Page 40 of Stripe Theory (The Matchmaker’s Book Club #8)
THIRTY-NINE
W orking together, they stabilized Sierra’s condition. Alora felt a surge of hope as human science and shifter wisdom merged into something new, something powerful.
“We need to document everything,” she said, reaching for fresh sample vials. “If we can understand how the traditional methods affect viral behavior...”
“Alora.” Maya’s voice cut through her scientific excitement. “You need to see this.”
The security feeds showed a disturbing pattern. Maya and Hunter had cross-referenced breach locations with viral mutation rates, creating a map that made Alora’s blood run cold.
“The attacks,” Maya explained, highlighting clusters, “each attack corresponds with a new virus variant.”
Rehan moved closer to the display, his presence warm against Alora’s back. “They’re circling inward,” he growled. “Getting closer to...”
“To us,” Alora finished. She felt his tension, the way his tiger pushed forward protectively. Under other circumstances, she might have found his possessiveness amusing. Right now, it was oddly comforting.
Time blurred as they worked to develop countermeasures. Alora lost track of how many coffee cups Maya pressed into her hands or how many times Rehan’s fingers brushed hers as they passed data tablets back and forth. The temporary antidote showed promise, but the complexity of shifter DNA meant each batch had to be specifically tailored.
“It’s not a cure,” she explained, watching the latest test results. “But it might buy us time to find one.”
“Time we desperately need,” Maya added, pointing to more security alerts. “Three more facilities just went dark.”
Sierra’s voice, weak but determined, drew their attention. “Don’t you dare hold back because of me. Use whatever you learn... help them all.”
Alora met Jewel’s eyes across the medical bed, seeing her own determination reflected there. Together, they refined the treatment protocol, merging centuries of shifter knowledge with cutting-edge science.
The medical lab had transformed into a fortified command center, screens showing security feeds from multiple facilities. Hunter coordinated with other shifter groups while Maya refined detection algorithms. Through it all, Alora felt Rehan’s growing agitation as reports placed the danger closer and closer to their location.
She was examining a new batch of treatment compounds when Maya’s sharp intake of breath made her look up.
“These communication patterns,” Maya said, voice tight. “They’re breaching security – and mapping our responses. But why?”
Alora moved to study the data, her scientist’s mind making connections she wished she couldn’t see. “The attacks are designed to stress shifters specifically because...”
“Because stress accelerates the virus,” Hunter finished. “They’re using us as a living laboratory.”
A ping from Hunter’s decryption program drew their attention to the main screen. As encrypted data resolved into clear text, Alora felt the air leave her lungs.
“They’re planning to trigger a mass shift response at the conference,” Hunter reported, scanning the message. “The stress levels would accelerate the virus beyond anything we’ve seen.”
Maya’s hand flew to her mouth as a list of priority targets appeared. Alora’s name sat at the top, highlighted in red.
The partial shift happened so fast, Alora barely registered it. One moment Rehan was beside her, the next his eyes blazed full amber, tiger stripes rippling beneath his skin as he growled, “Then we end this. Now.”
His hand found hers, warm and steady despite his obvious fury. Around them, the lab hummed with renewed purpose as their team prepared, human and shifter united against a common threat.
Alora squeezed his hand, drawing strength from their connection. Whatever came next, they would face it together.
“Stop looming,” Alora scolded, though her voice held more affection than annoyance. “I can’t science properly with you tiger-guarding me.”
Rehan hadn’t moved more than three feet from her since seeing her name on the target list. His constant proximity made focusing difficult, especially when he did that thing where he somehow managed to look both dangerous and adorably concerned.
“I’m not looming,” he protested. “I’m supervising.”
“You’re hovering,” Maya corrected from her workstation. “Like a very large, very grumpy helicopter.”
Hunter coughed suspiciously from his security post.
“Don’t encourage them,” Rehan growled.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, boss.” But Hunter’s usual stoic expression smirked with amusement.
Alora turned back to her microscope, trying to ignore how Rehan’s scent wrapped around her like a warm blanket. The latest viral samples showed promising changes when combined with Jewel’s traditional remedies, but something still wasn’t quite?—
“Oh!” She straightened so fast she nearly collided with Rehan’s chest. “The binding proteins! Maya, remember that weird reaction from last week’s failed trial?”
“The one that turned everything green?”
“Yes! Pull up that data.”
Rehan’s hand steadied her waist as she rushed to Maya’s station. The casual touch sent sparks through her nerves, but she forced herself to focus. Lives depended on this.
“See here?” She pointed to molecular structures. “The virus mutates faster under stress because it’s using the shifters’ own healing abilities against them. But if we introduce this compound...”
“It disrupts the adaptation cycle,” Jewel finished, eyes lighting with understanding. “Creating a window where traditional healing can work without accelerating the infection.”
“Exactly!” Alora bounced on her toes with excitement. “We can’t stop the virus completely yet, but we can slow it down enough to?—”
Sierra’s monitors shrieked a warning. Everyone moved at once – Jewel to adjust medications, Maya to check readings, Rehan to his sister’s side. But Alora got there first.
“Temperature’s spiking,” she reported, already implementing their newest protocol. “Maya?”
“Healing factor’s fighting the virus, but it’s causing more stress...”
“Which makes it worse,” Sierra gasped out. “Lovely little cycle.”
Alora’s heart clenched at the pain in her voice. In just weeks, Sierra had become like another sister. And the way Rehan’s face tightened seeing her suffer...
“Try to stay calm,” Jewel soothed. “The more relaxed you are?—”
“The less the virus can use against you,” Alora finished, injecting the modified compound. “This should help.”
They all watched the monitors anxiously. After several tense moments, Sierra’s vitals began to stabilize.
“Well,” Sierra managed a weak smile, “that was exciting.”
Rehan made a sound somewhere between a growl and a sigh. “You have an interesting definition of excitement.”
“Says the man who growls at lab equipment.”
“I do not?—”
“Children,” Jewel interrupted, though her eyes sparkled. “Perhaps we could focus?”
Right. World-saving science. Not flirting with the overprotective tiger shifter. Even if he did look unfairly attractive when he was being all protective...
The lights flickered. All humor vanished as Hunter moved to the door, weapon ready.
“Power fluctuation in sector three,” Hunter reported. “Could be nothing...”
“When is it ever nothing?” Maya muttered.
Alora felt Rehan tense beside her. His tiger was close to the surface – she could almost see stripes rippling beneath his skin.
“Stay here,” he ordered, moving toward the door.
“But—”
“Please.” The raw emotion in his voice stopped her protest. “I can’t focus if I’m worried about you.”
Their eyes met. In that moment, all the unspoken things between them seemed to crystallize. The way he tracked her movements. How she always knew where he was in a room. The electricity that sparked whenever they touched.
“Fine,” she conceded. “But be careful. And take this.” She pressed a small vial into his hand. “It’s an emergency dose of the new treatment. Just in case.”
His fingers closed around hers. “I’ll come back.”
“You better. We still haven’t had our first real date.”
His lips bowed. “Don’t secret lab meetings count?”
“Definitely not. I expect proper romance. Dinner, dancing, the works.”
“In that case...” He leaned close, his breath warm against her ear. “Don’t get kidnapped while I’m gone.”