Chapter 17 · Why He Bit Her

The holding cell door slammed open.

Rena spun, gun up. Cain stood in the doorway, chest heaving, blood smeared across his jaw. Not his blood.

"You need to leave." His voice was raw. "Now."

"I'm not going anywhere." She kept the barrel steady on his chest. "Not until you tell me why my file says 'Darko lineage compatible.'"

His eyes flicked to the folder in her other hand. Something crossed his face—not surprise. Recognition.

"Where did you find that."

"Your pack healer keeps terrible locks." Rena's finger tightened on the trigger. "You knew. Before you bit me. You knew I was compatible with your bloodline."

Cain stepped into the cell. The fluorescent light made the blood on his skin look black. "Put the gun down."

"Answer the question."

"I said put it down."

She fired.

The bullet caught him in the shoulder. He didn't even flinch. Just kept walking toward her, blood spreading across his shirt, eyes gone full wolf-gold.

"That's not gonna stop me," he said.

Rena backed up until her spine hit the wall. "Stay back.