Chapter 5
FIVE
T hey rode up the university’s research lab elevator in silence. Rehan adjusted his tie with precise movements. The charcoal silk slid smooth against his fingers, another point of controlled perfection in his ordered world.
The elevator doors open to a short hall with a heavy security door blocking their path. Hunter held the security card they were given up to the square device next to the door. When nothing happened, Hunter tapped it against the reader. Again nothing unlocked.
“Damn,” Hunter said, “the stupid thing isn’t working. We’ll have to walk all the way back across campus to get another card.”
Rehan didn’t have nearly enough patience for that. Instead, he yanked on the door with a bit of borrowed strength from his cat, snapping the locking mechanism.
“Oh look,” Rehan said. “It’s open.” Hunter rolled his eyes. Rehan just pushed him forward. “I don’t have time for this. Get going.”
When he stepped past the doors, he waved to the cameras as if nothing had happened to let the security base know it was just him. No need to freak out and call the police.
Walking down the hall, Rehan’s enhanced hearing picked up the faint buzz of music growing louder as they approached the research level. The lab’s security panel scanned their credential, and this time, seemed to work just fine as the door clicked and opened.
Rehan stepped into chaos.
His ordered mind struggled to process the sensory onslaught. Every surface bore some mark of personality: tiger-striped posters declaring “Think Outside the Cage,” colorful sticky notes creating a rainbow of reminders, and equipment labeled with both scientific precision and questionable cat puns. A cat crept from under a desk, regarding him with elegant disdain that rivaled his own.
And in the center of it all, Dr. Alora Sky stood.
His tiger surged forward with such force that Rehan had to grip his control with an iron will. Mine . The possessive intensity of the response shook him. He’d never experienced such an immediate, visceral reaction to anyone.
“You must be Mr. Kedi,” she said, her British accent softening the words. A hint of mischief danced in her eyes. “Watch your step – genius at work tends to spill over.”
“It appears so.” His dry tone couldn’t quite mask his fascination. The photo hadn’t prepared him for her presence, for the way she filled the space with vibrant energy.
He took one perfectly measured step forward and promptly stumbled over a stack of research books. His enhanced reflexes saved him from embarrassment, but not from the spark of amusement in Alora’s eyes.
“Careful,” she said, lips twitching. “Those contain at least three groundbreaking theories and one truly terrible poem about protein synthesis.”
“A poem?” The word escaped before he could stop it.
“Sometimes science needs a creative approach.” She shrugged, the movement drawing his attention to the curve of her shoulder, the graceful line of her neck. “Though in my defense, I wrote it at five AM after a breakthrough. Everything seems more poetic at five AM.”
“I wouldn’t know.” The words came out less stern than intended. Something about her presence made his usual aloofness slip.
“No? Let me guess – you’re more of a nine-to-five, everything in its proper place kind of scientist?” She moved past him to grab a sample, her arm brushing his sleeve.
The casual contact sent electricity racing across his skin. Her scent enveloped him – vanilla and coffee, underlaid with something uniquely her that called to both his human and animal sides. His tiger roared to life, desperate to get closer, to mark her with his scent, to claim...
Rehan stiffened, fighting for control. This couldn’t happen. He hadn’t survived years of pride politics and corporate takeovers by letting his tiger’s instincts override his judgment. But his enhanced senses betrayed him, tracking her every movement as she held the sample up to the light.
“The virus’s protein structure is fascinating,” she said, seemingly oblivious to his internal struggle. “It’s not just attacking the shifter gene – it’s rewriting it. See these markers?” She pointed to her computer screen, leaning close enough that her hair brushed his arm. The contact sent another jolt through him. “It’s like the virus is trying to evolve the tiger right out of tiger shifters.”
Her brilliant mind matched her beautiful face, which only made his tiger more insistent. Mine , it growled again. Ours . The perfect mate – smart enough to challenge us, strong enough to stand beside us, and completely forbidden.
Behind him, Hunter’s knowing chuckle grated on his nerves.
“Your work has potential,” Rehan said, forcing himself back to business. His voice came out rougher than intended. “But potential needs focus. I expect results.”
Alora crossed her arms, unintimidated. The movement drew his attention to the ridiculous tiger patches on her lab coat – one appeared to be wearing sunglasses while solving an equation. “You’ll get results, Mr. Kedi. But genius works best when it’s not micromanaged.” Her smile turned challenging. “Besides, your mother already approved my methods.”
“My mother isn’t funding your research.”
“No, but she did say you’d be like this.” Alora turned back to her microscope, effectively dismissing him. The casual disregard for his authority should have irritated him. Instead, his tiger practically purred at her boldness. “Very intense. Very proper. She also said you’d appreciate my work once you got past the tiger puns.”
“We’ll see.” He fought to keep his voice neutral despite the way his pulse raced.
“Oh yes,” she agreed cheerfully. “We will. Now, would you like to hear about my latest breakthrough? Fair warning – it involves at least three cat puns and one truly terrible metaphor about protein bonds doing the tango.”