Page 84 of X-Clan The Origin

He didn’t care that Kieran technically had a mate.

Well, abetrothedOmega, anyway.

V-Clan Alphas courted their Omegas in very different ways, with Kieran’s methodology being one of the most unique I’d ever seen.

Regardless, he wasn’t fully involved with his betrothed yet, making him a potential adversary. At least in the eyes of my inner wolf.

“So where would you recommend that we go?” Riley asked softly after a long beat of silence. She’d likely been evaluating Kieran’s words and realizing how true they were. “The labs have all been destroyed. Where will we continue our research?”

Kieran sighed. “I admire your tenacity, Riley. I always have. But we both know there isn’t a cure. Not even my magic can heal them.”

Her touch stilled against my shoulder. “You’re giving up.”

“I’m not giving up. I’m accepting fate. The best we can hope for now is a way to stop the mutation.” His voice held a low rumble to it, the sound more like a growl than a purr. “Rohan called while you were… otherwise indisposed.”

“And?” she pressed.

“They have a new case in Denmark. A Viking Alpha. Seems he transitioned last night and is just as brain-dead as a bitten Ash Wolf.”

Fuck, I thought. That meant the virus had spread to two breeds of wolves.

“He’s taking samples,” Kieran continued. “I’ll have them in the lab to review. But at this point, our focus needs to shift to containing the mutation. Because even with a cure, what would it actually heal? Once the brain is destroyed, there’s nothing left but a shell.”

Riley’s nails scraped across my skin as she curled her hand into a fist. Her ire was like a whip to my senses, but she didn’t speak.

She merely simmered.

“You know I’m right, little one,” Kieran said, his voice a soft murmur that had me snarling inside.

I hadn’t appreciated him chastising her earlier.

And I certainly did not appreciate him consoling her now. Even if it was what she needed.

“There’s a clinic being established in Andorra Sector,” he went on. “An X-Clan Beta by the name of Ceres is organizing it. Do you know him?”

“We’ve met.” Riley’s soft voice broke my heart a little. She was obviously angry, but not at Kieran. He’d spoken the truth and she knew it. She just hated that he was right.

Something I very much understood.

I didn’t care much for the Alpha, but he was the Prince of Blood Sector for a reason. He knew what he was doing.

Which was why I had begun to suspect that this whole conversation—and his ensuring that I could hear it—was formybenefit.

He wanted Riley to be happy.

And he was guiding her to a place where she could prosper.

As my mate.

Had I been able to move my body, I would have clenched my jaw.

“The Sector Alpha is new,” Kieran murmured. “He’s looking for someone with your skill set to lead the lab that Ceres is building.”

Definitely leading Riley to something.

She must have shared my suspicion because she skeptically asked, “Why not just give it to Ceres?”

“From what I understand, he specializes in turning humans into shifters. Specifically, X-Clan shifters. As a result, he would likely be a viable partner in understanding the wolf genetics. However, he lacks epidemiology experience. The two of you could make history together.”