Lex looked to Dr. Molinari, who nodded surreptitiously.

“You want to tell me how this could be?” Detective Stoner asked. “I thought the victim had to be bitten. That there was something in the saliva and the adrenaline that created the right environment for the virus to take hold. We’ve been told that humans, even if stuck with a needle that had been in a werewolf or had werewolf blood on it, wouldn’t change. Are you telling me they lied to us? That you lied to us?”

Lex sighed. “No. Not exactly. If you went into that room and the doctor took blood from him and injected it straight into you, you wouldn’t be infected. The virus has to have the right circumstances to grow and infect the DNA of a human host.

“But late last year our scientists were able to manipulate the virus. This was to create a vaccine or antibody so that if a human was infected without his or her permission they could receive the treatment and halt the transformation.

“In order to do this, they created a live virus that could, if injected directly, infect the host without a bite or saliva or adrenaline. Up until now, it was theoretical that it would work.”

“Are you telling me that this man was experimented on? Does the human government know about this?” Stoner thundered.

Lex’s eyes flashed angrily. “No! We would not do such a thing. Has he been questioned? What happened?”

“He’s been dosed with a very heavy narcotic. He appears to have been a street person. He hasn’t regained consciousness for very long. There are issues of malnourishment and some exposure-related problems. He was quite bruised up when we found him late last night. He said wolves got him, which is why we brought him here and tested him. But the bruises have been healing and we can’t find any trauma sites that are consistent with an attack. I suppose now we know why. I’m guessing that the reasons the needle marks haven’t healed as quick as the other trauma stems from the interaction of the virus,” the human doctor stated.

“Tonight is the full moon. Someone from the Pack will be here to help him but he’ll need to stay here for another few days,” Dr. Molinari assured Stoner.

“I thought you did that?” Stoner looked to Lex.

“Normally I would. Two of my men will be here in my stead with our Third. Tonight is also the first time Nina will change. As her mate, I will be with her.”

Stoner looked quickly at Nina and then covered his surprise. “I didn’t know you were a werewolf, too, Ms. Reyes.”

“It’s a recent thing, Detective Stoner.” Nina didn’t elaborate further. What could she tell him without getting the Pack into trouble?

He gave her a long look that she knew was taking her measure, putting things together and trying to work out just what was happening. She also felt, instinctively, that Detective Ben Stoner was a man that could be trusted to do the right thing. And Nina truly believed that the Pack needed to talk straight with Stoner regarding the whole virus thing. But she wasn’t on her own anymore and she didn’t have the right to say anything until she’d spoken to Lex.

It should have chafed more, she’d been on her own for a very long time. Instead, it felt okay, comfortable even, that she had other people to consider. It wasn’t the weight of dependency like it had been with Gabriel. Rather, the cooperative nature of the Pack. She felt a part of it instead of responsible for it. It dawned on her then, that she was accepting both her wolf and the fact that she was a part of the Pack. It still hurt, but it was something she was making room in her life for.

Lex watched her out of the corner of his eye. He could tell she wanted to elaborate and steeled himself, but she stayed quiet after answering Stoner’s question very simply. Will wonders never cease? He stifled a smile at her nature and focused on the conversation again.

“So, you have any idea how this virus ended up in the guy in the next room?”

Lex had debated this with Cade earlier and with himself over and over. The way this information was dealt with was crucial to them as a Pack and also to interspecies relations with the humans for years to come. Some things couldn’t be hidden and now that a human had been involved he was going to have to take a leap of faith.

Nina squeezed his arm and nodded ever-so slightly and he exhaled. “Can you come out to the house, Detective? There are some things we’d like to show you.”

Stoner looked at him carefully for several long moments and finally nodded. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to hear this one.”

Lex nodded and looked toward Dr. Molinari. “I’m going to order two men be stationed here and I’ll send Eric over immediately. We’ll usher him in and offer him a place in the Pack if he wants one. If he wakes up please tell him that I’ll be in to speak with him tomorrow and that his presence is welcome with Cascadia.”

Dr. Molinari inclined her head and left the room with one last nod to Nina. “I’ll see you this evening, Nina.”

Nina nodded, surprised.

“I know where the house is, Mr. Warden. I’ll be there within the hour,” Stoner said shortly. “This had better be worth my while.”

“I hope so, too, Detective.”

Stoner left with the human doctor and Lex grabbed the phone and made arrangements for Pack members to come and help with the newly changed werewolf.

On the ride back home Nina looked over at his face, which had tense lines etched into it.

“He can be trusted.”

“I hope so, Nina. If he can’t, I’ve just thrown the Pack into chaos and made it dangerous for us all.”