by Eva Gordon
Rachel gasped from the momentary pain and then sighed in relaxation. Trusting.
Her skin so soft, her blood so drugging and at last, his. Lev was lost to her. Forever. Mine.
Her fingers caressed his hair. “I feel so stoned.”
Pleased his bite gave her pleasure, Lev sighed in satisfaction. Rachel’s special blood was an elixir, giving him greater strength and allowing his heat to continue warming their space. Slowly, he released her. He licked the trickle of blood off her neck. So delicious. He lay back and drew her in, so she rested her head on his chest. “How do you feel?”
Rachel splayed her hand over his abs, smoothing over them, making his shaft harden, ready for more sex. “Like I had the best orgasms of my life.”
He laughed. “Feeling is mutual.”
“I bet you say that to all your conquered women.”
“I don’t conquer women.”
She chuckled. “Of course you don’t, we surrender.”
He tangled his fingers into her golden hair and kissed her head. “It is I who surrendered to you, Goldilocks.”
She sighed contently, and he pulled the blankets over them. “Sleep, my Rachel.”
In only moments, she fell asleep. He used no mind control. Had he exhausted her? Had he sucked too much of her blood? Shame clouded his heart. What have I done?
Chapter 13
Inside the sleeping bag, Rachel curled into a fetal position. Still naked and warm, but alone. Lev? Had she dreamt the entire sex in a cavern with a werewolf scene? Her slight soreness and his raw masculine scent imbued her body and blankets, providing her with evidence of the hottest sex she’d ever had. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, she climbed out. The cold air bit into her skin. She grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her body. Lev donned the dark military garb worn by her abductors. The big bad wolves. For a powerful werewolf warrior, he appeared domestic stirring food in a pot. That is, if a warrior could ever look domestic. Breakfast. She shivered. “How did you not wake me up?”
Lev let go of the spoon and went to her, embracing her and gazing down at her. “Goldilocks turned into Sleeping Beauty.”
“Please.” She laughed and gazed at the pot. “A beast that cooks.” Not to mention a beast in bed. “I can get used to this.”
“I’m quite happy to make my Goldilocks porridge.”
She bit her swollen lower lip. Heavy kissing does that. “About last night...”
He lifted her chin up. “Yes. Your life, our life, is now complicated.”
Rachel lifted a brow. So that is my current relationship status? She just had a one-night stand with a werewolf. Complicated is about right. “Look, we don’t need to tell Howard. At least not until he’s well enough to pretend to care.”
“Rachel, he does care. Now that you have entered our circle, he’ll support you with the transition. Entering our society won’t be easy.”
“It will take a big learning curve, but I’m game.” Curious to the max.
“Get dressed and then we eat. The sun is out, but there is still danger of avalanches.”
“Can you find a safe route?”
“Yes.” He turned as the pot boiled over with papa bear porridge. Lev growled and dashed to it and set the pot on the ground.
Fearing he seared his hand, she stared. “Did you get burned?”
Lev lifted his palm. Not even red. “No worry.”
Rachel dressed and added layers of extra clothing.
Lev spooned out the oatmeal and tasted it. “Nice and hot.” He poured some into a bowl and handed it to her.
Rachel sat by the fire and ate, grateful for the thick oatmeal coating her empty stomach. She gazed out the cave entrance. Some of the packed snow had melted, widening the window and giving her a view of the scenic Himalayas. Too bad they were on the run from a group of bad ass werewolves who desired her as a possible broodmare; otherwise, she could spend another couple weeks up here. Alone. With Lev. Dramatic hikes in the day and great sex at night. Burdened with the secret about their society, she wanted to clarify she would continue to practice medicine, and once the bad guys were no longer an issue, live apart. With or without Lev. Living with a pack of werewolves was too weird. Even for her.
Lev downed his bowl and grimaced. “Porridge needs meat.”
“So you don’t want seconds?”
“We need to leave. Now.” He dug out the opening. His claws raking and melting the snow pack. His touch might as well be a nuclear fuel rod. Whatever the case, her father would enlighten her about Lev’s unusual mutations.
The urgency of his tone didn’t bode well. “Are we in danger?”
“I hear a helicopter. Probably the bad guys returning for their pack.”
Rachel tilted her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
He laughed. “You won’t. The helicopter is too far for human ears to pick up.”
Trusting her protector, she nodded. “I’m ready when you are.”
The entrance free of snow, he offered her his hand, but she hesitated. Leaving the cave was like leaving the womb. Once out, she’d be introduced to a new world that included lycans.
“Trust me.”
I do. She took his hand. “Okay.”
They headed down the trail from the cavern. She still didn’t hear the helicopter. “Maybe it’s just the pilot.”
“Since they lost contact, they’ll send more pack members.”
Rachel kept up with his long strides. “We’ll be outnumbered.”
He snorted with Russian bravado. “I can fight more, but I won’t risk you getting hurt.”
Although her protector had super strength so did the other werewolves. Besides, the fact her father had saved Lev’s life proved he too was vulnerable to injury and death. “And I won’t risk you getting hurt on account of me.” Rachel slipped and he kept her from falling.
“The terrain will be dangerous so it will be best if I carry you.” He bent down. “On my back.”
“Okay, but watch your step.” She climbed on.
He laughed, looping his arms around her legs. “Hold on.”
Rachel closed her eyes. Lev ran down perilous cliff edges at speeds she could only compare to a sprinter heading toward the finishing line. One slip, goodbye life.
The roar of what sounded like another avalanche cracked the calm air.
“I’m going to go faster so hang on.”
This was not his topnotch speed? She squeaked. “Faster?”
In a mad race to beat the oncoming avalanche, she held on for dear life. She opened one eye.
He raced to the edge of a cliff and leapt over the wide expanse.
Shit!
Lev stopped about a mile above Namche. Snow covered, the village and surrounding area seemed peaceful. The only sound was the rapid drumbeat of Rachel’s heart. “You can climb down now.”
Rachel slid off his back, but her legs wobbled and she clung onto his arm. “Holy shit, are all werewolves this freakin’ fast?”
“Yes, but I’ve been clocked as the fastest werewolf to ever exist.”
She shivered. “Despite what you might think, I’m not an adrenaline junkie.”
He gave her a sardonic look. Could have fooled me with all your globe-trotting and working in dangerous regions. Yet, her pulse raced like a humming bird. “I can carry you down.”
She vehemently shook her head. “No. The route is safe.” She took in a long breath and straightened. “I need to get my bearings.”
“We’ll go back to your lodge and then arrange to leave.”
“What about the men who followed me?”
“They were human and if they are still there, I’ll get to the bottom of what pack they serve.”
“My abductor said they were going to take me to Stallo’s Island. Some frozen island.”
Lev had gone on missions from the Arctic to Antarctica and had set foot on every continent. “Never heard of it.”
“I bet there are thousands of isolated ice islands.”
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“Interesting they would share that information.”
“Why wouldn’t they? I had no chance of escape.”
Rage coursed through him on how close he’d come to losing her. “If it weren’t for the storm stopping their helicopter from coming.” He growled.
She sighed with a shiver. “Or my big Russian bear.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe in our territory.”
“I can’t wait to see my father.”
This was the first time she had called Howard her father. A good first step. “I’ll contact Rylee and check with her first.”
“He’s your boss?”
“She. Rylee Greywolf is the head of global lycan intelligence agency, or LIA.”
“Is there a Russian equivalent?”
“Once, but our kind was almost wiped out to extinction long ago. Those of us who remained in Russia kept our nature a secret when working with humans, or went underground. My father worked for the KGB, but really worked for the LIA.”
“Double agent. Where does he live?”
“He died, betrayed by another werewolf.”
“Sorry.”
Lev sighed, not wanting to bring up his painful past. “I need to buy a phone to call Rylee, but perhaps I will call old contacts to get out.”
“Old contacts?”
“Human comrades, who think I still work for Russian Intelligence.”
“You mean you are a double agent as well?”
Lev narrowed his eyes at her. “Too many questions.” He never shared anything about his other non-lycan dealings with anyone.
“Oh. Right. Never mind.”
They remained silent as they made their way down the path. Halfway down, a commotion outside a cluster of three isolated mountain homes caught her attention. She stopped and pointed.
An old Sherpa sat on a rock, talking to a little boy sobbing.
Rachel broke away from him and approached them.
Lev caught up to her in seconds and grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
She wiggled out of his hold. He let go, not wanting to anger her, although that had never stopped him before. She frowned. “Finding out if there is anything I can do.”
“Don’t worry. The boy’s mother is in childbirth. Her moans upset him.”
“You can hear…” She rolled her eyes. “Never mind.” She walked over to them and sat next to the crying boy. “What’s wrong?”
The Sherpa spoke English. “His mother is having a baby, but the baby is turned around and our midwife can’t make it here.”
“I’m a doctor. I’ll help.”
Lev grabbed her and pulled her in. “Rachel, I need to get you to safety.”
She whispered, “I’m a doctor first and a Stallo woman second.”
“We don’t have time. Anyway, you work on diseases not maternity.”
“In the field, I’m a jack of all trades. Probably delivered more babies than the average doctor.” She met his eyes. “The baby is breech. I can help.” She pulled away. “Don’t even think of using mind control or carrying me out fireman style.”
Already, she knew him so well. Of course, he could use mind control and the entire incident with the crying boy would be as if it never happened. Lev, who had the makings of an enforcer to discipline other werewolves, allowed a little human to scold him. Yet, the idea of her being his mindless puppet bothered him. Never would he break her spirit. He huffed. “Very well, but hurry. I’ll keep watch.”
Rachel turned to the old man. “Take me.”
They disappeared into the small home, and Lev sat on a boulder. A woman gestured to him. She spoke in broken English, “Come. Tea. Warm.”
“No, thank you. I am enjoying the view.”
The woman gave him a quizzical look before returning inside. As if she knew. Some humans perceived their kind and this one, perhaps a shaman, could.
Lev surveyed the mountain they had just scaled. How soon before the rogue pack appeared? While escaping down the mountain, he’d heard the helicopter land where they had just spent the night.
In the distance, he heard their howls. Four of them. The pack must have scented out their buried dead. Inside the cavern, they would scent Rachel. Him. Their lingering smell of sex. His claim. Would they gather the bones of their fallen? Or hunt him in blood revenge and return for the bodies later?
The old man came out. “The doctor wanted me to tell you, she’s making progress and it won’t be long.”
“Is there a phone I can use?”
“Sorry, not charged. No power.”
That explained why the family hadn’t called for help. “Thank you, my friend.”
The woman’s screams almost drowned out the sound of an approaching helicopter. Shit. It flew by, heading for the village below. Once they landed, they would follow their scents to the isolated dwelling. Who knew how long the labor and one with complications would last?
He entered the home. The smell of incense and sweat permeated the area. “Rachel!”
No answer. Lev went toward where several women gathered in the birthing room. He looked over their heads. “How much longer?”
Rachel appeared to use massage to move the baby to the proper position. “I’m doing an external cephalic inversion. Almost there.”
He couldn’t help but admire her determination. “Turning her around?”
“Not easy without an ultrasound, but yeah.”
A woman looked at Lev. “Girl?”
Rachel answered. “The baby is small, which makes the EVI much easier.” She smiled at the mother. “Keep breathing, you’re doing great.” Rachel paused and then ordered the rest out. “All of you leave. For five minutes.”
Lev stepped back.
“Not you, Lev. Stay.”
“I know nothing of childbirth.” Had Rachel reduced him, the powerful feared werewolf into an assistant nurse?
“You don’t have x-ray vision, but can you pinpoint the location of the heart or even better the carotid artery?” She looked up. “On each side of the neck, to confirm the head is in the proper position.”
“I know where it is,” he said defensively. Lucky for you, I’m the best assistant nurse.
“Can you listen for them?”
“Yes.” He cocked his head. He pointed. “There.”
Rachel continued manipulating for another few minutes. She exuded great calm and focus. Much like her father while he treated patients. The fact bad werewolves hunted them did not concern her the least bit.
Rachel sighed. “Good. Thanks.”
“That was quick.”
“I’m slow. I’ve seen doctors in the field do it less than three minutes.” She wiped the brow from her head. “You think it’s a girl.”
Lev smelled a female. He shrugged. “Just guessing.”
“Tell her mother and sisters they can return.”
His gaze flicked upward.“Yes, ma’am.” Lev opened the door and signaled them. They flooded back in, and Rachel ordered a young woman to boil a knife. He turned. “Rachel, we must leave soon.”
The woman screamed.
“Not while she’s about to give birth.”
He wanted to nip her on the nose for being disobedient, before dragging her away. Yet, he felt oddly compelled not to. How could he not say no to her? All humans and the majority of werewolves were putty around him. Only Rylee, top LIA werewolf made him obey like a pup. He narrowed his eyes. “Very well, but don’t go anywhere.” In fact, he deliberately broke Rylee’s command to bring her in ASAP.
“Not until the baby is out and given her first checkup.”
Lev suppressed a growl and left. Woman, it will be a pleasure to teach you about our status rules. He left the house and scanned the area. Determined to fight them before they arrived, he hiked down the path between the dwellings and the village where the helicopter had landed. Far enough away no human would know about any battles and close enough he could hear Rachel’s calm voice directing the mother to breathe.
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br /> It was late afternoon, no baby cried out yet. He caught the stench of werewolves and his hackles rose.
Three werewolves stalked up the trail. Dressed like their dead comrades. Commando black. A fourth lycan, the pilot, remained below with the parked helicopter on the field. No doubt to make the pilot available if they needed another pair of claws.
Lev imagined their orders. Kill the alpha and retrieve the woman. His fangs emerged. The woman was no longer just a woman who had Stallo’s gene, but his mate. Lev removed his boots and clothes, hid them in a crevice and shifted.
The three werewolves growled at Lev, who stood as a furred bipedal werewolf.
Fierce. Pissed off and ready to decapitate, disembowel and decimate. How unfortunate for them, they were about to confront the devil himself. Patience. He should learn who they were, then destroy them. Lev bared his long fangs. “Who the hell are you?”
The alpha stepped forward while his two betas stared at Lev. He smiled as if greeting a comrade rather than a werewolf that just massacred his pack members. He spoke in the lycan language. “Come with us, Lev. Chernobyl Werewolf.” He chuckled. “Don’t look so shocked. We have all the medical data on you.”
The alpha knew about him and his superior senses and strength. Not all. Some information, Rylee ordered Howard to not include in the files. Lev fumed. Had they used Rachel to trap him? “Am I your quarry?” He met the alpha’s stare, but he failed to get him under mind control. Not even for seconds as he had other strong alphas. Had he met his match?
“No. However finding you here was a most pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting you. Our master will forgive you for killing our retrieval team if you join us.” The alpha laughed. “He won’t care you fucked Rachel. We only want her healthy.”
Lev growled. “So you can breed hybrids?” Rage rattled his bones, thinking how she would be used. After hearing the poor woman suffering while giving birth, he didn’t relish the idea of Rachel ever going through labor. And what made them think he’d betray Team Greywolf to join their pack?
“Our intentions are sacred. For the good of all wolfen kind. You, Lev have never really belonged anywhere.” He cocked his head and surveyed his height. “Rylee’s pack thinks you are a mutant monster.”
