Page 43 of The Wolf King's Mate

“We’re trying to figure out a way to alter werewolf DNA so it’s compatible with females. I’m sure you’re aware that the first male wolves were made in a lab, by human scientists.They purposefully created us not to be able to produce female werewolves, so they could control us.”

I did know that. Everyone knew that.

The doctor pulled the device away from my ankle, and I let out a shaky breath, eyes still stinging.

“All done. I’ll just wrap it up and put it in a boot. You usually heal at the same speed as a male wolf, yes?”

“Faster,” I admitted.

He made a noise of interest. “For reproductive reasons, I imagine.”

I had no idea.

“I’d like a sample of your blood, if possible.”

Hunter growled, but the doctor went on without acknowledging the sound.

“If we could isolate the strand of your DNA that allows your wolf to exist, we could turn the willing pack females, and the groupies. By doing so, we could solve many of our society’s problems. We wouldn’t go rogue, because we would have mates to ground us. Theoretically, packs would be much more stable under an Alpha pair. We?—”

“If you want to take her blood, you’ll need to talk to the Alpha,” Hunter said firmly.

If the doctor could figure out a way to turn human women with science, I would be so much safer. I wouldn’t have to spend my life in a lab. I’d never have to worry about any of that, ever again.

Enzo could even choose another mate.

Maybe I could actually befree.

There was a chance he would realize that something in my blood, or saliva, made it possible for me to turn them myself, but that seemed unlikely. I didn’t understand how genetics or DNA worked, but I was fairly confident it wasn’t as simple as finding blaring signs in my genes that said, “USE ME TO MAKE MORE WOMEN”.

But what if it was?

What if they trapped me, and the Alpha agreed to it?

I couldn’t give them my blood. Not if I didn’t know for sure that I was going to be safe. If I was a better person, maybe I would be willing to sacrifice my life for the good of all werewolves.

But I wasn’t.

Not in a pack I didn’t know, surrounded by people I didn’t trust.

Not when it could lead to a lifetime of pain, torture, and abuse.

If I really mated with Enzo, and I knew his wolf would protect me no matter what, then I would think about it. But I didn’t know that. I didn’t even think that.

So, it was out of the question for the moment.

“I’ll think about it,” I said honestly, ignoring Hunter’s warning.

The doctor smiled. “Thank you. I’m sure the Alpha will consider it too.” He grabbed a bandage and sat beside me with a stack of alcohol wipes. “This is probably going to hurt too, but I need to wrap your foot. It would heal fine on its own without interference, but you’re likely to reinjure it if you walk around without a bandage.”

“I’m ready.”

He started, and I closed my eyes again. Tears leaked out of the corners as he slowly wrapped the injury, pausing to wipe the fabric down constantly. I didn’t think he needed to be as thorough as he was, but I wasn’t going to argue with him while he held my broken ankle in his hand.

The doctor gave me details about their rotations and stations as he wrapped it, telling me how they looked for wolves who may be close to going rogue, and staging interventions with their packs when possible.

There were just too many of them.

The population of Crimson River was more than eighty thousand, and it was growing rapidly. We lived a very long time, and as more groupies came to town, more wolf pups were born. And since we were always born in multiples, we definitely didn’t struggle with reproduction.

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