The Leviticus Club (The Olympus Project, #1)

by Sydney Addae

  Max and Tip looked up at him again.

  “They came to the States to continue their experiments and were destroyed,” Hawke said.

  “How can you be sure?” Tip asked.

  Hawke held up his fingers and counted them off. “I was there when the council members died, we blew up the main lab, the building crumbled. I watched it fall. I saw Lancaster die by my mate’s hand, as did Griffin. Lancaster killed Gordon. Alpha Barticus has three of their newest recruits locked away in prison. Roderick hides but is dying, could be dead already. We’ll know if he resurfaces.”

  “Had no idea that bastard Lancaster was dead,” Mali said on a surprised whisper, looking wide-eyed at Lizzy.

  “Griff was a motherfucking animal,” Lizzy hissed. “Good riddance. The air is much cleaner without his foulness in it.

  “They’ve been dead a very long time,” Thomas said with a kind of wonderment in his voice. “We didn’t know.”

  “All those years of hiding,” Tip whispered and shook his head.

  Hawke looked at his tablet and then at them. “The serum you and the others received is deficient and needs to be upgraded.”

  No one spoke or moved at the change in topic. The Liege, those monsters were dead, time to move on. Hawke held their undivided attention.

  “You were all given shots of an early formula before the serum was perfected which is the reason there are only six of you left. The others did not receive the same batch of serum as you. Even so, what you received wasn’t the best and is failing.”

  Mia’s heart leaped to her throat. She had no idea what that meant and hoped he had a solution to the problem.

  “When Lizzy arrived, I gave her a small dose of a serum created for her from the Liege notes. It has been over 48 hours and her body has accepted the drug.” He held up his finger. “Here is where we are, the decisions you will need to make today. “Do you want to continue living in this mutated manner? Or do you want to allow your expiration date to run its course? I cannot tell any of you how much time you have left, but I can say without taking this new serum you will continue to decline.”

  Noah squeezed her hand.

  “That’s the first part for you to consider. Here is another.” He looked at Noah. “Master Sergeant Sloan received a similar shot as all of you. Which means the U.S. Military is using the serum on human soldiers to change them for some reason.”

  Noah’s fingers tightened around Mia’s. “Without our consent, you can damn well believe that,” he ground out.

  “That’s normally the way it’s done,” Hawke said. “What concerns my Alpha is this. Is the military creating mutated humans as weapons of war? If so, how long before other countries do the same? Will this program spill over into the public sector? Cops? Robbers?” He sighed. “The serum was created specifically to enhance humans to be more than the norm. Not everyone can handle it and remain sane.”

  “Thought it was PTSD,” Noah said sounding somewhat relieved. Both PTSD and being given a mutation drug were bad in Mia’s opinion.

  “Very similar symptoms, Mia helped you find your balance, which is a great thing. Now you control your mind instead of it controlling you,” Hawke said looking at Noah and then his gaze broadened to take them all in.

  She sensed distressing news and tensed.

  “If you decide to take the new serum your abilities will strengthen. I need to tell you that. So if you controlled water, expect to be able to walk on it.” He looked at Damali. “And if not walk on it, it’ll be damned close.”

  “Why?” Thomas asked sounding as baffled as Mia felt. She didn’t want to be stronger, she wanted to live.

  “Because of the changes to your chromosomes and body over the years. Imagine a car with a good body but the engine must be replaced to run. Outwardly the car looks the same, but the juice beneath the hood is more powerful. If you put the same engine in that car, created the same year the car was developed, you simply carry over the same problems.”

  Thomas looked at the others. His gray eyes appeared worried. “Lot to think about.”

  “Not for me,” Lizzy said. “My engine was dying, I don’t want to go through that again. I want a new one.”

  Mia smiled and knew she wanted the same thing.

  “Is the shot a onetime deal?” Tip asked. “Or will we need to keep getting them?”

  “I don’t know the answer to that,” Hawke said. “You’re the first. That’s why my Alpha insisted I give you all the information I have, to allow you to make your own decisions. There’s one more thing.”

  He waited until they all looked at him. “I’m a full-blood wolf. Dual-natured human, that’s my extra. Our pack is large and everywhere in this country. You can never share knowledge of our existence. La Patron went through a lot to help you, which meant getting permission from the Goddess to tell you anything. If you betray him by telling anyone what you’ve learned here today or about our pack, you will be killed. I need to make that crystal clear. Thomas knew and agreed before we started down this road.”

  They all nodded.

  “Understand, we, our pack is not allowed to interfere with humans at all. But the Goddess has decided your situation is different and placed you in another category. Chimeras.”

  “What?” Max said, sitting straight. “We’re weird but that’s taking it too far. We’re not fire-breathing monsters with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.”

  Confused, Mia stared at Hawke.

  “That’s a mythological creature or definition. From a biological point of view, the Goddess’ view, Chimera is a person containing a mixture of genetically different tissues, formed by processes such as fusion, grafting, or mutation.” He paused, must have read their confusion and said. “How about this, a person with a DNA molecule derived from two or more different organisms, formed by laboratory manipulation.”

  Max leaned back in the chair. “Happened in the lab.”

  “She’s saying because of the serum, what happened in the lab or in the operating room, we mutated into who we are?” Mia asked. “That’s the definition of a chimera?”

  “Yes and yes. It’s how She classifies you. How La Patron will classify you and the pack as well. This allows us to assist you, otherwise, as humans, we could not,” Hawke said.

  “It’s accurate,” Lizzy said.

  “Yeah,” Tip said. “We’re chimeras.”

  “Hawke, forgive me for asking but I’m from a different era than everyone else and was raised believing few people did things from the goodness of their hearts, expecting nothing in return,” Noah said. “Personally, I’m grateful for everything you and your Alpha have done for Mia and the others. But what is your Pack getting out of this? What’s expected in exchange for your help?”

  Hawke smiled, it was nice, friendly even. “La Patron seeks human allies. As I said, we cannot interfere with humans, but you can.”

  <<<>>>

  “Explain interfering with humans,” Thomas said in a low voice.

  Hawke’s expression never changed. “Pretty much the same as what you’re doing now. We looked over your jobs for the past three decades and noticed you never interfered with the Pack and took jobs that fought against humans. We don’t want that to change. Once the military learns of you, they’ll attempt to recruit you.”

  Thomas frowned. “To fight against you? The Pack?”

  Hawke nodded.

  “That would be suicide,” Mali said looking at Max.

  “But if they’re injecting dying soldiers with that serum like they did me, they would train them to use their gifts and could direct them to attack the Pack.” Noah looked at Hawke. “What would you do then if you cannot be involved with humans?”

  “We have always been permitted to protect ourselves. If they attacked, we would defend in an instant. Part of this bargain is you cannot fight against us in any capacity, whether for the military or any other group, ” Hawke said in a hard, cold voice.

  “Can’t blame you for requiring
we don’t work for the military, because hiring others to attack you is something they would do,” Noah said looking at Thomas.

  The two men stared at each other for a few seconds before Thomas nodded.

  “Understood, thanks for explaining that Hawke. Are there any other requirements in exchange for your assistance?” Thomas asked.

  “Not so much a requirement as a strong suggestion, at this point anyway. As I said the serum will enhance your gifts. A concern is that one or more of you may turn rogue. I understand that your system of democracy has worked brilliantly in the past, but you’ve never experienced this level of power. Remember, the Goddess has given you a separate designation, Chimera, not human.”

  “Which means you can interfere, even kill us if we go, rogue,” Mali said slowly. “Even if we’re not doing anything against the Pack, if we harm humans you’ll take us out.” They all stared at Hawke.

  “Yes, you’re right. What La Patron would prefer is for you to police yourselves, answer to your own leader. He or she would be enhanced to handle that.”

  No one moved or spoke. It was one of those moments when you realized life was fucked regardless of the direction you traveled. A strong suggestion to pick a leader or being killed by wolves when they think you’ve stepped out of line.

  Hawke stood. “I’ve told you everything, if there aren’t any questions, I’ll step out, so you can discuss what you want to do among yourselves.”

  “Thank you,” Thomas murmured as he turned to face them with his eyes closed.

  When the door shut, Mia exhaled and looked up at Noah. He ran his finger down her cheek and leaned forward. “Get the shot and live with me, baby. Please live.”

  She exhaled and nodded before leaning against his shoulder.

  When no one spoke, Lizzy sighed. “The way I see it is each person has to decide whether to take the shot to prolong their life. With the understanding that you’ll be changed, internally anyway. We don’t really know what that means, do we?” She looked across the table at Mali.

  “No. Just that we’ll be enhanced. I’m not sure what we’ll do with all of that. For several decades we focused on hiding from the Liege but they’re dead now.”

  “Chimeras,” Max snorted. “No longer human.”

  “Haven’t been simply human since we left the Liege,” Tip said. “Not with the things we’ve done.”

  “True, but we had that nice illusion, some ESP, or a sixth sense, all this time I’ve always considered myself human,” Mia said.

  No one said anything.

  “If you don’t take the shot, you’ll die. Fading is an extremely painful process that I will never choose. I’d rather be shot, or incinerated, get it all done at once,” Lizzy said with feeling. “To become a prisoner in your mind and body, like that... no. Just no. I’m taking the shot and will do whatever is necessary to survive. Now that I know what’s what, and have access to answers, I can start living. Maybe live near a beach or on an island.” She smiled.

  “You plan to leave the team? Leave the complex?” Mia asked, concerned.

  Lizzy pursed her lips. “Depends on what everyone decides. This is a personal choice; each person has to make their own decision. I’ve made mine and feel good about it.”

  “I’m taking the shot, too,” Mia said and glanced at Noah.

  Lizzy smiled at them.

  “Same here. Hawke says I need the upgrade because the one I received isn’t the best,” Noah said. “Going backward isn’t an option, can only go forward, deal with each day as it comes.”

  “What would we do?” Mali said. “Take the same kind of jobs? Mercenaries? School teachers? What do enhanced people do?” She looked around the table.

  “We had a case where a fanatical group’s killing disabled people for no good reason. Stoning them to death. If I were enhanced I’d definitely stop them. Not kill them but make sure they paid for that,” Mia said in a low voice.

  “Humans hurting humans, lots of work in that field,” Tip said in a dry tone. “I think there’ll be tons of work if that’s what we decide to do. I’m taking the shot, regardless.”

  “Crimefighters? Seriously guys? Is that all we can do?” Mali asked.

  “What do you want to do?” Max challenged her.

  “Start a business, fashion maybe, I don’t know. But I want to do normal. We’ve never done normal like buy a house, live in a neighborhood. Walk to the corner store for stuff or hang out with friends at a club dancing.” Excitement brimmed in her gaze as she looked at them.

  “But that’s living a lie, Mali. We aren’t normal. We’re chimeras and people will begin to notice you’re not aging or changing in any way. Some will see your aura and ask questions. You’re too pretty not to be hit on or even attacked and you’ll defend yourself, someone will capture it on their camera, put it online and before you know it the whole world will know who you are,” Max said. “We’re not human or normal, Mali. Haven’t been since the Liege fucked us over on the operating tables.”

  Mali’s jaw clenched for a few seconds and she huffed while releasing a sigh. “Sounded good, though.”

  Max nodded. “Yeah, it did.” He looked at Mia and Noah. “There’s one thing no one mentioned.”

  Mia watched him.

  “Wolves mate for life, right?”

  Thomas nodded. “Yes.”

  “What if there’s such a thing as mated pairs for chimera, for us?” He continued staring at Noah and Mia. “We could buy land, create our own gated community, live in homes with our significant other, have some semblance of normal. Is that close enough for you, Mali?”

  She looked at Mia and Noah. “That would be close enough. We could have backyard barbecues, hang out at the pool, play tennis or basketball, throw parties. If we buy enough land no one could build near us, we could do it.” Her eyes lit again.

  “What do you think, Noah?” Max asked.

  Noah shrugged. “I have no idea about mated pairs, but I like the idea of living with Mia. The whole community thing sounds good too. Ask Hawke about the pairing thing when he comes back.”

  Max nodded and looked at Damali. “What do you say? In or out?”

  She bit her lip for a few seconds. “Not all the military guys or women are joining that other group. There have to be other enhanced guys walking around,” she said. “In the past we were afraid, but now...” she looked at Mia. “I’m in. I don’t want to live enhanced alone and I don’t plan to hook up with any of you guys. That would be incest in my mind.”

  “True,” Thomas muttered.

  Lizzy and Tip nodded.

  “For real,” Max said. “We’re family. I don’t want us to split up if we don’t have to.”

  “Neither do I,” Thomas said. “I’m going to take the shot. As far as working, I agree with Mia. There are some ugly things happening and we can help save lives. Hawke hinted that they’d pass information along to us regarding the types of work we’d like to do. We decide when to step in and make a difference.” He looked at Noah. “Are you going to join us?”

  Noah met Mia’s calm gaze. “Yeah, like I said, can’t go backward. I’m a chimera and this is home for me now. I’ve got a house in Texas I’ll deed to my cousin and grab my things. He’s the only family I have. I hate to give him up but we’re the same age and he would notice if I wasn’t aging.” He brushed a kiss against Mia’s forehead and light brown curls. “For me, it’s a simple choice.”

  Thomas nodded. “Max, what’s your decision?”

  “I’m taking the shot.”

  “We’re all taking the shot which means we are accepting La Patron’s terms. The two go together,” Thomas said.

  “Anyone going against guys like Hawke is crazy,” Noah said.

  “They don’t all look like him,” Thomas reminded him. “Ryder, Ryan, their dad, Tyrone look more like the majority of dual-natureds. Their scents will give them away, just as our scents give us away. That’s why we’ll never be able to say we didn’t know if a person is human or oth
er. We’ll always know.”

  “That’s true,” Tip said. “Let’s vote on that part. This way everyone is responsible for what we learned today.”

  “Good idea,” Lizzy said. “All in favor of entering into and following La Patron’s terms, speak.”

  One by one, each of them agreed.

  “Hello fellow chimeras,” Mali said before breaking into a wide grin.

  Mia waved, leaned forward and bumped Mali’s fist. “What’s up, Ms. Chimera?”

  “You, girl. It’s all you,” Mali said with a large smile.

  The others smiled.

  “The last thing,” Lizzy said looking at Thomas. “I know you stepped into the leadership role after Marok died and it wasn’t what you wanted. But you’re a natural. Over the years you’ve proven you’ll put what’s best for us first. When I set up my home in our gated community and one day bring in a significant other, I trust you to keep us safe with wise words and a steadfast heart.”

  Mia leaned forward. “Thomas I’d rather you tell me to straighten up and fly right than have La Patron do it. Consider taking the leadership role, please.”

  “I just assumed Hawke meant Thomas,” Max said looking at the others. “Didn’t he?”

  “Whether he did or not, we should ask Thomas if he wants to do it and not assume he will,” Tip said. “If he refuses, we’ll knock him out and tell Hawke he agreed.”

  They laughed.

  “That’s a great idea,” Mali said, lifting her fist above Thomas' head.

  He laughed and shook his head. “As long as this is what we all want...” He looked at Noah who hadn’t said anything.

  “I’m good with whatever decision the group makes,” Noah said.

  “You have to give a vote,” Mia said.

  “Oh. I vote for Mia and promise to be good and—”

  Laughing she pushed his shoulder. “No. Tell the group how you feel about Thomas leading.”

  “Oh, that. I didn’t think I had a vote since I don’t know anyone. For the past 21 years, I’ve been a soldier, got no problem following orders.” He frowned and looked at Mia. “I’ve never had a woman to care for, whose life means everything to me. So I shouldn’t make a blanket statement that I’ll follow orders. What I’ll say is I follow orders, as long as Mia’s life isn’t in danger. I’ll always choose her first. You should know that. Otherwise, I’m fine with Thomas.”