Chapter 5 Center of attention

After the x-rated scene, I headed to my subjects and checked out the chart above the small desk to see what the commander-in-chief had scheduled. As my eyes scanned through each day of the week and numerous blood draws, they landed on a brightly colored square that said a mixer was planned for the last Friday of the month. In bold letters it said all employees were required to participate. I rolled my eyes as I noticed Darya waving at me. I'd been doing well ignoring the two males for the moment and headed towards the reptile woman's cell. She looked anxious as I got closer and my empathic side reached out to her.

"What's up, sweets? You want another leg of lamb?" I asked. She shook her head and looked worried.

"I need to tell you that the commander isn't a good human. He takes advantage of the females he's captured when the Hunters lock us up in the quarantine rooms. He rapes us when we're chained," she mumbled softly. I looked at her and nodded with a frown.

"He did that to you?" She nodded and looked like she was going to begin to weep. I slid my key card and entered her cell. Not the wisest move on my part but I hugged her anyway and she began to cry harder. I rubbed her back and asked what was going on. Her strange slit eyes darted around and she pulled me over to her blanket nest bed and lifted a thick blanket to show me one leathery egg. I gasped softly and swallowed uncomfortably.

"That's yours and his offspring?" Darya nodded and wrapped herself around her egg.

"I'm scared that he will take it and run tests or simply kill it," she mumbled in concern. I nodded agreeing with her.

"I will help any way I can. I give you my word," I told her and about died when she told me that he has several other children. All from different subjects and they were all in the section the male doctor was in charge of. They're creating soldiers and hunters from them and using the blood to change the human military" she said in a panic. I was gritting my teeth over that bit of information and was curious if Abby was aware. Being a doctor I took the Hippocratic oath to do no harm.

"I will do some research and poking around and see what I can find out. Thanks for letting me know," I said sincerely and headed out of her cell feeling horrible when I locked it back up.

"Would you like some lamb? The commander-in-chief already knows I come in here during the night so might as well have a reason," I told her with a smile. Darya thanked me but said if I'd read her file I would know that she stores her meals in pockets inside her large mouth. I was eyeing her in amazement and she looked away embarrassed by her feeding method. I reassured her that as a medical doctor I found everything about her and the others very fascinating, causing her to laugh a little. I was standing near her cell when I heard distinct Italian and glared at the vampire after he asked me if I thought Griffin was a handsome man. I looked over at the man in question and saw him laid back against his cot with one leg bent staring at the ceiling.

"perché?" I asked him why and he waved me towards himself. I looked up at his reflective gray eyes and waited for his answer. He grinned slightly and reached out and brushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. He glanced down the row and my eyes followed to see Griffin gripping the bars of his cell glaring at him with bright gold eyes.

"Relax fleabag, the doctor and I are unfortunately only friends. She's not interested in any relationship," Enzo said firmly and I eyed him wondering what his deal was. He looked at me and said in Italian,"each Alpha has a mate. Their perfect partner and Griffin is yours, Emma." I heard the words but thought of only my late husband. I shook my head and told him that he was mistaken. I had already been with the love of my life and he's gone now. Enzo was rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"Just talk with him, Griffin I mean, he's a fascinating man and very wise like me," he mumbled with a grin and I told him I would but only during my work. Although I felt torn about what I was doing. I didn't want to be taken out into the desert and shot in the back of my head for security reasons. I wouldn't even be missed. By having no living parents or loved ones I was easily disposable and probably the reason I was hired. I glanced back over at Griffin and realized that he had a bit of a frown on his face. I glanced back to Enzo and asked him if Griffin knew Italian. The vampire shrugged and said he wasn't sure.

"Maybe you should get his file and read up on him." I huffed and turned from him and asked the other's if anyone wanted anything from the cafeteria. They all shook their heads so I pressed the intercom calling for the commander-in-chief and asked him for Griffin's file. He told me he'd drop it off and asked if I'd spoken to Abby. I glanced over at Darya and told him she was busy when I'd found her so I was going to ask her later in the room. He was thrilled and ended the conversation. I sat back at the desk resting my head in my hands. I realized that I was entangled in a much bigger issue than dealing with cryptids. I could hear Tristan's wolf whimpering and headed towards his cell. I could see he was limping slightly and figured I would examine it. I know stupid me. I swiped my key card and as I entered I heard no being shouted around me and I jumped back slamming the cell door closed on Tristan chomping at me. I had landed on my ass and glared at the red wolf.

"Looks like you need a shock collar, Tristan," I said sternly as I stood back up and brushed my butt off.

"Come here, doctor," Griffin said firmly and I raised my brow to him. He was waving his hand gesturing towards me to come. I exhaled deeply in annoyance and headed towards his cell. I watched Scotty jumping around and laughed at the goofy male.

"He's a strange thing. I'm not aware of any creature like that," Griffin mumbled softly and I grinned.

"That's Scotty and he's an Adlet," I told him and he smiled as he nodded, but soon his demeanor changed to a more concerned nature.

"I'm worried about Tristan, he's not a pack member and doesn't acknowledge that I'm an Alpha. He is obviously a rogue wolf and highly unpredictable. You should be extra cautious around him. One bite or scratch and you'll be inflicted and become what we both are," he said sincerely and I thanked him for his concern.

"I've been rather reckless about Darya as well but I believe she wouldn't harm me if I help her. Griffin grew silent and I turned to see Brian standing there with a thick file.

"Go dear, we can talk more after you learn all about me," he said with a cheesy grin that made me giggle like a schoolgirl. I stopped suddenly at my strange behavior and headed towards Brian with my hand getting ready to grab the file. As I got closer the asshole lifted it up over his head and I gritted my teeth and dropped my hands down to my side.

"I want this file returned to me when you're done with it, Mr. Moonstone is a special subject and won't be detained long due to his human affairs," he said bitterly and glared at the man in discussion.

"I'm sending someone to retrieve your green contacts and once they return you will be briefed and sent back to your home. Sorry I didn't realize how known you were," Brian said frustratedly. I shook my head at the commander's obvious screw up. If the higher powers that be knew he'd captured an elite socialite I'm certain they would remove him immediately from the program. He dropped the file into my hands.

"Meet the clandestine owner of Moonstone entertainment," he mumbled bitterly. I lifted the heavy folder and carried it over to the small desk and began flipping through the several pages of photos. The commander-in-chief took his leave without a word of farewell. I was looking down at the photos of Griffin who was either wearing Oakley's or sporting very light green eyes which I knew first hand were fake. He was also surrounded by very famous individuals and I shook my head as I recognized the women. I glanced over at the playboy and laughed at Enzo.

"The fact that you actually believe that the man here would want anything with an introvert like me is hilarious. He's hung out with the most beautiful women in the world," I said softly and Enzo exhaled deeply.

"You're a very lovely woman. Your beauty is all natural and real, Emma," he said sincerely and I rolled my eyes as I turned the page and saw the huge black wolf. There were several pages of pictures, the next was his age which was listed as unknown and then all his degrees and languages. Printed below was Italian, along with French, Russian and Spanish. I looked up to see Griffin leaning against the metal bars and staring at me.

I looked at the time and decided that I'd head to my room and read what I could before I fell asleep. I closed the folder and stood.

"Goodnight all of you. I'll see you in the morning for outside exercise," I mumbled softly as I read the words off the schedule. I heard the goodnights and several sweet dreams as I held the thick folder and closed the heavy steel door. I headed into my room and sat on my unmade bed with my legs crossed as I reopened the file and looked once again at the pictures of Griffin. It seemed so wrong for a man to look so attractive. I rarely gave any one of the opposite sex a second glance. I chewed on my bottom lip and told myself that I was not going to become another notch in mister Moonstone's belt.

"What have you got to make you all dreamy eyed, roommate," Abby laughed and nudged me over with her hips.

"Damn, you got a famous hottie. I should have known that no human could look like that, yummy, lucky bitch," she continued and I shook my head and shut the file.

"I'm going to sleep, Goodnight, Abby," I mumbled sourly as I headed to the bathroom to change.

"Hey, housekeeping, put your clothes away inside your dresser. Sleep well," she told me as she headed to her side. When I fell asleep I had a vivid dream of being watched by the cryptid that had invaded my gray matter.