called Operation Moonlight. Severino began recruiting werewolves to join the military in hopes they could become powerful weapons to protect our nation. The unexpected pack mentality of the race proved inefficient for assassins, but the military brass saw an opportunity to use them as a unit.”
Adam’s brow furrowed. “The Lycan Squad.”
“Yes.” Sebastian turned his attention toward Adam. “Operation Moonlight was closed, and a new project started. With the government’s help we began to assemble the Lycan Squad, and it was quickly determined that a trained squad of Green Beret werewolf soldiers would be unstoppable if—”
“If they could shift anytime without waiting for a full moon,” I interrupted. Sebastian seemed almost proud of his company’s involvement in experimentation on young men who thought they were protecting their country. I ground my teeth together to keep from saying any more.
“Our scientists were working to perfect a serum to simulate the magnetic pull of the full moon on the DNA in werewolves.” Sebastian started to frown.
Sasha shook her head. “We already know this guy can change at will. We’ve seen the damage, and he attacked someone in the middle of the day.”
Sebastian took another step into the room and handed a flash drive to Lana. “The serum caused insanity and death. You can read the test-subject results. I am surprised this wolf is still alive. They discharged the few wolves who survived and mainstreamed them back into society, but judging by the data, I didn’t think they could have lived much longer.” Sebastian sighed and shook his head as he backed toward the door. “The information is on the flash drive. I have done all I can.”
He stopped at the door, his gaze locked on Sasha, then left without another word.
I crossed to her side and put my arm around her, not giving a damn if it was possessive. Lana plugged the flash drive into her laptop and started scanning files as the back door opened. We all tensed, relaxing only when we saw Logan walk into the kitchen.
“Gareth and Jared just got here, so Luke and I are going…” His voice trailed off as he noticed Sasha. Logan frowned. “What’s she doing here?”
I didn’t move from her side. “She’s helping us stop the werewolf who shot at Adam and me.”
His gaze moved to Adam. “And you’re all right with this?”
He nodded. “We can use all the help we can get with this situation.”
Logan chewed on that for a moment before he finally tipped his head. “If you think we can trust her.”
“She’s working on earning it.” Adam stood and crossed the room to clasp forearms with Logan. “Thanks for keeping watch tonight. There’s one more thing I could use your help with before you go.” Adam gestured for me to come over. “Barry from Aren’s office was attacked by the rogue werewolf I told you about. We can’t have the police finding his body.”
Logan nodded, understanding my brother’s implied request. “All right. I’ll go back down and get things ready.”
Adam turned toward me as Logan left. “Drive to the barn and get this done. I’ll stay here to be sure everything’s secure.”
I frowned. “Someone should be protecting you, too.”
“It won’t take long. We’ll be fine.” He gripped my shoulder. “I’ll yell for you if anything changes up here.”
Becoming Alpha had made my brother’s stubborn streak even worse.
I gave up trying to talk reason into him, and drove my car around the house down the back road to the barn. I couldn’t stop worrying about everyone. Leaving them unguarded bugged me. Not that my brother wasn’t completely capable of keeping them safe—he was. But he was also our Alpha now, and his infants and Sasha’s sister were defenseless.
I didn’t like it.
When I got to the barn and popped my trunk, Gareth came over and nudged me. I was glad to see his jaw was bruised and swollen similar to my lip. “You look like you got hit by a truck.”
His dark eyes flashed, hinting at a smile. “You should see the other guy.”
I laughed even though it hurt. We clasped forearms. It was as close to an apology as either of us was going to get.
Jared walked up next, and I nodded toward the house. “Adam’s got Lana and the family up there. Can you stay close and keep watch? We can handle this.”
Jared nodded. “Sure thing.”
Gareth took one end of the blanketed body, and I took the other while Jared jogged off into the darkness.
“Luke and Logan should have the pyre ready by now,” I said.
We carried Barry’s body down the barn aisle and out the back to find the two younger Pack members stacking wood and shavings. Because of the secrecy of our nature, we couldn’t bury our dead. Over the years, I’d seen Gareth’s parents cremated, their spirits freed to join our ancestors. My mother followed a few years later.
But recently there had been too many fires, too much death. We lost Gabe and then my father in less than two weeks time. Their lives were cut short. They didn’t leave us for the next life—they were stolen from us.
Now another fire would be lit but not for one of our Pack. He was an innocent, killed because he had the bad fortune to work for me.
Gareth and I placed Barry’s body on top of the pyre and doused the blanket with oil as Luke and Logan lit the kindling. The wood cracked and shifted in the heat. We stood around the body like silent sentries.
Usually ritual words were spoken by the Alpha, comforting those of us left behind while opening the heavens above to welcome a new spirit into their midst. I felt like I should say something. Barry’s own family would never know what became of him. We had to stand in their stead.
I opened my mouth, not sure what to say. “Barry wasn’t a member of our Pack, but he was killed simply because he knew us.” Black smoke plumed into the night sky, dimming the bright stars overhead. “He was attacked and murdered by an enemy wolf while he was unarmed. I ask our ancestors to welcome his spirit like one of our own and guide him into the next world.”
The primal growl of the fire and the snapping of the wood were the only sounds as I watched the flames lick at the edges of the blanket. When the fire tasted the oil, the inferno raged, engulfing his body.
“I’m sorry, Barry,” I whispered.
Heat stung my face as I watched my friend’s body being consumed. The next one to burn would be Fonthill. Dead or alive.
Chapter Thirty
Even though I was heavily armed, I felt vulnerable after Aren left me alone with Adam and Lana. My eagerness to find a cure for my “condition” had caused both of them pain. Nothing could correct my mistakes. I couldn’t bring Adam’s father back to life any more than I could heal Aren’s ankle. I started trying to think of a way to excuse myself and get out.
Lana worked feverishly on her laptop, scanning through the files on the flash drive Sebastian left us. “You can sit over here if you want to.”
Adam pulled over a chair. “I think your pacing is making her nervous.”
“Oh…sorry.” I hadn’t even noticed I was pacing again. I sat in the chair beside Lana and glanced at her laptop screen. There was so much data to comb through. “Could I get a pad and paper for notes?”
Adam nodded and gave Lana’s shoulders a squeeze. She sat back in her chair. “Nero shot these werewolves up without testing the serum first. When it appeared to work, they shot them up with more.” Adam handed me a pen and paper. “They didn’t know if the solution would permanently alter their DNA or if the soldiers would need regular injections.”
“So if it seemed to be working,” I pondered aloud, “why did they stop?”
