“What are your obligations to me?” because I knew he had them.
“To let no harm come to you while you are in my custody.”
“None?”
“To the best of my ability, but you are bound to obey, and that involves you not deliberately endangering yourself.”
“And does this agreement have an end?”
The scope of it left me short of breath. I had to do everything he said, or die? Not even Mack...
“It ends when my custody of you ends, or when I fail in my obligation.”
These words brought a series of protesting growls from the wolves opposite, and he sighed, raising his free hand towards them in acknowledgement.
“… and it binds my lupar to stand in my place, if you have done nothing to breach the agreement.”
I looked from him to the wolves and back. I’d just scored myself a squad of werewolf protectors?
Oh. Fan-fucking-tastic.
“Don’t push it.”
“You going to uncuff me… boss?”
7—Part of the Pack
There was a soft shudder as the shuttle touched down, but my wolf escort lifted his arm from around my shoulders.
“Turn.”
I turned, and he undid the cuffs.
“Stay seated, until I tell you otherwise, and then stay beside me. Understood?”
I turned to face the front, massaging my wrists, as I did so.
“Yes… What do I call you? Do I need to add something like ‘boss’?”
“You will call me Pack Leader.”
I nodded, and he snarled.
What the… Well. Fine.
“Yes, Pack Leader,” but I gave him a glare as I said it, and found myself picked up and slapped into a wall.
Oh. The gaze thing. Crap.
I dropped my gaze.
“Sorry.”
And he shook me, before setting me back on my feet.
“Do not forget when we go on board. That sort of look counts as insubordination. Lomis, Keromil, see that she remembers. She has much to learn of being pack, and no time.”
Two sharp barks greeted him, and I guessed they had the term ‘pack leader’ built in, because two wolves flanked me, and my original escort nodded—which was when I realized I did not have his name.
“I am Pack Leader Rovan,” and he gave me a wolfish grin. “You should really have worked out who you were yielding to, before agreeing.”
Like that would have made any difference, when the choice was having my throat torn out. I narrowed my eyes, caught myself before I could do anything more insubordinate, and looked down at the deck. The dark-coated wolf to my right patted my shoulder, and then draped his arm across my back. I shot a quick glance at him, frowning.
What was it with these guys and all the touchy feely shit?
“Touch is part of a pack’s communication,” Rovan said, picking up the thought, “and you will need to let both Lomis and Keromil into your head. They cannot keep you out of trouble otherwise.”
I ducked my head, pressing my lips together.
Honestly! It was bad enough having him in my head. Why would I want more?
“Pack,” Rovan said, his tone of voice suggesting that was all the explanation I needed. “I would suggest it was a closer bond than family, but that would be a poor example in your case.”
It would? Just how far had he dug, anyway.
“That information is not from you.”
Then who?
“I took it from Mack.”
He had? And how in all the Stars had Mack known?
“That is not for me to say.”
Hell, yes, it was!
And he snarled. Lomis gave me a slap over the back of the head, and Keromil nudged me in the ribs with an elbow.
Okay. So maybe it wasn’t. I hunched between them, and kept my head down, glancing up at him from under my brows.
“Eyes down,” Keromil whispered, and Rovan snapped a short bark at him.
Keromil dropped his head and whined.
Like that? There was no freaking way, and Lomis slapped me again, harder.
“Hey!”
Damn these guys moved fast!
I found myself flat on my back, Lomis’s hand in the middle of my chest and his face two inches from my own, his snarl washing over me as well as Rovan’s. I stared at him, squirmed, and tried to look up at the pack leader. Damn wolf was smirking.
“Looks like you’re a slow learner. I might need all the squad to keep you in line.”
“What-thefuck-ev—”
And he had a boot on my throat, just as fast. Lomis looked worried. He glanced up at Rovan.
“Pack Leader?”
Rovan snapped a glance at him, and the black wolf licked his lips. He glanced down at me, and then back at his boss.
“She is like a cub,” he said. “It will take time.”
“She has no time! If she speaks to the captain like that, she will be dead inside a heartbeat.” He looked at Lomis, his eyes darting between the dark-furred wolf, and Keromil. “Or you will, and I would not like to see that happen.”
And I caught a glimpse of what Mack would look like in wolf skin. Now I got it. Oh.
I tried to speak, to apologize, couldn’t make a sound, and tried to wriggle a little out from under his boot. He looked down, lifted his boot slightly.
“You had something you wanted to add?
“I am sorry, Pack Leader.”
I looked up at him, and then remembered, and closed my eyes. There was a lot to learn.
“You will need the squad, if you are to survive.”
I stared up at him, and then watched as the rest of the pack gathered close. I’d thought there were only six, realized there had been more in a forward compartment. They were all going to keep an eye on me?
“And you are going to let them into your head.”
That had me staring up at his face, and realizing there was no compromise, and no argument. I nodded, and closed my eyes, waiting as he linked the implant through to the rest of them, allowing him to link the implant through the rest of them.
It was like being invaded by twelve oversized, hyper-active puppies.
“Don’t you mean rampaging tantrum machines?”
I was about to say none of them had torn into the implant’s compartments, when Lomis ran three strings of code in quick succession, and the implant was left wide open. Well, f…
Twelve minds stilled, and so did I.
Rovan snickered.
“Now, you might have half a chance.”
Twelve heads in mine, and I only rated half a chance? Lomis tapped me on the chest, and stood, and the other wolves moved back. I had twelve... brothers? Macks and Tenses? In my head? Oh, Stars, I hoped this wasn’t permanent.
“Lomis and Keromil are in charge. The others will help if they’re not enough,” and it was as much an order for the squad, as it was for me.
I lay there and looked at him, and then saw the hands my two keepers had extended towards me. Taking them was easy, given I had no idea what lay ahead of me. We were a contract, right? The Shady Marie and her crew?
A contract.
And it would do me good to remember that.
Taking the help offered, I got to my feet, and couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder to see what had happened to Abby. My interest didn’t go undetected, and twelve heads turned as one looking from me to the Dasojin ship, and back, again.
“She will bring a bonus to the contract,” Rovan said, and turned to go.
I might have stood there and stared at him, if it hadn’t been for Lomis’s hand curling around my bicep, and pulling me forward. I shot him a glare, and he raised his lip in a silent snarl, let go of my arm, and clipped me over the back of the head—again.
I nearly stopped and slugged him, except that Keromil grabbed my other arm, and kept me moving forward, and another squad member pushed me, usin
g a hand in the center of my back. Really?
Like—really?
I followed after Rovan, all too aware of the wolves around me. They were all far too pleased with themselves. I opened my mouth to ask where we were going, and got two hands to the back of the head, and an extra set of fingers pushing between the shoulder blades.
Didn’t these guys ever let up?
“They are responsible for keeping you alive in spite of yourself—and they don’t want to disappoint me.”
From the feelings that cascaded through my head, disappointing their pack leader was not something to be considered, not even lightly. I wondered why, and was poked, slapped and pushed from a dozen different directions at once.
“Loyalty to pack is all,” Rovan translated, and I nodded.
Loyalty. Pack. Pack Leader is all. Gotit.
And someone ruffled my hair.
I did not need to hear Lomis’s “good pup” in my head to know I was on the right track. It still didn’t stop me from wondering where we were going as we marched through the familiar corridors of Mack’s ship. I wondered if we’d get to keep it.
Rovan snorted, but did not elaborate—and I figured Mack might have already blown that deal all to the Stars and back. Whatever. I guess the only way to find out what was going on was to follow Rovan, and stay quiet.
Another “good pup” echoed through my skull, but, this time, it was not accompanied by a pat on the head—for which I was grateful, since I was about to forget my manners and slug the next wolf to try it. Keromil’s low voice in my ear made me jump.
“That would be bad,” he said, and draped his arm across my shoulders.
I thought about shrugging it off, but it tightened, and I sighed.
Fine. Whatever.
Rovan took us through to Conference Room Nine, and I remembered the last time I’d stood there. Another briefing, Mack in charge. I swallowed sadness. This was not how I’d imagined returning to the ship. It was distracting when Rovan held his hand behind him. I stared at it. It was almost like he was expecting something to be passed to him.
“Here,” he ordered, and both Keromil and Lomis pushed me forward.
Oh. I took the pack leader’s hand, and let him pull me to his side. Why he placed his arm across my shoulders, I don’t know. It wasn’t like I was going anywhere—and I sure as shit didn’t need a hug. This time it was Keromil who smacked me over the back of the head.
I ducked my chin, and tried to glance back at him, but Rovan’s arm blocked my line of sight. Lomis poked me, and I faced the front. Twelve degrees of approval and relief ran through my head, and I wondered why—until the door at the back of the room opened.
I might have run from the big wolf that came through it, if it hadn’t been for Rovan’s arm around my shoulders, and the three hands set squarely against my back. I might have made the mistake of meeting his eyes if it hadn’t been for twelve whispered “eyes down” and two pokes. Rovan tightened his hold.
“Very good, pup.”
I glanced up at him, and then quickly down, again. The whole time, I had the feeling of being inspected to within an inch of my life—like the approaching wolf was taking in every detail. The thought made me shiver, and I snuck a quick peek at him from under my lashes, gasping when I saw he had come to a halt a scant half meter in front of me.
“What have you brought me, Rovan?”
“The missing crew member, Hunt Leader.”
The Hunt Leader stilled, and I saw his hands, his gauntleted-in-heavy-combat-armor hands, curl.
This was so not good. I tensed, and felt the squad crowd closer. Sneaking another glance up at the Hunt Leader, I saw their movement had caught his attention.
“What have you done, Rovan?” and the pack leader’s arm tensed.
“I made her yield.”
“Truly?” and the Hunt Leader sounded so surprised I glanced up at him, again.
This time, my eyes snagged his, and I froze.
“Eyes! Down!” came from thirteen minds, and twelve snarls rippled across me.
I whimpered and crowded closer to Rovan—and the Hunt Leader laughed.
“Let me take a look at you,” he said, curling a long-clawed finger under my chin.
I flinched, and three hands patted my back, even as Rovan pushed me slightly forward, but didn’t take his arm from around me. I met the big wolf’s gaze a second time, and tried to avert my gaze. When his grip prevented me, I closed my eyes, forcing myself to stay perfectly still in his grasp.
He turned my face from one side to the other, as though inspecting the bruises under my eyes, my still slightly swollen nose and mouth. And I let him. He let go of my chin, and took a step back.
“Come here, pup.”
I shot an uncertain glance at Rovan, but did as the Hunt Master ordered, coming to a stop just in front of him, and wondering what to do next.
“Stay still,” “Eyes down,” ‘Wait,” all flitted through my skull, and I tried to obey. It was hard. The Hunt Master was bigger than the other wolves, bigger than even Rovan, and I did not know what to expect. All I wanted to do was hit him and run. For a minute, I missed Mack, and then the Hunt Master spoke.
“Do you know who I am?”
I glanced up at him.
“You are Captain Erkan.”
It had been meant to come out clear and precise, but I managed only a whisper.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
And thirteen minds projected disapproval. I flinched. Erkan noticed, and laid a hand on my shoulder.
“And I see your pack has you well in hand.”
“Yes, Hunt Master.”
Again, that ridiculous whisper, but my voice wouldn’t produce anything louder. The Hunt Master terrified me on a level I couldn’t explain, yet at the same time, I wanted to please him, wanted his approval. Was that me? Or thirteen anxious pack mates, projecting through me—and did it really matter?
“Do you understand what it is to yield?”
And I nodded.
“Explain.”
“Pack Leader Rovan is all,” I whispered, and then tried again. “I mean, he is…”
He laid a claw over my lips.
“That is all.”
And I wanted to cry, felt as though I had somehow failed my pack, and disappointed both my pack leader and my hunt master. It reminded me of Mack, and I wondered where he was, and stilled as the Hunt Master spoke, again. This time, he addressed his words to Rovan.
“Well done, Pack Leader,” and I relaxed just a little, as he continued, “and well done for bringing the Dasojin in. Those things are hard to catch unawares. I will let you escort the pup to storage and transfer custody there.”
A wave of relief washed through me. It was touched by disappointment, and a little resignation, but we all knew it couldn’t be any other way. The barracks were no place for a pup, and nor could a portion of the contract be kept, no matter how much anyone thought a mascot was good for morale.
I didn’t know how I was going to survive without them, but the captain didn’t give me any time for regrets.
“Back you go, pup. Do as you’re told.”
I almost laughed at that, wondering when I’d ever done as I was told, but I nodded, risking another glance at his face.
“Yes, Hunt Master.”
I went to turn away from him, but thirteen panicked “Nos” made me stop.
“Back away,” came from thirteen minds, and I obeyed, keeping my eyes down, and moving slowly, until I fetched up against the hard carapace of Rovan’s armor. This time the feel of his arm around my shoulders was a relief.
“Well done, Pack Leader. Take her to storage, and then stand your squad down. You have done well.”
This time, happiness surged through my head—and relief. Their gamble had paid off. They had captured the Dasojin, and brought in the last crew member. They would be the toast of the barracks.
None of this joy esc
aped my head, though. The squad stood perfectly still as the Hunt Master made his way back to the exit, where two more, large wolves waited. He had bodyguards? Here? Amongst his own? What did that say about his crew? About his people? His pack?
I glanced up at Rovan, but he was watching his Hunt Master, and the rest of the pack stood behind me, their minds quiet, so I had no way of knowing what they were thinking. Instead, I had to wait, happy that my pack was happy, and sad that I would soon be exiled from them.
Now, why the fuck was that?
8—Goodbye to the Pack
“Come,” Rovan said, and turned me about, walking back through his squad with me sheltered under his arm…or, possibly, using his arm to make sure I’d do as he wanted. Either way, I should have realized that the storage center the wolves kept referring to was in the medical center. As we headed through the door, I half-expected Doc to meet us, and then kick us right back out, again.
Doc ruled his clinic with an iron hand, one which Mack ignored on a regular basis, but at his own peril. The wolf in medical whites came as an unpleasant alternative to the fierce old man.
“Doctor Rakman,” Rovan said, as the medic walked over to stand before us.
“You found the missing one?”
At least he sounded appropriately impressed. Rovan’s arm ceased being a comfort, and I pushed experimentally against it to see if I could slip out from under. He shifted his grip, moving his hand to take me by the scruff of the neck. I twisted my neck, and he squeezed.
“We still have an agreement.”
I stilled, flicking a glance towards him, and then towards the doctor.
“When does your custody end?”
“When I hand her over for storage.”
Rakman looked past us, appearing to register the squad for the first time. I watched his eyes widen, and then he looked back to Rovan, and down to me.
“You made her pack?”
“It seemed the best way to keep her alive.”
Rakman lifted a lip in amusement.
“She doesn’t seem to be that much trouble.”
I smiled, but it wasn’t a very happy smile. Rakman caught it, and his amusement disappeared.
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