“Will do.” I closed my phone as Sasha sat up. “Jason’s got results back on Fonthill. ”
She nodded glancing over at the clock. “I’ve got to go meet Sebastian anyway.”
…
I drove to the ranch on autopilot.
Sasha meeting with Sebastian had me completely distracted. My gut twisted imagining him touching her, even briefly as they went to a table. I trusted Sasha, and she was well armed if Sebastian had any other intentions, but that didn’t relieve the jealousy that was infecting me like a cancer. Maybe it was the wolf inside of me, but I didn’t want him to share any of her smiles, her laughter. In fact, I didn’t want him anywhere near her.
By the time I pulled into Adam’s ranch, every muscle in my body felt taut and tense. I hauled in a deep breath, willing myself to focus before entering my brother’s house.
Lana opened the door with a welcoming smile, and once I got out of Jason’s Lexus, she hugged me before I said a word. When she released me, I realized I was smiling. There was definitely something to be said for family. Adam came over, and we clasped forearms before I greeted Jason.
“Good to see you.” I glanced around the house. “Where are the little knee-biters?”
Lana grinned. “Nadya took them down to the barn to visit the horses.” Before I could ask Lana added, “Gareth’s with them.”
Looking at my brother, I raised a brow. “I thought Gareth was on the edge.”
“He was.” He smiled over at his wife. “But he’s been coming around a little more lately. Malcolm loves sitting on his motorcycle.”
We went inside the house, and I walked over to the window. Nadya was holding Madeleine down by the barn. Gareth sat on his Harley with Malcolm right in front of him while the baby slapped his pudgy hands against the shiny black gas tank.
But it wasn’t little Malcolm who had the Gareth’s full attention.
“Jason’s got some information for us about Fonthill.”
The sound of my brother’s voice made me turn away from the window. “What’d you find out?”
Jason sat at the dining room table with a medical file in front of him. “His DNA is fundamentally altered from ours.” He flipped through his notes. “I also got a blood sample off the carpet of the car that didn’t belong to Barry. Apparently our Green Beret gashed himself while breaking the window.” He glanced up from his notes. “Fonthill’s hormone levels are elevated, and his abnormally high adrenaline levels are definitely impacting his mental state.”
I waited for more, but Jason was quiet. Deep down, I had hoped he’d be able to tell us Fonthill was already dying or maybe pinpoint a chink in his armor. Finding out he had more testosterone than an average werewolf didn’t seem like anything we could use to our advantage.
“Tell him about the mutation, Jason.”
I shifted my attention between my brother and Jason. “What about it?”
Jason sighed and closed his file before looking up at me. “I don’t think it was the military’s intention but the mutation is highly contagious.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Jason frowned. “What I’m saying is that when he bites someone, they would carry his genetic mutation, not the genetics of a natural werewolf.”
I took a seat at the table, rubbing my forehead. “Whoever he bites would be able to shift at any time, too.”
“Looks that way,” Jason said, nodding. “They’d also have the same medical issues, be prone to mental illness, and eventually brain hemorrhaging.” He met my eyes. “It’d be a death sentence.”
I put my elbow on the table, resting my head against my hand. “So if he did bite the guy at the service station, then Sebastian probably did the guy a favor in the long run.”
Adam raised a brow. “Sebastian?”
I filled them both in on our trip to the hospital, and my brother leaned back in his chair brooding. “Nero wants Fonthill out of the picture too?”
“He’s a liability now,” I said. “Sasha’s meeting with Sebastian now to get more info, but if the cops catch up with him, he could expose Nero.”
“And werewolves in general,” Jason said. “Wait,
“I know you can say her name.” I clenched my jaw and glared over at him. “And she’s not working with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“It’s a logical assumption.” Jason shrugged. “You’re not even mildly concerned?”
“Fuck you, Jason.” I shot up from my chair. “I would’ve gone with her if I had any doubts about her loyalty. She had some more questions about Nero, and he’s the only one who can answer them. End of story.”
“Enough.” Adam gave us a long stare until we each relaxed. “I know you’re a doctor, Jason, but contrary to popular belief that doesn’t make you smarter than everyone else.”
I tried not to gloat, or at least not to let it show, but then my brother focused his attention on me. “And you know damned well each member of this Pack has every right to doubt Sasha’s intentions.”
“Do
He kept his gaze level with mine. “I trust your judgment.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
Adam crossed his arms, his face becoming a familiar mask that our father used to wear. The Alpha. “It’s the best I can give you right now.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
I got out of the cab in the lot behind Lulou’s Restaurant. I was a few minutes early, but I planned to get inside and take a look around before Sebastian arrived anyway. I headed for the entrance when a familiar scent stopped me.
Blood.
My muscles tensed as the hair at the back of my neck stood on end. I spun around, scanning the cars. The sky began to color with the setting sun, casting shadows that made it tough see. My vision would improve once the sun set completely, but until then, I felt vulnerable. I slid my right hand inside my bolero jacket, keeping my fingers on the butt of my Glock, ready to draw if necessary.
I jogged silently between cars, taking cover while I searched the area. Using my animal senses, I tracked the scent, wishing I could see if I was stumbling into a trap. Forget X-ray vision, being able to see the future would definitely be my choice of superhero abilities.
Since I was anything but a superhero, I continued on with caution. Three rows over from where I started, I saw something move inside a black Mercedes. The car was parked in the far corner spot, with the driver’s side window down. I took a cursory glance across the rest of the parking lot to be sure no one else was around, then pulled out my gun.
With the barrel pointed toward the sky, I gripped the Glock with both hands and took a deep breath before approaching the vehicle. Adrenaline burned through my veins as I scrambled for the driver’s side, pointing my gun at the man’s forehead.
His hands shot up at the same moment I recognized him.
“Sebastian.” I lowered my weapon and frowned when I realized he was the source of the blood I smelled. “What the hell?”
He’d been doctoring his wounds before I’d ambushed him. I could see his medical kit on the passenger seat. He had new stitches just over his eyebrow, his lower lip was swollen and still bleeding, not to mention his left eye was already darkening with a nasty bruise.
