Page 5

“Who are you?” I ask cautiously. “Where is Cassian? He’s supposed to bring me my food.”

The man shrugs, baring his yellow teeth at me in a grin. “Must be busy with something else. So, what is it about you that he won’t let any of us have a good look at you?”

He approaches me, and I immediately get off the stool, needing something between us. “He won’t be happy if you hurt me. He needs me alive and functioning.”

“I don’t give a fuck what he wants,” the man spits out. “He may think he runs this place, but he’s nothing. Although,” he pauses, running his eyes over me in a manner that has my skin crawling, “he has brought something interesting back here. Ever been with a shifter, girly?”

His meaning is not lost on me. “No, and I’m not interested. I’m supposed to be working. Leave me alone.”

My gaze remains fixed on him as I’m backing away, walking alongside the metal counters, my hands searching for the vials ofchemicals. Age-old instinct is telling me not to take my eyes off this man.

“I don’t care if you’re interested or not. I want to see what you taste like.”

My hand curls around a bottle of grayish liquid, a deadly chemical that can cause instant burns. The shifter is approaching me, and I know there isn’t going to be any other way out of the situation. There’s a good chance I will pay heavily for this.

He lunges at me, and without hesitation, I throw the contents of the bottle at him. His scream is bloodcurdling, and I scramble back as he clutches his face. “You bitch! What did you do to me?”

Loud footsteps sound, and the door is thrown open as Cassian rushes in. He takes one look at us and grabs the other shifter by his hair, tossing him across the room with such strength that my heart quakes in terror. “I told you to stay away from her, Quentin!”

His roar makes me flinch.

He hurries over to me, forcing my hands down from my face and inspecting me. “Are you hurt?” I shake my head, and he looks at Quentin again before asking me, “What did you throw at him?” Before I can answer, he wrenches the empty bottle from my hand and studies it. “What is this?”

“It–It’s a chemical. He was going to hurt me. You can’t blame me for defending myself. I couldn’t take him on in a physical fight.”

He sets the bottle down on the metal table before pushing me behind him. I soon understand why because Quentin is approaching us. The left side of his face is red, the skin blistering badly.

“I’m going to kill you, you human bitch!”

“Don’t even think about touching her,” Cassian says coldly. “You had no business coming in here.”

“Get out of my way, you runt!” Quentin roars, leaping forward and shifting in midair. If I thought his human form was big, as a wolf he makes me nearly shit my pants.

“Look out!” I cry when Cassian doesn’t move. He simply lifts his hand, and as Quentin descends on him, Cassian grabs him by the neck and hurls him forcefully through the air. The wolf falls to the ground, and there’s a large cracking sound that has me trembling. Cassian crouches beside him and places his hand on the beast’s throat again.

The wolf writhes in Cassian’s hold, but he doesn’t let go. “You seem to forget your place here, Quentin. Would you like me to remind you?”

A strange chill fills the room, and the other shifter goes still, whimpering now. He shifts back and gasps, “She’s human! She doesn’t deserve to be here!”

“She’s here because I want her to be here. You were warned. I told you to stay away from this part of the building. If you come here again, I’ll rip your insides out and shove them down your throat.”

The violent threat makes me want to vomit.

Cassian grabs Quentin by his hair and starts dragging him out of the room. “Come here again and you won’t like what I do to you. She is under my protection.”

They disappear from view, leaving me behind. Gripping the edge of the table, I try to steady myself, my legs shaking. What the hell was that? How was Cassian able to take on that massive wolf without even blinking an eye? He didn’t even shift forms!

Who is he?

My body feels cold as I look around. I have to move fast. I can’t afford to delay things any longer. If one of these shifters can come after me, what’s stopping the others? Cassian won’t be here to save me every time.

I look around the lab, and my eyes flick toward the security cameras placed in the corners. Each camera covers the blind spots to make sure no area is hidden. But when Cassian threw Quentin just now, he dislodged one of the cameras.

This is my chance.

I pretend to stumble and pick up one of the syringes, hiding it in my bra. The next part is going to be dangerous, but it’s the most crucial step in my plan.

I have to draw the blood of the silver wolf.