***
A shaky sob tore out of Paul when Agyemang and Ryan materialized before him. Paul wanted to fling himself against Agyemang and allow him to make everything better. But he knew that wasn’t possible. He completely broke down, allowing all the misery and fear within to pour out through his sobs. He wished he could warn the two men but there was nothing he could do to warn them. Hell, he couldn’t even shake his head to indicate that something was wrong.
If Agyemang was surprised that his mate didn’t make any attempt to come to him even though he felt his need to be in his arms, he didn’t show. The relief and joy on the alpha’s face was almost palpable. He wasn’t only looking at his mate, he actually felt him. Agyemang went to the sobbing young man and wrapped his arms tightly around him, making Paul sob even harder.
“Shhh…I’m here, baby.” Agyemang murmured softly as he rocked a trembling Paul in his arms. “It’s him, Ryan.” He informed Ryan over Paul’s head.
“Allow me…” Ryan drew Paul into his arms, his hand on the chest of the sobbing young man. “It’s him but…something is not right,” Ryan murmured. “Let’s take him home and…” He gasped when Paul forcibly wrenched himself out of his arms.
“Baby, what is it?” Agyemang asked quietly as he approached a slowly retreating Paul. “Talk to me, please. We’re going to take you home. Everything will be fine. Paul, stop.”
“A. G.?” Ryan called out quietly but the alpha was too engrossed in his mate to hear.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” He kept moving towards a retreating Paul.
“A. G.?” Ryan’s tone was sharper this time. Agyemang stopped and turned to look at Ryan. “I can sense a hold on him.” He said quietly. “I think the reason he can’t speak is that someone is making sure he doesn’t say anything.”
“But why doesn’t he want to go with us. Who wouldn’t want to be rescued?” The alpha watched as his mate sat on the ground some distance away from them.
“Someone who cares about his people and wants to prevent something bad from happening.” Ryan shrugged.
“Well, if he can’t speak, we can get him to write, right?” Agyemang rasped. “Why don’t you conjure a pen and paper…”
“I can bet my last cent he won’t be able to write either.” Ryan shook his head. “This is the Wyatt clan we’re dealing with. They’re not stupid.”
“So read his fucking mind or something…” Agyemang snapped, clearly agitated. His glowing eye was an indication that his wolf was near.
“Calm down, Alpha.” Ryan reached out and touched Agyemang. The last thing they needed right then was for an angry alpha wolf to takeover. “Paul is a mere human. I can do a lot of damage if I try anything like reading his mind.” He removed his hand from Agyemang’s shoulder when he felt the alpha calm down. “Better?”
“Much.” Agyemang nodded. “Thanks. What are we going to do?”
“We need to get through to him somehow,” Ryan murmured. “Because it will be very stupid to risk sending him home knowing what the clan had tried to do with Amber. I believe he just tried to warn us the best way he can.”
“I guess I don’t have any choice then.” Agyemang muttered as he started purposefully towards his mate.”
“A. G.?” Ryan frowned as he started after Agyemang, wondering what the alpha had in mind.
“The stupid clan clearly doesn’t know that Paul has a mate,” Agyemang explained as he crouched beside a terrified-looking Paul. “He doesn’t have to speak if I can talk to him on a mind-link.”
“You can only do that after he transitions into a wolf, Agyemang.” Ryan rasped.
“So I’ll turn him,” Agyemang said and watched as hope flared in his mate’s eyes. “See? I think even Paul agrees that’s our only chance right now.” He pressed a soft kiss to Paul’s lips.
“Yes, but we don’t have the time.” Ryan groaned. “He’s a human being. He wasn’t born a werewolf. His transition will take weeks. Unless…”
“Unless I give him a full-blown dosage.” Agyemang breathed. “We need a quick transformation.”
“That would be painful, A. G.” Ryan whispered, remembering the pain he’d experienced when Jeremy had given him the turning bite. The pain that came with a quick transformation bite, like what he was cruelly made to go through was usually a hundredfold compared to the gradual transformation bite.
“Not if I can help it.” Agyemang growled.
Following a bite of a werewolf, the venom that got deposited into the human would begin to duplicate itself immediately in the human bloodstream. The process usually took roughly six to nine weeks to fully integrate with the human cell. During that time, the human would usually experience insomnia, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and depending on how they were bitten, excruciating pain. Once the venom had fully integrated with the cells, the human would become a werewolf. Some either died in the process or became deformed and had to be put down.
“We need to go to a better place where he can be comfortable.” Ryan reached down to ruffle Paul’s hair.
“Please teleport us to my pack.” Agyemang sighed. “I guess I’ll have to pull a Philip to ensure my…you know who, don’t attack him.”
“I think you should.” Ryan chuckled as he reached out and placed a hand each on Paul and Agyemang.
And as the three disappeared from the spot, the man and woman who had been watching from their position behind a pile of shrubs got to their feet with relieved smiles on their faces.
“Thought they’d never leave.” The female breathed as she brushed the leaves off her gown. “Wonder what they were talking about.”
“Who cares?” The male chuckled, brushing off leaves too. “Best plan ever. Mary will be pleased.”
“She sure will.” The woman grinned. “I must admit that despite her annoying nature, her strategy is great. But I thought Mary said their warlock is an old one. How come she’s pregnant?”
“Again, who cares?” The man muttered. “At least now we know why those mangy dogs kept the silly human around.”
“Yeah.” The woman laughed. “Obviously passing his arse around like a fuck-toy. Imagine. At least this one spared a kiss. He must really like the boy’s services.” Both burst into laughter.
“Let’s get out of here.” The man gave a contented sigh. “Time to make our move.”
“Boom!” The woman whispered as both began to shimmer away.