Page 3 of Their Marked Mate

The door closed behind Drake and Luna found herself alone in the clubhouse with Alex. A shiver raced down her spine. The village alpha was intense enough when his attention was split between a room full of women. Now that she was his sole focus her pulse thrummed and her mouth went dry. Leashed power was evident in every move he made.

“When your ship arrived on Rydaria,” Alex began, his gaze locked on hers, “we voted, by an overwhelming majority, to kill every human who set foot on our planet.” He paused, allowing the implication to sink in.

Luna glared at him. What an asshole. Good looking, but still an asshole.

“I was one of those votes,” he stressed. “But my attitude gradually changed. We need you more than we hate you. That fact alone is keeping you alive.”

“Charming speech,” Luna muttered as she rolled her eyes. “What do you want from us?”

“Claiming you as mates is the primary justification for allowing you to live.”

Luna’s mouth grew so dry she could barely swallow. Did he mean her personally or just the captives in general? “We’re more than our reproductive organs,” she insisted. “We work and possess a knowledge base and skills no one else can provide.”

“I’m glad you brought that up. I know you actively participated in our captivity, so consider this part of your punishment.” He paused as if to see if she’d object.

Luna met his gaze but said nothing. What was the point. Everyone knew that Luna and her roommates had actively participated in the Griffen Project. Luna would never apologize for what she’d done because she regretted none of it. The project was well underway by the time Luna joined the team. She solved problems and helped improve the formula. Her research made the hybrids stronger and healthier. They might despise what they were, but she helped, not harmed them.

When the silence became oppressive, he continued, “As I’m sure you’re aware, lupine shifters require genetically compatible mates to reproduce. You’re a well-respected geneticist. You do the math.”

Luna suppressed her gasp, but her eyes widened. “You want me to develop a transformation protocol that will enable you to b-breed with us?” She stumbled over the word, unable to get it out without a violent shudder.

“Forming mating groups has been the intention of every hybrid you’ve encountered. Don’t sound so shocked.”

“The other hybrids didn’t ask me to emulate Eugene Babcock,” Luna argued. “It might surprise you to learn that I find him just as reprehensible as you do.”

That statement was true of the other females, but Luna’s attitude about Eugene Babcock was more nuanced, more complicated. She found unwilling test subjects inexcusable. She found Babcock’s personality and priorities detestable, but the hybrids resulting from the Griffen Project fascinated her. Babcock had created freaking shapeshifters. How could anyone deny the godlike brilliance of such an accomplishment?

“The basic protocol already exists,” Alex told her. “All you have to do is personalize it for each patient.”

“Not interested,” Luna stated emphatically. “The question is, why the fuck are you?”

Anger flared within his amber eyes and his voice grew even deeper. “What choice do we have? We did not ask to be transformed. The rules of our existence were defined by someone else. We must have compatible mates and you possess the skills to create them.”

“Why would you consider putting yourself through that hell again? Thirty-seven percent of your friends didn’t survive their first transformation.” Before Alex could respond to Luna’s initial question, she rushed on, “Where’d you get the formula? I can only think of two people capable of restructuring the transformation protocol and both are dead.”

The door flew open, snapping Luna’s attention to the other side of the room. Nate stepped into the clubhouse and heaved the door shut. Apparently, the wind had kicked up while she spoke with Alex. She drew her gaze away from the beta and looked at Alex again. “Where did the new formula come from?” she repeated.

“The source is unimportant,” Alex insisted. “I’ll give you full access to the development process and the developer’s notes. Your first task will be assessing the viability of the formula.”

“This had to come from Babcock.” A violent shudder passed through Luna’s body and she looked into Alex’s eyes. “Anything that comes from Eugene Babcock is toxic. Don’t believe his claims. Your genome already mutated. Attempting a second transformation will most likely⁠—”

“The new protocol is meant for human females,” Alex cut in. “And with one simple modification, it will be ready for clinical trials. It’s in your best interest to facilitate the program because you are the ones at risk.”

Luna stared back at him silently, disbelief momentarily blanking her mind. “There is no way I will ever help you mutate human females. Neither will Evelyn.”

“I ask nicely once,” he warned. “After that I will apply pressure.”

“I don’t respond well to threats,” she volleyed, too angry for caution or fear.

“According to the simulations, the formula is stable and effective,” Alex continued as if she hadn’t objected. “However, it requires one small alteration. The DNA of each female is used to customize the formula specifically for her. This is the step you will perform.”

“You were transformed against your will. How can you even consider doing the same to others? That’s vile, even for a wolf.”

His lips pulled back into a snarl. “We’re fighting for the survival of our species.”

“I’m not part of your species,” Luna flared. “And I have no desire to become what you are.” That wasn’t true. Luna had always coveted what he was, but admitting the fact would be foolish. He would doubtlessly seize the knowledge and use it to manipulate her.

“We were not given a choice,” Alex snarled, his golden eyes glowing with lupine intensity. “Why should you be?”