“Why not? We wish to keep the humans that vowed to help us achieve supremacy or ones who will help us continue to maintain valuable infrastructure.”
And occasional finger food. “So I get to live?”
“Yes. Something about you being almost human allowed you to survive the change. Perhaps, you will be the mother of a new race.”
The idea of having pups had always been out of the question. No werewolf wanted a runt for breeding. Did he mean she would breed with humans? She snarked. “Can I pick my mate?”
“Not necessary. Come spring, our fertility expert will harvest your ova. Imagine what type of pups you might produce. That is, if you cooperate. If you don’t, we’ll have you over for dinner.” He laughed. “As dinner.”
“Not getting a touchy-feely warm vibe being used for the puppy mill trade.”
“Join our cause, and you will be my honored guest and assist me in the lab.”
Wipe out humans with a global pandemic? Not happening. Still, she needed in. Cricket lifted her chin. “All my life, pac
ks considered me the lowest of the low, but it sounds like here I may gain respect.”
He chuckled. “I know you are being insincere, but if you should come around to the proper way of thinking and prove your trust, I will make you an honorary beta. So take your pick, beta member or runt on the menu.”
Saw through me. Duh. “I’d hate to give you indigestion.”
“Good. Then we agree.”
“Can I see Slade?”
“He’s adjusting. As best as he can, considering he’s re-learning his lost memories.”
Her heart sank. No. “You mean implanted fake memories.”
“Henrik’s new amnesia drug and mind therapy worked. The prince is a new lycan. Oh, don’t look so sad. He no longer feels the pain of losing his entire pack and of having strong feelings for a lowly runt.”
“We were just friends.”
“You two might have fooled your packs, and even yourselves, but trust me, the emotions you elicited from him were more than for a fellow pack member.”
Wrong. Rylee ordered Slade to protect her. Sure, sexually they clicked, but who wouldn’t? Slade was hot. And they were both unattached, attractive and working together created a sexual tension so great you could slice it with a box cutter. Forbidden sex had its kinky benefits. Add a little danger to the mix and the fire of need, and desire ignited.
“You, of course, will be his final test.”
“Excuse me?”
“If seeing you doesn’t bring back his memories, he truly is ours.”
“What if he does?”
“Then Henrik must go back to his lab to create a stronger drug. Unfortunately, the stronger the dose, the more likely of sending him into morphopsychosis or even death.”
Cricket squeezed her hands into tight fists. I’ll kill you first, ass wipe.
Wolfstrom turned to his assistant. “After breakfast, return Cricket to her room in the castle.”
“Yes, master,” said the male beta.
Wolfstrom looked at her chart.
She asked, “What does stage one mean?”
He frowned then slowly smiled. “My, what big ears you have.”