Slade (Team Greywolf 1)

“I thought you might like it,” Lev grinned.

“Come, we’ll talk in my office.”

No matter how wrong it was, Lev missed being away from Rachel. Even if she lay in the living room, steps away from the closed office door. “I’m sorry, again, my friend. My intention was to show my gratitude and not cause you distress.”

Becker gestured for him to sit and then poured them both a glass of brandy. “I take it you didn’t tell Commander Rylee you were making a surprise visit?”

He took the glass. “No. If she knew, she’d have more than a few words with me.”

“Only Rylee and Selene know about Rachel.”

“You have a brave daughter. It is not every day I meet a human who survived both Boko Haram terrorists and Ebola.”

Becker sighed. “And the scars of a father who abandoned her and her mother to join werewolf society.”

The ordeal of almost losing his only child had aged Becker. His hair and beard were now more white than gray. His face bore more wrinkles than last time Lev saw him. It was though he too had suffered from Ebola.

“I for one am grateful you saved my life. I owe you a life debt.” He lifted the glass. “To our health and to Rachel’s.”

Becker drained his. “Good news is her boss, no longer wants her stationed in West Africa. The militant, a man only known as Yusuf, wishes to behead her. We tried to keep all her contact information from the media. Besides the Navy Seals, no one but her co-workers, the hospital staff, and the girls who are hidden with their families know she survived.”

“You should have sent a werewolf team.”

“Our Navy Seal team did fine without werewolf involvement.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I didn’t know what was going on until after her rescue.”

“So this terrorist, Yusuf, where is he?”

“In hiding. He’s not the big fish, but he’s the one who means to murder Rachel.”

“How is her recovery coming?”

“Slow. I told Rylee I’d be back in another month, but it depends.”

“My bite can help speed up her recovery.”

“Damn it. She’s got Stallo’s blood. I just can’t let you, or any werewolf get addicted to her blood.”

“I have control.”

He snorted. “Like Dominic had with Mia?”

The werewolf enforcer had chosen Mia, a human as a mate, but in the end because she was Stallo’s descendant the pack allowed their union. “They are married and accepted.”

“Power to them, but not for my daughter. She must never know of your kind.”

“I understand.”

Becker relaxed. “Selene says you are completely back to normal.” He laughed. “That is, your normal. Super strength and speed.”

“Thanks to you, Dr. Becker.”

“Please, it’s Howard.”

“Very well, Howard.”

“Are you returning to Russia?”

“No. I will temporarily move in to LIA headquarters until I find my own place.”