His head tilted, an eerie, almost inhuman curiosity flickering behind his eyes.
"I am following protocol, General Green has instructed—"
I cut him off. "I am following the instructions from General Green," I replied. "But do not mistake compliance for permission. This crossed a line. You will not put her in a situation like that again."
A pause. A flicker of something cold in his expression.
"Noted," he said.
I clenched my jaw to keep from saying what I really wanted to. Not yet. Not here.
I stepped past him, brushing his shoulder just enough to make it clear the conversation was over.
But inside, I was already making my own promises.
Rowan would not be coming back here.
My father would not force my hand again.
And if he tried, if either of them tried.
I would kill them both.
I opened the exam room door and headed down the hall to my omega and brother, leaving Zolkos staring after me in silence.
Chapter 14: Talon
When Cade told us what happened at Rowan’s science visitation, I nearly killed Zolkos. I was ready to tear the creep in half if not for Rowan. Somehow, despite being subjected to that uncomfortable experience, she was holding herself together better than the rest of us.
"It’s okay, Talon. I’m okay. Cade and Killian were there with me. They took care of it… took care of me," she said, her voice steady enough to cut through my seething anger.
"Cade, this is bigger than we thought," I said. "Whatever Zolkos and your father want from Rowan, they aren't going to stop."
"I realize that now," Cade answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Slick?! Why the fuck does Dr. Creepy need slick? What’s he gonna do with it?” Ryker asked with a mouthful of some sugary, half-chewed treat.
“I don’t know, Ryker,” Cade said.
"Why the fuck isn't she like you, Tally?" Ryker asked.
I frowned. "What are you talking about, Ryker?"
"He means, why don’t my eyes glow?" Rowan clarified. "Why do I look exactly the same as before? And why is my wolf’s coat red?"
"I don’t know," I admitted. "Just because I’m a shifter doesn’t mean I know everything there is to know. I’ve only met a handful of other shifters, and none of them were like Rowan. But that doesn’t mean others like her don’t exist."
"Zolkos knows," Killian growled.
Cade shook his head. "He doesn’t know she can shift. Only that she has certain genetic markers. That’s why he’s curious. But I don’t know what my father gets out of this. We need to find out. We need to follow him and keep tabs. Let him lead us to the answers."
"You want to track Zolkos?"
"Yes."
"How are we supposed to keep an eye on him?" I asked.
"I have access to the base feed," Cade said. "Not inside the departments or dorms, but the common areas and exits. I wanted to review the footage and make sure no one showed too much interest in Rowan… and that we didn’t have a repeat of Falcon City."
