I could only nod. “So they want to bite me?”
“Oh yes,” he said right away. “Since they first caught your scent. They’ve held off so far, but their wolves will be getting frantic. Especially if they’ve touched you sexually.”
I blushed so red, he laughed. “I’m here to answer questions if you have them, but your mates can and will ease your mind. The reason why they brought you here wasn’t for a doctor’s consult about a mating bite, but—besides being shocked by the existence of shifters and maybe wanting answers from someone with a scientific background like yours—because of our shared research interest.”
“Oh?”
“They said you’re a wolf biologist? I understand you’re comparing the genes of native and transplanted wolves.”
“Yes.” I was surprised to hear that he knew the particulars of my research. A surge of gratitude shot through me. Landry or Wade had to have told him what I’m studying. Which meant they’d actually paid attention. They understood what I was working on, unlike most people in my life, including my parents. Even if what I was studying was… them.
“Yes. I’m tracking population and territory of wolf packs, as well as their genetic makeup to determine whether transplanted wolves have mixed with uncolonized packs. We’re trying to determine whether to treat the North American grey wolf as one species.”
He seemed truly curious. “And what have you found so far?”
“I’m still sequencing the genes from the samples I took from the two West Springs wolves last weekend. I’m anxious to compare them.”
Cord stiffened. “West Springs wolves?”
Oh, shoot. Belatedly, I remembered how protective Landry and Wade were of the wolf population here. How Landry had seemed pissed, even as he’d helped me tranq the wolves I took samples from and tagged. Now that I knew what they were, it made sense. My research must offend them. Were Wade and Landry actually supportive? They’d said they compromised.
But Cord was a doctor. He surely understood studies had to be conducted to gather data to analyze.
“Erm, yes,” I said finally, squirming a bit under his less-casual stare. “I came out here to gather samples and tag wolves from the pack in this area—canis lupus, not shifter, of course.”
“And Wade and Landry allowed that?” He looked surprised.
I swallowed, remembering the Forest Ranger’s suspicion over finding my car last weekend. The whole pack was protective of their wolves, which was now completely understandable. “They, ah, set some ground rules. I’m not allowed to tag wolves without them present.”
Cord blinked a few times, then nodded. “Now I see why they wanted us to talk.”
“Oh?” I was starting to get irritated about constantly being one step behind in these conversations. What hadn’t they shared with me?
“I imagine they hope to spark your interest in researching shifter DNA rather than studying the wolf-dogs.”
“Again… why?”
“Well, if you’re studying the wolf-dogs in this area, your research could be dangerous to our shifter pack. We’re not the variety of wolves you’re studying, of course, but we’re protective of the wolf-dog packs in these parts. If your research showed population growth enough to warrant changing the grey wolf’s designation from predator to trophy game, it would open them up to hunting, which would endanger all of us.”
I opened my mouth to defend my research, but then sat back again. “I understand the concerns but my research isn’t for the Fish and Game department’s use, it’s for science. They generally conduct their own studies.”
“Oh, I know.” He held up a hand. “It’s just that it puts Landry and Wade in a tough position with the pack. It must be especially hard for Wade, after his mother.”
I frowned. “What about his mother?”
Cord winced. “Sorry, I thought you already knew. Not my story to tell. But listen, pack politics aside, I would love your professional input on my shifter gene research project.”
I tucked the lollipop into my cheek. “What is it?” The scientist in me was curious about his study, especially since it involved wolves.
He spun his chair around to face a computer behind him. “I’m trying to sequence the genes between scent-matches—that’s what we call the paired males who bond together to mate a female, like Landry and Wade with you—as well as the genes of the Two Marks wolves in general to find the markers for triad mating.”
I stood and moved around the desk, leaning against the corner so I could see his computer monitor. “Wait… do you call them scent-matches because they smell the same?”
He turned and looked up at me. “Precisely.”
Now I understood why I thought Wade and Landry used the same shampoo. They actually had the same scent!
“And what have you discovered?” I asked.
Cord looked rueful. “I’m just getting the genome maps down. I haven’t even begun sequencing. It’s a huge project, and I have a full-time job being the only doctor in the area, but it’s a passion project for me.”