Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

M arcus felt his wolf stir with barely contained rage as they entered the secure interrogation room. Liam sat handcuffed to a steel chair, his face already showing bruises from the fight. The sight of his former head of security - a man he’d trusted to protect his mate - made his hands itch with the need to shift and tear him apart.

Only Natalie’s presence at his side kept him grounded, her clean scent of jasmine and vanilla.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Liam’s smirk didn’t quite hide his nervousness. “The powerful Marcus Vale and his human mate. Tell me, does she know what you really are? What we all are?”

“Spare me the villain monologue.” Natalie perched on the edge of the steel table, somehow making the casual pose look regal. “We both know Tomlinson put you up to this. What I want to know is why. What did he promise you?”

Marcus moved to stand behind her, one hand settling possessively on her hip. The casual contact helped calm his wolf while sending a clear message to Liam - she was under his protection.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Liam’s eyes flickered between them. “Always the golden boy, aren’t you, Marcus? Pack alpha, corporate titan, perfect son. Some of us had to work for everything we got.”

“I trusted you.” Marcus kept his voice low, controlled. “Gave you responsibility, authority, a place in my pack.”

“As your subordinate!” Liam strained against the cuffs. “Do you know what Tomlinson’s offering? Real power. A chance to be more than just another beta following orders.”

Natalie leaned forward, her scientific curiosity evident in her tone. “Has he told you his plans for my formula? What he thinks it can do?”

“Think bigger than your little matchmaking serum.” Liam’s smile turned ugly. “Tomlinson knows its potential. Once we acquire it, he’ll create an army of enhanced soldiers, each one stronger than a natural alpha. No more pack hierarchy, no more following the old rules.”

Marcus felt Natalie tense under his hand. Her brilliant mind was already racing ahead, seeing the implications. He squeezed her hip gently, reminding her she wasn’t alone.

“And you believe him?” She kept her voice casual, clinical. “Interesting. Tell me, did he happen to mention the neural cascade effect in his sales pitch?”

Liam’s confidence wavered slightly. “What effect?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” Natalie examined her nails with staged nonchalance. “Based on my preliminary analysis, the formula’s interaction with shifter DNA could trigger a devastating chain reaction in the brain. Temporary enhancement followed by permanent neural degradation. But I’m sure Tomlinson’s scientists figured that out already.”

“You’re lying.” But uncertainty laced his voice.

“Am I?” She shrugged. “The molecular structure is fascinating, really. The way it binds to genetic markers, rewiring neural pathways... of course, that rewiring isn’t always stable. I’d estimate three, maybe four doses before severe cognitive impairment sets in. But Tomlinson must have contingencies for that, right?”

Liam broke. “He’s been building facilities. Labs, warehouses, testing centers - everything needed for mass production. The moment we get the formula, he plans to synthesize it on an industrial scale.”

“Locations,” Marcus growled.

“I’m not telling you that. But I will say the distribution network is already in place,” Liam continued. “Black market contacts, corrupt military officials, even some pack alphas who’d sell their own mothers for more power.”

“And you really think he’ll share that power?” Marcus’s laugh held no humor. “Tell me, in all your meetings with Tomlinson, did he ever let you see his research facility? Meet any of his scientists? Or did he just feed you promises while using you to get to Natalie’s work?”

Doubt crept across Liam’s face. “He said once the formula was perfected...”

“He’d what?” Natalie cut in. “Make you his second-in-command? Give you an army of enhanced soldiers?” She stood, determination radiating from her small frame. “You’re a delivery system, Liam. A disposable tool. And the moment he gets what he wants, you’ll become his first test subject.”

“No.” But his voice wavered. “You’re trying to trick me.”

“Think about it.” She started pacing, her scientist’s passion taking over. “The formula’s molecular structure is incredibly complex. One wrong calculation, one imperfect batch, and the neural damage would be catastrophic. Do you really believe Tomlinson cares who he hurts? That he’d risk his own shifter abilities testing it?”

Marcus watched his mate systematically dismantle Liam’s loyalty with nothing but scientific theory and well-placed fears. His wolf stood tall, radiating a sense of triumphant satisfaction.

“He’s already set up the preliminaries,” Liam admitted finally. “Holding cells disguised as medical wings. Security protocols for containing test subjects. I thought... I thought they were for enemies, not...”

“Not for expendable allies?” Marcus’s voice dripped with contempt. “Wake up, Liam. Tomlinson’s using you, just like he’s using everyone else.”

The last of Liam’s resistance crumbled. He slumped in his chair, defeat written in every line of his body. “I’m not saying anything else.”

He’d had enough of the traitor and guided Natalie toward the door where Jax waited.