Page 61 of Perfectly Naïve
She chews on her bottom lip, lowering the axe. “Could one of you go first? I want to watch the mechanics of it all before trying.”
Liam takes a step forward and gingerly takes the axe out of her hands. “I can show you.”
“Thanks.” Liv beams at our beta. She quickly presses a kiss to his cheek before taking several large steps back. She catalogs every movement Liam makes as he aligns his body with the target, grips the axe, and raises his arms above his head. When Liam takes a slight step forward, Liv holds her breath.
The axe sails through the air, turning end over end, before embedding in the wooden target with a sharpthwack.
It’s a solid throw. The sharp steel of the blade is embedded in the outer ring of the bullseye on the right side. Liam grins when he looks back at Liv, who cheers and claps for him.
“Are you ready to try now?” he asks. Liv nods and Liam pulls the axe from the target, carefully handing it to our omega.
The guys and I watch as she takes up her stance, the blade of the axe glinting under the bright fluorescent lights. This time, I’m the one holding my breath. When I exchange looks with my packmates, I see I’m not the only one.
Was it a mistake bringing her here? I’ll never forgive myself if she gets hurt.
“Careful, baby,” Sawyer says as our pretty omega lifts the blade over her head, takes a step forward, and lets the blade fly.
Wilder gasps as the blade connects with the target. “Holy. Shit.”
Holy shit is right.
“How... But you’ve never... That’s just...” My twin shakes his head before walking over to the target and tugging the axe free from where it is embedded. Almost smack-dab in the center of the small, red bullseye. He carefully extends the handle to our omega. “Beginner’s luck. Try again.”
Olivia tilts her head. “That wasn’t beginner’s luck.”
Sawyer’s brow furrows. “I thought you said you’ve never done this before?”
“I haven’t.” She shrugs before taking up her stance again, a little smile playing over her lips.
We’re utterly silent as she grips the axe, lifts it over her head, then lets it loose again.
“How?” Liam asks, stunned, when the blade embeds itself in the bullseye once again.
“Easy.” My vixen shrugs. “It’s physics.”
“Physics,” I repeat, dumbfounded. This incredible woman just threw two near-perfect throws in a row. From her expression, she has no idea how utterly terrifying and amazing that is. I never saw Liv coming, but fuck if she hasn’t completely embedded herself in my heart.
A perfect bullseye.
Chapter Twenty-One
OLIVIA
Usually, breakthroughs at the lab are what put a smile on my face, but today, the goofy grin is all because of a certain pack. I’ve never felt more comfortable in my skin than when they’re around. Not having to be the omega my mother insists I have to be is an added bonus.
It’s clear to me now. Pack Flynn wants me as I am. They don’t expect me to change, and they don’t want me to. My stomach flutters remembering the whirlwind of the last few weeks. From asking Sawyer to fake date me to now? Who knew I’d be halfway to wanting them to mark me. Claim me as their omega forever and always.
Sighing, I slide a fresh petri dish with blood agar on it under the microscope and confirm everything is as expected before grabbing the needle. I don’t need a bad sample messing up my results. With a steady hand, I slip the thin piece of metal into the vial of Batch 51. The antidote has yet to be given a name. It’s bad luck to name a drug until the formula is perfected.
The door to my lab slides open. I don’t bother checking tosee who it is. The only person who ever comes in while I’m working is Vicki.
“Hi.” I reposition myself over the microscope, looking through the lens and carefully bringing the needle to the medium, injecting the drug directly onto the blood agar. “Holding your breath?”
“Holding my breath,” Vicki confirms.
Together, we wait. Me studying the reaction through the microscope and Vicki standing beside me, watching the computer screen, which displays the same view I have. I could watch the screen as well. Modern technology has made a lot of advancements in our industry, but I prefer to directly study the work I’m doing.
If we were working with bacteria, it would be easier to tell if the drug is working. The bacteria would simply die, sometimes mutate, but it would be obvious. Whether or not Batch 51 effectively terminates the feralisiticomega cell growth requires a patient study. I observe how the medium and medicine interact, applying a touch more of the medicine to see what happens.
