looked at a possible cause for the mutation and didn’t find anything definitive.”
“We analyzed DNA samples from subjects and couldn’t find anything irregular. What are you getting at?”
“We agree this disease, which is somewhat like polio, is not a natural mutation. Which means someone deliberately altered the receptor and induced the muscle wasting disease in were-cats only.”
“You’re just restating everything we already know.” Impatience put an edge to her words. “We’re sitting doing nothing and meanwhile Celeste is getting weaker every day.”
Finn rubbed his thumb across his chin. “Only some were-cats are succumbing to the disease. We rejected the theory that the mutation was created with a man-made chemical because all of our tests proved otherwise. But I think we should consider that again. We know from experience that The Nexus Group in the past formulated a drug to create warriors. That project was nixed. But you’ve said your colony members naturally carry a warrior gene.”
Finn’s face lit up. She couldn’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm. “Just tell me, Finn. What have you discovered?”
“I am suggesting that we are dealing with a manmade product meant to trigger this disease in certain were-cats. Those who do not carry the warrior gene. Average cats. And we know the subjects have lived in different places across the planet. I don’t think the disease spreads from individual to individual, the subjects are widely dispersed.”
“You believe whoever created this product made it an aerosol. One they disperse in targeted areas.” Nissa’s words sped through here lips. “But why do this?”
The answer to their questions jumped from one thought to another in Finn’s brain, connecting the dots. “Your colony is trying to upset the balance between average were-cats with a product aimed at killing were-lynxes who are peaceful and reasonable.”
Her hands went to her mouth. “My gosh. We didn’t compare any warrior gene subjects with average subjects. We would have had to enlarge our subject focus and test for the warrior gene. We wouldn’t have thought of that without Finn’s run in with Demonte.” She shook her head. “My colony is out to become the dominant were-cats on the planet. Since most were-lynxes don’t carry the warrior gene, the disease is slowly spreading to the larger population as the chemical is released in different geographic areas.”
“If this hypothesis is true, we can use DNA samples from Demonte, Galen, Renzo, and Taryn to isolate a cure.”
Tears blurred Nissa’s vision. “Finn, this is the most promising thing I’ve seen in months. When can we start?”
FINN SLUMPED INTO NISSA’S COUCH and let his head drop against the back. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent that was an elixir of beauty, heart, and soul. How could he have been so wrong? Wrong about his life, his purpose, his fate. And most of all, his revulsion for being a were-cat?
“What are you smiling about?” Nissa sat on the couch next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He could hear her heart pounding, full of life, in her chest. Her soft breaths, steady and strong, pronounced for him the truth. He loved Nissa.
He opened his eyes and looked into hers. The dark brown pools swirled with emotion and pulled him closer, asking him to promise her what she deserved.
“I’m tired, Nissa. We’ve worked long, hard hours. But we’re very close to being able to aerosolize the cure. I suspect at this rate we’ll be able to administer it to Celeste and Kendall in about two days.”
She stretched up to place a soft kiss to his lips. “We’ve made a good team.”
He stroked her dark hair, luxuriating in its softness. “You saved my life.”
She sat up abruptly. “What? What are talking about?”
“I have spent so much of my life focusing like a laser on my career. I’ve had few friends, colleagues who shared my ambition, and that lifestyle was fitting for my goals. I knew from my teen years that I was lucky. I was not a were-cat. I was different from everyone else in my family and I loved that. I could live a normal life. I was the one who would make something grand of my life. That’s what I thought.” He shook his head, amazed at his misconceptions.
“You have lived a good life. I still don’t understand, Finn.”
“I fought the transformation. I grieved the destruction of life as I’d known it. I hated Demonte and what he’d done to me. But you helped me to embrace my true self. I didn’t know I’d been living a small life until I fully accepted my were-lynx side, and when I did, the world opened up in a remarkable way. So much bigger than I could ever have imagined. Because of that bite and your support, I’ve found myself, who I really am and want to be. And best of all, I’ve found you, my love.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet. “I love you, Nissa Bello. I want to get to know all about you. There are problems, I know. I’ll have to continue to learn how to manage my compulsion toward anger and violence. I will find a way to conquer it.”
Nissa cupped his face and he moaned with pleasure. “I love you, Finn Monroe. I was so sad for you when you were forced into the transformation. I didn’t want that for you because you didn’t want it. But for myself, I was happy the obstacles to getting close to you, without holding back, disappeared with your former life.”
Finn laughed heartily. “I adore you. Thank you, Nissa, for finding me.”
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ALWAYS AND FOREVER LOVE
SECRETS
CRAVINGS
HEARTFELT
PROBABILITIES
UNSTOPPABLE
Author Website - https://lynn-crandall.com/
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