| Supernatural Fiction posted December 17, 2018 | Chapters: |
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Sins of Chaos/A Novel of the Breedline series
A chapter in the book Sins of Chaos
Escape Plan/Part Two
by scongrove
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
| Background Wishing everyone a safe & happy holiday! |
Previously . . .
Now that Steven has healed Valkin Steele’s beloved Natasha, of her cancer, in exchange for Abbey, Valkin betrays him and sells her to Cole Decker—a hired tracker that deals in sex trafficking—while the Dr. Kruger arrives from Germany to purchase Steven for his special gifts.
When Valkin Steele makes the deal with Dr. Kruger, the corrupt physician and his hired men prepare to retrieve Steven, who is momentarily unconscious, and stashed inside Steele’s wine cellar.
Meanwhile, outside Steele’s estate, a team of Breedline crusaders and a crew of Special Ops prepare to take down Valkin Steele and everyone involved with his evil corruption. But their main focus is rescuing Steven and Abbey, along with twenty under-aged girls that were sold to Cole Decker.
As the Breedline overtake Valkin Steele and his men, they are faced with the fact that not only has Cole Decker kidnapped Abbey, Lena was missing.
While the Breedline search for them, including Steven, Lena—who is beaten and tied up—manage to free herself before Steele and his men rape Abbey. Using her training, she goes into war mode and takes out Steele’s men. Before she can put an end to Valkin Steele, he shots Abbey. Enraged, Lena attacks Steele, and fights for her and Abbey’s life.
Continued . . .
As Steven stormed past Tim and Alexander, he charged down a narrow hallway that led to a set of double doors. Ready to blast through, he caught a number of scents all of a sudden and glanced behind him. Jem, Roman, and Lawrence were standing there. And Major Wyckoff’s panther was pacing alongside them, anxious to take down anything that came in its path. They had all come to help him get Abbey back and ready to go to war, if that’s what it took.
Steven nodded in ready silence. A moment later, he kicked in the door, and wood splintered into pieces. Wyckoff’s panther let out a high-pitched scream and rushed forward, practically mowing Steven down.
With his heart pounding in his chest, sweat blooming all over him, Steven looked for Abbey and saw nothing. The room was empty, but when he inhaled, his nose detected Abbey’s scent.
“She’s been here,” Steven said in a deep distorted voice. His eyes penetrated the dim corner of the room and noticed a rug out of place. Moving closer, he looked down and saw a trap door hidden in the floor . . . and blood smudged on the smooth wooden surface.
More random thoughts fired through his head. Was Abbey hurt?
As the others hung back, like they knew better than to get in his way, Steven reached for the small hatch in the floor. With his Adalwolf strength still flowing through his veins, he grabbed onto the metal handle and wrenched the trap door, completely ripping it off the hinges.
He dropped to his knees and looked into the dark entrance. Steven reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small flashlight. As he aimed it inside the hole, his eyes caught sight of several steps that led underneath the floor.
Jem stepped forward. “What is it?”
“It’s a secret passage leading underneath the estate,” Steven said. “This is where Decker took Abbey.” He was on his feet immediately, his expression hard. “It’s the only way he could have got out without being seen.”
“Steven, I thought you’d want to know we captured Steele and some of his men,” Jem told him.
Steven’s eyes narrowed. “Is he still alive?”
Jem hesitated and arched a brow. “He was when I last saw him. But then I left him with Jace, so there’s no telling.” He shrugged. “If Steele pisses him off—”
Wyckoff’s panther padded to where Steven stood. After making a few circles around the hole in the floor, he came to a halt, lowered his big head inside, and sniffed cautiously. After a moment, the cat glanced back at Steven and growled menacingly.
Steven stared into his lavender eyes and understood the cat’s helpless rage.
The others surged closer to Steven, concern etched on every single person’s face, most especially Roman. He’d made a promise to Abbey to keep her out of harm’s way. And now . . . Cole Decker had taken her and done god-knows-what to her.
“Now, we’ve wasted enough time while Abbey desperately needs our help,” Roman spoke out harshly. “Until we know what we’re up against, I need every available man at the ready. Jem will go with Steven and me,” he ordered, pointing toward the open trap-door. “Lawrence, I want you and Wyckoff to wait here to organize communications with the others and act as backup.” He looked at Steven pointedly. “Are you ready?”
Before Steven got a word out, shots were fired in their direction. Roman’s arm absorbed the gun’s load, and the impact twisted his torso. He immediately clutched his shoulder. Damn it!
Lawrence squeezed off a series of shots before Roman fell to the floor.
A high-pitched scream cracked through the room, and then Wyckoff’s huge black cat flew over to the open doorway, taking down the man who had fired his weapon. A scream split the air. The gunman tried to push himself away, but the raged animal rose with a low snarl. His scream of fear came to an end as the panther closed his jaws around his throat.
Jem dropped to the floor next to Roman. “How bad is it?”
“It’s not bad.” Roman grunted as he sat upright. “It hurts like a son of a bitch, but believe me . . . I’ve had worse.” Slowly, he stood, using Jem for leverage.
“It’s best you stay behind and let Lawrence patch you up,” Jem said to Roman.
Roman shook his head. “That’s not an option. I made a vow to protect Abbey, and I plan on keeping it,” he said, his face tight with anger. And then he turned toward Steven with an expression of regret framing his face. He looked almost . . . sorry. Refocusing back to Jem he added, “Besides, I’ll heal in no time. The bullet went clean through.”
“Okay, enough with the chitchat,” Steven said. “We’re wasting precious time. Let’s do this.”
Lawrence held up his radio to Jem. “Keep us informed, and let us know if you need backup. I’ll let the others know what’s going on.”
Jem nodded in agreement and then made fast tracks through the opening in the floor, with Steven leading the way.
As they came to an opening at the end of the underground tunnel, it led them to a hidden entrance of a field.
Roman pointed to something lying on the ground and said, “Wait.” He picked up the handkerchief Abbey had left behind, and looked at Steven. “Do you recognize this?”
Steven reached for the delicate cloth in Roman’s grasp and brought it to his nose. “It’s Abbey’s,” he said, inhaling her scent. “She left it for us to find.”
“Smart girl,” Roman said with a smile on his face. “Decker must have taken her through here.” He looked to the wooded area, and then back to Steven and Jem. “We’re going to need a vehicle.”
Jem reached for the radio and said, “I’ll call for backup. It’s better to be prepared. When it comes to Cole Decker, there’s no telling what we’ll be facing.”
****
By sheer determination, Lena remained conscious and pushed aside the pain even though it felt like Cole had caved in her damn skull.
As he loomed over her with a gun to her head, she reacted quickly and lashed out with her leg, knocking the weapon from his grasp.
She struggled up, but he was on her, pinning her down with his weight.
“I like a woman that fights back,” he said, staring at her with satisfaction in his gaze. “It turns me on. When I get done having my fun with you, I’m going to cut you into little pieces and send them to the Breedline. They’ll think twice the next time they screw with me.”
Oh hell, no, Lena cursed to herself. She wasn’t going down like this. She would wait for the right moment to make her move. If her plan worked, she’d make damn sure Cole Decker never hurt another woman or child again.
As he leaned down to force his lips to hers, she used all her strength and head-butted him right in the face. He let out a cry of pain and crumpled to the floor. Lena pushed herself up and landed a kick that connected with his balls. If she had it her way, he wouldn’t have any left when it was all over.
While he howled in pain, she searched for the gun. She spotted it under a chair. As Lena scrambled over to it and bent down to grab for it, Cole was on her in a split second, attacking her from behind.
Abbey’s eyes slowly opened at the sounds of struggling nearby as she lay motionless on the floor. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Through blurred vision, she caught sight of Lena wrestling on the floor with Cole Decker. He outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds. As anger surged through her body, Abbey felt the change within her. And it was instantaneous.
Her fair skin darkened, turning a mottled shade of dark brown. A mane of coarse black fur sprouted from her scalp and spread to her shoulders, then across her body and limbs, which themselves lengthened and grew larger within seconds. Her undergarments split at the seams as she assumed the proportions of a giant. Abbey’s fists curled into enormous wolfish paws with nails that jutted from the tips the size of daggers.
The blood of Abbey’s ancestors pulsed through her veins as her flesh and bone underwent a grotesque transformation. A canine muzzle protruded from her face, and tufted ears tapered atop her head to a point. Her black leathery nostrils flared above a jaw full of sharp incisors.
Abbey stretched her shaggy limbs, feeling the inhuman strength and power in them. She never felt so free . . . and so deadly.
Unbeknown of what was transpiring nearby, Lena and Cole rolled on the floor, but he used his strength as an advantage and elbowed her already injured jaw. After she’d been surrounded at Steele’s estate and forced here, Cole’s men had beat her nearly unconscious. There wasn’t a single part of Lena’s body that didn’t hurt.
Cole made a dive for the gun and Lena leaped after him, rolling over his body and kicking the gun away from his grasp. Then he grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her face down onto the floor, and then again and again, until Lena stopped struggling and fell still.
Complete silence followed by an unearthly sound of a predator’s growl, which made the back of Cole’s nape rise. He held his breath as he looked over his shoulder. What he saw made him fall back on his ass, cringing in fear. Cole couldn’t believe his eyes.
Abbey’s she-wolf bared her fangs and crouched defensively in front of Cole.
“P-please . . . don’t kill me,” he babbled, begging for his pathetic life.
The she-wolf narrowed her coal black eyes, staring at him with a murderous glare. Then the creature leaned in, getting face-to-face with Cole, and smiled. Her wolfish mouth was full of razor-sharp teeth.
Before he could blink an eye, the deadly creature tore at his throat. He was in a state of shock, and his terror numbed the pain as he watched his life’s blood spurt in jets. Cole’s last pleas for mercy turned into a gurgling hiss of air.
As Abbey’s Lupa surveyed her surroundings, her attention focused on a woman nearby. On the floor beneath a pool of blood, Lena’s body lay still. She looked from Lena to Cole’s dead body, and then back to Lena. The she-wolf looked puzzled for a moment, then her eyes softened.
The sound of a low whimper broke the stillness of the room. Moving next to Lena, the two-footed creature peered helplessly down at her. She dropped to her hands and knees and gently grasped ahold of Lena’s arm. A tear struck Lena’s cheek as she rolled her over.
Lena moaned and slowly opened her eyes. When she looked up, she saw the creature’s luminous eyes glistening. Its tears glowed as they rolled down the thickness of its hairy face. And then, Lena started to cry, for she felt the she-wolf’s grief in her heart and added it to her own.
Lena formed a half-smile over her bloody and bruised face. She paused only for a moment before she reached up to touch the she-wolf’s muzzle. Lena’s hand caressed its dark bristled cheek and whispered, “Thank you, Abbey.”
Abbey’s she-wolf kept at her side, unable to take her worried eyes from Lena. As she looked at Lena, so much at peace, her thick, furry hide began to shrink and disappear as if her skin was miraculously willing it back inside her body. Lena blinked through tears that made her vision all shimmery, and watched the creature’s slow transformation right before her eyes until Abbey’s human features came into focus.
With her eyes trained on Lena, Abbey inhaled a deep breath as if she’d been holding it for an extended time.
“Lena,” she gasped. “Are you okay?”
Before she could get any words out, a loud crack like the sound of lightning came from outside. Abbey looked over her shoulder just as the door burst open and several heavy footsteps pounded across the floor. Shit! In an effort to cover her naked body, Abbey crossed her arms over her chest.
“Abbey! Abbey! Where are you?” Steven roared.
She sagged in relief, her strength gone. It was Steven. He was here. They were safe, and she knew nothing else could hurt her.
Suddenly, Justice was over Lena, his eyes so intense and full of panic when he saw her lying in her own pool of blood. And her face was—
He fell to his knees. “Oh my god, baby.” His voice trembled. It seemed that’s all he could say as he gently gathered her in his arms, his heart beating like a drum against her broken body.
“I’m okay. Abbey saved me,” she managed to whisper. “You’re getting blood . . . all over you.”
“I don’t give a damn,” he said fiercely as he buried his face in the crevice of her neck. “You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.” He looked at her, puzzled. “Honey, why didn’t you shift? You could have taken out Decker and all his men with your Breedline wolf.”
“They threatened me,” she rasped out. “Their weapons were loaded with silver.”
A second later, Steven came into view and saw Abbey. She was on the floor next to Lena, and she was . . . naked.
“Abbey!” he called out. Steven rushed over with Roman on his heels, and immediately dropped to the floor next to her. Roman shrugged out of his shirt and handed it to Steven. After he slipped it over Abbey’s head, she found herself carefully enfolded in a strong pair of arms.
She buried her face in Steven’s chest as he rocked her back and forth. “I’ve got you,” he whispered close to her ear. His voice sounded like he had tears. “It’s over, sweetheart.”
“Our baby,” she whispered, unable to hold it in any longer. “We’re going to have a baby.”
Slowly, he pulled back with a look of awe on his face. For a moment, he went completely silent. There was a wealth of emotion burning in those green eyes. “Did you say . . . baby?”
Abbey grinned and nodded.
Steven embraced her again and held on so tightly that she couldn’t breathe. His entire body trembled against hers, and his breaths tore raggedly from his chest.
“I love you, Abigail,” he choked out. “God, I love you so much.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, love welling from deep within her as she took in the sincerity of his words. “I love you too.”
He straightened and looked her in the eyes. There was concern as well as elation in his stare. He smoothed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re going to have to take it easy,” Steven said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you or our baby.”
She reached up and caressed his cheek with her hand. “I’m scared out of my mind, but I’m also so happy.”
He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I’m scared too. But we’ll be just fine, sweetheart. I promise.”
Lawrence and Jem came over and stood above them, both worried if Abbey and Lena were all right.
Roman cleared his throat. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on your conversation, but did I hear you two just say you’re . . . pregnant?” he asked hesitantly.
Abbey sighed. “Yes, we are.”
Both Lawrence and Jem’s expressions eased, and they lit up with smiles.
“Congratulations,” Roman finally said. His smile was gentle, and there was a wealth of emotion in his eyes. “You’re a brave young lady, Abbey. I’m proud of you.”
“Damn straight,” Justice said in a gruff voice as he turned toward Abbey. “Thanks for saving my girl. And congratulations, little mama,” he tacked on.
“Thank you,” Abbey said with a light giggle.
Lawrence smiled so broadly, his white teeth flashed against his dark skin. “That’s wonderful news. Congratulations to the both of you.”
“Congratulations, you two.” Jem chuckled a little. “It’s about time we had some good news.”
Steven nodded, beaming the entire time. “Thanks, guys.”
Lena reached over to squeeze Abbey’s hand. “Oh Abbey,” she said in a weak voice. “I’m so happy for you. And I have to say . . . for five-foot-two, you’ve got lady balls of steel.”
“So says the woman who takes on opponents the size of a double-decker bus,” Abbey replied.
“Yeah, you both kicked ass,” Jace chimed in as he joined the group by Steven’s side. Wearing a white suit, he extended his fist to Steven and cocked a brow. “Way to go, buddy.”
Steven grinned and bumped knuckles with Jace.
Jem shot him a look. “What in the hell are you wearing?”
“I helped myself to Steele’s closet,” Jace said with a cocky grin.
“Why?”
“When you left, that asshole shot me in the chest,” Jace grumbled. “To make a long story short . . . I turned. Alexander calmed the Beast. And then I shifted back.” He shrugged his shoulders. “So I couldn’t just walk around naked.”
“Wait.” Jem’s eyes widened. “Did you say Alexander calmed your Beast?”
Jace nodded. “Steele is one lucky bastard. If it weren’t for Alexander, he would have been its next meal.”
Jem shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Lawrence knelt down beside Lena and cut in the conversation. “We need to get you and Abbey back to the Covenant and checked out. I know you’ll heal, but I’m not going to let up until you’re both given a clean bill of health.”
“Tim and the others have Steele in their custody,” Jace said to Steven. “He made a deal to give us details on Dr. Autenburg’s research and anyone who’s still involved in an arrangement for a safe haven for Natasha.”
“She’s innocent in all this,” Steven prompted. “I’ll vouch for her. Natasha doesn’t have anything to do with Valkin Steele’s corrupt behavior.”
“Let’s get them out of here,” Jem stressed. “I just sent Tim a text letting him know that everyone’s all right. He wants us to meet at Steele’s estate so we can get back to the Covenant. He said he got a message from Tessa. Apparently, there’s been another attack, and this time Helen and Anna were there to witness it.”
“Are they all right?’ Steven said. His voice was edged with concern.
“They’re fine. And that’s not all,” Jem continued. “We’ve got to deal with those two human detectives who are investigating all the murders in the city. Tessa said she got a call from Nathan Gage. The attack happened at one of his bars. He also said Detective Sanchez is his uncle . . . and he’s half-Breedline, but doesn’t have a clue.”
“So what is Tim going to do?” Roman asked.
“He’s going to bring the detectives into the Covenant.”
“Are you serious?” Jace interjected. “So he’s just going to let them know about us?”
“Jace, we don’t have a choice,” Jem said. “They’ve already seen too much. They witnessed Yelena’s abduction. Maybe they can help us locate her. Besides, Tim is going to turn Steele and whatever is left of his human guards into their custody. They’re helping the feds investigate all the human sex trafficking, so it’s best to let them deal with it.”
“What does Tessa say about all this?” Jace asked.
“She’s going to have Zeke Rizzo bring the detectives to the Covenant since he’s already dealt with them.” Jem let out a deep breath. “It looks like we’ve got our hands full this time.”
Shit, Jace thought. His brow creased with worry and his mind went straight to Tessa and the boys. And then he said, “So why the hell are we just standing around? Let’s get our asses moving.”
To be continued . . .
Now that Steven has healed Valkin Steele’s beloved Natasha, of her cancer, in exchange for Abbey, Valkin betrays him and sells her to Cole Decker—a hired tracker that deals in sex trafficking—while the Dr. Kruger arrives from Germany to purchase Steven for his special gifts.
When Valkin Steele makes the deal with Dr. Kruger, the corrupt physician and his hired men prepare to retrieve Steven, who is momentarily unconscious, and stashed inside Steele’s wine cellar.
Meanwhile, outside Steele’s estate, a team of Breedline crusaders and a crew of Special Ops prepare to take down Valkin Steele and everyone involved with his evil corruption. But their main focus is rescuing Steven and Abbey, along with twenty under-aged girls that were sold to Cole Decker.
As the Breedline overtake Valkin Steele and his men, they are faced with the fact that not only has Cole Decker kidnapped Abbey, Lena was missing.
While the Breedline search for them, including Steven, Lena—who is beaten and tied up—manage to free herself before Steele and his men rape Abbey. Using her training, she goes into war mode and takes out Steele’s men. Before she can put an end to Valkin Steele, he shots Abbey. Enraged, Lena attacks Steele, and fights for her and Abbey’s life.
Continued . . .
As Steven stormed past Tim and Alexander, he charged down a narrow hallway that led to a set of double doors. Ready to blast through, he caught a number of scents all of a sudden and glanced behind him. Jem, Roman, and Lawrence were standing there. And Major Wyckoff’s panther was pacing alongside them, anxious to take down anything that came in its path. They had all come to help him get Abbey back and ready to go to war, if that’s what it took.
Steven nodded in ready silence. A moment later, he kicked in the door, and wood splintered into pieces. Wyckoff’s panther let out a high-pitched scream and rushed forward, practically mowing Steven down.
With his heart pounding in his chest, sweat blooming all over him, Steven looked for Abbey and saw nothing. The room was empty, but when he inhaled, his nose detected Abbey’s scent.
“She’s been here,” Steven said in a deep distorted voice. His eyes penetrated the dim corner of the room and noticed a rug out of place. Moving closer, he looked down and saw a trap door hidden in the floor . . . and blood smudged on the smooth wooden surface.
More random thoughts fired through his head. Was Abbey hurt?
As the others hung back, like they knew better than to get in his way, Steven reached for the small hatch in the floor. With his Adalwolf strength still flowing through his veins, he grabbed onto the metal handle and wrenched the trap door, completely ripping it off the hinges.
He dropped to his knees and looked into the dark entrance. Steven reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small flashlight. As he aimed it inside the hole, his eyes caught sight of several steps that led underneath the floor.
Jem stepped forward. “What is it?”
“It’s a secret passage leading underneath the estate,” Steven said. “This is where Decker took Abbey.” He was on his feet immediately, his expression hard. “It’s the only way he could have got out without being seen.”
“Steven, I thought you’d want to know we captured Steele and some of his men,” Jem told him.
Steven’s eyes narrowed. “Is he still alive?”
Jem hesitated and arched a brow. “He was when I last saw him. But then I left him with Jace, so there’s no telling.” He shrugged. “If Steele pisses him off—”
Wyckoff’s panther padded to where Steven stood. After making a few circles around the hole in the floor, he came to a halt, lowered his big head inside, and sniffed cautiously. After a moment, the cat glanced back at Steven and growled menacingly.
Steven stared into his lavender eyes and understood the cat’s helpless rage.
The others surged closer to Steven, concern etched on every single person’s face, most especially Roman. He’d made a promise to Abbey to keep her out of harm’s way. And now . . . Cole Decker had taken her and done god-knows-what to her.
“Now, we’ve wasted enough time while Abbey desperately needs our help,” Roman spoke out harshly. “Until we know what we’re up against, I need every available man at the ready. Jem will go with Steven and me,” he ordered, pointing toward the open trap-door. “Lawrence, I want you and Wyckoff to wait here to organize communications with the others and act as backup.” He looked at Steven pointedly. “Are you ready?”
Before Steven got a word out, shots were fired in their direction. Roman’s arm absorbed the gun’s load, and the impact twisted his torso. He immediately clutched his shoulder. Damn it!
Lawrence squeezed off a series of shots before Roman fell to the floor.
A high-pitched scream cracked through the room, and then Wyckoff’s huge black cat flew over to the open doorway, taking down the man who had fired his weapon. A scream split the air. The gunman tried to push himself away, but the raged animal rose with a low snarl. His scream of fear came to an end as the panther closed his jaws around his throat.
Jem dropped to the floor next to Roman. “How bad is it?”
“It’s not bad.” Roman grunted as he sat upright. “It hurts like a son of a bitch, but believe me . . . I’ve had worse.” Slowly, he stood, using Jem for leverage.
“It’s best you stay behind and let Lawrence patch you up,” Jem said to Roman.
Roman shook his head. “That’s not an option. I made a vow to protect Abbey, and I plan on keeping it,” he said, his face tight with anger. And then he turned toward Steven with an expression of regret framing his face. He looked almost . . . sorry. Refocusing back to Jem he added, “Besides, I’ll heal in no time. The bullet went clean through.”
“Okay, enough with the chitchat,” Steven said. “We’re wasting precious time. Let’s do this.”
Lawrence held up his radio to Jem. “Keep us informed, and let us know if you need backup. I’ll let the others know what’s going on.”
Jem nodded in agreement and then made fast tracks through the opening in the floor, with Steven leading the way.
As they came to an opening at the end of the underground tunnel, it led them to a hidden entrance of a field.
Roman pointed to something lying on the ground and said, “Wait.” He picked up the handkerchief Abbey had left behind, and looked at Steven. “Do you recognize this?”
Steven reached for the delicate cloth in Roman’s grasp and brought it to his nose. “It’s Abbey’s,” he said, inhaling her scent. “She left it for us to find.”
“Smart girl,” Roman said with a smile on his face. “Decker must have taken her through here.” He looked to the wooded area, and then back to Steven and Jem. “We’re going to need a vehicle.”
Jem reached for the radio and said, “I’ll call for backup. It’s better to be prepared. When it comes to Cole Decker, there’s no telling what we’ll be facing.”
****
By sheer determination, Lena remained conscious and pushed aside the pain even though it felt like Cole had caved in her damn skull.
As he loomed over her with a gun to her head, she reacted quickly and lashed out with her leg, knocking the weapon from his grasp.
She struggled up, but he was on her, pinning her down with his weight.
“I like a woman that fights back,” he said, staring at her with satisfaction in his gaze. “It turns me on. When I get done having my fun with you, I’m going to cut you into little pieces and send them to the Breedline. They’ll think twice the next time they screw with me.”
Oh hell, no, Lena cursed to herself. She wasn’t going down like this. She would wait for the right moment to make her move. If her plan worked, she’d make damn sure Cole Decker never hurt another woman or child again.
As he leaned down to force his lips to hers, she used all her strength and head-butted him right in the face. He let out a cry of pain and crumpled to the floor. Lena pushed herself up and landed a kick that connected with his balls. If she had it her way, he wouldn’t have any left when it was all over.
While he howled in pain, she searched for the gun. She spotted it under a chair. As Lena scrambled over to it and bent down to grab for it, Cole was on her in a split second, attacking her from behind.
Abbey’s eyes slowly opened at the sounds of struggling nearby as she lay motionless on the floor. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Through blurred vision, she caught sight of Lena wrestling on the floor with Cole Decker. He outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds. As anger surged through her body, Abbey felt the change within her. And it was instantaneous.
Her fair skin darkened, turning a mottled shade of dark brown. A mane of coarse black fur sprouted from her scalp and spread to her shoulders, then across her body and limbs, which themselves lengthened and grew larger within seconds. Her undergarments split at the seams as she assumed the proportions of a giant. Abbey’s fists curled into enormous wolfish paws with nails that jutted from the tips the size of daggers.
The blood of Abbey’s ancestors pulsed through her veins as her flesh and bone underwent a grotesque transformation. A canine muzzle protruded from her face, and tufted ears tapered atop her head to a point. Her black leathery nostrils flared above a jaw full of sharp incisors.
Abbey stretched her shaggy limbs, feeling the inhuman strength and power in them. She never felt so free . . . and so deadly.
Unbeknown of what was transpiring nearby, Lena and Cole rolled on the floor, but he used his strength as an advantage and elbowed her already injured jaw. After she’d been surrounded at Steele’s estate and forced here, Cole’s men had beat her nearly unconscious. There wasn’t a single part of Lena’s body that didn’t hurt.
Cole made a dive for the gun and Lena leaped after him, rolling over his body and kicking the gun away from his grasp. Then he grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her face down onto the floor, and then again and again, until Lena stopped struggling and fell still.
Complete silence followed by an unearthly sound of a predator’s growl, which made the back of Cole’s nape rise. He held his breath as he looked over his shoulder. What he saw made him fall back on his ass, cringing in fear. Cole couldn’t believe his eyes.
Abbey’s she-wolf bared her fangs and crouched defensively in front of Cole.
“P-please . . . don’t kill me,” he babbled, begging for his pathetic life.
The she-wolf narrowed her coal black eyes, staring at him with a murderous glare. Then the creature leaned in, getting face-to-face with Cole, and smiled. Her wolfish mouth was full of razor-sharp teeth.
Before he could blink an eye, the deadly creature tore at his throat. He was in a state of shock, and his terror numbed the pain as he watched his life’s blood spurt in jets. Cole’s last pleas for mercy turned into a gurgling hiss of air.
As Abbey’s Lupa surveyed her surroundings, her attention focused on a woman nearby. On the floor beneath a pool of blood, Lena’s body lay still. She looked from Lena to Cole’s dead body, and then back to Lena. The she-wolf looked puzzled for a moment, then her eyes softened.
The sound of a low whimper broke the stillness of the room. Moving next to Lena, the two-footed creature peered helplessly down at her. She dropped to her hands and knees and gently grasped ahold of Lena’s arm. A tear struck Lena’s cheek as she rolled her over.
Lena moaned and slowly opened her eyes. When she looked up, she saw the creature’s luminous eyes glistening. Its tears glowed as they rolled down the thickness of its hairy face. And then, Lena started to cry, for she felt the she-wolf’s grief in her heart and added it to her own.
Lena formed a half-smile over her bloody and bruised face. She paused only for a moment before she reached up to touch the she-wolf’s muzzle. Lena’s hand caressed its dark bristled cheek and whispered, “Thank you, Abbey.”
Abbey’s she-wolf kept at her side, unable to take her worried eyes from Lena. As she looked at Lena, so much at peace, her thick, furry hide began to shrink and disappear as if her skin was miraculously willing it back inside her body. Lena blinked through tears that made her vision all shimmery, and watched the creature’s slow transformation right before her eyes until Abbey’s human features came into focus.
With her eyes trained on Lena, Abbey inhaled a deep breath as if she’d been holding it for an extended time.
“Lena,” she gasped. “Are you okay?”
Before she could get any words out, a loud crack like the sound of lightning came from outside. Abbey looked over her shoulder just as the door burst open and several heavy footsteps pounded across the floor. Shit! In an effort to cover her naked body, Abbey crossed her arms over her chest.
“Abbey! Abbey! Where are you?” Steven roared.
She sagged in relief, her strength gone. It was Steven. He was here. They were safe, and she knew nothing else could hurt her.
Suddenly, Justice was over Lena, his eyes so intense and full of panic when he saw her lying in her own pool of blood. And her face was—
He fell to his knees. “Oh my god, baby.” His voice trembled. It seemed that’s all he could say as he gently gathered her in his arms, his heart beating like a drum against her broken body.
“I’m okay. Abbey saved me,” she managed to whisper. “You’re getting blood . . . all over you.”
“I don’t give a damn,” he said fiercely as he buried his face in the crevice of her neck. “You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.” He looked at her, puzzled. “Honey, why didn’t you shift? You could have taken out Decker and all his men with your Breedline wolf.”
“They threatened me,” she rasped out. “Their weapons were loaded with silver.”
A second later, Steven came into view and saw Abbey. She was on the floor next to Lena, and she was . . . naked.
“Abbey!” he called out. Steven rushed over with Roman on his heels, and immediately dropped to the floor next to her. Roman shrugged out of his shirt and handed it to Steven. After he slipped it over Abbey’s head, she found herself carefully enfolded in a strong pair of arms.
She buried her face in Steven’s chest as he rocked her back and forth. “I’ve got you,” he whispered close to her ear. His voice sounded like he had tears. “It’s over, sweetheart.”
“Our baby,” she whispered, unable to hold it in any longer. “We’re going to have a baby.”
Slowly, he pulled back with a look of awe on his face. For a moment, he went completely silent. There was a wealth of emotion burning in those green eyes. “Did you say . . . baby?”
Abbey grinned and nodded.
Steven embraced her again and held on so tightly that she couldn’t breathe. His entire body trembled against hers, and his breaths tore raggedly from his chest.
“I love you, Abigail,” he choked out. “God, I love you so much.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, love welling from deep within her as she took in the sincerity of his words. “I love you too.”
He straightened and looked her in the eyes. There was concern as well as elation in his stare. He smoothed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re going to have to take it easy,” Steven said. “I don’t want anything to happen to you or our baby.”
She reached up and caressed his cheek with her hand. “I’m scared out of my mind, but I’m also so happy.”
He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I’m scared too. But we’ll be just fine, sweetheart. I promise.”
Lawrence and Jem came over and stood above them, both worried if Abbey and Lena were all right.
Roman cleared his throat. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on your conversation, but did I hear you two just say you’re . . . pregnant?” he asked hesitantly.
Abbey sighed. “Yes, we are.”
Both Lawrence and Jem’s expressions eased, and they lit up with smiles.
“Congratulations,” Roman finally said. His smile was gentle, and there was a wealth of emotion in his eyes. “You’re a brave young lady, Abbey. I’m proud of you.”
“Damn straight,” Justice said in a gruff voice as he turned toward Abbey. “Thanks for saving my girl. And congratulations, little mama,” he tacked on.
“Thank you,” Abbey said with a light giggle.
Lawrence smiled so broadly, his white teeth flashed against his dark skin. “That’s wonderful news. Congratulations to the both of you.”
“Congratulations, you two.” Jem chuckled a little. “It’s about time we had some good news.”
Steven nodded, beaming the entire time. “Thanks, guys.”
Lena reached over to squeeze Abbey’s hand. “Oh Abbey,” she said in a weak voice. “I’m so happy for you. And I have to say . . . for five-foot-two, you’ve got lady balls of steel.”
“So says the woman who takes on opponents the size of a double-decker bus,” Abbey replied.
“Yeah, you both kicked ass,” Jace chimed in as he joined the group by Steven’s side. Wearing a white suit, he extended his fist to Steven and cocked a brow. “Way to go, buddy.”
Steven grinned and bumped knuckles with Jace.
Jem shot him a look. “What in the hell are you wearing?”
“I helped myself to Steele’s closet,” Jace said with a cocky grin.
“Why?”
“When you left, that asshole shot me in the chest,” Jace grumbled. “To make a long story short . . . I turned. Alexander calmed the Beast. And then I shifted back.” He shrugged his shoulders. “So I couldn’t just walk around naked.”
“Wait.” Jem’s eyes widened. “Did you say Alexander calmed your Beast?”
Jace nodded. “Steele is one lucky bastard. If it weren’t for Alexander, he would have been its next meal.”
Jem shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Lawrence knelt down beside Lena and cut in the conversation. “We need to get you and Abbey back to the Covenant and checked out. I know you’ll heal, but I’m not going to let up until you’re both given a clean bill of health.”
“Tim and the others have Steele in their custody,” Jace said to Steven. “He made a deal to give us details on Dr. Autenburg’s research and anyone who’s still involved in an arrangement for a safe haven for Natasha.”
“She’s innocent in all this,” Steven prompted. “I’ll vouch for her. Natasha doesn’t have anything to do with Valkin Steele’s corrupt behavior.”
“Let’s get them out of here,” Jem stressed. “I just sent Tim a text letting him know that everyone’s all right. He wants us to meet at Steele’s estate so we can get back to the Covenant. He said he got a message from Tessa. Apparently, there’s been another attack, and this time Helen and Anna were there to witness it.”
“Are they all right?’ Steven said. His voice was edged with concern.
“They’re fine. And that’s not all,” Jem continued. “We’ve got to deal with those two human detectives who are investigating all the murders in the city. Tessa said she got a call from Nathan Gage. The attack happened at one of his bars. He also said Detective Sanchez is his uncle . . . and he’s half-Breedline, but doesn’t have a clue.”
“So what is Tim going to do?” Roman asked.
“He’s going to bring the detectives into the Covenant.”
“Are you serious?” Jace interjected. “So he’s just going to let them know about us?”
“Jace, we don’t have a choice,” Jem said. “They’ve already seen too much. They witnessed Yelena’s abduction. Maybe they can help us locate her. Besides, Tim is going to turn Steele and whatever is left of his human guards into their custody. They’re helping the feds investigate all the human sex trafficking, so it’s best to let them deal with it.”
“What does Tessa say about all this?” Jace asked.
“She’s going to have Zeke Rizzo bring the detectives to the Covenant since he’s already dealt with them.” Jem let out a deep breath. “It looks like we’ve got our hands full this time.”
Shit, Jace thought. His brow creased with worry and his mind went straight to Tessa and the boys. And then he said, “So why the hell are we just standing around? Let’s get our asses moving.”
To be continued . . .
NOTE: This is not part of the chapter. A reference for terms and cast of characters, especially for new readers:
BREEDLINE - A species of humans that have the ability to change from human form into a wolf. They are not like the old legend of the Lycanthropy myth. Breedline species can shift into their wolf at will. The moon has no power over them. They do not pass their ability to other humans with a bite or scratch like the Lycanthropy myth.
The Breedline gene is passed down to offspring that are born identical twins. Although they live among humans, their species must be kept secret.
In wolf form, they have super-strength, speed, and heightened senses. Compared to humans, Breedlines have tremendous advantages when it comes to health. Their bodies heal fast and are not subject to illnesses or diseases. The only thing that slows their healing process is silver. It is their kryptonite. Besides old age, a silver bullet to the brain is the only thing deadly to the species.
All males change into their wolf at the age of eighteen. Females do not go through the change until they make love to their Breedline bonded mate.
BREEDLINE TWINS - Identical twins that are born from either one or both parents of the Breedline species. They have a strong, unbreakable bond from birth, are born with telepathic abilities, and have the power to sense the other's emotions or injuries. In some cases, the bond between twins is so strong that if one dies, the other twin may pass on, especially if they don't have a mate.
BREEDLINE BONDING - The male Breedline spends their life in search of their bonded mate. When the male comes in contact with her, he instantly feels a simultaneous, desirable attraction and she becomes the most important thing in his life. He is there to love, protect, and cherish her until death. Once they are mated, they bond for life. It is possible for them to have more than one mate in their lifespan.
BELOVED - A word used by a Breedline to express the bond to their mate.
DOUBLE BONDED - In some cases, male Breedline twins bond with the same female but one will carry a stronger bond. Usually one of them must sacrifice for the other twin.
BREEDLINE COVENANT - The Breedline species must live within the boundaries of a Covenant, which is only formed with their species. The Covenant is governed and ruled by a head council. The council keeps their laws in order and oversees the species population.
THE BREEDLINE QUEEN - Over centuries, the Breedline Covenant is ruled by a true queen. If there is no queen living, the Covenants are governed by an appointed head council until another one is born. A Breedline queen is born once every one hundred years. Her massive stature, black fur, and red eyes are the queen's trademarks. Her alpha wolf has twice the strength, speed, and size of any Breedline. The queen is expected to rule over all the Breedline Covenants where she will be respected and obeyed by all Breedline. This is their absolute True Law.
THE QUEEN'S RING - This ring has been passed down to all Breedline queens for generations. When the new queen places the ring on, it instantly shifts in size to fit her finger.
TRUE LAW - All Breedline Covenants have an ancient book of laws. If either sex disobeys the Breedline laws, they can be shunned, or no longer protected by their Covenant. If a Breedline takes another life out of revenge, or evil - other than protecting their life, and the life of another - they will never have the ability to shift back into human form and cast out as a rogue wolf.
ROGUE WOLF - A Breedline shunned by their Covenant for taking another life out of revenge or evil and forced to live as a wolf until death without the ability to change into human form again. Some rogue wolves form into packs, which can be dangerous for other Breedline species.
RED (BLOOD) MOON - When the full moon passes through the amber shadow of the earth, producing a midnight eclipse visible across North America. So begins a lunar eclipse tetrad, a series of four consecutive total eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals. This incredible light beams into the heart of earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the moon into a great red orb. During this time, all Breedline species that are mated have a strong desire to create an offspring. This is also a time when Breedline females are more fertile for the conception of twins.
CHIANG-SHIH DEMON (Kiang shi, a.k.a. Ramael Arminius) - An ancient demon that inhabits the body of a Breedline fetus before it's born or during a Breedline's death. It continues to take the soul over the natural lifespan of the child, or the deceased Breedline. When the demon possesses a fetus, it breaks the bonding and telepathic abilities of their twin when they are born. If the demon possesses a deceased Breedline's body, it must do so before the soul passes on. If the soul is not intact, the body will soon die.
In most cases, the Chiang-Shih demon will take the life of the other twin, even before their birth. The twin that is born with the demon will bring only evil to whomever they encounter. Their sole purpose is to gain full control of another soul and seek world domination.
There are two ways the demon is cast from the soul it possesses: by its first-born son, and the Angel of Mercy, Zadkiel. The Beast is the only one who can kill a Chiang-Shih demon.
THE BEAST - He is the second born son of the Chiang-Shih demon. When provoked into a rage, he will shift into his Beast instead of his Breedline wolf. The Beast is an enormous, dangerous two-footed creature that has wolf like features. One bite has enough venom to kill the Chiang-Shih demon and leave the soul of the person the demon possessed unharmed.
SHADOW WALKER (a.k.a. Shadow Figure, or Black Mass) - The perception of a patch of shadow as a living, humanoid figure, particularly interpreted by the Breedline as the presence of a malevolent entity. When a Breedline species dies and does not pass on to the other side, they are left to roam the earth as a shadow of themselves - a ghost. They will not pass on until they have settled unfinished business before their death.
ZADKIEL (Tzadqiel, a.k.a. 'Righteousness of God') - The archangel of freedom, benevolence, and mercy, and the patron angel of all who forgives. Breedline species tradition considers him to be the Angel of Mercy.
SUCCUBUS (a.k.a. CREEPERS) - Creatures that search for and feeds off the blood of the Breedline species. Creepers are skilled at extreme sexual pleasure, and the ecstasy they create is exceedingly intense and highly addictive. They cast off a scent that hypnotizes Breedlines into overwhelming sexual urges. They use their human-like bodies and beautiful features to control and influence their thoughts.
They have the ability to reach into the Breedline's mind during sleep, casting a spell of dreams about sexual contact or intercourse. One much less obvious manifestation of Creepers is nightmares - realistic, graphic, terrifying nightmares that rob the Breedline of sleep. Over a period, it can lead to severe fatigue and depression, leaving them emotionally and spiritually drained. Death can occur if they ultimately take over the Breedline's body.
HALF-BREED - This species is born with the genes from both Breedline and succubus. They can bond with either a full-blood Breedline or another half-breed. They cannot change into the Breedline wolf, but they do need blood from them to survive. With the power to hypnotize, most Breedlines have minimal respect and credence toward the half-breed species.
WICCA (or Wise One) - According to the Breedline species, a Wicca is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. A Wicca is also considered to be a demonic spirit. It is unclear to the Breedline if they act under the orders of the devil, or they are simply not understood and treated as outcasts. They can do white magic (good) or dark (evil).
KATAKO (a.k.a. Lucas or Dark Shadow) - He is the Chiang-Shih demon's offspring that is born both Breedline and Wiccan. After one year, the Katako develops into an adult with the mind of a child, without reaching full maturity. It has the power to appear translucent, or become completely invisible. Being born half-Breedline, it can shift into a wolf and transform, or mimic another creature with the power to instantly travel from one place to another. Their true purpose of creation is to bring forth the souls stuck in purgatory by using one drop of its blood. Tessa Fairchild - the Breedline queen - destroyed the Katako in battle using the deadly venom of her Breedline wolf.
GOLEMS (a.k.a. the Death Army) - Evil creatures created by dark Wiccans with the power of necromancy. By releasing the souls of demons stuck in purgatory, the Wicca can give them the ability to shape into a creature that is made from earth. These creatures have various qualities, such as mass strength, enormous stature, and the power to consume their victims by saturating them with mud.
GUARDIANS (a.k.a. Spirits of the Forest) - They originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline, from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wicca. They can stay invisible with the power to move through any barrier and over any distance instantly.
THERIOMORPH - This species is born with the genes of a Breedline, but cannot change into a Breedline wolf. They shape shift into an enormous black panther. They possess powers of mind manipulation and random visions of the future. They must use the drug dopamine to suppress their urges. Their eye color shifts into a bright lavender when their Theriomorph nature takes over. The Breedline see them as a threat to their species.
ADALWOLF - A species that has the power to shift from their human form into a beautiful creature, twice the size, resembling half man and half wolf. Born with super-strength, they can move from one place to another in supernatural speed. Their eyes take on the appearance of two shimmering diamonds. With the power to regenerate their own cells, an Adalwolf will stop aging at thirty. The moon has no power over them. An Adalwolf is immune to silver. They can bond with any species.
LUPA - The ancestors descended from the old legend of the lycanthrope, except the moon has no power over them and it cannot be passed on to others like a virus. It is passed on through genetics to the female offspring, known as a she-wolf. This type of creature shape-shifts into a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, and is considered dangerous... cursed.
Steven Pasquale (a.k.a. Steven Craven) - He inherited the genes of a Breedline and an Adalwolf. He was taken from his mother and forced to endure a life of endless, painful experiments by two German physicians, Dr. Hans Autenburg and Dr. Hubert Crane. Without the knowledge of his real family, Steven finally manages to escape his captors, locating his biological parents and his fraternal twin, Tessa Fairchild.
Abbey (a.k.a. Abigail Winthrop) - She inherited the genetics of a Lupa from her mother, who died giving birth. Captured by Dr. Hans Autenburg - a German physician - she spent most of her life forced to endure experiments until she finally managed to escape. With no place to go, Abbey is determined to finally reunite with her beloved Steven after they were separated years ago.
Valkin Steele - He is a wealthy business man who deals with drugs, weapons trade, and underage sex trafficking. He also funded a group of unethical scientists that kidnapped people with special gifts and rarities for research. He is searching for an Adalwolf with the ability to heal his beloved Natasha who is dying of cancer.
Cole Decker - He is known as the best tracker money could buy, hired by Valkin Steele to kidnap Steven Craven for his healing powers. He is also wanted by the FBI for his crimes as a well-known sex offender and sex trafficking young girls from all over the world.
Jace Chamberlain (a.k.a. the Beast) - He is a Breedline species and later discovers his birth father - who is possessed by the Chiang-Shih demon - murdered his mother when he and his twin brother were four years old. Raised by their new foster family and their Uncle Jacks, he later discovers he was born with a curse of the Beast. With the help of his twin brother, Jem, and his bonded mate, Tessa, they help him cope with his rage to keep the Beast at bay. He's an IT engineer and is the lead singer and plays acoustic guitar in the band Chaos.
Jem Chamberlain (a.k.a. the Chosen Son) - He is a Breedline species and Jace's twin brother. He carries the gene of the Chiang-Shih demon that gives him the power to create a portal and a force of electric energy used as a weapon and other powers he discovers later. His bonded mate is Mia Blackwood. He's an IT engineer and the drummer in the band Chaos.
Tessa Fairchild - She was born into the human world and later discovers she's a Breedline. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her aunt and uncle without the knowledge of being born a twin. After she meets Jace, they become bonded mates. During her first change into her Breedline wolf, she became the new Breedline queen. She is an inspiring artist.
Alexander Crest - He is a Breedline who was possessed by the Chiang-Shih demon before birth. Murdering his family, Alexander kidnapped his twin's bonded mate, Katlyn Gray. Keeping her prisoner against her will, she becomes pregnant with his twins. As she managed to escape before she gave birth, Alexander eventually kills her in a fit of rage. Returning for his chosen son twenty-two years later, he is determined to convince him to join his army. After the battle between the Breedline, the demon is finally cast out of Alexander, setting his soul free. For the demon's past crimes, Alexander is pardoned and must reside in the Breedline Covenant. Praying for forgiveness, he reunites with his twin sons, Jace and Jem. As he fights to keep his new family safe, romance blossoms with Dr. Helen Carrington.
Tim Ross - He is a Breedline species and head council of the California Covenant. Angel, his bonded mate - who is a half-breed - has Tim's daughter they named Natalie, after her sister.
Drakon Hexus - He is a Breedline species. At a young age, his first bonded mate was killed by her father. In a rage, he hunts and kills her murderer, breaking the Breedline's True Law. Shunned by his Covenant and forced to live as a rogue wolf, he's promised his humanity back if he joins the Chiang-Shih demon's army. After Drakon discovers the demon's plans to destroy all humans and half-breeds, he betrays him and joins forces with the Breedline. As time passes, he bonds with another mate, Cassie Chamberlain.
Kyle Jones - He is a Breedline species that resides in the California Covenant. Having lost his family to a house fire at childhood, his Uncle Tim Ross has raised him since. Celina Baldolf is his bonded mate. He's a mechanic and also Jace and Jem's close friend, and plays bass in the rock band Chaos.
Casey Barton - He was born of the Breedline species, and lives in the California Covenant. He was adopted by Tim Ross's brother and carries a deep dark secret, afraid to reveal to the Breedline he was born a Theriomorph. He is a clothing model and plays backup bass and keyboards in the band Chaos.
Roman Kincaid - He is an Adalwolf trained in military tactics, hired as a special breed of warriors from Brazil. Hired as a bodyguard for Valkin Steele - a billionaire funding a group of unethical scientists research - he later learns of Steele's underground sex-trafficking and illegal drug and weapons trade, and informs the Breedline Covenant. He also forms a team of Breedline soldiers who work for a private Special Ops group contracted by the military for missions that no one else can or will do to help put an end to Valkin Steele's corrupt organization.
Lawrence Colbert - A Breedline council member of the New Jersey Covenant, trained in military tactics and as a medic who worked alongside Roman Kincaid, the Special Ops Team, and the Breedline Covenant to help take down Valkin Steele.
Lena - She is a Breedline, highly trained in survival skills, martial arts, and anything dealing with weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and hired by Roman Kincaid to help take down Valkin Steele. She oddly resembles the character Xena the Warrior Princess from the 80's television series. She is also Bull's little sister and is bonded to Justice.
Bull (a.k.a. Benjamin Allen Calvero ) - He is a Breedline, highly trained and an expert in a variety of military tactics who is part of Roman Kincaid's team. He gets his nickname because of his size.
Justice - He is a Breedline, highly trained in military tactics, an expert with explosives, hand-to-hand combat, sniper training, and a pilot, who is part of Roman Kincaid's team.
Dr. Helen Carrington - She is a Breedline species and a physician at the California Bates Hospital for both Breedlines and humans. Later, she discovers Jace and Jem carry a gene, possibly used for a cure to stop the aging process in her species. After Alexander's demon is banished, he is pardoned for all past crimes and welcomed into the Breedline Covenant. When he meets Helen, they become bonded mates.
Nathan Gage (a.k.a. Nate) - He is a Breedline and the owner of several upscale night clubs in the largest metropolitan areas of Northern California.
Anna Saeni - She was born with the genetics of a Breedline from her father's side - who died when Anna was a baby - but she does not shift into a wolf. Her human mother, Eliza, raised Sebastian Crow as her own after his biological mother, Sybil and his step-father, William Montgomery, detested him due to Sybil's infidelity. William sent Sebastian's twin brother Thomas to be raised in England with Sybil's sister, and forced his maid Eliza to raise Sebastian. While Anna grew up, she helped her mother raise Sebastian, loving him as a brother. At age fourteen, William molested Anna. After her mother found out, she confronted William and Sybil, but so afraid to lose her family, and her wealthy status, Sybil killed Eliza in cold blood. William sent Anna to live in a women's convent, and forced Sebastian to live in a boarding school for troubled boys for all Breedline.
Zeke Rizzo - He is a Breedline, born with a curse of a sin-eater, and the owner of the Cat Club. When coming in physical contact with another person, he has the power to see inside their past, experiencing their worst memory. A simple handshake seems like nothing to an ordinary person, but to Zeke, it is unbearable. Without the ability to stop it, he is also the worst case of karma. If anyone angers him, an unfortunate accident would fall upon them.
Yelena Smirnov - A full-blooded succubus from Russia. She is in charge of security at the Cat Club. She is bonded to Apollyon, who was taken by the battle angels along with his fraternal twin sisters, Callisto, and Electra.
Breedline Special Ops Team - Colonel Brian Deshazo (a.k.a. Colonel D), Major Paul Wyckoff, (a.k.a. Dark Wraith), Major Joshua Lawson (a.k.a. Kid), Master Sergeant Stephen Virgin (a.k.a. Gunny). They are hired by the Breedline Covenant to help put a stop to Valkin Steele and his corrupt organization.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. BREEDLINE - A species of humans that have the ability to change from human form into a wolf. They are not like the old legend of the Lycanthropy myth. Breedline species can shift into their wolf at will. The moon has no power over them. They do not pass their ability to other humans with a bite or scratch like the Lycanthropy myth.
The Breedline gene is passed down to offspring that are born identical twins. Although they live among humans, their species must be kept secret.
In wolf form, they have super-strength, speed, and heightened senses. Compared to humans, Breedlines have tremendous advantages when it comes to health. Their bodies heal fast and are not subject to illnesses or diseases. The only thing that slows their healing process is silver. It is their kryptonite. Besides old age, a silver bullet to the brain is the only thing deadly to the species.
All males change into their wolf at the age of eighteen. Females do not go through the change until they make love to their Breedline bonded mate.
BREEDLINE TWINS - Identical twins that are born from either one or both parents of the Breedline species. They have a strong, unbreakable bond from birth, are born with telepathic abilities, and have the power to sense the other's emotions or injuries. In some cases, the bond between twins is so strong that if one dies, the other twin may pass on, especially if they don't have a mate.
BREEDLINE BONDING - The male Breedline spends their life in search of their bonded mate. When the male comes in contact with her, he instantly feels a simultaneous, desirable attraction and she becomes the most important thing in his life. He is there to love, protect, and cherish her until death. Once they are mated, they bond for life. It is possible for them to have more than one mate in their lifespan.
BELOVED - A word used by a Breedline to express the bond to their mate.
DOUBLE BONDED - In some cases, male Breedline twins bond with the same female but one will carry a stronger bond. Usually one of them must sacrifice for the other twin.
BREEDLINE COVENANT - The Breedline species must live within the boundaries of a Covenant, which is only formed with their species. The Covenant is governed and ruled by a head council. The council keeps their laws in order and oversees the species population.
THE BREEDLINE QUEEN - Over centuries, the Breedline Covenant is ruled by a true queen. If there is no queen living, the Covenants are governed by an appointed head council until another one is born. A Breedline queen is born once every one hundred years. Her massive stature, black fur, and red eyes are the queen's trademarks. Her alpha wolf has twice the strength, speed, and size of any Breedline. The queen is expected to rule over all the Breedline Covenants where she will be respected and obeyed by all Breedline. This is their absolute True Law.
THE QUEEN'S RING - This ring has been passed down to all Breedline queens for generations. When the new queen places the ring on, it instantly shifts in size to fit her finger.
TRUE LAW - All Breedline Covenants have an ancient book of laws. If either sex disobeys the Breedline laws, they can be shunned, or no longer protected by their Covenant. If a Breedline takes another life out of revenge, or evil - other than protecting their life, and the life of another - they will never have the ability to shift back into human form and cast out as a rogue wolf.
ROGUE WOLF - A Breedline shunned by their Covenant for taking another life out of revenge or evil and forced to live as a wolf until death without the ability to change into human form again. Some rogue wolves form into packs, which can be dangerous for other Breedline species.
RED (BLOOD) MOON - When the full moon passes through the amber shadow of the earth, producing a midnight eclipse visible across North America. So begins a lunar eclipse tetrad, a series of four consecutive total eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals. This incredible light beams into the heart of earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the moon into a great red orb. During this time, all Breedline species that are mated have a strong desire to create an offspring. This is also a time when Breedline females are more fertile for the conception of twins.
CHIANG-SHIH DEMON (Kiang shi, a.k.a. Ramael Arminius) - An ancient demon that inhabits the body of a Breedline fetus before it's born or during a Breedline's death. It continues to take the soul over the natural lifespan of the child, or the deceased Breedline. When the demon possesses a fetus, it breaks the bonding and telepathic abilities of their twin when they are born. If the demon possesses a deceased Breedline's body, it must do so before the soul passes on. If the soul is not intact, the body will soon die.
In most cases, the Chiang-Shih demon will take the life of the other twin, even before their birth. The twin that is born with the demon will bring only evil to whomever they encounter. Their sole purpose is to gain full control of another soul and seek world domination.
There are two ways the demon is cast from the soul it possesses: by its first-born son, and the Angel of Mercy, Zadkiel. The Beast is the only one who can kill a Chiang-Shih demon.
THE BEAST - He is the second born son of the Chiang-Shih demon. When provoked into a rage, he will shift into his Beast instead of his Breedline wolf. The Beast is an enormous, dangerous two-footed creature that has wolf like features. One bite has enough venom to kill the Chiang-Shih demon and leave the soul of the person the demon possessed unharmed.
SHADOW WALKER (a.k.a. Shadow Figure, or Black Mass) - The perception of a patch of shadow as a living, humanoid figure, particularly interpreted by the Breedline as the presence of a malevolent entity. When a Breedline species dies and does not pass on to the other side, they are left to roam the earth as a shadow of themselves - a ghost. They will not pass on until they have settled unfinished business before their death.
ZADKIEL (Tzadqiel, a.k.a. 'Righteousness of God') - The archangel of freedom, benevolence, and mercy, and the patron angel of all who forgives. Breedline species tradition considers him to be the Angel of Mercy.
SUCCUBUS (a.k.a. CREEPERS) - Creatures that search for and feeds off the blood of the Breedline species. Creepers are skilled at extreme sexual pleasure, and the ecstasy they create is exceedingly intense and highly addictive. They cast off a scent that hypnotizes Breedlines into overwhelming sexual urges. They use their human-like bodies and beautiful features to control and influence their thoughts.
They have the ability to reach into the Breedline's mind during sleep, casting a spell of dreams about sexual contact or intercourse. One much less obvious manifestation of Creepers is nightmares - realistic, graphic, terrifying nightmares that rob the Breedline of sleep. Over a period, it can lead to severe fatigue and depression, leaving them emotionally and spiritually drained. Death can occur if they ultimately take over the Breedline's body.
HALF-BREED - This species is born with the genes from both Breedline and succubus. They can bond with either a full-blood Breedline or another half-breed. They cannot change into the Breedline wolf, but they do need blood from them to survive. With the power to hypnotize, most Breedlines have minimal respect and credence toward the half-breed species.
WICCA (or Wise One) - According to the Breedline species, a Wicca is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. A Wicca is also considered to be a demonic spirit. It is unclear to the Breedline if they act under the orders of the devil, or they are simply not understood and treated as outcasts. They can do white magic (good) or dark (evil).
KATAKO (a.k.a. Lucas or Dark Shadow) - He is the Chiang-Shih demon's offspring that is born both Breedline and Wiccan. After one year, the Katako develops into an adult with the mind of a child, without reaching full maturity. It has the power to appear translucent, or become completely invisible. Being born half-Breedline, it can shift into a wolf and transform, or mimic another creature with the power to instantly travel from one place to another. Their true purpose of creation is to bring forth the souls stuck in purgatory by using one drop of its blood. Tessa Fairchild - the Breedline queen - destroyed the Katako in battle using the deadly venom of her Breedline wolf.
GOLEMS (a.k.a. the Death Army) - Evil creatures created by dark Wiccans with the power of necromancy. By releasing the souls of demons stuck in purgatory, the Wicca can give them the ability to shape into a creature that is made from earth. These creatures have various qualities, such as mass strength, enormous stature, and the power to consume their victims by saturating them with mud.
GUARDIANS (a.k.a. Spirits of the Forest) - They originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline, from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wicca. They can stay invisible with the power to move through any barrier and over any distance instantly.
THERIOMORPH - This species is born with the genes of a Breedline, but cannot change into a Breedline wolf. They shape shift into an enormous black panther. They possess powers of mind manipulation and random visions of the future. They must use the drug dopamine to suppress their urges. Their eye color shifts into a bright lavender when their Theriomorph nature takes over. The Breedline see them as a threat to their species.
ADALWOLF - A species that has the power to shift from their human form into a beautiful creature, twice the size, resembling half man and half wolf. Born with super-strength, they can move from one place to another in supernatural speed. Their eyes take on the appearance of two shimmering diamonds. With the power to regenerate their own cells, an Adalwolf will stop aging at thirty. The moon has no power over them. An Adalwolf is immune to silver. They can bond with any species.
LUPA - The ancestors descended from the old legend of the lycanthrope, except the moon has no power over them and it cannot be passed on to others like a virus. It is passed on through genetics to the female offspring, known as a she-wolf. This type of creature shape-shifts into a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, and is considered dangerous... cursed.
Steven Pasquale (a.k.a. Steven Craven) - He inherited the genes of a Breedline and an Adalwolf. He was taken from his mother and forced to endure a life of endless, painful experiments by two German physicians, Dr. Hans Autenburg and Dr. Hubert Crane. Without the knowledge of his real family, Steven finally manages to escape his captors, locating his biological parents and his fraternal twin, Tessa Fairchild.
Abbey (a.k.a. Abigail Winthrop) - She inherited the genetics of a Lupa from her mother, who died giving birth. Captured by Dr. Hans Autenburg - a German physician - she spent most of her life forced to endure experiments until she finally managed to escape. With no place to go, Abbey is determined to finally reunite with her beloved Steven after they were separated years ago.
Valkin Steele - He is a wealthy business man who deals with drugs, weapons trade, and underage sex trafficking. He also funded a group of unethical scientists that kidnapped people with special gifts and rarities for research. He is searching for an Adalwolf with the ability to heal his beloved Natasha who is dying of cancer.
Cole Decker - He is known as the best tracker money could buy, hired by Valkin Steele to kidnap Steven Craven for his healing powers. He is also wanted by the FBI for his crimes as a well-known sex offender and sex trafficking young girls from all over the world.
Jace Chamberlain (a.k.a. the Beast) - He is a Breedline species and later discovers his birth father - who is possessed by the Chiang-Shih demon - murdered his mother when he and his twin brother were four years old. Raised by their new foster family and their Uncle Jacks, he later discovers he was born with a curse of the Beast. With the help of his twin brother, Jem, and his bonded mate, Tessa, they help him cope with his rage to keep the Beast at bay. He's an IT engineer and is the lead singer and plays acoustic guitar in the band Chaos.
Jem Chamberlain (a.k.a. the Chosen Son) - He is a Breedline species and Jace's twin brother. He carries the gene of the Chiang-Shih demon that gives him the power to create a portal and a force of electric energy used as a weapon and other powers he discovers later. His bonded mate is Mia Blackwood. He's an IT engineer and the drummer in the band Chaos.
Tessa Fairchild - She was born into the human world and later discovers she's a Breedline. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her aunt and uncle without the knowledge of being born a twin. After she meets Jace, they become bonded mates. During her first change into her Breedline wolf, she became the new Breedline queen. She is an inspiring artist.
Alexander Crest - He is a Breedline who was possessed by the Chiang-Shih demon before birth. Murdering his family, Alexander kidnapped his twin's bonded mate, Katlyn Gray. Keeping her prisoner against her will, she becomes pregnant with his twins. As she managed to escape before she gave birth, Alexander eventually kills her in a fit of rage. Returning for his chosen son twenty-two years later, he is determined to convince him to join his army. After the battle between the Breedline, the demon is finally cast out of Alexander, setting his soul free. For the demon's past crimes, Alexander is pardoned and must reside in the Breedline Covenant. Praying for forgiveness, he reunites with his twin sons, Jace and Jem. As he fights to keep his new family safe, romance blossoms with Dr. Helen Carrington.
Tim Ross - He is a Breedline species and head council of the California Covenant. Angel, his bonded mate - who is a half-breed - has Tim's daughter they named Natalie, after her sister.
Drakon Hexus - He is a Breedline species. At a young age, his first bonded mate was killed by her father. In a rage, he hunts and kills her murderer, breaking the Breedline's True Law. Shunned by his Covenant and forced to live as a rogue wolf, he's promised his humanity back if he joins the Chiang-Shih demon's army. After Drakon discovers the demon's plans to destroy all humans and half-breeds, he betrays him and joins forces with the Breedline. As time passes, he bonds with another mate, Cassie Chamberlain.
Kyle Jones - He is a Breedline species that resides in the California Covenant. Having lost his family to a house fire at childhood, his Uncle Tim Ross has raised him since. Celina Baldolf is his bonded mate. He's a mechanic and also Jace and Jem's close friend, and plays bass in the rock band Chaos.
Casey Barton - He was born of the Breedline species, and lives in the California Covenant. He was adopted by Tim Ross's brother and carries a deep dark secret, afraid to reveal to the Breedline he was born a Theriomorph. He is a clothing model and plays backup bass and keyboards in the band Chaos.
Roman Kincaid - He is an Adalwolf trained in military tactics, hired as a special breed of warriors from Brazil. Hired as a bodyguard for Valkin Steele - a billionaire funding a group of unethical scientists research - he later learns of Steele's underground sex-trafficking and illegal drug and weapons trade, and informs the Breedline Covenant. He also forms a team of Breedline soldiers who work for a private Special Ops group contracted by the military for missions that no one else can or will do to help put an end to Valkin Steele's corrupt organization.
Lawrence Colbert - A Breedline council member of the New Jersey Covenant, trained in military tactics and as a medic who worked alongside Roman Kincaid, the Special Ops Team, and the Breedline Covenant to help take down Valkin Steele.
Lena - She is a Breedline, highly trained in survival skills, martial arts, and anything dealing with weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and hired by Roman Kincaid to help take down Valkin Steele. She oddly resembles the character Xena the Warrior Princess from the 80's television series. She is also Bull's little sister and is bonded to Justice.
Bull (a.k.a. Benjamin Allen Calvero ) - He is a Breedline, highly trained and an expert in a variety of military tactics who is part of Roman Kincaid's team. He gets his nickname because of his size.
Justice - He is a Breedline, highly trained in military tactics, an expert with explosives, hand-to-hand combat, sniper training, and a pilot, who is part of Roman Kincaid's team.
Dr. Helen Carrington - She is a Breedline species and a physician at the California Bates Hospital for both Breedlines and humans. Later, she discovers Jace and Jem carry a gene, possibly used for a cure to stop the aging process in her species. After Alexander's demon is banished, he is pardoned for all past crimes and welcomed into the Breedline Covenant. When he meets Helen, they become bonded mates.
Nathan Gage (a.k.a. Nate) - He is a Breedline and the owner of several upscale night clubs in the largest metropolitan areas of Northern California.
Anna Saeni - She was born with the genetics of a Breedline from her father's side - who died when Anna was a baby - but she does not shift into a wolf. Her human mother, Eliza, raised Sebastian Crow as her own after his biological mother, Sybil and his step-father, William Montgomery, detested him due to Sybil's infidelity. William sent Sebastian's twin brother Thomas to be raised in England with Sybil's sister, and forced his maid Eliza to raise Sebastian. While Anna grew up, she helped her mother raise Sebastian, loving him as a brother. At age fourteen, William molested Anna. After her mother found out, she confronted William and Sybil, but so afraid to lose her family, and her wealthy status, Sybil killed Eliza in cold blood. William sent Anna to live in a women's convent, and forced Sebastian to live in a boarding school for troubled boys for all Breedline.
Zeke Rizzo - He is a Breedline, born with a curse of a sin-eater, and the owner of the Cat Club. When coming in physical contact with another person, he has the power to see inside their past, experiencing their worst memory. A simple handshake seems like nothing to an ordinary person, but to Zeke, it is unbearable. Without the ability to stop it, he is also the worst case of karma. If anyone angers him, an unfortunate accident would fall upon them.
Yelena Smirnov - A full-blooded succubus from Russia. She is in charge of security at the Cat Club. She is bonded to Apollyon, who was taken by the battle angels along with his fraternal twin sisters, Callisto, and Electra.
Breedline Special Ops Team - Colonel Brian Deshazo (a.k.a. Colonel D), Major Paul Wyckoff, (a.k.a. Dark Wraith), Major Joshua Lawson (a.k.a. Kid), Master Sergeant Stephen Virgin (a.k.a. Gunny). They are hired by the Breedline Covenant to help put a stop to Valkin Steele and his corrupt organization.
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