Chapter 3 #4
The admission clearly shocked Nate. His brows drew together and his lips pressed into a grim line. “Without the mating pull—”
“I can’t claim Luna until she produces the new formula,” Alex finished for him. “I’m aware.” Actually, the complication was more widespread. Few in lupine village had felt the pull naturally. They all wanted mates, but without the new formula, wolf shifters were doomed.
They reached the lab and Alex took a deep breath, preparing himself for the coming confrontation.
Luna was smart and stubborn, and just as determined to thwart him as he was to gain her cooperation.
Well, he’d been patient. He’d given her ample opportunity to cooperate.
Any consequences she incurred were a direct result of her decisions.
Pushing open the door to the lab, Alex stepped inside. He weakened his mental shields, allowing her emotions to saturate his empathic receptors.
Luna sat at the table near the kitchen, a compact computer open in front of her. Uncertainty radiated off her in waves. She wasn’t afraid, just unsure. She deactivated the holo-display and shifted to face him. “Hey there,” she greeted with a hesitant smile. “Is it dinner time already?”
Alex crossed the room, his stride slow and purposeful. There were no games on her computer. Was it possible that she had been working? A surge of guilt reached his mind next and Alex had his answer. Luna was stubborn and determined to resist. The battle of wills was destined to continue.
Nate moved closer as well but remained a step behind the alpha.
“I’ve been patient, Luna.” Alex filled his tone with warning as he stared into her eyes. “What progress have you made?”
She licked her lips and glanced away. Not a good start for this conversation. “Babcock was on the right track, but he failed to anticipate several—”
“It has been two weeks,” Alex interrupted as he closed the distance between them. “What have you accomplished in those fourteen days?”
“It’s not that simple. This is an incredibly complex formula.” She scooted back from the table and stood, her movements tense and anxious. “I’m manipulating the human genome, not baking cookies.”
“Watch your tone.” Alpha authority made his chest rumble and his eyes burn. “You will answer with yes or no. Have you made any measurable progress toward completing the formula?”
She swept her hand toward the computer as defiance erupted in her gaze. “I’ve done extensive research and run countless simulations. You might be willing to risk the lives of the few females on this planet, but I’m not.”
He narrowed his eyes and calmed his expression.
Nate was right. Luna was stalling. Alex wasn’t sure how she’d spent her time, but it sure as hell hadn’t been completing the formula.
“The operative word was ‘measurable,’ and the answer to my question was no. In the past two weeks, you have accomplished nothing.” Wrapping his fingers around her upper arm, he drew her away from the table.
Her resistance stopped just short of struggling, but her full lips pressed into a rebellious line. “Let go of me.”
“Actions have consequences,” Alex reminded. “You were given a specific task, and you failed to complete it.”
“She failed to begin it,” Nate clarified.
“That’s not true,” Luna argued as she tugged against Alex’s hold. “I’ve gathered information and explored various options. That doesn’t seem like progress, but it’s necessary, even vital, with something this complicated.”
“You’re stalling,” Alex stated firmly. “You know it and we know it.” He moved to the small sofa, dragging her with him.
Luna resisted his grasp and refused to move her feet. Neither strategy had any effect. She was soon face down over Alex’s lap, legs kicking wildly.
Alex motioned Nate over with a nod of his head and the beta bent to one knee beside their struggling female. Nate deftly unfastened her jeans and pulled the garment down around her ankles.
“All the way off,” Alex directed. “She needs to be naked.”
Nate flashed a conspirator’s grin and tugged off her boots.
Her socks soon followed and then her jeans.
Alex restrained her swinging arms as Nate removed her sweater, T-shirt, and bra.
Through it all she glared and twisted but didn’t make a sound.
That would soon change, Alex had no doubt.
Luna wasn’t the type to suffer in silence.
Alex urged her into position as Nate stood and stepped back.
“Why are you being disciplined?” Alex asked.
“Because you’re a fucking bully,” she sneered.
Refusing to find her amusing, Alex swatted each of her lovely ass cheeks.
Her skin was pale and smooth, and his handprints formed in livid detail.
He carefully restrained his strength, not wanting to bruise her.
“Did you agree to work on the formula?” He accented the question with several hard spanks.
“I have been working on the formula!” she yelled, kicking out angrily.