Chapter 4 Meeting the infamous Griffin Moonstone

Brian had clasped my forearm as he dragged me down the halls.

"This project cannot be ruined by you running around willy-nilly," he said bitterly and I told him I was sorry.

"Why are you so concerned, seems like a lot of stress for a grunt," I mumbled softly and Brian stopped suddenly and pushed me up against the wall. He glared down at me with a curled lip.

"I'm the commander-in-chief of this entire operation and don't think I don't notice how close you're getting to the bloodsucker," he spat bitterly and I lowered my eyes from him, feeling that the commander's behavior was completely unprofessional.

"Now can we proceed? It's imperative that we test the Alpha's blood and he will only allow you near him," he mumbled in irritation. At least he'd stopped dragging me around and I rubbed the arm he'd been squeezing.

"What is the blood for," I asked curiously? Brian chuckled softly and told me that information was above my pay grade. I rolled my eyes as we stopped outside of the door I'd been in the night before.

"Just so you're aware, each swipe of your key card is logged and recorded. I'm aware that you entered this room and your subjects during the night," he said firmly and watched for my reaction. I merely smiled and told him that it was good to know that and watched red splotches begin to form on his pale face.

"Don't have sex with the subjects," he said bitterly and I gasped and slapped his face.

"How dare you imply that," I replied bitterly back and turned myself away from him and his accusations. The commander-in-chief huffed in annoyance and swiped his key card. I stood back with my arms crossed as he opened the door. I glanced inside the room and noticed that the chains were lying empty on the floor. A soldier was standing near a shower with his gun raised. Standing completely naked was a man with his back facing us showering. I swallowed uncomfortably at the olive-colored skin the water was running down over. I looked up at the thick black hair and grinned.

"He insisted on being clean when meeting with the doctor," the soldier said firmly and I noticed the man glanced back and grinned at seeing Brian and me standing there.

"I need a towel to cover myself. I don't wish to frighten the woman with my size," he said smoothly as he shut off the water. I coughed uncomfortably and looked the other way when he turned in my direction.

"Doctor, please meet Griffin Moonstone," Brian said condescendingly and I glanced up at two golden eyes staring intently down at me. I raised my hand and he took it into both of his large ones and smiled.

"Pleasure to meet you once again," he said happily and I simply nodded and pulled my hand back. Yes, Griffin Moonstone was one sexy man but unfortunately, he knew it and seemed to flaunt it. I watched the soldiers wheel in a cart with vials and syringes in the room. Griffin was already sitting on a bench with only a towel wrapped around his lower manly bits. Brian gestured towards him with a nod of his head and I lifted the pair of latex gloves from the cart and put them on. As I approached Griffin to wrap the rubber band around his arm he leaned towards me a bit and breathed in deeply with his eyes closed. I blinked my eyes several times and exhaled in annoyance as I searched for a suitable vein to poke.

"Why do you smell like a thick pine forest," I heard him ask and glanced up at him. I shrugged and replied, "I live in a pine forest, perhaps it's rubbed off on me." I heard him mumble something inappropriate about rubbing something and ignored it as I inserted the needle and attached an empty vial.

"Sorry once again about your mate, I know how painful loss can be," I mumbled softly and he looked at me oddly.

"She was my sister and temporary luna of my pack but not my mate, dear. I have however found her and will claim her," he said assuredly and I looked down feeling oddly disappointed. Was I jealous? I shook my head as I filled the last vial. Of course, I wasn't jealous. Or upset by his claim. I didn't know anything about the creature. I cleared my mind of its strange thoughts and focused on the job before me. Once I removed the vial and labeled it Brian told me to fill all twenty vials. I eyed him blankly and frowned as I added another vial.

"Why so many, it's not like we can't draw again later," I mumbled sourly and Brian grunted that I wasn't to question his decisions. I turned my head and told him I would if it jeopardized the health of my subjects. He cleared his throat and nodded his head.

"After all those vials are filled, take the subject to doctor Rockford's section and put him in the next empty cell. I swallowed uncomfortably at hearing that and looked up at Griffin to hear him say, "perfect." I filled all twenty vials and put a bandaid over the needle hole before one of the soldiers gave him a chocolate chip cookie. I watched Griffin bite it and smile at me. I stumbled a little and cursed. Damn him getting me flustered with myself.

"Get him up and move him to his new cell. More dogs are being brought in. Your neighbor Axel got himself into a snare and lost a hind paw," Brian informed Griffin and grinned about it in a sadistic manner that had me glaring at the evil ass. I frowned slightly and helped the man to stand on his two feet as a soldier handed him some clothes. I wasn't expecting him to brush his cheek against mine and side-eyed him as he grabbed the black dress slacks from the pile in my arms. I turned quickly around and saw the towel drop to the floor back behind me. I glanced over at Brian and he was shaking his head. Griffin laughed and turned me back around by my shoulder to face him. My eyes went to his bare chest. He lifted the matching black suit jacket and shook it out before putting it on over his bare skin. I glanced up at him and bit my bottom lip.

"You're a very lovely doctor and smell divine," he said sincerely and I grinned slightly and told him thanks but I needed him to start walking on his own. Griffin nodded and after brushing his hair back with his fingers started stepping after the soldier out the steel door. The other soldier followed after us aiming his gun at Griffin's back. The soldier that was beside me hurried forward and unlocked the door to my cryptids. Enzo rushed to the bars and nodded to Griffin.

"Good evening Grif, sorry about your poor sister, she was a lovely woman," he said with true sincerity. Griffin nodded and was surprised to see the vampire.

"Thought you were too smart for traps, you old bastard. Guess not, eh. Yeah revenge is a dish best served cold and trust me I'll be getting mine," Griffin said firmly and I looked up at him shaking my head. He glanced down and frowned. He bopped my nose and smiled.

"Not with you, love, you'll be safe, that I can guarantee you." Enzo hissed and gave off a low possessive growl and Griffin raised his dark brow.

"She's mine vamp, back off," he said firmly as he was escorted roughly down to the cell after Scotty. I was looking at Enzo with my eyes narrowed.

"I'm not either of yours. So stop with the pissing contest. I'm not interested in anything either of you has to offer," I said loudly enough that both the soldiers chuckled softly and I felt my cheeks warm. Of course, Griffin had to add.

"She smells delicious and probably tastes just as good." Enzo started to chuckle and all my other subjects joined in along with the two soldiers. I shook my head and headed out of the room and went down the corridor Abby had gone that morning. I passed several glass windows but none showed any cells like mine so I sighed and turned back. When I got close to my room Brian was standing near a chart on the wall. He looked up at me and grinned.

"I was wondering if you might like to take a walk around the perimeter and get some fresh air?" I looked down and shook my head.

"I really wouldn't make very good company at the moment," I lied easily and he looked dejected. I just wanted to talk to Abby. I went past the commander-in-chief and rushed into my room and called out for my friend. There was no answer and although it felt like a bad idea I exited my room and called for Brian.

"If you are still offering I'd like that walk," I mumbled softly and he nodded his head. I hurried to his side and he escorted me out into the desert. I was surprised by the way he was behaving more gentlemanly now. I glanced out at a bunch of nothing but a few cacti sparsely scattered around the sandy terrain.

"Not much for sightseeing, is it?" He laughed and shook his head telling me the stars were neat at night.

"Do you mind my asking how old you are?" I asked curiously and he sighed and surprised me by telling me he was fifty-six.

"I know I look younger and I'm going to tell you it's due to good genes and not by being a test subject of a certain project," he said truthfully and my mouth dropped open.

"You tested yourself with the cryptids' blood? Who's been monitoring you? It's Jordan, isn't it," I mumbled sourly and he chuckled.

"I feel the best I ever have doc and all my vitals are alright. My blood changed just enough that I have the strength and drive but none of the visual attributes," he said happily. I crossed my arms and looked out at the setting sun.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked curiously and he kicked the ground with his toe.

"I wanted to know if you'd see if Abby would like to come on a date with me." My brows rose and I choked.

"Oh, I see," I mumbled and looked away from the odd man. He asked me again if I could talk with her and I gritted my teeth and grinned.

"Sure, Brian I'll help you out if you allow me to release my subjects occasionally from their cells without supervision," I said firmly and he rubbed his chin.

"They could attack you and I would be responsible," he said and I told him I'd sign a waiver and only if he wasn't an asshole to her.

"You can for one month then no more after and

only if Abby agrees to go out with me." I told him one date for one month and he shook my hand in agreement. Needless to say, I'm on my way to speak directly with Abby after Brian informed me that she was in the gym letting off some steam. I opened the unlocked door and paused seeing Abby and Jordan in a compromising position. I turned my head and cleared my throat.

"Sorry I interrupted you both. I'm going to go so don't stop," I said sternly and quickly exited. I rubbed my eyes trying to get Jordan's bare ass out of my mind.