It was nearly closing time by the time she finished her classes, grabbed something to eat, and rode the short distance to the animal hospital. Doc Brown was speaking to one of his staff, but he excused himself as soon as Aiyana stepped through the door and indicated she should follow him into the back.

"How is he?"

Doc shook his head. "I've got him on some strong antibiotics but," he waited until they'd entered the room where Nate lay with his mother watching over him, "his body just isn't used to fighting infections like a normal human. The were-gland not only enables rapid healing, it promotes a rapid immune response. Normally bacteria don't have a chance."

Nate was so still she couldn't even tell he was breathing as the IV slowly dripped into his arm. It always saddened her when she saw normally lively animals feeling unwell, but Nate was more than an animal. She put her hand over his front paw.

"I've been reading up on glands, but there's something I don't understand, Doc. Glands like the thyroid are regulated by a feedback loop that shuts it off when thyroid hormones are high. Why, then, do we need to phase once a month so that we don't phase on accident? Is the were-gland not controlled the same way?"

"No. It continuously makes and stores the hormones so it needs to get rid of the extra occasionally."

"What happens when we're injured or need to fight an infection? How does the gland know to release the hormone? How does it know to release it when we phase?"

He rubbed his whiskered chin. "For injury, probably much the same way your immune system knows to respond. For phasing, there must me some mental signal."

"So if you stabbed me and then took some of my serum, it should contain the hormones that will help Nate heal?"

He studied her over his glasses. "You want me to stab you?"

"Not really, but I was thinking that if he could just get a shot of those hormones, maybe he wouldn't need a transplant. Maybe everything would heal without one, including his gland."

"Unfortunately, I don't think anyone knows what all the hormones are yet, nor what concentrations to use."

"I guess you'll have to stab me then."

"I think I would be a better choice since I am his mother," Luna Salma interjected.

"I think I need to call your expert and do some blood tests before we start stabbing people," Doc said. "The idea has merit though. Aiyana, can you keep an eye on Nate while I take Luna Salma out for a bite to eat?"

"Sure. Where is Alpha Edward? Will he be by later?"

"No, he had some pack issues to deal with at home," Nate's mother replied. "Liam is still here though. He hasn't given up hope on finding Jeremy."

"Have they found anything at all?"

She shook her blond head sadly. "Just blood - human blood - not far from where Nate was found, and the scent of a strange wolf."

Instead of studying as she had planned, Aiyana helped Leah clean up and restock all the examination rooms. She checked on Nate every time she passed his room, but he did not respond to her questions and the only movement was the drip of the IV.

"Hey Aiyana, can you take the garbage out?"

"Sure."

She hated taking out the garbage. The waste dumpster at the far corner of the parking lot was enclosed by three walls that ensured the smells after a hot day were nicely concentrated. At least the sun was still up, unlike in the middle of winter when it was not only cold and windy, but rather spooky, especially on the night of a new moon.

She had just finished tossing the last bag inside when she smelled the wolf. It wasn't someone she recognized. Before she could react, he had her in a choke-hold with something sharp against her neck.

"Are you Nate Koche's mate?"

"Who are you?"

"No one you know. Answer me. Are you his mate?"

Whatever was against her neck was now in it.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Her neck was starting to burn. "I feel no bond toward him."

"Do you know who his mate is?"

"No."

"That's too bad." He shoved her toward the dumpster. She caught herself before she ran into the metal edge and turned, but he was already gone. What had he done to her neck? It wasn't a cut, but there was liquid. She sniffed at the single drop of blood. Silver. He'd attempted to poison her. Ha! For once she was glad her allergy was to peanuts.

She couldn't smell him any more but that didn't mean he wasn't there. She pushed the trash cart back across the parking lot at a run and slammed the back door behind her.

Leah stuck her head out of one of the rooms. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Is Doc back yet?"

"I don't think so."

She didn't think the wolf would bother Leah, but just in case. "Don't go out there. There's a strange guy hanging around the dumpster."

"Did he do anything?"

If she said yes, Leah would want to call the cops. "Scared me."

"Should we call the police?"

"The guy is probably already gone. I'll call Doc."

"It's the same scent we found near the human blood," Liam confirmed an hour later.

"You sure you're all right?" Luna Salma asked.

Aiyana dropped her hand from the spot at her neck. It didn't hurt, but the thought of someone putting a random needle into her body and injecting a random something into her neck bothered her.

"Yeah."

"You tell me if you feel anything strange at all," Doc ordered. She'd told him what she'd smelled, but only him. She didn't want anyone else to know of her strange allergy situation.

"I'll call you if we find anything," Liam said, beginning to strip off his shirt.

Salma laid a hand on his arm. "Liam, you haven't slept in at least two days. You're so tired you're stripping in public. You need to rest. Let Alpha Miguel's men handle this."

"Jeremy is still out there somewhere. This is the first fresh lead we've had."

She took his chin in his hand. "You look exhausted. As your Luna, I'm ordering you to get some rest."

"After I find Jeremy."

"Now. I will go in your place. You can watch over Nate."

"Actually," Doc interrupted, "No one but medical staff are allowed in the hospital after hours."

"Nate's not an animal," Salma argued.

"I know, but to keep up appearances, I can't bend the rules. I will stay, as will Aiyana. I want to keep her under observation as well."Good thing she'd brought her homework.