*Keera*
I've often heard people say on several occasions that the truth was bitter, but I've never once actually had a first hand experience to prove that the adage was indeed true. At least I've never had the experience up until now. For as long as I could remember I've always regarded myself as someone who wasn't scared of anything. There was almost no task I couldn't take on. No one I couldn't face. Nothing I couldn't do.Or at least that was what I thought.I stared blankly at my supervisor, wishing with every fiber of my being that I hadn't actually heard him right. My heart seemed to crash against my ribcage and my palms were a little sweatier than usual. I swallowed forcefully, realizing that this had to be the closest I'd come to knowing what fear felt like. I couldn't recount any instance where I'd ever been genuinely afraid. Not even the day I'd found out that werewolves existed and I had been living with them my whole life.I remember being surprised, even in a bit of shock as my mind struggled to grasp what was before me at the time. I had felt a lot of emotions but I had never for once felt fear. Which was very unusual because I should have naturally been terrified to find out that some other species existed besides us humans. Especially since I'd only been seven years at the time.But I hadn't.If anything else I'd been fascinated after getting over the initial shock. I'd learnt that the majority of them were members of Moon Valley Pack, a nearby werewolf pack. However, the fascination I'd felt had quickly morphed to irritation, disgust and finally resentment. Now anything related to werewolves made me recoil in anger and hate. Except when it came to one particular werewolf. The rest had proven to be such manipulative and violent creatures and there was nothing anyone could say to convince me otherwise.Trevor snapped his fingers in front of my face, jolting me out of my reverie. I startled, turning to fix my attention back on him. Sometimes he proved to be a decent supervisor, always making sure I didn't make any mistakes with whatever it was that I was handling. Other times, like now for example, he was simply a pain in the ass."Are you listening?" He asked, staring at me expectantly. I looked at him from across the large brown desk, wondering how exactly I was going to get myself out of this mess. He loosened the buttons on his shirt, his eyes leaving me for a while to look for a file. He placed the file in front of him, raising an eyebrow as he waited for me to give an answer to his question.I nodded, clearing my head. "Yes, of course." Against my will, I was listening. Listening to him tell me he wanted me to go to the home of those beasts. Did he not care about my safety? They saw me as the enemy. One slip and I was sure their barbarian Alpha was going to order them to finish me off. He placed the file in front of me, gesturing for me to go through it.I picked it up, my mind racing. Sometimes the fact that I knew that werewolves existed seemed to be a curse. For one if I didn't know, there was no way my supervisor would have sought me out for this job. And to think I'd been in the middle of a very serious laboratory test. It was times like this that I envied the other humans who were still living their lives thinking that werewolves were simply a myth. I rubbed my slightly sweaty palm on my lab coat before opening the file.My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to make sense of what I was looking at. There were reports, I realized as I flipped through the pages. Reports of werewolves that had died. I raised my palm to my mouth, shocked at the number. There were almost twenty of them and they had all died within the last two weeks. I reared my head back in surprise. That was quite a large number for such a small time frame. I frowned when I noticed the most recent death was only a few hours ago.They hadn't caught the killer yet?The cause of death appeared to be unknown, and the times of death were so random, I didn't think the killer was bothered about what time they died. I roamed my eyes through the files again, trying to appear disinterested while my mind ran a mile per second. From reports, I didn't think the killer was also concerned with their ages. A few were the same age, but mostly their age differences were also random and disoriented.It was no secret that werewolves were immortal, supernatural creatures. It wasn't completely impossible for them to lose their lives but it was extremely rare that they did. Whoever it was that was behind the killings had obviously done a thorough study of them and was successfully killing them in a way they wouldn't be able to recover from even with their superhuman capabilities. I pushed the file back, refusing to let my sympathy reflect on my face before Trevor preyed on it."I don't understand why you're showing this to me," I highlighted in confusion. I got the hint of what he was trying to say, but I wanted him to spell it out plainly. He'd only been beating around the bush since I got here. He clasped his hands together and placed it carefully on the desk, staring right at me. I leaned forward, bracing myself for whatever it was he was going to say."As you can tell, there's a crazy werewolf serial killer on the loose," He began, leaning back into his chair, his eyebrows forming an obvious v shape. "Whoever it is either knows or has studied everything there is to know about werewolves," He explained, drumming his fingers rhythmically on the desk. "Because for some reason despite their healing abilities they're still dying off like chickens."I swallowed, prepared to cut in. I wanted him to go straight to the point. "I'm sorry, but I don't exactly see how this concerns me." I reminded him. He narrowed his eyes, irritated that I was to hurry him up. I gestured at my lab coat, arching an eyebrow at him in return to remind him that I'd been in the middle of a test before he'd asked to see me urgently. For all I knew someone might be trying to alter the test result for some reason. I had to hurry up and get back.Trevor released a calm exhale and I almost smiled. If there was anything I'd learnt from him it was how to keep my emotions in check, though I wasn't exactly successful most of the time. On his good days, he was like the older brother I never had. On his bad days, he was like the older brother I never wished for."The point is that they've tried everything they can but they've still not been able to find a solution for their problem." He continued patiently. "So they sought our help." His eyes met mine and held. "They need someone who would be able to find out what's going on and put a stop to it...and I didn't know any better person to suggest than you."Than me.He was trying to tell me that not only was I going to go to the territory of those malicious creatures, I actually had to help them sort out their werewolf shit. I was already shaking my head before I even gave myself time to really think about it. There was no way I was going to offer them any form of help. Not when they've put me through a whole lot. I didn't care if it was childish to be vengeful, there was no way I was doing it."I'm sorry, Trevor but I'm not going." I informed him, standing to my feet. I pushed my hair behind my ears, taking my hair net out of my coat pockets as I readied myself to go back to the lab. "There are way more experienced forensic scientists than I could ever dream of." I stated honestly. "And they already know of the werewolves. I would suggest that you please have one of them go instead."Trevor shook his head, refusing to heed my advice. He also got to feet like he wanted me to understand the gravity of what he was trying to say. "You won't be going alone," He informed me, his tone almost pleading. "You'll be working with a team but you're going to be the head of it." He took a few steps towards me. "Listen, the werewolves are worried that someone is after them,""Gee, I wonder why," I retorted sarcastically. He gave me a knowing look, already aware that I was simply trying to piss him off so he would angrily ask me out of his office. I released a deep breath, deciding to hear him out. How hard could it be? I already knew that no matter what he had to say, my reply would still be negative."If they're right," He continued. "Which they obviously are, then it means we're also not safe." He ran a hand through his dark hair. "If this person is able to take down immortals, how much more humans?" I hated that I was beginning to see reason with him. "I've been asked to appoint a team. . .and I want you to lead that team."He gazed persuasively at me. "I was sure to emphasize the fact that everyone needed to keep you safe." He stated, successfully making my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. My eyes bulged at his words but he didn't seem to notice. "As much as I care about the rest of the team, I care more about you." He said, warmth evident in his tone. "The Alpha assured me he would personally ensure your safety."I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.*Grayson*I stared at Ginny, hating the disturbed look on her face. My sister was almost never happy these days. It was true there was practically nothing to be happy about, but I hated that she was letting it get to her this much. Especially since there was nothing I could do about it. I ran my hand down the length of my face, releasing an exasperated sigh. If there was anything I absolutely hated then it had to be this constant almost permanent state of helplessness. My entire pack was in danger but there was nothing I could do about it.We've lost about twenty werewolves and five pups in the past three weeks. No one seemed to know what had happened to them. Their dead bodies were simply just stumbled upon. At first we hadn't taken the deaths seriously. It was true that werewolves were immortal but it wasn't unheard of that a werewolf died. There were so many things that could cause a werewolf to lose their life. Natural causes, for one. That had to be the most common cause of death
*Keera*I'd agreed to it.It was a shame really. I'd had such an iron clad resolve to not let myself be talked into helping those beasts but in the end sheer curiosity and sympathy had won against my initial determination. Trevor had set up a simple team of five. Two forensic scientists , Lexi and me, one retired firearms and weapons expert, one profiler and one bioengineer. I was a bit surprised he was willing to go to these extents just to help them out.There was something he wasn't saying.I walked into the conference room and took a calculative seat at the right side of the table. We were all having a meeting with the Alpha of the pack, and I wanted to be in a place where I would feel the most comfortable. I had spent barely ten minutes in his presence a few years ago but it had been more than enough for me to form a strong opinion about him.A strong hateful opinion.I looked up at the door when it burst open. Trevor walked in, his strides long and confident. He frowned at the e
*Grayson*I felt all the air leave my lungs the second I locked gazes with those familiar light brown eyes. I blinked once, trying to make sense of what exactly was happening. I'd been standing at the entrance of the building when my wolf had gone mad shit crazy of a scent. Over my mate's scent. I hadn't been able to believe it at first. I had already lived a good number of years searching for my mate and she had seemed nowhere to be found. What was the probability that the first visit I made back to human territory would bring me to her? But then like any other werewolf I'd been hopeless not to follow the scent of the one the goddess had made for me. But it had led me to her. Keera. I cleared my throat, moving my gaze away from her cold and calculating one. I had to get it together in front of these humans. I walked to where Trevor was seated and shook hands with him before taking a seat beside him, making me find myself seated directly opposite to Keera. As Trevor made the introdu
*Keera*I avoided Lexi's eyes as I packed up the things I was going to need while working my ass off to help those people. Lexi and I had bonded after working together on a couple of assignments and it seemed our bond was about to become even tighter seeing as we were about to work on yet another assignment together. We'd gone out for drinks to celebrate the success of our mission a few months back and to explain my disdain for werewolves I'd given her a summarized version of my relationship with Ginny as well as a bunch of other things that had happened in my life.Because of those people.She knew enough to know that I wasn't happy about being sent there Especially with the fact that Ginny and I had never resolved our falling out and I completely despised her cold and arrogant twin brother. Even after six years I was finding it extremely hard to get over the fact that our entire friendship had been built on such a huge lie. She had watched me get bullied by her kind on several occas
*Grayson*I ended the call and resisted the urge to throw my phone against the wall. I'd tried my best to remain calm while I'd been on the phone with Trevor but I'd been seconds away from howling like a true beast. The entire arrangement was getting too intense already without emphasizing the fact that I needed to watch out for Keera. I wondered how the rest of the team were going to feel if they knew most of his concerns were about his precious, Keera. The headstrong stubborn woman. Who the goddess had also apparently decided was my mate.I should have known after being without a mate for so long that the goddess didn't want me with one. Because I couldn't see the reason she had picked Keera out of the thousands of humans to be the one made for me. She had to be well aware. that Keera was never given up being human no matter what. And certainly not for someone she completely despised. Which was. absolutely fine by me, anyway. I wasn't interested in being with her for the rest of my
*Keera*"Good thing you never actually got that puppy," Lexi said from her spot at the door as I rolled the last of my suitcases down the stairs. I held a tight grip on the handle, a slight frown on my face as I walked to add the suitcase to the rest we had already gotten down the stairs. She wasn't wrong though, I thought to myself. I'd decided just three days ago that I was going to get myself a puppy from a shelter a few blocks away from my apartment building. And then the new mission happened. I couldn't even imagine having to leave her all by herself if I'd gone through with my plan. I was at work way too often for me to get friendly with the neighbors. "I guess you're right." I finally replied, raising my shoulder. I let my gaze move around the house, trying to get one last mental picture before we left. Lexi was already taking the suitcases and duffel bags out the door as I turned off the lights and turned on the alarm. I didn't know how long I was going to be away for but I k
*Grayson*She had no right looking nearly as good as she did. Her red hair was in a ponytail. She had on black tights, a white shirt, a black jacket tied around her waist and black ankle boots. She looked more badass than a scientist had any business looking. And it was doing a lot of things to my wolf. Not me, of course. I didn't think she was ever capable of affecting me. Just my wolf. I already knew how rebellious and stubborn she could get beneath that cool exterior of hers. She halted her movements at my words, turning to face me with a cold look in her eyes. Yes, princess. I'm not about to make any of this easy for you. Her brown eyes flashed a warning at me. One I was very well going to ignore. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest as I waited for her reply. "There was no need for him to know." She finally spat.My brows rose as I huffed, moving my head from side to side. "It's okay to keep things to yourself but then it becomes a problem when someone else
*Keera*Breathe, just breathe.I let my eyelids drift shut as I tried to mentally count to ten. Nope. Nothing was working. "With who?" I finally repeated, extremely proud when my voice came out sounding way calmer than I felt. Grayson dug his hands into his pockets, looking like he was waiting for a child to get over their tantrum. "What do you mean I'm staying upstairs with you?" I asked again, my voice sounding even calmer.There was no way I was giving him the reaction he was expecting. Thankfully, Elena had the sense to excuse us, saying that she had to get home and get a few things done. I managed to murmur my thanks to her amidst my growing annoyance. As Grayson walked her to the door I wondered if this was going to be a constant emotion for as long as I was here. This anger and irritation. The door closed with a soft click and soon enough Grayson was in my line of sight. He stalked across the room calmly, all six and half muscled inches of him. I crossed my arms over my ches