Heather slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans to keep them from clenching into fists. “Why do you ask?” Defensiveness welled within her and the reaction made her furious. After all her father had done to her, why did she still feel the need to defend him?
“Jake mentioned an injection that might have caused a reaction in—”
“Why would you tell them about that?” She swung toward Jake, hands shifting to her hips. “I told you what the injection was for. It had nothing to do with any of this.” Hurt and anger tore away what little remained of her defenses. She felt surrounded and attacked, isolated and vulnerable.
“The backers have been at this for years, likely decades.” Devon moved closer but didn’t touch her. “Dhane’s kidnapping wasn’t a random act. We know for a fact that they’ve been watching your family.”
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean my father is working with them.” Again her need to defend her father only added to her frustration. He didn’t deserve her loyalty. “We don’t even know that the injection was responsible for what happened to Carlos.”
“Okay.” Devon held up her hands. “Let’s focus on the future rather than the past. We’re not trying to pressure you into anything. I just wanted to present the option.”
Heather shook her head as her emotions began to recede. “I don’t know. This seems so extreme.”
“Compared to running for the rest of your life?” Jake didn’t soften the challenge in his tone but his gaze retained its caressing quality.
“Wouldn’t a traditional definition accomplish the same thing? It would back off my father and disqualify me from becoming the backers’ next test subject.”
“It would,” Devon admitted, “but it would also prevent you from changing your mind. Once you’re defined the formula becomes toxic.” She moved away from the table, encouraging Heather to rotate until her back was to the men. “May I ask a personal question?”
Even without seeing the men, Heather could feel them behind her, listening, judging. “Ask. It doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“You obviously knew it would protect you, so why didn’t you let someone else define you in the past six years?”
She licked her lips and searched her mind. It was a good question. Why had she pretended for so long? “I’m not sure.”
“My mother is a firm believer in fate. She’s documented too many extraordinary events to accept that there is not a guiding hand at work in the universe. I believe you kept your nature undefined because you were destined for more than being some pack alpha’s mate.”
A strange tingle dove down her spine, making her shiver. “I need to think this over.”
Devon nodded. “Of course. This is just one option. I happen to think it’s the best option, but the choice is yours.”
Heather smiled and shook her head. “Do you own stock in the company or something? Why do you even care?”
“I know what it’s like to be helpless. No one should have to live like that.” Devon spoke the words with enough conviction to make Heather believe her.
Heather didn’t like to think of herself as helpless but recent events made it hard to deny. “If I decided to take the formula—and I’m not saying I will—what’s the next step?”
“Meet with Dr. Garran,” Ian said from behind her.
“Isn’t that who’s treating Dhane?” She didn’t turn around so Devon responded.
“Yes. He has a team of scientists analyzing everything that was rescued from the mountain lab. I know what I’ve experienced but he can likely explain how and why it all works.”
Ian moved around to the other side of the table but stayed a few steps back. “We can protect you until you’ve decided what you want to do.” Then he turned to Jake and said, “You’ll need backup, even you have to sleep occasionally.”
“Enya won’t be happy about it but she can handle things at the tavern for a few days. And I’ll have Natasha double the usual coverage.”
“Who’s Natasha?” The question was out before Heather realized the implication. If her only interest in Jake was as protector, she wouldn’t care about the other females in his life.
“Head of security for all my properties.” Amusement made his eyes sparkle as he pushed to his feet and walked around to her side of the table. “And I have no interest in sleeping with her.”
Heather’s cheeks burned but she managed to smile. “Good to know.”
“I packed a bag for you,” Devon said. “I wasn’t sure how long you’d be staying but it didn’t sound like you’d had time to plan.”