Reluctant Mate

by Diana Persaud

  “I’ll take you home so you can rest,” Lanie said as they reached her car.

  “I’m fine, Lanie. Besides, I want to be there when Lucien questions Dr. Jessup.”

  “Har—”

  “—I don’t have to do anything, Lanie,” he interrupted. “I’’ll just sit and listen.”

  Reluctantly she agreed and drove them home.

  He followed Lanie into the Alpha house then headed straight for Lucien’s basement. Lucien and Zane were sitting casually on his sofa while Dr. Jessup studied them from behind the bars of his cell.

  ***

  Lucien, the leader of this Werewolf pack nodded and Dr. Jessup continued his explanation.

  “When your body receives an injury, nociceptors, special pain receptors along your skin, are triggered. Nociceptors send an electrical message to your spinal cord. Your spinal cord will cause you to react with a reflex designed to move you away from the pain causing stimulus. At the same time, the message is sent to your thalamus.”

  Why am I bothering to explain this? Without a diagram, this information is meaningless to these animals.

  He sighed then continued, “From the thalamus, the signal is directed to other parts of your brain so it can interpret the signal. It is also sent to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and emotional reactions to pain.”

  “The device I implanted in your kind was embedded into the thalamus. When the trigger was depressed, it caused the device to simulate the thalamus. The thalamus perceived the signals as if it were coming from the nociceptors, when in reality, it was not,” he replied smugly.

  “You tricked our brains into thinking our bodies were injured?” Lucien asked.

  “Yes. It was brilliant, if I do say so myself,” he replied, complimenting himself.

  “What is Project Hercules?” demanded Lucien.

  He snorted derisively.

  “An animal like yourself could never understand what I was attempting to do.”

  “He’s modifying humans, Lucien. Making them stronger. You know, like Hercules, the Demi-god in Greek mythology,” Zane suggested quietly.

  Lucien raised a brow as he turned to Zane.

  With a shrug, Zane said, “Jackie’s into Greek Mythology.”

  “Never mind, Jessup. We will figure it out ourselves. Dr. Mallory will be here shortly and she will review all of the files we managed to retrieve from your home office. It won’t take her long to figure out your little project.”

  Lucien turned to leave.

  His massive ego couldn’t handle the thought of a wolf, a wolf-woman, figuring out his precious top secret project. Wanting to gloat, he called out, “Wait.”

  He took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt. Slowly, he returned them to his face.

  “I will simplify it as much as I can so that you animals can understand.”

  Lucien took a deep, calming breath and nodded to him.

  “Testosterone is commonly known as a male hormone, since large quantities are found in males. Testosterone controls a male’s sex drive, regulates sperm production, promotes muscle mass, increases energy levels and it controls human behavior, namely, aggressiveness.”

  “I feel like I’m back in my high school Biology class,” said Harley.

  He glared at Harley before continuing.

  “Average adult males have between 270 and 1070 nanograms of testosterone per deciLiter of blood. We took blood samples from the wolves we captured. On average they have between 2500 to 3500 nanograms of testosterone per deciLiter of blood.”

  “So we are bigger, stronger and more aggressive because we have more testosterone than normal men?” Lucien asked.

  Amazed that a wolf understood his explanation, he replied, “Yes.”

  “Do you know what controls the production of testosterone?” he asked, sure that they would be baffled.

  “Your balls?” Harley offered.

  “Well…your testicles do make testosterone. So do the adrenal glands. But what directs them to make testosterone?”

  They turned to Harley, who shrugged.

  “I have no fucking idea. I got a ‘C’ in Biology,” Harley replied.

  He made a sound of frustration.

  “Your DNA. Your chromosomes. Your genes....That’s genes with a ‘g,’’ not ‘j!’”

  “Ok, Doctor, we get it. You messed around with human DNA. Why?” Lucien demanded.

  “It’s quite simple. Wolves have elevated levels of testosterone. Humans do not. In order to increase the human’s levels of testosterone, we had to modify their DNA so that their bodies would make more testosterone on its own. Otherwise, we would have to give them daily shots of testosterone. That isn’t cost effective, nor is it practical.”

  “How did you modify their DNA?”

  “Other scientists have found the gene that regulates testosterone production. This gene, called SRY, is responsible for making testosterone and a special enzyme, 5 alpha-ketosteroid reductase 2. This enzyme converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a more potent form of testosterone.”

  They turned to Harley.

  “I have no fucking clue what he just said,” Harley admitted.

  He sighed loudly.

  “I forgot. You are just a stupid animal and can’t possibly comprehend—”

  “You changed human DNA so that it would continually make testosterone as well as an enzyme that would make a stronger version of it,” Zane interrupted. “That about sums it up?”

  “Err…yes,” he answered quietly, confused that Zane actually comprehended his explanation.

  “What were you hoping to accomplish by increasing their testosterone levels?”

  “Weren’t you paying attention? I was going to give them all of your strengths without your weaknesses.”

  “‘Weakness?’” Lucien asked.

  “Yes. They would be fully human, not a…mixture of human and animal like you are,” he said with disgust.

  “You are forgetting, doctor, humans are animals too,” Harley reminded him.

  “I meant, what were you planning to do with the humans? Why make them stronger? How were you planning on using them?” Lucien asked.

  “Just imagine. Our soldiers with immense strength and speed. No other country would dare attack us. They would fear our powerful soldiers.”

  “Until someone else learns of your research and begins modifying their people. It never ends with war,” Lucien said with disgust. “There is always someone else who will figure out a way to build a better weapon.”

  “I can’t believe you were planning on weaponizing a human being,” Harley said.

  “Is that even a word?” Zane asked.

  “It is now,” Harley replied.

  “Where are the humans you experimented on? Are they at Genesis 23?” Lucien asked.

  “You will never find them,” he replied confidently.

  ***

  The high pitched whine of his mate cut deep into Robert-wolf’s soul. He sniffed the air, making sure no other humans were in the area.

  The air was devoid of the unique stench of human flesh.

  He growled at the gleaming metal gripping his mate’s delicate paw. His body stiffened, his muscles were rigid as he strained to shift back.

  She whined again.

  With a guttural roar, he shifted into his human form. Sweat covered his body and he panted from the exertion. He crawled toward her. As he reached for the trap, she bit his wrist, breaking the skin.

  Ignoring the pain, he placed his hand on either side of the trap and pressed down. Grunting, he shifted all his weight to the lever. It sprung open and she pulled out her damaged paw. After growling at him, she turned and limped away.

  “Serena.”

  Her head whipped around, baring her teeth and snarling.

  “You shouldn’t walk on a broken paw, it will only get worse.” He took a step toward her. “I’m going to carry you.”

  Sharp jaws snapped at him, daring him to try.


  “I’m going to carry you,” he repeated.

  He dropped down to his knees so he was closer to her eye level.

  “Let me make this right, Serena.”

  She barked at him, turned and limped away. With a determined stride, he went after her. Once he was close enough to scoop her up, he lunged. She bit his bicep as he lifted her off her feet.

  His wolf rose to the surface and his eyes tingled. He heard a low, warning growl and realized it was coming from him. Serena released his bicep and licked his wound. She barked softly and relaxed against him.

  Barefoot, he walked through the forest, ignoring sharp stones that cut into his feet and devilish bushes that raked thorns across his bare skin. By the time he reached the cabin, his arms burned and his legs ached. He carried his mate into their cabin and set her gently on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

  He shut the cabin door then returned to her side.

  “Serena, shift so we can talk.”

  She remained in wolf form.

  “Please.”

  She refused to shift.

  A large satellite phone stood on the nightstand. He picked it up and called Lucien.

  “What happened?” Lucien asked.

  His shoulders sagged.

  He walked over to Serena-wolf and replied, “I chased a rabbit in the woods. Serena followed me and was caught in a leg trap.”

  “Is she all right?”

  “I’m not sure. She’s still in wolf form.”

  “She’ll stay that way if she’s badly hurt. Her wolf is protecting her,” Lucien said.

  He rubbed his chin.

  Serena shifted and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “She just shifted.”

  “Good. Anything else?”

  “Unfortunately. Two hunters found us when she was trapped.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I killed one hunter. I let the other one go.”

  “You let a witness escape?”

  “He was a child. Barely thirteen.”

  “If you had killed him—”

  “—I don’t kill children,” he snarled.

  “Then there’s hope for you yet,” Lucien replied calmly. “Remain inside with your mate. I’ll send someone tomorrow to check on you.”

  ***

  Serena held her aching wrist with her hand, trying to keep it immobile.

  “Put your wrist over your heart. Like this,” Robert said, showing her with his own hand.

  “You need to keep it elevated,” he insisted.

  Wincing, she moved her wrist and placed it over her heart.

  Robert went to the kitchen. He hunted around and found a small plastic bag. He put some ice in it and wrapped the bag in a thin kitchen towel. He returned to the couch and knelt on the floor in front of her.

  His large hand wrapped around her throbbing wrist.

  “It feels warm,” he said. “Can you move it at all?”

  Gently she moved her hand, gasping at the sharp spike of pain that radiated from her wrist.

  Robert opened his mouth to say something then clamped it shut again. Worry lined his brow.

  He held up the bag of ice.

  “This will keep the swelling down.” He placed the bag gently on top of her wrist. “I fucked up, Serena. I’m no good as a wolf, either.”

  “You’re learning, Robert.”

  “You could have been killed.”

  “Then learn how to control your wolf,” she replied.

  He returned to the kitchen and tumbled through the cabinets. He returned with a glass of water and two pills.

  “Take this. It will help with the pain.”

  She took the pills and swallowed the water.

  “Your feet.”

  He left bloody footprints all over the cabin floor.

  “Fuck.”

  He went to the bathroom. When he returned, his feet were bandaged and he used a wet rag to wipe up his bloody footprints.

  When he finished cleaning the floors, he returned to her and propped her feet up on the small couch. He covered her with a throw then went into the kitchen.

  Her lids grew heavy as she watched him prepare dinner.

  “Serena?”

  His voice woke her before his gentle shake.

  “Dinner’s ready. Not much of a cook but—”

  She took a deep breath and smiled.

  “Smells delicious.”

  After dinner, he carried her to the large bed and gently placed her there. Then he got up and went to the window.

  His anxiety was palpable. She could almost taste it.

  He toyed with his beard, stroking it absentmindedly.

  A knot formed in her stomach.

  “You don’t need me, Serena. Nor do you need a pack. If you live in a city, the police will protect—”

  She laughed bitterly.

  “I was living in a large city when the Trapper kidnapped me.”

  He shook his head.

  “That was an anomaly. It won’t happen again.”

  She wrapped her uninjured arm around her body, hugging herself.

  “You don’t understand the dangers out there for single wolves, Robert. Especially for females.”

  He stiffened.

  “I thought wolves were honorable.”

  Gooseflesh appeared on her arms.

  “Rogues aren’t.”

  “What’s a rogue?” he asked.

  She rubbed her arms.

  Her stomach roiled.

  “Alpha males who have no pack to lead. They roam alone, searching for their mates.”

  She glanced away from him, unable to meet his gaze.

  He walked over to the bed and sat next to her.

  “Maybe the loneliness is too much for them and they become bitter. Violent.”

  He stroked her cheek.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Her mouth felt dry.

  She picked at a loose thread on the quilt.

  “It was the summer I turned seven. My parents took me camping like they did every year.”

  Deep in the National Forest that bordered on Tarchannen Territory, Serena and her family hiked up the trail they used every year. When her mother got tired of waddling, she set down her small backpack and announced, “This is where we’ll camp this year.”

  While her mother rested on a nearby tree stump, Serena unpacked her backpack. Her father sniffed the air then stole a kiss from her mother when he thought she wasn’t looking. She grinned and unwrapped the small package in front of her.

  Seven year old Serena struggled with the thin pole. With a final push, she shoved it into place and her tent stayed upright.

  “Look, Daddy! I set up my tent,” she said proudly.

  Her father rubbed the top of her head.

  “That’s a pretty sturdy tent, Pumpkin.”

  He held up his tent pole.

  “Since you’re the expert, how about you help me set up our tent?”

  Once her parents’ tent was assembled, her father suggested, “Why don’t we go for a run while your mother takes a nap?”

  She nodded happily.

  She kissed her mother then whispered to her round belly, “Next year, you’ll get to go on a run with us.”

  “And I’m sure you’ll teach your brother everything he needs to know,” Mom said then kissed her forehead.

  They stripped then shifted and Serena-wolf followed her father into the forest. After hours of exploration, she led her father back to their camp.

  As soon as she stepped into the clearing, the scent of blood and excrement assailed her nostrils.

  Serena-wolf growled.

  Her father snarled and galloped to his tent. Serena-wolf followed, skidding to a stop behind him. Her father howled, a mixture of pain and anger. Then he dashed off to the forest.

  Serena-wolf couldn’t breathe.

  She stared at the mess of body parts strewn throughout the tent.

  Her wolf eyes focused on a familiar finger, detached from the
rest of its hand.

  Her heart squeezed painfully.

  She whimpered. Her snout pushed the finger, hoping her mother would respond. Finally she had to accept this wasn’t a nightmare.

  Her mother was dead.

  Mutilated.

  A low growl built in her chest. She turned toward the forest, in the direction where her father had disappeared.

  A painful bark came from that direction.

  Her hackles rose.

  She stared at the woods, sniffing the air.

  An unfamiliar scent reached her.

  Alpha.

  He stepped out of the forest, a tall, muscular man.

  Covered in blood.

  Her mother’s blood.

  Her father’s blood.

  His scent was wrong.

  Her knees began to shake.

  He smiled when he saw her.

  She tasted bile.

  Then he shifted.

  Her heart pounded in her ears.

  She darted away from him, galloping at full speed through the forest, hoping the darkening sky would help conceal her from him.

  He thundered through the forest, right behind her.

  Wings fluttered as birds flew out of their way.

  She leaped over boulders and fallen trees.

  His paws landed right behind her.

  The silence of the forest was deafening.

  Would no one help her?

  His scent enveloped her, his sickness spurring her on.

  She galloped deeper into the forest, into unfamiliar territory.

  She leaped over a fallen tree and skidded down a steep slope. She tumbled and rolled over sharp stones as she headed towards the bottom.

  His grunts and growls followed her descent.

  Scrambling to her feet, she darted away from sharp, snapping jaws.

  Her lungs burned.

  Her legs ached.

  She took a final leap and tumbled down another slope.

  Too exhausted to run, she huddled into a small ball, shutting her eyes tight.

  A warning growl.

  A thud as something heavy landed on the leaves next to her.

  She lost control of her bladder.

  She put her paws over her head, whining softly.

  Growls and grunts.

  Leaves crunching.

  Bodies slamming against each other.

  Something hot and wet landing on her fur.