Dark of the Moon Read online

  I jerked my head around. "You think?"

  "Like I said before, I'm no biologist but Mason is messing with stuff he can't possibly understand."

  "But do you think we are being selfish by not willingly sharing what we know, what you are? I mean, what if your ability to heal could really heal others?"

  "Honestly, Brit? We have Shifters working in medical research because before the full moon, we're as vulnerable as anyone to disease or injury. I truly believe that if there was a way to bring our healing abilities to others they'd have made it happen. They understand how we work way better than Mason."

  He was right. Shifters worked at all types of jobs in cities around the world.

  Our conversation dwindled to nothing as the hours dragged by and we became lost in thought regarding what we were each going to face. Connor was hoping Lucas would be able to find him quickly and release him so he'd be in the thick of battle. I was wondering if I could get to the lab in time after I was released.

  All I wanted was one shot at the serum.

  Mason didn't come to taunt us. No one brought us food or water.

  "What if they've abandoned the lab?" I asked at one point.

  "They're still here."

  It was after darkness fell, when our prison was more shadows than light that all hell broke loose.

  FIFTEEN

  Connor and I were lying on our mound of blankets, holding each other close, listening intently, wondering what was going on when the lights above us came on for the first time—washing us in stunning brightness.

  We both scrambled to our feet as the door opened. I expected to see Lucas coming to our rescue. Instead it was Mason striding in with an excitement in his step like a kid who'd just discovered that he had indeed gotten what he wanted for Christmas. In addition to his usual entourage, he had his father with him. Ethan was balancing a long case, using both hands, the way I imagined knights presented their swords to their liege lords. The whole procession was eerie—Mason was putting on a play and we were his audience.

  I could feel the tension radiating from Connor. He was ready for a fight.

  The entourage moved quickly to our cage. Wilson went to the side. There was a sizzling sound. Connor released a grunt and flopped without his usual grace to the floor. Only then did I see the stun gun Wilson had thrust between the bars.

  "What did you do that for?" I demanded as I crouched beside Connor. I could see the shock and confusion in his eyes, him fighting to regain control of his body and mind.

  "He'll be fine in a couple of minutes," Mason said. "Come on. I need you out now."

  "All you did last time was threaten him, and he let you open the door. You didn't have to do this." I was furious.

  "I was letting you back in then, not taking you out. You should see the video of how he reacted before—when he realized you were gone. The power he exhibited was amazing. I never grow tired of watching it. Now hurry. We have the formula ready to go and I want it tested tonight."

  Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to Connor's cheek. I didn't even know if he'd be able to feel it. "I'm so sorry. Please try to understand why I have to do this."

  Then I crawled out through the door. Mason pressed the remote to quickly close it. Almost immediately I wished I was back on the other side with Connor. What was I doing? Mason's serum might kill me.

  Mason snapped his fingers. Ethan stepped forward and opened the case to reveal two large syringes with a golden liquid filling them. Their actions were like a performance in a bad movie. I wondered if Mason had scripted their movements before they came in here. Probably. He seemed to take his role as the villain seriously.

  I stared at those syringes. They looked so big.

  "How do you know the dosage is right?" I asked.

  "Educated guess."

  I glared at him.

  "I know more than your puny brain can imagine," he said impatiently.

  "How do you know it's ready for human testing?"

  "In addition to the ferrets, we've tested it out on a couple of other species with limited success. It's the consciousness factor that we talked about. And my father's here to handle any medical complications."

  I looked over at Dr. Keane. He was smiling as though the experiment was already a triumph.

  I glanced back at the cage. Connor was struggling to push himself to a standing position. With jerky move ments he reached the front of the cage and wrapped his hands around the bars, probably to hold himself up more than anything. "What. You. Doing?"

  He shook his head, no doubt trying to clear it.

  "She didn't tell you?" Mason asked. "She is a keeper of secrets, isn't she? In exchange for me bringing her back to your little prison, she agreed to take the first injection."

  Disbelief sharpened Connor's gaze. He shook his head.

  "Oh, yes, my friend," Mason taunted. "I know it's difficult for you to understand but we humans will pay any price to possess your abilities."

  With dramatic movements Mason removed the syringe from the case and arched a brow at me. "Taking it in your hip or thigh would probably be less painful."

  I nodded. My mouth was dry but my palms were damp.

  "Don't…do this, Brittany."

  I jerked my head around. Connor had apparently shaken off the effects of the stun gun. I hesitated. "I'll be able to shift into a wolf. We'll be able to be together."

  He shook his head, his eyes imploring me. "Don't let him change you into something I can't love."

  I looked back at the syringe. I wanted so desperately what Mason was offering.

  "If you love me, you won't do this," Connor said.

  I slammed my eyes closed. Not fair. So not fair. When I opened my eyes, I could see that Mason was losing his patience. Suddenly everything in my world tilted. I could have what I'd always dreamed of being, but only if I was willing to give up what I'd always dreamed of holding.

  I backed up until I hit the cage. Through the bars, Connor's arms came around me with strength and purpose. "I changed my mind, Mason," I said.

  "Too bad. Wilson, hold her."

  Wilson started toward me.

  "Touch her and you're dead," Connor said, and even though he was trapped in a cage, the threat in his tone made Wilson halt.

  "Mason, it won't do any good to force me," I stated calmly, even though my heart was racing. "I won't will myself to change so you won't know if it works or not."

  His expression took on that mulish look I'd seen before. "Ethan'" he barked.

  Ethan stepped back. "No way, man. I thought we were doing this for medical research. I don't want to go furry."

  "Coward," Mason spat. "Fine, I wanted to go first anyway."

  The call of the wild—a long, deep pitched howl—echoed around us.

  Mason arched a brow at me. "Sounds like you didn't tell me everything, Brittany. But I should have expected it. You werewolves own the nearby forest, don't you? It doesn't matter. I can use this opportunity to test my fighting instincts."

  "Wilson, Johnson, get out there' Stop them from getting inside," Dr. Keane ordered.

  When they were gone, Dr. Keane said, "Son, you should think about this."

  "I have, Dad. It's all I've thought about since I learned their kind existed." Before anyone could react, Mason lifted his shirt and jabbed the syringe into his hip, pressing down on the plunger. I watched that golden liquid disappear.

  He tossed the spent syringe on the floor. "So what do I do? Just think wolf."

  "Just think wolf," Connor scoffed.

  I figured he offered the advice because he didn't think the serum was going to work, so where was the harm in cooperating now? Besides, we were about to be rescued.

  Mason tore off his shirt. He was reaching for his shoes when he suddenly released a high-pitched scream, doubled over, and dropped to the floor. "God, it hurts'"

  "Did Devlin forget to mention that when he told you about us?" Connor asked. "The first shift for a male is excruciating. Let me out of here and