by Eva Gordon
“I bet Howard prefers you choose to live apart from our pack.”
“Hypocrite. Dear old dad failed to keep me from getting involved with lycans and now that I am, he doesn’t have the right to protest if I decide to stay and mate Lev.”
“When I’m not on a field mission, I do lab work in luponomics research.” Cricket sighed. “I don’t blame him for worrying. Lev’s DNA is very different from a typical alpha werewolf. We don’t know the full extent of his mutations.”
“Yes, he told me the pack, especially potential mates, are afraid of the type of offspring he might produce.” I should be afraid as well.
“You are a Stallo woman and like Mia, you can make our gene pool stronger. Fewer werewolves survive the change, so we need hybrids to help continue the line or we may eventually die as a species.”
“So what are you saying? That I should choose another alpha, one without mutations?”
“No. Not me. In my book, love comes first. The lycan council and the king, however, might think otherwise.”
“If I lived in your society permanently, I would only choose Lev.” Rachel instantly regretted blurting that out to Cricket. She’d only known her for a few days and she’d probably blab her intentions to the entire pack or packs. Certainly to the all mighty Rylee.
“That’s my girl.” Cricket smirked.
“Can the king or council stop me from choosing Lev? I mean for the good of lycan kind?” Not to mention preventing him from becoming addicted to her blood and making her his blood mistress.
“We can’t force you to be a broodmare, but they can stop your union.”
They must fear Lev’s children might be born mindless monsters. Shifting from bear to lion or maybe even a two headed-wolf. “How would they stop us?”
“Lev might be the most powerful werewolf, but against the king’s henchmen, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“They would kill him and think I’d take another mate?”
“Don’t worry. Rylee would protest, but even she bows down to the council and the king.”
Rachel pressed her forehead and winced as a massive headache crippled her thoughts.
Cricket took her arm and helped her sit onto the sofa. “Crap. Rachel, what’s wrong?”
Rachel shut her eyes from the blinding light. “A migraine,” she rasped.
Cricket touched her forehead. “You are burning up. Lie down.”
Rachel did as told and her back spasmed as if someone had stabbed her with a dagger. She grunted. Not able to speak. Fortunately, the back pain only lasted a few seconds.
“I’ll get you something for the pain and fever.”
As suddenly as it came, the headache dissipated. The gooseflesh that had spread over her arms went away just as quickly. What happened? Was she getting the flu? Meningitis? No, the symptoms would get worse not instantly better. Maybe the stress of what might happen to Lev undid her. Yet, she’d never had stress related headaches and never suffered from backaches. Must be an illness. She pressed her palm above her brow. Warm, but not insanely hot. Cricket must have exaggerated.
She returned with pain meds and water. “Here, take two.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Rachel quipped.
“We should have Darius check you.”
“No. The headache passed. I feel better.” No point mentioning the back spasm.
Cricket touched her head. “Your temperature is back to normal, but man it was hot only moments ago.”
“That was weird, but I really do feel better.” No lingering pain. As though, she’d not suffered at all.
“Maybe it’s related to the Ebola virus that nearly killed you?” asked Cricket.
“No. It’s not a latent virus. If anything, I would be immune to Ebola.”
“Do you get migraines?”
“No. Never.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to go to the hospital. You don’t have to see your father. You can see Darius.”
“Really. I’m fine.” She braved a smile. “Didn’t you promise to take me to the gym during the alpha workout?”
Cricket sniffed “I don’t smell an illness.”
“I suppose like trained dogs that detect cancer or a diabetic attack, werewolves can do so as well?”
“Some better than others, but we skip the training part. Doc Darius, for example, can detect the early stages of a human’s allergic reaction to food, even before they realize it. One of the reasons he went into medicine was because of his superior sense of smell, which is why he should take a whiff of you.”
Odd. Of all the lycans she’d met, Darius was the only one who did not sniff-greet her. Although, they didn’t need to make a performance of sniffing a person to detect emotions and apparently illnesses. “Every hospital or medical clinic would hire him to help diagnose illness.” All her expertise in epidemiology to determine which disease a patient had couldn’t compete with the lycan nose.
“We would put many of your medical staff out of business, that’s for sure,” scoffed Cricket. Her tone suddenly lost her frivolity. “Such an action would get us executed because it would lead to our discovery.”
“True, but still a shame.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to get checked out?”
The headache and the temporary fever should have left her weak, but she really felt better. Like three cups of coffee energy better. “Really. I’m okay. I probably just need fresh air.”
“Good idea. We’ll go upside.” Cricket eyed her watch. “Lev works out every day at this time.” She winked. “Slade will be joining him.”
Rachel had not seen Lev since they made love and she let him feast on her blood. “Can we watch?” I hate being a stalker.
Cricket regarded Rachel. “First, we’ll stop at my place and find you some cute workout clothes.”
“I would love to exercise, but maybe light cardio, in case I have a relapse.”
“Trust me. We won’t work out, but why not put on something tighter than sweats?”
Rachel looked down at her gray sweatpants and baggy t-shirt. “Okay.” She tilted her head. “Why aren’t we working out?”
“I was going to teach you self-defense techniques, but, how about we do yoga?”
“That’ll work.”
Cricket glanced at her watch. “If we hurry, you’ll have a chance to speed up your heart rate without breaking a sweat.”
“Huh?”
“To the gym to feast our eyes.”
“I’m game.”
“Yes, you are.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Stop with the predator humor.”
Cricket laughed. “Come, let’s get to my den and change.”
“Lead the way.”
They entered Cricket and Slade’s den. The suite was small, but earlier Cricket had told her they had a bigger cottage deep in the forest and only stayed at HQ because she’d been selected as her handler.
Cricket returned from her bedroom wearing a sexy black outfit that made her look like Cat Woman, without the ears and tail. She handed Rachel a pair of size small teal-colored yoga pants and matching top. “Hurry, we don’t want to miss the sausage fest.”
Rachel donned the clothes in the bathroom. The outfit fit more like skin than clothes. What she wouldn’t give for loose baggy sweats. She stared at her backside. “I can see my ass,” she shouted from behind the closed door. “Every detail.”
Cricket walked in and grinned. “Oh, Doc, where have you been hiding that hot body?”
“Beneath a decent pair of scrubs.” Rachel stared down. “I might as well be naked.”
“That’s an option.”
“I bet it is.” Are all female lycans just as horny as the males?
“Come on, I’ll show you a secret passage which will get us there in five minutes.”
Cricket dug in a closet, reached for a flashlight and handed it to her. “It’s a dark tunnel near pools of hot water.”
Rachel took the flashlight. “Won’t you need to lead?”
“Night vision, remember.” Cricket winked.
“Oh, yeah, almost forgot you guys have superhuman status.”
Cricket gave her a conspiratorial smile and whispered, “Don’t tell anyone I told you about the tunnel.”
“It’s not like I know my way around Werewolf World.” They left the suite and walked to the far end of the hallway to what looked like a utility room.
Cricket glanced around as if worried they’d be discovered, then quietly opened the door. At least there were no visible cameras in the hall. Maybe they had some sense to keep their privacy by not having big brother wolf watching their every move.
Total darkness enveloped them. Rachel turned on the flashlight and followed Cricket past steamy underground pools to where the tunnel sloped up. “Do all werewolves know of this tunnel?”
“Only a few. There is a bigger exit upstairs from our den area that leads through a mess hall directly to the outside. Less private, but it’s perfect if you need to be in the woods for a quick shift. We normally don’t go this way to get to the gym.”
Light shimmered in the foreground. “Who told you about this route?”
“Jesper. He and I are like siblings. Both lower ranks with brilliant tendencies.”
Rachel chuckled. “If you can’t beat them, beat them at chess.”
“So true.”
They stepped out and Rachel took in the fresh mountain air and the aroma of coniferous trees. Even the smell of fresh cow patties pleased her. “Ahh. Nice not being a mole.”
“I could arrange for a room in the ranch house.”
“Would that be safe?”
“Sure. We have guards and cameras everywhere. We’d be safer from a nuke underground, but the only nuke we need to worry about is Lev.”
“Ha, ha.” Rachel scanned the surroundings which included a parking area and a huge barn. There were several SUVs and a few smaller vehicles by the building. Probably for the ranchers or lycans needing more beef jerky or beer. Farther down was yet another helipad. Not the one where she and Lev first landed, which was a mile from the ranch. This one was probably for Rylee’s personal helicopter.
Cricket folded her arms and pointed her chin to the barn. “We call it Blood Arena.”
Chapter 21
Lev smirked as Slade slammed him onto the mat. They practiced lycan martial arts, a combination of jujitsu, karate, kick boxing and lycan moves. “Not bad, Prince.”
Breathing hard and sweaty, Slade scoffed. “Former prince, remember?”
Lev bounced back onto his feet and adjusted his ear plugs. During practice, loud music drummed from the wall speaker. Rap music to heavy metal. Currently rapper, 50 Cent played, Americans. Lev took off his tank top. “Time to put on my music.” He leapt from the fighting ring and changed the music to Brutto, a Byelorussian punk rock band. In a flash, he jumped up to the arena.
Slade laughed. “What, no Tetris?”
Lev smirked. “Playing games is how you learn about Russian music?”
“Ha, ha,” said Slade.
Lev patted his chest. “Again.” He had not broken a sweat like the other alphas waiting their turn to kick his ass.
Slade put a hand up to give him a minute to recover. Suddenly, Slade spun, dove and swept Lev’s foot. He slammed into the mat with a loud thump.
Lev grinned. The big alpha played dirty. Good.
Slade already shirtless cracked his knuckles. “Don’t hold back. Go nuke on me.”
Lev leapt in the air, landed behind Slade and put him in a headlock. Slade growled, twisting in every known martial arts maneuver, but he couldn’t break Lev’s iron grip. Lev picked Slade up and flung him into the ropes.
Slade spread his arms against the ropes, straightened and winced. “I’m happy you’re on our side.”
Lev glanced at the three alphas, who after being turned into his bitch in seconds, stared as if studying for weaknesses. “How about I go nuke on all of you at once?”
“Fucking yeah,” said Gunner, an enthusiastic new team member.
The others stood and joined Slade in the ring. All shirtless, fangs out and in fighting stances.
The four alphas circled Lev, not surprisingly, like a pack of wolves. Snarling. Fangs and claws out. The workout would turn into a bloody brawl. Maybe if he was lucky it would keep his mind off of Rachel who he hadn’t seen in two days. Too fucking long. Fur lined his back and he smirked. “Bring it on.”
Rachel and Cricket entered the gym. Rachel gasped at the sight of Lev, bloodied and fighting four other werewolves. Or was it Lev beating the crap out of four men? Lev threw them out of the ring as if they were a sack of potatoes being tossed into a truck. They grunted, growled and then jumped into the ring for more punishment. Lev sported slash marks on his chest and back. His opponents looked even worse. Bruised and bloodied, they grinned, baring fierce fangs as they stalked him. She was not sure if she should run and get her medical kit or observe how werewolves stayed in shape. Lev lifted two hulky men in the air by their throats and slammed their heads together. Their skulls knocked against each other, reverberating above the rock music and they crumbled to the ground. The next one leapt toward Lev and he grabbed and flung him against the wall. Like a cat flinging a sparrow.
“Get him, Slade,” shouted Cricket to the sweaty blond brawny man now facing her man, Lev.
Rachel saw Cricket’s mate for the first time. Big as Lev and just as sexy.
Lev turned. His eyes widened, obviously getting an eyeful of her skin tight yoga attire. “Rachel?” Obviously, he’d not expected to see her. His guard down, Slade’s claws receded and he punched him with a brutal right hook. Lev hit the mat with the force of an oak tree hitting the ground.
“Lev!” Rage coursed through her and the damn headache squeezed her brain. Dizziness washed over her, but when Lev stood and rubbed his jaw, her raw anger and pounding head disappeared. Please don’t tell me this is related to the blood bond thing.
Cricket hooted and leaped over the rope and into the ring. She held up Slade’s muscular arm up in the air. “Winner.” She let go of Slade and shouted, “USA, USA!”
Slade lifted Cricket over his head and smiled. “Distracting him was not fair.”
Cricket laughed. “There is nothing fair about winning a fight.”
Lev laughed. “She’s right.”
Slade put Cricket down and ravished her with a fierce kiss. He released her and planted a gentler kiss on her hair. “Workout is over.”
The other men stretched and rubbed their sore bodies. Each of the men, like Lev and Slade had godlike muscular bodies. They could probably raise money going on tour as a hot lycan stripper dance troupe.
Cricket elbowed Rachel. “I told you your heart rate would go up.”
“No kidding. I never had the stomach for boxing or wrestling or whatever martial arts they just did.”
“I was talking about the beefsteak testosterone fest.”
Slade scowled. “Stop being so sexist, hon.”
Lev jumped out of the ring and gave Rachel a wolfish look. “I like you in those tight yoga pants.”
Rachel shivered. “I borrowed them from Cricket to do yoga.”
Slade chuckled. “Cricket do yoga? She is way too hyper to focus on anything slower than a sprint.”
“Mia taught me a few poses,” Cricket shot back.
Rachel couldn’t wait to meet Mia, the other Stallo woman. “I think I’d rather learn self-defense techniques.”
Cricket furrowed her brow. “I recommend you learn wrestling moves from Lev.”
Like she had a chance against the alpha who just beat the crap out of the other four werewolves. Lev would have her on her back in seconds. Then again that wouldn’t be so bad. She shook her head. Hot sex. Cricket was one naughty she-wolf.
“I would be happy to.” Lev deep husky voice melted her to the core.
“It would be hot to see the two of you up in the fight ring, yoga pants and all,” suggested Slade.
Cricket winked at him.
“Lessons are over for today. Rachel didn’t feel so well earlier.”
Lev narrowed his eyes at Rachel. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just a headache.”
“That was not just your average headache. You practically fell to the floor.” Cricket’s tone turned maternal. “Lucky for me, I caught her.”
Lev put his large hands on Rachel’s shoulder. “We go see the doctor.”
“I am the doctor, and I feel much better. Actually, after being in the fresh air I feel as though I have renewed energy. I was probably just dehydrated.”
“A second opinion never hurts,” said Cricket.
“Fine. As long as it’s not Howard.”
Lev rubbed the back of his neck. “Agreed.”
Slade draped an arm over Cricket. “Let’s run in the snow.”
“Love to, but only if you promise to play tag.”
“I’m game,” said Slade as he bent down to grab a bottle of water.
“You certainly are.” Cricket grabbed a towel and wacked Slade on the ass. She then dropped the towel and ran out the door.
Slade growled and gave chase.
Rachel laughed and then turned to Lev. “I would love to play hide and seek with you.” Cricket was definitely a bad influence. She glanced at a bleeding slash on Lev’s shoulder, not because it looked horrible, but because it healed at a rapid rate, like a fast forward time lapse video. “Does it hurt while it heals?”
“A minor sting. Nothing like the bite you stitched in Nepal.”
“Good to know.”
“Darius took a sample of the tissue from where the mysterious lycan bit me. He says the bite would have been lethal to all other werewolves.”
“Really?”
“He will send the tissue to our lab to determine what type of poison they used.”
“But you healed from the bites of the werewolves you fought in the cave.”
“True. Only the werewolf I confronted by their helicopter smelled corrupt. Don’t worry. The poison was out of my system when I bit you.” He shrugged. “Come, I’ll take you to see the doctor.”
“Okay.” Rachel crossed her arms and regarded him. She had to ask. “Do you think your bite caused my reaction?”