She clicked a couple of buttons and turned the laptop my way. A photo of a dead man labeled Test Subject B, filled the screen. He was drenched in sweat, blood trailed down from both nostrils, and his dead eyes were wide open.
“Apparently long-term dosages led to mental breakdown and finally hemorrhaging in the brain.”
I turned from the computer to Lana. “So why is Fonthill still alive?”
“It looks like they divided the Lycan Squad into three sections. The first group of test subjects was given a low dosage daily. Within three months all of the test subjects were dead, all victims of brain hemorrhages.”
I jotted a note and pointed to the screen. “And this guy?”
“He was from the second group. They’d adjusted the dosage and dispensed injections once a week. This group lasted much longer with only one dying within the first three months.”
I frowned. “So what happened to the rest of them?”
“The shift in their DNA also brought about aggressive changes in their behavior. Most of them were unable to complete their missions because of headaches, fights, paranoia. One even refused to shift back to his human form. Nero stopped the injections and observed them to see if the subjects’ DNA would repair itself.”
“I’m guessing the dead body is proof it didn’t?”
She nodded and Adam walked away, shaking his head as he pulled his hair back from his face. “And even after they all died, Nero still experimented on more soldiers?”
“Yeah, apparently they enlisted from Packs, telling the recruits they could serve their country for elite missions, like Navy SEALs only better.” Lana answered. “Fonthill was part of the final group, according to this file. They boosted the serum’s potency but only administered it once a month for three months. From the notes here it seemed to produce a permanent shift in their DNA structure.”
I made more notes, tapping the end of the pen against the pad while I put the pieces together in my mind. “So the last group is still alive and able to shift whenever they feel like it?”
Lana scanned more of the file and shook her head. “Not quite. One had a brain hemorrhage after the first dose. The others survived but many couldn’t control their shifting. It looks like one shot himself, too. The remaining soldiers finished the trial and maintained the ability to shift without the full moon.”
Adam stopped and turned to face us. “How many werewolves are we talking about who can shift anytime?”
“I’m not sure. It looks like there were twelve? Minus the other two, there could be ten if they were still alive.” She clicked on the last file labeled Fonthill. Her brow furrowed as she leaned in closer to the screen. “Oh, crap.”
I tried to see over her shoulder. “What is it?”
“Fonthill was discharged from the military because of his repeated acts of aggression.” She looked up at Adam. “It doesn’t specify what they were. He didn’t pass the psych evaluation so they kicked him out of the program.”
“The NYPD never would have hired him with that kind of military record.” I frowned. “How did he get a badge and a gun?”
Adam crossed his arms. “You can get anything if you know the right people.”
“You think Nero has a mole in the police department?” I asked.
“Why not?” He shrugged. “They only found out Lana existed after someone in the hospital leaked her CAT scan results. Nero’s got eyes and ears everywhere. They’ve got money, too, and money spreads and corrupts along the way. All it would take is for an elected official to accept a large donation from Nero. They could put some weight on the department to hire an ex-Green Beret. It’d be easy to float him under the radar.”
I hated to admit it, but he was probably right. Following a money trail was often the best way to track down criminal activity. How Fonthill got hired to be a police officer didn’t really matter anymore anyway.
We needed to know how to stop him.
“So as far as you can tell, the only enhancement he has is the ability to shift at will, right?” I asked.
Lana shook her head. “Because the wolf gene is more prominent in his DNA now, his vitals show an elevated body temperature, but that’s about it.”
Lana clicked a few buttons and pulled the flash drive free, handing it to me. “I saved the files. You can take this and maybe go over them later and see if I missed anything.”
“Thanks.” I pocketed it and got up to leave, but something made me stop. I took a deep breath and turned around to face them again. “I wish I could come up with some way to make up for the past. I know I caused you both pain, and I really appreciate that you’re willing to work with me on this.” I gestured down the hall. “And for protecting Nadya. I want to repay you. Somehow…”
Adam rested a big hand on Lana’s slim shoulder, and she brought her hand up to cover his. He seemed older than his years, truly like the Alpha of the Pack.
“You want to make up for the past?” He lowered his voice, gripping Lana’s shoulder a little tighter. “Be the mate Aren deserves.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, but I nodded slowly. If we lived through this we definitely had to talk. Aren deserved a mate who could give him the family these wolves cherished and protected. And that wasn’t me.
Chapter Thirty-One
I caught Sasha’s scent before her hand slid into mine. All that remained of Barry’s pyre were red-hot embers, smoldering orange in the dark night. She squeezed my hand in spite of the cold looks from Gareth.
“How did it go with Lana?”
“Fonthill is definitely mentally unstable and most likely dying. That serum they shot them up with permanently altered their DNA. No cure.”
Gareth went into the tack room, and I turned toward Sasha. “Barry’s blood is on my hands. I can almost feel it.”
“You had nothing to do with this.”
Gareth came back with a shovel. “Do you want to smother the fire?”
Traditionally the family dispersed the embers and ashes of their fallen loved one. Even though Barry wasn’t part of the Pack, I took the shovel and started the somber work of putting out the fire and spreading the ashes. I kept my eye on Gareth, but Sasha had already held her own against him once today. She didn’t need my help.
Sasha eyed Gareth and walked away, returning with another shovel. She moved in beside me, tossing dirt over the embers and fanning them out to cool.
Gareth watched us but didn’t say a word.
Once the heat was gone and the remnants of the pyre were dispersed, I wiped the sweat off my brow and leaned on the shovel. “I think we’re done here.”
Sasha straightened up and met my eyes. Her skin shone in the faint light of the moon and for a second I was tempted to pull her into my arms and let the rest of the world fade away.
Gareth broke the moment when he stepped toward us. “I’ll put the shovels back.”
“Thanks.” He took mine, and then Sasha’s—and without ripping it out of her hands.
She walked across the now barren area and met my eyes. “I need a shower.”
“Me too.” We made our way down the barn aisle.
When Gareth came out of the tack room, he didn’t break the silence.
I was grateful he didn’t say anything. My ass was dragging and the last thing I needed was to get in another fight. We walked up to the house and said our goodbyes to Adam and Lana before collapsing into the Lexus.
Jason and Adam agreed we should keep using Jason’s car for now. Fonthill wouldn’t recognize it. I was happy to be behind the wheel instead of paying for cabs. I turned the key and put the car in gear when Sasha’s hand rested over mine.
When I looked over at her, she sighed. “I need a shower in a big way.”
“Amen to that.”
