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"Both of you are right,” Asher said. “We need to go now. But we can't go in blind. Daniel, can your team get detailed schematics of the facility? Riley, can you tap into their security system?"

Daniel nodded sharply. "I'll call in every favor I've got. We'll have the plans within the hour."

"I can try to access their security," Asher said, already typing. "If they're connected to any external network, I'll find a way in."

Victor paced the room, his wolf clawing at his insides, desperate to run to his mate. The bond with Zack felt so tenuous now, like trying to hold onto smoke. He caught Mo watching him with worried eyes.

"I need air," Victor muttered, striding toward the back door.

Outside, the night air was cool against his skin. Victor tilted his head back, breathing deeply, trying to center himself. When he heard the door open behind him, he knew without looking that it was Mo.

"He's still with us," Mo said quietly, coming to stand beside him. "I can feel him holding on."

Victor turned, pulling Mo into his arms, burying his face in his mate's neck to breathe in his calming scent. "The bond feels like it's unraveling thread by thread, and I never told Zack how I feel," he admitted, his voice rough with emotion he rarely allowed himself to show. "I can't do anything to stop it."

Mo's arms tightened around him. "Yes, you can. We're going to find him tonight. And then we're going to bring him home."

Victor pulled back slightly to look into Mo's eyes. "I've never been so afraid," he confessed. "Not in all my years." Not even when he found his mom and sister slaughtered.

"I know," Mo whispered, reaching up to touch Victor's face. "But Zack is strong. He's fighting to stay with us. We just need to get to him."

The back door opened again, and Riley stepped out. "We've got something," he said. "Asher managed to access their external security cameras."

They hurried back inside to find everyone gathered around Asher's laptop. On the screen, grainy footage showed the exterior of a concrete building surrounded by a fence.

"This is the old Northstar Pharmaceuticals research facility," Asher explained. "It was supposedly shut down after failing FDA inspections three years ago, but clearly that was just a cover."

"Can you get inside the building?" Victor asked.

Asher shook his head. "Not yet. Their internal security is on a closed system. But I can see who comes and goes easily enough." He clicked through several more camera angles. "According to their payroll the guards work twelve-hour shifts. These guys came on at noon, so they change at midnight."

"Three hours from now," Daniel noted. "That gives us time to prepare and move into position."

"What about the doctors?" Mo asked. "The ones who would be...experimenting on Zack?" His voice faltered on the last words.

Asher pulled up another image. "I've identified two regular visitors —a Dr. Helena Mayer and a Dr. Edward Chen. They usually work eight until five, but Mayer has been staying late. She's still there now."

Victor studied the image of a woman in her fifties with steel-gray hair pulled into a severe bun. "She's the one in charge of whatever they're doing to him?"

"According to their employment records, Dr. Mayer specializes in reproductive biology and genetic engineering," Asher confirmed. "Dr. Chen is an expert in reproductive biology."

Mo's face paled. "Reproductive biology?"

Riley and Victor exchanged a dark look.

"That's why they want him," Mo whispered. "For the baby."

The room fell silent as the full horror of the situation sank in. Not only was Zack suffering from mating sickness, but he might also be carrying their child—a child Pearson would see as nothing more than a scientific specimen.

"We need to move," Victor said, his voice deadly calm. "Now."

Daniel stepped forward. "Riley you're obviously needed with the extraction team. Victor, you'll lead the team with Raschid's wolves for backup. Martin will be here in case we need anything."

"I'm coming too," Mo said firmly.

"Mo—" Victor began.

"No," Mo cut him off. "You said it yourself—having both his mates close might strengthen the bond enough to keep him alive. I'm coming."