7. Jax

7

Jax

"I can't believe I'm finally meeting you. I have read every single one of your papers. I'm sure you don't remember this, it was a few years ago, but I reached out to you when I wrote my dissertation on rapid gene mutation," Makayla gushed as she pulled out a key. The healer looked to be in her early twenties, and from the moment we walked into the infirmary, her eyes held stars.

All for Saul. I knew he continued his research and submitted papers, but from the way this young woman was reacting, he was a little bit of a rock star in his field.

"I do remember," Saul smiled. "If I recall, your dissertation was about gene mutation during the mating habits of certain mammals. It certainly caught my eye."

Immediately, her cheeks flamed. "Yeah, that was kind of the point. I really just wanted to ignite some interest in my field by making it a little bit spicy, you know? I mean, I think science is sexy, but it's a hard sell for young students, and sometimes you find that grad school is nothing but continuing the work of some crusty old fart. No offense. Not that you're a crusty old fart. You're not at all. In fact, you're much younger than I thought you'd be. Not that I thought you'd be old. You're just so accomplished. I should really shut up now."

I tamped down my snort of laughter, and Saul's eyes flickered to me in annoyance. "For science to progress, we do need young blood. I was very much in the same position as you, and I applaud your take. I found your dissertation quite riveting, and I have no doubt others did as well."

When she turned even redder, I half expected her to faint on the floor. Quickly, I cleared my throat. "The shipment."

"Right. Sorry. So, the brewers have been experimenting with different flavors, and they'd ordered some new ingredients to brew in the beer or however they make it. I personally don't drink, and they thought this was one of their ingredients. Luckily, there's a super sniffer on the team who detected some less-than-kosher chemicals. Their shipment never did arrive, so London grew suspicious."

London hadn't said that. He made it seem like the first shipment was just an accident.

"I was able to detect diacetylmorphine in the vial, but it only made up about a quarter of the substance. I couldn't identify anything else in it."

"What's diacetylmorphine?" I asked.

"A derivative from the poppy plant," Saul said with a trace of distaste. "You'd know it as liquid heroin."

That got my attention, but it wasn't alarming. Most drugs dissipated quickly in our systems, which was good for keeping away from dangerous street drugs, but annoying when a shifter actually needed a drug to heal. Saul spent most of his life coming up with different concoctions to help keep wolves sedated, calm, and pain-free in the direst of circumstances.

He readily shared his findings with the werewolf community, which explained why young Makayla was so infatuated with him.

"Honestly, I think it's probably some new designer drug, but we can't figure out what it's doing here unless someone has seriously written down the wrong address. There's probably some human very upset that their drug shipment hasn't arrived."

I had a feeling that London had a different theory, and that was why the shipment was under lock and key. Not only that, but I noted six cameras facing the door. Whatever was in this room, he did not want getting out.

Makayla opened the closet and turned on the light. "The closet used to be crammed with medical supplies, but when the alpha decided to lock away the shipments, he ordered us to move everything out. He, Cruz, and I have the only keys. I'm not even allowed to tell the infirmary volunteers what's in the closet. It's all been very hush-hush."

"Has the pack witch taken a look at it?"

"Ava?" Makayla frowned. "Why would she look at it? She's not a scientist."

"Your body is housing both a human and a wolf spirit that tethers you both to land and to another wolf," Saul reminded her gently. "There is more than science in our world."

"We call it magic because we haven't explained it with science, but one day we will," Makayla insisted. "I know it."

"Perhaps you are right. If you'll leave us with the key, we will lock up and return it to you when we're done."

The healer hesitated. "I'm not allowed to give my key to anyone. Let me just call London really quick. I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologize. We'll wait for you here."

Makayla nodded and shut the door. Above us, the light flickered, and I grimaced. "Did she have to close us in here?"

"It does seem extreme, doesn't it?" Saul ran his hands along the edge of the first crate. "It looks as though it's been opened and resealed. London and Cruz were probably checking to make sure all the contents were the same. It's strange that London might leave out that it the contents almost ended up in a vat of beer."

"I'll definitely be asking him about that. I want to take a look at all the shipping labels before Makayla gets back. Help me put these on the floor. I don't want to tip anything."

"They should be packed securely, but I suppose better safe than sorry." With my phone, I snapped a picture of the first label. We lifted the next crate, and I snapped a picture of that one as well.

"They are different," London mused as he glanced at it. "Not just a different company, but also a different part of the country."

We lifted that one and the next. While I was snapping a picture of the third crate, Saul inhaled sharply. I glanced over my shoulder. "What is it?"

"This crate was resealed like the others. See the holes? But it's been reopened." He tipped the top up with his finger.

I took my final picture and pocketed the phone as Saul took the lid off the rest of the way. Inside was a metal container. We lifted it out, and Saul whistled. "Battery powered to be temperature controlled. This is an extremely expensive box."

"For cold or heat?"

"Cold. Inside this box is a deep freezer. I wonder why London is keeping it here in a closet. The batteries would need to be changed every few weeks, and they are not cheap. Why not put it in a freezer?"

"Another mystery that we can ask him about. What happens if we open it?"

"As long as the container isn't opened for more than a few minutes, nothing. We can open it and take a peek at the contents. Do you want to wait for Makayla to return?"

"No. I'd like to get back to my mate."

Saul raised his eyebrows. "You mean the mate that you seemed to be doing your damndest to chase away?"

"Excuse me?" I demanded.

"I'm just pointing out that at the rate you're going, you might as well just escort her to the boundary line now, pat her on the head, and tell her thanks and good luck."

"If you weren't one of my oldest friends, I would kill you," I growled. "That is not what I'm doing!"

"Then what are you doing? Because since you've mated with her, that poor girl has been through hell. You've been through hell. Now things are calm, and you have a chance to really get to know each other, and you're showing her the door," Saul's snapped. "That woman is confused and hurt."

I opened my mouth and shut it. I did feel her shutting down the mating bond whenever I gently probed at it. Turning away from me. I thought it was because she'd decided to leave and didn't want to hurt me. "All of her choices have been taken away, some of them by me. I want her to be happy, and if that means she leaves and never comes back, then I owe her that."

Saul stared at me. "My God, you're an idiot. I'd like to list out all the ways that you're an idiot, but I suppose this is one lesson you'll have to learn yourself." Popping open the container, he reached in and plucked out a vial. It wasn't more than a third of the way full and red-tinged. "Besides, I think we have a bigger problem."

A bigger problem than Saul calling me an idiot? I wasn't currently tethered to him, but we both still considered me his alpha. Generally, he had more respect for me. "What?"

"If this container was full, and I imagine that it was, then London has either misinformed us about how many vials he's tested, or someone has stolen nearly a dozen of them."

"Shit." Leaning over, I saw that he was right. "Seal it up. I'm going to see London right now."

Heading to the door, I turned the knob. Or rather, I tried to turn the knob. Incredulously, I stared at it.

"That bitch locked us in!"