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CHAPTER NINE

ARES

A res disembarked his private jet with Santiago waiting for him at the bottom of the steps and Theo at his back. He sniffed the air, and his wolf grumbled.

I know. I'm moving.

Ares' wolf didn't like how long he'd been apart from River any more than Ares did.

If anything, he thought his wolf might miss her more.

Well… not miss her more, but he was far more out of control than he ever had been before, that was sure.

It was all Ares could do recently to keep his wolf from taking over.

Even letting his wolf run the estate as well as the neighborhood to smell for himself that her scent didn't linger had only angered his wolf further.

Every day since her absence, he'd taken to running a minimum of twenty miles.

Double what he was used to, but it didn't matter.

It was as if he'd not exercised at all within an hour of finishing.

A black SUV sat at the steps of the plane, and a driver exited. Ares recognized him, but didn't know his name. He was the son of the local Alpha.

Santiago shook hands with the man, and Ares walked down the steps to the vehicle. Theo opened the door.

"Prince Ares, this is Romero."

Ares nodded.

"Highness." Romero gave a slight bow. "It's an honor to have you in our area. My father was upset that he couldn't meet you himself, but my mother is still not healed."

A pang of guilt struck Ares. Romero's mother had been one of the Lunas injured in the attack. "Is there anything she needs? A specialist? Anything?"

"No, Highness. Just rest. Thank you."

Ares held his hand out to Santiago. Santiago dug in his coat pocket and handed Ares a business card. Ares handed the card to Romero. "If your family needs anything at all, you call Santiago and he'll make sure you get it."

Romero bowed. "That is most generous of you, Majesty."

"Not at all. It is the loyalty of Alphas and Lunas like your parents that is most generous."

Ares slid into the back seat, Theo slipped behind the wheel, and Santiago shut Ares' door before walking to the passenger side and getting in.

Romero bowed one last time before walking to a flashy yellow Corvette and getting in.

Ares sat back and closed his eyes. "How long?"

"Thirty minutes." Theo turned the SUV around and headed off the tarmac.

They needed to get to Dr. Emerson, find out where the hell he was sending the blockers, and make him stop. Period.

Theo pulled the SUV up to the front of a tall, modern glass building and came to a stop.

Ares hadn't quite decided how he was going to obtain what he wanted from the humans inside.

He wasn't used to dealing with humans without some sort of introduction from the people he employed to deal with his businesses beyond the shifter world.

This was a first. Most humans were unaware of his status; therefore, they never felt the same compulsion to acquiesce to his demands as wolves did.

Not unless he was introduced as Prince Ares.

Even in the human world, a royal title carried considerable weight.

Ares buttoned his suit jacket and strode to the front door. Theo opened it for him, and he proceeded inside to the security desk. Theo moved forward and handed the guard Ares' business card before Ares spoke.

The man looked at it and then looked between Ares and Theo. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Dr. Emerson."

The guard glanced at his computer screen. "I'm sorry, sir, but Dr. Emerson doesn't appear to have any appointments scheduled today."

"He'll want to see me," Ares said firmly.

The guard hesitated. "I'm afraid I can't let you up without an appointment, Mr...?"

"Wolvenguard," Ares supplied. "Call Dr. Emerson and let him know Ares Wolvenguard is here to discuss his special pharmaceutical projects. I'm sure he'll make time for me."

"I'm sorry, but we can't just let anyone into the building, as I'm sure you understand."

"This isn't just anyone," said Theo. "This is Prince Ares Wolvenguard."

"I'm sure if you tell Dr. Emerson my name and let him know I am here to discuss the special project he has been working on and that my mother-in-law, Cherry, gave me his information, he will see me."

"I'm sorry-"

Ares' wolf leapt to his feet. Ares slammed his fist on the granite counter and took a calming breath.

He's a human. He doesn't understand. He doesn't know what's going on.

"Surely you can ask," Theo offered. "After all, you wouldn't want to be the reason Dr. Emerson missed such an important meeting, would you?"

The man licked his lips, wetting his Tom Seleck mustache, and looked at Ares' business card again. He picked up the phone and dialed an extension, speaking quietly for a moment before hanging up.

Ares struggled not to rip the phone from the man's hand and demand to be let up.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but Dr. Emerson has already left for the day."

"Left?"

"Yes. His assistant said that he went home about an hour ago."

"Can I get his home address?"

The guard slid Ares' card back across the counter. "If you would like to call his assistant and make an appointment, I am sure she will find a time to fit you in."

Theo opened his mouth, but Ares stopped him. "Since I'm already here, may I go up and speak to her?"

"I'm afraid not. But I'll call and see if she will come down to talk to you."

Ares nodded, jaw clenched. "Thank you."

The guard pointed at a pair of couches several feet away. "You can wait over there."

Ares picked up his card and handed it to Theo, who put it back in his jacket pocket.

"I could knock him out, and we could find the information on the computer."

Ares unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat on the couch.

"We can't risk scaring the doctor or his assistant.

Or the police being called. That would waste too much time.

As much as I would love to choke the information out of that guy, I think employing a more Apollo-style approach might be better this time. "

Theo cocked an eyebrow.

Ares snorted. "Trust me, he isn't rubbing off on me that much. I just think that if we are dealing with humans, the last thing we need is human police involved. We have enough problems at the moment."

Theo nodded as an elevator opened and out walked a pretty, petite brunette in a simple black dress and sensible heels. She walked over to the security desk and then turned to look at Ares before striding toward them.

Ares stood. If he hadn't been mated, he would have done whatever it took to get the information out of the woman.

While he needed the info more desperately than he'd ever needed anything in his life, even he couldn't stoop that low.

He just prayed it wouldn't take something like that to get the assistant to tell him where Dr. Emerson was and how he could meet with him.

"Hello," the assistant said in a nervous tone. "I'm Amanda, Dr. Emerson's assistant. I heard you would like to make an appointment."

"It's imperative I speak with him today. I need to speak to him about some pills that he sold my mother-in-law for my wife."

The assistant glanced over at the guard, who watched the interaction.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Emerson is a chemist; he does the research, he cannot prescribe or sell pills of any kind. It's against the law."

"Of course," said Ares, fighting to keep his tone friendly. "Maybe I'm mistaken, but my mother-in-law gave me the doctor's name. If I could speak to him, I'm sure he can help me figure out who I should be looking for."

"What's the name of the pills you say he gave her or told her about?"

"Uh… I'm not sure they have a name."

She scoffed. "How do you expect him to help you then?"

Ares growled, and his wolf got to his feet.

The assistant backed up, but Theo touched her hand and smiled.

"Please," said Theo. "We came all the way from Canada. We just need to speak to him for a moment. If there is any way you could help. Prince Ares'… wife's life could depend on it."

Amanda's eyes drifted to where Theo held her hand and then to his gentle smile.

Damn, he was good. If Ares weren't mated or so ready to shift at any provocation, he would have thought of using the same tactic. But since finding River, he couldn't even imagine touching another woman, let alone flirting with her.

"I… well… I could call him, I suppose…"

Theo's smile widened. "I appreciate that, but I wonder if maybe there was any way you could tell us where he lives."

She shook her head violently. "I can't do that, he would fire me."

"I'll pay you," said Ares. "A hundred thousand dollars."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "I… Surely you're kidding."

"Two hundred." Ares' patience hung by a silken thread.

"I…"

"Three hundred."

The assistant pulled her hand from Theo's and blinked several times before swallowing hard.

"Five hundred," she whispered.

"Done." Ares held out his hand. "Give me your phone."

"You're serious?"

"If you end up getting fired, you call me and I'll have you employed somewhere else in twenty-four hours at double your current salary."

She handed her phone over with a shaky hand.

He used her phone to call his cell and then handed it back.

"Text me the doctor's address and your bank account number."

She looked between them like she couldn't tell if it was some kind of trap.

Ares sat back on the couch. "I'll wait here until you send me the information. I'll send the money immediately. You can watch if you want."

"I have to get the address."

Ares nodded. "Go. As you can see, I'm not leaving without it."

She turned quickly and headed for the elevator.

Theo sat next to him. "I'm sure she would have taken the one hundred if you'd waited."

"I would have gone up to five hundred million if it got me one step nearer to finding River. Five hundred thousand was a bargain."

The SUV stopped by a sprawling ranch-style house on the outskirts of Indianapolis. Ares exited, his senses on high alert as he scanned the area. The property appeared quiet, with no visible signs of activity or security measures beyond a few basic cameras.

He marched to the front door and knocked. After a few moments, he heard shuffling inside. The door cracked open, revealing a wiry man with thinning gray hair.

"Can I help you?"

"Dr. Emerson?"

The man looked over Ares' shoulder to Theo, and then he licked his lips. "Sorry, you have the wrong house."

He started to shut the door, but Ares wedged his foot in the gap.

"I'm Prince Ares Wolvenguard."

The doctor's eyes widened in recognition.

"I'm not here to harm you. I just need information about the suppressants you make. Tell me what I need to know and I'll leave and you won't have to see me again."

Dr. Emerson hesitated. "You can come in. But I warn you, I have security measures in place."

Ares wanted to laugh at the threat, but he didn't. Instead, he nodded and followed the doctor inside to a cluttered living room.

The doctor gestured for him to sit. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. But let's start with who you've been supplying lately. Particularly any large orders."

The doctor shook his head. "I can't reveal client information. That would violate-"

Ares leaned forward, his eyes flashing gold. "Doctor, I don't have time for games. Rogues have taken my mate, and I believe they're using your suppressants."

Dr. Emerson swallowed hard. "I... I understand your concern, but I am unable to divulge that information. My clients trust me with their privacy."

"And I'm trusting you to do the right thing," Ares growled. "These aren't ordinary clients. They're dangerous rogues who have killed people. Innocent people."

The doctor's eyes widened. "Killed? I had no idea..."

"Now you do," Ares said firmly. "So I'll ask again- who have you been supplying large orders to recently?"

Dr. Emerson wrung his hands. "I... there was a substantial order about a month ago. Much bigger than anything I'd filled before. But I don't know the client's name. It was all done through intermediaries, very hush-hush."

Ares leaned in. "Tell me everything you remember about that order. Every detail."

The doctor nodded shakily. "It was for a new formulation- stronger, longer-lasting. They wanted it in both pill and injectable form. The quantity was... massive. Enough to suppress hundreds of wolves for months."

"Where was it shipped to?"

"I don't know the final destination. They had me deliver it to a storage unit in Cincinnati, Ohio. After that, I have no idea where it went."

Ares' heart raced.

"I need the address of that storage unit," he said. "And anything else you can tell me about these people?"

Dr. Emerson hesitated, then sighed. "There's something else. The formulation they requested. It isn't just stronger- it has some unusual additions. Components I'd never worked with before."

Ares' brow furrowed. "What kind of additions?"

"Compounds that would not just suppress shifter abilities, but... alter brain chemistry. Increase suggestibility."

A chill ran down Ares' spine. The implications were horrifying. What was Titan planning to do with suppressants like that?

"I need samples," Ares said. "And formulas. Can you provide those?"

The doctor nodded. "I can. But you have to promise me protection. If these people find out I helped you..."

"You have my word," Ares said. "The full protection of the Royal Wolvenguard family. Just get me what I need. Did they place another order?"

"Yes. I'm supposed to deliver more in two days."

Two days? He had to wait two more days for answers? "Give us the package. We'll deliver it."

"It's not finished."

"Doesn't matter. It won't be getting to them anyway."

Dr. Emerson chewed his lip and then got up, hurrying from the room.

Ares' mind raced. They had a lead- a tangible connection. But he would have to wait two whole days.

His wolf grumbled. N o wait. Now.

"Ares, we need to keep him from making any more for them."

Ares nodded.

"Suggestibility?" Theo muttered. "The implications of that are limitless."

"It's possible he means to use them on the rogues to keep them compliant," said Santiago.

"Or on us, or the Alphas."

Ares chewed his lip. Was it possible that Titan didn't have the same command that he and Apollo did? He was an Alpha, yes. He was their father's son… but he wasn't their father's offspring by his fated mate. Did that make a difference? Was there something more to it than that?

He didn't know. But the possibility was intriguing.

Ares rubbed the center of his sternum. The next 48 hours, waiting for the drop, would be the longest two days of his life. He had no clue what the hell he would do in the meantime.