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Dr. Tomlin winked and left. Apparently, he trusted her wolf charm to keep Kane in check if he turned wolf. Although, last time he was in wolf form, he appeared as friendly as a loyal dog. His only outburst, growling and shaking his cage, happened in human form. When she was alone with him. No predator had ever acted aggressive toward her. Could he be the one creature her charm did not work on?
He scrubbed his light beard. “While you finish eating, where can I shave?”
“There’s a bathroom over there. The cabinet has a razor and deodorant.”
He drank his water, got up and narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t even think of leaving.”
Compelled to obey, Gabby nodded. Wait, shouldn’t I compel him? She snapped out of the I’ll-do-anything-for-you-master submission. “Actually, if anybody considered escape, it would be you.”
He smiled. “Escaping. Now there’s a thought.”
“Impossible on this level.”
“Sounds like someone who has tried.”
“Why would I? I work here.”
“My wolf intuition tells me you are not thrilled about your job.”
Gaby stiffened. How did he know? The last time she escaped, many people and animals died. She had not gotten far and paid dearly for it. Torture and isolation nearly killed her. Outside these walls, she didn’t exist. She had no social security card or driver’s license. She received a false passport, depending on where she travelled for the project’s assignments. Her online college degree was in the name of Katy Giles, an infant who died at birth. It took Giles three years to trust her again. With permission, she could now travel locally and even abroad as long as security accompanied her. She took a napkin and wiped her mouth. “I enjoy working with animals so it suits me.”
“Not people?”
She stood and poured coffee in a mug. “I’m not a people person.”
He smiled. “A lone wolf.”
“That’s accurate.” She glanced at her watch. “Go ahead and shave. I’ll finish my notes.”
Kane stood and gave her a probing stare. “Are you sure we don’t know each other?”
Should she pretend she was his girlfriend as Giles suggested? She met his eyes. Mesmerized by them. Couldn’t lie, even if it meant life or death. “No, we’ve never met until today.”
“Too
bad.”
“I might remind you of someone, perhaps a sister or wife?”
“Not a sister, that’s for sure.” He winked and left for the shower.
Gaby waited for him to close the door and then sighed. She almost told him everything. Why risk her limited freedom? She lived alone and rode her bike to the nearby town. Giles knew she wouldn’t risk others by hitching a ride with a well-meaning stranger. Supervised while on missions, she’d been to many countries. Even attempted to fit in at parties with people her age. Awkward shyness had been her real downfall. She’d even rationalized what she did helped national security and the good of mankind. Still, what she wouldn’t give to never step foot in here again. Find a place far away, rescue some dogs from the pound and spend her days painting and selling her wildlife art online. She hoped, someday, to trade the bloodstains on her hands for paint stains. Perhaps, train dogs on the side. Could this werewolf help her escape?
Chapter 3
Kane stopped the treadmill. Screw this! He yanked off the electrodes from his chest and head. Two scientists in white coats, including Dr. Tomlin, checked the results.
They mumbled, “Impossible, record breaking, super human.”
Compared to you guys, damn super human sums it up. When he reached top running speed, his arms lined with fur, his fingers clawed, and his bare feet turned into paws. While bench-pressing, he went half-man half-wolf. Shirtless, Kane stepped off the treadmill, grabbed water and wiped his brow with the towel. “Are we done?”
Tomlin blinked. “For now, yes.” He turned to his colleagues. “We’ll present the data to Director Giles in the morning. Leave us.” They nodded and exited.
The three guards remained at attention near the entrance. Despite their cool demeanor, their eyes dilated and the stench of sweat indicated their fear after they witnessed him partially shift during the physical tests. Their rapid heartbeats continued. Their fingers smoothed the triggers of their tranquilizer guns. Kane pinned them with a probing stare. They averted their gazes. Let them try to cage me again. He stretched and grinned at the doc. “I take it you were impressed with my endurance and strength?” Best he didn’t show off his fighting skills or reveal his superior senses. Tomlin had an irregular but non-threatening heart murmur. His wolf nose picked up minute details about their body chemistry. One of the guards had the early stages of prostate cancer.
“Indeed. You bench pressed over one thousand pounds and broke the speed record for completing a marathon.” He shook his head.
Rather than feeling exhausted, the under an hour run rejuvenated him. The exercise warmed his muscles for running even longer distances. “Which is what?”
