Chapter 3 #2
“Nuevo Biotech was your good job?” Challenge returned to Alex’s tone, but his features remained impassive.
“I wanted to change my location and moving from one country to another hadn’t been drastic enough. I applied for every off-world position in the biomedical field. Nuevo simply paid the most.”
“How long did you work for them?” Nate asked, his expression unreadable.
“Eleven years,” Alex supplied the answer.
Clearly, he’d listened when she talked about it before.
Still, he didn’t sound pleased. Too bad.
She would not apologize for things beyond her control.
She took responsibility for her actions.
She would not be punished for the actions of others.
Now she was agitated. She scrambled off Alex’s lap and moved to the center of the room.
“I won’t apologize for participating in the program.
My team made you stronger and healthier.
Babcock is the one who forced the transformation on you, and he paid for his ruthlessness with his life. ”
Alex and Nate both stood, but it was Nate who approached her. “You don’t regret anything you did at Nuevo?”
Despite her rising anxiety, she stood her ground. “When I was transferred to the Griffen Project, almost forty percent of hybrids died during transformation. When the complex was raided, my team had it down to two-point-seven percent. I saved lives. I never intentionally harmed anyone.”
Nate struck like a cobra, grasping a fist full of her hair and pulling her head back. “Your illegal experiments robbed us of our future. How is that not harm?”
Then his mouth covered hers and his tongue pushed into her mouth, a punishing assault on her senses.
She stiffened for a moment, instinctively rebelling against his aggression.
But his hold on her hair loosened and his lips began to slide.
She went still in his arms then gradually yielded as his kiss went on and on.
Alex moved up behind her and pressed his warm body against her back. His hands slid up and down her arms while his beta explored her mouth. “Don’t fight it, Luna. Don’t fight us.” His fingers skimmed over the outer swell of her breasts, hinting at more intimate touches, more stimulating exchanges.
She squirmed, feeling restless and needy. How did they do this with one lingering kiss?
Nate lifted his head and Alex turned her to face him. “I intend to claim you,” he stated emphatically. “I’ll give you as much time as I can, but I’m not a patient male.” As if to prove his point, his mouth took possession of hers. His tongue pushed between her lips, movements insistent and bold.
Reality spun away and Luna felt only the hardness of their bodies pressing against her front and back.
Alex’s mouth was warm and demanding as it moved against hers.
Nate’s taste lingered on her tongue as Alex introduced his taste into her mouth.
The combination teased her, coaxing responses she hadn’t meant to give.
Gradually, she melted into their embrace, undulating between them with obvious need. Nate cupped her breasts and pressed his cock against her bottom. Alex framed her face with his hands as he rubbed his erection against her belly.
“Soon,” Alex whispered as he pulled away. “We’ll explore these feelings very soon.”
They left a short time later and Luna couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Were they angry about her attitude or were they trying to keep her focused on what they needed her to do?
The wolf shifters, like all the other kinds, couldn’t build a future without mates, and their chances of claiming mates would increase dramatically if she finished the transformation formula.
Completing the formula was obviously best for the wolves, but what was best for the females? Luna spent the following morning debating the question. Dawn delivered breakfast, but she hadn’t stayed for more than a few minutes.
The morning stretched on with cruel slowness. Luna had read Babcock’s notes so many times that she could almost recite them. Worse, she was relatively sure she could complete the formula. Now all she had to do was decide if she was willing to give them this advantage.
Maybe she was coming at this from the wrong direction.
Alex and Nate were focused on the wolves.
Yet there was a finite number of females on Rydaria.
Could this formula be used to give them control over their future?
As it was now, the males identified their mates.
All the women could do was wait around and hope that a group of males focused on them.
Could she engineer the formula so that it shifted the choice to the female?
That possibility intrigued her and made the concept of transformation a lot more interesting.
She was still debating the question when an odd whirring sound drew her attention to her left.
An insect perched on the wall by the window about eight inches off the floor.
Its thorax was black, but its wings and legs were dark green.
It had burnt orange markings along its sides and its eyes appeared unusually large given the size of its head.
How had the critter gotten inside the lab?
The window was closed and no one left the doors open for more than a few seconds.
The insect made a different sound and spun around in a slow circle.
Then it crawled down the wall and onto the floor.
Luna wasn’t the type of female to freak out about creepy-crawly things.
She generally just killed them and went on with her day, but this guy had more personality than most. “Well, hello there?” she greeted, feeling slightly foolish.
But the bug crept closer. Its oversized eyes were clearly focused on her face.
Was it trying to communicate? Or was it just as curious about her as she was about it?
Someone knocked on the door, drawing Luna’s attention away from the curious insect. That was odd. Alex and Nate never bothered with the courtesy. She crossed the living room and opened the door.
Evelyn stood there holding a tray of food. “Can I come in?” she asked with a hesitant smile.
Why was she being so timid? Evelyn was usually quiet, yet quick to smile. “Of course.” Luna moved to the side and motioned the blonde inside. “What’s the matter? You seem sort of gloomy.”
Evelyn walked into the living room as Luna closed the door. “One of the pack alphas has set his sights on me.” She put the tray on the table then pushed her hands into the kangaroo pocket of her sweatshirt. “He hasn’t caught me yet, but it’s obvious that he’s stalking me.”
“I know the feeling.” Luna pulled out one of the chairs and sat down at the table. “Have you eaten yet?”
“Yeah, but I’d love some of that tea.” Evelyn joined Luna at the table and Luna filled both mugs with tea from the clay pot. “I have another visitor.” She motioned toward the insect with one of the mugs. “I was about to take him outside, but he seems to be studying me.”
Evelyn laughed. “That’s only fair. We’re usually the ones studying them.”
Luna slid one of the mugs across the table and took a sip out of the other one. “Have you seen bugs like that before? Do you know what they’re called? There is something about it that doesn’t seem, well, bug-like.”
Evelyn’s features scrunched up and she shook her head. “We’re on an alien planet. It will take decades to determine what is bug-like here.”
“Good point.” After glancing at her tiny visitor one last time, Luna focused on her human friend. “So, what’s the alpha’s name?” She uncovered the plate and picked up her fork as she waited for Evelyn to answer.
“Caden Nash. His beta’s name is Hayes. Caden is the blond alpha who is never far from Alex. Apparently, they’re cousins.”
Luna nodded thoughtfully, knowing exactly who Evelyn meant. Alex was frequently in the company of two burly males. One was blond, the other had dark hair and a beard. “At least it wasn’t that dark-haired one.” She shivered. “He looks mean as hell.”
“His name is Drake,” Evelyn told her. “And Alex needs to watch his back. There are all sorts of rumors about Drake becoming village alpha.”
As usual, Evelyn was better informed than any of the other women. Still, the last thing Luna wanted to talk about was village politics. The only female she’d seen for the past week was Dawn and she was solidly on the side of the wolves. Luna wanted to relax and chat with a friend.
“Do you like Caden and Hayes?” It was the obvious next question. “Do you welcome their attention?”
“I don’t dislike them, but I’m not ready for a mate.”
“I’m right there with you. Alex and Nate have made it obvious that they’re interested in more than scientific knowledge.”
“How far has it gone? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“My alpha hasn’t caught me either.” Luna shrugged as she took a quick bite of stew. “The first night was rough, but they’ve behaved themselves since. No sex yet, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about that.”
Evelyn looked around warily. “Don’t let them hear you say that or you’ll be flat on your back. It’s been obvious from the start that Alex means to claim you.”
“Alex can’t claim me unless I complete the formula.” She lowered her voice to just above a whisper. “Which is a damn good reason not to finish Babcock’s work.”
Evelyn rested her forearms on the tabletop and leaned in. “They won’t let you get away with that for long. How much abuse are you willing to put up with?”
Frustration propelled a sigh from Luna’s lungs. “They’re going to fuck me either way. I don’t think I can avoid it.”
“I feel like I’ve fallen back through time.” Evelyn shook her head as she stared down into her tea. “It took human women hundreds of years to be seen as more than their body parts. Thanks to Nuevo Biotech, we’re baby factories again.”