Chapter 56

Cynthia’s POV

I got Alex and Tobias to tell me everything they were told about Lace and the effect it has on a shifter’s counterpart. They said in the beginning Percy’s panther felt Happy, content and went soft in his mind. It sounds like an antidepressant. Most antidepressant medication for wolves aren’t addictive though. I was on them for a while when Zach was killed. That could be why it is called Lace; It has to be laced with an addictive substance as well.

I will have to read up on it; I am a bit rusty, see if I can figure out what is in the drug itself. If I can do that; I will be able to recognise who might be producing it and we will have somewhere to start. I wonder if there is a way to get a sample of the drug? It will be easier to test a sample to find what it has in it.

*“Mum, can I talk with you”* Jessica mind links me. *“Sure; come on over.”* She walks in the door; “were you outside my door” I laugh. “Yes” she sighs.

“What’s the matter, baby girl?” “I’m struggling, I just got everyone back and now they want to take you away from me again” she says as tears, fall down her face. “Is that what all your yelling was about; you don’t want to lose us again? You never lost us in the first place.”

“Four years, I thought you all were dead. I understand why Toby kept it a secret; I am not upset with him because of it. To me; you had come back from the grave. We had lost you and it’s a gift from Goddess Selene you are here with me. I understand Nath and Ads wanting to help; I would be the first one to put my hand up too. I stood up as well when they asked who was willing to help.”

“Why are you struggling then?” I ask her; “Because our happy family, won’t be a happy family anymore” she cries; tears falling down her cheek once more.

“Baby girl; we will always be a big happy family and you as Luna can make sure of it. We also have to put ourselves in others shoes to understand what is happening. Like Percy; I know Alex being Alpha is very strong, but what if he lost you or Laurence. Will he be just as strong? Or Olivia; what if she started taking this drug because life got too unbearable for her; would you say no to us helping then?”

“When you put it that way; I guess, I wouldn’t” she frowns. “There may be other ways we can look at things. I will talk to the leaders tomorrow and ask to see if there is a way, we can get a sample of the Lace. I have a hunch and if I am correct; we will know where to start looking.” “How?”

“Mum, I need to tal…Oh, I’ll come back later” Nathanial yells walking through the door and turning to leave again. “No, Yeti; it’s ok. You can come in; I understand why you want to help and I won’t stop you from doing it.” Jessi calls for him to come back.

He turns and smiles at Jessica; all three were inseparable growing up. It pains me to see them not getting along. “Come in, I was just about to tell Jessica about my hunch” I tell him “Mum, can I speak with you” Cathy comes through the door. She sees Nathanial and stops. “Come in Cath; you need to hear this too” Jessica smiles at her.

**“I feel so loved the kids have come to me for advice”** I tell Linda; **“Our babies still need our help from time to time.”**

“So; what is this hunch?” Nathanial asks. “Percy said the drug made Liam happy, content and soft; all at the same time am I correct?” “Yes” Nathanial and Jessica said together.

“It sounds to me, it was an antidepressant; however, there is not an antidepressant on the market that is addictive to wolves or in his case panthers. My hunch is it was laced with another drug, like an opioid that makes you happy but not content and soft; hence why it’s called Lace. I need to get a sample of the drug and test it to see what antidepressant it is and what addictive drug it’s laced with. Every pharmaceutical chemist has a calling card; they design their own drug a particular way. If I can pin point what drug it is and also what it is laced with; we will know where to start looking. Who buys large amounts of that particular drug and go from there?” I tell the trio.

Nathanial gives me a kiss on the cheek “you are not just another pretty face” he tells me. “If we can work that out; does that mean Adrian won’t need to go undercover to lure the asshole out?” Cathy asks. “I can’t answer that sweetheart; but it will be a lot easier to find who is producing it.” I tell her.

Her frown disappears and all three children are smiling together once more. “What did you both want to talk to me about?” I look at Cathy and Nathanial. “If your hunch is correct; Adrian won’t need to volunteer; so, my problem is fixed” Cathy says. “We will still be volunteering Cathy; just for a different scenario” Nathanial tells her.

“No; Not happening” she yells back to him. And it was short lived; the joys of being a mother of triplets.

“Settle down, before I get my Luna voice out” Jessica calls out, over the top of them and they stop arguing. “Cathy, are you worried because Adrian might get hurt or he might accidently get addicted to this drug?” Jessica asks her “Is there a difference? Both I guess” she says. “And Nathanial, can you understand that Debbie and Cathy are worried, what might happen if something goes wrong?” she asks Nathanial. He blushes, “I guess I can; but we will have precautions to stop that from occurring” he tells her.

“Precautions don’t always go to plan; we will have them but I can see both sides of the argument; thanks to mum. We won’t know anything until we talk to the leaders tomorrow. It was the same earlier today. Gold Moon Pack have an added advantage over the rest of the community now; that’s Mum. We may or may not need to go undercover anymore. Let us control what we can control; everything we can’t control, leave up to the leaders to decide what happens.”

**When did my baby girl become such a great leader? “She was always a great leader. From what Tobias told us; she never wavered to Sebastian and Aubrey. Not once did she bow to them; always standing her ground. She is a true Luna and will always be”** Linda smiles at Jessica through my eyes.

“Mum; I want you to talk with the leaders tomorrow. I want you to also talk with Percy and Liam; they may be able to give you more information and you may be able to narrow down what it may be laced with. I am going to talk to Alex, Toby and Olivia about what you just told us. We are on the right track now. Love you” she says giving me a kiss and heading for the door.

“I love you too sweetheart” I call back to her. “Damn, I hate bowing down to my baby sister” Cathy laughs. “I know” Nathanial laughs with her.