Chapter 3

Alec watched Syl sitting on the sofa flipping though the channels on the TV. "What do you know?" he asked with his arms crossed as he stood next to the sofa.

Syl looked up at him and smiled innocently. "About what?"

Alec walked over to the TV and turned it off. "Rent's free for the next two months if you start talking now."

Syl sighed unable to pass up the deal. "It happened to me so I noticed it on you last night, as we talked I became sure then at Crash with Max I noticed she wasn't feeling it yet so I decided to help you out." She sat forward on the sofa as she grew serious. "We all had kept contact with Zack and followed his orders, Max didn't. When we got older he explained to us the genetic pattern matches Manticore implanted in all of us to match our mates. They linked us as children by choosing the perfect DNA for each other. Then they moved on to install pheromones and pretty much planted feelings for each other so no matter what we'd want each other and be together."

Alec nodded, he had known all about it but never pegged Max was his perfect match. "None of it's real, all these feelings are planted. Over night you're suddenly drawn to this person, you can't get them out of your head."

"It's worse then heat. With heat you wanted anyone you hoped could satisfy your desires. With this it's directed at one person and you can't shake it no matter how far the person is. Manticore really made sure their hopes and dreams continued no matter what." Syl explained. It was a forced breeding program, some maybe didn't notice it but some did and it caused their lives to be turned upside down. Syl frowned and sat back and thought of how the pattern matches ruined her life.

"Who's yours?"

"Someone from my unit, we stayed together after everything went haywire and Max was recaptured again. Krit, one day we were all over each other and knew it was too sudden. He remembered what Zack had warned us about. I left and came here." Syl blankly explained not letting herself invest anymore emotion into the facts she couldn't change.

Alec joined her on the sofa. "Why leave? You were friends; you didn't hate each other so why not just cross that line and stay there?"

"It was weird; he's like a brother to me. We always remained close and watched each other grow up. We just couldn't cross that line."

"So the feelings don't cloud your full judgment you made the choice to leave because you know it's wrong." Alec voiced trying to find hope for himself.

Syl smiled sadly. "It was still the early stages but as time goes on it worsens. You know Manticore better then any of us since you were there longer; you know they make everything as extreme as they could to make sure the results pan out the way they want. Sadistic assholes."

Alec rested his head on the back of the sofa. "I'm screwed."

Syl laughed. "If you think its bad now just wait until Max starts feeling it. Knowing her it'll fuel her hate for you more because she doesn't understand it."

"Great more Max hate, just what I want."

~*~

Max laid in her bed staring at the ceiling, her thoughts wouldn't let her sleep. She thought of Syl and Alec, she knew the type of womanizing man he was, she was just worried for Syl, that's all. Or so she tried to convince herself, there was this underlining feeling that felt a lot like jealously. "But why?" she softly asked in the dark room.

She shook her head, which just made no damn sense, jealously? Come on it's Alec, she reminded herself. She still didn't feel better knowing Alec and Sly were alone in his apartment. What were they doing?

That last thought sent her into a frenzy.

The next morning Max felt tense, her body stiff. She blamed it on the lack of sleep. She rode to Jam Pony with OC, as soon as they walked in the sound of laughter caught her attention. She spotted Alec and Syl near the lockers.

OC grabbed her arm when she noticed she was ready to blow. "Like she told you yesterday boo, she's a big girl and she ain't stupid. Just let them be hon before your head explodes."

Max nodded at her friend. She was right, of course she was right she was OC, Max thought as she walked to her locker and tried her hardest not to let the duo inches from her get under her skin.

She slammed her locker closed with such force it nearly came off the hinges, she walked away and grabbed some packages off the counter and left.

~*~

"You're plan to piss her off to distract the genetic pattern links you share wont work forever you know." Syl warned as they stood alone.

"Working so far, she wants to kill me for hanging out with you. I'd rather her be like that since it's pretty much our normal relationship then suddenly we want to jump each others bones." Alec explained as they walked out together.

"It's not that easy, lust is just one of the emotions, there's want and love. You're destined to spend the rest of your life with this person, give them your all."

"Yeah right like that's going to happen. No I have control, I'm my own person, and I can control this. Manticore can't tell me how to feel anymore." Alec sternly said making himself believe it was true and could be done, it had to work.

"Easier said then done."

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Isabelle A.