My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

Zosime cleared her throat, and Andreas' eyes refocused on the room. The young girl was standing there with a glass teapot that held a fully bloomed brilliant yellow flower.

"Yes, Zosime. Thank you for coming. Anything further on the results form Miss Cady's genetic analysis?" Andreas asked.

"Since I gave you the report last night? No, nothing further," Zosime tilted her head curiously with a small smile on her lips. She already gave him the results. What did he really want?

"I see," his voice was low as he studied the forest out one of the large windows. "Nothing unusual has happened of its own accord yet. At least nothing that has been evident or reported," his mind wandered to Marius' disappearance again.

"Given your confidence in her alyko-like genes, we need to see what she is capable of, but it has to be seamless, Zosime. It can't appear to be initiated from our side. We asked your team for potential triggers from her past."

"Yes, sir. And we found some for sure. I have a few ideas for how they could be implemented for our purposes, and I can almost guarantee it will bring out the most extreme reaction she is capable of right now," there was an eagerness in Zosime's response that didn't escape Andreas.

To Zosime, it was as if all of this were a game. It likely had to do with her unusual origins, of which Andreas was fully aware, and the unique intelligence and passion it had given her for projects like this was indispensable. But, even with the reassurance that she was loyal to him and him alone, the darkness from which she came always gave him pause.

He had no reason to distrust her. He had been given assurances and guarantees. But there was always that unsettling darkness that he sensed lurking just behind her eyes that kept him from appreciating her fully as had been her purpose. She was a gift—a terrifying gift that he had not fully unwrapped yet, and he planned on keeping it that way.

Zosime watched Andreas anxiously. She had been waiting on the elder's word to initiate an experiment like this, but she knew Andreas was concerned that her eagerness would cloud her judgment. He had no idea the precision she was capable of. If she had the right team, she could execute anything given the order.

While the elders were not incapable of taking drastic steps when appropriate, they were far too slow in her opinion. Variables could change. Opportunities could be lost. Like how Graeme had already marked his human mate—that surely could have been avoided.

The elders thought both Graeme and his mate far weaker than they actually were. But hopefully now Zoe would have a chance to speed things up—get some experiments going to see what kind of exciting reactions would follow. She was practically salivating with the opportunity.

Andreas looked at the young girl carefully.

"The time is indeed upon us for something like that," he said slowly. "Graeme is leaving pack land today. We must do it while he is away."

"Today?" Zoe repeated excitedly.

"Yes, it was necessary to create an opportunity for us. Thankfully he has agreed," Andreas took a sip from his tea as Zoe's eyes lit up.

"And how long will he be gone?" she asked.

"It is unclear. He is tasked with making sure Ms. Cady's mother returns to her home rather than linger in the area. The mother had a flight scheduled, but I have arranged it so that she must drive instead. The drive back to Wisconsin is…" Andreas squinted at the computer on his desk, "twenty hours."

"It will depend on how fast August's mom travels home," Zoe pointed out. "We could have anywhere from… three to five days given Graeme's return time. Maybe longer. Will you send someone with him?"

Andreas shook his head. "I don't see the need. That will give you enough time, will it not?"

Zoe groaned internally at the old man. Of course there was a need to send someone with him—or at least to tail him. Oh well. This was Andreas' show. It would be amusing to see how his decisions played out.

"It depends on how many of my ideas we decide to implement, but it will definitely be enough time for a few of them," a small smile curved on her lips.

"Tell me what you need, and it will be done," Andreas replied.

"I'll need actors loyal to you. A mated couple for one. And a pup for another," she said, pouring tea for herself and relaxing back into one of the leather chairs.

Andreas nodded and set his tea cup down to fold his hands in front of him. "And if either is successful? Given her genome, will your…" Andreas flapped his hands in front of him, searching for the term, "… your treatment work on her?"

Zoe tilted her head like a curious puppy. "And what is the point of that? You don't plan on keeping her around."

"Containment," he snapped. "In the interim. You think I can just resolve all of this in mere days?"

Zoe batted her lashes innocently. "Have you not called to arrange a solution for her yet?"

"No, of course not. I need to know precisely what we are dealing with first. To relay the information for one, as He will want to know the specifics, and also to choreograph a departure for them both that is not traumatic for the pack. What happened last time cannot happen again. The pack is still…" he harrumphed. Why was he bothering to explain all of this to her?

"If she displays as a witch, I know how to handle it. I will call. I will arrange it. The issue is if she does not. I don't know if that solution will still be viable. I don't want to be indebted to Him if I can help it," he mumbled.

"Surely it would be worth it in this case," Zoe batted her lashes with the cloying smile that she displayed so well. He could almost imagine her being the innocent young girl that she seemed to be on the exterior.

"That would be entertaining for you, wouldn't it Zosime?" He asked now, fixing her with a glare.

"I do admit my intrigue. How can you fault me for it, Andre?" she giggled. "Besides, I am right. There is no other solution if you wish to retain the power you have grown accustomed to. Unless you bring Eliade into the fold, which complicates things considerably. No one wants to deal with humans."

Andreas sighed. "I have grown tired of your advice now, Zoe. Do your job.. I will get you what you need."