Free Blood Moon (Entangled Select Otherworld) by Lisa Kessler

pad.
    “I’m more concerned about the blood sample Dr. Ayers provided for me earlier today. Your DNA has definitely modified from what we consider typical within your species.” Okay, I wasn’t enjoying being referred to as a different species, but I kept my thoughts to myself as he went on. “Your adrenal glands are already secreting substantially more adrenaline than we typically see with Lycan subjects.”
    “We’re people.”
    “Well technically your DNA has—”
    I interrupted him, raising my voice. “I don’t care what my DNA has, I’m still a person. I’m still me .”
    My pulse pounded in my temples. I shouldn’t let this researcher with no bedside manner get under my skin. Usually I had a good relationship with patience, but it seemed to have flown out the window when Dr. Granger started referring to me as a species and a subject.
    “You may believe that, but on a molecular level you are no longer the person you were a few weeks ago.” He glanced up from his notepad. “Are you sleeping at all?”
    I gripped the edge of the table tighter. “Not really. Maybe two hours total in the past week.”
    He nodded, making more notes. “Dr. Ayers told me you shifted during the full moon. Have you experienced a shift any other time?”
    “Not yet, but last night I thought my hand was…changing.”
    He raised his brow as he wrote and his anticipation stoked my nerves. The bastard was excited. “Excellent. Isolated shifts in one area of the body are more difficult to achieve. Only a few of our unit ever mastered it.”
    “I didn’t shift.”
    He made another notation and I reminded myself that ripping his head off would ruin my chances at finding a way to live with this…mutation.
    “I have more tests to run on your blood samples, but I’d like to see you again in forty-eight hours. That should give me enough time to formulate a serum to counteract the adrenaline. Hopefully it will help you sleep.”
    I nodded. “Thank you.”
    He tapped his pen on the paper. “General Sloan mentioned to me that you might be psychic. Can you provide me with more information?”
    My pulse kicked up a notch as my gaze flicked toward Jason. Ever since I was small, my mother insisted I keep my gifts hidden. There were always those looking to exploit and destroy. The Pack knew my secret, but Dr. Granger was far from being part of the Pack.
    Jason’s jaw tightened. I shifted my focus to Dr. Granger. Eagerness and curiosity oozed off of him, probably typical for a researcher, and then I caught a glimpse of something else. Lies. He was trying to deceive us somehow, but reading minds wasn’t part of my gift. Maybe that was what he was testing?
    “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the general was referring to.”
    The light faded in his eyes. “That’s unfortunate. Our research proved that subjects with psychic abilities could withstand the alterations to their DNA longer than our non-psychic test subjects.” He made one last note and met my gaze. “I will do the best I can to help you.”
    He turned to Jason. “I’ll be in touch. Please have her here in two days, and I’d like sonogram equipment next time. If I can develop a serum to help her, I need to see how her organs are responding to the treatment regimen.”
    Jason nodded. “I’ll have the equipment, but you’re going to need to fill me in on all the ingredients and side effects before I’ll let you inject her with anything.”
    I caught a flare of annoyance, but Dr. Granger nodded with a weak smile. “Of course, doctor.”
    He turned toward me. “Ms. Dalca, try to rest and drink plenty of fluids.”
    The door closed behind him and Jason rubbed my thigh. My muscles contracted in response and my wolf growled.
    “What do you think?”
    I released a pent-up breath. “I think he’s got an agenda, but he’s also probably my only hope, right?”
    Jason started to open his mouth to answer when a knock came on the door. I recognized the scent from our Pack