“A little over two hours. You ran it in fifteen minutes.” Tomlin chuckled. “Pretty sure if you ran the Boston Marathon, they’d test you for drugs. I once ran marathons until I injured my knee.” He furrowed his brow. “Only weeks ago, you broke two legs and somehow not only healed but recovered well enough to enter and win the marathon of your choice.”
His humor wasn’t appreciated. Kane clasped his hands tightly. Not to prevent him from going wolf, or even attacking the doc, but rather circumventing his irritation and punching a hole in the wall. He grimaced. “If I’m doing so well, then how come I don’t know who the hell I am?”
Dr. Tomlin sighed. “For the past thirty years, I’ve worked on top secret biological weapons and animal research labs even presidents didn’t know about.” He furrowed his brow. “At first, I thought you were a black ops creature known as dogmen, but you far exceed their enhancements.”
Kane lifted his brow. Though he didn’t recognize the term, maybe that’s what he was. “How am I different?”
“Dogmen never shift into human form. They are bipedal and have the torso of a seven-foot human, but a canine face. With some fur. No long wolf snout. Their face is almost pug-like. Like you, they have great strength, but lack your speed. They lack the ability to speak and certainly never act human. A dangerous savage beast. We kept you caged, in case that’s what you were.”
“Have you seen one?”
“Yes, I’ve studied their anatomy and operated on a few. Unlike you, their injuries didn’t heal fast.”
“It’s possible I could be one, conceivably with wolf and human DNA.”
“Director Giles will look into it.”
“Sooner rather than later.”
Tomlin took out his mobile. “I’ll text Gaby you are ready.”
Gaby. The one person who brought him hope. Not just because she could help him regain his memory, but her sweet scent and essence comforted him. If she didn’t smell so human, he would have thought her a werewolf. Earlier, his acute hearing picked up the conversation she had with the doc outside the examination room. Tomlin suggested I am attracted to her. He smiled. True. But then he mentioned something about her using her wolf-segen charm on him? What was that all about?
Tomlin put away his mobile. “She’ll be down in fifteen minutes.”
“Did she leave the facility?”
“No. She’s working with a new dog.” He opened a small refrigerator and handed him a bottle. “Have a vitamin protein shake. No milk in it. It’s for dogs, but you might like it.”
“Sure, why not?” He twisted the top off and drank. The drink actually tasted good. “Hit me with another.”
Tomlin nodded and gave him a second bottle. “I’ll have your accommodations made more comfortable.”
“No more cage?”
“I won’t lie to you. The room will remain locked.” He stared at his tablet. “We can’t risk an escape.”
Does he honestly think he can contain me? If he wanted, Kane could force the doctor to the front door. However, staying might trigger his memory, and he wasn’t leaving without Gaby. She was the key, but he didn’t know why or her purpose. Kane smirked. “Trust me. Not going anywhere.”
“Good.” He pointed to the locker room. “Take a shower. There’s a change of clothes inside.”
“Sure thing, Doc.” He took off his clothes, stepped in the shower and turned the water on. Cold. Not sure how he knew, but he hated hot water. As he soaped his body, a vision of a snow-covered forest entered his mind. Home? He finished and dressed. Before he opened the door, he inhaled her enthralling scent. He stepped out just as she entered.
Gaby didn’t look at him. She addressed Dr. Tomlin. “Reporting for duty.”
He wanted to howl. Oh, yeah. No oversized coveralls. Gaby had changed into tight blue jeans and a long sleeved light green shirt, enhancing her mesmerizing green eyes. She pinned her hair up; better to see her soft pale throat.
Tomlin smiled at her. “Good, take him to your office and show him the images that might jog his memory.”
She flicked her gaze up and then turned to him. “Ready?”
Even annoyed she looked adorable. Kane smiled. “All my life.” He followed Gaby’s shapely little ass down the hall to an upper floor. Not alone. Three guards shadowed them, but stood by the door while they entered her office. A waste of their time. He could take them out in seconds. Weapons or not. He couldn’t remember his identity, but he certainly remembered how to kill. Both as a human, wolf, and some hybrid form in between. A monster created in a fucking underground lab?
Gaby closed the door. “Sorry about all the security.”
“Not a problem.” Kane smirked. “Are you sure it’s safe to close the door?”
“I’ve never been attacked by a dog, wolf or any other animal for that matter.”