CHAPTER 2 The Servant in the Lab

Move faster the lead guard barked shoving Valerie through the double glass doors of her own medical sanctuary.

Valerie stumbled her boots slipping on the slick floor. The burning pain from the hot gravy on her skin was nothing compared to the ice that filled her veins as she looked around the room.

What did you do? Valerie whispered her voice cracking as she stared at the floor. What did you do to my clinic?

Papers were everywhere. Five years of patient logs medical histories of the pack omegas and delicate botanical formulas were scattered across the linoleum like trash. A heavy black heeled print was stamped directly over a folder labeled Omega Prenatal Care.

Do you like what I have done with the place? Cynthia purred spinning around in Valeries ergonomic desk chair. She kicked a stack of leather bound research journals out of her way with her designer boot. It is a bit clinical but once the custom racks go up and we paint over this hideous hospital white my fur coats will look absolutely magnificent in here.

Get out Valerie said her body trembling with a mixture of rage and profound exhaustion. Get out of my lab Cynthia. These are patient files. These are lives.

Lives? Please Cynthia scoffed tossing a pen onto the floor. They are just omegas and low ranking enforcers. It is not like you are doing real science here. You are just a glorified nurse playing chemist.

Valerie looked at the guards holding her arms. Let me go. Let me go right now. You know me. I delivered your sisters pup Marcus! I stitched your shoulder after the silver wolf ambush Jace! How can you stand there and let her destroy this place?

The guards looked away their grips tightening but their eyes refusing to meet hers.

Do not bother appealing to them Valerie Cynthia laughed standing up and smoothing down her pristine silk dress. They answer to the Alpha. And right now the Alpha answers to me. Speaking of which my arm is absolutely throbbing. You need to fix it.

Cynthia extended her left forearm. There was a microscopic hairline scratch near her wrist barely red not even dripping blood.

You dragged me in here by force for a scratch? Valerie breathed the absolute absurdity of it tearing at her sanity.

It is an injury sustained during your little tantrum in the grand hall Cynthia said her eyes flashing with malice. A good pack doctor serves her superiors without attitude. Grab your kit and suture it. Now.

It does not need sutures. It barely needs a bandage Valerie said pulling against the guards grip. I am not your servant Cynthia.

You are whatever Killian says you are Cynthia snapped. Guards release her. Let her do her job. If she refuses we can add insubordination to the Luna elect to her list of crimes.

The guards let go of Valeries wrists. Valerie took a deep breath trying to steady her shaking hands. She looked at her trampled research the crushing weight of reality finally settling into her chest. Five years. Five years of working until dawn risking her own life to harvest rare herbs on the border lines and completely ignoring her own health just to keep Killians pack thriving. Every single omega who had survived a difficult winter owed their life to this room. And Killian had handed it over to a woman who wanted to use it to store winter coats.

It meant nothing to him. She meant absolutely nothing to him.

Fine Valerie said her voice dropping all emotion becoming dead and hollow. Sit down.

Cynthia smirked sitting back in the chair and extending her arm. Make it neat. I do not want a scar ruining my appearance for the ascension ceremony next month.

Valerie walked over to the sterilized counter grabbed a tray a fine suture needle and a spool of medical thread. She did not even bother wiping the dried food or rain from her own face. She sat on the small stool opposite Cynthia took Cynthias wrist and brought the needle down.

You know Killian told me you were pathetic Cynthia whispered leaning in close so the guards would not hear. He said you were just a placeholder until a real woman came along. He laughs about how desperate you are for his attention.

Valeries hand flinched but she kept her voice completely level. Hold still.

Why do you even stay? Cynthia taunted her smile widening as she watched Valerie pull the thread. Nobody wants you here. The elders hate you. Killian is disgusted by you. You are just a stray he picked up out of pity.

Valerie did not reply. She focused entirely on the skin threading the needle with precise mechanical movements. She was a professional no matter how much it hurt.

I asked you a question servant Cynthia hissed.

Before Valerie could finish the first knot Cynthia violently kicked her leg forward. Her heavy boot struck Valeries hand with brutal force sending a sharp jolt up Valeries forearm.

The suture needle slipped. The sharp curved steel drove directly into the meat of Valeries own thumb puncturing deep. Blood immediately welled up bright and hot dripping onto the pristine metal tray.

Ow! Cynthia screamed at the top of her lungs throwing herself backward in the chair. She stabbed me! She tried to kill me! Killian!

The door to the lab flew open slamming against the wall with enough force to crack the drywall. Alpha Killian strode into the room his eyes blazing his presence immediately filling the space with suffocating crushing dominance.

What is going on in here? Killian roared his gaze sweeping from Cynthias dramatic tears to Valerie who was quietly holding her bleeding thumb.

Killian look! Cynthia cried pointing a trembling finger at Valerie. She did it on purpose! I asked her to help me with my scratch and she deliberately tried to drive the needle deep into my arm! She is insane! She is trying to disfigure me because she hates that you love me!

Killian marched across the room his heavy footsteps crunching over Valeries ruined research papers. He stood over Valerie his chest heaving with fury.

Is this how you repay my leniency Valerie? Killian snarled his voice vibrating with pure disgust. I give you a chance to clear your name to show that you can still be useful to this pack and you assault my future mate in her own quarters?

Valerie stood up refusing to back down staring straight into the eyes of the Alpha she no longer recognized. Look at her arm Killian! Look at it! There is not a single new mark on her. She kicked my hand. She forced the needle into my finger. Look at the tray that is my blood not hers!

Do not lie to me! Killian bellowed his voice echoing off the walls. Cynthia would never risk her own safety just to frame a pathetic outcast like you. You have been throwing a childish fit since the moment you walked into the grand hall tonight. Your jealousy is turning you into a monster.

My jealousy? Valerie let out a bitter mocking laugh that cut through the tension in the room. Five years Killian. Five years I gave to this pack. I built this clinic from nothing. I saved your wolves. I saved your life when the silver wolf venom was burning through your veins and I stayed awake for seventy two hours straight to keep your heart beating! Did you forget that? Or did Cynthia wipe your memory along with your decency?

Silence! Killian shouted the sheer force of his voice making the guards drop their heads. Your past service does not give you the right to assault the future Luna. You will apologize to Cynthia right now for resisting your duties and causing her harm.

I will never apologize to her Valerie said her voice shaking with absolute conviction. I did nothing wrong.

You will apologize or so help me Valerie I will make your life a living hell Killian threatened stepping closer his shadow completely enveloping her.

Go ahead Valerie whispered her eyes dead. You have already destroyed everything else.

Cynthia smirked from behind Killians shoulder a look of pure unadulterated triumph on her face. She leaned back against the desk her hand casually slipping into her dress pocket.

Valeries eyes darted past Killian catching a sudden glitching light on the computer monitor atop her desk. The screen was completely black save for a flashing command prompt Data Wipe Complete. 0% Recovery Available.

Valeries heart stopped. My computer...

She pushed past Killian ignoring his warning growl and lunged toward the keyboard. She pounded on the keys but the screen remained dead. The primary server was empty.

No Valerie breathed her hands flying over the desk searching the empty ports. No no no. My proprietary formulas... the cellular regeneration research... everything for the packs healing strains... it is all gone.

Looking for this? Cynthia asked smoothly.

Valerie snapped her head around. Cynthia had pulled her hand out of her pocket. Resting between her manicured fingers was a sleek silver military grade backup flash drive. Valeries initials were engraved on the side.

You stole my backup Valerie gasped her voice rising in sheer panic. That contains the only copy of the regeneration serum! It took me three years to stabilize that formula! Give it back!

Valerie lunged forward to grab the drive but Killian instantly stepped between them his massive hand shooting out and clamping around Valeries wrist like a steel vice.

Get your hands off her! Killian ordered his grip tightening until the bones in Valeries wrist groaned under the pressure.

Killian she stole the packs property! Valerie screamed tears of absolute frustration finally breaking through her defenses. That formula belongs to my medical research! It is mine! She wiped the hard drive and took the backup! She is destroying the packs medical future!

It belongs to the pack which means it belongs to the Alpha leadership Killian said coldly his eyes completely devoid of any emotion as he looked down at her. Cynthia informed me that you were planning to steal pack medical secrets and sell them to rogue factions. This audit proved it. The data is safe with us. You no longer have any right to it.

You believe her over me? Valerie choked out the pain in her wrist agonizing but the pain in her heart utterly paralyzing. After everything we were to each other? After everything I did for you?

You are nothing to me now Valerie Killian said his voice dropping to a freezing brutal register.

He unleashed the full suffocating weight of his Alpha aura directly onto her. The sheer psychic and physical pressure crashed into Valeries mind like a tidal wave crushing her lungs and freezing the air in her throat. Her knees buckled violently slamming hard against the linoleum floor right into the scattered papers of her lifes work.

Killian leaned down his grip on her wrist unyielding his eyes burning with absolute authority as the guards stood at rigid attention.

Effective immediately Killian announced his voice echoing like thunder through the ruined lab your medical privileges are permanently revoked within pack lines. You are stripped of your title your rank and your access. You are nothing but a trespasser in this house.