Page 21 of The Alpha

The thought made her shiver. She was so preoccupied watching the men strap their tall, handsome prisoner to his tableand hook him up to an IV, she hardly noticed Oswald taking more than a few vials of her blood.

“There,” he said, drawing her attention. “Now the biopsies. I’m afraid those aren’t going to be very pleasant.”

“Oswald,” came the doctor’s voice. “Stop talking to her and get to work. She doesn’t need a step-by-step guide to what you’re doing.”

Oswald blanched. “Yes, Dr. Charles. Sorry.” He gave Pari a sympathetic look.

“And if she starts talking, gag her.” Dr. Charles ordered.

Oswald heaved a sigh, his eyes still on Pari’s. “Yes, doctor.”

“I’m going to check on security,” she heard the doctor say. “I’ll be back.”

Pari listened to the sound of his footsteps cross the room followed by a door opening and closing. That was followed by a series of ominous clicks, like locks sliding into place. She wondered if it was some kind of mechanical locking system or if he’d locked the door manually.

She pushed the thought aside and studied the other prisoner. He was tall, at least seven feet. His beautiful white hair was long, braided in spots, and his chiseled features were enough to make any woman swoon, including her. His forearms were well-muscled, as was the rest of his taut frame as far as she could tell. He wasn’t built like some Olympic body builder, but he was impressive all the same. Pari’s belly warmed just looking at him, and she had to force herself to look away. When she did, she noticed her breathing had picked up.

Good grief, here she was strapped to a table, had some doctor named Oswald arranging medical instruments on a tray next to her, and she was ogling the other prisoner! Now was not the time. She had to find a way out of here. But how?

She watched Oswald as he filled a syringe with something. Oh no, he wasn’t going to sedate her again, was he?

“N-no,” she managed.

He looked down at her, set the syringe on the tray and opened a drawer. She thought it must be built into the table as she watched him pull something out.

Oswald sighed in what sounded like resignation. “I’m sorry, but he doesn’t want me talking to you.”

He held the item up. It was some sort of wide leather strap with something protruding from the middle. A gag.

Fear pulsed through her, and she shook her head. “No…”

The man on the table next to her jerked, as if he’d heard her. She looked his way as Oswald stuffed the middle part of the gag into her mouth and proceeded to buckle the contraption tightly behind her head.

Pari ignored him as she watched the man on the other table stiffen before his eyes sprang open. He turned his head and looked right at her.

Her own eyes widened. His were a brilliant blue. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, she’d say they were glowing!

The man’s eyes moved to Oswald, and he narrowed them, his mouth opening slowly, his upper lip pulling back from his teeth.

Pari’s eyes widened. The man had fangs! He hissed at Oswald, who, finished gagging Pari, grabbed the syringe he’d filled earlier.

Oswald hurried around her table and plunged the needle into the other prisoner’s IV. Pari watched helplessly as the man’s bright blue eyes faded to a steel gray, then shut altogether. He was sedated once again.

Another tear slipped down her cheek. How was she to escape? And why was she and the man next to her taken to begin with? What did these people want with them?

Pari squeezed her eyes shut. Dr. Charles, or whatever his name was, mentioned he wanted to question her. Well, she hadsome questions of her own, and she could only hope and pray he answered them.

8

Jaireth’s eyes darkened.

“Uh oh,” Archer said. “I think he’s going to shift. He looks really mad.”

Dallan eyed Archer, who, for all intents and purposes, was supposed to be his second. But he still needed training, lots of it.

Jaireth growled, drawing Dallan’s attention, the sound reminded him of the Alpha Melvale was turning into.

“Dallan!” Shona said next to him. She anxiously wrapped her arm around one of his, and he gently detached it as King Jaireth snarled, exposing his fangs. “Archer’s right, yer da is going to shift.” He shoved her behind him as Jaireth let out a low growl.

---