The plane landed sometime after day break. I still had no idea where we were going, but at least I knew what kind of team I’d signed up for. I’d heard rumors of a secret force. I’d had no idea it existed, nor did I ever expect to get an invitation to join. Everything was going to change now. I would have the chance to amount to something great.

Alastair was out of his seat the moment the wheels touched the ground. I followed, eager to meet the other people I was working with and get an idea of what I was in for.

Within a minute of our arrival, the door opened, and Alastair hurried down a set of stairs. I followed behind.

We’d landed inside of a large hangar. It was dark, but my night vision allowed me to make my way through the room. The vision was one benefit of being a wolf shifter.

There were several other passenger planes of different sizes parked inside, along with half a dozen helicopters and a handful of fighter jets. The Rangers definitely had access to wings.

There were several men and women working on the planes, but none of them as much as looked up as we passed. They were all wearing black, and I was beginning to realize that was the uniform. Evidently I’d picked the right color t-shirt to wear.

Alastair opened a door and started down a narrow hallway.

I followed, counting ten different doors on our way down the hall. He stopped in front of a set of two metal doors and scanned his fingerprints. The doors opened, and he gestured for me to walk in first.

He followed, and the doors clanged closed behind us.

We were standing in a large gym. About a dozen guys and one girl were working out on a variety of work out equipment, while a few guys played a game of basketball on a full-sized court in the center of the room. Off to the side a few guys were seated in front of computers.

“This is your headquarters.” Alastair held his hands out in front of him. “I’ll have one of your team members show you to your room after this, but don’t expect to be here long. Your mission starts soon.” He nodded and walked back through the double doors.

“Hey, new guy.” One of the guys on the basketball court tossed me the ball. “Show us what you got.”

“You want me to play ball?” With only twenty-four hours before a new mission, I wasn’t expecting to play recreational sports.

The girl laughed. “Maybe Alastair picked him for his pretty boy looks.”

“I’m not a pretty boy.” I’d played basketball for years, including all of high school. When you are 6’2 and have a vertical close to four feet it’s not a very difficult sport.

I dribbled the ball toward the man talking, and he assumed a defensive position. I drove to my right. As he moved to block my route, I did a quick spin move toward the paint to pass him and easily slammed the ball through the net.

Someone clapped from off the court. I turned and noticed a guy with brown hair walking toward me. “You done showing off?”

“That wasn’t showing off.” It was showing I could stand on my own. That was the whole reason the guy had challenged me.

“Oh, then what was it?” He cocked his head to the side.

“Playing ball.”

“And that’s why you’re here? To play ball?”

“No.” My wolf stirred with annoyance. “It’s not.”

“Tell me, why are you here?” He crossed his arms over his black sleeveless shirt.

“I’m waiting for someone to tell me what my mission is.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m not asking about your mission, I’m asking why you want on this team.”

I considered what he was really asking. Was this some sort of test? “I want to prove myself.”

“Prove yourself how? By showing you have ball skills? That you’re strong? Is that it? Because if that’s all you’ve got you might as well march back through that door and back to whatever team you were on before.”

“I’m here to defend those that need defending and to do the missions no one else can do.” The words flew out of my mouth.

“That’s more like it.” He held out his hand. “I’m Asher. Your partner.”

“Carter.” So he was my partner? I studied him closer. He looked strong, but he was here for more than his brute strength. He was some sort of shifter, but I couldn’t tell which kind.

“You coming from The Society or overseas?”

“Society,” I answered automatically. Didn’t my slight southern accent tip him off?

“Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t need to know.”

“Most of you come out of Society ranks?” I gazed around the room.

“Some of us.”

The girl walked over. “I’m Daniella.” She held out her hand.

“Hey, I’m Carter.”

“Just so you know, she’s tougher than you are. Don’t screw with her.” Asher nudged her shoulder.

I looked her up and down. She looked like she was in shape, but I wasn’t sure she was stronger. Still, until I knew what kind of creature anyone was, I would keep my mouth shut. I was the new one. I had to earn my place.

“I’m sure Alastair told you, but everything here is confidential. Names, ranks, missions. Got it?” Danielle wiped some sweat from her forehead.

“Yes. So there are ranks in the Rangers?” I wanted to make sure I knew who my superiors were—although technically all these people were my superiors. I was back at the bottom of the totem pole.

“Yes, but everyone in here is your equal.” Asher eyed the guys by the computers. “Even if they don’t want you to know that.”

“Who do I report to? Alastair?”

“Yes.” A guy with a full sleeve of tattoos walked over. “But he often has us brief each other. He runs us differently than other Society divisions because technically we aren’t Society. You got it?”

“Yes. And the name, The Rangers? Is that some sort of code or something?”

“It’s a generic name. The perfect way to describe a team that doesn’t technically exist.”

“You won’t get paid.” The guy with all the tats added.

“Uh, what?” I hadn’t been told that part.

Daniella leaned in. “What Parker means is we can’t get paid with a paper trail. It’s all cash. Don’t worry you’ll be taken care of.”

“Oh, and no seeing a mate or partner during missions. You try to get around that and you’re out. No questions asked.” A vein popped out in his neck.

“That’s not going to be a problem.” I’d been single for years.

“Well then, how about we talk about your mission?” Asher asked.

“You know about it?”

“Yes. And I wish you luck. You aren’t starting with an easy one.”

“I thought we worked as partners.” Had I imagined that part?

“See you guys.” He nodded at Daniella and Parker before heading toward another set of doors on the far side of the room.

“We do. I’m on this one with you, but you’re the one who has to get on the island. Alastair’s rules, not mine.”

“What island?”

“Let’s discuss this further away.” He glanced over his shoulder at where everyone watched.

“You don’t discuss missions with each other?”

“Too risky. It’s on a need to know basis.”

“Ok, where to?”

“Follow me.” He pushed open one of the double doors, and we walked into another dark hallway. “Our bunks are that way.” He pointed to the right.

I nodded. “Gotcha.”

“I’ll show you your space later. I thought you’d like to get a jump on planning.”

“You thought right.”

He turned left, then right again, and pointed to a finger print reader. “You should already be in the system.”

I shook my head. “We didn’t do that yet.”

“Try it.”

“Ok.” I put my finger down, there was a loud click.

“Told you.” Asher reached from behind me and pushed opened the door.

We walked into a domed room with benches surrounding a large tree in the center of the room. There was a huge screen on the far side.

“What is this place?”

“It’s the viewing room,” Asher said nonchalantly, “But we’re going upstairs.”

He opened a door, scanning in with his finger this time. Once through the doorway we went up a steep set of spiral stairs that wrapped around the tree and led into what could only be described as an indoor treehouse.

“Nice, huh?”

I took in the hanging hammocks and rustic wood tables. “It is. Simple.”

“Simple is often best.” He sat down at the table.

“What’s this island?” I was ready to begin.