“It wasn’t a natural virus to wolves or humans, but it shared visible traits with other known viruses. But what it most looked like was the feline leukemia virus; and of course that retrovirus has a poor outcome. But it wasn’t an exact match. And as we know, wolves are immune to both homosapian and canis lupus diseases as well as most other typical causes of mortality. And while it is true that viruses mutate and adapt to their environment to survive, it’s a moot point. I’ve been investigating, trying to find out if maybe someone gave her this virus. Or created it somehow, manipulated it, perhaps utilizing shifter blood.”
As Logan stood listening, it occurred to him that no matter how strong the attraction was that he felt for Wynter, he really didn’t know her at all. The way she talked was formal and direct, like a doctor, but he detected the pain she tried to hide. Like he’d suspected, her case was personal. And she’d gotten herself into this mess for her friend’s sister? Who does that? Wolves did that. They had loyalty that ran as deep as an abyss. But she’d been a human living with an Alpha wolf. Why would she risk her life to save a hybrid wolf? Why was she still living with the Alpha? Who was the woman he almost made love to an hour ago? So many questions and very few answers.
Logan pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to shake off the distracting thoughts. He needed to focus. Growing impatient, he blew out a breath. An hour ago, he’d been ready to claim this woman in front of everyone. Sure, it may have been a jealous, lust-driven temporary insanity, but still, it didn’t negate what happened. As she stood before him now, she was no longer the vulnerable woman he’d held in his arms. No, this person was someone he didn’t know at all. A researcher who was up to her eyeballs in some serious shit. And one of his wolves was dead as a result.
“Get to the point, doctor,” he warned coldly.
“When I was offered the fellowship at ViroSun, I should have suspected something was off. They’re one of the top ten virology companies in the country, typically known for their advanced work with next generation antivirals and vaccines. I’d just earned my doctorate, so why did they pursue me? I thought it was because of my relationship with Jax, but it was Emma. They wanted my knowledge of her and the viruses. I made the mistake of bringing samples of her blood to my lab. I had to know if she was intentionally infected; they had all the latest equipment I needed to find a way to save her,” she said quietly. Sadness laced her words and she tried not to cry. She should have never taken that job. She should have listened to her gut and refused the tempting carrot.
“Shortly after I started, they slowly began pumping me for information about Emma…my ‘Jane Doe’. I’d done lectures, so they knew of the case. But I could tell they knew exactly who it was. One day someone actually used her name. Later that day, I tried grabbing all the data, to get it to Jax. I was going to leave. And that was the day they locked me in the lab. And I thought, ‘how could this happen?’ I was working in a large office building. I don’t know how they did it. They just locked me in and the next day, they had me moved and on the road. I never knew where I even was. It was always just me in a makeshift lab with the vampires.”
Wynter regretted her decision to take the data. She should have just walked out the door that day and gone to Jax. They must have been monitoring her through a camera, known what she was doing with the files. She rubbed her eyes, glanced up at the ceiling and then back to Logan.
“And I have to tell you, Logan; I was close to figuring out what caused it, how it works. But they still don’t have what they need yet. It’s not finished. The scary part is that I’ve suspected for some time that they want to make it portable, so it can be actively utilized…on hybrids at first, eventually wolves. You need to know that even though they don’t have me, they have the data. I don’t understand why they still want me. It doesn’t make sense. I already told them most of what I knew about Emma. They could find another scientist to work on it, but this,” Wynter gestured to the blood spatter and the words written on the body. “This tells me they aren’t going to let me go. I don’t know why. I’m so sorry they killed Dana. Sorry I haven’t told you everything. I really wanted to tell you but…”
Logan had heard enough. “Yeah, I know protocol. What a bunch of shit, doctor. I take you into my home, and you don’t think you owe me the decency to tell me that you’ve been working on a virus that could have the capability to kill wolves? Fuck,” he grunted, shaking his head.
He didn’t want to come down so hard on her but he was beyond frustrated. Seriously? A virus that attacks wolves? A corporation looking to exploit the virus? What she was saying didn’t seem possible. What was it about the godlike Jax Chandler that drove her to keep this a secret?
“But they can’t yet. I told you, that’s why they wanted me. I’m sorry,” she whispered.
There was nothing else she could say. It was ironic that the past five years she’d done nothing but devote her life to research, all in the name of protecting wolves, and she was no closer to helping Emma. To add to it all, she’d opened her heart and body to an incredible Alpha, one who was very much pissed at her at the moment. She was a fool to have even thought for one minute he’d understand. As her thoughts drifted to Jax, she almost felt relief. If he found out she’d been with Logan, he’d be angry with her too. Her heart broke, because there had been no doubt how she felt about him earlier. She’d been willing to give herself to him in every way, and it couldn’t have felt more right. In his arms, she belonged to him. He was her Alpha.
But maybe it had been the wolf who’d claimed him as Alpha? The entirely human part of her now doubted her own feelings. Logan’s disappointed expression left no room for misinterpretation. He didn’t want her here with him or his wolves. Now that he knew the truth about what was going on with ViroSun and why she was imprisoned, he could align with Jax and deal with the issue on his own. As she watched him, she could see the wheels turning, the ever present leader calculating his next move in the war strategy.
A commotion in the next room jarred her back to focus, and she straightened her back when she heard Léopold’s voice. What was he doing here? Was he somehow involved in Dana’s death? She quickly sidled up behind Logan, close but not touching. As the door flew open, she held her breath.
Unbeknownst to her, Logan had texted the dark vampire in the car after Fiona had mentioned the state of the body. Logan couldn’t be certain if vampires were in charge of this operation or not. True, vampires had tortured Wynter and had a hand in Dana’s murder, but in his long life, he’d learned that things weren’t always as they appeared. What he hadn’t mentioned to Wynter was that it was possible more than one person had killed Dana.
“Thank you for coming,” Logan told Devereoux and nodded over to Dana.
Léopold wasted no time, going directly to the body. Picking up the cold arm, he sniffed at the skin and darted his tongue over the small wounds. Unceremoniously, he stood and rubbed his nonexistent five o’clock shadow. Contemplating the situation, his menacing eyes met Logan’s.
“Her neck was the fatal blow, no? There’s a lot of blood. But someone did drink from her. These bites aren’t just for show. No, they took much blood before killing her.”
“But there’s no signs of struggle,” Logan indicated.
“Oui. Pleasure bites, perhaps. It would explain her relaxed positioning, the peaceful look in her eyes. I believe she knew him. Or her.” Léopold gently slid his fingers over the woman’s eyelids, closing them.