Page 56 of Furry Equations
“But you’re the alpha! You can’t risk-“
“Exactly.” He cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I’m the alpha. I don’t ask my pack to take risks I won’t take myself.”
“That’s not- I mean-“ She seemed to run out of scientific protests. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I trust you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “That’s emotional manipulation.”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe.” She leaned into his touch. “But we do this my way. Proper protocols. Multiple safeguards. And if I say stop-“
“We stop.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Now, how long before we can start?”
Her scientific enthusiasm returned to full force. “I’ll need to synthesize the base compound first, then run simulations on cellular responses, factor in genetic variables...” She was already moving to her workstation. “A few hours at least. Though if we adjust the molecular ratios...”
Marcus settled onto the lab couch, content to watch her work. Her passion for science, the way her brilliant mind tackled problems, even her tendency to babble about molecular structures - it all made his wolf purr with pleasure.
“Stop staring,” she called without looking up. “You’re disrupting the scientific process.”
“How am I disrupting anything? I haven’t moved.”
“Your presence affects my hormone levels, which influences cognitive function.” She adjusted something under her microscope. “Also, you’re breathing too loud.”
He laughed. “I’m breathing too loud?”
“Yes. It’s very distracting.” Now she did look up, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Especially when you do that thing where you inhale deeply every time I move.”
THIRTY-FOUR
Aloud beeping from her computer made Marcus jump from his position on the lab’s couch. He’d been mesmerized by watching his mate move around the lab and expend more brain power than any shifter could imagine.
She pulled up complex data streams on her monitors. “Oh! Oh, this is fascinating. The preliminary models show- Marcus, come look at this!”
He moved behind her chair, one hand settling on her shoulder as he tried to make sense of the scientific jargon scrolling past. “In English, sweetheart.”
“Based on these simulations, we can create a compound that would essentially lock down shifter abilities at the molecular level - temporarily, of course. The neural pathways that control shifting would be blocked, rendering any attempt at enhancement useless.”
Awe flooded him. His brilliant mate had turned Tomlinson’s potential weapon to their advantage before he could even steal it. “How long to synthesize a prototype?”
“A few hours for the initial batch.”
“I’m ready,” he said.
She slumped. “Marcus?—“
He pulled her up into his arms. “We’ve been over this, my love. You won’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know that.”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss. “I believe in you. More now than ever after watching you work.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” He brushed away a tear that escaped. “You love me.”
She stiffened in his arms, eyes going wide. They hadn’t said those words yet, despite both feeling them.