Page 36 of Feral Mates
“I am.” I pulled out my phone, glancing at the doorway. The last thing I wanted was to be seen acting suspiciously. “I took a picture of them as proof.”
Carl flicked me a quizzical look before taking the phone from my hand. “Where were you?”
“In the woods about two miles from here. Don’t ask. I had a flat tire on Friday. Then these… men appeared out of nowhere and well, one thing led to another and I returned on Sunday to find them in wolf form.”
“You arenotmaking any sense.”
“It’s complicated, I know. The men I saw were the wolves. They shifted almost in front of my eyes into men. There was the same coloration in beasts and in men, fur and hair color. They knew their names, although I don’t think they fully comprehended how.” Although where I’d initially thought they were primitive,the longer I’d been around them, the more intelligent they’d seemed.
If the figures in the portal could understand us, they would have learned a great deal over the years. If they could somehow see our thoughts, their potential for learning would be almost infinite. Once in a physical form they would be able to slowly put it all together. An ache pounded behind my eyes.
Carl’s lack of reaction was more worrisome than before. “You’re serious.”
“I am. And get this. They seem to have a great deal of knowledge of someone who was likely working with or the various lifeforms that came through the portal.”
I could tell Carl was going back and forth in his mind wondering if I’d lost it. “Do they know who they were watching… before?”
“Dr. James Wheeler. I don’t know for certain that he works here at the laboratory, but one of the wolves mentioned him.”
He rubbed his jaw, taking several deep breaths. “Dr. Wheeler hired me. He’s been working closely with Dr. Blackwell for several years. He’s even under consideration for one of the board of director positions when Mr. Daniels retires later this year. That much I do know.”
“Do you believe what I told you?”
He sighed and looked away, mulling over what I’d told him.
“What I know is that a year ago we were involved in an entirely different research project. Then Dr. Blackwell and his team stumbled on a possible break or portal linking our world to a parallel universe. That altered our methods of research and funding.”
I folded my arms, cocking my head. “I know what happened with the shift in the project, Carl. I’m asking if you believe I’ve been in contact with a new lifeform.”
He studied me for a few seconds. “I believe it’s possible. Have you talked to Dr. Blackwell?”
“I don’t think what happened was accidental.”
“Meaning what?”
“What if some of the lifeforms are dangerous? What if Dr. Tyler was right and the portal can’t be closed? That could change everything we know as scientists. As humans. Imagine what the possibility of combining life forces could do for our medical systems and technology. But what if there are malevolent lifeforms determined to do evil?”
He exhaled. “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself. What do you want to do with this discovery?”
“I don’t know exactly except I need to know if what I’ve experienced is the result of a mistake or a private experiment. You know as well as I do we have strict protocol. There are rules regarding the possibility of new lifeforms. If Dr. Blackwell is experimenting with the portal without authorization, every scientist involved with the project could lose their license or potentially worse. We could even be arrested.”
Carl glanced at the observation window. “I think that’s a little farfetched, Sav. But you’re right the protocols need to be followed. Did these wolf men seem harmful?”
I wanted to correct him that they weren’t wolf men in that they were entirely different entities. Either a wolf or a human, but there was no point in doing so. “No, not in the least.”
“Okay. What do you need from me?”
“Just help me look for any clues.” I pointed to the ceiling. “We normally get weekly or biweekly memorandums from Dr. Blackwell. We haven’t gotten one in what, five or six weeks? Plus, this morning’s email isn’t here.”
“Come to think about it, you’re right.”
“Maybe that’s because they don’t want their activity to be questioned or scrutinized.”
“You’re saying Dr. Blackwell and his entire team are in the middle of a cover-up. If you’re right, what you told me would make sense. However, let’s not jump to conclusions. Let me see what I can find. I can’t promise anything. What I do suspect is that Dr. Blackwell won’t like anyone trying to circumnavigate the security system. Besides, if what you’ve just told me is true, which, obviously, from my point of view is farfetched, then security will be even tighter.”
Nodding, I glanced toward the glass panel, moving toward it. As soon as I placed my hand on the surface, an array of pulsing lights appeared out of the darkness.
Carl flanked my side. “Whatever is going on, it’s clear to me the source behind the anomalies is highly responsive to you. More so than to any other scientist.”
