by Eva Gordon
“Cougar and a wolf would be an interesting mix, but lover boy, let’s leave now.”
“Understood.” He gave her a double take. “How did you get your makeup and wig?”
“Apparently, Nexus grabbed my materials from the moment we got here.”
“Did she also get this place off the grid?”
“Yep. She’s a genius child, that’s for sure. Though, she didn’t tell me her plans. In fact, she said we’d have to hurry because more fireworks were in the works.”
“Impressive. I’m growing fond of the wolf puppy.”
“You and me both.” She opened the door. “We have to meet Nexus at the boat. Can you track her?”
“Yes, her scent is stored in my wolf memory.” A helicopter took off from the roof. “As you Americans say, looks like Nexus is a sitting duck from helicopter gunfire. Let’s go.” They left the building and stealthily ran across the courtyard.
Emma looked up and frowned. “Shit.”
The helicopter hovered above the building, then whirled and sputtered into a slow whap, whap, obviously in mechanical trouble. Seconds later, the boom of a crash threw them to the ground as the building quaked. Then more explosions as if caused by short circuits. My kind of work. Complete mayhem broke out. The helicopter’s fuselage must have hit the facility. “Nexus must have taken over their computer.”
They ran out amongst the chaos of soldiers, staff members and others running out of their rooms. Fire ensued. Creatures of unknown genetics dashed out of their cages.
Chapter Eighteen
Emma kept up with Nik as they ran toward where Nexus was supposed to wait with the yacht. In the pre-dawn darkness, she relied on Nik’s wolf vision. They hid as men rushed toward the burning facility. Once the soldiers passed, they made their way to the beach. Emma whispered, “Do you see the yacht?”
“Not yet.” Nik sniffed. “I don’t scent her either. Are you sure these are the coordinates?”
“Yep. Maybe things got too hot, and she took off.” Emma sighed. “Alone.”
“Speedboats might have already surrounded her.” A fierce howl echoed through the darkness. Nik drew Emma to his chest. “Saskia.”
“Do you think she discovered you missing?”
“No. She just made a kill. Probably the maddened werewolf.”
“You would think she would have commanded him to submit first.”
“Not if, in their maddened state, they won’t even listen to our kind.”
“I see cons and pros for that scenario.”
Nik scoffed. “What could possibly be a pro?”
“If she can’t control chimera werewolves, they can turn on her.”
Nik chuckled. “And the cons?”
“They can escape the island.”
“Either way, we are screwed, especially if Nexus is a no show.”
“Can’t say I blame her for running out on us. I told her to take off if things got too dangerous. To contact Rylee.”
“You went against protocol?”
“We have no choice.” Emma would deal with the fallout of breaking the rules, if they survived. Getting in trouble with Rylee was the least of her problems. “Anyway, Nexus is the perfect asset for the LIA. A brilliant hacker and inventor of this.” She took off a clip from her hair and removed a small chip from it.
Nik raised a brow. “What is this?”
“She called it a CV or cryptic veil. It makes you invisible to security cameras.”
“Interesting. You’ve seen proof?”
“Yep, back in the cabana. This is exactly the type of technology the lycan kind needs.” Best kept from our enemies.
The sound of motor boats roared over the breaking waves. “They must be chasing Nexus,” said Nik.
A flash and thundering boom echoed over the water. Emma’s heart skipped a beat. “What was that?”
“Rocket launcher.”
“Does that mean…Nexus is gone?”
Nik cocked his head. “No impact with a solid object and falling debris. Just a splash. A miss.”
“I hope so. She’s grown on me.”
“If she is smart, she’ll get the heck out of the Dodge.”
Another missile launched. Then silence.
Emma whispered, “Nexus is resourceful.”
“Agreed. The motor boats are dead in the water, or rather underwater. In fact, I hear a ship heading out to sea.”
“Good. She made it.”
“No other ships out there. We must find another means of transportation,” said Nik.
“Maybe another helicopter?”
“The one that crashed was the only one I spotted when given the tour. We need a boat.”
“By now, Bolton must have placed a distress call. Another helicopter or ship is probably on the way.”
A fierce howl pierced the air.
Emma’s skin prickled. “It’s Saskia, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
“Not that you know where you’re going, but lead the way.”
“I saw some kayaks behind the cabana.”
“You are kidding, right?”
Nik smiled. “Not kidding. Follow me.”
They dashed toward the cabanas. No such luck. A couple guards stood over the now chained kayaks. Bolton knew every means of escape. Still, Nik could easily take out the guards. Emma whispered, “When you take them down, we can change into their clothes.”
He shook his head. “There are trip wires around the kayaks.”
“Are you sure?”
“Please, Sparrow, it’s my area of expertise.” He pointed up at a palm tree. “Net will drop and capture.”
“So no kayaking then.”
He lifted his chin toward the mountains. “We’ll find another way.”
She gazed up at the mountains. “A temporary fix, but for now, our only alternative.”
They backtracked and headed up the trail behind the building.
Emma followed Nik into the thicket at the foot of the mountains. The sun rose. By now, Nexus must be close to the mainland. She hoped. The island was larger than she’d imagined. She looked down at the scorched rubble that was once a state of the art facility. Bolton’s chimera lab lay in ruins. Were they focused on putting out the fire or looking for them? Either way, they had to escape. Out of breath, Emma yelled, “Wait.”
Nik turned. “I’ll carry you.”
Rather than fight it, she nodded. “Okay, but only until I catch my breath.”
“Hang on.” He lifted her in his arms and dashed up the steep hill with the speed of a racehorse.
Before she knew it, Nik reached the top of the tallest peak. He gently set her down. Emma gazed down the steep cliff. “Can they scent you up here?”
Nik caught his breath. “Eventually. In fact, your scent has returned.”
“You can smell me already?”
“I’m afraid so. Vaporo must have a short lifespan.”
“About two hours.”
“Do you have any more?”
Emma dug out a vial from her lab coat pocket. “Last one.”
“Save it for an emergency.”
“Now is not an emergency?” She removed her gray bun and her mask.
Nik smiled. “I like your real look and scent.”
“Good to know.”
Nik straightened. “Once we are home, I’d like to ask you out on a date.”
Emma gave him a sidelong glance. When they returned, their relationship must go back to work only. For now, not knowing if she’d live or die, why not love a forbidden werewolf? “If we get back home, I’m treating,” Emma quipped.
Nik scanned the area. “Perhaps Saskia thinks you escaped with Nexus.”
“Possible, but then, who will she think busted you out of prison?”
“Could have been a scientist willing to risk it, or she might think I unlocked the cage myself. In a few minutes, I would have done so anyway.” He winked. “My skills are almost as good as my looks.”
Emma
snorted. “Okay…” She shook her head. “You had two guards, each holding a tranquilizer gun. No matter how good your skills and handsome your looks, escape would have been impossible.”
He rubbed his brow and gazed at her. “Which reminds me...”
“What?”
Nik drew her into his arms and kissed her, his tongue dancing with hers, warming every inch of her body. She moaned in pleasure. Instant gratification won over danger and possible death.
He released her. “Thank you for getting me out.”
“If that’s my reward, I’m happy to break you out anytime.”
Nik turned serious. “Are you sure you can trust Nexus?”
“I know I shouldn’t have given her Rylee’s private number, but knowing Rylee, she won’t trust her. If anything, she’ll meet Nexus out in the open, far from any lycan territory. She’ll make sure Nexus is completely vetted by the team before bringing her in.”
“Assuming they have not caught her,” said Nik. “If Saskia thought you were on board, she wouldn’t stop until every yacht in the vicinity was destroyed.”
Guilt overtook her. Nonetheless, she pushed her shoulders back. “We must stop Saskia.”
Nik crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze. “Not we. I will stop her.”
Her stomach knotted. “You can’t go down there. She’ll kill you.” I can’t lose you.
He took her hands and kissed them, warming them with his lips. “Don’t worry. Now that you are safe, I can put an end to her insanity.”
Emma frowned and moved her hands away. “You brought me up here, so you could face her and who knows how many werewolves.”
“Should be no problem.” He straightened his collar and winked. “Remember, I have a charming personality.”
Emma met his eyes. “Look, I’m not sure how much you know about the major side-effect of the chimera drug, but all those new werewolves will eventually turn into ravenous monsters.”
He waved a hand in dismissal and smirked. “Only if they remain werewolves for more than an hour.”
She sighed. “No. According to the data Nexus shared, the men will all remain as maddened werewolves as time goes by. Permanently.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You mean they will no longer be able to shift back to human form?”
“Precisely. Unless they fall asleep, and the odds of that happening are not good. They can go on a killing spree for days before exhaustion takes them.” She sighed. “Even after sleep, they will eventually remain as monsters.”
Nik scratched his unshaved chin. “No wonder Bolton is worried.”
“According to Nexus, he was injected against his will by Svetlana, who in turn was betrayed by Saskia.”
Nik snorted. “Maybe Bolton is willing to join our side, that is, if our scientists can resolve this monster issue.”
Emma nodded. “That’s why Nexus helped me escape. I promised her our research staff would do everything within their power to find a cure before she became a maddened werewolf. The good news is no female has turned crazy werewolf monster. Although, she worries it might still happen.”
He stared toward the path they had just climbed. “The only way to find out if Nexus escaped is to return to Saskia, alone.”
“And if she didn’t and you end up dead?”
“Emma, I vow to get you out of here, but coming up here and waiting for her to find us is foolish.”
Nik had a point. Yet, she had stayed behind to rescue him. Was it for nothing? “There has to be another way.”
“Don’t worry. Saskia will not kill her mate.”
Emma bit her lower lip. “So you gave her the mating bite?”
“I tried.”
“Huh?”
“Apparently, it didn’t work.”
“I didn’t think it would since you obviously don’t love her.”
“It didn’t work because my heart belongs to another.”
Emma raised a brow. He must have bonded with a she-wolf, perhaps years ago, but remained apart. “Hmm. Someone from your past?”
“No. Someone from my present.”
Her heart sunk. That’s it. Someone back at the LIA or from his territory. Why do I hate her already when we can never be a couple? “Back home?”
Nik laughed. “You are jealous.”
“I’m not…just…”
Nik lifted her chin. “It’s you.”
She struggled to find the right words. “Not possible. I don’t carry the Stallo gene.”
“I know, but tell that to my wolf. He chose you. The mark on your neck is a mating bond.”
Emma touched the small indent along her neck. “No werewolf can take an ordinary human as a mate, only as a pet, and that’s not an option.”
Nik frowned. “You would rather belong to Rylee?”
“That’s just a formality. So I can be part of the pack.”
“There is a first time for everything.”
“After the change, without a pack, you probably forgot the number one lycan rule.”
He shook his head and swore in Russian before answering, “No, I decided it was a stupid totalitarian rule.”
Nik sounded like a Bolshevik, out to overthrow the czarist class. “But you are an alpha and you must choose an alpha mate.”
He laughed. “Like Saskia.”
“Of course not. There is a perfectly good lycan dating site.”
“I hear you rejecting me, but your heart says otherwise.”
Emma looked down. “I know, but I doubt lycan society will be so accepting of your decision, no matter how much I want you.”
“Doesn’t matter. I am my own boss. The pack is not my style.”
Emma sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m not. I’ve been groomed to work for the LIA since childhood.”
“Groomed, interesting word for someone who does not wish to be a pet.”
“You know what I mean. I was taught lycan law.”
Nik sighed. “Understood.”
“For now, our biggest issue is getting out of this in one piece.”
“Just wait here. I promise I will come back to you after I stop Saskia.”
“No later than sunset.” Emma looked around at a nearby waterfall. “I’m coming down once my stomach rumbles.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come back with fast food.”
“Good luck finding a working kitchen after the explosion.”
“Just to be safe use the vaporo.”
Emma took out the small vial and dusted it on her neck. “Okay, but that means you better be back in a couple hours.”
Nik grabbed her and then kissed her. He released her. “I’m happy you remembered me. Just don’t forget I’ll come back for you soon.”
“Before you go…”
He inhaled and slowly released his breath. “Yes.”
“Why don’t you wear the CV?”
“No. Better that you keep it. I want to be quite noticeable when I return to Saskia.”
Nik shifted and left.
Emma fingered her lips, remembering his mouth over hers for the last time. A romance between them would only last until they left this island. If Nik was successful, Saskia would be dead or locked up. The problem was the eleven or so werewolves waiting to tear him apart.
Nik in wolf form scanned the fallen facility. The chaos was worse than he expected. Humans with mangled body parts littered the grounds. He honed in on Saskia. She was nowhere in sight. Neither was Bolton. He flared his nostrils to focus on their scent. Nik growled. Bolton occupied the cabana where they had imprisoned Emma.
Nik followed Bolton’s scent. He was in human form, but had the residual smell of his werewolf form. Alone, and still naked, Bolton sat on the sand near the cabana, despair on his drawn face.
Nik shifted and approached him. “Your lab is ruined.”
Bolton looked up. “All gone.”
Nik glowered at him. “Every human murdered.”
“I know. My entire lab staff. I never should have trusted Saskia.”
He scowled. “She murdered my bartender and the waitresses.”
“Of all the werewolves for Svetlana to include, Saskia was the worst.”
“Yes. That bitch brought ex-cons and now controls all my men.”
Nik snorted. “Didn’t Nexus show you the files on Saskia?”
He groaned. “Saskia promised she’d control her urges. Even promised to leave my human staff alone.”
“Yet, you were more than willing to sacrifice Emma or any other victim.”
“She is not the first psychopath I’ve hired.”
“I figured that much. However, a werewolf who happens to be insane is far more dangerous.”
“I told her once they remain in werewolf form they were too maddened to manipulate. She even agreed. Then when Saskia returned after that first kill, she commanded us to remain in werewolf forms.”
“Knowing, Saskia, she’s having fun.”
Bolton shook his head. “I thought we had the same goals. Create a new species of human, then overtake society by using werewolves. A long process.”
“Sounds to me that you were not so different.”
“You are a werewolf. Don’t you want to rule over humans?”
He asked the wrong lycan. Nik had always identified more with being human than wolf. “Better to leave things the way they are and have always been.”
“I’m doomed, so nothing matters anyway.”
“You’re afraid you will eventually stay as a maddened werewolf.”
“According to our research, yes.” He sighed. “I’m afraid.”
“Yet, you insisted on using humans as guinea pigs.”
“We were close to finding a cure or at least a way to curb our eventual fate.” Bolton growled. “The bitch kept the research on the drug that might cure us.”
“I doubt Saskia will bother keeping it. She enjoys blood lust. Besides, Nexus probably took all the data.”
“No. Nexus couldn’t. After I was tranquilized, Saskia told me one of our scientists had the formula for the cure.”
“And the scientist?”
“After he handed her the thumb drive, she snapped his neck. She might let me have the formula, if I hand her all the assets to my corporation.”
Nik frowned. “A bargaining tool.” He snorted. “Knowing Saskia, she’d care less about such a formula.”
