Текст книги "Savage Awakening"

Автор книги: J. Tyler

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

Seven

Rowan awoke from her nap gradually, her body still humming from the awesome dream she’d had, with Aric in the starring role.

Tentatively, she touched between her legs and even found herself moist with her own come. When in the hell had she ever had such a vivid dream of sex with a man? Never. Hadn’t known it was possible, not to that degree of detail.

She could still smell him on her skin, musky and male. She envisioned exactly how he’d pierced her with those striking green eyes as he’d eaten her out, and the satisfaction on his face as he’d fucked her into next week, that glorious auburn hair falling over his chest and the swirling tattoo.

As she’d told him, too bad it wasn’t real.

Surely it wasn’t. She was no Dreamwalker, at least not one of much talent if she couldn’t find her brother and reach out to him in his mental prison. If she couldn’t help anyone, what good was a gift? Better to stick with what she knew and could see. Guns and bullets, flesh and blood. And yes, monsters of all kinds. What was tangible could be dealt with.

Which was why she was so lost in regard to Micah.

She’d left him alone too long. It wasn’t easy to get moving, since the nap hadn’t really been restful and her head still hurt some. If he was calm and his vitals were good, she might turn in early tonight and get a fresh start in the morning.

Cleaning up quickly, she decided to wear the same jeans she’d had on, and a different shirt. Ready, she slipped into the hallway and became aware of some sort of commotion at the end. Already headed that way, she made out a small group of people standing outside a door. Dr. Mallory was knocking, and raising her voice for whoever was inside to answer it. She didn’t sound happy.

Rowan’s footsteps slowed as she approached. Nick stood to the left of the doctor, Jax on the right. Mallory waved a hand at Nick in agitation.

“Use your pass code. I need in there to see if that stubborn idiot has set his recovery back by leaving the infirmary too soon.”

“Micah left?” Rowan blurted, alarmed. “How?”

The doctor glanced at her, shaking her head. “Not your brother. Aric.”

“Oh.” Instead of relief, a sense of fear invaded, shaking her to the core. Aric being in trouble was no more acceptable than if it had been Micah. Helplessly, she watched as Nick blocked the keypad with his body and punched in the code. Then the group streamed inside, calling for their friend.

After hesitating, Rowan trailed them. Nobody had ordered her to stay out, and Aric was already becoming a friend, of sorts. She hoped he would be, anyway, and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

Rowan recognized the layout and guessed all the apartments must be pretty much the same. They hurried through the living room and down the short hallway to his bedroom. She heard Nick and Jax calling their friend’s name, and then cursing just as she stepped inside. Oddly, Aric was lying on the bare mattress, curled on his side, wearing only a pair of boxers.

Nick was kneeling on the bed, shaking Aric’s shoulder. “Aric, wake up! Shit, what’s wrong with him?”

“Let me take his pulse,” the doctor said briskly. “Move.”

Both men wasted no time getting out of her way, though they paced anxiously. Rowan moved closer, hand over her mouth as Mallory dropped his wrist, shaking her head.

“It’s too fast, and he’s hotter than hell.” Removing a white strip from her pocket, she peeled off the back and stuck it to his forehead. Within moments she got a reading and removed the strip as Aric remained unaware. “One-oh-six.”

“That’s impossible,” she breathed.

Mallory answered. “Not for Aric. Remember, he’s not human, and he’s a Firestarter on top of that. His normal temp is around one-oh-two, but this is too high. He needs to wake up.”

Firestarter? God. “What’s wrong with him?”

“That’s the million-dollar question.” She fixed Rowan with a strange look, then turned back to her patient.

That was twice now with the look. What was up with that woman?

“Nothin’ wrong with me,” Aric muttered, opening his eyes to frown at the group. “Can’t a man get some sleep? Think I’ve earned it, for fuck’s sake.”

“We’re worried about you, asshole.” Jax crossed his arms over his chest.

“Really?” Aric’s voice dripped with nasty sarcasm as he sat up and came fully awake, shoving hair from his face. “See, now I’ve an entirely different take on how much you’re worriedabout whether I’m dead or alive. My viewpoint was from the inside of a helicopter as it took off and I was carried away to be tortured for weeks!”

Jax’s face paled and he looked like he’d been punched. “You don’t know how sorry I am about that,” he rasped. “But I only had one chance to save my mate, and I took it. You’re both alive, and—”

“But my survival wasn’t a certainty, was it?” Aric asked in a deceptively quiet voice. Like he was a time bomb about to blow. “I was left to be picked apart by vultures, especially Beryl, the bitch. She always—” The man cut himself off and clamped his lips shut, stark torment replacing the anger of seconds ago.

The cop in Rowan went on alert, and she wondered what he’d been about to say. What he might be hiding about the “bitch” in question.

Nick, too, studied him for a few tense moments, but didn’t pursue the subject of Aric’s torture or the woman responsible. “We came for you as soon as we had a location. You had to know we would.”

“But whether I’d be alive—did you know for sure?”

“I felt you would be, yes.”

“What a comfort.”

“I’m so sorry,” Jax told him in anguish.

Rowan’s chest hurt. Friends who were as close as brothers shouldn’t be tearing one another apart over terrible events that neither would likely do differently if given a second chance. Aric was hurting, but not for a second did she believe he would’ve sacrificed Jaxon’s mate to save himself. As for Jax and the others, she’d made some tough decisions herself, and no doubt Luis Garcia’s survivors blamed her for making the only one she could at the time.

“Thought I was getting a handle on this.” Aric gave a bitter chuckle. “Guess that was before I was put to the test, huh?”

“Aric—”

“Don’t concern yourself. I’ll get over it. So if you’d all kindly show yourselves out, I’d appreciate it.”

The doctor was having none of that. “No can do. You were so lethargic we had trouble waking you and your temp is one-oh-six, which is a bit high even considering your specialized system. You’re coming back with me for a more thorough checkup, and that’s nonnegotiable.”

“I don’t need—”

“You’re not the physician. I am,” she said sternly. “You can come peacefully or I can call in reinforcements, but you’re coming.”

Her ultimatum hung in the air, Aric trying hard to glare her down. He didn’t have a prayer. Rowan thought the doc would make an excellent police lieutenant or captain—one icy stare and most of the guys’ balls would freeze and fall off.

“Fine, whatever,” the angry redhead snapped, bouncing off the bed. His small show of defiance was ruined, however, when his legs wobbled and Nick grabbed his arm to steady him. Cheeks flushing, Aric shook off the help and crossed the room, yanked open the door to his walk-in closet and disappeared inside.

Nick blew out a breath and massaged his temples. “That went well.”

“That boy is his own worst enemy,” Dr. Mallory observed.

“This boyis thirty-five years old and has the hearing of a dog,” Aric called from the closet. “Oh, wait—I ama dog. Shit.” A humorless chuckle floated from inside.

His friends exchanged exasperated glances, but nobody wanted to touch that one. Rustling was heard and a couple of minutes later their friend emerged dressed in low-slung jeans and a loose T-shirt. When he met Rowan’s gaze, the hard edges of his expression softened, and if she hadn’t known better, she would’ve said he looked like he had a secret. One he’d like to share.

Or a naughty one they already had.

She wasn’t a blushing kind of woman, but her face heated as the memory of the wicked dream chose that moment to taunt her. Stupid, because there was no way he’d had the same—

“Doc, are you sure I have to come in right now?” he asked, never taking his eyes off Rowan. His lips curved in a predatory smile. “I’m feeling a sudden urge to pop down to Vegas and play a little… blackjack.”

Oh, crap! Her eyes widened and she saw immediately that he knew she fully understood his meaning. But it wasn’t real! It can’t be if two people connect only in their minds! Right?

The doc’s brows drew together. “What?”

Aric ignored the woman, keeping his attention on Rowan. “Come on. I’ll walk you to the infirmary so you can see Micah and I can put up with the doc poking on me.”

Realizing she was still gaping at him like a landed trout, and that his friends were glancing between them trying to figure out the private exchange, she schooled her expression and gave Aric a polite response.

“That would be nice, thanks.”

The party filed out of Aric’s quarters. Nick and Jax promised to visit Micah later, and left to attend to other business. Dr. Mallory issued firm orders for Aric not to waste time and get to the infirmary stat, and then stalked ahead at a rapid clip, leaving them alone.

“I can’t decide whether I like that woman or not,” Rowan said, mostly to herself.

“Melina’s a good person,” Aric said thoughtfully as they walked together. “But she was changed by the massacre as much as the rest of us. Our leader, Terry Noble, was her mate.”

A wave of sympathy washed over her. “Now I feel horrible.”

“Don’t. Melina wouldn’t thank you for showing an ounce of pity, so it’s best to be real around her.”

“Like it’s best with you?”

That visibly took him aback for a second, but then he agreed. “Yeah. She and I are a lot alike in that respect. I don’t do pity. We’re both prickly, too.”

“You might make a good couple.” The idea of Aric making up half of a good couple with anyone made her want to hurt someone. Weird.

He snorted. “Hell, no. I’m not interested in a woman who has bigger balls than me.”

“What, you have a problem with strong, career-minded women who don’t take shit off anybody? Who could maybe kick your ass?” She heard the defensive tone in her voice, and he must’ve as well.

“Hey, back up. I see where you’re going with that and you’re wrong,” he said earnestly. “I’m not one of those guys who gets his fragile ego wounded when he runs up against a female who can hold her own with any man. That’s not it at all. I’m talking about chemistry, and I’m not attracted to anyone—man or woman—who struts around acting like they’re the shit. Does that make sense?”

She thought a second. “Okay, I can buy that.”

“Gee, thanks.”

She smiled at his affronted tone. “Seriously, I’m with you there. I work with people like that, and while it doesn’t mean they’re bad, I just don’t relate to them. But I try to remember there are reasons people present themselves a certain way, and sometimes they’re covering deep hurt.”

“So couldyou kick my ass?” His lips quirked.

“Definitely, as long as it’s a fair fight.”

“Really? Criminals fight fair?” he teased.

“You know what I mean. You couldn’t let your wolf loose or turn me into ash.”

“Or toss you across the room without touching you. I’m a Telekinetic, too.”

“Good grief, anything else?”

“Nope, that’s all.”

“Well, thank God for small favors.”

She found herself enjoying this interplay between them. He seemed to be, too.

“So let me get this straight,” he said with mock seriousness. “You can go a round or three with me andwin, as long as I don’t use my full abilities. I have to hold back. Hmm, hardly seems fair to me.”

“I prefer to think of it as choosing our weapons. I choose the ones we were born with—unless you’d like for me to even the odds by using a gun loaded with silver bullets.”

He laughed and slung an arm around her shoulders. “Okay, you win. Name the time and place.”

“Do you guys have someplace where you work out?” The heat from his side seared into her, and his male scent tantalized. Lord, being held against him felt damned good.

“We have a gym where we train, basically keep our skills in shape. It’s across the building not far from our rec room.”

“That’ll work. It’s a date, after the doctor clears you for strenuous activity.”

“There’s not a thing wrong with my stamina, as you know.” His smirk shot warmth straight to her toes.

And with no little discomfort, something she wasn’t used to. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, come on. Playing dumb doesn’t become you, officer.” Moving suddenly, he pushed her back against the nearest wall and trapped her with his arms, noses almost touching. “A blackjack table? Really? Naughty, naughty Rowan.”

“Rein it in, caveman,” she said, glancing up and down the hallway. “Someone might see.”

“That’s not what you told me a little while ago.” Leaning so close his breath fanned against the shell of her ear, he affected a falsetto. “Oooh, fuck me harder, wolf-man.”

“That is notwhat I said! Well, not exactly.”

“Yes, you beast, do me down and dirty!” His Rowan impression was punctuated by a laugh.

“Stop it!” But the order didn’t sound very convincing. Especially when she dissolved into a fit of giggles. God, when the hell was the last time a guy had made her giggle? But Aric was darned funny, when he wasn’t going out of his way to be defensive or snarky.

“Next time say it with a bit more oomph if you expect me to believe it.” Looking mighty smug, he pushed away from the wall and began to walk again. “Coming?”

“Already did,” she retorted.

Green eyes glittered with amusement. And there was that heat again, searing her to the core. “I like you, officer.”

“Good to know. You’re pretty okay, too.”

“I’ll accept that as high praise from you.”

“Trust me, it is.”

They walked slowly, by mutual consent, and Rowan thought he was as reluctant to reach their destination as she was. The silence was companionable, the discomfort of moments ago banished. She decided to chance a burning question.

“Do you think something is real if it happens only in the mind?” If she’d thought he’d take the opportunity to tease or make some witty retort, she was wrong.

“You’re talking about our mutual dream-fantasy.”

“Yes, but I also wondered in a broader sense. The idea is scary. Fascinating, too, I’ll admit.”

“Before I can answer that and have you believe what I say, you have to reconcile your perception of what’s real and what isn’t. You have to understand that what humans traditionally accept isn’t the only reality there is in the universe.”

She stared at him, impressed and pleased that he was taking her so seriously. “You’re pretty smart.”

“Not really. I’ve just had longer to come to terms with alternate reality.”

She thought about what he’d said about the universe. “I guess I have no choice but to believe.”

“Nope, no guessing. By now you’ve seen enough to know whether you do or don’t.”

“Okay, I do. But I don’t want to,” she clarified. “My brain still rebels against all of this stuff.”

“That’s fair. Then I can say yes—there are occasions when what happens in the mind is very real. Even better, I can prove it.”

“How?” Her fact-loving self liked this.

“Easy. Here, I’ll show you.” Grabbing her hand, he veered off course, turning down a different hallway.

“The doc isn’t going to like that you didn’t get your butt straight there like she said.”

“She’ll get over it. Besides, this will only take a couple of minutes.”

“That’s all? A few minutes to make me accept the ‘mind over matter’ theory?”

“I’ll let you be the judge.”

The trip was shorter than she would’ve hoped, because she really liked his big hand enfolding hers. It made her feel like a teenager again, and very few things could perform that miracle these days. In moments, they stood in a room that held a huge rectangular table and a bunch of chairs. A big flat-screen television adorned the wall at one end.

“This is our conference room,” he told her. “Nick just splurged on updating it with new furniture and the TV. A vast improvement over the secondhand crap we had in here before.”

“Nice. But what can you show me in here?”

“Watch.”

Guiding her farther inside, he directed her to stand off to the side, away from the furniture. She observed, puzzled and a little amused as he raised one arm, turning his hand palm up and simply held that position, staring intently at the table and chairs.

Which ever so slowly began to rise.

“Oh, my God!”

Her mouth fell open as they continued upward, like they were being hoisted by invisible ropes and pulleys, damned near to the ceiling. Then down again. When the legs were about six inches off the floor, they dropped the remaining distance with a noisy clatter, less gracefully than they’d gone up.

Aric braced one hand on the back of a stuffed chair, looking a bit pale. “There’s your proof. I told you I’m a Telekinetic. I can start fire the same way, though Nick would be kinda pissed if I torched the new goodies.”

“I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” she breathed.

“The mind is a powerful tool. There’s so much untapped potential in every single human’s brain—that demonstration only scratches the surface.” He gazed at her. “Now do you believe in power you can’t see?”

She gave a shaky laugh. “Yes. It’s very safe to say I do. Who would’ve thought?”

“I ask myself that question every single day,” he said quietly.

“Are you all right? You suddenly don’t look well.”

“I’m fine.”

She frowned, not convinced, and cupped his cheek. “You’re still burning up, and now you’re pale. That took too much out of you when you’re still not recovered from your ordeal. Let’s get you to Dr. Mallory.”

“Yes, ma’am. You can call her Melina, you know. She doesn’t bite too hard.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He was teasing, but the fact that he didn’t attempt to argue again about getting checked was worrisome. She figured a stubborn man like Aric had to feel really awful to admit he needed help of any kind. Not that he hadadmitted it, exactly, but still.

Leaving the conference room, they started on their way once more. But halfway to the infirmary, he stumbled. Acting quickly, she grabbed his arm and leaned her body into his until he got himself steadied.

“I’m okay. I’m good.”

He wasn’t, but she didn’t argue. They made it all the way to the infirmary, where the cute nurse, Noah, sat behind a desk and greeted them with a tentative smile.

“Thank God you brought him back!” Noah rose and hurried to help Rowan. “Dr. Mallory has been on the warpath since he went AWOL.”

“Well, I’m back. So she can get her panties unbunched and…”

Aric’s knees folded and his head tilted back as he collapsed. Rowan cursed, she and Noah jumping for him at once and lowering him to the floor. The nurse shouted for help and both doctors, Melina and Mackenzie, came running, along with another male nurse Noah had called Sam, this one substantially bulkier than Noah. She guessed it made sense to have at least one strong man on staff when constantly patching up supernatural soldiers.

The two men lifted Aric, the big one hoisting him under his arms, Noah at his feet, and placed him onto a gurney.

“Roll him into the ER,” Dr. Mallory ordered. “I want a complete workup done, and he’s not leaving until I find out if he’s just still weak from captivity or if it’s something more.”

They rushed to comply, and Aric was rolled out of sight. Rowan’s chest seized at the thought of him in there alone. Well, not by himself, but without anyone to comfort him. Someone who wasn’t a doctor or nurse, but a friend. There was nothing she could do for him at the moment, and she hated it.

I’m afraid for him. I can’t remember the last time I cared about someone like this who isn’t family. Where it hurts inside, thinking of anything bad happening to him. I don’t want to give a shit.

But she did.

“He’ll be okay,” Mackenzie said, giving Rowan’s hand a squeeze. “Why don’t I walk you down to see your brother? Melina will bring news of Aric when she can.”

Rowan blinked away the stupid tears that wanted to form. Crying would help nobody, least of all Micah or Aric. “All right. I was coming to visit Micah, anyway.”

“Good girl. One thing you should know, however. He woke up again a little while ago. In fact, that’s what delayed us in going after Aric.”

“What? Why didn’t anyone call me? Did he…” Dread halted her words.

“No one notified you because we were busy with him until he drifted back to sleep, and you needed your rest. He’ll be in and out all day, most likely. And there won’t be a repeat of the incident from before because he’s being kept calm with a special sedative that we’ve developed for shifters.”

“Dr. Mallory told me about the drug. How long will he be on it?”

“It’s hard to say, but our plan is to wean him off gradually, until he’s completely healed from his ordeal.”

“Meaning, until he’s not a danger to himself or others.”

“I’m afraid so.” She patted Rowan’s arm reassuringly. “Try not to worry. Micah’s a strong man to have survived, and with all of us pulling for him, he can’t lose.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure. Let’s go see him.”

They walked the short distance to Micah’s room and went inside. Rowan approached the bed, hating how fragile her brother seemed lying there. It wasn’t fair that someone who loved life as much as he did had been reduced to a catastrophic disaster. Rage wrapped in layers of pain, and then drugged so that it all boiled under his skin, ready to break free and level everyone around him.

Lowering herself to the chair beside him, she scooted close and took his hand. “I’m here, little bro. Come back to us, please.”

She hadn’t expected a response, but his lashes fluttered and she found herself looking into glazed, dull brown eyes.

“S-sis?” he croaked.

She swallowed the cry that almost escaped. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him. “Hey, trouble,” she said, a catch in her voice. “It’s good to see you awake.” And not feral, but she didn’t want to remind him if he couldn’t remember that detail.

“What… where am I?”

“At the Alpha Pack compound. Your team rescued you.” She stroked his hair, his confusion tugging at her heart. “You’re safe.”

He looked confused. “How are you here?”

“It’s kind of a long story, so we’ll save it for when you’re feeling better, okay? I’m here, I’m staying until you’re better, and that’s all that matters.”

“Okay.” His expression saddened. “Sis?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“They… hurt me.”

“I know about the experiments, the shifters and the supernatural stuff. You don’t have to explain.”

“No, I mean they hurtme.”

Ice flooded her veins, and damned near froze her vocal cords. “Are you saying they raped you?”

Shame flooded his face, and a tear traced down his cheek. “Don’t let them hurt me anymore. Please…”

“Shh. I won’t. Nobody’s going to let those sleazy bastards near you again,” she soothed, wiping away the moisture. “Do you hear?”

“Yeah.”

But she wasn’t sure how much he actually registered of their exchange, or what he would remember. His lids drifted closed, and in seconds his chest was rising and falling in steady rhythm, the drug doing its job.

“He’ll be all right.”

Rowan started. She’d forgotten about Mac’s presence in the room. “When was someone going to tell me?” she hissed angrily.

To her credit, the doctor didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “I planned to counsel him first, let him talk to you about it when—and if—he was ever ready to share. I’ll still hold sessions with him, of course, and any details are his to divulge to you. I’d never break a patient’s confidence.”

“I understand that, but someone should’ve told me the full extent of his abuse in that horrible place. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Not that I’m aware. For what it’s worth, I am sorry. Both about not telling you, and the fact that it happened in the first place,” she said sincerely. “Micah is very much loved by his team and all of us here at the compound. We only want the best for him, same as you.”

Rowan forced her anger into a tiny box. What had befallen her brother wasn’t Mac’s fault. “I can see that. Thank you.”

“I’ll leave you two alone for a while.”

The doctor left, closing the door softly.

Leaving Rowan alone with a broken wolf shifter and not a clue how to help him recover.

Aric heard the door to his room swish and he opened his eyes to see Rowan walk in, giving him a tentative smile that softened her features. It was amazing how his heart stuttered in his chest, just being in the same room with her.

“Hey,” he croaked.

“Hey yourself.” Taking a seat, she patted his arm. “I’ll ask the stupid question—how are you feeling?”

“Better, thanks.” He still couldn’t believe he’d passed out in front of her, and he tried not to let his embarrassment show. But her tantalizing scent hit him hard, shot straight to his cock, and went a long way toward making him forget anything else.

“I’m glad. Did they figure out what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m still waiting, but I’m sure it’s exhaustion or something from my time in Motel Hell.” He shrugged. “No big.”

“I don’t know how you can be so nonchalant about that,” she said, frowning. “It’s definitely a big deal for Micah.”

“Damn, that’s not what I meant at all.” Sitting up straighter, he took her hand. “I’d never make light of what he’s going through. I hope you know I’m not that much of a jerk.”

She blew out a breath. “I do. It’s just hard to see him hurting. He’s nothing like the man I remember… not that I believe I ever really knew him.”

“Who was the Micah you knew?” he asked quietly.

She thought for a moment. “Fun-loving, always laughing. He had a great sense of humor, and even though he knew the world wasn’t perfect, hisworld was always rose-colored. His glass was always half-full.”

“Yeah, that’s how I saw him, too. How everyone saw him, as far as I know. Even after we were turned into shifters, he was determined to help all the guys see the good that came from the bad. He had his work cut out with me, because I hated what I’d become.”

She squeezed his hand, her expression warm with concern. “Do you still hate it?”

“Not like I used to, and Micah gets a lot of the credit,” he said honestly. “He’d spend hours talking to me, spinning what had happened to us into a positive thing. We were alive and more than human, and we could use that to do good, et cetera. He started getting through, too, and then…”

Her voice was almost inaudible. “Then he was gone, presumed dead.”

“Yes.”

She fell silent for a minute, studying their linked hands. “Would you do something for me?”

“Anything.” The word was out before he thought, but he realized he meant it. Something about this woman compelled him to want to make her happy, though he didn’t know why, except for the fact that she was Micah’s sister and he genuinely liked her.

“Tell me what it was really like the day your SEAL team was attacked and turned,” she urged, leaning forward to clasp his hand even tighter. “I need to hear the story of what happened to all of you.”

Aric blinked at her. He wasn’t surprised that she wanted to hear the account, since it had changed her brother’s life, but she couldn’t possibly have made a more difficult request of him. Hell, he didn’t know anyone who’d want to relive those hellish few minutes in Afghanistan. But if he refused to tell her, she’d simply go to one of the other men.

And for some reason, that didn’t sit well. Better him than having her turn to someone else.

“All right. I can do that.”

“Thank you.”

Taking a deep breath, he began. “It was so fucking hot that day, we thought we’d die. Little did we know that half of us would,and not from the heat or from facing the enemy we expected to find…”

Five and a half years earlier…

“Jesus Christ, I’m rank,” Raven bitched, scratching at his crotch. “When I finally get to change this underwear, it’ll probably walk off.”

Micah grinned. “With assistance from the crabs you caught from that woman in the last village.”

“Shut up, needledick. She did notgive me crabs.”

Aric and a few of the guys chuckled. Giving one another shit was about the only pastime out here, unless you counted paying a visit to one of the whores available in the dirt-poor villages to relieve the tension. The idea made Aric shudder. Hell, no. He’d settle for his fist indefinitely to avoid catching something he couldn’t get rid of.

They tramped through the thick undergrowth, using the barrels of their weapons to push aside limbs and foliage. Sweat trickled down his spine and between his ass cheeks, and his shirt stuck to his torso. Tuning out his comrades’ continuing banter, he dreamed of home. Of a meal that wasn’t prepackaged and didn’t taste like dog crap. Of pizza and beer.

God, he could taste the dough and cheese, washed down with a cold one—

“Hold up,” Jax whispered, coming to a halt. Tensing, he studied the mountain forest around them, frowning. Somewhere hidden in the greenery, a footstep crunched to their left. Another to their right. And one from behind.

A chill slithered down Aric’s spine as they exchanged glances, readied their weapons. They couldn’t have reached their target’s stronghold already, and this area was supposed to be clear.

Tell that to the bastards who had them surrounded.

Then the forest went silent. Those few heartbeats that followed the utter stillness, those seconds before their lives changed forever, as he locked gazes with Raven, and then Micah, would forever be crystallized in his memory.

Thud, thud, thud.

The ground trembled and the leaves shook. When a deep-throated roar split the air, Aric jumped, pointing the muzzle of his M-16 into the trees, hands steady, heart racing, a bead of sweat dripping off his nose.

“Fuck,” Micah whispered. “What the fuck is that?”

It was a horror right out of Jurassic Park, the scene he’d never forget as long as he lived. The thing that broke through the foliage to their left stood erect on two legs and was more than seven feet tall. Covered with a thick mat of grayish brown fur, it had a long torso, two arms, muscular shoulders, and a head sporting two upright ears and a long, snarling muzzle full of sharp teeth.

It looked like a creature that was half man, half wolf. He stared, mouth open, finger frozen on the trigger.

How things might have been salvaged, disaster averted, they’d never know. Because their buddy Jones started screaming, pumping bullets into the beast’s chest. After that, everything went to hell fast.