2. Chapter One

Chapter One

Five Months Later

Four paws connected with the snow-chilled earth. The slate-grey werewolf sprinted over her pack's territory, nestled deep within the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was a land unblemished by human boundaries.

The frozen woods were hibernating for the winter, wild animals tucked away in caves and underground burrows. Only the raccoons, big cats, and elk could be sighted in the ice-covered wilderness with any regularity, though the great horned owls occasionally made an appearance.

Compacted snow collected between the pads of her feet, and Ava paused a minute to bite them clean. Sprinting through the underbrush was part of her nightly circuit, an important part of keeping her center. Being a beta in Riaz' pack meant aligning with his ideas on emotional regulation and finding balance between wolf and woman. Of any pack she'd belonged to, Riaz was the alpha best suited to her needs.

Today, her run held another purpose: to blow off steam. Her alpha had confirmed that their reconnaissance expedition to St. Louis was a go. Several months had passed since they'd targeted the facility, and this was merely tying up loose ends.

During the summer months, their pack had destroyed a Citizens manufacturing facility situated right outside their territory. The humans were getting bold, and Riaz had to call on help from the immortal community to ensure the den would not come under direct threat. As a result, the pack now had a happily mated Alpha couple, so it had worked out in the long run.

While digging through the paperwork from the abandoned enemy facility in their territory, they'd discovered a fragment of document referring to a set of mysterious numbers. Ava had puzzled over them until she figured out that she was looking at encoded coordinates. It led them to a location in St. Louis, once again defiantly close to an immortal species' settlement: this time, one of the major Raeth clans, belonging to Nina.

It was either a massive coincidence, or the human terrorists were making a point. Ava was particularly susceptible to this type of hanging threat and wouldn't rest until she eliminated it from their lives.

Unfortunately, the Raeths had been tied up with the Heat and unable to assist for months afterward. She couldn't exactly begrudge them the process, as they had no control or awareness of when it would happen, but the timing had been incredibly inconvenient. It had forced the Rocky Mountain pack to take lead on that investigation, as well as tracking down other potential connections.

Surveillance had been tricky without the benefit of Raeth teleportation. It was something Ava had painstakingly coordinated while the alpha pair had settled into their new mated rhythms. So far, they had managed to confirm without a shadow of doubt that it was another production hub for the Citizens' biological weapons. As trying as it was, they had needed to wait for the Raeths to come out of their self-imposed isolation before they could move forward. It was time for them to pick up the slack and decide for themselves how they wanted to deal with the danger in their back yard.

Today, Riaz was relying on a Raeth to teleport their happy away team there, effectually making it an unhappy away team. It would officially hand over the reins of the mission to Nina's clan. Good riddance.

A twig snapped. It was a purposeful sound.

Her ears swiveled forward, but the wind carried the scent of the incoming wolf before she saw him. Pitch black and massive, Aidan trotted into view a moment later. She whined in eager greeting. The last she had heard, he was in Pennsylvania with Nova and her pack—and hadn't planned on coming here until much later.

With a wag of his tail, he tipped his muzzle toward the den, spun, and took off. Ava shot after him, both exhilarated by his presence and wary of what he'd needed to come so far to say. Their history was lengthy, and she knew him like the back of her paw.

He'd turned her eight centuries ago, when werewolves were a young breed. They'd ran across uncharted land in the first immortal pack, still figuring out what their instincts meant and how dominance influenced pack structure. After a century with Aidan, Ava knew he never did anything without a purpose in mind. Him arriving in person meant there was something significant to discuss—otherwise he would've called.

The promise of heat and pack beckoned her onward even as her gut churned. She shook her scruff free from the snow that'd settled over her like a chilly blanket and followed Aidan into the den.

Several wolves eagerly greeted them as they trotted into the welcoming warmth. Packmates nudged at her with their noses or body-checked her with their own. Nipping them as a light reminder that she ranked second in the pack, she nonetheless felt her tail wag in response. Nothing was better than pack greetings, nor the feeling of joy that always accompanied their welcome.

Being beta of a pack this size wasn't without its merits, but she'd fought tooth and claw for her position and succeeded over male wolves twice her size. She'd supported several alphas in her centuries as a beta, but none had held a candle to Riaz or Aidan.

Leaping into the excruciating euphoria of the shift, she found herself on two legs a few moments later. Werewolves were able to shift with or without clothing, and though it was a learned skill, few chose nudity. Straightening her black sweater, she brushed her hands down the downy-soft material and rolled her shoulders back as she settled into her skin.

Aidan waited until she looked at him in question. "Walk with me."

Sighing, she strode alongside him as he gathered his thoughts. Though a few of her packmates took an interest, none of them hovered. Linking his hands behind his back, Aidan steered them toward the pool area. In the dead of winter, it'd be deserted.

"How are you adjusting to having Cortana as your alpha?"

"She's brilliant," Ava admitted. "I feel like I have a partner in crime. Instead of me doing all the heavy lifting for administrative tasks, she's right there with me. It's been a welcome reprieve, honestly. Especially with the extract effort we've taken on because of the Raeth Heat."

Aidan grunted in approval. "Good. Riaz doesn't know I'm here yet, though I'm sure word will reach him soon if it hasn't already."

"And why doesn't Riaz know you're here?"

"If I'd have told him, he would have rushed out to meet me. Right now, that'd mean I have two problems on my hands."

Ava raised her eyebrows in question.

"I needed to speak with you first," Aidan explained, pointing to two lounge chairs set up along one side of the empty pool, "before Riaz could weigh in."

"That's only one problem."

A hint of a smirk. "The second problem is a little more tricky. After what happened with Drake's House in New York, we took the Raeths up on their offer to recode our HVAC units to ensure that didn't happen at any of our dens. We can't run the risk of having our biggest packs go rabid."

Ava nodded. Six months ago, the Citizens of the Light had attacked the vampires using gaseous sunlight. It had filtered through their cooling system, poisoning the air, and nearly resulted in mass casualties. Riaz's quick thinking—and a host of other immortals aiding the effort—had been the only reason there weren't any deaths.

If it had been a werewolf den, the attack would've turned them rabid. Silver particles, the other favored weapon of the human terrorists, would also mean widespread fatalities if pumped through a pack's HVAC system.

"Two days ago, we started the recoding process with Nova's den. Since her pack is potentially a known location, it made sense to begin there." Aidan grimaced.

"What happened?"

"I stayed with Nova and her pack while we recoded the systems, and she nearly challenged me by the end of hour three."

Ava sucked in a breath. As the original werewolf, Aidan was the most dominant alpha—no one had ever challenged him and won. Regardless, he often stayed long stretches with the other packs to build ties and maintain relationships with his pack leaders. It rarely resulted in a challenge.

It was true that alphas didn't always play well with other alphas, and the longer they were in close proximity to each other, the higher the likelihood of a dominance battle. For Nova to challenge Aidan that quickly was an oddity—and a dangerous one.

"Whatever Heat hormones the Raeths had going on have affected us, too," he sighed. "We descend from them; it makes sense."

"The wolves in our pack have been on edge lately, too. Riaz is no exception," Ava added, frowning. "But it's already been half a year. Can we afford to wait it out?"

He shook his head. "We have no way of knowing when the effects will wear off, and I'm not keen on letting a gap in security risk our wolves. That's where you come in."

"Me?"

"I won't risk infighting between alphas with the Citizens breathing down our backs. You're the beta I trust the most, Ava, and you are well liked and widely known. You won't get the alpha's tails in a twist the same way I do," Aidan said.

"Remmus is a technopath, and the only one who's had experience in encoding the HVAC systems to ensure what happened at Drake's House doesn't happen to us. The sacrifice I'm asking for is even bigger than it seems. Raeths can't usually teleport to a place they've never been, nor to people they don't know. Remmus' data collecting power has a useful secondary feature, however—if he has access to a mind with strong memories of where he needs to go, he can lock on those impressions and use them to travel."

Ava's stomach turned over. "You want me to be a teleport lock."

He slowly nodded.

That particular Raeth had proven himself to be the bane of her existence. Flirtatious, ostentatious, and cockier than a football quarterback on steroids, Ava would rather chew her own tail off than spend time with him—or let him have access to her mind.

Her reluctance was multi-faceted: one, he made her frantic with fear, like all Raeths; and two, he made her heartbeat faster for … reasons she didn't care to disclose. It had nothing to do with the fact that the man was a walking temptation, nor the fact that her treacherous wolf seemed to swoon whenever he came near.

A growl rumbled in her throat. "Why can't the Elementals or vampires assist? Surely, they have someone who can code? You know how high the cost would be for me."

"The vampires are still recovering—both from the losses at Lucius' House and what unfolded at Drake's. If they hadn't been hit quite as heavily, I'd suspect they'd join with us, but I won't force them to assist in our dens. The majority of the Raeths are out; nearly a third of their population is expecting and it's a miracle Nina and Zeke lent us Remmus. The Elementals don't have anyone they can send to assist at the moment, and they aren't directly affected by this.

"None of our people have the know-how, and Remmus could also set up a psychic alert if someone tried tampering with it as an added security. As I understand it, the process also involves manipulating a small dose of gaseous sunlight and silver. It's asking a lot for him to subject himself to the repeated danger, but he agreed to take the risk."

Aidan sighed. "We've been through so much, you and I. I know you'll be able to keep your head no matter what is thrown at you so, fairly or unfairly, I keep on piling more. The question is, can I ask this of you?"

For a moment, she could only stare at him, trying to wrap her head around what he was saying. "You want me to allow a Raeth into my mind, Aidan."

His expression was tight and apologetic. "We're protecting our dens. Our people. There's nothing more important than that—but I won't do it at the cost of your wellbeing. Say the word and I'll postpone it until I can find another solution."

"You know my history with Raeths. Playing babysitter to one, in situations made even more precarious by potentially unstable dens ..." She shook her head.

"I would never force you to do something you're uncomfortable with. But before you make up your mind, there's one more thing that might benefit you in this arrangement. Besides you reconnecting with your favorite alphas."

"Riaz is my favorite alpha."

Aidan threw his head back and laughed, the sound bringing back fond memories of their early years together. "That stings, Ava, it really does." Sobering, he lost the smile. "I have intel."

"Oh?"

"After the Heat, clanless Raeths began joining with pre-existing clans. Nina and Zeke's clan have admitted nearly a hundred new members. Right now, I know you wouldn't be comfortable with coming to Nina's clan lands to check whether any of them fit your description or have information you can use, but Remmus might be able to help you overcome that fear."

She froze, fighting a shiver.

The desire for revenge had never left her. It was a continual whisper at the back of her mind, as relentless and ruthless as the day it began. Beneath the terror Raeths caused her, there was a debilitating need to see her parents' murderers brought to justice. If it meant going into the heart of a Raeth clan to ferret out the ones responsible, she would—but first, she would need to get her reactions under control.

It was the best lead she'd had in decades. "I think—I'm willing to try with Remmus."

"Good." He straightened. "Since you're already surveilling St. Louis together, it'll allow you to test if you can tolerate his nearness. He'll be here shortly to teleport you and the alpha pair to the facility, and afterward, you can chat about what your new partnership will mean for the rest of the dens."

"Can't wait."

The spark in Aidan's eyes told her exactly what he thought of her dry humor. "I'm leaving before Riaz decides he doesn't want another alpha on his turf. After you get back from St Louis, head up to La Crosse. Sagan's den. All your fans will be delighted to have you visit."

"The thrills never stop."

The other werewolf paused then, scrutinizing her. "You'll be okay, Ava. You'll always have the spark of that thirteen-year-old girl I found fighting for her life against enemies many times her size. You're strong, smart, and wickedly good in a fight. Don't let Remmus bully you into a corner—but don't put him there, either. We need him."

Letting the words sink in, she dipped her chin as Aidan gave her shoulder a squeeze and vanished out the door.

Ava almost couldn't believe that this task might mean the end of her life-long search. Though the result would be worth it, the cost was high: letting a Raeth root inside her head. It made her feel queasy.

Ava's mind was occupied with thoughts of her parents as she marched toward the interior of the den. She stopped outside her alpha's office and knocked twice. Given the playful sounds coming from behind the closed door, Riaz wasn't alone. Clearly, the alpha couple was reveling in their happy mating, and she didn't dare intrude on any intimate moments.

Gag.

"By all means, Ava," came Riaz's gravelly voice, hoarse with emotion. Opening the door, she didn't have to guess which one. Cortana was blushing a pretty red and straightening her leather jacket.

"Hey Ava. Ready?"

"Are you?"

Chuckling, the vampire bumped her hip against Riaz where he lingered in his highbacked office chair, his russet-brown eyes riveted to his woman. His dreadlocks hung down just past his shoulders. The man looked every inch the predator he was—and he could shift into his gigantic mahogany werewolf form on a dime.

Riaz had been turned immortal five centuries ago. His muscular frame, standing at six and a half feet tall, was corded with muscle beneath gleaming skin. It was his ready smile, however, that reflected his easygoing and lighthearted personality.

Cortana had joined their pack as the second half of the alpha pair. She'd been letting her hair down from her customary braid as Riaz' nature wore off on her and she'd gradually become less severe. Twin silver daggers were typically holstered on her jean-clad hips, and her long legs ended in stilettos whenever the vamp thought the day called for a bit of style. Which was almost always.

"Of course," Cortana replied. "I'm always ready. This oaf is the one in question."

Riaz tried to appear contemptuous but only managed to pull off amused. "This oaf wasn't the one tempting his mate."

It was clear by now that the alpha pair hadn't heard about Aidan's impromptu visit. "I've got some news you might want to hear. You know how a Raeth was going to overhaul our system to make sure we don't die a rabid and painful death?" They nodded, and she continued. "Aidan stopped by. He has a plan for the rest of the HVAC units on pack lands."

"Aidan was here?"

"He's already come and gone. Said he had a bit of a tiff with Nova while he was at her den and wanted to avoid the same thing happening here. He thinks the Heat hormones are affecting us. Making alphas more aggressive."

Riaz cocked his head. "I'm never aggressive." A snort from Cortana had him grinning. "Despite my mate's ringing endorsement, yes, I've seen a few signs. So how is our glorious alpha king planning to get the rest of the dens upgraded?"

"Aidan volunteered my services as beta extraordinaire. Since he doesn't want to chance a challenge, he's having me work as a liaison between the dens and the Raeth instead."

The subtle flaring of Riaz's nostrils was the only indication of his displeasure. "And Aidan didn't want to come to me first?"

"Perhaps because he knew you'd say no."

Cortana's lips thinned. "Are you comfortable with it, Ava? Being Remmus' tour guide?"

"I'll have to be," she said. "It's rare that Aidan asks for anything, and I'm happy to do what I can for the good of the packs."

The shrewd vampire looked at her mate, and Riaz sighed. "So you'll be using Remmus as a way to desensitize yourself? As long as you're okay with it, I am. If you want to stop at any point, you just say the word."

"I'm certain I'll have many words," she replied.

"Shall I summon the Raeth?"

No sense in delaying the inevitable. "If you must."

Reclining in his chair, Riaz thumbed a text, and ten seconds later a fissure of air signaled Remmus' arrival. It was a handy skill to have … if he weren't so obnoxious about it.

The sandy-blond male had teleported directly in front of Ava, wearing a lopsided grin.

Her eyes widened as familiar panic swelled within her. The haunted screams of her past escaped the locked box in her mind. Caught off guard by his sudden entrance directly in front of her, she unintentionally gasped.

Instead of allowing her reactions to run away with her, she made a conscious effort to breathe through the fear reflex and steady her heartbeat. Looking at him in a detached way was the key. If he wasn't a Raeth, what would she think of the man?

Standing several inches above six feet, Remmus was built like a finely-tuned tank: sinewy muscle banded over long limbs, and his massive shoulders narrowed to a lean waist. He'd rolled up the sleeves of the cashmere sweater that'd stretched over his torso, revealing corded forearms. A tattoo spanned upward from his left wrist and disappeared beneath the soft material. The blue-grey ink depicted a raging river, hemmed in by lush evergreens and boulders. The artistry of it was breathtakingly beautiful. Up close and personal, she noticed something she hadn't before: he had a dimple in one cheek. Every inch of Remmus screamed danger and sex appeal, even when his casual air and lazy personality defied it.

His fragrance taunted her senses with the sudden intake of breath. Spearmint, fresh and revitalizing, snaked down her throat and into her lungs. What she didn't expect, however, was the treacherous wave of desire that followed resolutely in its wake.

Being attracted to the fool wasn't much better than being afraid of him.

Growling, she willfully took a step back, letting her wolf voice her displeasure. Nostrils flaring, she scowled at him when he removed his aviator sunglasses. Glittering a breathtaking seafoam green, the Raeth's eyes were locked on hers like a taunt.

"We meet again, Blondie."

The words tickled her ears like a sensual caress. Against her better judgement, her wolf's growl turned into a whimper at the sound of his deep voice. "My name isn't Blondie, Raeth."

"What a coincidence. My name isn't Raeth!"

"I don't care what your name is."

He mimed a dagger to the heart, but his handsome features were alight with humor. "You wound me, Blondie. And in front of the lovebirds, no less."

Riaz grinned. "Nice to see you, too, Remmus."

"Always a pleasure, wolfy." The Raeth sent a saucy wink to Cortana. "Hey, little leech. How's mated life treating you?"

"Rather well."

"Glad to hear it, love." He leaned forward conspiratorially, whispering, "If you need anything, you know I'm just a call away."

Fortunately, Riaz took the flirtation at face value, and chucked a muffin at Remmus' head. Though Ava would've loved to see blueberries smeared across his face, the infuriating flirt gamely caught it out of the air and stole a bite.

"All in good fun. How long have you two been mated now?"

"Half a year," Cortana replied. "You've been out of touch, Remmus."

All the Raeths had been. After the heat, the clans had locked up tight. Though Ava had heard relatively little on that front, she assumed that between Raeth pregnancies and all the clanless joining existing clans in massive numbers, very few sovereigns had time or energy to expend on other matters. Even Nina, the arbitrator for the Peace Accords delegation, had gone silent.

It was one of the reasons they'd held off on making decisions on what to do with the St. Louis facility for so long. They hadn't wanted to overstep and risk backlash from the dual sovereigns.

"My deepest apologies, Cortana. May your lives together be surrounded by an abundance of good food and good company."

"I wouldn't count you as good company," Ava muttered, recentering herself. "Aidan stopped by earlier, and I've been informed you're up to date on what we're planning for the other packs. We can discuss our HVAC mission after we successfully complete the St. Louis recon—assuming you're capable of that."

He chuckled, then asked, "Why do you hate us so, Blondie? Is it all Raethkind or just me?"

She held his stare, unmoved by his question, because revealing the truth would open a door she'd rather stay closed. When she didn't immediately respond, Remmus took it as his cue to lob speculation over the wall.

"Lemme guess. A Raeth stole the last ticket to the Rihanna concert you wanted to attend."

Ava remained unamused.

"No?" Then, raising a hand to cover his mouth on one side, he whispered, "Justin Bieber?"

Ava beat back the urge to introduce him to her fist. "Are you here for a purpose or to practice your stand-up routine? I've got places to be, people to kill. A couple more cracks, and I'll add you to the list."

"Feisty." An approving nod. "I like it."