by Eva Gordon
“That my dear, Goldilocks, is the cost of betraying our kind.” Rachel’s lips parted and her pulse quickened. Had she assumed he threatened her? “Don’t worry. Our priority is to bring you safely to headquarters.”
Rachel folded her arms over her knees and sighed. “What kind of mess did Howard get me into?”
Guilt flooded his heart. He sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her head. “It won’t be so bad.”
She leaned into him. “You promise not to let them bite?”
“Their bark is worse, but no worries. Only I bite.”
“I’m not complaining.” She twisted and grasped his face and kissed every inch. His light beard, chin, nose, brows and then his ears. More than kissed. The little she-wolf bit his earlobe sending a wave of wolfish passion throughout his core.
He rasped. “Oh, my Rachel. I want to make love to you until sunrise, but we must leave. Pack while I make arrangements.”
“Must we?”
“I suspect they are not coming back, but my boss doesn’t want us to risk it.”
“So we fly to your wolf headquarters?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I didn’t pack all my clothes.”
“I’ll buy you more.”
She laughed. “Let me guess, rich billionaire.”
“Not quite, but close.”
“Well, since I didn’t charge for the doctor visit, I suppose we’re even.” She smoothed her hand over his shirtless torso.
He smiled and picked up the phone. “I’ll have a driver meet us in twenty minutes.”
Lev talked to his contact in Russian. “Stanislav, it is now raining heavily.”
Stanislav, the main fixer in Asia, answered in Russian. “You need an umbrella?”
“Da, large enough for two.”
Stanislav had been trained by agent, Natalya, Lev’s long time comrade at the SVR. “Is there hail or snow?”
“Some hail, and it might return soon.”
“One moment. Ah, here you are. Let me get you a good umbrella.”
“How soon, tovarisch?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
Lev repeated the coordinates. “Dasvidanya.” He smiled. “Done. Car will be here soon.”
“Was your contact a werewolf?”
“No. Human. Russian intelligence.”
“So you spy for Russian and work for the Lycan Intelligence?”
“Yes, but only to inform LIA about intelligence that concerns our kind.”
“Not to spy on us?”
“No. I occasionally worked on military operations to keep my cover. But I don’t have political ties to any human political power. I have only worked for lycans.” He smirked. “My handler, Olga knew of my talents, but assumed it was because of a freak mutation from Chernobyl.”
“So she didn’t take the non-disclosure mark and oath.”
“Olga? No. She never suspected I was a werewolf. Only a super human soldier. Olga spent a year brain washing me to become the perfect weapon. Her objective was to have me be a sleeper agent in the United States. To flush out so-called enemies to the motherland.”
“Olga wanted to turn you into a Manchurian candidate assassin?”
He grinned in deep satisfaction. “I turned the table on her. I mind-controlled her instead. She’s retired, but to this day, her memories of me are of an obedient spy following her orders.”
“No kidding?”
“Even the contact I just talked to thinks I’m a spy on an important mission.”
“Wait. Don’t you need eye contact to do your mesmerism thing?”
“Alpha werewolves require eye contact presence, but I’m an exception to the rule.”
She frowned. “Just don’t even think of turning me into a puppet.”
“Trust me. We are not allowed to mind control a fellow pack member.”
“Can you control lycans like the ones that tried to abduct me?”
“On betas and lower ranks, yes, but alphas are more of a challenge.” He tilted his head. “Our ride is here.”
“Talk about fast.”
Chapter 15
Rachel boarded a small jet on a private airfield near Kathmandu. Not knowing what to expect, she scanned the inside of the plane. It looked more like a billionaire’s private jet than the fighter jet she had expected, probably because LIA sounded so military rather than Wall Street rich. Lev mentioned their headquarters had their own private landing strip and several helipads. They didn’t skimp on amenities. Nice leather seats with a dining table, a big screen TV and a mini bar in the back.
“Buckle up, Rachel, while I have a word with the pilot.”
The tall attractive woman pilot talked to Lev and he nodded. She then had her copilot close the door and they both entered the cockpit.
Sudden irrational dread crawled up her spine. Could Lev be the enemy? Did he save her life for a nefarious reason? If only she could have talked to her father.
The engines roared to life.
Rachel couldn’t just leave the plane. Escape Lev? No way. She felt safe, which made her too damn vulnerable for her taste. She’d always been in charge of taking care of herself and others. Now she depended on some biologically superior werewolf to protect her from other superior lycans. Would the danger ever end and her life take on some level of normalcy? If they thought she’d be some sort of human pet, they had another thing coming. Certainly, Howard wouldn’t be able to put up with that shit. Then again, her memories of a strong father might have been false.
Lev sat across from her and buckled up. “Since this flight was last minute, we will serve ourselves once the pilot gives us her okay.”
“I’m not hungry yet, but a drink will be nice.”
He shot her a concerned look. “You look worried, are you afraid of flying?”
“No. I’ve been on hundreds of planes. But afraid of big bad wolves…yes.”
Lev reached for her hand and kissed it. He let go and sighed. “You still don’t trust me?”
“I do, but, I don’t know. I feel like I’ve been ripped from reality and everything I’ve known and loved is gone.”
He furrowed his brow. “For example?”
You have to be kidding me. He’d no clue being around werewolves, once real wolves, would be a bit disconcerting? “I don’t know, do you lycans go to movies, eat pizza…have picnics.”
“Of course, we do. I promise, we’ll order pizza once we arrive.”
“As long as you don’t eat the delivery guy.”
Lev laughed. “It’s good you have a sense of humor. You will need it.”
“Since this will be a long flight, I hope you don’t mind if I ask you questions about living in a lycan community. The so-called status behavior code.”
“Not at all.”
“So we are supposed to act all submissive to the alphas, like a slave?”
“Not like a slave. But yes, you must respect the higher ranks, especially the alphas.”
“Good luck with that one.”
“How have you behaved around your bosses?”
“Respectful, however, when we disagreed, I did not shy from giving him or her my opinion. I never backed down.” She snorted. “Even when I was wrong. Stubborn Taurus.”
“An alpha will listen to your opinion, but not with a stubborn tone.”
“Once we arrive, I’ll stay with you, right?”
He frowned. “Not sure.”
“I hope so. I’m comfortable around you and not just because we had hot sex.”
“The way we behave toward one another will be more formal around the pack.”
“Oh, so I’m going to kowtow to you?”
Lev narrowed his piercing blue eyes at her. “Yes.”
“I’m good at pretending, but that’s all it will be, pretending.” Until I can figure out where I’m going to live and how this is all going to work.
The pilot announced they could take their seatbelts off and walk around. Le
v stood. “What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Vodka.”
“Perfect. On the rocks.”
He brought the shots. He drank one and poured himself another. “Alpha gets first drink.” He raised his cup. “Nasdarovje. Cheers.”
Rachel sipped. A mild burning sensation coursed down her throat, but not like whisky. She cleared her throat. “Not bad.”
“Very smooth and very expensive.”
She raised a brow. What would a drunk werewolf be like? Or perhaps they didn’t get inebriated. Would silver bullets harm them? “You told Rylee, one of the men had a Wolfsbane rifle. Is that like an elephant gun used to kill werewolves?”
“Precisely correct. SR Wolfsbane also called the Wolf Bane rifle.”
“Dangerous even to you?”
“I was shot by a Wolfsbane bullet in the spine. Any werewolf, even an alpha would have died, or in my case, been crippled for life. Your father saved me.”
“Now I understand why you moved heaven and earth to rescue me.”
“You’re more to me than just a way to show Dr. Becker gratitude.”
“I’m cool if you want to ponder this mate thing. I mean we don’t know anything about each other. Except the obvious, ‘I’m a human you’re a werewolf, let’s romp in dark caves’ deal.”
“What, you don’t like romping in dark caves?”
She laughed. “With the right werewolf I do.”
“Good, because from now on, I am the only wolf you can romp with.”
“Not that I’m saying yes to romping in dark caves forever, but should you first ask my father for my hand—or is it paw in marriage?”
Lev stiffened as if he’d thought the word marriage was wolf code for collar. “Do not mention I claimed you to your father.”
She frowned. “Because…”
Lev sighed. “I sort of promised I wouldn’t.”
Rachel’s heart stilled. Lev appeared the type to always keep his vows. Yet, he apparently broke this one. Big time. “I get it. Loyalty. But why would Howard make you promise not to?” Or would he back out once they returned to safe territory? The master spy who seduced women into carrying out his bidding for the cause. She’d seen enough spy thriller movies to know lies were all part of the game of seduction.
“No more talk.” He stood.
That’s kind of abrupt. “Where are you going?”
“I will have the copilot arrange a vehicle to meet us at our airstrip. Then I will talk to Rylee to see if she’s learned anything new about the rogue pack.”
After a half an hour, Lev returned, took his seat on the other side of the aisle. His demeanor cold as a brick of ice. No charming smile. No longing look. No more affectionate flirts. Was Lev’s sour mood because of his conversation with Rylee? “Press that lever and your seat will extend into a bed. Overhead are pillows and blankets.”
“Cool.” She furrowed her brow. “Did you get in touch with Rylee?”
“Yes. She has Manny, head of our tech team, utilizing satellites to help locate Stallo’s Island. If such a place exists.”
“I imagine searching for his island will be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
He released a hard breath. “Rylee told me another Stallo woman, one we thought dead is alive, but just vanished.”
Rachel’s pulse quickened. “American?”
“No. Russian. Her name is Svetlana. The evil bitch and her werewolf mate, Anton were notorious mobsters.” He stared at nothing in particular. “The lycan who murdered my father.”
So that explained his cold mood. “I’m sorry about your father.”
“No worries.” He smiled with satisfaction. “Anton met a grisly end.”
“But Svetlana escaped?”
“Yes, but we don’t know how.” His eyes turned an iridescent blue, as if he’d gone demon. “I am not sure if the rogue pack abducted Svetlana or she joined their ranks.”
“Your eyes are glowing.”
He blinked and his eyes returned to his normal blue colors. “Sorry. Anger always brings out my mutant traits.”
She spoke with a gentle tone. “Now that the pack took a Stallo woman, they’ll leave me alone.”
Lev snorted. “I doubt it.” He scowled. “No more talking. Get sleep.”
Hey, don’t snap at me like a rabid wolf. “I’m not yours to order around.”
“You are tired and will soon know your place.”
That’s what you think. She suppressed a yawn as if fighting his command, but exhaustion made her surrender. “Fine.” In the overhead bin, she reached for a pillow and wool blanket then turned her seat into a roomy bed. Within moments of putting her head on the firm pillow, she drifted into much needed sleep.
Lev got out of the SUV and opened the door for Rachel. “We are here.”
Rachel wore blue jeans and a sweatshirt she borrowed from the pilot. She looked hot, with an ass that could drive any male, human or werewolf mad with lust. Before disembarking, she donned a heavy snow jacket. Montana winter had produced heavy snow this year. However, for everyone’s sake, he’d held back being affectionate since they disembarked at the private lycan airfield, and he drove her to headquarters. He’d confessed his claim to her, but she hadn’t really agreed to a life with him. The lycan council and king may deem her too important to belong to a mutant werewolf. Yet, he could no longer break their bond. Most disturbing, his attempt to mind control her on the plane had failed. No human and only a handful of alphas avoided his influence. Ever since he drank her blood to save her life, he’d not been able to even get her to fall asleep. His gut twisted. Had she become his blood mistress? He decided to do what he did best, put on the icy demeanor that made everyone shake in their boots. In return, she gave him the cold treatment the entire drive.
Rachel stepped out of the SUV and stared. “This looks like a working ranch.” Her pulse relaxed, no doubt happy to see a normal country scene.
The herd of cattle and buffalo and the horse stables would fool anyone, although it really was a working ranch, only one run by lycans. “It is.”
“I expected a castle with a huge steel gate. Guards everywhere.”
“You are describing our king’s castle.”
She raised a questioning brow. “Yeah, I suppose. Then again you mentioned state of the art research facility which I assume is located elsewhere.”
“The LIA is underground. Our research facility is on the surface and a mile away, at least part of it. To satellite maps, it looks like a veterinary clinic. Most of the research your father conducts is underground.”
“How soon before I see Howard?”
“First, we’ll be debriefed by Rylee and Cricket. You must also complete signing the contract. Then you can see your father.” If he wished, he could have her address him properly. Dr. Becker was her father and not some casual friend. Putting her over his knees and spanking her round ass would teach her proper manners.
“Joy. I’ll sign my life away first.”
“I promise, once you prove your loyalty and we stop the rogue werewolves you can return to practicing medicine. Perhaps with your father.” But you won’t leave my sight.
Rachel stopped and narrowed her eyes at the stylish two-story ranch house and furrowed her brow. “Okay, let’s do this.”
As if you have a choice, my Goldilocks. “Until further notice, keep your gaze lowered.”
She shook her head and sat on a log bench along the long pathway to the ranch, as if having second thoughts. “Or what, I’ll get bitten?”
Lev mustered every ounce of patience in him and sat next to her. “Something like that.” My type of discipline will be more of a sexual nature.
Her pulse quickened. “Can you just wipe my mind and return me back to the real world?”
“I don’t think the other werewolves hunting you will be so accommodating.” If Svetlana joined the rogue pack, she’d likely take revenge against him by abducting Rachel, especially knowing
he’d claimed her. However, if Svetlana who must have successfully gone off the grid was taken without her consent, then the rogue group must have the resources to abduct all the Stallo women. Svetlana was too old to bear any more hybrid children. So why take her?
“I’m screwed either way.”
Guilt softened his heart. “Trust me. If a werewolf dares try anything, I’ll put them in their place.” Soon enough they would learn she was his human. His pet. Any action would come from him. No one else.
“Never mind. It’s not like I can’t behave appropriately for a different culture. I’ll do my best.”
“Good. I trust you will.” Claiming her as his without letting her know was bad enough. If he acted like a fool, all would suspect he was addicted to her blood. He couldn’t be. Not from a few bites. He swallowed. Even now, his wolf raged to protect her from anyone who treated her as inferior. “If I prevent them from disciplining you, things will not go well for me.”
“What would they do?”
“Send me to the enforcer for punishment.”
“I don’t want that. Not on account of me.”
“Nice to know you have my back, as I have yours.”
“Yep, even when you act like a jerk.”
“A jerk? Me? ” Lev pressed a hand over his heart in feigned hurt. He had acted like a domineering ass and knew it.
“Don’t act all innocent.” She wrinkled her brow. “Anyway, what would the enforcer do to you?”
“Besides whips and chains? There is banishment. But the worst would be what we call a werewolf lobotomy.”
“What is that?”
“All your memories of being human are erased and you are returned to the wild as a real wolf.”
“That would suck.”
“Yes, it would. We lycans fear that more than death.”
“I bet those memories are still there to resurface,” said Rachel.
“Hard to say. Upon return to the wild, they behave just like real wolves.”
“True, but didn’t you tell me your society was created by magic and not science?”
“Point well taken.” Lev had often wondered the same thing. Did werewolf lobotomy really erase all memories or were there flickers of being human? Perhaps in dreams or in their case, nightmares.