Page 64 of Wolf Unleashed
“Ouch,” she said as the technician inserted the needle.
“You shouldn’t have moved.” The woman removed the tubing, put the vials and syringe on the metal tray, and walked away without even blotting the pinprick of blood oozing from the site.
“I’m not a lab rat,” she called after her.
“You’re worse. You’re a shifter,” the woman slung back without turning around.
“You shouldn’t antagonize the staff,” her father said at her side. “They’re working very hard to help you.”
Inside, her wolf raged, and for more than the possible loss of Maddox. She recognized the scent and voice of the man who had caged her, who now threatened to destroy her. Alyssa had to find a way to control the wolf inside her, the wolf she didn’t know but who continued to claw and slice, trying to free herself from the prison her father had created.
“They keep taking my blood. Why?”
“There were anomalies. Likely from the blood-bond. We may have to filter your blood of those impurities using plasmapheresis, but our machine broke a few weeks ago and I still haven’t received a new one. Some idiot sent me a centrifuge instead. It’s not the same.”
“I feel lightheaded. Can I lie down for a while, Daddy?” she asked, throwing on the honorific she knew he longed to hear. She hadn’t called him Daddy since she was twelve, before theaccident.
“Of course, sweetie. Murphy will escort you back.”
Murphy. Fuck, she hated that asshole. He blamed her for the disappearance of his team, four mercenaries he’d assigned to capture Maddox down in Drake Novak’s territory.
Murphy grabbed her by her arm and shoved her down the hall. Most of the techs they passed nodded at the mercenary and sneered at her. Never had she felt such hatred, not even among shifters who didn’t like humans.
The moment they made it outside and rounded the corner to a secluded spot between two of the buildings, Murphy slammed her up against a metal wall. “That animal you call a mate is dead, though not at the hands of the men I sent to kill him. I can’t get my revenge against that wolf, but you’re still here. I don’t care if you’re Woodrow’s daughter, you will pay.” He grabbed her by the back of her neck and threw her down on the ground.
One kick in her ribs, that’s all it took. Her wolf sent a flurry of endorphins through her, along with a river of rage. When Murphy kicked again, Alyssa grabbed his foot, held on for leverage and kicked him in the face. He stumbled and landed on his side. Alyssa rolled out of his reach, but he quickly grabbed her hair and the back of her shirt and yanked her back toward him until he had her in a headlock.
There was no way she’d pry his arm from her neck. Holding two fingers together, she gouged behind her, striking him in the eye hard enough that he released her.
“You bitch,” he said, holding his right eye. He was blinking, unable to see well as he pulled his knife.
She jumped back, narrowly avoiding getting sliced in the abdomen. A low growl echoed down the narrow passage. But all she saw was another soldier. This one was unbuckling his pants.
“Good idea, Cooper,” Murphy said as he grabbed for her. “She’ll learn how to submit, real fast.”
Alyssa punched, aiming for his throat, but the bastard blocked and pulled her arm up and behind her so quickly she lost her footing. Then a force knocked them both over. On hands and knees, she lifted her head in time to witness a large silver wolf ripping out Murphy’s throat.
She picked up Murphy’s knife and scrambled to her feet. Images of her father standing over her, pushing a needle into her arm, made her freeze.
She glanced at the wolf’s green eyes. Then he was gone, a naked man in his place.
Warm fingers stroked her cheek. “Are you okay, Artemis?” the gentlest voice she’d ever heard asked.
“Is he really dead?”
“I ripped out his throat. I had no choice.”
“I mean Maddox.”
Rafe tipped her head up until she looked him in the eyes. “I made a promise to you that I’d watch out for them.”
She knew what he was saying, but she was afraid to hope. “I don’t feel him anymore. There’s no bond.”
“He’s very much alive, but he had to fake being dead. The best way to do that was to cut all functions, heart rate, breathing, everything as much as possible, and that takes incredible focus. Feeling a mate’s fear can disrupt that too easily. It’s best to close off the bond.”
“Then he’s okay? Truly okay?”
“Come on. We need to get out of here,” he said as he led her to a pile of clothing on the ground. A black top, black fatigues, and boots, just like the mercenaries wore. “I brought these with me,” Rafe explained as he dressed.
