She shot him a glare. “I told you. It’s addictive.”
His gaze abruptly sharpened. “You’re an addict?”
“No.” Then she winced. “Yes.” She blew out a breath. “I want it, but I haven’t had it. I’m clean.”
Simon squatted down right in front of her. “I think you better start talking. Who are you and what do you know about the serum? How did you get it and—”
Ryan surged forward. He didn’t quite have his full body together. His movements were sluggish, his power unsteady, but he had enough to catch Simon unawares as he barreled into him broadside. Simon stumbled, but didn’t fall. Vic reacted quickly as well, his gun out, and his eyes narrowed. But rather than further the attack, Ryan crouched there beside Frankie. “Stay back,” he growled.
Simon threw his hand sideways to hold Vic back. His eyes narrowed and his skin flushed, but he didn’t attack. He just held still and watched. Ryan knew that if he made a move toward either of them, Vic wouldn’t hesitate to shoot. So, he made a deliberate choice to turn to Frankie. If anyone was going to interrogate her, it was him.
“Where did you get the poison?”
She lifted her chin. “How do you think I became like this?”
He only now realized that her face was part wolf. Fur was on her ears, her mouth was elongated and showed sharp canines. Arms and claws were definitely wolf, but her legs were human. Odd how the sight pleased him. In fact, he reached out and stroked the fur along her arms.
“It wasn’t the water?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Injected. Straight into my veins. Multiple doses starting three months ago.”
“So you chose this?”
“I was unconscious the first time. But then…” She shrugged.
“Addiction kicked in?”
“My brother said I needed more to complete the change.” She held up her paw. “I agreed.” Then she let it drop into her lap. “Plus, I wanted it. It made me feel invincible.”
“How many doses?”
She swallowed. “Eight in total. By then I’d felt the addiction, knew it was making me reckless.”
“You stopped?”
She nodded. She took a deep breath, and as she blew it out, her body reverted back to human. Still beautiful, but now 100 percent human. “I wasn’t changing into a full wolf. I was just getting hungry.”
Vic spoke from the top of the stairs. “Hungry? Like for food?”
Ryan shook his head, already knowing what she meant. It was a dark need, not even noticeable until he looked. It was a desire for more. More food, more sex, more attention, more power. It didn’t even have a focus until he saw her, and he wanted all of her. His thinking mind reminded him that he didn’t know her well enough to want her, but the need just burned hotter.
“What do you want, Frankie?” He made her name a caress, and her eyes burned bright as she looked at him.
“To be seen.”
“I see you.”
“And you nearly killed me.”
His entire body rebelled at that thought. He hadn’t been trying to kill her. He’d been trying to have her, to catch and hold her. To mate. “Never,” he whispered.
Her eyes widened. Did she understand what he meant? He wasn’t even sure, but he felt like she was the most important person in his life. He’d been attracted to her before. She was a gorgeous, powerful woman, and she’d saved his life. Who wouldn’t want her? But now there was an extra drive. An obsession even, because he couldn’t tear his eyes from her. If it weren’t for the potential rivals standing behind him, he would be content to just sit here and look at her.
Especially, since she was looking back. She was holding his gaze and not wavering, though he caught shifting emotions as they skittered across her face. Fear, interest, anger, desire. Or maybe he was just projecting his own emotions onto her because he absolutely was afraid of whatever she’d shot into his veins. Angry, too, that she’d done it. But overriding all was an interest in her, and a desire to have her as intimately as possible in every way.
“Does the obsession fade?” he asked. He couldn’t imagine the possibility, but then who knew what happened with this drug?
She shrugged. “It’s different with each person.” She held his gaze. “It hasn’t with me.”
