"What happened?!" he roared, slamming his palms against the inside of the crate. The silver burned him instantly, but he barely felt it. "Open the damned crate! Now!"
Elder Isaac fumbled with the silver padlock. His hands shook so badly he dropped the key.
"Moon help me—!" another elder snapped, bending down to snatch the key and shoving it into the lock. The door swung open.
Eric nearly ripped the cage apart in his rush to get out.
He dropped to his knees beside Cyril, hands cupping his beta's face. "Cyril! Talk to me, what happened?"
Cyril winced as he tried to sit up. "Alpha… relax. I'm okay."
The hell he was. His pulse was erratic. His breathing shallow. His pupils blown wide.
"What did you people do?!" Eric snapped at the elders.
"We don't know," Isaac insisted. "He collapsed. That is all. We're taking him to the hospital immediately. Alpha, you should rest… then go home."
Eric stood sharply—and only then did he realize he was completely naked.
