Chapter 66: Sixty-six.

Zachary paced the corridor outside of hospital Colt's room, like a man possessed. He couldn't believe how much had changed in the past two and a half months, since Nora's death. He had always thought, the search for Colt and therefore the channeling of Elijah's efforts into something productive was what had stalled off the disease. But, he was wrong, he knew that now. It was his love for his daughter, his drive to get better for her that had sustained him. Because from the moment Nora died, Elijah seemed to be severing off all tethers to his sanity, as piece by piece he was consumed by his own unrelenting grief.

First came the banishing of his family, isolating himself from any real support. Then he almost wages a war with his father in law, for information Kalvin Merrier was clearly releaved not to have, obviously wanting to keep his daughter as far from Eli as he could do - Not that Zachary blamed him for that now.

Then when that failed he started drinking, and getting involved with the most unsavoury members of the pack, the purists

The ones who thought themselves superior and filled his head with empty promises of revenge on the human supremacists.

Zachary was given some hope when he killed George Arden, the purist who bragged about chasing out a half breed from Tennessee, and throwing her pregnant cat mother to the ground in the hope of avoiding anymore 'trash' entering the world. Elijah ripped the wolf's head clean off his shoulders in a rage, and Zachary thought that might mean somewhere inside, Elijah was still hoping and waiting for Colt's return, protecting and avenging her pain. Maybe she could bring some of his sanity back, help him let himself grieve properly. He had prayed vehemently for this to be the case.

But then came more drinking, mild drug use and Carrie. The timing couldn't have been worse, and what he forced Colt through made Zachary shudder. The torment and the pain - he would never forget that sight, her strength to survive it was awe inspiring, only for her heart to give up the moment relief was in sight, because Elijah then defiled their bond a second time. He couldn't forgive his Alpha for that, and he never would.

Thank the stars Maeve had him call the paramedics, had they not managed to revive her, he would have stood along side Kalvin as he ripped out Elijah's heart.

Of, course that was five weeks ago, and now he was in the hospital awaiting the results of tests with the rest of the Merrier clan and Maeve. Maeve who intrigued him thoroughly, and he couldn't quite place why. Her long white hair and ebony skin, was such a startling contrast. There was just something about her, he couldn't quite place.

When she was stable Colt had been moved to a hospital in Montana. Her parents wanted her to be where her home was, and away from what was once the land of her so called mate.

Her mate had spiralled so far down, the majority of his pack had cut ties with the Lupus name, and in doing so, they brought the arguably one time strongest Alpha of the Northern Hemisphere to his knees. Every pack member turned their backs on him, their mated Alpha and his revolving door of random women. He was a disgrace, and they refused to follow him or any Alpha again ever again.

The majority had formed small familial packs, just as the Merriers had twenty years previously. It worked for them, and they didn't really need the protection of the pack anymore, as most humans and shifter types got on. Yes there were the few, who were bigoted and tainted things, but on the whole the pack system was redundant. Elijahs behaviour only drove the final nail into the coffin.

Even Zachary, his best friend had turned his back on him now, the only person who still had any contact with him was Marcus, and that was due to a financial business partnership he couldn't avoid.

Zachary sighed loudly as he sank into a seat along in the waiting room. Colt's family hadn't questioned his presence for some reason, and he was thankful for that because he wasn't quite sure of the answer himself. He just felt, like he owed it to her to make sure she was alright. Not that he could really do anything about her medical needs to help, but he needed to see she was safe. Even if he was agitated, and really hated being in hospitals.

His hatred of hospitas stemmed from when Maya was ill, how much it had tormented him. She had had her diagnosis before they met. But they still fell completely in love, and as far as Zachary was aware, they had mated out of love. But, his perfect human partner admitted later, it was also on part because she needed to save him, from himself. From the fate Elijah was currently experiencing. She had been studying biology, when she fell ill, and had a specific side interest in neuro chemistry, on how shifter brain function differs from human. Unlike most she was already aware of the condition solum rabidus and made sure her mate, wouldn't go down that way. If only she could have saved him from a lifetime of loneliness and heartache, he thought wistfully.

Maya's battle was hard, and he was there every day through it with her, sneaking showers in the private bathroom of her hospice, and then sneaking in her window at night to sleep on the floor. He presumed the staff knew though, and just chose to ignore it, because the window was always left unlocked for him, and at some point a comfortable recliner was added to the room, - not that he used it, it was too far from her.

He refused to leave her, refused to allow the nurses to do any of the physical caring jobs for his mate, he washed, and fed her, turned her for the bed sores she was starting to develop, and even tended to them when they eventually showed up, with the medicated ointment. He was there to look after her, that was his purpose.

Watching her deteriorate though, had been the hardest experience of his life, bit by bit she faded away, first physically, then slowly her mind began to go as well thanks to the medication. Waiting on her inevitable death like a taste of living through the grief that hadn't quite hit yet, it was odd, being sad about it before it had happened. But, even though he tried to enjoy the time they had, knowing it was coming was tearing his heart into pieces, day by day, until it was eventually obliterated altogether when she did pass.

He had always felt unsettled, and had been ready to break down at the unfairness of it all every minute of every day of her illness, but when it ended, that was another experience altogether. His beautiful mate, his perfect angel lost forever, and it left him utterly devoid of everything, he felt lost in a sea of darkness. People were going about their daily lives totally unaware, and although logically he understood that, internally he wanted to tear them apart for the disrespect of not realizing Maya was gone.

His best friend Elijah Lupus was the one to pull him through his misery. It was Elijah who saved him from himself, that night he tried desperately to join Maya. It was Elijah who gave him purpose, gave him something to focus on, first the pack, and then the hunt for Colt.

It was his duty as the Beta to protect the Luna in the Alpha's absence, and even if the pack was gone, even if he couldn't save his friend the way his friend had saved him, he could do this. He could protect Colt, and maybe one day his Alpha would return to his senses, and be able to make things up somehow. Even if he wasn't entirely convinced it was possible anymore.

"I wouldn't think it is possible either." Maeve said, coming into the small waiting room and handing Zachary a cup of coffee.

Zachary looked up startled at the shaman's sudden appearance and intrusion into his mind.

"I.. I.." He gulped, "I wasn't aware you could do that." He stated, the tiredness in his voice revealing more about himself than he cared for it to. Although, he was grateful for the coffee.

"It isn't a regular gift." Maeve shrugged. "Happens from time to time, though not with everyone, only a select few." She studied the wolf as he sat now, with his back ram rod straight compared to how it was hunched up a second ago.

"Oh. Okay, then." Zachary said, standing up tall. "Thanks." He motioned, taking a sip.

As soon as the liquid hit his tongue, he grimaced and let it dribble back out into the polystyrene cup.

"That's not coffee." He remarked, shaking his head with a hidden smirk.

"Nope, never said it was, Beta." Maeve smirked back. "It's lemon and ginger tea, and it's much better for you. Especially if your sense of smell is a little off."

"My sense of smell, is just fine thanks, Shaman." Zachary retorted.

"Then how come you thought it was coffee?" Maeve raised an eyebrow.

Zachary's mouth opened and closed like a gold fish before he swallowed hard, looked at Maeve and just said "Fine, I'll drink it."

"Good, she doesn't want you suffering, you know." Maeve concluded, studying the wolf infront of her.

"I don't think Colt is making me a pressing concern right now, and neither should she." Zachary replied, then steeled himself to drink Maeve's tea.

"She isn't. But I wasn't talking about Colt. I was talking about Maya." Maeve stated matter of factly.

Zachary almost spat the tea out a second time. Maeve had a connection to his mate. He had so many questions, so much he needed to know, needed to ask about, but his mind seemed to then decide to shut down his ability to speak.

All of a sudden the shaman's presence intrigued him even further. Maeve had barely left Colt's side. Rebecca and the lion often visited too, as well as the other members of staff from Colt's resort who would show up periodically from time to time, wanting to check in and wish her well. But, Maeve was the one who seemed to know whether the doctors were bringing an update or not, most of the time it was before they'd even hit the floor.

Zachary was praying she would be the one who would know soon if Colt would finally wake up.

"The doctor?" He asked, changing the subject before he became desperate, and tackled the poor woman for information.

"Yes, in about an hour, but first I believe Kalvin and Harris were looking for you." She spoke, looking into his eyes like she could see into the depths of his soul.

"Okay. Where..." he asked shifting uncomfortably under her gaze and the tingling feeling it seemed to create within him.

"Outside, they are getting a bit of air." She stated. "I think you should say yes to them by the way." She added, then without a further word, she turned and walked away, heading back down the hall and slipping into Colt's room.