Max parked the Rover on a forested ridge overlooking the Green Mountain research facility—an easy run through the woods in pelt. While he and Niki scouted the route down, Sylvan and Drake found a clearing in the trees and scanned the grounds and surrounding woodlands with a night scope. The sprawling facility was surrounded by a high chain-link fence topped with razor wire. A deterrent for humans, but easy to leap over for Weres. Covered kiosks at regular intervals marked sentry points. In addition to the perimeter security, the trees had been clear-cut for twenty yards beyond the fence in all directions, leaving no cover and preventing a stealth approach.
“This is no research facility,” Sylvan said. “This is a paramilitary installation.”
“How can they keep something like this secret?” Drake asked.
“Money,” Sylvan said. “And political connections.”
“We need to find out who’s behind this place,” Drake said.
“We will,” Sylvan said, “after we find our young.”
“We need to send a message,” Drake said, “that our wolves will not be victims.”
Sylvan showed her teeth, and her eyes flashed gold in the silver moonlight. “We will.”
Drake caressed Sylvan’s bare shoulder. “Good.”
“Sentries in the woods at twelve, three, six, and nine,” Sylvan said, handing the scope to Drake.
“Perimeter guards walking post, also,” Drake grumbled. “They don’t move like humans, but they don’t look like wolves either.”
“I don’t think they are,” Sylvan said darkly. “I think they’re cat Weres. Probably mercenaries. It makes sense if the humans are trying to keep what’s happening here a secret. The fewer humans they involve, the better. Especially guards.”
“How do they fight?” Drake asked.
“They’re quick, and they go for the eyes and the belly. A big cat can take out your throat with one quick slash, so don’t hesitate on your approach.” Sylvan caressed Drake’s back. “We have strength on our side. Go in low, use your body weight to take them down, and clamp your jaws on the throat.”
Drake nodded, still surveying the installation through the night scope. “Getting to the sentries in the woods shouldn’t be difficult, but the guards on that perimeter fence have the advantage. Crossing that no-cover zone will be difficult, even in pelt. They’ll see us coming.”
Sylvan laughed softly. “Not true for our Vampire friends. Their speed renders them nearly invisible.”
“Then it’s a good thing they joined us,” Drake said.
“Not something I plan on telling them,” Sylvan muttered.
“There’s no way we’re going to breach these defenses without bloodshed,” Drake said.
“Are you prepared for it?”
Drake kissed her quickly. “Yes.”
“Stay close,” Sylvan said.
“Always.”
They returned to where Jody leaned against the right fender of the Rover. Her soldiers, Rafaela and Claude, stood a short distance away, automatic weapons slung over their shoulders. Niki and Max appeared out of the woods.
“A dozen outside,” Niki said. “The facility is isolated inside some kind of much larger complex. If we can cut the communications from that building before we go in, we’ll buy ourselves time.”
“We should be able to eliminate the guards in the woods without the perimeter guards being aware of it.” Sylvan glanced at the Vampire. “Can you take out the sentries on the fence quickly enough to prevent them from alerting anyone inside?”
“We are four,” Jody said. “Six humans is no challenge.” Jody glanced at Rafaela and Claude, the two Vampires in combat gear, and the driver, who had shed his suit coat for a black windbreaker. “Silent approach. No weapons fire.”
“Yes, Liege,” they all said at once.
Sylvan turned to Max. “I want you to disable the hard lines and jam wireless communications.”
“Yes, Alpha. It would help if I could see a grid of the area.”
Jody said, “Becca can pull that up for you.” She handed Max her cell phone. “She’s ready to relay images. Press One on the speed dial and tell her what you need.”
“Go with the Vampires,” Sylvan said to Max. When he started to protest, she growled at him, and he ducked his head. “We need you to block their communications and disable security on the door. When we arrive, I want to be able to get in immediately. The Vampires will clear the way for you.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Max walked a few feet away and spoke into the phone.
Rafaela glanced at Niki and winked, her incisors sparkling like shards of glass in the moonlight. “Should be fun.”
Niki grinned.
“Good hunting,” Sylvan said as the Vampires misted into the darkness. She turned to Niki and Max. “Research facilities do not require armed guards. There are no innocents here. Take them down, and if they resist, kill them.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Niki and Max said.
Sylvan let her wolf rise, flooding the clearing with her call. Niki shuddered and tilted her face to the sky, shifting effortlessly in a flurry of red and gray. Sylvan glanced at Drake.
“Are you ready, Prima?”
Drake breathed in, absorbing Sylvan’s power, and let her own power flow. “Yes, mate.”
They shifted together, silver and black, lethal and wild. Niki took a position on their flank, and Sylvan led the war party into the night.
*
The moon was nearly full, and Drake felt the strength of the Pack gather inside her in a way she never had before, not even running with Sylvan at the height of their breeding frenzy. Cool air redolent with life flowed in and out of her lungs. Her heart pumped and her muscles churned. She had never been as strongly attuned to her wolf as she was then, cutting through the trees by Sylvan’s side, swift and sure and strong. Sylvan tilted her muzzle into the air, sniffed, and nudged Drake with a snap of teeth. With a low growl, Sylvan inclined her head, gold eyes glinting, indicating prey off to their right. Drake pulled back her lips and showed her teeth in understanding.
Be careful, Prima.
You too, love.
Drake cut away into the denser forest, and Sylvan led Niki on. Drake slowed, padding softly through the thick layer of pine needles and crushed leaves on the forest floor. She stayed downwind of where they had sighted the first guard from the ridge above. A cat Were’s senses were as acute as a wolf’s, and she needed surprise on her side.
Fortunately, the guards would not be expecting them, and definitely not from a rear approach through the mountains. She smelled him first, gamey and pungent. Male cat, aggressive and half-feral. Drake growled quietly in anticipation, her hackles rising.
She was nearly on him when he swung in her direction, raising his automatic rifle with a curse. Airborne, she hit him in the chest with all fours, taking him down onto his back. He flung the gun aside, and by the time they landed with a bone-shattering thud, he had shifted. He was a big cat, a mountain puma, eight feet long with six-inch canines. He pulled his rear legs up to his belly, attempting to rake her underside with his lethal claws. He slashed at her muzzle with his teeth as she went for his throat, but she clamped her strong jaws down on his trachea. His rear claws caught her in the side and razor-sharp slashes of pain exploded, but she held fast, whipping her shoulders from side to side. Blood welled from her shoulder and his throat, the copper tang flooding the air. She hoped Sylvan was far enough away not to scent it. She did not want her mate distracted in the heat of her own battle. He thrashed, but without air, he was weakening. She bit deeper, jerked her head right and left, and snapped his neck. Panting, she dropped his lifeless carcass, spun around, and retraced her path until she caught the scent of Pack.
Racing through the forest, leaping over thick underbrush, skirting around trees, and bounding over fallen logs, she quickly detected where Niki had split off. She followed her mate’s trail, as strong a beacon as if the path were illuminated by electric lights. Fiery pain exploded in her front leg and she almost fell. Sylvan. Sylvan was hurt.
Drake burst into a clearing vibrating with savage growls and ferocious snarls. A dead cat lay just in front of her, its throat a gaping cavern. A little farther away, Sylvan was down, pinned by two huge mountain lions. Drake smelled blood. Her mate’s blood. With a roar, she launched herself into the battle.
She landed on the back of a female cat just as the cat raked her canines across Sylvan’s exposed belly. Blood welled on Sylvan’s silver pelt. Drake sank her teeth into the cat’s neck and tore it open. A geyser of hot blood shot out as the cat screamed and fell beneath her. She held the Were down long enough to be sure she was dying, then spun around just as Sylvan slashed a hole in the belly of the cat who straddled her. The cat screeched and released its hold on Sylvan’s neck. Sylvan’s canines flashed and the cat’s scream died with it.
Drake dragged the heavy Were off Sylvan’s body.
Sylvan!
I’m all right, Prima. Sylvan staggered to her feet, her head down, her chest heaving. Blood dripped from her belly and her shoulder onto the ground.
You’re not. Drake licked Sylvan’s face, then nosed at her shoulder. She licked the blood away. A deep gouge ran into the muscle. Let me see your belly.
Sylvan rumbled. No time. It’s not bad.
Niki burst into the clearing and raced to Sylvan’s side. She nosed her, whining and shivering.
I’m all right. The rest of the cats?
Niki’s ears flickered and her eyes glinted.
Good. Sylvan leaned against Drake’s shoulder and rested her muzzle on Drake’s back.
Draw strength from me. I am here for you.
As I am for you. You’re hurt, Prima.
Drake felt Sylvan reach out to her, felt the power of their connection flowing between them. Niki crowded close, and the connection deepened. Drake’s pain receded. Sylvan took a deep breath and pulled away, her shoulder healed, her eyes bright and clear.
Once over the fence, follow Max and the Vampires inside.
Drake stayed close on Sylvan’s heels as she raced into the forest. She wasn’t letting her mate out of her sight again. They would fight the final battle together.
*
Michel held the young Were around the waist, lifting her effortlessly, taking the tension off her suspended arms. The humans would not be able to tell Katya’s feet no longer touched the floor. Katya arched her back and rubbed her breasts against Michel’s chest, her whiskey eyes soft and seductive, her full lips a sensuous invitation.
Michel brushed her face against Katya’s neck, breathing in the scent of female and nature and primal strength. The Were’s blood pounded in wild expectation, and Michel’s mouth filled even as the hollow agony overtook her. Hunger slashed through her body, burning her consciousness to crumbling cinders. Hunger, destroyer of sanity, annihilator of reason. Her incisors plunged from their sheaths, and she swiped her tongue along the broad vein in Katya’s neck. She pulled Katya deeper into her thrall, aching to fill herself with the fire and vitality the young Were’s blood promised. She had been so empty for so very long.
Katya whimpered and rolled her pelvis against Michel’s crotch. Heat poured through the tight fabric of Michel’s pants, stirring her dormant flesh even though she had not yet fed. The Were was potent, powerful, and Michel’s hunger nearly obliterated her senses.
“Don’t lose any of that specimen,” Veronica Standish said from somewhere nearby. “Get the device on her.”
Michel felt Katya stiffen in her grasp and sensed the other Were in the room snarling, struggling, shifting. She flooded Katya’s awareness with the scent of Pack, and Katya quieted. A chorus of startled voices rose, sounding some kind of alarm. She had time, must have time. Needed this Were. Needed. Hunger. Need. Michel slid her incisors through the golden skin.
“What’s happening?” she heard Standish demand. “Watch that other one.”
But she no longer cared about specimens or experiments. She had to have this Were now, had to taste her, had to fill her vacant, aching flesh with vibrant life. She penetrated deeper, and the Were’s blood poured into her, an inferno of power igniting her lust. Her cells, tissues, organs pulsed with energy, and her sex pounded to life with primal potency. The Were writhed in her arms, her skin burning, a roar of ecstasy trapped in her chest.
Sucking, swallowing, growing stronger with each taste, Michel stroked her palm down the Were’s rigid abdomen, felt her struggling for release, felt the agony in her body. Michel’s fingers brushed over cold metal—silver—and she dragged her mouth away from the Were’s neck. She whipped her head around and captured Veronica Standish’s feverish gaze.
“Take it off her,” Michel snarled, letting her thrall flow. “Now.”
Standish’s eyes grew wide, then glazed. “Ames, remove the pump.”
Katya whimpered, her need incinerating her, and Michel stroked her damp face.
No one will harm you now. Soon, soon I’ll bring you pleasure.
For a fraction of a second, the Were’s eyes cleared, and she met Michel’s gaze.
“Please,” Katya whispered, “the pain. Help me fight the pain.” She shuddered and her eyes rolled back.
Bloodlust crashed through Michel’s senses, ripping away her control. Her predatory drive ascended, and she thrust aside the foreign hands invading the Were’s body.
“She is mine,” Michel growled, cupping Katya’s swollen sex, claiming her prey.
“Please, now,” Katya cried out, and Michel struck deep into her neck, flooding her with hormones. Katya burst in Michel’s hand, and Michel came in a blinding, insane blast of heat and power.
A wild roar filled the room, and Standish shouted, “Oh my God, what is she doing! Shoot her—for God’s sake, shoot her!”