Click, click. I needed more oil, for sure. The gears were struggling. “So you guys are here to cover up the fact that my attacker wasn’t human?”
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Yes. We need to keep our existence a secret from the humans. And we need more help to do that, among other things.” She folded her fingers into her lap, much to Trix’s disappointment. “The council is also getting involved in other projects across the realms. Reducing the criminal element, and helping to get ecosystems better balanced, for instance.”
Oh, man. I groped for pertinent facts. “You need those like me for what, exactly?”
“The council is starting an academy,” she said. “Its purpose is to train teams that can assist with council matters. If you are really interested in helping people, this will be like the CAF on steroids. If you manage to endure the training, you’d be traveling the realms on council business.”
I couldn’t look away from her—I was that riveted. “Who is taking the training?”
She waved a graceful hand. “Our first recruits are a mixed lot, but mostly Direshifters.” Her lips twisted. “We eventually want to attract other Cryptids, but we still have to work the kinks out of the program.”
“Direshifters?” My voice squeaked.
“The one who attacked you was sick, barely able to hold on to his human half. The ones admitted to the program are healthy. Although I admit, the Dires tend to be an emotional lot. Many won’t make it through the training.”
Somehow, I wasn’t reassured. “But how can I compete with claws and teeth?”
She tweaked a brow. “You handled them just fine.”
It was true. I had. I’d even healed pretty damned quickly from the encounter.
The thought of going into such a program sounded exactly what I wanted for my future. Except, of course, I hadn’t expected to be doing it with a bunch of non-humans.
Cara regarded me with her piercing blue eyes. “I won’t lie to you, Anna. This would be a difficult thing for you to do. The training won’t be for wimps. It will be hard to get through, and your fellow trainees may provide challenges you won’t see coming. You also have skills that will require special tutoring. I won’t be upset if you decide it isn’t for you.”
Shifters and Cryptids. Not exactly the future I’d foreseen for myself. But my heart lifted. Like it would all be okay if I could do what I’d always wanted to do.
To help people. And suddenly, it all seemed so clear.
My eyes fell to the furry face staring up at me. “I’m not coming without my dog.”
Cara’s smile lit up the room.
“Of course,” she said.
5
Matt
I sipped my beer as I sat with Joe on the porch of his expansive pack home and waited for my ride.
We had our long legs resting on the rail, tilting back on aged chairs that might not be up to the task. The evening was warm, the birds singing their lustful challenges to their neighbors. Life, at the moment, was good.
Joe raised his bottle of artisan ale. “You like?”
“Yeah, mate.” It wasn’t a lie. Everything about my cousin’s life seemed so bloody perfect—from this old hotel turned into a pack hangout, to his alphas, Alex and Emily. They’d even managed to snag a deal with the Cryptid council, working with the local Sabres to enforce rules and protect their secrets.
If all went according to plan, I would soon be included in the larger scope of that role. But I would be part of a team, not a pack.
Not the same thing, but I hoped it would fill the hole inside me. A Dire without a pack was destined to a life of torment, and many loners went bonkers. And I was a gregarious guy—I loved being surrounded by people. But I told myself they didn’t have to be Dires. Having team members should keep me from that fate. Or so I hoped.
Joe’s thoughts must have been chasing along similar lines. “You know if you change your mind, Alex’s offer will stand.”
I reactivated my hair tufts with my fingers and gave them a shake for good measure. “You have a bonza pack, mate. You are bloody lucky, is what you are.”
“Yep.” Joe took a long pull of his beer and swallowed as a bright-blue Jeep pulled up.
I eyed it with a touch of trepidation—the smallish vehicle already looked pretty damned full. No sooner had it stopped than an enormous guy climbed out. He shut the front passenger door behind him and straightened with a hint of stiffness. Long journey?
