Chapter 35

THIRTY-FIVE

T en minutes later, Marcus sat shirtless in the secure testing chamber while Natalie attached monitoring equipment to his chest. Her touch remained clinical and professional, but he didn’t miss how her fingers lingered on his skin or how her heart rate spiked every time he “accidentally” flexed.

“Stop that,” she muttered, placing another sensor. “I’m trying to be scientific here.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“You’re doing the muscle thing on purpose.” She glared up at him. “I can literally see your smirk.”

“Maybe I’m just nervous.”

“You’re never nervous.” But she softened, running a hand down his arm. “Though if you are, we can wait. Run more simulations, do additional testing-“

He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Stop stalling.”

“I’m not stalling! I’m being thorough. There’s a difference.” She checked the monitors one last time. “Okay. The counteragent should temporarily suppress your shifter abilities without causing permanent damage. Key word being ‘should.’”

“Natalie.”

“I know, I know. You trust me.” She took a deep breath. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

She initiated the injection sequence. Clear liquid flowed through the IV line into his arm. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then his wolf, always a constant presence in his mind, seemed to fade like a radio losing signal. His enhanced senses dulled, the world becoming muted and distant.

“Marcus?” Natalie gripped her workstation, knuckles white. “Talk to me. What are you feeling?”

“It’s... strange.” He rolled his shoulders, everything feeling heavier. “Like someone turned down the volume on everything. Scents, sounds... they’re all dampened.”

“Can you access your wolf?”

He closed his eyes, concentrating. “No. It’s there, but... distant. Like trying to grab smoke.”

“Heart rate and blood pressure holding steady,” she noted, scanning the monitors. “No sign of neural distress. Try to shift.”

Marcus focused, calling on the power that usually came so naturally. Nothing happened. No claws, no fangs, no transformation.

“It worked.” Natalie’s voice held equal parts excitement and relief. “Complete suppression of shifter abilities without adverse physical effects. Do you know what this means?”

“That my brilliant mate just created a way to neutralize Tomlinson’s plans before he can even implement them?”

“Well, yes, but also- wait.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you even listening to the scientific implications, or are you just staring at me in your shirt again?”

“Multi-tasking.” His heated gaze made her cheeks flush. “Though I’m definitely enjoying the view.”

“Focus, please. This is important data collection.”

“I am focused. On how sexy you look being brilliant.”

“You’re impossible.” But she couldn’t hide her pleased smile. “And temporarily powerless, so behave yourself.”

“The formula suppressed my abilities, sweetheart. Not my imagination.” His voice dropped to that growly tone that never failed to affect her. “Or my memory of exactly how good you look when-“

“That’s... not relevant to our current experiment.”

“No?” He quirked an eyebrow. “I thought you wanted to study all possible effects?”

“This is very unprofessional.” But she moved closer, unable to resist checking his vitals personally. “We should be documenting recovery time, monitoring neural responses...”

“We can document whatever you want.” His hands settled on her hips as she stepped between his legs. “In detail.”

“The monitoring equipment-“

“Will still work if you’re closer.”

“The scientific integrity-“

“Can handle a small break.”

She tried to maintain her serious scientist expression, but a laugh escaped. “Your powers of persuasion are apparently unaffected by the counteragent.”

“Want to test that theory?”

Before she could respond with what would undoubtedly be a scientific quip, the monitors beeped. Her eyes widened as she studied the readings.