Glass shattered, sharp fragments hitting the floor milliseconds before her body.
Heart pumping with a surge of adrenaline, he grabbed a syringe and filled it with a sample of the serum he had been working on.
Rolling up his sleeves, he quickly tied off his arm. As soon as the vein bulged, he jammed the needle into his vein. His trembling fingers slipped and the syringe slid to the side.
His stomach lurched.
Only the fine metal tip lodged in his vein kept the syringe from falling to the tile floor.
He took a deep breath and reached for the syringe.
The phone rang sharply, startling him.
The syringe fell.
With a speed he didn’t know he possessed, he caught the syringe before it hit the floor.
His knees buckled and he dropped to the floor. With a firm grip, he stuck the syringe into his bulging vein and emptied it.
Ice shifted through his veins, followed by a searing heat.
His pulse raced.
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The glare of the florescent light hurt his eyes.
He staggered around the lab, tearing at his clothes.
Naked, he shivered as the vent above him blew cold air over his body.
His eyes tingled.
He pulled off his glasses.
His vision was perfect.
But will it last?
With a nervous chuckle, he tossed his glasses aside.
His bones ached.
His skin felt tight. Discomfort morphed into intense pain and he dropped to the floor. The hammering in his skull intensified and he released a primal growl.
His face contorted as a snout protruded.
He staggered to his feet.
The aching of his bones was forgotten when the tangy metallic scent of blood tickled his nostrils. His lips pulled back, revealing sharp canines dripping with saliva.
He took a cautious step forward, toward his prey.
She moaned low.
He pounced on her back, sharp claws digging into her skin as his jaws crushed her delicate neck.
Hot blood spurted into his mouth and he drank deeply. He savored her taste, his wolf nearly purring as her body went still.
Thrilled by his first kill, he howled.
Footsteps echoed on the tile beyond the door.
Getting louder.
Closer.
When the door opened, he darted out of the lab and dashed through the building.
The automatic doors slid open.
He bounded out of the building, keeping to back alleys as he made his way toward the soothing scent of pine.
Once out of town, he dashed across an open field, heading straight to the nearby forest.
He galloped through the forest, allowing his instinct to carry him to safety. Deep in the forest, he finally slowed down to a trot.
The sharp scent of pine and oak made his head ache. He snorted, blowing out air through his snout.
A chorus of birds called out several warnings.
Beyond the scent of pine was something else. Unique animal scents which combined to make his nostrils twitch and his mouth salivate.
Deer.
Skunk.
Wet feathers.
Rabbit.
Dung.
Beyond the rustle of leaves caused by gentle breezes, he heard squirrels as they leaped onto tree branches.
Pine cones as they tumbled to the forest floor.
A soft clop-clop as a deer darted away.
Thirsty, he followed the gentle sound of cascading water that lead him to a small stream. He drank deeply, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings.
I’m free.
He sniffed the air.
No humans. No wolves. Now I must shift back.
He concentrated on his human form.
Nothing happened.
A low growl filled the clearing.
He paced the small clearing, occasionally pausing as he tried to shift.
He remained in wolf form.
He visualized his human face, his arms, his thin legs.
He peered into the stream, swatting at the water when his wolf face stared back at him.
Tired of pacing, he leaped onto a boulder and howled.
Chapter Fifteen
Before Remington reached the front door of the Alpha House, it opened. Lucien’s body filled the frame of the front door, blocking the entrance to his home.
Remington took a deep breath, keeping his wolf from rising.
“Did you think you could keep her from me?” he snarled.
“She’s mated, Remington,” Lucien replied.
He unleashed his claws.
“I have a remedy for that.”
Lucien shook his head.
“She found her true mate, Remington. Not even you can destroy that bond.”
Remington snorted.
“You are not above claiming that to protect her.”
“I won’t let you take her by force, Remington.”
He nodded.
“Who would refuse an Alpha?” he replied.
Lucien stepped aside and he entered the Alpha House.
Serena was in the kitchen helping Lucien’s human mate fix lunch.
The knife in her hand went still when she scented him.
Her face paled.
She dropped the knife and backed away from him.
“Serena,” he said, keeping his voice neutral.
She swallowed then took a deep breath.
“You have a responsibility to our pack, Serena,” Remington reminded her. “After what my father did for you, I’m surprised by your refusal to honor his wish.”
She glanced behind her, at the Alpha Bitch. Then she turned around and met his gaze. Back straight, she stepped toward him.
Her scent was infuriating.
Mated.
He snarled.
She froze but didn’t turn away.
“I—I’m sorry, Remington. I ran like a coward.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me, Serena? Tell me of your reluctance to be my mate?” he demanded.
Her lips trembled.
He sniffed the air. His throat burned with the smoky scent of her fear.
“You’re afraid of me? My future mate—fears me?” He stared at her, unblinking.
“I was afraid of you, Remington,” she confessed. “But not any more. The fear you scent is for my mate.”
“Ah, yes. The mutant.”
“Robert is a human-wolf hybrid. To soothe your pride, will you kill him and take me back to Tarchannen?”
He shook his head.
“I’m not going to interfere with a mated pair. That bond is sacred.” He rubbed his jaw. “Perhaps Tarchannen have forgotten how sacred that bond is.”
“Then you won’t kill him?”
“No. But Robert will never be welcome in my pack, not after the danger he put us in.”
He turned to Lucien.
“That wolf has endangered us. Why haven’t you destroyed him yet?”
Lucien’s brow rose.
“Because of Serena?” He shook his head. “You’re a fool, Lucien. If you had killed him before they mated, you would have saved her from suffering.”
“Are you demanding his death?” Lucien asked.
He glanced at Serena.
To kill her mate now would cause her unbearable grief.
“He might be able to redeem himself once he gives her children.”
“Then you may as well kill me now,” Robert said.
***
Serena rushed into Robert’s arms. He pulled away, refusing to look at her.
“Robert?” she whispered.
She hated the way her voice wavered and her heart ached.
Robert kept his gaze on Remington.
“I just left the lab. Dr. Mallory said I’m unable to have children,” Robert said.
Her stomach twisted painfully and she cried out, “Robert?”
&nbs
p; He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“But if we can’t have children—” She gripped his shirt. “—no pack will accept us. Where will we live? Where will we go? How can we survive without the protection of a pack? Rogues are everywhere.”
She shuddered.
His arms held her close, offering comfort.
“You mean everything to me, Serena.” He swallowed. “You should-” He paused. His jaw clenched before continuing, “—choose one of Lucien’s wolves.” He choked when he suggested, “Harley.”
She stared at him, unable to respond.
“It doesn’t work that way, Robert,” Lucien informed him. “Your wolf will never allow her to choose another. Nor will her wolf accept another.”
“You don’t need to worry about my wolf. I’m sure Remington will take care of it,” Robert replied.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“What? You can’t mean—”
Robert gripped her arms then gently pushed her away.
“It’s the only way, Serena.”
“No, I won’t let you do this,” she protested. “There has to be another way.”
The phone rang.
Lucien answered and swore. He hung up the phone then said, “Dr. Jessup killed Dr. Mallory and shifted into a wolf.”
“What?”
“Fuck.”
“How did that happen?” they all exclaimed at once.
The muscle in Robert’s jaw twitched.
“I’ll find him, Lucien. That bastard is my responsibility,” Robert said.
Chapter Sixteen
Robert followed Dr. Jessup’s unique scent through the woods.
My farts smell better than Jessup.
He listened to the forest.
Birds chirped and called to each other.
Underbrush moved as small animals darted away.
He continued along Jessup’s path.
Will I be able to shift into a wolf?
Will Jessup be able to shift back into a man?
He stepped over a log and nearly lost his footing as he landed in something soft and wet. He wiped his boot on the side of the log then bent to examine the ground.
He picked up a small stick and pushed around the small mangled body, trying to make sense of it.
A rabbit.
Mauled.
Destroyed.
But not eaten.
What kind of animal would kill for fun?
A chill ran up his spine.
He sniffed the air and jogged along the path.
This is unnatural behavior for a wolf, isn’t it? Is his wolf sick? Or is Jessup in total control of his wolf?
He could sense his wolf rising.
We can’t kill him. He might be able to fix me.
He could sense his wolf’s agitation.
Fix me so that Serena can have the children she deserves.
His wolf pulled back, staying just below the surface. His skin felt tight, uncomfortable.
With a grim expression, he moved through the forest.
The wind shifted and he caught Jessup-wolf’s distinctive scent.
Shift or remain human?
He stepped over a log.
Jessup might want to fight if I approach in wolf form.
He ducked under a low hanging branch.
Then again, he might attack me because I’m human.
He brushed a fat spider off his shoulder.
The wind shifted again and he lost the scent. It didn’t matter because something large was crashing its way through the forest.
A threatening growl preceded a snout with bloody fangs bared.
Jessup-wolf leaped out of the underbrush.
Instinct made him want to shift and attack. He stood his ground, fighting his wolf for dominance.
Easy. To shift now would only make things worse.
Jessup-wolf barked then he lunged and snapped. His muscles were tightly coiled, ready to attack.
“Doctor Jessup, I know you can hear me,” he said slowly.
The wolf snarled.
“Shift back into your human form.”
Jessup-wolf lunged.
He stepped to the side, dodging him.
“Why haven’t you shifted back yet?”
They circled each other.
His eyes widened.
“You can’t shift, can you?”
Jessup-wolf darted forward, his jaws snapping at his calf. He jumped up, grabbed a tree branch above him and swung himself out of the way.
He landed, grabbed a small branch from the ground and spun around.
Jessup-wolf leaped on him, knocking him down. He brought the branch up just in time, shoving it into Jessup-wolf’s gaping jaws.
Jessup-wolf bit down on the branch and pulled, twisting his head from side to side.
He struggled against the weight of Jessup-wolf on his chest, ignoring the sharp claws that dug into his body.
He pulled the branch toward his body then shoved with all of his strength. Jessup-wolf lost his balance and he was able to fling him off his body. He scooted away, swinging the branch in front of him like a club.
“I need you to fix me, Jessup,” he grunted.
Jessup-wolf stopped snarling and though it wasn’t possible, he seemed to smirk. Jessup-wolf turned around and ducked under a low hanging branch.
“Wait!” he called out and stumbled after him.
Fuck.
Jessup-wolf trotted away from him, darting through the woods. He was fast, but he was also loud. He ran after Jessup-wolf, determined to catch him.
The forest went silent.
He skidded to a stop.
The hair on his arms stood on end.
His wolf pushed to the surface. His eyes tingled and his nostrils flared. His ears twitched, struggling to grow into its canine shape.
He resisted.
He couldn’t risk changing, not when Fish and Wildlife employees might be in these woods.
Jessup-wolf had headed North.
Should have asked Lucien for a map before I took off.
He studied the limbs of the oak next to him. Would it hold his weight?
Jumping up, he grabbed the branch and pulled himself up. He climbed up the oak, hoping to find Jessup-wolf with a bird’s eye view.
Need to quit fucking around, Roland.
He reached for the branch above him.
Have you forgotten your training?
He pulled himself up.
That pretty little thing has you so twisted up you’ve forgotten the basics.
He scanned the surrounding area.
Nothing moved.
He stepped on another branch, moving around the trunk so he could survey the other side of the forest.
The stillness of the forest was unnatural.
Even his wolf was uneasy.
So busy trying to impress her, you’re gonna get your fool self killed.
His foot slipped and he fell.
A branch slammed into his ribs, knocking the breath out of him. Twigs scraped his face. Before he could grab onto the branch, he fell again. Limbs hit and scratched his body as he descended. His feet hit the ground and slid on a pile of leaves. He fell on his back.
Maybe.
Crunch.
Jessup-wolf stepped around a trunk and bared his fangs.
But not. Fucking. Today.
He scrambled to his feet, withdrawing the knife from his boot.
Fat drops of saliva gleamed on Jessup-wolf’s canines.
“I don’t want to have to kill you, Jessup. But after what you were planning to do with my mate—”
Jessup-wolf snarled and stepped forward.
Something rustled in the forest behind Jessup-wolf. A flock of birds took flight.
Jessup-wolf focused on a spot to his left. A man stepped out from behind an oak. He wore an ugly tan uniform with a symbol embroidered over his heart.
“Sir, stay back. This wolf has already killed one man,” the stranger warned.
&nbs
p; His gaze darted to Jessup-wolf then back to the uniformed man.
“Who the fuck are you?” he demanded.
“Dave Rogers. Fish and Wildlife.”
Oh, shit!
“We’re here to find the wolf that killed a hunter a few days ago,” Rogers said.
“What makes you think this is the wolf?”
Rogers gave him and odd look.
“This one is behaving abnormally. He isn’t backed into a corner, so why the aggression?”
He didn’t reply.
“Wolves hunt in packs. This one is alone. Without the pack to protect him, a normal wolf would avoid this type of confrontation.” Rogers frowned. “Instead of being aggressive, a normal wolf would have run away,” Rogers explained.
“This is certainly one unique wolf,” he replied.
Jessup-wolf barked at him then lunged at Rogers.
“No!” he shouted.
Jessup-wolf leaped.
Rogers swung his arm between them, screaming as the wolf’s sharp teeth sank into his arm.
Zzzt.
Jessup-wolf twitched slightly. A fluorescent orange feather on the end of a dart was stuck to the wolf’s hind leg.
Jessup-wolf growled and shook his head, pulling Rogers’ arm back and forth.
Across from them, a woman, also in an ugly tan uniform, stood holding a gun in her hand. The woman put her tranquilizer gun away and cautiously moved toward them.
Jessup-wolf relaxed his grip on the man’s arms. Staggering, he got past the large oak before collapsing on the ground.
“Rogers, you all right?”
“I’ll need stitches, but I’ll live,” Rogers replied.
She knelt by Jessup-wolf then removed the dart.
“What are you going to do with him?” he asked, nodding to Jessup-wolf.
“Wolves are endangered species, so we can’t kill him. We’re going to relocate him to a more secluded area.”
“Secluded?”
“Yes. Far far away from humans,” she said.
“Of course, that’s if he passes his test for rabies,” Rogers added.
“Of course,” Robert replied.
“What are you doing out here anyway?” Rogers asked.
“I—my dog got away from me,” he said.
“Well I hope you find him before he runs into the rest of the wolf pack.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Robert replied before moving past them.
What if Jessup shifts while he’s unconscious? What if he shifts after they relocated him? What if he never shifts back into a human?
Reluctant Mate Page 12
