Seth rushed through Emily's small kitchen door; panting "Guys… huff huff… Jake…Huff huff."
"Breathe Seth," Sam instructed. Seth breathed until the panting stopped, "Now what about Jacob?"
Seth looked around the room at the pack before speaking again. "Gillian has Jacob! Jacob went to spy on her and he got his foot stuck in wire, and he thought that she was gonna help him, but she didn't! She put food in his drugs! Oh wait I Mean she put drugs in the food she fed him! What do I do? I tried going over to her house! But she-"
"What do you mean she drugged him?" Embry interrupted.
Seth obviously irritated for having to repeat himself said "Jacob got caught in fence while he was spying on her and she fed him meat before cutting him loose but the meat had drugs that put him to sleep!"
"Seth calm down," Sam commanded, "How do you know this?"
"I was in my wolf form when it happened, Jacob didn't notice I was there, so I sat and listened," Seth admitted. "We have to help him," He whimpered as tears welled up.
Leah pulled her brother to her chest and stroked his back, "We'll help him, it will be ok," she soothed. Seth gratefully cuddled into her, wiping his tears on the sleeve of her tee.
Seth took in a big sniff; getting a hold of himself. He pulled away from his sister and stared at Sam seriously "How do we plan to get him back?"
The usually quiet Brady said sternly, "I say we go over there and ask for our dog back. If she doesn't know about us then she probably thinks he's just a usual wolf. We can go over there and say that's our dog and we want him back."
Everyone nodded but Quil "How in the hell can she think that's a normal wolf? He's like 8 feet!"
Brady's brow furrowed, so Collin stepped in "If she's from Florida, she's probably never seen a wild wolf before and doesn't know how they look." The room was quiet.
"Collin's right. Emily and I will go over there. Come on Em, let's go." Sam said affectionately to his wife, as he gently wrapped his fingers around hers. Emily smiled anxiously up at him as he squeezed her hand. Together they walked out the door hand in hand; the pack watched nervously as they made their way down the driveway.
About halfway there Sam noticed Emily shaking. "What's wrong sweetheart?" he said worriedly. When she didn't respond he stopped in his tracks and spun her around to face him and asked again.
"I'm scared," she whimpered, "She's kidnapped Jacob, what if Gillian is dangerous? What if she hurts you? What if we can't get him back?"
Sam looked her in the eyes "I don't think Gillian understands what he is. I've seen her and she doesn't look dangerous, she looks like a sweetie. Besides Jacob is a big boy, he can sneak out at night if we don't get him back. I promise it will be ok. Have I ever lied to you?"
Emily smiled, "Yes you have!"
Sam laughed with her "I have not!"
Emily was giggling hysterically now "You're lying to me right now by saying you never lie!" In between laughs, Sam kissed her forehead. With smiles on their faces they continued to walk to Jacob's rescue.
Gillian dumped the clean rags from the dryer into the orange 'Home Depot 'bucket filled with hot water. She strained as she carried it to the red wagon she had outside the back door. Also in the wagon was a veterinary kit, fresh meat without any medication, and a large Clydesdale sized halter with a lead rope and nose chain.
She pushed the door to the barn open and unlocked the gate to the large stall. She crouched next to the big wolf that lay stretched in the pine bedding. He let out a little whine of uneasiness as she ran a hand through the fur on his side. He twitched a leg desperate to get away, but the medicine immobilized him. He let out a pained yelp.
"Shush baby, it's all right, I'm going to help you. But first I want your name." The first half of Gillian's sentence was quiet and reassuring; it then turned cold and stern. Jacob's eyes popped open wide as she stared intensely at him.
'Oh god she knows I'm a human oh no what do I do?' he thought to himself.
Gillian wrapped her fingers around his muzzle. He winced as he expected her to squeeze it; but she didn't. He was surprised when she slowly started rubbing his muzzle with her thumb.
"Come on sweetie, I know what you are. There's nothing to hide. We had just thought that you were all extinct. You purebloods. Just tell me and I'll let you go." She crooned, her southern accent giving her voice the edge of needed sweetness. When Jacob didn't respond Gillian fetched the wagon and rolled it next to the animal. She pulled out a few of the wet rags and wiped his muzzle off carefully and gently. Even in the circumstances, he closed his eyes; enjoying her contact.
It was almost dark when the pair arrived on Gillian's doorstep. They knocked various times and became anxious when no one answered the door.
"Where is she?" Emily whimpered "I want Jacob back!"
"So do I honey, so do I." He looked around the side of the house and noticed the light on the barn was on. "Maybe they're in the barn, if Jacob never phased back; she probably would've kept him there." He grabbed Emily's hand and towed him a long side of him. Sam stealthily opened the barn door and peeked in. Seeing that it was empty inside, he crept in and pulled Emily along as well. He suddenly heard the sound of splashing water and then called out "Hello?" the noise instantly stopped. He made a motion telling Emily to stay still and walked boldly to the noise. He looked directly in the stall to see Gillian leaning against Jacob; who was lying on his side breathing deeply with sleep.
She ran a finger through his fur while she spoke. "Well, well. You must be the alpha."