But Decebel crossed his arms, unmoving. “We go again when you’ve got control of yourself. I won’t be the whipping boy for your temper. And I don’t want to deal with the drama that would ensue if I killed you.”
Maxim’s lip curled in a feral sneer, but the male didn’t so much as blink. After a charged moment, the fight drained from Maxim’s body. Decebel was right. He was being reckless, not disciplined. What must this warrior think of his lack of control? Shame cooled his simmering temper.
Seeing Maxim stand down, Decebel’s stance relaxed. “You’re no good to your female like this. Get your head straight first, then we’ll spar again.”
The words sliced deep, hitting Maxim’s greatest fear: he wouldn’t be strong enough to save Alice, to be what she needed. Or that he wouldn’t be able to get past the fact that she had feelings for a male other than him. He turned away so Decebel wouldn’t see the pain twist his features.
“She’s your true mate, yet cares for another.” Decebel voiced the source of Maxim’s anguish. “I understand your torment. But don’t let jealousy rule you, brother. Stay the course.”
Maxim’s shoulders slumped beneath the weight pressing him down. “I don’t know if I can do this,” he said hoarsely. “Seeing her feelings for him…” He ran a shaky hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “It shreds my soul.”
Decebel stepped closer, his expression solemn. “Your female is worthy, or the Great Luna would not have destined her for you. Remember that.” His piercing amber eyes held Maxim’s. “What is between you has been written in the stars. Trust in that and in her heart.”
Maxim absorbed the quiet words. This male understood his pain and didn’t judge him for it. Some of the ache inside him eased. He knew Decebel spoke the truth. He had to be strong for Alice right now.
Bowing his head in gratitude, Maxim said gruffly, “You’re a good man. Thank you.”
Decebel clapped his shoulder. “Anytime. We’ll spar again after we’ve completed the task at hand.” His lips quirked. “Might even let you get in a hit or two.”
Maxim huffed a surprised laugh. Some of his equilibrium restored, he followed Decebel from the training rooms back toward the sleeping quarters.
He was still reeling from Alice’s memories, but the reassuring weight of Decebel’s hand on his shoulder kept him grounded. Maxim was not alone. The pack stood with him. For their support, he would master himself and be the male Alice needed when he brought her home. For her, he would stay strong.
* * *
As he leftLizzy and Finn to continue to care for Alice, Cain pulled the door closed behind him and locked it. He didn’t know what to do or how he could help Alice. Bringing in another gypsy healer might help, or it could turn into an absolute disaster. His plan to create the hybrids was hanging in limbo, and he needed to give it the attention it deserved. Most likely, another healer now would be a distraction. Lizzy was obviously a success, although she had a true mate that factored into the whole equation. The sedated dormants had no such dilemma. They would be his to control.
As he strode to the main lab, he also considered that he needed to figure out his own situation. Something he’d told no one was that he didn’t simply want to create the hybrids. He wanted to become one himself. He’d drank from Alice, but that wasn’t enough to start his own transformation. He’d likely need wolf blood. And the formula would likely be different for already made vampires. Amongst the chaos, Cain hadn’t considered that fact. The only werewolves around were Finn and Lizzy. He’d most likely have to knock both of them out in order to get blood from them.
Reaching the lab where dozens of dormants lay unconscious, Cain paced the sterile room, rage and anguish warring within him. Alice lay dying, and still he couldn’t stop, couldn’t give up on his ambitions that had brought her to this point. In truth, he wasn’t sure he was willing to change. Or that he could.
“Boss, you okay?” Willis emerged from one of the inner rooms.
Cain turned to the odd scientist in his floral shirt and flip-flops. This was what he had left to work with now that Alice was down. How could he trust so many lives to Willis’s hands?
“We have problems,” Cain said finally. “Transforming me into a hybrid will most likely require healer and werewolf blood.”
Willis’s eyes widened, and he smacked a table. “Of course! I wondered why nothing had happened when you took Alice’s blood.”
It wasn’t quite that simple. Alice’s blood had sated Cain like nothing before. Drinking it felt strangely intimate in a way no blood ever had. But he wouldn’t share that with Willis.
“We can use Finn or Lizzy,” Willis suggested. “Finn’s easier. That Lizzy is a hellcat.”
“We’ll start with a dormant wolf and Alice’s blood.” Cain overruled the suggestion. “But first, we need functioning hybrids for the government, or they’ll shut us down.” Things would get very ugly very fast if that happened.
“Just inject them all,” Willis said. “Lizzy worked, so copy her.”
Cain frowned. “You usually urge caution in experiments.”
Willis shrugged. “I’m bored. Alice is out. Lizzy just feeds normally. I want action.”
Cain pinched his nose in frustration. “You’d risk the program out of boredom?”
“Better than slow failure. Big moves get results.” Willis’s eyes lit with excitement. “Think of the data we’d get! Hybrid abilities, side effects, bonding dynamics. This is the breakthrough we’ve waited for.”
Cain hesitated. He shared Willis’s frustration with their stalled progress. And Cain desperately needed successes to appease the powers holding his leash.
“Very well,” he conceded. “Prep the subjects. We’ll move forward with a wide trial.”
