Page 15 of Haze

I know it’s meant to be firm, but her voice quivers, and she runs her fingers into her hair as she finishes her sentence.

I toss the dirty wipe into the trash can and try to pull her in for a hug. She resists, firmly pushing me away. Apparently the strong-willed woman from the bar can return within the span of a heartbeat.

“Talk to me, Kathleen,” I coax while trying a little harder to hold her.

With a small thrash, Lena pushes me again. This time, I let her go.

Shaking her head, she turns off the vent with a hard click. Her vacant eyes glaze past me when she draws them from the switch.

She corrects me. “Lena.” Her voice is stronger. “There is nothing more to say. That will not happen again. You will need to find somewhere else to go. You can’t be here.”

My wolf and I try to make sense of this contradiction.

I felt her come undone, pussy clamped down on my fingers minutes ago. She’s going through sub drop so quickly? I turn her toward me.

“Are you upset it happened at work or school?” I probe.

There’s a limit I crossed with her. I have to go back and find it.

Lena shakes her head before drawing a deep, ragged breath. Her shoulders drop, and her posture straightens before firmly restating her point. “You and I, this can’t, and won’t, happen again, Finn.”

A rattle on the doorknob startles me from my desire, and I step back. Lena points to the knob lock.

Her voice comes out irritated as she speaks like she’s reminding him. “Doctor Thorpe, I’ve told you. You’ve got to give it a little push before you turn the knob.”

When Doctor Thorpe pushes on the other side of the knob, I unlock the door. How many times has she done this trick? I hold back a smirk. Seems she locks out everyone in her life.

“One of these days, I’ll get maintenance to get this fixed. It’s a fire hazard,” Doctor Thorpe mutters, either oblivious to what’s between us or too wrapped up in his own world. When he thrusts a stack of papers at me, I can tell it’s the latter. “Here’s that first round of reports. Ms. Alden, you’re good for Mr. O’Leary to shadow you today, correct?”

Lena nods, not putting up a fight, but she does nothing to hide the stiff agitation cutting in her voice at his suggestion. “Yes, I’ll make do. Thank you, Doctor.”

“Actually, Doctor, if you don’t mind.” I look at Lena and give her a slight nod. She’s clearly in need of space. Sometimes the best aftercare is room to process, even if it’s not what I want. “I would like to analyze the other departments to see what their current process is. That way, when Lena shows me what she does, it’ll make more sense. It’ll be easier for me to better implement her practices across all the departments.” I indicate to the work he handed me.

“Very well.” Doctor Thorpe nods. “I’ll take you to one of our other departments. They’re my most wasteful. Maybe you can keep them on their toes.”

Lena is gobsmacked. Her lips are slightly parted when I give her one more glance before following Doctor Thorpe out of the small office. I’m far from finished with my mate, but pushing her right now won’t gain favors. Hopefully, giving her this space will be enough.

Doctor Thorpe leads us back out of the lab, into the hallway, and up a flight of stairs before we come to a new lab.

“What research does this department do?”

“This lab handles our traditional biological studies for the animals in the traditional sense,” Doctor Thorpe says at a low volume so as not to disrupt the chatter of the lab team.

“And Kathleen’s lab?” I try not to sound too interested.

“Miss Alden,” he corrects me with a sharp undercut. There’s a warning growl with his words, and his wolf flashes through his eyes. “She’s been working on reproductive health for shifters, predominantly wolves, since she started her undergraduate degree. She’s perhaps one of the most well-respected researchers.”

My wolf presses forward to meet Doctor Thorpe’s, but that’s the only reaction he’ll get from me.

I nod, accepting the information. Keeping a straight face is second nature. I dislike being under the thumb of a less dominant wolf, but if he wants to play king of the lab and have some protective feelings toward my mate? Fine. It’s only a matter of time before I claim her, and when I do, what he thinks won’t really matter. But I want to beam with pride knowing my mate is strong and smart. She’s well respected in all areas of her life.

* * *

I’m led around the animal sciences department all day, writing notes, gathering documents on usages, and writing equipment lists. It’s been forever since I’ve had to catalog a new way to do business. If I swap bullets for pipettes, guns for various pieces of equipment, and explosives for samples and control pieces, then it may eventually make sense. I’ve probably made myself look like an idiot more times than I can count today, but I’ll adapt. Until then, I’ll blame it on the Irish accent.

By four thirty, I’ve had enough. Once I find my way back to the office assigned to me, I drop the stack of work on the empty desk and scrub my hands down my face. Maybe I’m too old to be learning new tricks. I’ve done the same thing my entire life. Death, destruction, and enforcing pack law are my nature. Now, I’m in a new world, and none of it makes sense.

“Finn.” The way she says my name removes all the intensity from the room.

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