can you get here within the hour or do I need to come get you?"

Patrick Flores would not like it if I had to fetch him to the hospital. Ethan might not need his blood the way I was insisting, but I needed the bastard present to face his crimes before me. I couldn't successfully make an arrest without knocking him off-balance enough to get into his head.

So far? I'd found putting him in the same room with his physically devastated son was the best way to rattle him. I wasn't above using Ethan as a tool to take his father down.

Patrick Flores was a dirty rat, not a wolf. He deserved everything coming to him courtesy of the Alpha Council. I hoped I could be there for his sentencing when everything was said and done.

"I'll be there shortly," Flores stated with a cool grace I absolutely hated hearing.

"Good. See that you are or I'm coming for you, Flores. That's a promise," I vowed before ending the call.

Doctor Thomas exited the ICU and gestured to me to follow him as I was pocketing my phone. It seemed the Moon Goddess was going to smile on me for a bit. I'd take the good fortune as it came. I definitely needed it.

Following the doctor into a private room, I realized this must be where they took people to deliver bad news. Was this where he told me Ethan Flores would never wake? Was he going to tell me Ethan was damaged forever from the poison?

Nothing good ever came from being taken to a room like the one we were sharing.

"Go ahead, Doc. Let me have it. Ethan isn't recovering? The poison is permanent? Tell me everything you know. I'll deal with telling his sister myself later," I said.

Doctor Thomas gave me a tight-lipped smile before saying, "The results aren't good, Alpha Inspector. Mister Flores has been dosed with wolfsbane for an undetermined length of time. A substantial length of time. He has permanent stunting of his growth and his Alpha gene is severely suppressed though I do think his system will shake it off once he's had a few rounds of dialysis along with some fresh, whole blood."

I barely held back a shudder at the idea of giving Ethan more of my own tainted blood. Here was hoping Our Blessed Goddess kept plenty of whole wolfen blood on hand or Patrick Flores actually was a suitable donor for his son.

"He is an Alpha though," I pushed, "He's probably been poisoned to keep him under control."

"Yes," Doctor Thomas said, "He is an Alpha, but I don't know how much of one at this point. I'm afraid we just have to keep treating him and hoping for the best for now."

I nodded, "I've got hope to spare, Doc. We're going to get Ethan back. I've got a good feeling about this one."

I didn't, but the good doctor didn't need to know that.

Patrick Flores was going to have a lot to answer for when he finally showed up.