Nathan was still fuming as they neared the old canning factory. Goddamn stubborn woman. He couldn’t believe she would pull that stunt. When she walked away from him and headed to the entrance of the biker compound, his heart stopped. He nearly tore Luke to pieces for trying to prevent him from going after her. Relief had swept over him when they came out of the compound, knowing she was safe. If anything had happened to her, he would never forgive himself.

And so he was now back to being mad at her for this morning. After all they’d been through, she was still throwing his words right back in his face, rubbing it in about what he said about having other women. Didn’t she realize she wasn’t one of them? That the reason he didn’t want to just have sex with her was because it wasn’t going to be a one night thing? He wanted to clear the air so they could start fresh.

How could she even think he didn’t want her? He made her come twice now, and she only had to look at him and he was as hard as a hammer. Is this what being mates was about? He felt sorry for his friends. Maybe he should just be happy being single the rest of his life. Glancing over at Luke, he thought it wouldn’t be so bad. He and Luke could be the confirmed bachelors of the group. The fun uncles. Well, he could be the fun uncle and Luke can be grumpy uncle. Of course, if Luke found his own mate first and left him alone, Nathan would probably hang himself at the injustice of it all.

“We should stop here,” Luke said. They were still about a mile away. “We can hide the car and go the long way ‘round.”

“Do you know the exact location of the factory?” Nathan asked.

“I think I remember. Hank took me, Jason, and Matthew hiking in this area when we were kids. He stopped to show us the old factory. It was definitely abandoned then.”

Highway 79 was the old country highway that ran between Verona Mills and Blackstone. It was one of those single-lane highways that had become abandoned over the years as the wider and newer roadways were built. They didn’t see any cars as they drove up the old road. Few people took it, and many of the businesses that catered to drivers on the old highway simply shut down or moved away.

They found a small clearing off the main road and parked the car there. Because of the Mustang’s bright color, they had to gather some discarded branches to cover it. Nathan winced thinking about the scratches on the paint job, but he knew in the grand scheme of things it would be a minor inconvenience.

Luke led them up the highway, then turned off onto a side road. He veered off on another path, and a few minutes later he raised his hand to signal them to stop. “It’s right up ahead. Get down.”

The ground was a gentle upward slope, so it was easy to get on their bellies and see the old factory standing about twenty feet away from them. The structure was old and made of wood but still standing, if a little run down. From the outside, it looked just like any abandoned building. However, someone had built a barbed wire fence around it.

“Good news is the fence isn’t as high as the one in the compound,” Luke said.

“The bad news?”

“It’s got about a thousand times more power,” Violet said as she cringed and put her hands over her ears. “It could probably burn anyone who touched it into a crisp.”

“What’s wrong?” Nathan frowned.

“The frequency of the electric fence is really annoying,” Luke said.

Ah, right. Felines could hear higher frequencies than other shifters. “What do we do?”

Luke slowly got up and began to unbutton his shirt. “I’ll jump over and turn it off. She’ll know when I've done it, and you two cut your way in.” He pointed to the rear of the building. “If I remember correctly, there’s a service door in the back. Let’s meet there.”

“Good idea,” Nathan thought, glad Luke volunteered first. As much as he was curious about Violet’s animal, he wasn’t too crazy about anyone else seeing her naked. And of course, it would be better if Luke got caught than her. Who knew what he’d do if he saw anyone touching Violet.

Luke walked into the group of trees behind them. The sound of paws thumping on the ground told him he had already shifted. All they had to do now was wait.

He glanced over at Violet. She still had a pained expression on her face. “Baby, you okay?” he whispered. “Why don’t you think of something else to distract you?”

“Can’t. Have to listen.”

Seeing her uncomfortable like this made his insides turn, but he knew she was right. Not sure what else to do, he placed a hand on her back and gently stroked it. She relaxed a little bit, her mouth parting in a sigh.

A few minutes later, Violet let out the breath she’d been holding. “It’s done,” she said.

They moved quickly, crossing the distance to the fence within seconds. Nathan already had this claws out, and he slashed a hole, one large enough for them to get through. He helped Violet inside first, then followed her as they ran to the factory. They pressed themselves against the wall, waiting for Luke.

“You made it.” Luke appeared next to them, wearing only his jeans, his hair in disarray around his shoulders. “I did a quick look around, no guards or anything outside. Not visible anyway.”

“Their best security is keeping a low profile and not attracting any attention,” Nathan guessed. “What do we do now?” Maybe they should have thought this through a little more.

Luke closed his eyes. “I can hear … people in there. Walking around. And sound bouncing off the walls. This place was basically a shell when I saw it. They’ve been busy doing construction inside.”

“And lab equipment?” Violet’s delicate brows wrinkled. “Reminds me of when I walked past the biology lab at my university. Cages opening and closing. Glass tubes and beakers moving around. A centrifuge running.” She shivered visibly.

“No guards outside, probably not a lot inside, either,” Nathan said. The place was well-hidden, so the fence should have been enough to keep anyone out.

“I’ll go in and look around,” Luke said. “Nathan can be my backup. Violet, you should head back out and wait for Jason and Christina. They’re on their way.”

“No,” Violet said. “I’m staying here.”

Nathan was losing his patience. “For fuck—crying out loud, Violet, just listen to us this once!” He was going to tie her up and carry her out himself if he had to.

“I’m not leaving,” she said. “And that’s—”

A piercing scream in the air interrupted them. “He’s just a child!” The woman’s voice was loud and clear.

Nathan felt his blood run cold. “You said there was lab equipment in there?”

Violet nodded slowly, her nostrils flaring and her eyes glowing in anger.

“Fuck.” It clicked into place. What this was. They were experimenting on shifters. And right under their very noses. The look on Luke’s and Violet’s faces told him they came to the same conclusion.

“We need to get those people out,” Violet said. “It’s not just about Joanne anymore.”

“And the bastards in charge will go down,” Luke said.

“What’s the ETA on Christina and Jason?” Nathan asked. “We need to come up with a plan.”

Another scream—this time a child’s—rang through the air. It sent chills down Nathan’s spine.

Violet’s face turned into a mask of pure rage.

“Violet.” He was about to place a hand on her, but she was too fast. The back door blew open and she was gone.

“Fuck,” Luke cursed. “Let’s go before she gets herself killed.”

He didn’t even wait for Luke. His wolf was screaming at him to protect Violet at all costs.

The inside of the building was nothing like the outside. White walls and white fluorescent lamps covered the interior. The antiseptic smell reminded him of a hospital. He sniffed the air, searching for her scent, following it until he came to an open door. Violet was in the middle of the laboratory standing over a figure lying on a table.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” he said, keeping his hands at his side to stop himself from pulling her into his arms.

She looked up at him, eyes still blazing. “It’s her. Joanne.”

The woman on the bed looked pale and her eyes were closed, but he recognized the scent. Her body lay still, but the rise and fall of her chest told him she was alive. She was wearing a white hospital gown and various wires were stuck under the paper-thin fabric. Violet made quick work of them, pulling them off her.

A moan caught his attention. There was a second table behind Violet where another girl was lying down. He strode over to her and checked for a pulse.

“Is she okay?” Violet asked.

“Heartbeat’s faint, but she seems to be hanging in there.” He brushed aside a lock of hair and let out a curse under his breath. She smelled like fur, probably a deer, and she didn’t look older than sixteen. Luke was already carrying Joanne in his arms, so he gently lifted the young girl up.

“Let’s get them out of here,” Luke said.

As they walked out of the lab, a loud siren began to ring out and the lights flickered and flashed red.

“Shit! They know we’re here.”

“Had to happen eventually,” Luke said. “C’mon. We need to get out in case they have lockdown procedures.”

They turned to the exit but Violet remained very still. “Someone’s down there.” She pointed in the opposite direction. “She needs our help!”

“We’ll come back for her! Let’s go now and save these two,” Nathan urged.

“No! I’m not leaving anyone behind!” Violet pivoted and began to walk away.

“Goddamnit!” He handed the girl in his arms to Luke. “Get them out of here!”

The shouts and the sound of boots pounding on the floor coming toward them were unmistakable. Two men dressed in all black and combat gear were storming down the hallway and raising their guns as Violet came closer.

“No!” Nathan growled. His wolf ripped out of his body as he made a run for her.

Violet was so quick, he would have missed it if it wasn’t for his shifter senses. Her body grew to twice its size and fur rippled across her skin as she leapt into the air. And her tiger—it was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. It had faint stripes over its back running down to its tail, but the rest of its fur faded from a dark strawberry blonde to white at its paws.

The tiger landed right on one of the men, and Nathan could hear Violet’s growls and the sound of teeth ripping through fabric. Nathan quickly turned his wolf’s body to take down the other man. His paws swiped at the gun, sending it skidding to the ground as his massive body collided with the guard, taking him down. Opening his jaws he went right for the guys’ arm and shoulder, his mouth filling with blood as his teeth sank into flesh and bone. His screams joined that of the other man.

He pulled the wolf back, knowing they had hurt the guard enough to incapacitate him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Violet was done too. The tiger brushed past him and Violet’s unusual blue eyes flickered at him before it broke into a run. She was headed for the room at the end of the hall.

He followed her as she leapt at the door, knocking it down.

The sirens had quieted, but an eerie feeling settled over Nathan. It made his wolf’s hackles raise. This room was larger than the previous one they had been in and circular in shape, with different types of medical equipment and operating tables. Several cages lined one side, empty from what Nathan could spy, but the mixed smells of fur, feathers, scales, and various scents told them they weren’t always so.

The man in the middle was tall and pale. He was dressed in surgical attire, his mask lowered down to his chin. He also had his arm around a dark-haired woman and held a scalpel to her neck. Behind him, a man dressed in the same combat gear as the guards in the hallway stood, his gun cocked and pointing right at Violet.

“You filthy animals! Change back or else …” He pressed the scalpel to the woman’s neck, breaking the skin so a drop of blood appeared on the tip of the blade. She let out a sharp breath.

Violet’s tiger let out an angry roar, but her body began to shrink. Nathan did the same, tucking his wolf away for now.

“Who are you?” Nathan said as the last of his fur receded into his skin and his snout pushed back into his head.

“And what are you doing with these shifters?” Violet asked, her voice shaky with anger.

“None of this concerns you, you abominations!” he shouted. “How dare you anyway? Walking into my lab? How did you get in here?” He let out a frustrated sound. “I told The Chief I needed more security here! It’s not like we didn’t have enough to spare. Damn him and his paranoia. We need to leave now.”

The woman in his arms struggled, and he tightened his grip. “Don’t move Georgina, my dear. Besides, when you’re gone, who’s going to protect little Grayson from The Chief?”

“You monster!” she hissed. “Don’t you dare!”

“The only thing that’s keeping The Chief from killing him is because I deem him useful in our experiments. Otherwise, you know that boy would be gone in an instant!”

Tears flowed down her cheeks. “Please, Dr. Mendle … don’t …”

Dr. Mendle looked at Nathan and Violet. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be headed out.” He shook his head as Violet stepped forward. “Uh-huh. Don’t take another step.” He tsked, and his eyes roamed over her body. “A golden tiger. One of nature’s most beautiful mutations. I would have loved to study your DNA.”

Nathan gritted his teeth. “You won't get away with this. Any of this!”

“Oh really?” Dr. Mendle sneered. “Who’s going to stop me? The Agency? Oh, you seem surprised. Yes, we know all about Ari Stavros’ little group. He’s merely a thorn in our side, of course. It was such a coincidence that we had started running this lab the moment he decided to team up with Hank Lennox to expand his club here. Not that it matters. Our organization is larger and far-reaching, and we will stamp out every last one of you!”

“Why are you in Blackstone?” Nathan asked.

“Well, technically, we’re not, aren’t we?” Mendle pointed out. “This was the perfect location for our lab since it was easy enough to find lowlifes to kidnap shifters living in the area. Plus, with Verona Mills P.D. deep in our pockets, they would easily lose a file or two or turn their heads the other way if anyone reported anything.”

“You are a monster!” Violet shrieked. “I’m going to—” Her claws came out.

“Not if you want an innocent life on your hands,” Dr. Mendle warned as he pushed the scalpel deeper into Georgina’s neck. Rivulets of blood flowed out. “She’s a human, by the way,” he spat. “So no healing for her.”

“Violet,” Nathan said. “Don’t move.”

“Yes, indeed. Stay where you are.” Dr. Mendle slowly moved sideways, his guard following him as they kept their backs to the wall, getting closer to the exit.

“Stay here,” he said to the guard. “Keep close to the woman. Make sure they don’t move while we make our escape.” The guard nodded and crossed the room to where Violet was standing, the nose of his gun pointed at her chest.

“No!” Georgina screamed. “Grayson! We can’t leave him.” She struggled against Mendle, then stamped her heel on his foot.

“You stupid whore!” Dr. Mendle made a grab for Georgina as she broke free of his grasp, the scalpel swinging wildly in the air.

“Bastard!” Nathan leapt in between them, intending to shield the human woman. A loud crash from behind made Mendle stop short. “What the—”

Something large and hairy with big claws shot out from the doorway. Luke.

The lion landed on Dr. Mendle and in a split second, Nathan grasped Georgina by the arm and shoved her out of the way just before the lion and Dr. Mendle landed on the floor. The man screamed as the lion’s maw came down on his head. Then silence.

“Are you—”

The sound of a gunshot made his blood run cold, and he whipped his head around.

Violet, half-shifted, was struggling with the lone guard. Fur and teeth sprouted from her face, and her clawed hands fought with for control of the rifle. The guard gave a strong push and sent Violet tumbling back into a shelf of glass bottles.

“Violet!” His blood pumped into his veins as he pushed his wolf down. No, he would kill this bastard with his bare hands for hurting her.

The guard wasn’t expecting him, and Nathan seized him from behind and swung him around as his fist connected with his jaw. The man staggered back and Nathan leapt on top of him, pummeling his face with fury.

“Nathan … Nathan, stop!”

His hands were like raw hamburger, red and bloodied. But the man’s face was worse, and blood spurted from his mouth. The rage didn’t go away, especially when his eyes landed on Violet.

She was barely standing up, her face bleeding from small cuts. Bits of glass were in her hair and skin, and a large piece was sticking out of her shoulder. Placing her fingers around the piece, she pulled it out and tossed it aside.

“Fuck!” Nathan got up and walked to her, grabbing a lab coat hanging on the wall. “Violet …” His insides twisted, seeing her bloody and hurt like this.

“I'm fine,” she choked out. “Give me a few minutes. I’ve already stopped bleeding.” She nodded behind him. “Just help her. Please.”

Georgina was standing by the cages, rattling them frantically as she sobbed. Nathan didn’t want to leave her side, but his mate could be stubborn. “Put this on,” he said before striding over the Georgina.

“Please get him out,” she pleaded as she turned her tear-stained face to him.

Nathan bent down to peer into the small cage. Two small glowing eyes stared back at him. Using his claws, he slashed at the lock on the cage and the door swung open.

“Grayson!” Georgina pushed him aside and reached into the cage, taking out the small furry bundle. “Oh, Grayson. It’s okay. Mommy’s here.”

The bear cub rubbed its snout against her shoulder. Its dark fur began to recede, and the body grew smaller. A little boy, probably no more than four or five, clung to Georgina as if his life depended on it.

“Mommy,” he rasped. “The bad man … is he gone?”

“He won’t hurt you anymore.”

A soft growl from behind made Nathan turn his head. “Luke, you okay, man?”

Luke’s gaze was fixed on Georgina and her son, and the gold of his eyes was barely visible as his pupils blew up. His body tensed for a moment, and he turned away.

“Luke! Where are you going?”

He didn’t look back. “Outside.”

“Outside?”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Jason and Christina’ll be here any minute.” He stomped off, stepping over Dr. Mendle’s lifeless body as he made his way to the doorway.

“Is she okay?” Violet said as she popped up behind him.

Relief swept over him. The cuts on her face were gone, so he assumed the rest of her was healing as well. It took all his strength not to kiss her and crush her to him. “Yeah,” he glanced over at Georgina, who was rocking Grayson back and forth and soothing him.

“Oh my,” she gasped. “Was that the child we heard?”

He nodded tersely, the memory of Grayson’s scream sending ice through his veins. “We should get out of here. Luke’s outside waiting for Jason and Christina.” He turned to face her. “How are you?”

“All healed up.”

“Violet.” His voice was shaky as he brushed a lock of hair aside from her cheek. “I thought I almost lost you.”

“What—” A gasp escaped her throat, and her eyes rolled back.

“Violet?”

Her eyes shut and her arms went limp. Nathan quickly caught her.

“Violet!” He picked her up and pushed her hair out of her face. “Baby, what’s wrong?” His heart pounded against his rib cage as she remained unresponsive. “Violet say something!” Her skin was suddenly hot, spiking up a few degrees. Looking over to where she had stumbled back, he saw various liquids pooling on the floor around the broken glass. “Fuck!”

“What’s wrong?” Georgina said as she came up to him, little Grayson still clutched to her.

“What was in those vials?”

Georgina bit her lip. “I … I don’t know. Dr. Mendle is so paranoid. He doesn’t work with anyone or even have any lab assistants. I’m the only one here, but I do mostly menial cleanup.”

Violet’s body convulsed, but her eyes remained closed. “Shit! Fuck! Hang on, Baby. Please hang on. Let’s go.”

Nathan led them out of the lab and the facility, keeping Violet close to him. Please be okay, please be ok, he repeated like a prayer.

“Nathan!” Christina ran toward them. “Nathan! What’s going on? What happened?”

“I’ll explain later.” He nodded to Violet. “She’s hurt. Or sick. I don’t know what's wrong! But we need to get her to the hospital now.”

“The car’s this way." She looked behind her. "Jason! We gotta go now!”

They ran to the front of the factory where Jason’s Range Rover was waiting. Nathan darted to the vehicle and opened the door, first letting Georgina and Grayson inside, then scooting in after them. He settled into the seat, keeping Violet close.

“You’ll be okay, Baby,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. Her skin was burning up bad.

Jason jumped into the driver’s seat, and Christina sat in the front passenger side. “What’s wrong with her?” she asked as Jason put the car into gear.

“A couple of vials fell on her. It could be poison,” he said through gritted teeth.

Christina reached over and patted his knee. “We’ll get her to Blackstone Hospital on time. Don’t worry. She’ll be okay.” She turned to Georgina. “Are you okay, miss? Your neck is all red. Is he hurt?”

Georgina’s lower lip trembled. “I’m f-f-ine. He’s … healed up.” A whimper tore from her throat as tears gathered in her eyes.

Christina laid a hand on her knee. “It’s okay …”

“Georgina …”

“I’m Christina, and this is my husband Jason,” she said. “And you’re going to be fine. It’s all over. You’ll be safe from now on.”

A sob escaped Georgina’s lips, and she buried her face in Grayson’s fine blond hair. Christina grabbed something from her purse—a handkerchief—and handed it to the other woman.

“I … thank you … I don’t know what to say …”

“Just relax. We’ll be in Blackstone soon and you’ll be safe.”

“B-b-blackstone?”

“Yes. You were in Verona Mills.”

“What state am I in?” she asked.

Nathan and Christina looked at each other. “Colorado,” she said. “You didn’t know?”

“I …” Her voice choked.

“We can talk about this later,” Christina said. “But just know you have nothing to worry about.”

Violet let out a soft moan.

Nathan loosened his arms, unaware he’d been gripping her so tight. “Violet, say something, please.”

“I … Nathan …” Her eyes flew open for a moment; her pupils were so dilated that her eyes were the color of coal. “So … hot … painful.”

“Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere,” she gasped. When he put a hand on her cheek, her hand flew up and pressed it harder against her face. “Oh … that feels good … so better ….”

“Does that help, Baby?”

“Yes.” She rubbed her nose against his palm. “Oh …”

“Hang on,” he said. “We’re almost there.”

They reached Blackstone Hospital in no time as Jason broke the speed limit all the way up to town. Christina had called ahead and as soon as they pulled into the entrance, the staff was there, ready with a gurney.

“We’ll take it from here, sir,” a nurse said as she gently pried Violet away from Nathan.

“No!” she protested. She had been semi-conscious and delirious throughout the whole ride. “I want to stay with you.”

“It’s all right, Violet,” he said. “The nurses will take care of you.” He didn’t want to let her go, but there wasn’t anything else he could do but trust the doctors would treat whatever was wrong with her.

Nathan kept his eyes on her as they placed her on the gurney and wheeled her off. Looking around, he saw someone was attending to Georgina and Grayson. His stomach clenched, and barely contained fury was bubbling inside him. He couldn’t imagine what they’d been through if she didn’t even know what city, much less state, she was being held in. Her husband or mate must be going mad by now; he knew he would be if it had been Violet and their cub who’d been kidnapped.

“Nathan?” Jason’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You look terrible.”

“Yeah? I feel awesome too,” he joked.

Jason cracked a smile, his shoulders relaxing. “I’d ask you to go home and get some rest, but if I were in your place I wouldn’t be able to.”

“Thanks, man,” he said.

“You, me, and Christina should go have a chat. It’ll keep your mind occupied until the doctors are done, and you can tell us what happened while it’s still fresh.”

“Yeah well—fuck! Luke. And the other girls!” He’d been so worried out of his mind about Violet that he’d forgotten about them.

“No worries, man. When we arrived, Luke was putting the two girls in one of the cars parked inside the factory. Said he’d bring them here. I think I saw him leave just as we came.”

“Good.” He fished his phone out of his pocket. “I’m gonna give Melanie a call and then I’ll meet you back here.”

* * *

“So,” Christina said as she took a sip of the terrible hospital coffee, “what you’re saying is this group, whoever they are, established this lab just outside Blackstone to experiment on shifters? And the local government in Verona Mills is helping them cover up the kidnappings?”

“That’s what the loony doctor said.” Nathan wrinkled his nose at the paper cup, then tossed it into the wastebasket in the corner. The director of the hospital was kind enough to let them stay inside an empty conference room while they waited for news on Violet and Georgina.

Jason slammed his fist on the table. “Fuckers! I’m gonna burn every last one of them to ashes.”

“We will find them and stop them.” There was a steely determination in Christina’s eyes. “At least now we know there really is an organization who’s out to get us. They killed my mother and tried to blow us up during the wedding.”

“And they tried to kidnap you,” Jason reminded her. “So, this organization. Where do we start?”

“The lab,” Christina said. “We need to go back and gather evidence.” She cursed under her breath. “I just wish our office was already set up. We could have technicians and agents helping out.”

“I don’t care what it costs; we’ll get The Agency up and running in Blackstone within the week,” Jason added. “That woman and her son. Georgina. What do we know about her?”

“She’s still with the doctors,” Christina said. “She could provide us with more information about the organization. We need to protect her and keep her close. If she knows anything, then they’re going to want to find her before she talks.”

“We’ll give her whatever she needs,” Jason said.

While they continued to discuss the next steps, a knock on the door made all three turn their heads. “Come in,” Christina called.

The door opened and an older woman wearing a white coat stepped in. “Excuse me, Mr. Lennox. Mrs. Lennox. I’m Dr. Aurora Jenkins. I’m here about Dr. Robichaux’s condition.”

Nathan bolted up from his chair. “How is she? Is she okay?”

“Are you Mr. Nathan Caldwell?”

“I am,” he said. “Is she asking for me?”

Dr. Jenkins hesitated. “She … mentioned you by name, yes.”

“Doc, please.” Nathan stepped forward. “Tell us what happened.”

“Sir, are you family?” she asked.

“No, but I’m her mate.”

She sighed in relief. “Oh I see. That’s why she asked for you when we explained the situation.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Christina asked.

Dr. Jenkins glanced at Christina and Jason. “I’m afraid it’s a delicate private matter and something I should only discuss with Mr. Caldwell. We can go to her room so I can explain further.”

“As long as she’s going to be all right, we’re good,” Christina said.

Jason came up and clapped him on the back. “We’ll be here. And doctor, whatever she needs, make sure she gets it no matter the cost.”

“I will Mr. Lennox.” She gestured to Nathan. “This way please, Mr. Caldwell.”

Nathan followed the doctor out the conference room and down the hallway. His stomach was turning in nervousness, but Dr. Jenkins didn’t seem to be in a hurry so maybe Violet’s life wasn’t in danger. He was, however, puzzled at why they couldn’t discuss this in front of anyone else.

Dr. Jenkins opened the door to room 156 and gestured for Nathan to go in. He expected to see Violet, but it looked more like a meeting room. The doctor walked over to the window and raised the blinds. To his surprise, it wasn’t a window to the outside but a view into another room.

“Violet!” He slammed his palms on the glass. Violet was lying on a hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, but she was moaning and twisting about. He spied the restraints on her ankles and wrists.

“What did you do to her?” he raged at Dr. Jenkins.

“Mr. Caldwell, I’m trying to explain,” she said calmly. “Dr. Robichaux needs your help.”

He looked back at Violet, his heart aching as he watched her. “I’ll do anything. Now tell me what happened.”

“There’s no delicate way to do this so I’ll come out and just say it. Dr. Robichaux was doused with some type of chemical that triggered her heat cycle.”

“Excuse me?”

“Mature female feline shifters, as you know, have heat cycles that come about twice a year. Whatever she came in contact with sent her body into a cycle.”

“She’s in … heat?”

Dr. Jenkins took off her glasses, then massaged the bridge of her nose. “Yes. The chemical not only brought it on but intensified the symptoms. Not only is she … sensitive all over, but she is in a lot of pain.”

“What medicine are you giving her?”

“I can give her a mild sedative, but she’ll burn it off a few minutes. I’m afraid, er, giving her relief is the only way to help her.”

“Relief?”

“Sexual relief.”

Oh. He swallowed hard.

“We had to put her in an isolation room to quarantine her,” Dr. Jenkins warned. “With the pheromones she’s giving off, we had to restrain a few of the male nurses when they scented her. I’ve cleared all non-female staff from the floor.”

He clenched his jaw tight. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “Is her life in danger?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Her temperature is spiking to alarming levels. We could put her in a cold bath, but that won’t lessen the pain.”

Violet moaned and turned her body to the side, straining against the shackles. Her eyes went wide as she looked straight toward them. “Nathan,” she whispered.

Nathan pressed his hands up to the glass. “Violet! Baby, I’m here! I’m going to take care of you, okay?”

“Nathan … please …” She reached out and then fell back on the bed.

He turned to Dr. Jenkins. “How long before this goes away?”

“I estimate it could be twenty-four hours at least, but most heat cycles don’t last more than two days.”

“Two days?” Fuck. He couldn’t let her suffer like this. But what Dr. Jenkins was saying he had to do … he didn’t want to be with her like this. When he saw her hurt, he already knew he was going to make it up to her. But this …

“Doc, I’m her mate but … we haven’t … we’re not at that stage in our relationship yet.”

“Oh,” Dr. Jenkins said. “I understand. You don’t have to have full intercourse with her. Just keep her satisfied in other ways until the heat cycle runs its course. Even skin to skin contact seems to help. Also, there’s a shop in town that could provide you with some aids—”

“Okay, Doc, I get it.” He balled his hands into fists. He just had to keep giving her orgasms for a few hours. He supposed he could do that. But there was another problem. “Will she be conscious enough to give me consent?”

She seemed surprised by the question. “I assure you she’s very lucid, Mr. Caldwell. She was able to tell us everything, her name, her job, what occurred before she arrived at the hospital. Dr. Robichaux knows what’s happening to her. She asked to be restrained, in case the drugs made her lose control. And she asked for you specifically.”

Nathan felt the blood pounding in his temples. Violet asked for him? To help her? “I need to get her out of here. I can take her to my apartment.”

“She’s overly sensitive right now. I can inject her with a pain reliever. It’ll last for under an hour. But I have to warn you, when you come in contact with her, she’ll be, uh, extremely friendly.”

“That should be enough time.” He grabbed the doorknob to the sealed room. “I’ll take it from here, if you don’t mind.”