by Eva Gordon
She nodded. “Yes, Nik. It’s me.”
Nik sighed, sat on a boulder and then shifted to human form.
Emma ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m healing. Good Russian werewolf blood.”
“Speaking of which, how did you become such a giant werewolf?”
“I don’t know, but when I get drunk, it happens. I become the big bad werewolf.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“That’s why I brought the bottle of vodka, in case I needed it.”
“What about one beer?”
“I can, but since…” Nik shook his head. “I promised my mentor I’d never drink.”
Emma sensed something horrible had happened. “I guess falling initiated my bird shift.”
Nik sighed. “I thought you died.”
“I’m alive, thanks to my new raptor DNA.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand. How is that possible?”
“I have no clue, but Dr. Becker at headquarters might figure it out.”
“I should not have left you alone.” He frowned. “It’s my fault.”
“It’s okay.”
“How did it feel to turn into a bird?”
“Actually, exhilarating. Odd, while in human form I have the senses of a wolf and strength, but in bird form, my sense of smell isn’t great. My vision, however, is literally amazing.” She smiled. “I’ve always wanted a pilot’s license, but I don’t think I need one anymore.”
“You can’t risk it. What if you return to human form mid-flight?”
Emma scratched her chin. “Good point.”
Nik held her face and kissed her. Emma responded with equal passion, not caring that they were out in the mountains, naked, with an array of dead werewolves littering the area.
They finally broke their kiss. Nik smiled. “We better go make sure the boys are okay.”
“Then we better get a hold of Jesper.”
Nik smiled. “I have my phone in the jeep.”
Emma stared down at her naked body. “Wait, I need clothes.”
“You can borrow a shirt.” He gazed down at her. “I think it’ll be long enough.”
“Anyway, I suppose you’ll make sure the boys don’t remember a thing.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve made generals and spies forget things. A few boys will not be a problem.”
Emma scanned the area. “I hope Rylee can send a cleanup crew.”
Nik nodded. “Before a search party is sent to find the boys.”
“My first real job in lycan intelligence and I screwed it up big time.”
“You, and me both, Sparrow.” He smirked. “Better I call you peregrine.”
“Ha, ha.”
Nik waved to Jesper, who parked his vehicle in front of Bolton’s mansion and stepped out, followed out by Nexus. Nik winked. “Glad you made it.”
Jesper smiled at Nexus. “Actually, Nexus found a short cut after she hot-wired a car.”
Emma walked out the gate. She wore her island clothes under the coat she’d found in a closet. “Hey, Nexus.”
“Hey.”
“Good news. Rylee is sending a cleanup crew. They’ll be here in an hour,” said Jesper.
“We also need to return the boys, but I’m not sure how we explain about their camp leader,” said Nik.
Jesper shook his head. “Our local warden and two of his charges will take the boys to a safe house while cleanup is done. Then they will drop them off at the ranger station. The story is their leader went for help, but never returned.”
“Won’t the boys be confused?” asked Emma.
“The warden is an alpha so they’ll be under his mind control.”
Nik furrowed his brow. “Their missing leader will initiate a search and rescue.”
“They haven’t been reported missing yet since they are supposed to return in a few days. The cleanup crew will bury the camp leader’s body in our territory,” said Jesper.
“Never to be found?” asked Emma. Jesper sighed. “The claw marks and DNA will alert everyone to our existence. He’ll be just another person missing in the wilderness.”
Emma turned to Nexus. “We need to grab every computer and whatever else we can find concerning the drugs. In exchange for allowing her to hunt and murder me, Saskia was going to give Bolton the cure.”
Nexus nodded. “No problem. Although, knowing Saskia, she probably destroyed the formula.”
Nik scoffed. “Bolton wouldn’t reveal Emma’s location before securing the formula.”
Jesper opened the door. “If it’s here, we’ll find it.”
“Good. Let’s get started.”
After they left, Emma felt her shoulders for wings, but found nothing amiss. “I hope they find answers to my peregrine shift.”
“Don’t worry. The lycan lab will determine what to do next.” He lied. The lycan research facility revolved around lycan science, not chimera conditions. Would they even allow a bird shifter in their pack?
Emma shook her head. “Not too worried. I should have been scared shitless to fly so high and so fast, but once in raptor form, all fear left me. It felt so natural.” She sighed. “But to be honest, I don’t want to shift into a falcon ever again.”
“If it’s like our shift, you need to will yourself into the shift. There must have been a trigger.”
“The fall off a cliff had to be it.”
His phone buzzed. “Rylee.”
“Put it on speaker,” said Emma.
Nik nodded. “Hey, ma’am, how goes the mission?”
Rylee skipped the formalities. “How is Emma?”
“Good and—”
Emma blurted. “Alive and ticking, ma’am.”
“Good. Our mission here is complete. A full clean-up crew is on the way. Jesper will stay to ensure we get all their files. I’m sending a helicopter to pick you up in twenty minutes.”
“And the island?” Nik asked.
“Lev, Slade and Cricket are on their way with their clean-up crew and decontamination team.”
“And where are you, ma’am?” Emma asked.
“I’m waiting for you at headquarters. Meet me tomorrow at nine a.m. Bring your new asset Nexus.”
Nik frowned, hoping nothing would change. Emma had asked Jesper to inform Rylee about Nexus and Emma’s bird shifting ability.
“Yes, ma’am.” Emma bit her lower lip. “I guess we’ll talk about my unique shifting talent then.”
“Just rest,” said Rylee in a softer tone. “Over and out.”
Nik put the cell phone away. “Nexus won’t be the only surprise.” Besides Emma shifting into a raptor, it was time he told Rylee about his nightmarish shift after a few drinks. He didn’t expect Emma to keep his secret.
“No kidding. Will Rylee accept a member of a flock rather than a pack?”
Nik smiled. “You have my vote.” Unable to resist, he drew her in and kissed her. He forgot the last few weeks of their dangerous mission. All that mattered was they worked together. If Emma agreed, he would declare their bond.
A helicopter approached. So much for privacy.
Emma smiled as Nexus opened the door and let her into her guest room. “How did you sleep?”
Nexus shrugged. “Really well considering I’m in an underground compound run by werewolves.”
“Sound proof rooms and total darkness promotes good sleep,” said Emma.
“I guess it’s time to meet the top alpha.”
“Yep, and not a minute to spare. Rylee hates tardiness.”
Nexus nodded and followed Emma toward the elevator. After they reached Rylee’s private floor, they exited. A beta guard opened the door.
Rylee smiled. “Please, come in.”
Nik was already there and winked at Emma.
They both bowed and did not make eye contact with Rylee. Emma had filled Nexus in on basic lycan protocol.
Rylee looked at Nexus. “You must be Natalie Johnson from L
os Alamos, New Mexico.”
Her eyes widened, but then stared at her hands. “How did you…?”
“At ease. I don’t expect pack behavior right away.” Rylee smiled. “Manny, our tech officer, and Jesper can unmask just about anybody.”
Nik laughed. “Figures, land of rocket scientists. I bet your parents were brilliant.”
Nexus scoffed. “Not even close.”
Rylee gestured for them to sit. “I do like Nexus, if that’s your preference.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Your invention of the crystal veil to hide us from cameras is brilliant. I’d be more than happy if you joined our pack. However, you must prove loyalty by making a vow, on penalty of death, if you ever reveal our kind to human society.”
Nexus frowned. “Death?”
“Quick death.”
Emma had warned her about betraying their kind, but hearing it from Rylee must have driven it home. She was to the point. Yet, could they trust such a brilliant person not to be sneaky?
Nexus swallowed. “I understand.” She looked up. “The crystal veil will make it possible for your…our kind to remain invisible.”
Rylee smiled. “Good. A guard will escort you to Becker’s lab for a full analysis on your DNA as well as a physical.” Rylee opened the door and talked to the guard. “Take Nexus to Becker’s lab.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Nexus stood. “Then what?”
“Accommodations will be made for you by the lab. Don’t worry, you won’t be a guinea pig, but rather a patient. In a few days, you will meet Lev who will make sure you are trustworthy.”
Nexus nodded. “Got it.” She looked at Emma. “Later.”
Emma smiled. “Later.”
After she left, Rylee turned to Emma. “Tell me about this modified chimera drug Bolton injected you with and your peregrine falcon shift.”
Emma eyed Nik sheepishly and explained. “Bolton injected me in the submarine before bringing me to his property in Maine. I was pissed he turned me into an experimental rat, but at least I survived. I figured if it worked, I wouldn’t exhibit the shifter chimera gene for a month or longer like Nexus. Apparently, his new bioengineered chimera gene was accelerated and, I believe, first triggered either from eating steak or from the fall that injured me.”
“Injured?” Rylee asked.
“While escaping the estate, I sprained my ankle. The bigger problem turned out that I experienced the worst headache of my life. After the pain subsided, my senses became enhanced. I could smell better, hear better, see in the dark and run as fast as a horse.” She smiled at Nik. “Faster than Nik.”
“Like us but faster.” Rylee furrowed her brow. “Continue.”
“It was the most traumatizing yet exhilarating experience I’ve ever had.” Except when she and Nik had sex, but she didn’t plan to share that. “I never shifted to a wolf or any type of canine form. I remained human, but with enhanced senses, strength and speed. I was relived I never shifted. When I fell off the cliff pulling Saskia with me, I suddenly shifted into a peregrine falcon. As if by magic.”
Rylee frowned. “You were willing to sacrifice yourself to kill Saskia?”
“She threatened to kill the boys if I didn’t let her torture me to death. Why not kill her if I had no other alternative?”
Rylee turned to Nik. “You witnessed her shift?”
“I came to rescue her from Saskia, but I was too late. Or so I thought. I had no idea the falcon helping me fight off Bolton and his men was Emma.”
Rylee turned to him. “By all accounts, how did you manage to kill so many werewolves?”
“I drank vodka.”
Rylee scoffed. “Lev does too, but not before battle.”
Nik sighed. “The first time I got drunk, I shifted into a monster…killed many. My handler, the only one who knew my secret, believed something in alcohol initiated the mindless horror story werewolf.” He shrugged. “Which is why I never drink.”
“I see.” Rylee stood. “Both of you go to Becker’s lab. Have blood drawn and a full physical. Until then, you are both grounded.”
Nik blinked. “What is this grounded?”
“It means you and Emma are not permitted to leave the premises. Not until we have a full understanding of your unique genetic makeup.”
Emma lifted her brow. “What about my CIA duties?”
“I’m sorry, Emma. You can no longer be our head of human intelligence with the CIA.”
“What?” She wouldn’t follow in her father’s footsteps?
“No shifter is allowed in such a position. The risk of shifting in front of others or a hidden camera is too great. Hell, we don’t know if you might eventually shift into another animal.”
Emma couldn’t believe it. She had taken time off from the CIA, but not permanently. “My boss will wonder what happened to me.”
“I’ll have one our fixers take care of that.”
“You mean a complete erase?” The LIA would go in and erase all evidence of her existence. From all her schools, friends, family, jobs and even her existence as an officer of the CIA.
“I’m afraid so. You won’t be the first one. Dr. Rachel Becker and wolf whisperer Gaby have already been erased from human society.”
At least Emma was not alone. Rachel was a new lycan shifter and Gaby had the ability to command animals. “On your orders?”
“Yes, but the king and the council agreed with my decision.”
“So what do I do?” Her life had been filled with adventure and intrigue. Now what?
“If all goes well, you can join Team Greywolf.”
Nik smiled. “I second that.”
Rylee narrowed her eyes on him. “You are not off the hook either, Comrade Nikolay.”
“Oh?”
“We know you still help some of your fellow Russian agents. That will stop.”
“Understood. I will need to be erased.”
“Lev, our fixer, will see to it.”
“No need. I can do that myself.”
Rylee slowly nodded. “Yes, I believe you can.” She sighed. “I know you are more comfortable in human society, and not completely on board joining Team Greywolf. The question is: will you join us or live under a warden’s care?”
Emma looked at Nik. He’d only known about other lycans for a year. He didn’t even abide by the status rules.
Nik mimicked Rylee’s slow nod. “I will stay with the team.”
Relief washed over Emma. “I can help you acclimate to lycan society.”
Nik smiled, got up, sat next to Emma, and held her hand. “Learning from my mate will make it more fun.”
Rylee gave him a double take. “What?”
Emma blushed, but answered. To hear him voice his devotion to her out loud brought her joy. The fact that she was no longer a CIA agent no longer mattered, as long as Nik was at her side. Forever. “Long story, short: He gave me the mating bite and it worked. While I was still human.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Nik nodded. “Saskia found out and was obsessed with murdering Emma because of it.”
“I’m not saying the council will approve, but since you are officially a shifter, I don’t see a major problem. In fact, since you easily picked up the chimera gene, perhaps you had lycan blood. Perhaps a Stallo woman like Rachel.”
“The council has no choice. I will never give up Emma.”
Emma bit her lower lip. “Actually, Nik, they can banish us.”
“That would be no problem.”
Rylee stood. “Nonsense. At the very least, Emma can accept being your pet.”
“Technically, since I’m a shifter, do I only have pet status?” At the very least I should be an omega.
Nik laughed. “Only a formality.”
Emma retorted. “Not really.”
Rylee laughed. “Since you both agree to be members of my Team Greywolf, I’ll have the last word on your mating status.”
Emma turned to her. “So you approv
e?”
“I’m not one to make rash decisions, but in this case, I will move to approve your mating status. Speaking of which, I’m not sure what your status will be. We’ve never included a non-wolf shifter amongst our pack. I’ll have to seek advice from Lunara to see if you are spiritual mates.”
Emma knew Nik and she were soul mates, but hearing it from Lunara, their lycan shaman, would seal the deal amongst all the packs.
Epilogue
Nik handed Emma her cloak and she wrapped it around her naked body. She looked at the billowing clouds and sighed. Soaring over the Montana skies had to be one of the most thrilling sensations she’d experienced. Second only to sex with Nik, of course. “How was your run?”
Nik drew her in. “Trying to follow you, I finally tired out.”
“So I noticed.” It’d been three months since her transformation, and fortunately, there had been no ill effects. According to Dr. Becker and the research team, all was normal. That is, if one could claim shifting into the world’s fastest animal, and having the strength and senses of a lycan while in human form, normal. Nexus, too, had no problem shifting back and forth from dog/wolf hybrid to human. She had become one of the LIA’s greatest assets. Nexus’s chip to hide them from cameras added to their security. Nexus was assigned to their tech and archives department and got along well with fellow techies, Jesper and Manny. “At least we’re no longer escaping from immediate danger.”
Nik swept a hair from her forehead and kissed her. “How was your flight?”
“It gets better each time, if that’s even possible.” After Emma’s initial shift, her first flights were monitored in the large gym with a net below. As she became more confident with not turning human mid-flight, she experimented by flying above their headquarters.
Nik furrowed his brow. “Are you sure you are ready?”
“Absolutely.” Flying over a secret base where rumors of dogmen chimeras being created in New Mexico would give her a good bird’s eye view of the ground facility. They even had a camera fitted to mount on her head to film the facility. Rylee wanted Emma to determine if the intel about the secret base moving elsewhere was true. Nik would be her partner. He’d meet her nearby disguised as a falconer.
Nik sighed.
“What? Are you still worried?”
