by Cara Adams
“There or in the Balkans. I suppose even the Caucasus Mountains are a possibility.”
Zed smiled at his father. “And if we meet up with vampires?”
“Arrange a trade alliance with them, of course.” The Alpha’s face was poker-straight.
“Of course. Right. And I suppose that stuff about silver bullets is just rubbish from the movies as well. It’s lucky I like eating garlic. I might be living on it for the next month.”
Zed watched as the corners of his father’s mouth twitched upward just the merest fraction. But he knew his father was completely serious about making an alliance with whoever he met, whether they were wolves or vampires or anyone else.
“So who else is on this team you’re sending me with?”
“I haven’t discussed it with them yet. I’ll let you know after I’ve spoken with them. But I suggest you hire a larger car with plenty of power. You’ll be traveling through the mountains so it’s not the time to hire a small city runabout.”
Zed nodded. His father was still the most powerful and astute man he’d ever met. Over the past eighteen months as he’d traveled more and more as the pack’s ambassador, he’d come to have an even greater appreciation for the man. Their own pack was extremely well organized. They made excellent use of modern technology and his father had an intelligence system that was likely as good as the FBI’s and without any of the interbureau infighting he’d heard about the government agencies.
As well as that, with many of the pack members living in this one big building, security was unusually good. The offices had all the safety features people expected of an office block, plus other hidden ones. Apart from the first three floors, which were shops and offices, everyone needed a swipe card to enter the elevator and another, different one to access the actual office area on each floor. The tenth floor, which was their recreation level, was even more difficult to enter with fingerprints needed. There the wolves relaxed and swam, exercised in the gym, or ran on the all-weather rubberized running track which circled the outside of the building using a balcony with one-way glass.
Security cameras ran continuously in all the public areas, and every tape was assessed and saved, with faces and information constantly added into the databases. Only in this building could many wolves feel truly safe and whole families lived and worked here, doing all their shopping on the lower floors and seldom leaving its protective environs. All the work of the pack was based here, as was his father’s business, which acted as the reason to the human world for the existence of the property and the workers.
Humans often wandered into the shops on the two lower levels, but any who made it as far as the foyer on the third floor were redirected elsewhere. The company names were deliberately not posted anywhere, and when enquirers asked for help at the reception desk, they were invariably directed to other companies elsewhere. Some of those were also connected to the pack, with werewolf workers or owners, but none were purely wolf businesses and all the staff there was used to working with humans in the human world.
Zed left the office level, glancing longingly at the reception desk which still held Josie’s replacement, and swiped his keycard for the elevator. In his own apartment on the sixth floor, he changed into running shorts and tennis shoes, then took the stairs up to the tenth floor. To exit the stairwell here required his fingerprints, then to access the gym itself he had to get them scanned again. Inside he went immediately to the running track, opening the door carefully. Many wolves ran singly and in groups along the track which girded the building, and people stepping out onto the track need to look both ways as if it were a city street as runners in the zone, weren’t watching for new arrivals.
No one was coming so he ran onto the center of the track and began pacing himself, pushing himself a little bit, not too much. He wanted to think as he ran. He needed to work out exactly what his father was asking of him. For several packs of wolves to be unknown in the twenty-first century was quite a surprise. These days even most third world countries demanded their citizens be registered at birth. Actually there were often punishments for those not registered, such as the inability to send their children to school, or for families to be unable to access social security. But if a pack was self-supporting, and had been for a long time, likely they’d have their own means of survival and their own education system so such things wouldn’t be a deterrent at all.
Growing food was one thing though, but how would they manage for things like refrigerators, washing machines, television, computers? They needed to have some means of supporting themselves that brought them cash so they could buy things they didn’t make or grow. One obvious way of doing that was through crime. Growing opium was a well-known method of raising money in some areas, but not in Europe to any great extent, as far as he knew. Kidnappings for ransom were also popular in some places, but again, he didn’t think that happened much in Europe.
Zed increased his pace, wrinkling his forehead as he thought. If I was trying to survive under those circumstances what would I do? He was on his tenth lap around the track when he realized he was thinking about the problem from the wrong angle. These wolves had existed for a long time—well, probably they had. Whatever method they used now had to be something that had worked for many years, a system they could adapt where necessary to continue to provide them with an income.
What about a bank? Europe was known for having private banks with strict secrecy policies. Originally the wolves could have used their ability to cross borders easily to acquire the information that would help them keep their money safe. Now with the Internet, as long as they had intelligent people at the helm of their organization, a private bank could more than provide a livelihood for a pack.
That gives me a starting place. I’ll get some of our researchers working on it.
But he wouldn’t close his mind to other ideas either. Sometimes the best ideas came in the middle of the night when his subconscious uncovered them for him.
* * * *
Steve was having a lot of trouble believing this was really happening. He was being sent to Europe for god only knew how long as the translator for a small team looking for a missing pack of wolves. Or possibly several packs. And they weren’t missing as in “disappeared from their homes.” They were missing as in “We think they might exist and would like you to find them if they do.” So how the fucking hell was he supposed to do that? He was pretty sure he didn’t know the Romanian words for that. Or the Czech. Or even the Turkish.
He slid his feet out of his shoes and put his bare toes on his desk, tipping his chair back until he was just about horizontal. His favorite thinking position. If I were a pack of werewolves, where would I hide? Somewhere that has been safe for many years.
His first thought was a large town, but in a town people would need all sorts of paperwork. Driver’s license, social security, papers to get a job. So, while it would be very easy for no one to know a person’s name or what they did, it would be quite hard to earn a living or even rent an apartment. So no, not a large town. And definitely not a small town. Too many people would know everything about everyone, so it would be much too obvious if one clan never drove cars, and how would they survive? At least in a big town there was a chance of working in the black economy. In a small town that was not likely.
But living out in the middle of nowhere wouldn’t work either. They might be able to grow crops and fish in a lake for their food, but how would they get clothing and furniture? Barter systems didn’t really work in the countryside.
The best place to hide a tree is in the forest.
So what? Hide a werewolf in a zoo? But weren’t there CCTVs everywhere in zoos these days? The wolves would never be able to shape-shift, and the wolves he knew would find that much too difficult to live forever in one form only. What if they owned and ran the zoo themselves? Some of them would pretend to be the human staff and others the wolves. Once the building was closed for the night and the customers had left, the shape-shif
ters could be whatever they wanted to be. If the zoo was profitable that would provide them income as well. So yes, a small private zoo would work.
What else? Steve spent a long time thinking, before coming to the conclusion he couldn’t think of any idea better than a zoo. Which wasn’t to say it was correct, but it gave him a place to start looking.
He straightened in his chair and wiggled his mouse to activate his computer. Then he sat staring into space, wondering who else would be involved in this team with him. He was the translator. A translator who needed to brush up on his Middle European languages really quickly. But who else would there be? A couple of big strong men presumably, and someone who knew the various pack leaders and people they’d have to talk to. For a moment he wondered if Zedekiah would be the man in charge. Shit, I hope not. He hates me. Ah well, presumably there’d be a minivan full of them. He’d just have to stay out of the man’s way as much as possible. Because, honestly, he had to admit this kind of task was what the big man was best at, and if they were to have any hope of succeeding they’d need him. Fuck it!
* * * *
“You aren’t serious? You’re sending me away for months with Zed and Steve? Just the three of us? Zed’ll kill Steve long before the airplane even lands in Vienna.”
“Your job will be to prevent that from happening. And if it does, remind Zed I won’t be posting bail for him. He’ll have to serve out his time in whatever jail he lands up in.”
“Sir, you don’t really mean it. There must be other people. At least three or four others on the team.” Josie stared at the Alpha. She’d worked with him for long enough to be able to read him even when other people would have said his face was blank. Right now his eyes were filled with light. He was serious, it was going to be just the three of them and he expected her to sort out any relationship problems. Well fucking hell!
“Josie, all three of you together will be an unbeatable team. Between you three, you have all the skills you need to find the missing wolf pack and convince them to unite with the association. They must have a very capable leader to have survived for so long alone. We can use their skills. Besides, they need to know what’s happening in the real world, not the world as they’re undoubtedly filtering it through their fears and biases. They need to know they aren’t alone.”
“I doubt I’ll have a spare moment to solve the problem. I’ll be fully occupied keeping Zed from murdering Steve.”
“Perhaps at the start, but my son is not stupid. He will come to realize that Steve is a man of many skills and talents, capable and useful in his own right. Apart from that, I have great faith in your ability to bring them to the knowledge that just as they can work together on a project, they can learn to share you.”
Josie blushed. Her boss had never so much as hinted at her sex life—or lack of a sex life—before.
“This project is the perfect means for you to move on. You alone can control my son. The three of you together can find the missing wolf pack and forge a new identity for yourselves. I expect you to report to me every twenty-four hours even if there is nothing new to tell me.”
“Yes, sir.” Josie nodded and left his office. Only once she’d closed his door did it occur to her that might have been the last time she’d ever speak to him face-to-face. She would no longer be the administrator of the pack. Whatever happened on this adventure, the people she’d trained would be doing her job from now on. She squared her shoulders. It was time for her to reclaim her life. Her future was in her own hands. She’d have months in close contact with Zed and Steve and if they couldn’t come to an agreement between them during this time, it would never happen.
Slowly she walked to the elevator and swiped her card. Up in her room she stood still and looked around. This place had been hers for so long. Mostly she slept here and that was all. Her true life was at her desk on the third floor in the center of all the pack activity. Now she was cutting herself off from all that, moving out with the two men who meant the most to her in the world.
She pulled her suitcase out from under her bed. She’d only just unpacked it and finished doing laundry from the DADISP, and now she needed to pack it again. But she’d be packing very differently this time. Sturdy travel clothes, comfortable walking shoes, and maybe just one pretty outfit for if it was needed. Josie sank down on her bed and pulled out her cell phone, Googling the weather in Vienna. Ugh. And a warm coat as well.
Suddenly, she smiled. This was not how she’d planned her life. This was not what she expected at all in her wildest imaginings. But the Alpha was correct. If she couldn’t make the two men see reason and cooperate and build her life with them both, she didn’t deserve to be happy. She was just as smart as either of them. She’d damn well do it. She’d make them agree to share her, to both mate with her, and they’d find the missing wolf pack as well.
The tricky bit would be preventing Zed from killing anyone until he saw reason.
She opened her nightstand drawer thoughtfully, and dropped a pair of handcuffs into the waiting suitcase.
Chapter Three
“I always travel business class on long-haul flights. My body isn’t meant to fit in this tiny little seat for so long.” Zed hunched his aisle-side shoulder into his body as a man knocked him with his backpack as he moved toward the rear of the plane.
“Why the fuck don’t they load the rear-most passengers into the airplane first. That’d make much more sense,” he grumbled.
Steve, in the window seat and safe from being knocked by anyone said, “I read a study that showed the most efficient way to board a plane was by letting all the window seat passengers in first. Apparently the biggest time waster is already seated aisle and center seat passengers having to get up and into the aisle again, blocking it for people moving past.”
Josie, in between them in the hated middle seat position, nodded. “That does make sense. They’ve already gotten in and then they have to get out again.”
He was glad she was beside him, but he still wished she’d purchased business class tickets. She said the travel budget for all three of them wasn’t large enough. She was an excellent manager so he supposed she spoke the truth, but it was damn annoying. He always went business class on long flights. So now, fuck it, was some damn pack bean counter going to keep them begging for finances for the whole of this fucking expedition? If so he’d use his own goddamn money. No way was he going to penny pinch for months. At least he’d taken his father’s advice and rented a large SUV. If he lived until they arrived in Vienna that was. He grumbled as yet another passenger bashed his shoulder with their luggage.
Zed was used to traveling. He’d clocked up an enormous number of miles on pack business. But he still found a fifteen-and-a-half-hour flight damn long. The movies were never as good as their trailers suggested they’d be, the food was very ordinary, and he didn’t want to arrive with a hangover so he strictly limited his alcohol intake. He finally managed to nap for a while which helped, but he really missed the extra space he would have had in business class.
He wanted to complain about constantly being knocked by passersby, but he could tell Steve’s long legs were giving him hell in the window seat and he was taller than Steve. Plus Josie was uncomplaining in the middle seat and everyone knew that was the worst possible position to be in on a long trip. On the way back, I don’t care what the fucking bean counters say, we’re traveling business class.
Every couple of hours he extricated himself from the confining seat and marched up and down the aisles, stretching his legs as much as he could, wiggling his shoulders curling and straightening his spine. He had to arrive in a fit state to meet with the Supreme Alpha of Europe and he was already so grumpy he knew he’d have to watch his damn temper.
And that was without the agony of being so close to Josie, able to brush her shoulders and thighs with his, yet not able to touch her the way he’d really like to. With both his hands on her lovely skin and no clothing between them.
Finally the hell w
as over and they were allowed off the airplane for their next challenge, customs and immigration. He traveled so often he could recognize his bags anywhere, but he was pleased to see Steve and Josie were just as organized. Josie had a fluorescent pink ribbon tied to her suitcase and Steve grabbed his with no hesitation. They went through their passport checks and finally they were free and out in the open air.
He scanned the signs looking for a picture of cars to know where to collect his hire car and started to head that way but Steve called him back. “That’s the long-term parking lot. Hire cars are this way.”
He found himself angry that Steve had known something he didn’t, had challenged his leadership, but deliberately throttled his anger back. The man hadn’t meant to be rude. He was trying to be helpful.
At least the hire car people spoke English. He showed his license and signed the paperwork, then the salesman asked, “Will you be the only driver, sir?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I would like to be registered as a driver as well.” Steve spoke firmly.
Zed felt his face heat. “I’m perfectly capable of driving around Europe. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“I’m not implying that you’re not capable. But I lived here on and off from the time I was five until I graduated from university, and I know my way around these roads as well. I’d like to be registered as an alternate driver.”
Zed was about to argue when the salesman asked a question in German, or possibly Austrian. He couldn’t tell the difference. Steve answered him confidently.
“What the fuck is he saying?”
Josie tapped his arm and he realized he’d snarled, but dammit, this was his team. He was the leader. He should be the one making all the decisions.
Steve signed the paperwork as well and the salesman took them outside and showed them their hire car. Josie immediately took a couple of pictures of it on her cell phone. Now he was annoyed with her. This wasn’t some fly-by-night company that would try to pretend they’d scratched the paint job to get a few extra bucks. What the fuck did she think she was doing?
