Chapter 21

 

 

Gaby flew to another hiding place. Cricket and Slade accompanied her to Rachel’s father’s cabin in Oregon. Secluded in the woods, but not completely isolated with homes half a mile away. She pulled her small suitcase into the home and glanced around the living room meant for humans, not lycans. Normal. “Nice.”

Cricket opened the entertainment console and frowned. “No games.”

“That’s okay, I have my laptop.”

Slade furrowed his brow at his mate. “Hon, you don’t have time to play.”

“I know, but she’ll die of boredom.”

Gaby frowned. “Leaving so soon?”

“We’ll be gone for two weeks,” said Cricket.

“R and R?” Gaby asked.

Cricket snorted. “I wish. Undercover job.”

“Don’t say anything more or we’ll have to eat her,” said Slade, his tone deadpan.

“I don’t want to know,” blurted Gaby.

“Ha, ha. Hon, don’t freak her out.”

“I’m kidding.” Slade winked at Gaby. “Even if you work for Rylee, it’s still on a need to know basis.”

Slade had such a serious persona, sometimes it was hard to tell when he joked. “Roger that.”

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the rest of the cabin,” said Cricket.

“You’ve been here before?”

“Yep. Rachel and Lev invited us not long ago.”

“Who else knows about this place?”

“Just us and the new warden, Hallie Lovell. Her uncle, Ben Lovell just retired as the Portland territory warden.” Cricket looked out the window. “She’s apparently proven an excellent warden. Not bad for a beta.”

“What exactly is a warden’s job?”

“A warden supervises lone wolves and humans who know about us. Occasionally, they check on their charges, and report missing werewolves or people associated with us.”

“I suppose, one way or another, I’ll always be tied to your society.”

“I won’t lie to you. Your ability to out us means the local warden will keep a keen eye on you.”

“How often will she check on me?”

“Actually, she’ll move into the other guest room until Project Sabertooth is eliminated.”

Was Cricket aware she planned to help take down the nefarious group? It appeared the need to know worked both ways. Not sure how, but Gaby’s objective was to bury Tomlin’s project. “I hope we get along.”

“Hallie is a tree-hugging vegetarian werewolf.”

Weren’t they wired to eat flesh and didn’t they need meat to stay healthy? “How can a werewolf be a vegetarian?”

“As a human she doesn’t eat meat, but in wolf form, she hunts deer or other prey that won’t last long due to an injury or old age. She calls it eco-friendly culling.”

“A green werewolf, now I’ve heard everything.”

“Trust me, if Hallie finds out one of our humans or another werewolf is endangering our secret society, she won’t be shy about culling them.”

Great, my new roommate might be my executioner. Couldn’t she go where she wasn’t under the watchful eye of a warden? Maybe a far off exotic island where werewolves didn’t exist. If there was such a place. Would the king learn, instead of being banished, she remained right under his nose? Fortunately, Kiara agreed to step down as overseer in order to mate Steele. Rylee also persuaded the council not to send any more overseers to the LIA, since she convinced them that their presence violated the agency’s top secret status. “I hope the king thinks Oregon is far enough to be considered banishment.”

“As long as you’re not living with a pack, it’s cool,” said Cricket.

“I need a job.”

“No need. Rylee is keeping you on her payroll, secretly.”

“How? I don’t have a bank account or anything.”

Cricket took a wallet from her satchel and handed it to her. “Driver’s license, credit card and some cash.”

She looked through the contents. “Thanks.” She stared at her legitimate-looking license. “Who took my picture?”

“Manny our tech guy probably took it from one of our surveillance cameras and enhanced it.”

“I’ve never taken the driver’s test.”

“The state of Oregon thinks you have.” Cricket tilted her head. “You do know how to drive?”

“Sort of, but only around my former compound. My last boyfriend taught me.”

Cricket frowned. “Oh, the dark project allowed dating?”

“He was a fellow trainer. Trust me, it didn’t end well.”

“I can only imagine,” said Cricket.

Gaby scanned her secluded surroundings. “I need to keep busy or I’ll go nuts, though.”

“Why don’t you paint? Hallie can take you to town to pick up supplies, or you can order what you need online.”

At last, her dream came true. A place far from Project Sabertooth and the freedom to paint her wildlife portraits. Yet, sadly a dream not to share with Steele.

Slade reached for his phone. The mobile must have vibrated because she hadn’t heard it. “Yeah, she’s ready and waiting.” He put the cell phone away. “Hallie is here.”

Gaby looked out the window. “Where did she park?”

“She’s in back. She arrived in wolf form and just changed in the backyard shed.”

The backdoor opened and in walked an attractive twenty-something woman with strawberry-red hair. Amber eyes. Her wolf aura clear, but not as strong as Steele and Slade’s. More like Cricket’s. She wore blue jeans and a green t-shirt with a Green Man face. Despite the chill, she wore sandals. “Welcome, Gaby, I’m Warden Hallie.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” She reached to shake her hand and then stopped. Not a proper greeting.

Hallie took her hand and shook it. “No worries. Outside wolf territory, we only use human customs.” She turned to Cricket and Slade. “How’s it going?”

“Good, but we need to leave.” Cricket regarded Hallie. “You have all the files?”

“Yep. Don’t worry. I’m on it.”

Cricket turned and hugged Gaby. “You’re in good paws, I mean hands.”

“Okay. Don’t get into trouble.”

Slade smirked. “Cricket’s middle name is trouble.”

Cricket gave him an insufferable glare. “Ha, ha.”

Slade opened the door and out they went.

Gaby stood at the window and watched them drive away in their rental. Would she see them again?

“After Rylee told me you were coming, I came over yesterday and prepared the house for your stay. I hope you don’t mind I stocked up with organic food,” said Hallie from the kitchen.

Gaby went and joined her. Bowls of fresh fruits and vegetables sat on the table. “I love healthy food.” Not that she was used to eating it at her former research facility. They had a cook that made institutional food, probably served at prisons for hundreds of inmates. The facility animals ate better than the human staff.

“I grew all the vegetables in my garden.”

“Where?”

“About a mile from here. I own a small sustainable farm. I have fresh eggs and goat milk I turn into cheese.”

“How can you leave your farm?”

She laughed. “I have two caretakers who do all the work for a free place to live.”

“Students?”

“Two older homeless women. I found them in Portland. They were down on their luck and so I asked them to join me after I earned my warden badge five months ago.”

“That’s cool. Do they know…what you are?”

“Nope. My chickens and goats do, but I never go wolf near them.” She chuckled. “Anyway, it’s not like they’ll tell anyone.”

“I bet being prey animals, they’re not big fans of wolves.”

“Being a vegetarian helped me earn their trust.”

“So I heard.” Gaby looked inside the refrigerator. No meat of any type. She picked up a bottle labeled, “Hallie’s Brew,” with a drawing of two sandals. “Is this beer?”

“Yep, I make it myself.”

“Can’t wait to give a try.”

“Go ahead.”

“Maybe a little later with dinner.”

“If you’re okay with it, I know a great pizza place that delivers. They make the best vegetarian pizzas.”

Gaby smiled. “Sure.” She expected the warden to be a hardened detective type. Who knew the warden would be the poster child for Earth Day?

“I normally take wolf form at night. I also do my usual rounds early in the morning, which entails texting or making calls. I only do a personal stay if necessary. Like you.”

“I hope I didn’t mess up your schedule.”

“No biggie. At the moment, there are only three lone wolves in this neck of the woods. They haven’t been a problem in years so no worries.”

Had Rylee told Hallie she was supposed to set up a meeting time to trap Tomlin? Although technically, she didn’t have the go ahead just yet. “I take it they don’t live in the same home?”

“Nope. Lone wolves means lone wolves. Like me.”

“I’ve read lycans prefer living in packs and lone wolves are considered odd.”

“Yeah, if you mean weirdoes, they’ve got that right.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No worries. I’m proud to be quirky.”

Gaby laughed. “We have that in common.” She studied Hallie, who for a werewolf seemed thin. Probably her non-meat diet. “So the packs don’t mind you being alone?”

“Not really. One of us was bound to follow my uncle’s path as a loner and warden. It had always been me.”

Gaby didn’t want to pry, but nonetheless blurted. “What about finding a mate?”

Hallie snorted. “Not. Most werewolves want to live in a pack and have litters. Not me.”

“There must be other lone wolves you can date.”

“Um, no. Not with my eating preferences.” Hallie pulled out her mobile. “I’ll order our pizza.” She walked out into the hallway.

Gaby raised a brow. Did she date humans? Betas living outside of a pack were forbidden to do so. Who was she to talk? She was a human briefly married to an alpha promised to another. Darn, my heart aches. She longed for Steele.

Gaby picked up the remote control and turned on the big screen TV. She switched from channel to channel. No movie or news station took her mind off Steele. Her mobile buzzed. Rylee. “Yes, ma’am?”

“How are you acclimating to your safe house?”

“So far so good. Warden Hallie is quite interesting.”

“I thought you’d like her.”

“Thank you for arranging the quick getaway.”

“You’re welcome, but that’s not why I called.”

Gaby stiffened. “Is it about Steele or am I in trouble?”

“No, but I’m afraid we do have trouble.”

“The king knows you are hiding me?”

“No. Our human CIA contact, Mr. H. is dead.”

“The man who found out about Project Sabertooth?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“One of our agents went to check on him after he failed to meet him at the usual rendezvous spot. He found Mr. H. dead in bed. A snake bite on his throat. Sound familiar?”

“Yes. Ken the venomous snake man’s MO.”

“Our medic performed an autopsy. The toxin was that of a taipan snake, normally found in Australia and some zoos.”

“And in Ken’s serpentarium. The taipan is his preferred weapon because it causes swift death.”

“Do you know anything more about Ken, like his last name or any other pertinent information?”

“He is about forty-years old, bald with a cobra tattoo on his right arm. He is missing three fingers on his left hand. Snake bite. Unfortunately, I don’t know his last name or even if he has or ever had a family.”

Rylee sighed. “That’s a start.”

“I’m sorry about Mr. H. Was he a close friend?”

“Yes. He took over for his father, the third Mr. H to work with us. H stands for human. Not very creative, but they’ve kept their secret service to our kind in the family.”

Interesting, a spy for werewolves within the CIA. “Will he be replaced?”

“Yes. Just quite a bit ahead of schedule. I’d hoped Mr. H. would continue for another ten years.”

“Tomlin must have learned Mr. H. was onto him.”

“Not even the Keep knew of Mr. H.” Rylee shook her head. “Someone must have tipped him off. More likely, he got too close.”

“Is now a good time to draw out Tomlin?”

“Yes. Manny has a phone number that might work. You call, but do not meet. Not yet. Don’t worry, the mobile you have can’t be traced.”

Gaby frowned. “Trust me, if Tomlin finds me, I can command animals to tear him to pieces. After that, we’ll wipe them off the face of the earth.”

“Now there’s a thought.” After silence, Rylee continued. “Your job is not to confront but lure into the open. I’ll text you the number.”

“Unless, it’s an old number, he’ll get suspicious.”

“It is.”

“How soon should I contact him?”

“Tonight would be good. I’ll text Hallie about your call.”

“How much does Hallie know about my special gift?”

“I informed her last night.”

“You did?” Why bother? Soon every lycan would know. Kiara couldn’t be trusted to keep quiet even after she mated Steele.

“Don’t worry, Hallie is one of our most liberal wardens and thought your talent was cool.”

“You trust she won’t tell anyone?”

“Hallie is my niece and very protective of her human charges.”

Niece? Funny, no one mentioned her powerful aunt. “Really?”

“Any questions before I hang up?”

“How is Steele?”

“He is taking his royal duties to heart. Next month, he and Kiara will undergo the bonding ritual.”

“I see.” That seemed soon. But then again, the only way to appease the king. And keep her alive.

“I’m sorry. His intention was not to hurt you.”

“I know.”

“Record your conversation with Tomlin and let Hallie listen. She’ll send me the details and possibly his whereabouts.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The conversation ended and she felt less secure than she had earlier. Not to mention broken hearted. Once they mated, she’d never see Steele again.

Hallie walked in. “What’s the latest with my aunt?”

“How did you know…it was Rylee?”

She wiggled an earlobe. “The better to hear you wolf ears.”

“Got it. You seem so human, I almost forgot.”

She shot Gaby a satisfied smile. “Yep, I’m that good.”

“I don’t know why I assumed Rylee had no relatives.”

“Her younger sister, Rhonda is my mother. She married Conner Lovell, my father.”

“I see. Anyway, she wants me to call Tomlin tonight. Apparently, Project Sabertooth had Mr. H. killed.”

“So I heard. He was one of our best.”

“I feel bad, like it was my fault.”

“You helped a royal prince escape. In my book, you’re a hero.”

“Thanks.” At this point, Gaby didn’t care if Tomlin found her. Why wait? Then again, she’d hate to put Hallie in danger. Not to mention disobey Rylee and prove her failure to follow orders. Yet, she was no longer the scared girl willing to obey Project Sabertooth orders. She had the power to unleash a flock of birds on him if she so chose. Peck him and Ken to death.

 

Steele paced in his chambers and worried about Gaby. His hands locked into fists. Why had Rylee refused to let him know where she’d been moved? Classified. At least, she informed him Gaby remained safe. It had been three days since he had seen Gaby, but it felt like an eternity. He’d never felt so alone and empty. How did she feel? Now free of lycan territory and Project Sabertooth, she’d finally have the life she deserved. Find a man to love? Children? He sighed. He was in no mood for dinner. Sinclair had called him twice to come eat. His heart refused, but his empty stomach growled in protest. He headed to the private dining area. At least his brother was in Norway and Kiara back at her castle, for now.

“Prince Steele, I’m happy you’ve decided to dine.”

Good old Sinclair. The royal butler was devoted to his family for decades. He’d never eaten with him, his role always the servant. “Join me.”

Sinclair bowed. “Yes, of course, I’d be delighted.”

He gestured for him to sit and handed him a bottle of red wine. “Do you think I should mate Kiara?”

Sinclair looked alarmed at such a bold question. “Sir, it’s not my place.”

“I’ve known you since I was a pup, about time things change around here.”

Sinclair raised his gray brows. “You really want my opinion about her?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be honest. She has never treated her lower ranks and servants with much kindness. She was cruel to my den sister who once worked at her castle.”

“Sorry.” He met his eyes. “You don’t think I should mate her?”

“Sir, the king has commanded it.”

“Just between us, what is your answer?”

He lowered his gaze. “No.” He shook his head. “Kiara is not your soul mate.”

“Thank you.” If only Conan agreed or rather cared. Only Gaby, a human and wolf charmer held his heart. Was his family name and title worth a life of misery?

They ate in silence.

A servant ran in and handed him a mobile. “Prince Steele, King Conan wishes to speak.”

He frowned. Was now the time to tell him he would forsake all to be with Gaby? Would his life and hers be wrought with danger and assassination attempts? Or should he, as Slade recommended, leave and hide for the rest of his life? “Hello.”

“Myra and I are flying home.”

He had told him he would stay for at least two weeks. His hackles rose. Something was wrong. “Why so soon?”

“Margo was almost killed by venomous snakes. Two of her guards on Wildwood Island died protecting her and the third managed to get her off the island.”

“What kind of snakes?”

“Rare exotics. The type Dr. Becker says we are not immune to.”

Steele stiffened. This sounded like the work of Project Sabertooth. How did they know of Wildwood Island? And why strike the queen and princess? “Does Rylee know?”

“Yes. She sent a team to kill the snakes.”

“Where is Margo?”

“At LIA headquarters. She is all right, but traumatized.”

“Why would anyone want to kill Margo?”

“And Myra. No one, except you and our pilot knew we were in Norway. The snakes were left in Myra and Margo’s dens.”

“I’ll leave immediately and talk to Rylee.”

“Good.”

“Why don’t you stay in Norway as planned? I’ll head the investigation.”

“Very well. I’ve talked to Margo and I know she is in safe hands.”

“Agreed.”

“Kiara as overseer should be at the LIA by now.”

“Who told her?” Didn’t she agree to step down?”

“I did after I talked to Rylee.”

“You called her before you called me?”

“I tried but you did not answer and I assumed you were in wolf form. So I called your soon-to-be mate.”

Damn it. He had left his mobile in his chamber, mostly to prevent the temptation to find Gaby’s whereabouts. “Sorry.”

“Just go. I’ll feel much better knowing you and Kiara are there for Margo.”