Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

L ucas fought his cat to keep his human form. He was so afraid of how his mate would react to seeing him physically morph into an animal. The panther was positive she wouldn’t run screaming. Beside him, Zayne fought with his usual deadly grace, though he couldn’t resist running commentary.

“You know,” Zayne called between throws, “this would be easier if you’d just shift already. But no?—”

“Shut. Up.”

“Make me. Oh wait, you can’t because you’re too busy pretending you’re not about to cat out in front of your mate. Who, by the way, is still taking readings. In the middle of a supernatural battle. You two really are perfect for each other.”

Emma’s voice carried over the chaos: “We should really establish proper baseline measurements... Damn, those are claw marks in the steel ?”

Zayne’s laugh cut through the noise. “She really doesn’t miss anything, does she? No wonder you’re so... protective.”

Lucas’s control snapped.

Power rolled off his human in waves, making Emma’s crystal blaze like a supernova. His eyes burned gold, fangs dropping as his cat rose to defend his mate.

“Oh!” Emma’s scientific enthusiasm remained undiminished. “Holy genomes. You’re a real cat. Big. Huge kitty. That is so freaking cool!”

Lucas had completely shifted, power crackling around him like lightning, and his mate thought it was cool. Thank the gods.

Emma’s tablet appeared instantly. “Lucas, your shifting just created completely unprecedented resonance patterns with my crystal.”

Lucas could only growl.

Malcolm’s enforcers had backed away, recognizing alpha authority.

Malcolm appeared from behind his men, his smile showing fang. “Good morning, Alpha .” He nodded to Emma. “Dr. Greene. I’m glad I have the attention of both of you.” Malcolm’s power pressed against Lucas’s defenses, testing. “Among other things, I would like to officially protest you taking a human as a mate.”

Lucas’s panther paced keeping his mate a safe distance from anything that could hurt her. He didn’t give a shit what Malcolm wanted to protest. His mate was his mate.

Malcolm continued. “I also want to file a complaint against our new geneticist. She’s creating fake scientific data in hopes scaring the council to secure her position for long-term employment.”

Emma looked up from her tablet. “What, now?”

Malcolm’s full attention turned to his mate. “You, Dr. Greene, are on a witch hunt to crucify innocent pride members. You are creating conspiracies where none exist. Your data is concocted, not based on actual data.”

Emma’s head tilted to the side. “You do realize you sound unhinged? Why would I manufacture such unbelievable data when the truth is beyond my wildest dreams? All I have to do is study what is right in front of me.”

Malcolm growled and launched toward Emma. Lucas moved. Fast enough to make Emma’s sensors spike. Strong enough to send Malcolm flying through the nearest wall. Malcolm’s men fled the building.

More explosions rocked the building. Malcolm’s backup plan.

“Perhaps,” Zayne suggested as chunks of ceiling rained down, “we should continue this discussion somewhere less... explosive?”

Lucas’s cat padded toward Emma. Time to get her somewhere safe.

She glanced up at his cat’s approach. Her jaw dropped, science tablet forgotten. That was a miracle in itself.

Her eyes were completely bugged out. “Damn, Lucas. I--I don’t know what to say.”

Miracle number two for the day.

He head-butted her hand and she scratched between his ears. His cat purred.

“Fascinating physiological alterations,” she said. And they were back to the ever-present scientist she was.

At least the day couldn’t get any more complicated.

Emma brightened. “Huh, why did the crystal just start humming?” she fingered the gem on her necklace.

Lucas’s control was slipping. His cat wanted to mate and claim what was his.

“I’ll leave you two kids to get out of here on your own,” Zayne said, backing toward the shattered entrance. “I’m going to find out what’s going on with Malcom and his soldiers. I’ll update you when I know more. Oh, you both might want to hurry. I’m sending in the cleaning crew momentarily.”

Lucas chuffed at Zayne then rubbed his face along his mate’s leg, marking her with his scent. Her attention left her necklace and returned to him.

She was still speechless, but at least she was still here and not running.

He couldn’t ask for anything more.