When Lily came to, she found herself lying on a cold metal table, surrounded by surgical instruments and unfamiliar technology. She tried to move, but restraints around her wrists and ankles held her firmly in place.
'Dina, Dina, help me. We are strapped down. We need to get out of here,' Lily called out to her wolf, but there was silence. She couldn't even feel Dina. Panic surged within her as she strained against her bonds with a feral growl.
"So interesting. The color of your eyes changes when you reach out to your beast. So very interesting."
A figure stepped out from the shadows at the sound of her struggles. It was a woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes. She wore a white lab coat, and Lily could tell that she was the one responsible for her being bound to the table.
The woman regarded Lily with a cool detachment, as if she were nothing more than an object to be studied. "I'm pleased that you're awake. I was worried they may have given you too much of the sedative. You gave them quite a challenge to subdue. You killed two of my best employees, but rest assured, I can always get new grunts."
Lily didn't say anything as she stared at the woman. She continued to try to reach Dina, but she still couldn't feel her.
"Oh dear. The sedative has made your wolf dormant. You are not as weak as a human, but let's say you're fangless for the time being," the woman explained.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Lily's voice was thick with anger and fear.
The woman's lips curled into a smile. "Please calm down. I have no intention of harming you. My name is Dr. Gacy, and I represent a group known as the Society, but your kind calls us the Hunters."
Lily paled in horror. They did manage to capture her. Lily assumed that it would be her father or even Matthew who would come get her. "Oh dear. Calm down. Like I said, I won't be hurting you. We've been studying the shifter population for years, trying to unlock the secrets of your unique biology. You are of particular interest to us, as you possess a rare genetic mutation in your blood that makes you resistant to practically everything."
"I don't care about your research. I want you to free me and let me go home," Lily said.
Dr. Gacy tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Ah, but you see, there's nothing to fear. I have every intention of releasing you once I get what I want, not a moment sooner."
"What do you want from me?" Lily asked.
"Your blood," Dr. Gacy answered, as if she were discussing a simple matter like cutting her hair.
"So, you are going to kill me," Lily replied.
"No, no. I am only going to take a blood donation from you," Dr. Gacy clarified.
"Release me right now. If you do not, I am going to tear your limb from limb if you do not release me," Lily growled.
Dr. Gacy laughed and said, "Kenneth did say you have some sass, but you were all bark and no bite until you were pushed to the limit. I can tell you're scared. There's nothing to be scared of. Like I said, I have no intention of killing you, and you wouldn't want to get free right now anyway. You are within the heart of our society's territory. Even if you were able to get free, you are still at a disadvantage. You would be killed without hesitation. Honestly, I don't know why you want to go back anyway."
Lily's anger flared at the insinuation. "What are you talking about?"
Dr.Gacy pulled up a chair to sit next to Lily. Her smile never faltered as she continued talking. "Well, no one cared about you until they realized your ancestry. It wouldn't be like that here. If you stay with us, you will always be respected."
Lily stared in shock at this woman's audacity. "You can't be serious. You want to experiment on me. You want to use me for whatever evil plan. Do you think I would be happy to be your little lap dog because I had a rough childhood? No. No, thank you. I would rather be a rogue. I would rather die."
Dr. Gacy's expression turned cold. "With that attitude, that may very well happen. You have no idea what is going to happen to you after this. Your kind are vicious mongrels. You will be used and taken advantage of. That's what you want?"
"You act like you're better than us. I've heard the stories. You killed yourself for even daring to show mercy to our kind. So, don't sit there and talk to me about my people," Lily retorted. Dr. Gracy noticed Lily's eye color starting to change. The sedative was starting to wear off, which meant she didn't have much time.
"All I am saying, dear, is that being a lap dog, as you call it, will be better than what you will be facing," Dr. Gacy explained.
"Again, my answer is no. You intend to exterminate us. I want nothing to do with that," Lily stated.
"We seek only to understand and improve. And if that means a few sacrifices for the greater good, then so be it," Dr. Gacy stated. "So, we will never be at a disadvantage again."
"What does that mean? What do you plan to do?" Lily asked.
"It's best that you don't know, dear," Dr. Gacy replied.
Lily strained against her restraints, her voice shaking with rage. "I won't let you do this. I'll fight you with everything I have."
Dr. Gacy's smile turned to a look of pity. "Oh, my dear, it's not a matter of choice. You see, we've made a deal with Kenneth. This is going to happen, whether you like it or not. We get your blood, and then we return you to him."
Dr. Gacy said, "I'm going to give you a sedative now." His gentle voice and her warm hand on her forehead calmed Lily's nerves. She injected the needle into the IV tube, and she immediately started to feel sleepy. Dr. Gacy walked over, caressing Lily's hair.
"Sweet dreams, Lily Bray."