by Eva Gordon
A traitor. “You switched sides?”
“I’m a believer. Our legacy is to rule the packs and someday mankind.” He smiled. “You will make it possible.”
“Wouldn’t you be better off if I’m kept alive to donate blood? Especially, since there aren’t many like me.”
“Mia, another Stallo woman, will be taken for the next sacrifice. Her infant will bring forth great magic. By then, we will locate others.”
“You would murder a child?”
“Yes. The child will be bled as well.”
Her reaction to the horror of them murdering a woman and her baby sent her raw emotions cascading into what felt like the worse headache yet. As if that wasn’t enough pain, her lower back and the base of her tail bone spasmed. She screamed and her legs collapsed.
Varg hauled her up. “What’s wrong with you?”
Rachel stood, her legs still wobbly, and shook her head. Her heartbeat thrashed in her ears. Two hearts. Wait one of the hearts was not hers, but Varg’s. She could hear it. Rachel wrinkled her nose. He smelled of death and deer. Yes, definitely venison. How did she know? She’d only eaten venison once. “Let go of me,” Rachel growled.
Varg’s eyes widened. “Can’t be?”
Fur lined her body, her nails turned into large claws. Her red gown ripped, then fell like bloody feathers. A snarl escaped her as she broke away. She groaned. “Nooo.”
He grabbed her and brandished a dagger. “You fooled us!” He didn’t move in, but howled. An alarm to attract the others.
Without thought, she slashed his throat with her clawed hand. He stared at her as he fell to his knees while holding his ripped throat in an attempt to stop the fountain of blood spraying out. She licked the blood that splattered her mouth. Warm. Metallic. Not gross. Agreeable.
Rachel’s wolf eyes stared at him and then glanced down to her wolf legs and paws. Oh, my god. Lev told her humans never turned into werewolves from a bite. Had he lied? I must be dreaming.
A chorus of howls returned Varg’s distress call.
Her hackles rose as Calopus and his ilk exited the stone building.
Survival instinct drove her. She tucked her tail between her legs and dashed toward the snow laden forest.
Rachel dug her wolf paws into the snow. She shuddered from the cold, but warmed as she ran faster. Not a dream. I’m a wolf. Four legs. Running. Fear mixed with an exhilarating thrill coursed through her. Despite the dark night, her eyes focused, seeing everything with clarity as if she used a powerful flashlight. Her hearing picked up every sound, including the incoming pack of werewolves’ beating hearts. She sniffed, driven by a deep need to sense her surroundings. The scent of other animals hiding in the woods, an owl’s guano on a branch, and the scent of greenery despite the winter landscape overwhelmed her. Rachel’s enhanced sense of smell was akin to being deaf all her life and suddenly hearing for the first time.
No time to process.
Confused, only the threat of death pushed her forward, giving in to the wild beast she was now. She wasn’t sure where she was going, only that the farther away the better. The distant angry barks and snarls followed by eerie howls meant they would never let her escape. This nightmare seemed so real. She panted like a dog, while her heart yelped at her to run. Don’t stop. Capture is death.
Above her, the moon disappeared and slowly glowed red. The lunar eclipse had commenced. She headed for a higher ridge as three werewolves drew closer. Each wolf smelled as distinct as a different type of cooked meal. If she could outrun them until the lunar eclipse ended, she might be kept alive until the next one. Giving her time to figure out how to escape. That is if they didn’t tear her to pieces for screwing up their plans. Technically was she still a Stallo woman or a lycan? Unintentionally turned by the bite of a man she loved. Damn Lev. There had to be a cure for lycanthropy.
Rachel’s wolf body grew exhausted. As she reached the top of ridge, the sound of a helicopter meant they decided to look for her by air. She stopped to catch her breath and cocked her head to listen for the werewolves hunting her. Howls echoed from the sacrificial ground. Her stalkers stopped and headed back. She flared her nostrils. Their scent, similar to what she deemed lycan perfume became fainter. Odd. They had turned back. Although she’d been a werewolf for a short amount of time, she understood the meaning of the howl. Return. Danger. Pack in territory. War. Was it Team Greywolf?
The helicopter didn’t hone in on her with search lights, but instead turned away from where she stood.
Rachel glanced at the lunar eclipse. The eclipse had ended. She grinned. Ha, they lost their chance. Now what? Rachel paced like the bored wolves she’d seen at local zoos. Turning wolf had saved her life, but she wished to return to human form. Her stamina, and enhanced senses felt exhilarating, yet she preferred her inferior primate anatomy. Not smart. If she shifted back, she’d be naked. Freeze to death. Perhaps that’s why she remained a wolf. Then again, what does one do to become human again? Or is this permanent?
Despite Rachel’s transformation and danger, she stilled as lightness spread through her body. She sensed him. Her mate. Lev.
Chapter 24
Lev sat next to the pilot. In the event the warlock used a sonic weapon, he’d pilot the helicopter. The team included Rylee, Steele, Thorn and Manny. More elite soldiers from Team Greywolf were deployed and would catch up. The pilot flew the military helicopter at top speed, but Lev clenched his fists. Only a couple hours away, yet they’d never make it in time. Focus. If he lost his mind to his wolf and they crashed, there would be no rescue and if too late, no blood revenge. Lev snarled at Manny who followed the eclipse on his tablet. “Is the lunar eclipse over?”
“I’m sorry, ten minutes ago.”
“And you mention it now.” His body radiated heat. A beast far bigger and more dangerous demanded release. He scanned the team. Thorn met his eyes, as if accepting the challenge. The big game hunter ready to slaughter whatever beast Lev turned into.
Rylee ordered. “Stand down, Lev son of Arkady.”
Evoking his father’s name brought Lev back to some semblance of duty. Killing everyone onboard would bring dishonor to his pack’s name and serve no purpose. Odd. The wolf, the beast that dominated his other internal beasts had not sensed Rachel’s death. Perhaps, they had spared her or she’d escaped? Yet, would he sense the death of a human mate?
“Land here,” said Rylee.
The helicopter landed in an empty snow covered field. Lev spoke through gritted teeth. “Not close enough.”
“Close enough so we don’t get mowed down as we exit.” Rylee turned to Manny. “Set up the anti-sonic sound device and then notify the others to land at these coordinates.”
Manny nodded and switched on the donut-shaped device.
Lev unbuckled and stepped out, followed by the team.
Rylee turned to Thorn. “Arm yourself and remain in human form.”
He nodded.
“The rest of you, shift.” Rylee stepped in front of Lev. “Take the lead. We’ll follow, stalk mode.”
Lev shifted into bear form and ran toward the scent of the enemy werewolves, both living and dead. He looked back at the rest of the team trailing a good distance behind him. Better they stay out of my way. He continued on and stopped on a ridge. He flared his nostrils and spied on the enemy.
The cloaked bearded man, Andrew Joki, and four human men stood near a pile of lycan bones. The remains of evil werewolves executed over the past hundred years had been dug up and laid below a wooden structure. A dead beta, dressed in a cloak like the humans, lay dead. His throat ripped out. A sacrifice?
Lycans in wolf form swarmed out of the tomb like a horde of cockroaches. Hundreds. The stench of rot permutated the air. Necromancy. Three wolves raced from a forest path.
Andrew barked commands. “Kill their alphas and take all their betas.” He had fangs and claws. Fur lined his face. Not monster werewolf, yet not man. Like their forefather, Stallo, human but with wolfish trai
ts. How had he accomplished it?
One of his men brought the wolf warlock the Wolfsbane rifle. Yet only one. He must know it would take more than one lethal weapon to take down Team Greywolf.
Near the sacrificial structure, a torn red night gown littered the ground. Rachel’s recent scent. No sign or scent of her blood. Only the blood of the dead beta. Where was she? Had the dead beta been killed by a lycan for helping her escape?
Dread froze his beating heart. According to Lunara, the necromancy ritual included feasting on the victim.
Behind him, Rylee approached and stood next to him. She lowered her gaze and studied the wolf warlock. “Looks like someone killed Varg the bonekeeper.”
The pack looked up at them and snarled. Lev flared his nostrils. The smell of decay reminded him how his wound had festered. Poison. He could not allow Team Greywolf to get bitten. He spoke in wolf. “Ma’am. Keep Team Greywolf away.”
“You don’t get to have revenge all by yourself.”
“Their bite is deadly.”
She sniffed and cocked her head to the side. “They do reek of lethal venom.”
“I feel it in my heart Rachel is alive.”
“GPS, or at least her jacket is underground, but I smell her above ground, too.”
Three more members of Team Greywolf arrived. Thorn in human form approached carrying a high power rifle.
The warlock laughed. “One Russian bear and four team members?”
Lev stood on two legs and roared. One mutant bear is all that is needed. He landed on the hard snow and swiped at it, like bears often did in warning. Only instead of chunks of ice flying in all directions, water splashed. He radiated heat, melting a circle of soggy ground.
Rylee glowered at the warlock. “Surrender, Andrew Joki.”
“I’m Andres Calopus, Wolf Mage. Your new master.” He smiled and sprinkled something over the bones. He glowered at her. “Today, you die, bitch.”
“I kill him now,” growled Lev.
“Wait.” Rylee cocked her head at the sound of rattling. “What the fuck?” She shuddered. Lev had never seen her show fear, until now.
The bones vibrated and formed into wolf skeletons. The potion smelled like venom and other fluids. Blood. Lev sniffed. The decaying rot imbued with Stallo’s venom to elicit the change.
The wolf skeletons snapped and stood at attention, their bones rattling like rain sticks.
Thorn wrinkled his nose. “Do you smell that?”
“Yes. Pure venom.” Rylee backed away. “Their bite is lethal. We need to leave and radio for a missile strike.”
Varg the bonekeeper, who lay dead, rose and stood in front of Joki. His large frame protecting the warlock from a shot.
Thorn whispered to Rylee, “Should I take out Varg and then the voodoo king?”
“Better to get a shot from the air.”
“Ma’am?”
“That’s an order!”
Lev backed her decision. “You might kill two, maybe three, but then you’ll be overrun.”
The wolf skeletons surrounded their evil leader and growled at them.
“I’m staying to find Rachel. My mutation protects me against poison.”
The warlock shouted, “Attack. Bite them.” He turned to the pack, both the furred ones and the skeletons. “Kill the bear and the bitch’s pack.”
Lev growled. “Go. I’ll keep them at bay.”
Rylee snapped. “Okay, but don’t die.”
“Only they die.”
Rylee and her team retreated.
Though theoretically not possible, the wolf skeletons snarled with an eerie rasping voice that sounded more human than wolf.
Lev stood on his hind legs, his body glowing and roared, then planted his paws on the ground and charged. As they sprung on him, Lev slashed them with his powerful paws, breaking them into splinters like lumber going through a wood grinder.
The skeletons tried to bypass him in pursuit of his team and were blocked not only by his huge bear body, but radiating heat that set them aflame. Never had he experienced such heat, yet it seemed fueled by his rage.
The other non-skeleton werewolves hesitated on seeing the glow around the fierce bear.
Calopus called back his skeletons and turned to Lev, “Join me and I will make you king of all the packs.”
Lev shifted to human form. Heat emanating from every pore, giving him an eerie glow. “What did you do to Rachel?”
Calopus lowered his head in submission and splayed his arms to his side. “Your mate is unharmed.” His werewolves changed into humans, but snarled at Lev.
“Where is she?”
“Join us and I’ll take you to her.”
Lev flared his nostrils. Her most recent scent lingered on the path to the platform. Yet, only the blood of a dead werewolf lingered. His heart stilled. The scent of a female lycan imbued with Rachel’s aroma slammed into him. A female werewolf had eaten her. He shifted to his monstrous half-man half-wolf form and roared.
“Kill him,” commanded Calopus.
A dozen werewolves leapt on Lev. He met them with lethal claws that slashed and melted their skin. Their agonizing yelps reverberated throughout the burial ground. The creatures dissolved as if they’d fallen into a barrel of radioactive waste.
The warlock’s other werewolves tucked their tails between their legs and ran. The new formerly dead werewolves remained, snarling next to their evil master.
Calopus sneered. “Kill him.”
The skeleton werewolves attacked, biting and clawing at his flesh. Lev broke them apart, but a few got through and bit him. He grabbed them and broke their necks as if twigs rather than bone. Lev’s blood streamed down his chest and back. The venom weakened him. Pain coursed through him as if undergoing the change. Lev took a beleaguered breath and collapsed to his knees. The necromancer aimed his Wolfsbane rifle at him.
Before Lev could sprint to safety, a she-wolf leapt on Calopus and ripped off his arm. He screamed and dropped the rifle.
The golden brown she-wolf backed up, blood on her jaws and cocked her head as if confused about what she had just done.
Calopus held his torn flesh and called to his pack, “Kill the bitch!”
Like a cowardly horde of hyenas, his living werewolves peered from behind the building where they had taken refuge.
She cocked her head at Lev; glowing familiar amber eyes met his gaze. Rachel? The venom must cause hallucinations.
The skeleton wolves and the normal werewolves twisted and turned their attention to the beautiful golden she-wolf, then gave chase. Unable to reach him, she turned and ran into the forest.
Lev sprinted toward the forest and leapt over the pack stalking the she-wolf. He turned and roared. Each living and non-living werewolf burst into flames. No other object or creature except those pursuing her burned. The stench of ash filled the air. The remaining non-dead werewolves ditched the attack and scrambled away. Some into the forest, and others into the catacombs. The she-wolf circled and ran behind Lev.
Lev could not believe it. The she-wolf smelled like his mate. “Rachel, is it really you?” He shifted to wolf form and sniffed every inch of her.
“Hey, not the ass.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Apparently, your bite turned me into a werewolf.” She tilted her head. “Wow. I even speak wolf.”
“How can that be?”
Team Greywolf’s helicopter hovered above them.
Calopus’ fellow humans picked him up and another lifted the Wolfsbane rifle. One of his men aimed it at Lev. Before he could shoot Lev, a sniper shot the enemy in the head. Then popped another. Until all, but Calopus lay dead. Nice of Thorn to let me take vengeance on Calopus.
Rachel crouched down.
“Don’t worry, it’s Thorn, our top sniper.”
“Who knew a werewolf would shoot humans from a helicopter?”
Lev licked her face. “You are so beautiful, Goldilocks. And you saved my life.”
Wiggling her ass, thinking that’s how one wagged their tail, she whimpered in puppy giddiness.
Calopus stumbled toward the catacombs. Lev twisted. “Next time, take his head instead of his arm.”
“That will take a huge learning curve,” she snapped.
“Wait here.” Lev charged Calopus, who held his bleeding stump and reached the doors. Lev swiped a claw across the bastard’s neck, decapitating him. A toxic cloud that glowed black and orange left the warlock’s body and then his flesh shriveled into flakes of ash.
Two helicopters landed. Rylee and her team jumped out. She shouted orders. “Eliminate the oath breakers.”
The team shifted and broke into quads, each in pursuit of the enemy.
Lev returned to Rachel. He licked her neck and wagged his tail. Confusion raked his soul. Unlike popular myth as seen in horror books and movies, no werewolf had ever bitten a human and turned them. Had it been the toxin from the undead werewolf’s bite or because he was a mutant? Shit. What if she remained in wolf form permanently? Would she resent him for what she must perceive as a curse? “How do you feel?”
She shook her fur. “I smell you.”
“Good to know.”
“Seriously, I smell you down to the molecular level.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand what happened to you.”
“My body is tingling.”
He sighed. “You’re shifting back.” Moments later, she stood naked and shivering.
He shifted to human form and drew her in, offering her the warmth of his body. She nuzzled against him and gazed up at him. “You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.”
Rachel woke in her den and stretched her human arms. Toned as if she’d been working out, but not to the point of looking like she took steroids. Just fit. After three weeks of her father and Selene running medical tests, they confirmed her DNA had mutated due to Lev’s bite. Her transformation from human to wolf had apparently been the first in their recorded history. An anomaly. She learned how to encourage the change on command. In control of her she-wolf. Thankfully, she’d still be able to practice medicine or walk through an art museum or attend a concert. Lev did his best to encourage her to enjoy her wolf form. He showered her with wolfish affection without mating, since she refused to give it a try. Somehow the idea of having sex as a wolf bothered her. Cricket told her she’d eventually enjoy sex in wolf form as much as what she called skin to skin sex. Lev, Cricket and others helped Rachel appreciate her enhanced senses and powerful body. Rylee had given her pup status, which meant omega, until she met with the council to determine Rachel’s status or even exactly what she was. Pup worked, since like a pup, she had to learn what it meant to be a pack member. In many ways, it wasn’t any different than what she’d learned while living as a human within the pack.