Linda O. Johnston - Visionary Wolf

Now, as she entered the lab, someone was already in there: Dina, the clinic’s other vet tech besides Brendan. “Hi, Rosa,” she said. “Anything I can do for you here?”

“Not now, thanks,” she responded to the short young woman in the typical blue scrubs.

“Let me know if that changes. I just checked out the discharge from a wound of one of our canine patients. Fortunately, the bacterial count was low.”

“Great,” Rosa said, as Dina left the room.

Sometimes Rosa did have one of the techs handle the blood work, often preparing it to be sent to the official lab. Other times they analyzed other kinds of liquids or discharges from the animals.

But the very rare times there were samples from shifters in animal form, either Melanie or Rosa handled it herself.

Not that the techs or other people who worked here didn’t know, or at least suspect, that some of the patients were not exactly regular pets. Still, though they talked about it a little, everyone around here seemed to understand the need for tact and confidentiality. Now, at least. Rosa had heard that there were some rumors after Melanie had taken over this clinic, as a result of the death of the former veterinarians—parents of one of the officers at Ft. Lukman, Captain Patrick Worley, who happened to be a shifter.

Not wanting any interruptions, after placing the tube of blood carefully on the table, Rosa locked the door and muted her phone.

She then washed her hands carefully once more, as she’d done before extracting the sample.

Finally, using a microscope and other appropriate equipment, she began the process of analyzing the contents of the sample, including the red blood cell count and the blood type. As anticipated, both were quite different from a normal canine’s—even though canines had more blood types than humans did.

But there was more that she didn’t anticipate. She had done only a few analyses of shifters’ blood, since they generally remained in shifted form for only a short while. She figured that those around here might have extra chemicals in their blood thanks to their imbibing the elixir to help them with their shift.

That didn’t explain, though, the additional contents in Drew’s sample. Stuff she couldn’t really analyze. It seemed a darker red than usual, somewhat thicker than the blood cells surrounding it.

She was knowledgeable but not an expert in chemistry, and what she saw might mean nothing.

But she realized that, whatever it was, this might be the evidence of whatever was keeping Drew in his shifted form.

She needed someone else to check it out, though. Someone more skilled in this than she was.

She placed the samples into airtight containers for now. Then she hurried back to the exam room that contained Drew—and Liam.

She slipped in without knocking, which was a good thing. Drew was asleep.

Liam had his smartphone in his hands and seemed to be concentrating as he typed something into it. He heard her, though. He probably would have even with normal ears, not just those of a shifter in human form. He looked at her right away.

She gestured for him to follow her, which he did after aiming a glance in Drew’s direction. Evidently he thought all was well, since soon they were out in the hall together with the door shut.

Fortunately, the hall was empty. Rosa looked up at Liam, into his face. Her concern must have been written on hers since his handsome masculine features tightened into a frown. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

“I guess my worry is obvious.” She kept her voice low, too. “Are any of your Alpha Force people experts in chemistry? I assume they are because of putting together your elixir, right?”

“I think so, but since that’s not my area I can’t tell you much. Why? Is there something wrong with Drew’s blood?”

The guy was apparently smart and astute. But then again, he’d known she had drawn blood and gone off to try to analyze it.

“I’m not sure, but there’s something different about it. I still don’t want to send it to the standard outside places, so I wonder if anyone at your base could take a look and figure it out.”

“Let me check.” He walked to the closest end of the hall, which was a good thing, since Melanie exited one of the exam rooms, and a couple followed her, the man holding the leash of a good-sized boxer. Melanie aimed a quizzical glance in Rosa’s direction, and Rosa just smiled back.

She didn’t have anything to tell Melanie except to report her question.

When she turned back, Liam was just pressing a button on his phone, evidently ending a quick call. “Yes, a couple of our guys, Jonas Truro in particular, may be able to help. Let me take the sample you have to him. I’ve already got Sergeant Noel Chuma, one of the Alpha Force aides, on his way to relieve me here.” He looked up, over Rosa’s shoulder.

Rosa realized she must have looked worried to Melanie, or maybe her boss was just curious—or wanted to see her shifted husband. But from behind her she heard, also in a soft voice, “What’s going on? Why are you both out here?”

She didn’t want to alarm Melanie—or give her false hope that they were about to find any answers. Turning, she said, “I just need a little advice about Drew’s blood test. And Liam checked and found that some of the guys out at the base might be able to help. Unless you’d rather I didn’t do it...”

“No, I’d rather you do it. How is Drew?”

“Sleeping,” Liam said. “But I think we need to wake him up, at least briefly. My contact said to bring the samples you already have, Rosa, but also another one that hasn’t been separated or analyzed at all.”

“Fine,” Melanie said. “I’ll go in with you while you draw that sample and wait with Drew till Noel arrives.” She looked pale, but the expression on her face appeared...well, a little hopeful, if Rosa was reading it right.

“Good,” she said. “And I’m going to the base, too, to talk to your guys there.” She looked at Liam, half expecting him to object.

“That’ll work,” he said. In fact, was that a touch of relief on his face? Admiration? Or was she reading too much into it? “You can tell them what you found and your take on it, and they can do their own kind of analysis.”

“Good,” she said again. “Now, let’s go get that other sample.”

Liam wanted more information about blood tests in general, and this one in particular.

At least that was the reason he gave himself, and Rosa, as he told her he would drive her to the base and back.

He had no other reason to be alone in this smart vet’s presence for the twenty minute trip to Ft. Lukman, or the return trip. She could drive herself, of course.

But she seemed okay with the idea of riding in his black military-issued sedan. Maybe she wanted to talk more about the blood test. Or maybe she felt uncomfortable with the idea of appearing by herself at the military facility.

Or maybe he was reading things into her attitude.

They were on their way now, just exiting the town of Mary Glen on the way to Ft. Lukman. The distance was only about five miles, but it always felt longer, thanks to the two-lane roads lined by tall trees of the surrounding woods.

Liam figured the site of the military base, with its particularly covert unit, had been chosen because of the obscure location.

“So you said you’re not a shifter,” he began, aiming a brief glance at her in the passenger seat, a box containing the carefully wrapped blood samples on her lap. That statement didn’t address the blood tests—but he’d get there. He had other questions he hoped to get answered first.

Their eyes met for an instant before he looked back toward the road. The grin on her face looked wary. Even so, she was still one pretty lady.