Page 80 of Blade's Battle
“An activist who found out about the virus early on. She saw how the WSSO was trying to control me, how they stole my work. We’ve each been attacking the WSSO in our own ways. The WSSO gave up on recruiting me the day I teamed up with Katy. I’m assuming they put a price on my head. As with Katy.”
“Are you sure they’re the ones hunting you?” Pryce asked.
“They were chasing us through the eastern part of Drake’s territory. Shot me, nearly drowned Anna. I saw the logos on their camo. Definitely WSSO.”
“But they already got what they want from you,” Pryce said.
“They’re afraid I’ll find a way to protect the wolf genome, or worse, boost it.”
“The latter of which makes her a prime target for Drake,” Hayden added. “Except he won’t kill her; he’ll use her.”
Anna tried to refrain from shuddering. She was starting to feel trapped. And worse, she was endangering Blade and the entire pack by being with them.
“I think the WSSO intended to kill shifters’ ability to shift, to make them human essentially. I don’t think they expected the virus they created would be so aggressive, going after the wolf genome in its entirety, killing shifters.”
“Crippling us would make their attacks more palatable to those humans who don’t approve of genocide,” Hayden said.
Callen kicked his boot back against the wall. “It doesn’t matter what their intent was. Clearly, the fact that shifters started dying hasn’t stopped them from using the virus. They probably think of it as a win-win. Those who don’t get turned into humans die. Fact is, they now have a biological weapon, a deadly one, and they’re running with it.”
Damien folded his arms over his chest. “Anna, is there something you can do to stop the virus or not?”
“Not without a lot of research. It could be years, Damien, but I might be able to correct the damage to the genes for the survivors. If I can find the right combination of amino acids to trigger—” A sea of blank faces stared at her. “I think I can repair Tess’s genes, so she and others who survive the virus can shift again.”
Damien’s gray eyes narrowed. “You’re already a target. Doing this may put you in greater danger.”
“She’s not doing it,” Blade said.
“That’s Damien’s call. And Anna’s. Not yours,” Callen said as he planted his feet firmly on the floor.
Anna placed her hand on Blade’s arm. “I need to try. At least meet with your virologist and update him on my understanding of how this virus works.”
“Alex is missing,” Pryce broke the news. “Right before you arrived here, I checked his apartment and lab. There was no sign of a struggle or that he took a trip. He’s just gone.”
“At a girlfriend’s?” Blade asked.
“I didn’t scent anyone else in his place, and I stuck around for several days. Talked to a few neighbors, the works. He disappeared. No trace of him. Nothing.”
“All the more reason she shouldn’t go anywhere. She’s safest here.”
Damien shook his head. “Drake already knows Anna’s here, and he’s demanding we hand her over.”
“Damn!” Blade bolted up from Anna and headed toward Damien. Callen sprang forward to intercede, but Damien waved him off.
“Settle yourself,” Damien warned Blade.
When Anna approached Blade, he pulled her in against him and held her so tight she could hardly breathe. His entire body tensed, even as he rested his head against hers.
Damien waited for Anna and Blade to take a seat on the sofa. Once everyone had calmed down, he explained. “We caught two white wolves leaving our territory yesterday. One crossed back onto Drake’s territory.”
“And the other?” Blade asked, the anger in his face clear. Anna placed her hand on his thigh, knowing he’d lay his hand atop hers.
“Callen got him to talk easily enough before letting him go,” Damien said.
“Why the hell did you let him go?”
“Did you want me to kill him, Blade? There’s been enough killing, and Drake is still an ally. Whether we like it or not, we’re stronger with him on our side. He has access to information we need. And I thought releasing his scout would gain me some leverage when he demands your head.”
Blade backed down. “By now they’ve reported back to Drake that Anna’s here.”
