by SJ Himes
He didn’t remember going around the desk. He was in front of his son, and shocked them both by taking him in his arms. It tore at him that the last time he held his child was almost two hundred years prior. Tears escaped, racing down his cheeks as he clutched Gerald to his chest, holding as tightly as he could, refusing to let go. Gerald was stiff in his arms, hands curled to fists, shuddering as he tried to rein in his sobs.
“I am so sorry.” Caius repeated it, over and over, quietly, hoping that it would reach some merciful part of his son’s heart. He didn’t deserve Gerald’s forgiveness, but Gerald deserved to be free, from everything, even the resentment he held for his own father.
Perhaps waiting just outside the door wasn’t such a smart idea. Kane put himself between the door and Sophia, who was determined to get past him and into the room. All three of them could hear quite clearly what was going on inside, and Kane was convinced that it needed to happen. For both Gerald and Caius.
“Move out of my way,” Sophia ordered. “You can hear him—he needs us.”
Royrick grabbed Sophia around the waist and lifted her off her feet. He backed away until he reached the wall, and leaned on it. Kane was impressed and half-certain he was going to see Sophia kick Royrick’s ass. To his surprise, she merely hung from his grip with a glower on her face, eyes locked on the door.
“They both need this, Sophie. Gerald will be fine. We’ll make sure of it.” Royrick put Sophia on her feet, keeping his arms around her, and she gave a reluctant nod.
Kane was going to miss Sophia. She was fearless and strong. Older than him by quite a bit, she brought to her position as First Beta an air of responsibility and capability. He made no secret of the fact he appreciated her skills and loyalty.
Movement at the end of the hall drew his attention. Ghost smiled at him, silver eyes alight with affection. He made a curious motion with his hand and Kane reached out with his mind. *All is well. Caius and Gerald are working out some things before they depart.*
Ghost gave a short nod. *My grandfather is stubborn and my uncle carries armor that is ill-fitting. Caius would do well to yield more often, and Gerald’s strength is in supporting those he loves. Change is necessary for both if they wish to thrive. We live too long to torture ourselves.*
*Says the nineteen-year-old,* Kane teased, and his young mate blushed.
*Am I then too young for you, my alpha? My human father still worries about our age difference. Is he right to worry? Do you take advantage of me and my inexperience?* The coy and sultry tone to Ghost’s mental voice sent shivers throughout his body. Kane stiffened, eyes locked on the young shaman at the end of the hall, his silver eyes glowing brightly, lower lip caught in his teeth as he ducked his chin, looking up at Kane from under long, thick lashes.
*When did you learn to flirt, little wolf?* Kane asked, body tightening, the desire to leap after his mate and tackle him to the ground almost overpowering. His nostrils flared and his eyes glowed, claws teasing at his fingertips as he fought back his body’s urges.
*Andromeda’s teenage granddaughters flirt quite often,* Ghost said primly, lifting his chin and grinning wide. *I watch and listen.*
*Oh, by the Goddess. We’re leaving as soon as possible,* Kane groaned mentally, thinking that his already irresistible mate would be devastating with even a hint of seduction skills to his credit.
Caius stood by the front door of Andromeda’s cabin, watching as his son and his new mates said their goodbyes. Ghost clung to his uncle, the youngling struggling to hold back his upset at Gerald’s departure.
“I forgive you, Father,” Gerald had whispered, voice heavy with the weight of his tears. “I can’t forget. I won’t forget being regarded as less, as useless. But I can forgive you. I must. I don’t want to be like this anymore. I hate who I became while I tried so hard to be what I thought you wanted.”
Gerald had briefly returned his embrace, a swift clench before backing away, eyes wet and skin flushed from crying. His son left him without another word, striding for the door and into the arms of Royrick and Sophia.
He blinked, clearing the images from his mind. It wouldn’t do to dwell over much. They lived for a very long time. Maybe one day he would find a way to connect with his children. Maybe.
Sophia hugged Burke, the Speaker teasing her with his customary charm and quick grin. The clan leader in him was saddened to lose Sophia. She was worth three betas. Strong, fierce, a fighter from the Old World. Her experience would now serve Red Wraith and Royrick’s position as clan leader.
Royrick was the last of the Tribunal to leave. He had assurances that Red Wraith would be attending the summer gathering that summer. Dread Claw and Red Wraith still counted among their allies. Whether Birch Grove and Ashland could be considered allies at this point, Caius had his doubts. He would wait and see.
The honor guard from Red Wraith were ready to depart, the SUVs packed and all clan members accounted for but for Michael. The shaman was remaining, his intent to assist in locating the wolfkin who were still missing, and stopping Simon Remus. He stayed inside the cabin, speaking with Andromeda and her family. His was a temporary goodbye—he would see Red Wraith again soon, Goddess-willing.
Burke stepped away, and Sophia gave her packmates a nervous smile and a short nod in goodbye. Kane gently disentangled Ghost from Gerald, and they stepped away. Gerald looked his way once, and Caius gave his son a nod, hoping to convey everything he could no longer say. Gerald and Sophia disappeared into the back of Royrick’s SUV, the clan leader for Red Wraith waiting for them to settle before getting in as well. The doors shut, engines came alive, and the Red Wraith convoy slowly drove down the gravel road.
Caius breathed in, the cold air bracing. His eyes watered but he ruthlessly beat back the tears that threatened. Kane, Ghost, and Burke stood with the Black Pine tactical team, watching until the vehicles were lost from sight and the sounds of the diesel engines faded away in the wind.
Speaking Human
The stench of unwashed bodies drove him insane. Simon pressed his handkerchief to his face, wishing the ventilation was better down in the bowels of the warehouse where his new lab was located. Sweat, piss, and blood made for a disgusting aroma that stuck to his clothing and the inside of his sinuses long after he left the building.
Machines beeped and droned on in an annoying monotone. Wires came out in a confusing jumble from machines he could not identify and really didn’t care to. They connected via small pads along the large wolf’s torso, the fur underneath shaved away. Simon held up a glossy photograph and compared the image to the wolf on the surgical table. It looked almost identical, except it was easily twice the size of the animal in the picture.
“Dr. Harmon took the DNA from the original sample we got fifteen years ago and replaced the degraded pieces with the DNA from this wolf,” Simon shook the picture at the doctor standing on the other side of the table. “DNA sequences that the small wolf inherited from that dead shaman. There were few pieces that survived the coding process from the sample that the crazy redheaded biologist sent him a few months ago.” Simon tried not to breathe in too deep, the stench of fear and rancid blood enough to turn his stomach. “Harmon patched together a clone of the dead shaman the raid failed to capture fifteen years ago. Which would be fantastic, a marvelous step forward in our plans—except for one small detail!” Simon thundered, and pointed at the unresponsive body. “It’s an empty shell. And now we have—this brain-dead monstrosity that you got hooked up to machines to keep alive. Tell me why I’m not killing you right now.”
Dr. Walsh gulped nervously and cast his eyes about as if looking for something to save him. He finally found some courage and said, “The specimen had minimal brain waves while it was in the incubation unit. This was expected, a part of the normal process. We made an error somewhere in the last stages. The specimen should have more brain activity and have some level of awareness. We have so
me tests we can run, maybe we can wake it up.”
“You can’t determine if this pile of flesh and fur has any magical powers if it doesn’t wake up. A brain-dead dog is useless. If you can’t wake this monstrosity up, harvest what you need from it and toss the body in the incinerator. Then dump this stupid idea and go back to trying to make me a functional hybrid.” Simon now pointed at the nearby cage and the figure huddled in the shadows. “Make me a human-werewolf hybrid with fucking powers instead of a sickly, sniveling brat. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Dr. Walsh nodded and clutched at a clipboard like a shield. Simon was about to turn away, when the expression of horror that spread across Dr. Walsh’s face made him pause.
The bite where his neck met his shoulder throbbed with heat, pain dull, but enough to make him tense. He turned slowly, and refused to shake when Julian stepped from the shadows, walking down the narrow aisle between the cages. The Birch Grove clan leader idly peered into the cages, and soft, low growls came from within a few of them as the alpha passed. Simon presumed the clan leader was recognizable to some of the specimens in the cages. Julian smirked, and paused at the last cage. He leaned down, and sniffed. “A human, dear Simon? Why ever do you have a human boy in a silver cage?” Julian leaned as close as he could to the bars without touching them, and the small shadow within huddled back as far as it could. “Oh, I see. Not a human, not entirely. There’s a hint of someone familiar around his eyes and mouth. How delightful. Is this the hybrid? I’d be interested in how you made it immune to silver, but then it might mean being more human than I’d ever enjoy.” Julian chuckled, and stood up, casually meandering away from the cages and stopping inches from Simon.
“I thought you were going to stay at the condo,” Simon gritted out, trying his best to ignore the almost instinctual urge to run.
“You suggested an incredibly stupid idea,” Julian replied, and looked past Simon to the beast on the table. “Is that the clone? How disgusting.” Julian moved around him, knocking Simon with his shoulder. Julian flicked his fingers at Dr. Walsh, who took the dismissal to heart and all but ran from that corner of the lab. Julian reached out, and with one finger, tapped the black nose of the sleeping specimen. No reaction. He did it again, and not even the machines hooked to it chirped out of rhythm or made any new sounds. Julian sighed, and quickly grew bored. “Let’s order in from a new place tonight. The sushi from last night was subpar. I’m used to Manhattan—this backwards tiny city in this pit stain of a state is sorely lacking in fine cuisine.”
Julian strolled past him, and Simon gritted his teeth in impotent rage when Julian whistled for him like a dog. “Do come along, pet. I’m hungry. Leave your toys for tomorrow, it’s suppertime.”
Wren laid his head on the bars, facing the monster in the next cage over. The red haired man who came in after Simon Remus earlier in the night had scared him more than even the butchers who experimented on the other occupants of the cages.
“Who was that man? The red haired one?” Wren whispered. The lab was quiet, the scientists and doctors off somewhere else. Machines hummed and water dripped in the distance.
There was no answer for the longest time. It came just as he was about to fall asleep.
“Julian, Clan Leader of Birch Grove, the Mad Dog of New York City. Far worse than Roman McLennan could ever aspire.”
The human doctor was dirty, incredibly pale, and the exact same man who tried to capture Ghost what felt like a lifetime ago back in Canada. Ghost lifted his lip and snarled, making the human doctor flinch and jump on the stool.
Since the root cellar was too small for the interrogation, Kane and Caius decided to drag the human upstairs and into Andromeda’s office. It was large enough to fit most of them, with the remainder of Kane’s tactical team listening out in the hallway, the office doors remaining open.
Kane and Caius stood behind the desk, Andromeda in her seat, flanked by the two alphas. Ghost sat in a chair next to the desk, Kane within arm’s reach. Burke stood guard behind the human where he sat on his school in the center of the room. Michael was near the door, a very nervous looking Gabe standing next to him. Night had fallen and Baxter was almost back to normal, or what Ghost assumed was normal. The visiting clan leaders had all parted. Only Caius remained, but Red Fern was part of his territory so his presence was common.
“Is this him?” Caius said addressing Ghost. He nodded, confirming that it was indeed the same human who attacked him along with Simon Remus weeks ago. The human doctor gave a pathetic whimper, his terror stinking up the room.
“Roman McLennan is dead.” Kane stated, and the doctor somehow grew even paler. “He confessed his crimes before his death. He said that you had been sent along on the raid to garner DNA samples from my mate. Somehow, I don’t see Simon Remus putting you in harm’s way unless he was ready to write you off. No matter what he may have told you about why you were included in the attack on the Park, he no longer has use for you. As far as Simon Remus is concerned, you’re already dead.”
Kane left his place behind the desk and prowled toward the doctor. He stopped a few feet away and gave a sharp smile, full of teeth and menace. “Tell me your name.”
“Harmon,” the human whispered, breathing shaky. He coughed, and spoke up. “Dr. Mitchell Harmon, M.D, Ph.D. I work for…errmm, I used to work for Remus Acquisitions.”
“Doing what?” Kane asked casually. Dr. Harmon hesitated, and Kane chuckled, a dark, rich sound that thrilled Ghost but terrified the human. “Don’t bother trying to lie or hold back. I can smell the first and force the rest.”
“I thought…I thought alpha mental abilities didn’t work on humans,” Dr. Harmon said, licking his lips, nervous.
Kane leaned down a bit, and whispered, “I don’t need to use my gifts to make you talk.”
The doctor squeaked and jerked on the stool. The human reminded Ghost of a rabbit, all quivering nerves and frantic heartbeat. Sweat poured down the man’s face and darkened his already dirty clothing.
“I ran one of the labs for Remus Acquisitions. It was my job to identify the gene sequences that gave werewolves their powers. Simon Remus has investors from several shadow organizations and a few governments around the world, including the United States.”
Ghost wasn’t too sure what any of that meant, but the shock, anger, and intense protectiveness he felt along the bond with Kane told him that it was bad.
“What is Simon Remus’s goal?” Kane asked. “Does he want our gifts?”
“One of his goals is to give human soldiers werewolf abilities,” Dr. Harmon said, shaking. “Things like increased strength and speed, the ability to force compliance, and total obedience.”
“You mean the Voice.”
The doctor gave a shaky nod. “The alpha ability to completely control another werewolf, yes. He wants a way to make it work on humans.”
“And just how successful were you?” Kane asked. He never once raised his voice or physically touched the human, but every word, expression, movement was predatory and had the human focused on him like a mouse cornered by a fox. Or in this case, a wolf.
“We haven’t managed yet to combine human and werewolf DNA in adult subjects. Adult humans’ bodies reject the retrovirus we used to deliver werewolf DNA into human DNA. Even with antirejection treatments and medications, the process has a 100% failure rate. So, we attempted to take a different route. We tried to make hybrids.”
“It is a common belief that our species cannot interbreed. Wolfkin have taken human lovers before, and there has never been offspring, even when pairs have tried,” Caius interrupted. The human jumped again on the stool, eyes darting between the two alphas. “Of course, such attempts were considered taboo. Having a human lover is one thing, but integrating them into our society as mates has always been heavily discouraged, sometimes with lethal results. Can we breed? Have pairs just never been given sufficient time to try?
”
“Humans and werewolves cannot breed naturally. Our DNA is separated by too many different chromosomal pairs. We’ve tried different techniques including via IVF, but it hasn’t been successful. Only one attempt at cross-breeding a human and werewolf has managed to survive. But the specimen only reached viability and survived because all the werewolf traits were suppressed completely. It’s werewolf DNA is regressive and totally useless. Since that is the opposite of what Remus wished, attempting to replicate that lone success was never tried again in the same manner.”
A whisper broke through the startled silence after the doctor’s reply. Ghost sat up straighter and leaned forward, eyes locked on the human doctor. His movement drew the human’s attention, and Ghost spoke. “There is a human/wolfkin hybrid? A living person you made in a lab? Is he or she still alive?”
“The specimen was alive the last I checked on it, a few days before you captured me. I don’t know if it still alive now—Remus was extremely disappointed in it, and only my insistence that it could still be useful kept it alive all these years.” The doctor was terrified, yet Ghost was thrown by the casual indifference of the doctor’s attitude when discussing the person he made in a lab.
Ghost stood and took a few steps to stand over the doctor, forcing him to tilt his head back and look up at Ghost. “Is it a male or female, and how old is this poor soul?” Ghost growled softly, and he knew his wilder side was glowing bright when silver light reflected off the doctor’s wide eyes.
“He… He is eighteen years old now. He was the lone success in a long line of failures. He was alive the last time I saw him. Remus may have already ordered his death. I don’t know if it…he is still alive now, it’s been weeks.” Dr. Harmon was breathing fast and erratic. Terror made his sweat stink even more, and Ghost had to restrain the urge to strike the human down. He didn’t understand what IVF meant or any of the other technical terms that the doctor used, but from the emotional reactions he was sensing from Kane, it was all horrific.