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Two hours later Mal was curled up in a very comfortable recliner chair that was situated next to Rocky’s bed. It was pleasant, both of them being hidden by the curtain, although Mal would have given anything for Rocky to be awake.

“I’m not used to you being so quiet,” he murmured, glancing at the bed. Asleep, Rocky didn’t look any different than he always did – his long hair a mess around his face. Mal noticed Rocky’s beard was getting a bit untidy. I’ll ask Doctor Nelson if someone can get me an electric shaver, he thought, admiring Rocky’s long muscled form.

I have loved you for so long.

Of course, the whole picture was marred by the fact the bed was hospital issue with a raised head. And then there were the tubes running into Rocky’s arm, and monitors attached to his chest. Mal could do without those, but at least he knew the doctor was monitoring Rocky as best he could.

His phone dinged, breaking him out of his thoughts. Raising it so he could see the screen, Mal smiled to see a message from Ra. All it said was “ call me.” He hit the phone icon. Ra immediately answered.

“How are you doing?” Ra’s voice was deep and low. From the first time Mal heard it, the timbre of the tone from the tiger shifter always settled something deep in his wolf’s spirit.

“I thought you would be calling about Rocky.” Mal chuckled self-consciously.

“Rocky’s being looked after by professionals,” Ra said. “I need to know you’re looking after yourself. What do you need?”

That warmth in his gut spread. Mal had always known them taking up with Ra – it was more the tiger took them under his wing – was the best thing next to Rocky saving him. “I’m doing okay. The doctor confirmed it is a curse, which in a way is a relief. At least we know what we’re dealing with.”

“Ouch.” Ra whistled down the phone line. “That’s harsh for a curse, all the shit Rocky’s been going through.”

“The doc here, Doctor Nelson, he’s an elephant shifter by the way, he says we need to find the start or cause of the curse before it can be removed.” Mal stopped when Rocky murmured and his hand twitched. But he settled just as quickly. “I just can’t think when it might’ve happened or who would do that. It’s not like Rocky spends any time around magic users we don’t know.”

“That we know of,” Ra cautioned. “I know you and Rocky were joined at the hip most times, but he did disappear on his own occasionally.”

“I thought that was to have a hookup.” Mal considered the figure on the bed, his mind ticking over. “Actually, that’s a thought. Do you think this is a jilted lover situation?”

“No, I definitely don’t.” Ra actually laughed. “Rocky would’ve been more inclined to stick his dick in a tree than approach anyone with a hardon or lead them on.”

Mal’s eyes widened, although of course, Ra couldn’t see him. “How could you say that? Rocky was an alpha wolf in every way. Until he got addicted to sweets, he seemed to walk around with a hard-on all day.”

“Did you ever stop to think that was because he spent all his time with you every day?” Ra’s suggestion hit Mal in the stomach. “That’s what I always thought and I’m sure the others did, too.”

“But Rocky…he…he…he would go out at least once a month until Fergus came to town and opened his bakery,” Mal protested.

“Hmm. Yes, he did. Maybe we need to find out why, because it wasn’t anything to do with him looking to get laid. I’d stake my life on that. Did you ever keep track of when he disappeared for a night?”

Mal’s cheeks flushed. “I have kept a journal since we moved to Arrowtown. I’ve probably mentioned it in them.”

“And he never told you where he went?”

“I didn’t want to know,” Mal said, his voice low. “I used to hate those times and tried everything to get over the hurt – drinking, crying, being an idiot. Nothing worked. Eventually, I would just curl up in my bed with the covers over my head and cry myself to sleep. Stupid, I know. You don’t need to tell me.”

“It’s not stupid, it’s understandable. Rocky was probably the only dumbass that didn’t know how much you love that man.” Ra sighed. “So, we need to pool our resources. We need dates, leads, something to go on. When was the last time you remember Rocky going off on his own?”

Leaning back in his chair, Mal thought about it. “Now that I’m thinking about it, it’s actually been ages. Do you remember when we did the fundraiser for…shoots. Darwin is going to kill me for not remembering. But it was the fundraiser Darwin organized at Cam’s, remember? We were all dancing on stage, and we got raided for indecency. That’s how you ended up running for mayor and Rocky ran for sheriff.”

“Woah, that is a while ago.” Ra whistled again. “That’s back when Simon got abducted and he was pregnant at the time. There were magic users around then, remember? That fucked up what’s his name that took Simon…he had contact with witches.”

“Theodore Western, Liam’s supposed and now-deceased not-mate.” Mal was thinking furiously. “But wait, if that was the night… no Rocky didn’t go out that night, or at least he didn’t go from the bar. Darwin alerted us that Simon was missing, and Rocky was the one who tracked him to Western’s hideout by the airport. He and Cam also kept Theo restrained until his plane came, then packed him off in it. I don’t think… I would need my journal to know, but I can’t remember when he came back to the house that night.”

“Okay.” Ra was sounding deliberately upbeat. “So here’s what’s going to happen. First, don’t worry about anything except Rocky. We’ve got your back. The sheriff’s office is fine – Deputy Joe and Liam are covering for you and Rocky, just telling anyone who asks that you two have gone out of town, which is perfectly true. Simon and Darwin got back last night, so they are all fine as well. But we need things to do. We’re your family, your pack. My precious mate is sitting right here beside me, his magical fingers twitching, ready to send you anything you need by fae mail.”

Mal chuckled. “Hi Seth, thank you so much for helping me and Rocky.”

“You’re family,” Seth said staunchly. “We’re all ready to help. What do you need?”

Thankful that none of his friends could see him, because Mal was blinking away the tears so hard, he could barely see the phone in his hand. “Let’s start with my journals. Seth, they are in a trunk at the foot of my bed – it’s not locked. They are all clearly marked in years, so can you send me the previous five years’ worth. That way I can go back and map out the dates Rocky went off on his own.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Ra said. “We’ll be able to see if we can pick up a pattern of dates and then see if those times and dates coincide with anything else unusual happening in or around town.”

There was a pause and then Ra said, “You’re going to hate me for asking this, and I’m sorry, but this is important. On the mornings after the nights Rocky would disappear, did you notice if he smelled of any unusual scent?”

“He always showers morning and night.” Mal wrinkled his nose. “I didn’t expect to smell anything.”

“You need to think harder,” Ra insisted. “If you didn’t smell anything unusual that in itself is a clue.”

“I don’t see how,” Mal protested. “You know yourself how offensive it can be when mated couples have had sex and don’t bother to shower before turning up for breakfast.” Mal immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry. That was mean.”

“But true.” Seth was laughing his little head off. “But…think about it. I know Brutus used to complain about it all the time before he found Heath – even if a shifter showers they will still carry a trace of another person they’ve been with, sometimes for hours afterward. Go through your journals, see if you noted anything because that can be important if you didn’t.”

“I will,” Mal said, feeling energized for the first time in a long time. “It will be good to have something proactive to do.”

“Speaking of which,” Ra added. “We’ve been respecting Rocky’s privacy, because we didn’t know what was going on. But there are a lot of people outside of this house who can help as well. Trent’s brothers work for the council. The phoenix brothers might have some insight we haven’t considered. Same with our local gargoyle Dian and his friend Eagle, who have connections to some shadowy investigations unit, but they have contacts. Gods, Mrs. Hooper probably already knows what’s going on and is just waiting for someone to ask her. People can and will want to help now they know this isn’t a case of Rocky giving the sugar plum fairy a run for her money.”

“Don’t you mean the tooth fairy?”

“We don’t mention that personage in this house.” Ra groaned. “Annabelle read a story about the tooth fairy and now wakes up with a fake tooth next to her head on the pillow every morning. She comes running out, holding up the tooth, demanding her two dollars. Now, her brothers want some too. I caught Michael with a pair of pliers just yesterday and when I asked him what he was going to do with them, he said he was going to take out one of Annabelle’s teeth because he wanted money as well. I’ve had to ban them from my workshop.”

“Thank you, guys.” Mal chuckled. “I guess I needed a reminder that normal life is still going on. I’m truly grateful. As for telling others…” He hesitated, looking at Rocky’s handsome face. “Yes,” he said firmly. “Yes. Arrowtown was built on helping others and right now, Rocky needs all the help he can get.”

“So do you, my brother from another mother,” Ra said gently. “We just want Rocky to be well and for you two to come home. In the meantime, ask the doctor you have there about curses. We want to know the nuts and bolts of what curses are, how they’re administered, and how they work. I’ll get our doc on it, too. But are they like a virus that needs a trigger to erupt, or did Rocky get his sweet tooth the moment he was infected? How long can they last? How can something like this be broken? The more information we all have, the more we can help.”

“You’re right. I’ll ask.” Mal glanced at the time. “He’ll be in soon. He…he’s got concerns about keeping Rocky sedated long term. Ra, they might have to put him in a cage.”

To his surprise, Ra said, “That could be a good thing if the doctor can get him to shift first. Rocky’s wolf knows and trusts you, and you’ll be with him, I know you will. Also, the wolf spirit won’t have the sugar addiction that’s driving Rocky crazy. By forcing his shift, Rocky’s wolf spirit can keep his human half safe and sane. I know it would be hard for you, but just think about it, all right?”

“I’ll talk to Doctor Nelson.” Mal sighed. “I can’t even remember the last time Rocky shifted into his wolf form, but it will be in my journals somewhere.”

“If you need anything, just call,” Ra said. “You’re not alone. You have a found family and a whole town behind you. Er…is there somewhere you can protect your head for a minute? Seth’s got your journals and is ready to send them to you. His aim isn’t that good.”

“That’s not true.” Mal heard as his journals suddenly started falling out of the ceiling in a series of thuds as they fell to the floor.

There was a moment’s silence, and then Seth said, “Mal, are you all right? Did they get there?”

“That was your best drop yet, Seth.” Mal bent over and picked up one of the books from the floor. “They landed in a perfect fairy ring around my chair. Thank you.”

“You take care,” Ra said. “Remember we are just a call or text away, anytime of the day or night.”

“Thank you.” Mal disconnected the call and put his phone away. Reaching over, he took Rocky’s hand, feeling the man’s wolf stir. “You just have to hang in there. Our pack is helping all they can,” he whispered. “You just have to keep going. I love you.”

A wolf whimper fell from Rocky’s lips and for a moment Mal thought he would shift. But the pull of the sedative would be too strong, and after waiting a few moments, Mal picked up the rest of his journals. Finding the year relating to when Simon got abducted, he started to read.