Seb squinted in the dim light. “Think we can get through?”
Without answering, Carter started moving quietly but quickly towards it. Reaching the fence, he felt along the weak spot. It was a risk, but if they could just get a peek from a closer vantage point, it might be worth it. Using his increased shifter strength, he gently pried at the weak point, creating a hole just large enough for them to slip through.
Once inside, the reality of their situation hit Carter. He’d been in dozens of hostile territories during his time in the CIA, but he usually had some idea of what he would be facing. Now, he had none, and he didn’t like it. A wrong move could be disastrous—and not just for him and Seb. Keeping to the shadows, they began to make their way around the facility. The huge imposing walls of the building loomed above them, the windows small and barred.
Suddenly, a door to their left opened and voices echoed. They were too close. Carter and Seb exchanged a panicked look. Ducking behind some crates, they held their breath as two guards appeared, their conversation about the recent ‘catch’ filling the tense silence. The guards stopped just a few feet away from their hiding spot. One of them lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. The glow illuminated his face, revealing a scar running down his cheek and a cold, indifferent expression.
Carter’s heart pounded loudly in his ears, the adrenaline coursing through him. He could feel Seb’s tension too, the rigid line of his friend’s body mirroring his own anxiety.
The guards lingered, and Carter realized that heading back was their only option. He met Seb’s gaze, subtly gesturing with his head towards the fence they had entered through. Seb gave a slight nod in agreement.
Waiting for a moment when the guards were both looking away, they began their stealthy retreat, retracing their steps and praying they remained unnoticed. Just as they were almost at the fence, a stray twig snapped under Seb’s foot.
Both guards turned their heads instantly, eyes scanning the darkness. Carter and Seb didn’t wait to see if they’d been spotted. They dashed to the fence, scrambling through the breach they’d created.
Once safely on the other side, they didn’t stop to catch their breath. They had taken a risk, and although their attempt had proved fruitless, the adrenaline from the close call fueled their determination. They needed to find out what was going on in that facility, and they needed to do it fast.
When they got back to their original position, they settled in to watch, observing the guards’ patterns, noting the time of a shift change, and the areas where security was most concentrated. The guards were heavily armed so a frontal assault would have been suicide. They needed an inconspicuous way in.
“We could try a diversion,” Seb suggested, “Or wait for another employee to get here and try to sneak through the gates when the guards are distracted.”
Carter rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “It’s tempting, but we need to know more. This isn’t just a standard operation—there are too many unknowns. And going in blind could be dangerous.”
Before they could discuss further, Carter’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. Seeing Max’s name flash on the screen, he answered promptly, “Max?”
“Carter,” Max’s voice came through, “Did some digging onthat facility of yours. It’s registered as a stem cell research laboratory, owned by a foreign conglomerate.”
Carter’s eyebrows furrowed. “Stem cell research? Why the hell would they need such heightened security? And why was she being escorted inside?”
“That’s been bugging me,” Max continued. “From what Seb told me earlier, their level of security doesn’t match their purported operation. I mean, stem cell research is controversial, sure, but not to the point of needing guards that look ready for war.”
Carter glanced at the facility, a knot forming in his stomach. “Then there’s something they’re hiding in there, something big. There has to be.”
Seb, having caught the tail end of the conversation, chimed in, “Whatever it is, we need to get inside, gather intel, and get out without them knowing we were there.”
Carter nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on the compound’s entrance. “Thanks, Max. Keep digging. We’ll be in touch.”
“You got it. Let me know if you learn anything new.”
As Carter ended the call, the weight of their mission settled on his shoulders. They were in unfamiliar territory, but whatever was going on inside that facility, Carter was determined to uncover it and to protect the woman who was destined to be his mate.
Just as Carter was considering their next move, the low rumble of a vehicle approaching broke the evening’s stillness. Carter and Seb ducked behind some bushes, their eyes trained on the compound’s entrance. A black van with tinted windows,and devoid of any identifying marks, pulled up to the main gate. The back doors were flung open, and two burly guards jumped out, dragging with them a young man, his eyes wild with fear.
The young man’s skin began to ripple, his features contorting. A shifter! A snarl erupted from his lips, his human form fighting to shift into his animal form. The transformation was starting—claws, fangs, and fur began to emerge. Carter watched transfixed.
“No!” One of the guards yelled, drawing a syringe from his belt.
Before the young man could fully transform, the guard jabbed the needle into his neck, pushing the plunger down with force. Almost instantly, the half-formed shifter slumped, his aggressive transformation halted mid-shift, and his body returned to its human form. The once-threatening growls that had emanated from him turned into a soft whimper. Within moments, he was unconscious, his body limp.
Carter felt a rush of anger, his fingers curling into fists. The sheer audacity of these men, treating shifters as if they were nothing more than animals to be subdued and controlled—it was sickening. Beside him, he could feel Seb’s rage mirroring his own.
“They just...they just stopped his shift,” Seb whispered, his voice a mix of shock and fury. “What the hell did they give him?”
“I don’t know,” Carter replied, gritting his teeth. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Whatever was in that syringe is potent.”
“And they did it like it was something they’ve done a dozen times before—just another day at the office.”
The two guards heaved the unconscious shifter onto astretcher and carted him off into the facility. The van drove away just as quickly as it had arrived.
