Laurann Dohner - Moon (Laurann Dohner)

Rusty frowned. “You did?”

“Yes. Someone was smart to assign pregnant women to guard the Species males but they didn’t consider what would happen beyond the pregnancy. Though they wouldn’t attack women, the scent of an ovulating one turned them on. So did the blood scent of a menstruating one. The desert heat made it worse. There wasn’t even a breeze out there sometimes so the males could pick up a hell of a lot with their noses. It was trial and error but we got it right. I changed procedure immediately after a few confrontations and called the other sites to warn them of the situation.”

A slight smile curved Rusty’s mouth. “How did you lure the males away from the females?” She gave her a once-over again. “Did you offer your body in exchange for them releasing the females they wanted?”

“No! I talked them into returning to their rooms.” Joy relaxed her tense stance. “Why can’t I eat with the general public? I read in one of the newspapers that there’s a cafeteria on site where most of your meals are prepared. Was that incorrect?”

“Head shrinks are not popular and everyone is aware you are here. We didn’t want any issues to arise. We’re keeping you separated from everyone except the ones assigned to you or Moon. Some of our people could become testy in your presence.”

“That makes sense.” She glanced around the living room again, remembering the way the Species male at Medical had glared at her and called her human . “When are they moving Moon?”

“They have already done so.” The woman removed a cell phone from her pocket, touched it, and glanced down. “They texted me to let me know he’s been safely transferred.”

“Has he woken?”

Shoulders shrugged. “They didn’t state that information.”

“We waited for my spare clothes to be delivered, I changed my shirt and ate a sandwich. I’m ready to go see where he’s being held.”

“I was told you’d start in the morning.”

That didn’t sit well with Joy one bit. She was impatient to see 466 again. “He needs help now and I’m ready to go.”

“Fine.”

Rusty led the way and Joy followed. Two males had been assigned to guard her as well though they didn’t speak and stayed far back until they reached the street. She didn’t allow it to bother her. The Species would warm to her or they wouldn’t, their choice. They drove her back to Medical and it confused Joy.

“I thought you said they transferred him.”

“They did. To a secure part of the basement. It’s divided into two parts.” Rusty motioned her to follow. “We have hospital rooms downstairs but we also have a large storage space we converted to hold him. That is where he’ll be kept. We’ll take the freight elevator.”

That kept Joy silent as they entered the building, walked down a corridor, and ended up at a huge elevator. A solitary New Species officer sat in a chair with a weapon strapped to his hip. He looked up as they approached. A laptop rested over his thighs.

“This is the head shrink.” Rusty paused. “Is Moon awake?”

“No.” The Species assessed Joy with a sweep of his gaze and obviously found her nonthreatening. “Proceed.”

The two guards remained behind as they entered the elevator. Rusty pressed the down button. The doors slid closed while nervousness gripped Joy. She hugged her chest.

“Are you cold?”

“No. I’m worried that I won’t be able to do anything for Moon.”

“He needs your help.”

“I’m going to try my best.”

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open to reveal a dim room. Rusty stepped forward and Joy followed. The basement area was big and a few cells sat across the room. From floor to ceiling were bars separating the area into three rooms, the center cell had the door closed. That one had been stripped down. The ones on either side were set up hotel-room style with a partition, a bed, nightstands and a TV. Moon’s cell contained only a bed, sink and toilet.

“It is sad to see him this way.” Rusty paused. “I will bring a chair for you to sit on and a blanket to keep you warm. I’ll return shortly. Do not go near the bars.”

“No one is down here with him?” She peered around the dim basement. “Someone should be monitoring him at all times.”

“He’s sleeping and the officer upstairs will hear if he wakes. Moon has been very loud since his attack. Seeing other males sets him off. It’s best if none are within sight or smell.”

It felt odd to be in the scary basement but Joy didn’t protest when Rusty left. She knew it was an irrational fear. The only danger was the sleeping Species male locked behind the bars. She hesitated before slowly approaching until she paused about five feet from his door.

They’d washed Moon’s hair and changed his clothing. He wore black sweatpants and his hair had been spread out above the pillow to dry. Someone had taken the time to brush the long strands and she inched a little closer. No restraints held him now. The slow rise and fall of his bare chest assured her he lived.

“I’m here, Moon.”

He must have heard her because his eyes snapped open. He sat up so fast it startled a gasp from Joy. Moon came off the bed in a fluid motion and his big body slammed into the bars. Long, lean fingers gripped the thick metal as he snarled. His dark gaze narrowed as he stared directly at her, his sharp fangs bared.

“Easy,” she crooned, refusing to back away. He couldn’t reach her.

He sniffed loudly and snarled again.

“It’s Joy. Do you remember me, Moon?”

His eyes narrowed further as he sniffed louder.

“Please remember me.” She held very still. “I’m your friend.”

He suddenly shoved away from the bars and turned to glance around the cell. He lunged at the back wall, hit it with his fists and growled when it didn’t break. He turned, attacked another wall, and Joy feared he’d hurt himself.

“Stop it!”

He jerked his head in her direction and paused.

“Easy,” she whispered. She kicked off her high heels and stepped away from them. She slowly lowered to the floor to sit on the hard surface, hoping he’d see her as less of a threat. “It’s okay, Moon.” Her hands adjusted her skirt to avoid flashing her panties as she crossed her legs to get comfortable. “I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

He turned to face her, stalked closer and gripped the door. It rattled when he fisted the bars and shook them enough to make the muscles in his arms strain but they wouldn’t give. He sniffed at her again but lowered to his knees.

“That’s it. Remain calm.” She smiled. “You don’t want to break your hands. You’d need a jackhammer to dent the metal or concrete.”

He kept hold of the bars as he pressed his face against them. His intense stare locked on her and she realized that she studied a stranger. Moon’s personality wasn’t there, nor was there any sign that he recognized her. At least, nothing that she could assess. He peered at her as if he didn’t even know what she was. The memory of pinning her to the wall a few hours earlier seemed to have been erased.

“It’s going to be okay. I’m going to somehow help you.”

One of his hands released the metal to slip between the bars as he reached out to her. She wanted to go to him but wasn’t foolish enough to believe it would be safe. Just because he seemed calm didn’t mean he wouldn’t bite the hand she offered or try to rip her arm from the socket.

“I wish I could but you need to talk to me first.”

The elevator doors slid open behind them and Moon jerked his arm inside the bars, stood, and snarled. Joy turned her head to watch Rusty carry a folding chair and blanket closer. A loud howl ripped through the room and she gaped at Moon.