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"She speaks the truth, Kassandra." Alphose replied.

Sandra started laughing again.

Ismena and Alphose looked at each other helplessly. They are not getting anywhere with the woman at all.

"Okay, okay, okay," She raised her arms in front of her, palm out, "Okay, I don't wanna be unreasonable, so let's say you're right. You're a changeling, right?"

"Yes, I am." Alphose answered, resigned.

"You're a mountain lion, right?"

"Yes, I am."

"I wanna see." She declared, amusement brightening her eyes. "Let me see your animal."

Her best friend and Alphose shared one of those looks again. This time, Ismena directed one of those wide-eyed glances towards her too and she was shaking her head, "Hell no, you have no idea what you're asking for. There's no way he's shift—"

"I'll do it." Alphose interrupted. To Ismena, he added, "That's the easiest way for us to get out of his place and go through the Wild Forest on time."

"What!?Hell no, she's going to faint!" Ismena shot towards him.

"No, she won't." Sandra stated, her lips stretching further in her amusement, "I have more balls than you, bestie. Apart from the fact that we are all joking around here, if he were a real cougar—and let me remind you that he'snot—I'll still not faint." She declared in a proud, smug voice.

"Hold that thought," Alphose advised. Then, he shifted.

One moment, the man was standing tall in all his six-foot-four glory, looking resigned and wary.

The next moment, a huge, gray cougar stood in his place. The six-foot-eight mountain lion stood tall and proud... Its green eyes focus on Kassandra.

Dr. Beloca was anxious. And he hated being anxious.

It's almost the end of the day and he hasn't heard from any of his men. Not Adam's team which he sent to capture Number 6 for him, and not Simon's team which he sent to bring back The Successful.

It annoyed him greatly. He was still at the lab, working late. He measured the amount of water he needed and poured it into the test tube.

Just then, a knock came at the door. It opened almost immediately and a junior scientist he remembered his name to be Jakel, hurried inside.

"Doc, Sir Adeladin is on the phone. He requests to speak with you now."

The leader of the Wolfhunters?

Dr. Beloca left everything he was doing and hurried out of the lab to his office. He placed the call to his ear.

"Beloca speaking."

Whatever the Wolfhunters' leader told him had his eyes widening so much. He dropped the call, yanked the lab coat out of his body, picked up his car keys, and hurried out of the Facility like his legs were on fire.

Dr. Beloca arrived at the hospital and was taken to the room where Adeladin had instructed him to come. He was still in disbelief.

Surely, there is no way that happened. There's no way Number 6 killed ALL the men he sent to capture him and left Adam with a message for him. Damned Adeladin must be joking with him.

But it was no joke.

As he walked into the room and saw Adam, it dawned on him that it was no joke.

Adam was hooked from head to toe on machines to help keep him alive. His arms were missing, replaced by layers of bandages. The man was almost unrecognizable.

When he walked closer, Adam's eyes opened. "Doctor..."