See me, p.7
See Me, page 7
My secret skill clicked on. I knew he was the most dangerous man, not only in this room, but that I would ever meet. He was totally in control and comfortable with that power. Plus, he knew he was attractive and that I found him very much so. I dropped my gaze and used my hands to shift my casted leg. The action was overkill, but I needed to do something to stop looking at the man.
“Does it pain you?” His voice was like hot caramel, rich and warm.
I felt like I was slowly lowering myself into a hot tub on a cold day, feeling the warmth travel over my skin. I wanted to relax and luxuriate in him.
Wait! No. He was dangerous.
Eight
Raider Black
The woman froze at the sound of my voice. I think her heart skipped several beats. I knew because my wolf had awakened the moment she’d exited the elevator onto my floor. With the addition of my other half’s heightened senses, I knew everything except the exact words she was going to speak.
Theodora Morrissey interested me. Our research had painted a woman who lived a quiet life. The company car she drove was a modest Honda, her banking and spending history demonstrated that she tried to hold onto every dollar. However, she spent money on books. She had little contact with her remaining family in Ohio and had no close friends. I had studied Conal’s interviews with her numerous times, I concurred with his conclusion that she held no romantic feelings for Ledderly. She was a loner. Tex had hacked into Peters’ files and found that he had that same information, and that was why he’d had no problem disposing of her.
From the list of her injuries, I was surprised to see her limping into the room. However, it pleased my wolf. Her show of spirit would bode well for her with my pack. I watched her peculiar blue eyes widen as she glanced at her cast, and then slowly at me again. “Pardon?”
“Your ankle, are you in pain?” I enunciated each word.
I could almost feel her thinking, trying to form the answer. My wolf stirred. If I was in that form, I would have lifted my nose and sniffed the air. I could do that now, but I would keep up the pretense of being human for a while longer.
“It’s manageable.” Her voice was a little huskier than before when she’d spoken to Basil.
She was in pain, but I appreciated that she was not going to admit it to me or the room. Perhaps it was her inner sense that caused her to be cautious. She was still watching me, but not in a challenging way, which my wolf approved. “I am Raider Black.” I remained in place although I could be on top of her in one leap. She wouldn’t even see me coming.
“You know Conal, who is my Second; Glass handles the guards and training; Tex, technology; and,” I nodded in his direction, “Onyx, who acts as historian and counsel to Novus.” I‘d learned that humans listened to our titles and assigned their own meaning to the positions.
She nodded once, but asked no questions. Then she returned to staring at the edge of the table, sitting very still.
“Your studies encompass the supernatural. Are you a believer?” Perhaps this was an abrupt introduction, but her silence and lack of questions suddenly irritated me. I wanted to shake her up. I wanted a reaction from this human who appeared detached.
Her gaze was steady as she answered. “I know that some of the people I’ve interviewed believe very strongly in what they told me.”
“But you don’t?” I raised one eyebrow to goad her.
“Mr. Black, I personally haven’t experienced anything—I’ll use your word—supernatural, so I can’t really say. I am a recorder of stories, not a judge.” The tilt of her chin displayed a tiny bit of challenge.
“You’ve been asked all of this before?” I realized her answers were canned responses. I wanted—no, I demanded her honest reaction.
She smiled pleasantly, but didn’t show her teeth. “I have. I think everyone in my area of study has.”
Not satisfied, I pressed. “And if you experienced something that could be termed supernatural, what would you do?”
This time, her smile relaxed. She rested her shoulders against the back of the chair. She thought this was a game. “I need you to be more specific. The term ‘supernatural’ encompasses a wide range.”
I found that I was enjoying myself, despite my frustration. Her politeness held an edge. I wanted to see her eyes flash again. I briefly dipped my chin. “My apologies. Let’s say a shapeshifter, isn’t that what they’re called?”
“You mean a being that is human in appearance that can change into another form?” Her eyebrows drew together as she asked for clarification.
“Yes.” I tried to match her smile. I appreciated her thoroughness. “Perhaps an animal?”
She dropped her chin and looked at me under her lashes, the look both demure and flirtatious. “Well, I would probably run away.” She raised her head and bit down on her lower lip. “Which would be bad considering that in animal form, he would most likely give chase.” She gave a small, one-shoulder shrug. “I should say that I would stand my ground and study the being, but I guess it would depend on what type of animal I encountered. I mean, if it was a were-bunny, I think I would stay, or maybe a were-duck?” She chuckled and widened her eyes with glee.
Was she serious? A were-duck? That was outrageous. I moved around the table, so that I stood between her and Onyx, who was trying but failing not to show his revulsion at her example.
“What if I told you there are those who can change forms?” I offered enticingly. I couldn’t wait to see her reaction. A were-duck, indeed.
Her look was incredulous. “Okay…” She didn’t hide the rolling of her expressive eyes as she leaned toward me.
“You don’t believe me?” It was fascinating to watch her inner student war with the suspicious human.
She glanced around the room. Her gaze rested the longest on Conal, hoping one of my people would give her a hint. “Then I must say, ‘Tell me where they are.’” Her confusion was at war with her bravado, but she was curious.
I let her see me trying not to smile. “Here.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t respond right away. Again, she looked at each person, until finally, her gaze returned to me. “In this room?” She wasn’t mocking me. I could feel her trying to ascertain if I was serious. The buzzing against my skin intensified as she used her senses.
“Yes,” I answered simply.
Her smile vanished as she considered my words. She chewed on her bottom lip as she studied me intently. “I can’t run in this condition.” Her voice was very quiet as if her words were meant for me alone.
My wolf growled at her appeal. I could feel the vibration low in my belly. He would protect the weakened woman.
“Don’t ever run from a predator,” I said, my tone matching hers, “that makes you prey.”
Her chest rose and fell several times. Her eyes widened in understanding. “Wha…what are you?” Her hands were now gripping the arms of the conference room chair.
So intelligent, or was it…sensitive? She knew I was telling the truth. “You would say ‘wolf’.”
She stared intently into my eyes for one, no two beats. Then she turned to face my Second. “Conal?”
We didn’t like that she looked to another for her answers. My wolf growled in anger as I snarled a simple command, “Conal, change.”
With the extra push I added to the command, Conal could do nothing else. I didn’t really believe he would question me, but in the moment, I only wanted her to see I wouldn’t lie to her.
I felt the magic, a strumming of sound. A learned man had once used physics and biological terms to explain what he believed happened when we changed. I preferred the much simpler term. In less than a second, Conal’s human form was no longer, and in his place stood a wolf the size of a pony.
Somehow, the woman used her feet to push off the floor and propel her body so that she stood on the seat of the chair. She was unbalanced. If I had not grabbed her waist and pulled her body into mine, she would have fallen backward.
She breathed heavily as she studied the Lycan, blinking several times as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
With my arms looped around her waist, I told myself not to notice how good she smelled. Inside, my wolf calmed, enjoying her proximity.
She whispered, “Ca—,” then cleared her throat, “Conal?”
The Lycan turned his massive head to look Theodora in the eye.
She shifted in my arms and leaned closer to the wolf.
I had to adjust my hold or she would fall. She had no concern for her safety as she focused on the giant wolf. I readjusted my hold, and the backs of my hands brushed the undersides of her large breasts.
More, my wolf told me. We both appreciated her lush body.
She turned her head back to me. “Can I pet him?”
Tex snickered. No self-respecting wolf would approve of the term.
“That term is offensive, but yes, you may touch him.”
“Oh, sorry.” She turned back to my Second and lifted her hands slowly. “Conal, may I run my hands through your coat?”
I didn’t have to look around at the members of my Board; I could feel their silent laughter.
Conal nudged the hand closest to his head with his nose.
She stroked her hands down his back, scratching him at the base of his tail. “Oh my God, he’s so soft.” She sounded amazed. She continued stroking and scratching him. Again, she looked at me. “I can’t believe something so fierce can be so soft.”
The others could no longer hold back their mirth.
I laughed loudly. Theodora was charming me. Her reaction was not what I had expected.
Conal changed back into his human form.
“You-you aren’t naked?” She looked him up and down while she relaxed her body into mine. She was oblivious to the fact I still held her. As for my part, I told myself she needed to take the weight off of her injured appendage.
Conal looked down at his long-sleeved shirt and jeans. “Yup, I’m clothed.”
“But the stories, they always say that when you change back, you’re naked…” She leaned even more weight into my body, muttering to herself, “They were wrong.”
Conal shook his head. “Theodora, you weren’t even scared.” He gave her an incredulous look.
She stiffened in my arms a little as she considered his censure. “Well, I mean, you all can do that right?” She looked around at each person ending with her face very close to mine.
I saw her eyes widen in surprise at our closeness. She tried to move away from me. I wasn’t ready to let her go. This felt…good. “You are correct.”
“Well, I wouldn’t stand a chance, Conal,” she said, her glance moving back to my Second. “I mean, if you were going to hurt me now, why did you keep me alive? That seems like a huge waste of resources.”
I couldn’t argue with her logic. My wolf was amused. The human was funny in a very rational way.
“The Novus Pack doesn’t like to be wasteful,” Tex said solemnly, although his eyes were sparkling with humor.
She sighed. “A wolf, wow. Just wow.”
She was energized and thrilled. I knew that we all could identify the signature scent to those emotions.
“Maybe you should sit back down. I don’t think Solle will be happy if you have to have that ankle reset,” Conal murmured.
Her body tensed. “Oh, right.” She shifted her weight, and the chair moved.
I tightened my arms so she wouldn’t fall. “We prefer to be called Lycans by humans. Wolf is reserved for pack members.”
Her hands gripped my forearms. Not to remove them, but to hold them.
I lifted her and gently placed her on the floor.
Her cheeks were pink when her ass was again resting in the chair. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” I assured her. I took several steps away from her. My wolf disagreed; he liked the feel of her body.
She sat primly in her chair, with her hands clasped in her lap. She wasn’t looking at anyone, which I found interesting. It was as if she knew that direct eye contact could be interpreted as a challenge.
“Ms. Morrissey, do you have any questions?” I was curious about what she would do next.
She blew out a puff of air so hard it billowed her cheeks. Then she smiled hugely, and her eyes sparkled. “About a million.” She ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from her face. “I don’t even know where to start.” She scooted her chair closer to the table and rested her arms on the glass-covered surface. Her mood turned serious. “What do you want from me?”
Conal’s gaze sought mine. Time and time again, this woman demonstrated that she relied on her inner sense. She seemed to accept things at face value, but then circled around to the absolute truth. I continued to stand. My wolf wanted action. He was excited and anticipating the upcoming event. “That is an interesting question,” I said softly.
Now, she was giving me a measuring look. “You want something. That’s why you’ve kept me here,” she said slowly, “and showed yourselves.”
I could almost feel her trying to put the puzzle pieces together. Now was the time to see how cooperative she would be.
She looked at Conal. “And been so nice to me.” Her dark eyes flashed with an emotion I didn’t understand. Could it be disappointment?
“You are correct,” I said, drawing back her gaze. “We do want something.” I could feel the mood of the room become tense. I had veered from our plan of simply holding her down. “In our world, there are humans who know of us.”
Her eyes narrowed minusculey as she processed that information.
“They are protected as long as they abide by the agreement.”
“Not to tell.” Her voice was low and strangled. She felt the atmosphere now, too.
“Come now.” I gave a slight grin. “That goes without saying.” I could hear the pounding of her heart, but I did admire her fortitude. She didn’t shift nervously or measure the distance to the door. She kept watching me. “Humans serve. They are known as Articles.”
“S-serve?” she stammered. She started to turn her head to look at Conal, but jerked it back in my direction.
She feels our power, my wolf stated. “Of course.” I saw Glass stand and move to the bag that she’d placed on the floor by the credenza in front of the far window. “Humans have assisted Lycans throughout the centuries.”
Her hands were shaking. She hid them from view under the table. “I’m going to serve you.”
“The Pack,” I corrected, “Novus.”
“New,” she mumbled the Latin translation.
“That is the name of my pack.”
Glass moved to stand beside her. She placed her bag on the table. “Usually, they are one and the same. The Pack is Novus.”
The woman looked up at Glass, as if she was trying to discern whether there was an extra message in that statement.
“Please give me your right hand Theodora.” Glass worded it as a request, but it was a demand.
“Why?” She turned her attention back to me.
I noted that she always returned to me. “All Articles carry the symbol of their pack affiliation.”
She didn’t volunteer her hand. “So that other…Lycans will know.”
“You will learn to recognize our kind. The symbol will grant you safe passage, or if there is a problem, you will be returned to Novus.”
“And the symbol makes you part of our family.” Glass had removed her instruments.
The woman glanced at the tools Glass had placed in a neat line. “What are those for?” Her pale skin had turned even whiter.
Conal scooted closer to her other side. “She is going apply our brand. Think of it as your formal welcome into our world.”
“A brand!” she exclaimed. Finally, her control cracked. She feared pain.
My Second dropped his muscled arm around her shoulders and secured her to his side. “You really don’t have a choice,” he said sagely.
Onyx cleared his throat. “Brand or die. That is your choice, human.”
She looked at me again as if to verify the man’s words.
My wolf didn’t like Conal’s arm around her. I was not in the mood to explain that Conal was no threat. Not that I was interested. Well, I did notice that she had large breasts and a voluptuous body, a keen mind—however, I had no time for a dalliance. If I desired a fuck, I would choose from one of the willing females that paraded past almost hourly. Humans were so…breakable.
“Where?” She breathed the word in surrender.
“Inner wrist,” Conal said.
Slowly, she pushed up the arm of her too-large sweatshirt.
Glass took over. She pulled the sleeve up to the woman’s elbow. “This will hurt, but it helps if you try to relax.” She tore open an alcohol wipe package.
Nine
Theodora Morrissey
Was she fucking serious? She’s going to burn a permanent mark into my flesh! I watched as she applied the small bit of cotton to the skin of my delicate inner forearm about two inches above my wrist.
“Look at me,” Conal’s deep voice sounded close to my ear.
I did as he said.
“Don’t watch. It’ll only make it worse.”
His expression was calm, yet I knew that he didn’t like that it was going to hurt me.
I heard shuffling and clicking, but I forced myself not to turn my head. The boss, Raider Black, was out of my sight, and that made me uncomfortable. However, Conal was right. I didn’t want to see this happen. A part of me wondered why I wasn’t fighting? Not that I could have gotten away, but to sit calmly while being burned…this wasn’t me. This couldn’t be my life. It’s a small price to pay. My inner voice told me.
I felt the heat near my arm. I tried to pull away from Glass’s iron-like grip. Conal’s arm around my shoulders tightened as the heat seared through me. White hot pain traveled up my arm and throughout my body. “Oh, God.” I moaned and squeezed my eyes shut.
“Theodora, look at me,” Conal commanded.
“Ittt hurtttsss,” I sobbed not caring that I was in a room filled with strangers.
