by Sarah Noffke
“Yes. I’ll probably answer some of your questions, but you’ve pretty much got the gist of what’s going on here at the Lucidite Institute after that orientation. Read the book and let me know what questions you have,” she said, indicating the Dream Traveler Codex resting on the table.
He nodded. Swallowed. Then shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going on. I haven’t for a while,” Kaleb said.
“Gods, it’s getting tiresome having to give each of you werewolves your orientation,” Adelaide said, which produced a laugh from Rox.
“Did you just say ‘gods’?” he said, quirking his head to the side.
“I did,” she chirped.
“You realize there’s only one,” Kaleb said, a new confidence springing to his face.
“You realize you know very little on this subject,” Adelaide said, remembering that Kaleb had been brought up in an ultra-conservative religious home and had been sheltered all his life.
“And you do?” he said, his dark brown eyes narrowing.
“I have a source,” she said, thinking of her father’s book which contained knowledge on all aspects of the universe that most people didn’t know. Then Adelaide remembered the detail from Rox’s account of rescuing Kaleb that she’d been trying to forget. It sparked a pain for her she couldn’t deal with right then, maybe ever.
“I’m sorry about your father,” Adelaide said, her voice kinder now. “If you want counseling then the Lucidites have a team of therapists. It wouldn’t be such a bad idea based on everything you’ve been through.”
Kaleb had briefly shared with the group that he’d been homeless for the last few weeks. That when he was at the soup kitchen, men had come after him. It was impressive to Adelaide that he’d managed not to get caught after several attempts by Olento Research to track him down.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice a whisper.
It was too early. The death hadn’t sunk in yet. Kaleb was in shock, Adelaide realized.
“That was a senseless thing for that invisible guy to do, Kaleb,” Rox said, her voice compassionate.
He merely nodded.
“During your time out there over the last few weeks, have you noticed a skill that you possess? Like a superpower? Maybe a psychic power that you didn’t have before?” Adelaide asked, sensing Kaleb needed the subject changed.
“Are you joking?” Kaleb said, his face screwing up with offense. “I’m a werewolf now. I’m faster than humanly possible. I can scale a building and—”
“No, no,” Adelaide said, cutting him off. “That’s not what I mean. That’s your power as a werewolf, but as we explained, you’re also a Dream Traveler now. Each of us,” she indicated to Rox and herself, “is gifted with one or more special power. That’s a perk of the race.”
“You mean like reading minds or something? That’s not a real thing,” Kaleb said.
Adelaide nearly laughed. “You’ve had your race changed and been turned into a werewolf and you think that having a psychic power is unbelievable? Welcome to Oz, Toto, we’re all freaks here,” she said.
“Oh, well… no, I don’t have any strange power besides what I’ve already told you,” he said.
“Maybe you’re a dud,” Adelaide said with a shrug. “Read the bo—”
Thunderous steps stole everyone’s attention. Zephyr stormed into the strategic department, his eyes burning with intensity. Not until he laid his eyes on Rox did he soften. “Oh thank God, you made it back,” he said to her.
“And in time to stop Connor from destroying all of the Lucidites,” she said, a satisfied smile on her face.
“That’s what I feared,” he said, his shoulders dropping a degree.
“What happened?” Adelaide said, capturing Zephyr’s attention.
“I attacked the invisible man and then ran from a firing squad,” Zephyr said.
“That sounds fairly boring,” Adelaide said. “But at least you got away and you didn’t bite any innocent people.” She then stopped and regarded him with a calculated stare. “You didn’t attack any innocent people, right?”
He shook his head. “Just a loose dog.”
“Oh, that’s even worse. You’re a sick animal abuser,” Adelaide said. She waved at Kaleb. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
Zephyr extended a hand to Kaleb as he stood from the table. “I’m glad you’re safe, man. I’m Zephyr.”
“Kaleb,” he said, a bit shyly. He was so much smaller in build compared to Zephyr; well, compared to anyone. “And thanks for—”
Zephyr clapped him on the shoulder. “Go rest. You need it,” he said.
Rox pushed off the wall when Adelaide and Kaleb left. She ran her eyes over Zephyr, looking for an injury. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” he said through a long exhale. “And you? How’d you stop Connor?”
“With my total awesomeness,” she said, tucking her pointer fingers in the pockets of her jeans. “You should have seen the werewolf’s face when he tried to take a bite out of me and met total defeat.”
“Wow,” Zephyr said, his voice flat. “I would have liked to see that.”
“You werewolves are strong, I’ll admit that, but take away your bite and you’re all bark,” Rox said.
Zephyr turned and faced her directly, a new respect on his face. More and more there was something about the girl that irked him in a good way. It’s like he wanted to look at her longer. Understand her deeper. Allow himself to laugh at her jokes. But that wasn’t right. He never really allowed himself that, especially with a girl like Rox. She was all wrong for him and yet, she seemed to be a strange match.
“I think you might be the first person who can handle us,” he said, and then slammed his mouth shut. How had he allowed such an admission to fall out of his mouth? And it had sounded sensitive, overly friendly. Was it the recent battle that had his defenses down?
“You mean you. I might be the first person who can handle you,” Rox said, taking a step in his direction.
“Don’t tell me what I mean,” he said, trying to sound insulted.
“Also I know I am the only one who can handle you, Mr. Alpha Wolf, and I think I might entertain the idea of doing so,” she said, slipping her hands from her pocket and daring to lay one on his chest. Her blonde hair was corralled back behind her ear on one side and her long bangs flopped over her eye on the other side.
He eyed the pink fingernails resting on his chest. “Are you hitting on me?” Zephyr said. It was the only thing he could think of saying since all of this was dropping down on him so fast. Rox was being bold and he was surprised that he liked it. How had things changed so much between them? Was it the battle? He’d thought of her constantly since changing back into a man, worried that she didn’t make it back or something happened.
“We work pretty well together,” Rox said.
“In the field?” Zephyr asked.
She only arched a challenging eyebrow at him, a hidden meaning in her blue eyes.
“Yes, it was a relief that you pulled Kaleb away, not looking back. That’s remarkable training,” he said, remembering how the girl had dragged a grown man, making it look easy. She was strong, so unlike the other girls from his past.
“Well, in battle, you keep emotions out of it and do what has to be done,” she said and those words crumbled a part of Zephyr’s resolve. He’d always been with women who didn’t understand him, didn’t understand his training and survival mentality. But Rox wasn’t like any girl he’d ever met. She was a soldier like him, and it compelled him in a way he hadn’t expected. That’s why, using his super speed, Zephyr grabbed her hand on his chest and pulled her into him, his mouth seeking hers. Instantly, his lips covered Rox’s and he found his hand in her hair, another around her waist. An animal instinct ripped through him and he pushed her back until she was flush against the glass wall, his mouth never leaving hers. Kissing her was better than fulfilling his desire for meat. Dr
inking her in fulfilled a yearning he hadn’t even realized he had. Again and again his mouth explored hers, until she pushed him back slightly, pulling her lips from his. Zephyr stared down at the blonde with a heated look, one that he couldn’t control. Rox stared up, a Cheshire smile on her face. She wiped the edges of her mouth with her fingertips, and then reached out and wiped his.
“That was fun. Let’s do it again, but tell no one. You’re going to be my little secret,” she said and then nudged him farther back and walked away.
Chapter Forty-Four
“Time travel isn’t a part of our DNA that we should abuse. Time is linear for a reason. Messing with it can have serious repercussions.”
- Lucidite Employee Manual
Adelaide was intentionally late for her meeting in Aiden’s lab. When she entered she was grateful that the three werewolf guys were already there. Kaleb had his shirt rolled up and was about to have his blood drawn by Aiden.
“You’re going to feel a little pinch,” Aiden said to him.
“I think he can handle it after all the pinches at the lab,” Zephyr said. The alpha wolf appeared almost happy. There was something that had changed in him and Adelaide guessed it was having the companionship of the other werewolves. As each one was added to the pack, she suspected that Zephyr would grow more content.
Adelaide’s eyes stayed a careful distance from Connor, who sat on the stool between the other two guys. However, she could feel his stare on her, like he was begging her with his gaze to look at him, to see him. And although she knew he couldn’t control himself when he turned into a werewolf, she still didn’t know how she felt about being vulnerable when in his presence. Nevertheless, this had sparked the need for a plan and she as the lead agent had to take the leash on this one.
“Okay, you three change every seven-ish days, is that right?” Adelaide said.
“That’s mostly accurate. Usually it’s at night, but as you recently learned we aren’t exactly on a fixed schedule,” Zephyr said.
“And how much warning do you get before it happens?” she said, trying to sound clinical.
“Usually five to ten minutes,” Zephyr offered.
“Sometimes none,” Connor said, his voice hollow.
Adelaide brought her attention to Aiden. “Anything you can offer on this? We can’t have these three turning when we’re not prepared,” she said.
“I could study their biorhythms and see if I can find any correlations. Tracking is our best bet,” Aiden said, moving on to withdraw a sample from Connor, which luckily meant he was partially blocked from her view.
“Okay, until then I want you three in the safe room on the eve of the seventh day. From there we will be able to keep you under observation and monitor the change. I don’t care if you don’t change into a werewolf on that day or the next. You’ll stay in there until you do. It’s probably best that we have your bedrooms locked at night on the other days until we have a tracking model,” she said.
“You’re locking us up?” Zephyr said, standing as he rolled down his shirt sleeve.
“Yes. I can’t risk endangering the lives of the Lucidites,” she said, no emotion in her voice.
“But we were already imprisoned once. You said the Lucidites were different. That you all were going to help us,” Zephyr said, a sudden tightness to his voice.
“And I can’t help you if you slaughter me and my people,” she said, her fists balled by her sides and the image of Connor bearing over her flashing into her mind.
Aiden stood from his place in front of Connor, holding a vial of cherry-colored blood. “Hopefully my research presents some answers. Maybe I can synthesize something to reverse or suppress the werewolf mutation. I’m going to need time to study all the samples first though,” he said, his voice calm and his demeanor light and seeking to subdue Zephyr.
“Okay, fine. But I don’t like the idea of being locked up at night,” he said, directing it at Adelaide.
“Tough. I’m going to do what is best for the Institute, which means keeping everyone here safe from you all,” she said in an authoritative tone.
Adelaide and Zephyr faced off in a silent confrontation. She might have been small and he might have a ton of combat experience, but it wasn’t clear who would actually win if the two faced off. Adelaide Lewis wasn’t one to be underestimated and Zephyr was learning that with each passing interaction with her.
“So what’s the next step?” And it was Connor who had spoken up, maybe trying to break the mounting tension.
Adelaide kept her eyes off him. She looked at Kaleb, who appeared as dejected as she felt. “We reassemble the pack. I’m working on leads for the next werewolf we’re going after. There’s one in Los Angeles who looks to have gone rabid,” she said.
“That’s not good,” Zephyr said.
“Exactly,” she said. “And then I have some other locations where supposed werewolves have been reported. I’m going to put together a strategy for finding our next werewolf and then you three are going after him.”
“What about Rox?” Zephyr said, and Adelaide picked up a minute hint of tension that streaked his face.
“What about Rox?” she said.
“What’s her role moving forward?” he asked, and something new was in his expression, Adelaide observed.
“Honestly, I’m hoping to fire the bloody bimbo, but for now I’ll let her advise,” she said.
“Will she be in the field?” Zephyr said.
Adelaide turned her head to the side and measured the guy before her with a skill that was unique to her. Ren Lewis had taught his daughter how to read people and she was better at it than anyone else. “I don’t believe that’s any of your bloody concern,” she said and turned at once and hustled for the door.
Halfway down the hallway, Adelaide knew she wasn’t alone. Behind her she felt his presence.
“Hey,” Connor said, his voice low.
She halted. Paused. And finally when an awkward amount of silence passed she turned and faced him.
“What?” she said, her eyes not on him.
That’s probably why he stalked forward until he was only two feet away. “I’m sorry. I don’t—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Adelaide said, cutting him off.
“You know that’s not going to happen. I nearly killed you,” he said and just then she brought her eyes up to meet his. Pain ran off his face like water over a fountain.
“You’re a werewolf. Attacking people is kind of what you do,” Adelaide said, trying and failing to sound light.
“I get your reasons for the rules. For locking us up. I think it’s a good idea,” he said and there was something new in Connor now. Regret and guilt had always been a part of his look, but now he also looked ashamed and it did something to Adelaide. It made her feel sorry for him, and that may have been a first.
“You know I didn’t want to hurt you,” he continued.
“I know. I heard… I sensed that,” she said, nearly slipping and telling him she read his thoughts.
He noticed the hesitation in her and tilted his head down more to regard her with a thoughtful stare. The look he was giving Adelaide seemed to have an apology laced into it, but that shouldn’t matter. She had zero right to even consider forgiving him for nearly slaughtering her. A bear’s instinct was to maul a person, but that didn’t mean that it should be granted sympathy for its ruthlessness. Adelaide took a step back.
“I have to go,” she said.
“No, you just can’t look at me,” he said, his eyes closing for a moment.
“I have to go,” she repeated when he opened his green eyes to stare at her, shame too heavy in his gaze.
“Fine, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m this thing,” he said, dragging his hand down to indicate his body. “I’m sorry you’re not going to be able to trust me or any one of us. And I’m sorry that I can’t erase the memory of what I almost did to you.”
“Yea
h,” Adelaide said, her voice unaffected. “Me too. I’m sorry for all that as well.”
Chapter Forty-Five
“Startling an animal triggers its instinct. Spooking a man usually draws out his hidden strength, if he is a man at all.”
- Olento Research Employee Manual
Kaleb was only vaguely aware that Aiden and Zephyr were talking a few feet away. He was somehow inside himself and also removed. Whole and fractured. Safe and beyond repair. Over and over again he watched the movie screen in his head. It played only one film and it was his father’s murder. The cracking sound. The look of horror on his father’s face before he turned expressionless. It was all engraved in Kaleb’s memory and he was certain that’s where it would stay for all his life. Why did that invisible man have to kill his father? He was innocent. Kaleb reasoned that he could have just pushed him out of the way, but murder? It was so final. And after reflecting on this it only confirmed that Olento Research wanted the werewolves back and would go to any lengths to get them.
“Don’t you think so, Kaleb?” Zephyr said, breaking into his thoughts.
“What?” Kaleb said, realizing he missed their entire conversation.
Zephyr gave him a look that seemed to say it all. His expression was one of compassion, like he instinctively knew Kaleb was processing his grief. “Don’t worry about it, man,” he said, waving him off.
“We were just discussing Dream Traveler gifts,” Aiden said, his voice chipper. That’s what Kaleb called him in his head, Dr. Chipper. “I think I might have a method for drawing out your gift, although that’s not really my specialty.”
“Oh good,” Kaleb said, but his tone contradicted his words. He was safe with these strange people, the Lucidites. He instinctively knew that and yet, he just wished he could get away. Maybe it was because he’d spent so much time alone recently and he wasn’t used to all the socializing. The people at the Institute kept talking to him, expecting responses. Then they’d dump a ton of information on him, like the fact that his race had been changed. He’d never even heard of Dream Travelers before and now he was one of them and had their powers to transcend time and space with his consciousness. He was certain his head would explode soon. All Kaleb needed was a time-out. A way to make everything pause. He just wanted five minutes where the world wasn’t overwhelming him.