Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(66)

“What about Viker?” he asked as they crossed a large room that was lined with steel cells and several cages in the center of the cement floor.

Her wolf snarled in fury at the memory of the man who’d murdered her son and had then shot Tucker.

The bastard.

Hurrying to walk a step ahead of Sinclair, Grant sent him an impatient glance.

“What about Viker?” Grant demanded.

“I thought he might want to know about the change in plans,” Sinclair drawled, firmly pulling Nicole closer to his side.

No doubt he could sense her wolf’s restless fury.

Grant made a sound of disgust, pulling out a key card to wave it in front of an electronic reader. Instantly, the hidden elevator doors slid open.

They all stepped in, and Grant gave another wave of his card to close the doors. Then, leaning forward, he stabbed the button that would take them to the third floor.

“Viker is a mistake that should have been dealt with seven years ago,” Grant admitted, his expression hard. “For now, he’s in my office waiting for me to set up his transfer.”

Nicole didn’t know what the hell they were talking about, but she wasn’t surprised that Viker had managed to make enemies of his own people. He was a nasty, spineless creep.

Sinclair released a short laugh. “I assume he isn’t going to Vegas?”

“Hell, no.” Grant’s lips twisted. “As soon as we’re sure we can pass off the body as a shifter attack, I’m going to make sure he heads straight to his well-deserved retirement.”

Ah. So that was it. They intended to make it look like she’d attacked someone. But if it wasn’t Viker, then who was she supposed to bite?

The doors of the elevators slid open, and Sinclair shoved her forward.

“I’ll take the wolf to the lab,” he told Grant, urging her down the corridor.

“Wait.” Grant hurried to catch up with them, seeming to realize he was being dismissed. “I’ll go with you.”

Sinclair’s fingers tightened on her arm, but his expression remained unconcerned.

“It could take awhile before the drug works,” he said.

“I don’t care. I won’t have any more decisions made without me,” Grant retorted in petulant tones. “It’s my ass on the line.”

“Whatever.”

In silence, they walked down the corridor until they reached the end door. Sinclair leaned forward to open it, jerking her over the threshold and into the large lab.

Nicole had a brief impression of white tiles and shiny stainless steel equipment with lights bright enough to blind her. But her attention was consumed by the large, beautiful male who was standing next to a metal gurney.

Tucker. Thank God.

Something painful eased within her. She hadn’t allowed herself to even consider the possibility that he might be dead. It was too unbearable. But there had been a nagging fear he may be seriously injured.

Now she eagerly allowed her gaze to run over his muscular body that was covered by a pair of scrubs and a white lab coat before moving to his beautiful face that had a healthy color.

There was nothing to indicate that he’d been shot in the chest just…hmm.

She frowned. She didn’t know how much time had passed.

Stepping forward, Tucker pointed toward the gurney, his face carefully devoid of emotion. Nicole, however, could catch the scent of his fury.

“Put her on the table.”

Nicole pretended to struggle even as she held Tucker’s gaze. He was hanging on to his composure by a thread. The last thing she wanted was to give him a reason to snap.

Sinclair easily lifted her onto the table, pressing her down as Tucker moved to attach a heavy chain to her collar. Just like an animal being manacled.

Then, leaning to the side, he grabbed a syringe that was filled with a clear liquid. He turned so that the watching Grant couldn’t see his expression as he slid the needle into her arm, injecting her with what she hoped was some sort of placebo.

He didn’t have to say anything out loud. He was telling her with his eyes to follow his lead.

Perhaps sensing that there was something going on between them, Grant moved forward to stand beside the gurney, his brow furrowed.

“So tell me about this drug,” he commanded, “and why I wasn’t informed that you were using it.”

Tucker stepped back, tossing the syringe onto a tray next to him.

“It was Talbot’s secret project,” he told the guard. “None of us knew about it until we found it in his private files.”

“Typical.” Grant gave a shake of his head. “That traitor better hope he’s dead. If I get my hands on him, I can guarantee he’s going to wish the animals had gotten to him first.”

Ignoring the man’s tirade, Nicole kept her attention locked on Tucker. She had to go on faith that she was following the silent clues he was giving her.

So when he gave a small dip of his head, she didn’t hesitate.

With a surge of power, she shifted into her wolf. Agonized pleasure exploded through her, but she barely waited until she was fully transformed before she was surging forward to snap her jaws directly in Grant’s face.

The guard gave a loud squeal of terror, knocking over the table behind him as he leaped out of the way of her fangs.

“Holy shit,” Grant breathed, his hand raised to his neck.