Charity Received by Madelyn Ford

about the feasibility of catching the wolf Zeke and Arak had encountered. Glancing at her watch, she decided they were getting nowhere. If this meeting didn’t end soon, she’d have no chance of talking to Kash before he disappeared into the surrounding woods. So in a fit of desperation, she blurted out, “What about tranquilizer guns?”
     
    All bickering ceased, and a look of interest passed over Zeke’s face.
    “Can you get your hands on those? Enough for each team patrolling?”
    Faith chewed on her bottom lip as she contemplated Zeke’s question. She had no idea where to get one. Were they even legal? She didn’t think so. But she’d opened her big mouth. So if she needed something illegal, who would she go to?
    “Prue. She has more contacts than an international spy. She’ll know where to get them.”
    Faith sat back, a sense of satisfaction settling over her. It would solve their problems. But what to do with the animal after it was incapacitated, that was the question. They needed Charity.
    “What about the drugs needed? And how much? We don’t want to accidentally kill the wolf.”
    Faith shrugged at Arak’s inquiry. As the healer of the group, of course he would be more concerned about the wolf’s well-being. Faith was more worried about a pissed-off wolf that had just been shot coming at her.
    “Charity is our resident expert,” she replied. “I would suggest contacting the O’Malley pack. If this wolf is theirs, they are looking for him. And I’m sure they don’t want him hurt. They’ve already lost two young males. I would think they’d appreciate the help.”
    Zeke’s derisive snort had Faith raising a brow in question.
    “You didn’t see the way that O’Malley asshole treated Charity. He didn’t want her help then; I’m not much inclined to offer it now.”
    “Good thing you aren’t in charge,” Remy stated from his chair by the window.
    Zeke, clearly disgruntled, frowned at their leader. “Remy, you weren’t there. You didn’t hear the bastard threaten Charity. I don’t trust him.”
    “And you don’t have to. But just for argument’s sake, what do you plan to do with this wolf once you capture it? How will you communicate with it?”
    “He can’t stay a wolf forever,” Zeke countered.
    “And if whatever is controlling him keeps him from returning to human form?
    Without Charity, we need someone who can talk to him.” Zeke started to protest, but Remy cut him off. “We do not know when Charity will return, if ever.” Faith looked at him sharply, and his voice went soft. Charity not returning was unacceptable. “We need assistance, and the werewolves are the only ones able to help us at the moment.”
    “Then maybe more of us should be out looking for Charity than just Kash,” Zeke snarled. Obviously the idea of Charity not returning was unacceptable to him as well.
    Remy sighed in resignation. “If I thought it would help either of them, I would send you all after her.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” Zeke barked as he rose to his feet. He ran a hand over his bald head and massaged the back of his neck.
    Remy’s gaze traveled around the room, resting on each member for a moment. “Kash believes she is his mate, but he is not exactly himself right now.”
    “Why wasn’t I informed of this?” Arak questioned, the hurt in his voice hard to miss.
    “Remy, damn you, you know I’ve been worrying my ass off.”
    Once again, Remy sighed, his hand wearily traveling down his face. “We are still not certain. Don’t you think I have also worried about Kash? I thought he was infected.
    Damn it, I’m still not sure he isn’t. If Kash is infected, that means the rest of us could become so also.”
    “Christ, this is insane,” Jet snapped. “You should have just let me end this that first night. Then we wouldn’t be worrying about Kash. Or the damn female.”
    With a growl, Zeke spun on Jet and would likely have attacked if Faith had not spoken up. Even