Page 11 of Freed

Treatments? More like torture.

“The second I saw you, I knew I had to have you. I begged the doctor for months until he finally agreed to do it.”

“Do what?” I can’t help but ask.

“He started to give me experimental injections, made from your blood.” My mind spins, trying to figure out what that means.

“Why?” I ask, unable to comprehend the reasoning.

“He wanted to figure out a way to replicate your powers, but it had the unintentional side effect of making me just like you.”

Dr. J turned Blaze into a wolf shifter.

“Why would you want that?” I ask, realizing how risky it was to take unknown injections.

“The first time I saw Dr. J cut you, I was mesmerized.” My stomach feels like it somersaults. I have to fight hard to keep myself from throwing up.

He’s sadistic.

“The way you cried, your tears and blood running freely…” he sighs as if recalling a happy memory. It makes me want to hurl.

“That doesn’t make us fated mates,” I tell him as my lip curls with disgust.

“Of course it does!” he says, nodding his head. “I’m tied to you. I can find you anywhere, cause I feel you, in here.” He places a hand on his chest over his heart and looks at me like he truly believes all of that.

“You’re a science experiment,” I grit out, trying not to get too upset since I don’t want to anger him. I just want him to understand things from my point of view. “It’s not a fated mate bond you feel. If it were, you’d never want to hurt me. You wouldn’t keep me locked up here, and you certainly wouldn’t get giddy thinking about me being tortured.” I can’t help but let a little anger out on my last word.

He sighs and shakes his head. “You don’t get it yet, but you will. Once Dr. J bonds us.”

Before I reply, he pulls a key out of his pocket and opens my cell. I push to my feet, unsure what he’s going to do, but he just steps back and gestures into the hall. “Come on, then. Unless you want to stay in there all day?”

“Maybe I do,” I say, eyeing him warily. If going to see Dr. J is the alternative, I’ll happily stay here.

He sighs again and marches straight at me. I throw up my hands to stop him, but he pats them aside and throws me over his shoulder. I fight for a minute, until I realize it’s futile. He’s as solid as a brick wall, and my energy is still depleted.

My necklace hangs down, the ring hitting me in the face, and I quickly grab it, not wanting to lose it as I bounce on his shoulder. He moves down several halls and through multiple doors until he finally puts me down.

He grips my shoulders from behind as I look around. We’re in some sort of strange, small apartment. In one corner is a bed and nightstand, beside it is a small couch and an even smaller TV with what looks like a DVD player attached to it and a handful of DVDs stacked beside it. On the other side of the apartment is a kitchenette and a small dining table with two chairs.

The whole place can't be more than twenty feet wide by fifteen feet long.

“Where are we?” I ask in confusion.

“This is my place. If you behave, you can stay here with me, instead of the cell.”

I swallow the lump in my throat as I contemplate the offer. “I’ll take the cell, thanks,” I murmur, not wanting to be locked up with this psycho.

His hands tighten painfully on my shoulders as he grits out, “Let’s see if you feel the same after a visit with the doctor.” Before I can react, he lifts me again, throwing me over his shoulder and knocking the wind from me.

“I can walk,” I tell him when I finally get enough air to talk. He doesn’t answer. He just exits his apartment and carries me down the hall. After a few minutes, he unceremoniously drops me onto my side on a metal table. “Ow!” I cry out, pushing to a seated position as I rub my sore hip.

Then I see where we are. Back in Dr. J’s lab. Blaze pulls out a phone and texts something before shoving it back in his pocket. Then he moves to stand directly in front of me, his arms crossing over his wide chest as he glares at me. As if I’m the bad guy here.

My eyes drop to my hands as I resist the urge to grab my ring hiding under my shirt. Maddox’s shirt. I miss my guys so much. Can they even track me underground?

I need to figure out a way to escape. Glancing at Blaze, I realize I’ll have to get rid of my guard dog first. I look at my wrist, and the lack of a mate bite there. I rub my thumb over the unblemished skin and try not to sniffle. That mark should have lasted forever, not been ripped away so soon after getting it.

“He’s not your mate anymore,” Blaze says, making me glance up at him. “He couldn’t even protect you.”