Chapter 131

Aria

I spent that entire week painstakingly putting together a presentation for that following Friday’s meeting. I not only wanted my goals to be as clear as possible, but also wanted to back them up with proof. If there was any possible way to ensure that my idea could hold weight, then I wanted to be prepared.

So that week, I spent much of my time in the company’s archives, going through old files and studies on werewolf scents, habits, and biological structure. I took extra effort ensuring that I collected enough data that could prove that werewolves could, in fact, temporarily mask their scent for various reasons.

One study in particular, from the 1950s, talked about the way that werewolves could temporarily dull their scents in order to hide from danger. Werewolves who perceived potential threats from larger predators, such as bears or other werewolves who wished to do them harm, could briefly dull their natural scent in order to avoid being detected.

However, this was not a conscious decision that the wolves made, but rather an innate instinct. The change in scent was often very brief, allowing the wolves just enough time to hide or escape, and the effect on scent was shockingly marginal.

After that, I did find some interesting information on wolfsbane and its effects on scent. Wolfsbane was reported to completely eliminate a werewolf’s scent after ingesting. However, wolfsbane was also deadly.

I kept the information, though, adding it to my presentation just to prove that werewolves’ scents could be controlled to an extent.

Once I exhausted my findings on that matter, I moved on to researching the effects pets could have on mental health for humans. Countless studies that I found, many of them from Lunar Labs itself, proved that humans reported lower stress levels, blood pressure, and fewer instances of depression and anxiety when they had a furry friend by their side.

In fact, one study showed that humans who had a dog or cat introduced to the room during periods of high stress would report feeling far better within mere seconds.

I took that information, too, and added it to my presentation.

Despite physical and molecular biology, werewolves and humans weren’t really that different, and all of us shared common ancestors; I learned that from my research, too.

Therefore, I was certain that these findings on humans could be replicated with werewolves, further solidifying my hypothesis that werewolves’ lives would be improved if they could at least have minimal contact with pets.

By the time Friday rolled around, I was feeling well-prepared and, honestly, extremely excited to give my presentation. Dr. Edward came to the office bright and early that morning, and we all gathered in the conference room.

Over the following half hour, I went over my presentation, making sure to hand out packets containing any diagrams or statistics that might be useful. The staff listened intently, some even taking notes.

Darren sat at the head of the conference table, an easy smile on his face as he leaned back in his chair and listened. Dr. Edward sat beside him, his brow furrowed throughout the entire presentation. I wasn’t sure what he thought about the whole thing, but he didn’t interrupt.

“And that concludes my presentation,” I said, turning off the slideshow and turning the lights back on. “What do you think?”

Some of the staff murmured amongst themselves. Melissa, Brandon, and Lily all looked at each other, eyebrows raised in question. But it was Dr. Edward who I was really focused on.

Finally, after a few moments, Dr. Edward took a deep breath and said, “Aria, I think your hypothesis might actually hold some weight.”

A feeling of relief washed over me, but it was quickly held back by a healthy dose of skepticism. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, all of the studies you referenced seem solid,” he said, flipping through the packet of statistics. “And it’s true that werewolves and humans share the majority of their DNA. I have no doubt that having access to some…” He paused, smiling softly, as if recalling something from a past life. “...Furry friends… might decrease cortisol and reduce the risk of heart disease later on in life.”

“If I may,” Lily suddenly said, raising her hand slightly. We all turned to her, and she went on, her cheeks flushing a little, “Personally, I’ve always wanted a cat.”

“You don’t say?” Melissa teased.

Lily’s cheeks reddened a little more, but she continued, “I even tried adopting one last year, but the poor thing was terrified of me. I had to give her back to the shelter. I cried for a week straight. It still bothers me sometimes.”

I turned to Darren and Dr. Edward, lifting my brows in question. Dr. Edward nodded, stroking his chin.

“I can see how that would be quite distressing,” he said slowly, mulling it over thoughtfully. “And I’m sure there are many others just like you who crave the companionship of an animal.”

“Actually,” Brandon added, scratching his head sheepishly, “when I was a kid, I begged my mom to get me a hamster. Finally, she relented. And it, uh…” He stared at his lap, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. “It got so scared that it actually had a heart attack and died when I tried to pick it up once.”

I suppressed a gasp, pressing my fingers over my mouth. When I looked at Darren, his face was ashen as if he had just seen a ghost.

Finally, Dr. Edward nodded, taking a deep breath. “I see. Well, given these statistics you shared today, Aria, I believe a serum might be possible.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

He nodded once more. “Your analysis on wolfsbane was quite interesting, actually. It might be useful.”

Melissa wrinkled her nose. “But wolfsbane is deadly.”

“Only when ingested in high enough doses,” Dr. Edward corrected her. “I believe a very small amount, in conjunction with some other natural elements, might prove safe and effective. Perhaps the potion might not even require ingestion, but a simple perfume might suffice.”

I blinked, surprised. “And how long would the effects last?”

“It’s hard to say,” he replied, furrowing his brow. “It will require extensive testing, of course. But the goal would be a temporary change in scent, nothing more.”

With that, Dr. Edward rose, buttoning his suit jacket. We ended the meeting, and he promised to get started on his own research as soon as possible. By the time he left, I was feeling wary but far more hopeful than before.

Darren and I began making our way up to his office after the meeting, excited to discuss everything. However, we were halfway up the stairs when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out to see that Bella was calling—and apparently, I had missed three calls from her already.

“I have to take this,” I told Darren, swiping to answer. A feeling of dread settled over me; Bella wouldn’t call like this unless something was wrong. Very wrong.

“Bella?” I answered.

“Oh, Aria, thank god,” she breathed into the phone. “You and Darren have to come to the park downtown right now.”

I frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?” I could hear what sounded like sirens in the background, and it worried me.

“A protest got out of hand,” Bella replied frantically, her voice nearly drowned out by the sirens. “People got hurt. You need to be here.”