Dr Jasper POV

Just one more cycle. One more complete Luna cycle, and I'll have it. This is it; my entire plan can finally come to fruition. After seventeen years planning, testing, and working on it, I will finally have my reward.

As long as no one interrupts the process. And to make things interesting, now I have to play tour guide with the pack leaders today.

I do need more funding from them, though. And time. I'm hoping that once they see how much of a difference my work could make for our kind, they'll agree to fund the next part of the process.

I'll just leave out the details they don't need to know.

Not everyone gets the fact that you must make sacrifices for the greater good. Especially not Argos. He's a stickler for what is right and good.

Bloody Alphas and their need to always do right.

I've sacrificed the most in this pack. More than anyone knows or even cares about, for that matter. But it'll be worth it. I know it. I've staked my reputation as a physician and a former Beta on this. It will work.

And just like that, a loud, desperate scream interrupts my internal monologue.

"Help! Please, let me go." The voice comes out in a whisper, making me roll my eyes.

Ah, for God's sake. She's screaming again.

I better go and shut her up before her father gets here. Can't have my lab rat scaring off the money man.

I head down the corridor and into the old service elevator, I wait for it to close and then take out the old control console and pull the lever hidden behind it.

I like to think it's very James Bond of me to have a hidden laboratory under the institution, but after the fire nearly outed my secret research, I couldn't risk having anyone unauthorised seeing what I was working on. Especially after some of the kids were killed.

Like I said, sacrifice.

I pull out the lever and let the screen scan my face for recognition.

"Welcome, Dr. Jasper," the monotone voice says before unlocking the back door to the elevator that leads to the stairs.

I head down, and the lights automatically switch on as I pass each section.

I can hear Amalie screaming louder and louder as I get closer. She knows what's coming by now. I've had her for a week, and the research has come leaps and bounds with her assistance. As unwilling as she might be, she has been the push that I've needed to finish this.

I don't know if she will survive the last part, but like I mentioned before, sacrifice is needed to achieve greatness.

As my father always said, that is.

Amalie and Aidalyn have been of great assistance in finishing what my father and I started. And I know he would be proud to see it all pan out now. Though, I don't know if he would be pleased about who else has helped, but I grew desperate after the fire.

It doesn't matter now. What's important is that after this weekend, I will be so close to changing the course of my life, a Beta's life. Any Beta who wishes to be as strong as the Alpha—which, let's face it, is all of us—will all have that chance. And Omegas, too. Anyone who wishes to challenge once and for all the oppression we all feel. They just don't know it yet.

A new, stronger, faster, and more powerful race will take the place of the Alphas, and I will start with these Morningtown jerks. They even handed me the final piece of the puzzle.

As I come around the bend, I see my little jigsaw piece, and she hisses at me from inside her cage.

"You'll be sorry for this, Jasper. My father will kill you." She spits the words out as I come up to the bars.

I give her a warm smirk. "He won't get a chance, my lovely. He won't know what's hit him when I'm done with you. But don't worry yourself; you'll be long buried before then."

I don't mean to be such an ass about it. I merely leave feelings out of my work. It's easier that way. She whimpers and sinks back into the corner of her cage. She is all talk, this one. Well, when she is subdued.

I wouldn't take my chance with her outside of here, that's for sure. Argos has taught his children well. They are both equally strong in physical combat.

It's too bad she has to die. A waste of power, really. But she isn't needed.

I sound heartless. I guess I may seem that way. She is young, after all. But I stopped caring about the pack a long time ago. Too much has happened for me to turn back. Too much pain for my family.

This is revenge. This is a new start. And a power play that they haven't seen coming. The best part is that they've helped me. They think I'm at the institution helping humans by day and trying to make a cure for vampire bites by night.

I finished that weeks ago. I could have cured Amalie straight away, but I needed her Alpha blood, and the fact that she was infected was an added bonus. It was an incentive for the others to see how it would all work out for us all.

Well, not for Argos and his weak pack of mindless drones.

Not anymore.

I ready the equipment needed for the final extraction. Tonight's full moon will be the peak of her transformation, and I will take what I need to finish this.

The buzzer goes off overhead, and I know what it's for before it finishes.

My visitors have arrived.

I grab a sedative dose and get it ready to stick Amalie before I leave. I don't need her trying to mind link daddy while he's here. If she senses him, she will try. Though I know her link is weakened by the vampire infection running through her veins, it's still a risk.

I set the syringe out and go to the cage. She stands in the corner and holds the sides.

"You won't stick me with that, Jasper. I swear I will rip your head off if you come near me with that—ow! You asshole!"

She was too busy warning me and too slow from the infection to move in time. A small wave of pity runs through me, and I quickly push it down before she sees my change of expression.

I became a physician to help people, not harm them. But too much has happened, and this is where it has led me.

My father made sure of that, whether I like it or not. It has cost me everything I used to hold dear. But it's too late now.

I shake my head as if to shake these thoughts off and try to rid myself of any self-doubt. She should be out of it for a few hours now.

Plenty of time to play tour director with her father and smile nicely for the Alpha.

***

"Good afternoon, Alpha Argos. Thank you so much for taking the time to come and see us. We very much appreciate it, knowing how busy your days are."

I lay it on thick. I want this to be a simple transaction, and kissing ass should help me grease the wheels.

I start by touring the everyday facility with them and then let the little vultures take over while I attend to my daily human rounds.

Ms. Hames is champing at the bit to get her little hands on some much-needed art funds, so she's up first. I see her take them all down the hall, where I'm sure they'll disappear for about thirty minutes or so while I make the rounds and attend to appointments and charts for the nurses.

When they come out again a little while later, I can see Argos is visibly disgruntled about something. Damn. I was hoping the cheery and sweet art teacher would soften his resolve a little.

I see Argent come out after the others, and he pauses at the door.

"Everything okay, Argent?" I ask casually.

He takes his gaze off the now closed art room door and makes his way over to me.

"Doctor, how are you?" he starts formally, but I know he has a request. "Dr Jasper, I'm wondering if you could tell me about a patient of yours named Aidalyn Craig."

He wants to know about Aida? I don't want him sniffing around Aida. She is important to my study, and she is also a member—

I cut my thought off there in case I slip into the link. That's a slippery slope.

"Ah, Miss Craig, yes. Very sad case. She has been here almost a year now. She is doing better with daily treatment, but she's still very unstable. She is a danger to herself mainly, but she does have some violent tendencies."

I see his eyes widen at that last part.

"Violent tendencies? Am I hearing you correctly?"

His face flushed a dark red, but I'm not sure why he's getting so mad. I'm sure he couldn't have detected her scent. We have taken a lot of care to mask her where possible, and seeing as though she doesn't shift, she's not really fully fledged. Most people would not detect her at all.

Argent steps forward so that he is little more than arm's length from my face. He is taller than me and obviously stronger, so he uses that as an aggressive authority technique.

Great. He's posturing. Step on, young pup. I've seen it all before. I want to say this to the young fool in front of me, but I don't.

I don't have time for this.

"Doctor, with all due respect" . "How could that tiny girl in there be violent? She barely whispers her words and wouldn't even make eye contact with anyone." He stares me down as he finishes.

I'm not sure why we're discussing this. What does he want to know? I need to re direct him before this goes any further.

But before I can speak, Argent continues. "Doctor, can you answer please? She is a wolf, right? I thought I smelled it on her, and in any case, something smelled off. Why can she not link? I tried, but it was like she didn't hear anything."

What? He could sense her. No one else who has been near her could? I can't smell her. Unless ... No, it couldn't be. That's impossible, isn't it?

Is it?

"Argent," I start carefully. "Is she your mate?"

His face immediately softens, and I know the answer. My heart sinks. He replies, "Yes, though I don't think she has any idea about any of it. I don't know how. But I will find out. You must help me, doctor. She's my mate."

He says it matter-of-factly, and I know he will start searching for answers.

The timer just started on my work. I just smile and nod and attempt to direct them onwards. For goddess's sake. What else can happen? I'm so close. This is a hurdle I did not see coming. He won't rest now; I know it. We are bound by mate laws. It's an internal drive to be with the one our wolf and soul belong to.

Fuck. This is going to mess up my plans.

***Argos and I continue the tour alone. Argent has gone to attend to a phone call, but I have a sinking feeling he's looking for Aidalyn.

Shit. That meddling boy is threatening to undo all my work. I need to act fast and get them out of here as soon as I can.

Argos and I head to my office, and I know this is when I have to get the go ahead. It's now or never literally because it's only a small window of time before Argent uncovers the secrets we have hidden about Aida. Or she discovers for herself.

No. I won't let him derail me now. Seventeen years. Two families. All this blood, sweat, and tears. I'm going through with this one way or another. If he doesn't help me then they will. They have already offered more than we need. I just don't want to take more help from them than I need to. It's dangerous.

We take a seat in my office and get on with the pleasantries.

Yes, everything looks great, yes funding has been used wisely, etc. etc. I know he's here for answers on Amalie. He gave me a small window of time to try to help her or he would send her elsewhere. I need her here.

Argos coughs and clears his throat. I know he's going to ask after my sister .

Here goes nothing.

"So, Jasper, how is my daughter? Has your research been able to find anything that can assist her?"

I can hear the plea in his question, and it stings a little. But I have to do this. I promised I would, and it's way too late to stop now.

" She is as well as can be expected, Alpha, but to be honest, I had hoped that some of the experimental work we've been doing would have helped her more."

I answer with a blanket response, but I need him to agree to more money and above all, more time with her. Just more time.

" To be perfectly frank, sir, we need time. We have been working on something a little different." I tread carefully.

"What do you mean? Different?" he asks.

"It's new, experimental, and highly dangerous. But I think if anything will work, then this will be our best shot."

Silence.

"Go ." He doesn't move, but his breathing has begun to speed up. He's nervous.

That's interesting.

"Argos, we've tried using the blood from other wolves to try to flush out the vampire infection, but that didn't work. If anything, that sped up the change. I was thinking that to help her survive, we need to perhaps change the process altogether. Instead of fighting the process, why don't we assist it and use the vampire strengths and add them to her own?"

That's as much as I can say without him knowing it all. It's already more than I should have said, but I need the money to continue. I need the resources, and I need Amalie.

His face changes from white to red, and then I feel the mood in the room become very tense. He stands up and stalks towards me. Alpha Argos is a giant of a man. He is as tall as he is wide. He is very confronting at the best of times. And this? This is not one of those times. " Jasper, Are you suggesting what I think you are? That we should experiment with my daughter and make her into, into ... an abomination?"

I stare him down and answer, "Yes, it's the only way to save her."

He looks me in the eyes. And simply states, "No."

"But, Argos, she—"

He interrupts me, his voice like a crack of thunder, "No. She would rather die. We would all rather die than be that."

"Argos please, reconsider. It's not like we have always suspected. I think we could control it. Use the power they possess to our advantage. And not just to save Amalie but to save us all. For a stronger future. This could change us all for the better."

It's all out there now. I just hope he can see it my way. This is the start of something new. He just doesn't need to know I want to use this against him.

Argos stands up and heads for the door.

"Dr Jasper, have my daughter ready for collection tomorrow morning. She will be leaving your care. I will make arrangements today, and I will see you in the morning to take her out of this institution. Please consider this the finality of our funding agreements." He grips the door handle so hard I think he might snap it off. "Oh, my son met his mate today. Miss Craig? She will be coming too. No exceptions."

And with that he was gone.

Shit. Tonight it is. Tonight, the girls would help me finish this. And then I would kill them both.