Page 39 of Their Marked Mate

Yes, but he’s being a pain in the ass, Nate explained. We need more muscle to drag him up out of the tunnel.

Which portal?

Six, Nate told him.

We’re on the way.

“The alphas are on their way,” Nate called down through the hatchway.

“Who’s coming?” Hayes asked as he scanned the surrounding forest.

“I’m not sure. Alex didn’t specify.”

Alex arrived a few minutes later with Drake and Caden on his heels. “You three got the hard part out of the way,” Alex teased. “I guess we can do the heavy lifting.”

“Emphasis on heavy,” Hayes grumbled. “The freaking cat is massive.”

Alex and Caden climbed down into the passageway. Drake stayed above. Alex knocked the cat out with one powerful punch then Caden helped him lift the unconscious cat into Drake’s waiting hands. With Drake pulling and the other two lifting, the alphas heaved the cat above ground.

“Jesus, you weren’t kidding,” Caden looked at Hayes as he added, “That cat is huge.” He braced his hands on his knees and panted harshly.

Alex swiped his damp forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. “Are you sure he’s just a guard? The cats advance through combat just like us. Big generally equates to power with the cats.”

“He was alone on the backside of the village,” Nate explained. “No one else had a reason to be back there.”

Alex nodded then sucked in a ragged breath. “Secure him in the stockade. We’ll question him in the morning.”

“We’ve got this,” Drake said, waving Alex and Nate onward. “Go fuck your mate.”

Happy to oblige, Alex and Nate headed for the nearest entrance to the lupine village.

* * *

Luna ran the handheld medical scanner over Shannon for the third time, wishing she had access to better equipment. She was thankful to have any sort of medical technology, but the scanner provided vital signs and basic information when she needed in-depth data and comprehensive analysis.

“Is there a problem?” Shannon watched her closely, eyes slightly narrowed. She sat in a chair near the fireplace. Luna was using the living room as a lab, but the cabin didn’t have anywhere for her to examine patients. The beds were too wide, and the kitchen table was too small. “You haven’t said a word since you started scanning me.”

“I’m sorry.” Luna set the scanner aside and looked at Shannon. “The medication I gave you dissolved the mutated cells and everything else looks normal. In fact, your readings have improved since the baseline scans. There is no specific reason for my hesitation, but I can’t shake the feeling that we need to progress slowly.”

Shannon smiled as she reached over and squeezed Luna’s hand. “Caution is good. I’m all for caution in my doctors, but⁠—”

“I’m not a doctor,” Luna stressed. “That’s part of the problem. Our progress should be assessed by a medical professional.” The Griffen Project had a team of doctors and medical support staff that examined and cared for the participants every step of the way. It made Luna intensely uncomfortable to attempt this alone.

“What about Heather?” Shannon suggested. “Would Alex let you contact her?”

“I’ll ask, but it’s unlikely. Heather bonded with Gabriel and the last time Alex saw Gabriel they beat the shit out of each other.” Luna picked up her datasheet and entered the latest readings, then she looked at Shannon and said, “I’m willing to give you the next injection. However, if you’d prefer to wait until we find a doctor or at least a nurse to join the team, I’ll deal with Alex.”

Shannon lapsed into thoughtful silence. Her gaze fixed on a point beyond Luna as she assessed her options. After a long pause, Shannon held up her index finger. “Factor number one, on Rydaria females must be claimed.” She lifted her second finger. “Factor two, as of right now, males sense and/or choose their mates. Females wait around hoping to be chosen. If this process works the way you expect it to, the choice would be mine. Factor three,” she held up another finger, “I desperately want a baby. Not tomorrow, but being a mother is something that has always been important to me.”

“That explains why you volunteered,” Luna replied. “It’s not adequate justification for being reckless.”

Shannon shrugged. “We have no choice but to be reckless. We can’t leave the planet, and the social structure of these villages leaves us powerless. I want to regain control of my life badly enough to risk almost anything.”

Luna understood Shannon’s attitude, but Luna wasn’t a volunteer. She was the one conducting the experiments. It was Luna’s responsibility to protect the participants, to ensure that the rewards outweighed the risks. Luna wasn’t sure she could make that determination without some sort of medical support.

“Let me talk to Alex. If Heather is the only medical professional on the planet, I’ll insist that he let me contact her.”

Shannon’s disappointment was obvious, but she nodded. “Tianna is anxious to begin,” Shannon reminded as she crossed the room and put on her coat.