Page 69 of Furry Equations
The facility’s perimeter alarm blared.
“Enhanced soldiers are on their way here,” Emily said, staring at her tablet.
“We’re out of time.” Marcus’s voice carried the weight of command. “Jax, mobilize the pack. Natalie?—“
“I need fifteen minutes.” She pulled up her research files. “Treatment or counteragent - I have to choose.”
Marcus touched her shoulder, his warmth seeping through her lab coat. “You already have.”
He understood. Of course, he did. Natalie nodded, diving into the treatment calculations. She couldn’t stop Tomlinson’s army, but she could try to save the soldiers he’d betrayed.
Marcus coordinated the pack’s defense, his presence a steady anchor while she raced against time.
“Natalie.” Marcus’s voice cut through the chaos. “We need to get you to the biochem lab where you’ll be safe.”
She initiated the emergency transfer protocols, backing up her data as alarms screamed through the facility.
Marcus pulled her close, his heartbeat strong against her cheek. “Ready?”
Natalie grabbed her tablet, clutching the device that held both salvation and destruction in its circuits. “They’re not dying without a fight.”
His arms tightened around her as an explosion shook the walls. The battle had begun, but Natalie stood firm. She’d already made the hardest choice - choosing life over victory. Now she had to make it count.
The lights flickered as Tomlinson’s forces advanced. Natalie squared her shoulders, drawing strength from Marcus’s presence. They’d face this together, science and strength combined. And she’d find a way to save everyone she could - even their enemies.
FORTY-TWO
In the control center, Marcus’s tactical display lit up like a Christmas tree - red dots appearing across multiple buildings. His enhanced hearing picked up the chaos erupting through the property: alarms blaring, boots pounding on metal stairs, the distinctive sound of shifters transforming.
“Report.” His order cut through the command center’s tension.
Emily’s fingers flew across her keyboard. “Three buildings breached simultaneously. Enhanced soldiers showing coordinated attack patterns.”
“Pull up thermal imaging.” Marcus studied the feed as Jax burst through the door, blood streaking his tactical gear.
A new alert flashed. Marcus’s heart stopped as he recognized the biochem lab’s signature - where he had taken Natalie to work on the treatment. “Status of?—“
“Lab’s secure.” Emily anticipated his question. “Natalie’s got Team Delta providing coverage while she synthesizes more treatment batches.”
The security feed showed Natalie bent over her workstation, focused despite the chaos. Pride surged through Marcus’s chest.His mate’s huge heart would save more lives today, if they could keep Tomlinson’s forces at bay long enough.
“Sir.” A young pack member - Ryan - appeared in the doorway. “Team Two requests immediate backup. Enhanced wolves breached the east wing.”
Marcus nodded to Jax. “Take Team Three and?—“
The words died as Ryan’s eyes suddenly blazed with unnatural power. His muscles bulged, splitting his uniform as the enhancement took hold.
“No.” Marcus’s wolf howled in betrayal. Ryan had been with the pack since childhood.
Two more enemy appeared behind Ryan, their eyes glowing with the same artificial enhancement.
“Take the alpha.” Ryan’s voice distorted with power. “Tomlinson wants him alive.”
“Emily, initiate Protocol Seven. Now.” Marcus shifted seamlessly into fighting stance.
She slammed her hand on the emergency controls as Ryan lunged. Marcus met him head-on, using the younger wolf’s enhanced strength against him. They crashed through reinforced glass, alarms screaming through the building.
Jax emerged in wolf form, massive and battle-scarred, intercepting the other traitors. The command center erupted into chaos.