The Project Zed books were written with the intention they would be READ IN ORDER… If you have not read BEAST, SAVAGE and DEVIL, please do NOT read this title first.
Project Zed is a spin-off series from the Bear Mountain series. You do not need to read the Bear Mountain series prior to read the Project Zed series.
Here’s a reminder…
Bear Mountain - it is a fictional county in the Pacific Northwest. It is a large range of mountains ringing and protecting a gorgeous valley. Most live in the village in the valley, which is not too unlike a human town, but there are some who live all through the mountains. The bear gods have surrounded the area with a magical dome to help protect them from those who wish to do them harm. Only those who belong inside are allowed entry. Most humans simply see nothing but vast, empty wilderness and feel the need to look away—unless they are a bears’ mate.
Bear Shifters – shifters in general are powerfully strong beings, able to shift on demand. They heal faster, have stronger senses of smell, taste, and touch, and can see in little to no light. The majority of those who live in Bear Mountain are black bears shifters and their human mates. There are a handful of other bears species and other shifters who reside there as well. The majority of shifters are homosexual. They mate other males. It simply is how it is for them and they see no shame or embarrassment being attracted to other males—and struggle to understand heterosexuality in humans. Males are capable of giving birth and typically give birth to males. Female births are extremely rare, but do occur.
Brother Bears – bears make connections in their youth to one other bear. They grow at one another’s sides, relying on one another for friendship. This relationship often blossoms into love as they grow older, and they will take on another mate to procreate. Bear shifters almost always mate in triads. Typically, it is two bears to a human or two betas to an omega, but sometimes things go off the rails. We love who we love and that is especially true in the Bear Mountain world.
Other Shifters– Deacon, the dragon shifter, was brought in to help fight off the werewolf plague that threatens Bear Mountain, along with his bevy of soldiers. These soldiers are a diverse group—from rhinos to big cats to wolves (not weres). Bull is one of Deacon’s team leaders—he has been searching out Project Zed for decades in search of his missing father.
Wereshifter – a were is a made shifter, meaning they started as human. They can only shift during a specific time, specific to their kind, like werewolves and the full moon, or when under life-threatening duress. When they shift, they retain some of their human attributes along with some of their creature attributes, giving them a monstrous appearance. A were is often driven to the brink of insanity, as a human was never meant to house an animal spirit. The were spirit wishes to command the human’s mind and body, leading it to do evil, wicked things the human would never say or do.
Full shifter – a full shifter is born, not made. They look like their animal spirit when shifted, only larger. Weres can mate, and two or more weres can occasionally create a full shifter.
The Reservation – there is an American Indian Reservation just to the north of Bear Mountain. For centuries, they were peaceful neighbors, but as the werewolf threat began its spread in the heart of the rez, conditions deteriorated. While the elders have done all in their power to control their werewolf community, it has created a contentious relationship between the two.
Samuel’s Farm – Samuel’s family farm is adjacent to the reservation and Bear Mountain. It is not technically reservation land, though Samuel’s family is Native American. After the death of his father and brothers, Samuel inherited the whole large plot. He wasn’t much of a farmer. Luckily for him, his mate, Cal is.
Project Zed – introduced in the Bear Mountain books, it is a top secret government project were shifters, were and full, are hunted and executed without the knowledge of the military as a whole. Covertly, some creatures have been captured and experimented on, with the desire to breed a super army. While it pulls from the U.S. military for operations, there is rumor it is not run by the government at all.
The Shifter Army – a growing group of military-trained shifters, led by Deacon and Bull, who are fighting Project Zed and freeing the monsters Zed creates. Financed by Bear Mountain, specifically their silver mine.
The Shifter Base – recently completed military-type facility built off land purchased from Samuel’s farm. It comes equipped with secured areas to place Zed’s shifters, before they’re rehabilitated and still a danger to themselves and others. Also comes with a full hospital ward.
Elementals – humans with special powers of nature. They’ve come together with the shifters to fight against Project Zed.
The children – recently freed from Project Zed by the Shifter Army. They were born in the labs at Zed, and they have untold powers. It’s still being determined if they’re a weapon for good or evil.
A few characters from past stories:
Bull – rhino shifter and ex-Marine – co-leader of the Shifter Army. Was the first to search for Project Zed. His father was abducted by Zed before he was born.
Cal – first beast freed from Zed’s grasp. Born a bear shifter, but mutated with other beasts while being experimented on by Project Zed’s scientists.
Cutler – ex-Zed soldier, Marine Master Sergeant, who now fights on the side of the Shifter Army. Also the mate of Cyprian
Cyprian – second ex-Zed prisoner freed. Born a lion shifter, but has mutated DNA of other shifters in his system. Mated to Cutler.
Dario – human elemental. Has the power of fire. In love with Gator, but a recent assault doesn’t allow him to accept the man’s advances.
Deacon – dragon shifter, ex-Marine, and co-leader of the Shifter Army
Declan – Bear Mountain’s alpha
Drake – Smoke Dragon. Zed prisoner. Mated to Luca. Escaped with Deacon and Jaeger.
Gator – ex-Zed soldier. Corporeal. Works for the Shifter Army now. Has asked Dario out a dozen or so times, with no luck. Won’t give up.
Jaeger – Ice Dragon. Zed prisoner. Escaped with Deacon and Jaeger.
Jericho – Bear Mountain bear shifter who was attacked by a werewolf. He became a mutated werebeast, which was once thought impossible. He was the first beast saved by Killian and Finn.
Killian and Finn – Bear Mountain bear shifters and doctors. They created the serum that saved Jericho in the Bear Mountain series.
Lennox – ex-Zed soldier. Private First Class Ford Lennox. Peon.
Luca – Bull’s father. Recently freed from Zed. Mated to Drake.
Rhett – ex-Zed officer. Works for the Shifter Army now. Pilot. Has connections to Midnight, Mississippi.
Samuel – the first elemental human found; has the power of air. Mated to Cal.