Page 144 of Haze

Chapter 47

Finn

The next day, the lab is in chaos. Despite being none of their business, Lena’s suspension from the university and subsequent absence has seemingly split the lab into two distinct factions. There are the Lena supporters, who want her to be reinstated because they’re positive she can catch up and make the grades. And there are those who are critical of her. On more than one occasion, I’ve caught different groups gossiping exactly what Lena said they would say: nepotism and that she’d bought, fucked, or used her last name to make her way into her position. My heart aches, knowing that she’s likely heard many of these conversations herself.

Doctor Thorpe strolls into my office and begins speaking. “Where are you at with the reports for the pathology department?”

“I’m printing them for you now. I emailed them to you ten minutes ago,” I answer him, and the growl I’d been suppressing comes out with it.

Extremely unaware, or lacking any and all care, that the growl was meant for him, Doctor Thorpe carries on the conversation. “Excellent. Could you please begin on large animal next?”

I nod. Can he really be that dense not to know?

Doctor Thorpe bobbles his head for a moment and changes his mind. “Though, it would be nice if we could get the veterinary services out of the way.”

“Whichever,” I answer him, trying to get him to leave. “I have a system in place, and I’ll be able to get them done before the holiday break in November without issue.”

Doctor Thorpe raises an eyebrow in suspicion but leaves my office.

He touched our mate, and we need to kill him. My wolf is bloodthirsty. Predator. She was too young. Is too young for him now even. He’s twenty years older than she is.

My wolf’s idea is alluring. Especially paired with the memory of what blood tastes like, the metallic sweetness in my mouth drives that thought further, but that’s all it can be: a memory. I can’t do this to Lena.

For Lena, my wolf snarls.

The truth is, I do have a system. After talking to lab technicians, pathologists, veterinarians and their technicians, doctors and nurses that I wasn’t aware were here... I’ve come up with an effective way to get the data Doctor Thorpe hired me to process in a year down to a few weeks. It came down to managing people, not supplies. I’ll finish my contract as quickly as I can if it means not having to be his inferior.

I’ll have to talk to Cade about other options for me. Being here, with Lena, is preferable, but I refuse to continue to behave and pretend to be nice to this asshole.

* * *

I have a soft spot for equine. So, when Doctor Thorpe sent me to large animal for the day, well, it wasn’t a hardship. As I open the steel door to the barn section, my phone beeps in my pocket. Stepping to the side of the door, I pull it out and take a look.

Unknown:

Hello Finn and Lena! I’ve attached a screen grab of the latest news headline. It appears that the media is starting to circle in on Lena being Cade’s sister. It looks like the intent is to treat the Aldens as royalty. I would like to have a meeting to discuss what the expectation will be. Please let me know what time works for you both. Together or separate is fine.

I click on the photo. It’s from yesterday. Lena and I are sitting on the patio of the brewery. My arm is wrapped around her, and she’s smiling at something. Closing my eyes, I think back to the view. Where must they have been to get the shot? The angle would be the building next door.

At least when someone is shooting at us now, it’s photographs and not bullets? my wolf snarks, trying to find the good in this.

We’ve been too at ease here. This could have easily been a bullet. Just because there haven’t been any threats doesn’t mean that people from the past aren’t looking for us. I shake my head. I’ve been lazy.

The headline is perhaps the most telling of the situation. Who is Lena’s New Mystery Man?

At least they haven’t dug up my mugshot, yet.

Updating her number in my phone, I text Henri back that we absolutely need to meet and ask if Friday is soon enough. I notice Lena viewing the messages. Bubbles along the bottom pop up, indicating she’s typing before stopping. A message does come through.

Henri Greene:

That should work as long as there are no new updates. I’ll keep you posted. If you start seeing people taking photographs or any sort of media, please let me or Cade know immediately.

Lena doesn’t say anything. Her text bubbles stop. No messages come through. I turn around and head back toward Lena’s lab. I have a pit in my stomach and feel her tense through our bond.

When I get to Lena’s lab, her purse is in her office but she’s not. I look at Nikki when I come out of Lena’s office. She shrugs her shoulders in an indication that she doesn’t know.

Lena knows the issue with the photographs. I’ll get more work done for Doctor Thorpe and hopefully get a way out of this nightmare.

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