by Eva Gordon
“In my case, better than other lycans, or as you say, werewolves.”
“So the politically correct term is lycan?”
“There is no political correctness. We go by lycan, werewolf, loup-garou, rougarou, hombre-lobo, or any other term for a shifter who can transform from wolf to man. Whatever, as you Americans say, works.”
She bit her bottom lip. “How long has your kind been around?”
“Millennia.”
Her amber eyes met his. “Was it some sort of mutation?”
“According to our sacred texts, our kind was created by a great mage known as Stallo.”
“How was that possible? Recombinant DNA science didn’t exist a thousand years ago.”
“Stallo, known as a Wolf Wizard, used magic not science to create us. Our scholars believe he used the forbidden art of necromancy.”
“Isn’t that the magic of bringing back the dead?”
“I suppose it is.” When they underwent the change, their natural wolf form died and they were resurrected into human form with the mind of both wolf and man. That is, if they survived the painful change.
“So he cast some spell, then zippity ippity, he turned himself into a wolf?”
“He used a potion. A toxic mixture of mushrooms, herbs, snake and spider venom, and his own blood.”
Rachel furrowed her brow. “Makes sense. Shamans imbibe hallucinogenic mushrooms to shift into their spirit guides. But not literally.”
Her reality was based on science. He couldn’t blame her for trying to find a scientific explanation. “You saw me shift without the benefit of mushrooms.”
Rachel sighed. “Fine, so he became a werewolf and all of his children shifted as well.”
“After Stallo drank the potion, he nearly died. He gained great strength, grew fangs and claws, but never fully became a wolf. Stallo bit several men, hoping to pass on his magic, but it didn’t work. This frightened his village, his wife and children. He was able to control his shift, but the others of his village, fearing he was an evil sorcerer, chased him out.”
“I can’t say I blame them.”
“He left his family and ran far into the mountains hunted by the men determined to kill him. Cunning, he managed to escape their dogs. He entered a large wolf pack’s territory. The wolves, enraged on seeing a man that was partially wolf, attacked him. Stallo killed many, and bit all his attackers. That was when the magic happened. The wolves he bit writhed in agony as if poisoned. The five that survived known as the Pentad changed into humans, but with the ability to turn back into their wolf form.”
“Wait. Are you saying a man’s bite turned a normal wolf into a human?”
“Yes, into a werewolf.”
She snorted. “Man bites dog. Puts a new twist on the old Hollywood werewolf story.”
“We are descendants of those five werewolves, the Pentad. We are born wolf for the first three years of our life and then undergo the change, which either kills us or turns us into a twenty-one-year-old human with all the acquired knowledge of our parents and often other ancestors.”
“You were first a wolf?”
“Yes. An alpha.”
“You morph from wolf to adult?”
“We are born pups and live as wolves, but with the knowledge we are human.”
“That saves money on diapers.”
He laughed. “Human children can be expensive.”
“So when do you go human…the full moon?”
“No. The alpha parent bites the adult wolves and, if we survive the change, we become human.”
“The change?”
“Our transformation from wolf to human kills 50% to 98% of us.”
“Ouch. So how many in your pack survived the change?”
“All my siblings died.” He sighed. “My pack was exposed to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Only my father and I survived.”
“I’m so sorry.” She softened her tone. “Did you stay there?”
“No. We left the contaminated forest for good. I returned a few years ago for the first time to visit my pack’s grave.”
“Did you need special permission?”
“I drove in under pretense of collecting samples. Once in, I remained in wolf form.”
“Where did you and your father go after the meltdown?”
“We moved to Siberia until I learned human ways, then we moved to Moscow.”
“Human ways?”
“Yes, although I had my parents and my ancestors’ acquired knowledge, our first few months as a human are awkward.”
“I can only imagine.” Rachel gave him an incredulous look and shook her head. “My mind is about to explode. Is there a book on your kind?”
“Volumes, but kept in our private library. However, Stallo’s original grimoire has never been found.”
“I’ll definitely need one of your lycan library cards.”
“Few humans have access. Your father does.”
“Hmm. I suppose that makes him more of a veterinarian.”
Lev frowned. “Lycan doctor.”
“I’m sorry. Not trying to offend. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I understand.”
“Okay, how the hell does that make me so important to your kind?”
“You are Rh O-Negative.”
“My father told you.”
“Yes.”
“Not questioning your information, but there are millions of people with my blood type.”
“True. However, in addition you have a genetic marker your father identified as Stallo’s gene.”
“Okay, so my family tree includes a warlock?”
“Yes. Stallo left his family behind. His grown children and wife remained as outcasts in their village and later died of a plague. However, one daughter, Lotta left a few months earlier with a lover. Her daughters carried Stallo’s unique DNA or what some call the shifter mutation.” He smiled. “Which is why you are special.”
“Why?”
“You and only a few other special women can mate with an alpha werewolf and have hybrid children. That is children born human with the ability to shift.”
“Great. So now the wolf pack wants me as some broodmare.”
“Not our pack society, but rather a rogue wolf pack.”
“The men who abducted me.” Her skin paled. “The Toothbrush Bandit wanted my DNA.”
All this information was too much for Rachel to process. On the run from a mysterious pack wasn’t the ideal situation to initiate her.
“You will be safe within our pack society. With me.” He drew her in. His wolf wanted to taste more of her blood. To finalize the claim. Agreeing to keep their secret and live within their society did not mean she’d agreed to be his mate. He could compel her to do as he pleased, however, he wanted a woman to love him, not be his obedient slave. Lycan law stated one could not compel a lower rank werewolf or human to fall in love. She had the right not to choose him as a mate. Especially with a lycan that may pass on odd mutations.
She stared at the small camp stove. Her full lips puckered as if confused, worried, or perhaps regretting she agreed to learn the truth.
“Rachel, you are in shock.”
“I don’t know what the hell I just agreed to. But there is one thing I’ve wanted to do.”
Lev’s heart drummed. His wolf howled. He swallowed. “What?”
Rachel leaned in and smiled. “Kiss you.”
The little human surprised him with her bold request. Lev whispered his gratitude in Russian and drew her in. Wolf and man elated to finish the kiss he ended abruptly in New Orleans.
She responded with a moan of desire as he captured her mouth, absorbing her essence. One hand gripped her bottom and he pressed her close. His wolf no longer contained. He growled. “Mine.”
Chapter 11
Rachel had longed for his kiss for months. Since the moment she met him at the door of her father’s Oregon home. Drop dead gorgeous. Deliciously mysterious. Dark and tall. A man to fulfil
l her fantasy of the forbidden hunk. Or was it forbidden species? Her inhibitions gone, she moaned as his domineering tongue claimed her. He grunted in deep masculine satisfaction. The beast desired her.
Her heartbeat pounded in anticipation of what sex would be like with a feral beast. Gentle or rough, she didn’t care. She thrust her breasts out and her nipples tingled as they brushed against his massive chest. She craved the feel of his mouth sucking each pouty nipple. Moisture gathered between her legs. Despite the cold wind outside the cave, his body emanated enough heat for both of them. Nonetheless, goose flesh travelled over her body. Insatiable arousal drove her to yield to him, but then her chest tightened. Reality struck her like a bucket of cold water. Lev was a werewolf!
Rational thought curtailed her cat-in-heat passion. Rachel knew little of Lev and his kind. She had never initiated a kiss before this. Was he compelling her as he claimed to be able to?
Lev released her. “Rachel, what’s wrong?”
“I shouldn’t…we shouldn’t jump into anything.”
He lifted her chin. “It was your idea, and I’m not complaining.”
“How do I know you didn’t compel me?”
“Compel?” He tenderly brushed his thumb over her brow. “You with your shining amber eyes are the one who has kept me under your spell.”
“Because I have that special Stallo gene?” Resentment clouded his romantic gesture. So he’s into her DNA and not into her.
“I won’t lie to you, Rachel, the aroma of your blood is like an aphrodisiac for a werewolf, but there is more.”
“Oh?” Her heart sprung in hope.
“From the moment I saw you, dressed in pajamas and robe, your hair disheveled, and still recovering, I knew you were…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“This will sound crazy.”
“Hey, crazier than you being a werewolf? Kind of doubt it.”
“Not just your blood, but something about you appealed to me. My wolf has claimed you as his.”
His. So hot. She draped her arms around him. “I’m open to that, but first I’d like to go on a few more dates, if that’s okay.”
He sighed. “You are right. You know little of me. Weren’t you curious why I don’t have a mate?”
Hot and single, why is he available? “Are you supposed to?”
“I am an alpha, perhaps one of the strongest. And to be honest, I’ve played the field as you Americans say. Sexy she-wolves and human women were always at my beck and call.” He chuckled. “Without resorting to mind control.”
“Werewolf and a player, why am I not surprised?” Okay, so what he meant was his wolf claimed her for a one-night stand. At age 29, she wouldn’t like it, but she’d accept it. Or did he mean a forever mate thing?
“Lycan females are just as sexually adventurous; however, none will take me as their mate.”
“Hmm. Their loss.” Feeling foolish but honest, she smiled. “Maybe a human is more to your liking?”
He met her gaze and his deep blue eyes smoldered into her soul. “Yes, you are.”
“Are you sure some jealous werewolf won’t challenge me to keep you?”
Lev turned away and stared at the cave opening. She’d clearly touched a raw nerve. He sighed. “Because of my exposure to radiation from Chernobyl, I have numerous mutations not found in other werewolves. Your father ran my DNA and concurred. I’m unique. Untested. I might have powers I’m not even aware of.”
Rachel kept her tone as gentle as possible. “The single women don’t want to risk children being born with unusual mutations.”
“Rumors of three-headed pups and weres born as monsters after the change are rampant.”
She had watched a documentary on wolves of Chernobyl and how the Geiger counter went ballistic when scanning their fur. Maybe that was why he never hung around potential mates. Yet, the documentary mentioned how all of animals including wolves were thriving. Would a Geiger counter indicate he was hot? Not in a good way. “Do you exceed safe levels?”
“Don’t worry. I’m no longer dangerous to be around. My lycan blood has gotten rid of any radioactivity I might have had. I am normal. No longer radioactive. If I were, the packs would banish me altogether. Nonetheless, none see me as a potential mate.” He stood and wrapped the blanket below his waist. Clearly, no longer in the mood for sex.
“I didn’t mean to offend.”
“I’m used to it.”
“Where are you going?”
“Getting rid of evidence.”
“The other werewolves?”
“Yes.”
“You can’t go out there. Not naked. There’s still a blizzard.”
“I will shift and dig out of our temporary ice door.”
“Hurry back then. You might be able to survive a nearby explosion but not being frozen.”
Lev snorted. “We survived the avalanche.”
Even so, how would they return to her lodge with him naked? Photographers would be more than happy to post him on every social network. “You might need clothes before we hike down.”
“Outside, I have plenty to choose from.”
“What about the bear? It killed those werewolves, and there’s still a blizzard.”
Lev grinned. “I was that bear, Goldilocks.”
“Wait, I thought your kind can only go wolf?”
“That is true. However, I have a mutation that allows me to shift into other predators for a brief period. Complements of Chernobyl.”
“Does that include big cats, as in a lion?” Could he have turned into a lion and killed the Boko Haram terrorists? That would explain why the enraged lion only killed the terrorists and not the prisoners. Would he have gone through all that trouble to avenge her near death at their hands? Her gratitude for being her mysterious champion quarreled with guilt over their deaths, not because they didn’t deserve justice, but because he had turned into her own personal assassin.
“Our secret.” He winked and then shifted into the bear. No bone breaking or joint twisting. Just a shimmer and then poof. He pawed the ice pack with his massive claws and it melted.
Awestruck, she gaped as the big bear shoved snow and packed her back into the cave.
Clever woman. She figured out he had returned to Africa and killed the men who threatened her and so many others. He growled. Why had he told her so much? Now, like everyone else, she thought of him as a freak. Yet, she, her father, and a few select members of Team Greywolf were the only ones that knew he could shift into other beasts.
No time to waste. Lev shifted from bear to bipedal wolf form and gathered the dead lycans. Near zero visibility from the blizzard, Lev viewed the mess he made of them. Heads, ripped torsos and human body parts everywhere. They’d gone after him as wolves but upon death became human again. Odd. Most wolves remained in wolf form unless they died fighting as humans. This was the first time he’d run across it.
Lev memorized the tattoo of the weird wolf paw print pentagram. He’d contact Rylee and see if she knew of a pack that wore that symbol. He chose clothing and boots that belonged to the alpha. A good fit. He buried them and their abandoned clothes deep below the snow. Lev paused and gazed at the sky. How many lycans would return? Nevertheless, he and Rachel would be long gone. He wouldn’t risk being outnumbered and losing Rachel to find out who they were. Once in safe territory, they’d figure who exactly they were. In the morning, they’d get the hell out of here.
Lev covered all signs of blood and guts. When this pack returned, they’d realize she was under the protection of the LIA. He imagined they wanted her for an alpha male as a breeder of hybrids. He raged. No one would have her. She belonged to him. No matter if Rylee or the entire royal council disagreed. Sure, he was a freak, but how did they know he wouldn’t produce superior werewolves rather than mutants. Or could he be sterile? He’d refused to have his semen tested even for the sake of lycan science. His ego of being top wolf would end knowing he’d never father children. Even
mutant ones.
He sniffed around for any more evidence. Clean. Good. He glanced at the cave. Could he really control his need to feed from her blood and ravish her body and soul until his wolf sated? Guilt shadowed his desire. Maybe bringing Rachel back to be a member of the pack was a mistake. The look on her face when he’d mentioned marking her haunted him. She knew nothing of their strict pack code of behavior. Humans were considered property of their werewolf masters. He couldn’t imagine her bowing to every member from alpha to lowly omega. Not Miss Independence globe-trotting doctor.
He could use mind control to erase her memory. Only the last few days. She would continue thinking he had died in the explosion. In stealth mode, he could return her to the lodge and she would think she had dreamt about the abductors and him. Give her false memories to account for the missing days. There must be a place safe from the nefarious pack where she could live a normal life. Damn. Yet, they had followed her all the way to the Himalayas. She’d been trailed from New Orleans. He could make her untraceable. How easily would they give up? There must be a few other women with Stallo’s genetic marker. Ones Howard and his team had not located.
Could they remain together away from all packs? Away from the LIA? Like this mysterious pack? No. Rylee would not leave any stone unturned. Anyway, how could he think of preventing Howard Becker from reuniting with his daughter?
The wind howled as the blizzard grew in intensity. Lev glanced at the cave. Tonight his goal was to prevent her from dying of hypothermia. He picked up the clothes and boots and dragged them to the cave entrance.
Lev shifted to human form and placed a hand on the packed ice. Heat emanated and slowly melted the entrance. He entered and smiled.
Bundled with extra coats, she looked up from the pot of boiling water. “I started to worry you had frozen, but then I heard you groaning or growling or a combination of both.”
“I was thinking aloud.” He entered and quickly covered the entrance with fresh snow, while giving her a good view of his arse.
“Cooking freeze-dried stew and I found this.” She dangled a bottle of brandy.
Lev smiled. “Not vodka, but it will do.” He donned the clothes he’d taken and added warm socks and boots.
