Kilian's POV

My lungs unload a blow of impatience, and as Nathair and I swiftly stare at each other, a feeling of impending doom rushes over my skin.
“Don’t play with our nerves. If you have something to say, say it.” I didn’t mean to sound gruff, but I’m not the small-talk kinda guy. And the slight lowering of Laura's head suggests she got my message.
“This renowned physician wanted to know if I wanted to be part of a controversial research program.” Laura swallows harsher this time.
I can’t take it anymore. I grab her tumbler, which by the smell of it, is full of coffee, and no matter how much I try to do it politely, I shove it against her, almost spilling the content on her.
“Thanks!” A throat clearing later, her thoughts finally flow out. “They were practicing research on war prisoners. I left when I saw what they were doing. It was wrong on so many levels!” She shivers as she says so, bringing the bottle to her lips.
“Alpha.”
I turn to my general’s voice. She’s holding Spades’ little hand lovingly—too lovingly. “Your girl’s waking up.”
My eyes sprint to the worst storyteller in Galathena’s history. “Laura, spit it out.”
“It was about removing the wolf within a person and placing it into another convict.”
There’s this silence I want to kill, a ghost of fear streaming across me.
As we take in Laura’s words, several blips accompanying Spades’ vitals buzz. And it’s buzzing alright because that’s all we can hear.
After a few seconds, both her words and our faces return to life. Finally!
“Neither the donor nor the host would survive the process. To my knowledge, only two hosts survived. These were sent on the frontline. I never heard of this story again because I left soon after realizing we were playing god.”
“Can you tell me the fucked up reason for this!?” It’s making me feel sick enough to find refuge on Spade’s monitor, her beating heart my anchor.
“Near immortality. Super soldiers if you want. Trial tests showed that following a lethal wound, the last wolf layered within the host would die. But!.. The wolf layered below would heal the wounded immediately. It was messed up, Alpha. The host would have phases of euphoria and then deep apathy. I think it came from a loss of identity. I left. And a few months later. I heard the military had taken over the program.”
“My mate is dead.”
We all turn towards Nathair, who smiles weakly at us. “I had a connection with Spades. But now I understand why.”
Now that explains why she’s clinging to Spades like a lifeline.
“It wasn’t Spades. It was a part of my mate.”
“Nathair, a mate is more than a were connection.”
“Kilian, it is Fate who decides this. How much holier do you want it to be?”
“If I’d allowed Fate to decide all my actions and consequences, I’d be dead. It’s Faith, Nathair. Faith in what you feel beyond a simple mate connection.”
“Well, Alpha, connection or not. I will never know. But it’s fine...” There is a welling of emotion in her eyes as she stares at Spades, and I wish I could stop it. “With the war, our mates die before we can meet them, and if we do, we die anyways... so whatever,” she drily says.
“Laura, can we remove this wolf?”
“I’m not going to try, Kilian. Spades was part of an experience gone well. And it’s a miracle. I suspect Pallamir’s military is trying to create super soldiers. Here, it is a pilot.
“Or perhaps to suppress memory if you tell me they get confused.” Nathair may have a point.
Laura nods. “Or suppress memory. This could also explain why the sound of her name triggers her.”
“I need to bring her to our Priestesses. Maybe they’ll know what to do.” They have to!
Soon, our six eyes widen like saucers.
“Kilian... Do you have more of that whiskey in your cabin?”
I turn, and my mouth flexes without control.
“Spades...”
“Top dog.”
“You’re grounded until further notice!” I emote as I lift her, holding her so fucking tight. “...In my room.” And to my whisper, this demon silently chuckles.
She won't for long...
