by Milly Taiden
“Mine,” Xeon’s wolf claimed.
“Quiet down. You don’t even know what she is yet,” Xeon told his wolf but knew it didn’t matter.
“Don’t care.” His wolf responded with an attitude.
When he turned onto the compound road, Mara startled awake. She straightened and peered out the windows.
“Are we there?” Xeon could hear the faint tremble of fear in her voice.
“This is the start of the property. We have a good many acres of wooded land surrounding the compound. It allows us to let our wolves run.” Kyro explained while Xeon navigated the road.
“We thought about paving the road, but we didn’t want it to appear like a good place to joyride. Keeping it like this discourages outsiders.” The road had the occasional rut and pothole from weather and wear.
Once they were past the tree line, the area opened up into a small community. Houses lined the clearing. Each pack member had their own place. Every time a new shifter joined the pack, a house would be added. It could be easily done since they built houses for a living. They had a man for each aspect of the process, and everyone worked together.
A meeting house and medical center sat in the center of the property, even though they didn’t use the medical center often since they healed quickly. Plus, they didn’t have a doctor to run it. Though Fiona, a nurse, manned the center when needed. A recreational hall with a serve-yourself bar stood behind the meeting house.
“Wow, you have your own town,” Mara observed the small community.
There were a few houses with lights on. Music played from within the recreational building, seeping into the night air.
“Are we going to the meeting house?” Kyro asked.
Xeon didn’t want to question her in a building like that. It would seem like an interrogation. She would need a place to get some food and to sleep for the night. Possibly longer if his wolf got his way.
“No, we’re going to my place.” He answered Kyro but looked back at Mara for her reaction. She didn’t seem to mind which eased his mind that she trusted him.
Xeon pulled into his driveway. His three-bedroom home, with a wrap-around porch, stood at the rear of the property. When he parked the SUV, he jumped out and opened the back door for Mara. She didn’t bother holding the shirt down as she got out. He watched the shirt creep up her thighs and fought back a groan. He shut the door and walked a few steps behind her on the way to the front door.
His shirt lay just below the cusp of her ass. Kyro had already unlocked the front door, and he held it open for Mara after she walked up the porch steps. She walked into the house. Kyro watched her ass as she passed. Both their wolves wanted this one woman. Xeon felt Kyro’s wolf’s excitement when she passed.
“Have a seat in the living room. I’ll get you something else to put on.” Although he wasn’t fond of the idea of her being covered, he knew he had to do the right thing for this woman.
“Thanks, I appreciate all your help.” She sat in the middle of the couch.
“We haven’t done anything yet.” Xeon walked into his bedroom and grabbed a pair of his drawstring pajama pants.
“You got me off the street. For right now, that’s enough,” she said, watching him come back into the room.
When he handed her the pajama pants, a low purr sounded within her. He sat in his recliner. The purring stopped when Mara stood and slid the pants on. She tied the strings and returned to the sofa. Kyro worked in the kitchen and fixed Mara a plate of food. He grabbed a soda from the fridge and brought everything into the living room.
He placed the plate on the coffee table in front of Mara and handed her the drink. She popped the top and took a long chug from the can.
“Oh, that’s good. I don’t know when I last had something to drink. How long have I been gone?” She asked and took another sip of her drink.
“You were going to meet us two days ago.” Kyro plopped down in the recliner across from Xeon.
“Two days?” she said in disbelief. “It didn’t feel like that long. I wasn’t awake much, though.”
Her stomach growled right on time. She picked up the sandwich Kyro had made for her and took a bite. A small moan came from her, she chewed, grateful for the food.
“No wonder I’m so hungry.” She took another bite.
Xeon let her finish her sandwich in peace. It didn’t take her long to scarf it down and wash it down with more soda. Kyro took her empty plate and disappeared into the kitchen. He washed it quickly and returned to the recliner.
“Where are my pack mates?” Xeon asked once Kyro returned to his seat. “What happened that you didn’t show up to our meeting?”
“I was on my way when my car got a flat tire. My phones battery was dead, so I couldn’t call you. While I tried changing the tire, a man pulled up and offered to help. Someone with him came up behind me and stuck a syringe in my neck. Next thing I knew, I woke up on a lab table. I don’t even know where my car is.”
“I’ll have one of my enforcers check on the car. We’ll send him to the last place you saw it, and it will still be there.” Xeon knew the chances of it still being there were slim.
“I doubt it.” She looked down at her hands. “My purse and everything was in it. Looks like I have a bunch of calls to make to get everything canceled.”
“What did they do to you?” Xeon asked, curious to find out the answer. Different scents were coming from her, but they were changing.
“I only woke up for a little while on the lab table. Dr. Phenix, my boss, stood over me. He gave me another shot, and I passed out. Later, I woke up in a hospital bed on basement level one. Dr. Phenix said I had different DNA. He gave me more injections. The next time I woke up, I found myself in a cage. It was just big enough for a makeshift bed and enough room to pace a little.”
“I’m pretty sure it was the lowest level, basement level two. There were shifters in cages like mine. Some were large wolves, and others were in human form. Dr. Phenix did mention a vampire, but I couldn’t tell who he meant. I met Trina. I recognized her from the news report last week. That’s where I had gotten your number.”
“You saw Trina? Is she okay? Where is she?” he asked anxiously, sitting on the edge of his seat.
“Well, I guess she’s all right, the best I can tell. She didn’t look physically hurt, but they experimented on her too. They experimented on all of them.”
“What kind of experiments?” Kyro asked.
“When I called you the other day, I was a human. A completely normal human. Now, I can shift into a panther. Trina said she turned into a tiger. I saw a man named Benny, Trina said he belonged to her pack. Well, he now shifts into a hyena.”
“Where are they? How can they be changed like that?” Xeon couldn’t wrap his head around these experiments.
“At Garnett Medical Center. That’s where I work. Dr. Phenix is somehow changing our DNA using a serum made from other shifters, vampires, and who knows what else. I was out of it most of the time. So, I don’t know much. There were two wolves in cages across from me. I don’t know who they are or if they were originally wolves or not.” Mara explained what she knew.
“If you were out most of the time, how did you escape?” Xeon asked.
“I think once they changed my DNA to that of a shifter, my body metabolized the drugs quicker than he expected. When I came around the last time, I pretended to still be out. I think he injected me with vampirism. At least that’s what I understood from their conversation. Dr. Phenix wanted to give me a couple more doses of the vampirism serum. When he left the room, I kind of ripped Henry’s throat out and stole his keys and ran.”
“Who’s Henry?” Xeon asked, confused.
“Dr. Phenix’s assistant. He was helping him in his sick experiment.”
“Where are the keys? I didn’t see you with any when you came out of the alley,” Xeon recalled.
“I don’t know, I guess the keys are back at the hospital. I shifted in order to run away, I mu
st have dropped them. We should find those keys. There’s a key on the keychain that opens the cages. That’s why I took them in the first place. I didn’t realize I dropped them. Shifting hasn’t been easy.” The feelings of failure were clear in her tone. She grabbed a throw that was on the back of the sofa and curled up into it.
“Your body wasn’t meant to shift. I imagine it hurts a great deal.” Kyro stood from his chair. “I’ll get something a little stronger than a soda.”
“I would love a drink, but I don’t want to be impaired.” She knew she needed to be levelheaded if she was going to help the shifters still in the cages. The fear of what the doctor would do once he realized she was gone drove her to stay awake and focused.
“Don’t worry, with your new DNA, a drink won’t affect like it did when you were just human,” Xeon explained while Kyro poured her a small glass of whiskey. “It will just take a little of the edge off and help you relax.”
“Here you go.” Kyro held out the glass for Mara.
“Thanks.” She took a large gulp of the whiskey then coughed. “You have to save them.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “They don’t belong there. God only knows what Dr. Phenix is doing to the others. He’s not stopping at just one change. He added shifter and vampire to me. There’s no telling what else he did.”
“I don’t plan on leaving my sister or any of the others there. If you would like, you can sleep in my bed tonight. Feel free to use the shower, make yourself at home. We’re going to get them out,” Xeon said.
“The keys might help.” She leaned forward, grabbed some magazines off the coffee table, and rearranged them on the tabletop. “Okay, here’s the hospital. This is the front. This is the parking garage.” She pointed to the different magazines. “There are columns down this side of the parking garage. I was about here when I shifted. I’m guessing they’ll still be in that area. There’s no sidewalk there, so I imagine they’ll still be harder to find. Hopefully, you get there before sunup.”
“We’ll stop by and check it out. You’re welcome to anything in the house. Just stay inside until we come back. My pack doesn’t know you’re here.” Xeon stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. He sensed the energy pass between them.
“I’m not planning on going anywhere. The only place I can go is home, and Dr. Phenix has my address.”
“Then tomorrow we’ll take you by there to get what you need. You can stay here for a bit.” Xeon offered her.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden?” She’d always been an independent person who didn’t rely on anyone. She didn’t plan to start now.
“You can stay at my place if you prefer.” Kyro smiled.
Xeon’s wolf growled and he turned to give Kyro a glare, but he stayed calm. There was no way he wanted her to sleep anywhere except in his bed. In his arms. In his vision, but that had to wait. Now he had to rescue his pack and take care of Dr. Evil himself.
“There’s enough of me to go around.” Mara blurted out, then laughed. “I don’t think I should have any more liquor.”
“I’m going to lock the door behind us. You’ll be safe here,” Xeon said heading to the kitchen.
“Thanks for everything. Letting a complete stranger into your house and all.” She grabbed her cup off the table and followed him into the kitchen.
“It’s my pleasure.” At least, he hoped it would be later on. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will, thanks.” Placing her hand on his forearm.
Once they were outside, he punched Kyro in the arm.
“What’s that for?” Kyro cried as he rubbed his arm.
“She can stay at your place?” He arched his brow, a low growl coming from his wolf.
“What? A woman needs options.” Kyro shrugged, getting into the passenger seat of the SUV.
Xeon knew it would be a losing battle. Kyro wanted her as much as he did, and their wolves weren’t going to take no for an answer. It was up to Mara who she wanted, but eventually, they would have her.
Chapter Six
Xeon didn’t want to leave Mara alone. She’d been through so much already. Being born a shifter, he couldn’t imagine being human then suddenly shifting. Dr. Phenix would pay for what he’d done to her and the others.
Kyro had called Sheriff Langley to have him meet them at the station. Since there were humans involved, they were obligated to inform the proper authorities. The Sheriff arrived nearly fifteen minutes after them. He pulled in beside them and opened his door.
“This better be good, Pearce,” Sheriff Langley said, climbing out of his car. His gray hair in a shabby mess. It looked like he rolled out of bed and just put his clothes on, then walked out the door.
“I found out what’s happening to the missing people.” Xeon walked over to the Sheriff.
“How do you know?” Sheriff Langley asked, adjusting his pants.
“One of the victims came to me with the information. So, I figured I would relay it to you before I go and get my people.”
“Now, hold on. There are channels we have to go through.” He slammed his car door and motioned for them to follow him. “Tell me what you know. Who is the victim? Is it your sister?”
“No, she’s still missing. Dr. Mara Maxwell was captured Thursday morning. She managed to escape just hours ago.”
“Then where is she?” Sheriff Langley looked behind Xeon but only saw Kyro in tow.
“She’s safe. I’m her advocate,” Xeon told him.
“What makes you her advocate? You’re not related.” He opened the door to the station and ushered them in.
“She’s now a part of my pack. She will stay where she’s safe, and you can deal with me like you’ve been doing.” Xeon eyed the Sheriff, daring him to challenge it.
“Fine,” he said after a moment of hesitation. “Where are the missing people?”
“At Garnett Medical Center, locked in cages on basement level two.” He’d expected the Sheriff to run out the door with him to go rescue everyone.
“Does she know what’s happening to the victims?” He opened the door to a meeting room and held the door for them to enter.
“Dr. Phenix is doing experiments on them. We need to get them… now!” Xeon pounded the desk, his voice echoed loudly around the room.
“Is she positive Dr. Phenix is involved? You can’t just go around accusing a man like that. Especially not of such things as experimenting on patients. Even an accusation would mean his career and reputation.” The sheriff’s smugness at this declaration sent anger flowing through Xeon’s veins.
“I don’t give a fuck about his reputation,” Xeon bellowed. “I care about the missing people. He’s doing things to them they didn’t sign up for.” He watched the sheriff write something down on a sheet of paper.
“I have to get a search warrant for the hospital. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.” Sheriff Langley walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
“I think he’s full of shit.” Kyro leaned against the table.
“Yeah. I noticed. He’s being really weird.” Xeon crossed his arms and watched through the windows of the meeting room. “We’re going to that hospital with or without a warrant.”
They had a straight view of Sheriff Langley sitting behind his desk with the phone against his shoulder, and his fingers typing away on his keyboard. Xeon didn’t have much confidence in the Sheriff. He wasn’t moving fast enough. Then again, he didn’t have a missing sister either. The Sheriff glanced up at Xeon and made another phone call.
“I don’t trust him,” Xeon commented, watching the Sheriff hang up and stand up from his desk.
“There’s no way he got the warrant that quickly,” Kyro commented just before the Sheriff opened the door.
“Well, it is going to take a little while to get the warrant. I couldn’t get a judge on the phone. I’m going to try again shortly. Until then, we wait,” Sheriff Langley told them. “I’m going to have trouble getting someone
to sign off on it. There’s not much to go on, and the accuser won’t come in. I’m going to have to pull some favors for this.”
“Then pull them,” Xeon ordered as he leaned over the table putting his face inches from the sheriff’s face.
“It’s not that simple at this time of night. Give it a few hours, and I can get in touch with a judge.” Langley leaned back and folded his arms across his chest.
“A few hours?” Kyro questioned.
“That’s not acceptable, we have to get there now,” Xeon stated, tired of the bullshit. “Come on, Kyro.” He took long confident strides toward the door, waving for Kyro to follow.
“Pearce, you better not step foot in that hospital until we get the warrant.” Sheriff Langley raised his voice.
“Then you better hurry. We came here as a courtesy because some of the missing were human. If what Mara said is true, then the humans are now shifters, and that makes this shifter business.” Xeon and Kyro left the meeting room, slamming the door behind them.
“You know he’s going to come after us, right?” Kyro commented when they stepped out of the building.
“If he gets his warrant, I don’t care. It’s time we take this into our own hands.” Xeon found the loophole he’d been waiting for.
“Are we going in without him?” Kyro asked when he got into the SUV.
“Of course we are. I’m done waiting on him. We’re the lead on this now.” Xeon turned on the SUV and shifted it in gear.
“Yes! Finally some action.” Kyro pumped his fist. Xeon pulled away from the Sheriff’s station.
“Let’s find our pack mates first. Then you can have all the action you want,” Xeon assured him.
He planned on handing out some action himself on Dr. Phenix. He’d caused Mara and the others enough pain. Humans weren’t meant to shift. Those that were changed, their bodies needed time to process the change and not thrown into tortured episodes of shifting.
On the way to the Garnett Medical Center, Xeon’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen to see Sheriff Langley’s number flash across it. He ignored the call and dropped the phone in the cup holder in the center console. “You have nothing to say that I want to hear, asshole.” He knew Langley hadn’t gotten the warrant signed yet. It would probably be a call full of threats if they went into the hospital.
