Chapter 133

Mira

It’s strange how time warps when you fall into a routine.

There were no long individual days in a week that repeated endlessly. Every morning I woke up in that refurbished room. It was just “today.” At some point I was surprised to know that I had seen two full moons since I’d come here.

Every other morning I would run the perimeter of the grounds until I was tired, then wash and eat breakfast. Most of the time I ate alone, but sometimes Malachi would join me. Then I would go to the lab and see what work could be done.

The research was exciting, I had to give him that. But everyday I still fought with the sickening fact that these were children being treated like lab rats. I had to put myself further into a dissociative state, focus on the science in front of me, in order to get through it.

I was given permission to be escorted outside the fence to forage. Jeremiah was sent with me, and I wondered if Malachi trusted him most or just didn’t want me to interact with other Betas. The others were mostly silent around me, unless I asked them a direct question.

Julian was elusive, but I made sure to catch his eye whenever our paths crossed. My mind worked overtime trying to send him telepathic messages, but of course we did not have a connection that way.

But something in his eyes told me he heard me, that he understood me. He knew I was going to help him.

If I could just get him outside the fence with me, then I could create an event to help him escape. I was more valuable to Malachi than the teenaged boy, especially one who was no longer useful as an experiment.

I devised a plan that began with a lie, and over the days I helped move the story along.

“How is that boy, Julius?” I asked Malachi one day. It was still hard to refer to him with his ‘new’ name. “Do you make a habit of emptying test subjects when they no longer have use?”

He turned his head slightly, in a way that he was looking at me from the corner of his eye. His gaze was direct, but not quite predatory.

“Not usually, no,” he said. “Sometimes someone just seems to fit in, or perhaps someone is better suited to stay here than to return to a previous life that no longer exists. I am fortunate to have the space to share.”

He made it seem so noble, and I had to inject my brain with the reminder that this is how cults were started. I nodded as I took a breath to steady myself again.

“May I look at his file?” I asked with medical interest. “It might be beneficial, to compare what I’m taking in with the current patien— subjects.”

They aren’t people, they are symptoms on a page.

“Well, I’m not sure…” something in my face made him reconsider, and he looked me square in the eye. “Yes, you may, if it will be helpful”

“What were his interests, or hobbies?” I asked. “Did he show any interest in nature, or medicine?”

The doctor cocked his head in thought. “Not that I recall,” he said wistfully, “though I seem to remember him as a gifted artist. Why?”

“I saw him looking at a book of mine on medicinal herbs,” I told him. It was not true, but it was plausible enough. “It was on the table at breakfast, and when I asked him he seemed flustered and wouldn’t say. It worried me.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that boy,” Malachi said, patting my shoulder.

“Well, I can’t help that, it’s in my nature,” I said, smiling. “I wondered if I might be able to take him foraging with me. It could be good to have someone else with me, an apprentice even.”

Malachi nodded once, then a piercing gaze was steadied on me. There were times when he was thinking that his face barely moved.

“Fine,” he said finally. “But Jeremiah still goes with you.”

Julian seemed confused when he was given the directive, but of course he did not argue. The night before we were planning to go, I found him before he disappeared to his room.

“I wanted to give you this,” I told him, holding out a book. “You might look through it, and we can identify things tomorrow. But good to read before bed— your dreams will be more enchanted that way.”

Hopefully the older sister persona I was trying to exude was coming off as normal, and anyone who might be listening didn’t see anything odd about our interaction.

“Thanks,” Julian said.

I waited in case he said anything more, but he didn’t.

“Well, see you in the morning,” I said with a breath. “Wear good shoes, and have a solid breakfast beforehand. I’ll have everything else you’ll need.”

He really looked at me then, a question in the raise of his eyebrow. I nodded my head so slightly that no one else would perceive it. He repeated the gesture, then walked away.

When he saw me the next morning, he was holding the book to his chest. His face was neutral, but his eyes were ablaze. He had found the note I had left in the book, and he knew my plan.

Jeremiah was surly and quiet as we walked, now getting used to my excursions and often putting headphones on to entertain himself while I meandered through the woods. He gave Julian a disdainful look, like he was a useless puppy, then ignored him completely.

“So,” Julian’s voice was quiet, “is it true? What’s in the book?”

I smiled, at hearing him speak and his ability to speak discreetly.

“The herbalism?” I asked, not needing to feign my enthusiasm. “Of course, when done properly. Anything can be dangerous, if you don’t follow your steps carefully. But with the proper supplies and patience, miracles can be achieved. Like a ray of sunshine after rain.”

His face twitched and he blushed as he heard the name of his Fated Mate in my sentence. He smiled slightly before looking back down at his feet. I so wanted to put a hand on him in comfort, but knew that was crossing a line in front of our chaperone.

It was afternoon when I decided it was time.

I made the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom, and asked Julian to hold my basket and bag. I managed to squeeze his hand to wish him luck.

Jeremiah looked grossed out and promptly turned away, but removed his headphones. I had to respect him for staying dedicated to his job.

Once I felt far enough away, I peeled off my outer layers of clothes, folding them carefully and taking note of the location as best I could. The luxury of my ability to transform at will— I didn’t always ruin my outfit.

It’s time.

I closed my eyes and travelled deep into myself to rouse and rally my wolf, the rush of heat immediately radiating out of my. Bones cracked and the golden hair on my arms grew thicker and thicker.

And then I howled loud enough to shake the forest.

And I ran.