Chapter 4 #3
Luna was unnerved by her earlier interaction with Alex and Nate. She was trying to be objective, but her emotions were still raw. “You said there were two problems. What’s the other one?”
“They’ll use us to motivate each other. I don’t want to watch you suffer and I hope you feel the same. One of us is bound to give in.”
“Alex already threatened me with it, so I know you’re right.” Luna released a sigh before adding, “That’s why the other option makes more sense.”
Evelyn leaned forward and rested her forearms on the tabletop. “Have you had any luck with what we talked about before?”
Luna nodded, glad that Evelyn hadn’t been more specific.
She didn’t know that the lab was under surveillance, but it wouldn’t surprise her if it were.
No one trusted Babcock and this had been his home while he was in the lupine village.
“I still think moving this project in that direction is our best option.” None of the females could avoid being claimed, but this would give them control over when and with whom they bonded.
“I have several ideas regarding how it can be accomplished, but I’m not sure which will create the fewest complications.
Read through Babcock’s notes and then we’ll assess the possibilities together and agree on the best course of action. ”
Evelyn smiled. “Sounds good.”
Both women were familiar with the Griffen Project, and the new program built upon the original, so Evelyn moved quickly through Babcock’s notes.
It took her longer to assess the strategies Luna had selected, but by nightfall Evelyn had chosen the one she preferred.
“This one utilizes the fewest insertions, which decreases the chances for something to go wrong.”
“I agree,” Luna beamed. “That’s my favorite too. It requires a multi-step transformation, but that’s better for the females anyway.”
“We’ll have to formulate customized injections,” Evelyn reminded. “That’s time consuming.”
“But it’s much better for the patient,” Luna stressed. “We were able to avoid a shitload of complications by tailoring each injection to the specific patient. It will slow things down and it’s work intensive—but unlike Babcock, my focus is patient safety as opposed to profits and productivity.”
“I would never have agreed to help you if it were any other way,” Evelyn assured. “I just hope your mates don’t think it’s another stall tactic.”
“My potential mates,” Luna corrected, but Evelyn had a valid point.
Alex had demanded measurable progress by the end of the third day.
There was no way the first set of injections could be ready that fast. The injections would be tailor-made for each patient’s DNA, so Luna and Evelyn needed a volunteer before they could begin.
Luna brought up the complication at dinner that night.
She’d been escorted to Alex’s cabin by one of her guards. There was no doubt that she was still a prisoner, but it was nice to have company for the evening meal. “Evelyn and I have formalized a plan, but we need volunteers before we can move forward.”
Alex’s penetrating gaze locked with hers, but all he said was, “I’ll send Dawn to speak with the other women tomorrow morning.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” The two weeks Luna spent alone in the lab gave her plenty of time to think about the future.
It was more than likely she would be claimed by these two, so she needed to learn more about life in the lupine village.
Once the transformations were underway, what use would they have for a geneticist?
They ate for a few minutes in companionable silence, then Luna said, “You two have told me about your background, but I know very little about your lives here on Rydaria. If I allow you to claim me, what role would I play in this village?”
“When we claim you,” Alex corrected emphatically, “your role will be defined by you.”
If only it were that simple. Others began defining her role when she was exiled from Earth.
Each scientist had been injected with tracker nanites that would explode if they left the planet.
Rumors indicated that the hybrids had been chipped as well, but she’d never asked one if it was true.
“The former employees were injected with tracker nanites before we left Earth. Did they do the same thing to you guys?”
“Yes,” Nate told her. “Most of us traveled off-world so we’d been chipped already. They just redefined the boundaries.”
She acknowledged the information with a thoughtful nod then said, “It’s unlikely we’ll find a way to leave the planet, so I need a purpose that extends beyond the transformation project. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of opportunities for a geneticist on Rydaria.”
“Won’t the transformed females require follow-up care?” Nate watched her closely, but this was the first time he’d spoken. “Alex and I were both lucky, but many lupine hybrids required ongoing treatments.”
She nodded. “Babcock liked to call it optimization. Even after the initial transformation had stabilized, many hybrids developed issues that required… tweaking, for lack of a better word. I might be at this longer than I originally thought.”
“I have a list of the exiled females that details their positions at Nuevo,” Alex reminded. “I’ll forward a copy of it to your computer. See if any of the other females in the lupine village can assist you with research and/or the follow-up to the transformations.”
“It’s a good idea.” Her mind filled with possibilities. “I know the other women by name, but Evelyn is the only one I worked with directly. There could be some interesting combinations.”
“Good.” Alex pushed back from the table and his gaze locked on her face. “Even if the transformations go off without a hitch, we’ll find something meaningful for you to do in our village. Do you have any other interests? Did you ever consider any other occupations?”
“My interests aren’t as important as the opportunities available to me here on Rydaria. If I’m ever going to feel at home here, I need to understand your village.”
The males exchanged communicative looks. Was Nate asking permission to reveal their deep, dark secrets? The thought made Luna smile. They were clearly strategizing, but it was likely that any shattering secrets would remain hidden.
“How much do you know about wolves?” Nate asked.
Luna wasn’t sure what he was asking. “Do you mean the animal or the subspecies of hybrid shifters?”
“The animal,” Alex said. “What do you know about the behavior of wolves in the wild?”
There were no more wolves in the wild. Hadn’t been for decades.
Even the wildlife preserves on Earth were carefully managed by humans.
“I know there’s an inflexible hierarchy, and the alpha pair is at the top.
Wolf packs seem to be task oriented, but unexpectedly social once the task has been accomplished. ”
“There are a lot of similarities between human militaries and the hierarchy of a wolf pack,” Alex pointed out. “A general has more authority, and more responsibility, than a private, but both are equally important.”
“I understand your point, but that’s an exaggeration. Privates are important. The general can’t operate without them, but they are also expendable.”
“Not on Rydaria,” Alex insisted. “The vast majority of lupine shifters have a military background, so it made sense to arrange our village along those lines. The power structure also satisfied the needs of our wolves. Each position in our packs has a specific purpose. The roles are assigned according to each person’s natural aptitudes.
Even the packs themselves have a hierarchy, and size is one of many factors that contribute to their standing. ”
“How many packs are there?” According to Evelyn there were ten, but all of Evelyn’s information had been gleaned from the guards. It was nice to hear the specifics from the pack alpha.
“Ten, including Riverside,” Nate answered.
Riverside was Alex’s pack, the largest and most powerful. Luna looked at Alex as she asked, “Do your cousins’ packs come next?”
A reluctant smile tugged up one corner of Alex’s mouth. “Aspen, Drake’s pack, is the undisputed second. I consider Bloodstone pack next because of Caden, but Silverthorne pack is larger and has highly skilled warriors.”
“Are the rest of the packs okay with the nepotism?” she dared to ask, his indulgence making her bold.
“It’s not up to them. Lupine village is not a democracy.” Alex insisted. “I’m the village alpha. What I say goes.”
She nodded, but couldn’t help asking, “Then what’s the role of the alpha council?”
“They provide information and offer advice, but the final decision is always mine.”
“Dictatorships are efficient,” she granted. “But absolute power is a temptation few can resist. Things often end badly for dictators.”
Alex chuckled, unoffended by her jibe. “Is that a prediction or a threat?”
“An observation.” She paused for a sip of wine before asking, “If I succeed in completing the formula and you’re able to form mating bonds, how will the females be awarded?”
“The first set of females will go to the pack alphas,” Nate admitted. “With wolves it’s only the alpha pair that is allowed to breed.”
“Really?” She shook her head. “That seems counterproductive to building a strong pack. Wouldn’t you want as many cubs as possible?”
“With humans there is strength in numbers,” Alex explained as he pushed his plate aside.
“For wolves it’s more important that each member of the pack be physically strong and skillful.
Packs hunt together and protect their territory, but if each member is not strong and proficient then they are just another mouth to feed. ”
He was speaking of the animals, but the principles clearly applied to the lupine village as well. Of the three shifter species, lupine hybrids seemed to be the most influenced by their animal nature. “You’ve only been village alpha for a few weeks. What did you do before you overthrew Elias?”