As she thumbed through, it seemed every detailed paragraph ended with I understand… and if I break this rule, death will be carried out blah, blah, blah. “You have to be kidding me.” Number five bothered her. Though she knew the consequences of revealing their secret to others, it didn’t seem fair. “How could you eliminate innocent people who accidently learn about your kind?”
“Mind control is our first choice to erase a person’s memory of meeting us, but if we feel our secret is threatened, we will not hold back. Don’t worry, most of the time no one believes them so we often let it go, or they are given a simple mind erase.”
“How many have you ki…eliminated?”
“Very few. Most executed you would consider criminals. A few decades ago, we unfortunately had to get rid of a reporter who refused to cooperate. Your father has never told anyone so we trust you won’t as well.”
“I have no desire to tell anyone.” Who would believe her without a shitload of evidence anyway? When they left the Himalayan cavern, Lev got rid of all signs of werewolves. He also said the rogue pack would retrieve their dead. No pack left kin behind. Perhaps to bury on their private island.
Rachel leafed through the contract. “Not even by accident. Such as being drunk or getting mad at you because of your strict rules.”
“Correct,” said Rylee.
“Is there a mind erase option?”
“Even if we trusted those memories could not be retrieved, you are in such danger I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Rachel bit her lower lip. “It says here I must live with a chosen pack or within 100 miles of a pack unless given written permission by the alpha.”
Selene nodded. “If you wish to go on a vacation or a business trip, you can, as long as your home base is near us. That’s how your father kept a home in Oregon. He had my…and Rylee’s permission, and in fact, was given an extended leave of absence to take care of you.”
Selene’s permission? She was not an alpha or the leader of the pack. Could Howard really be hers? A pet on a tight leash?
“A warden would be assigned to you for check in,” said Rylee.
“Sounds like a game warden.”
“A warden keeps tabs on lone wolves and marked human allies in his or her territory.”
Rachel signed each line. “Not that I want to be rude, but it might be best if I live around humans, but nearby.” Her goal for today was to see her father. Later, she would worry where to live. And if Lev would choose to join her. How far was their reach if she left? Apparently, far, since Lev found her on the other side of the globe.
“Once we stop the werewolves hunting you, that’s certainly an option. Until then, you will learn our ways with your handler and obey your alpha.”
Obey just doesn’t sit well with me. Yet, no one questioned Rylee’s orders, no matter what. Rachel finished the last signature and looked up. “Handler? A human or a werewolf?”
“Mia, a human like you, would be perfect. Unfortunately, Dominic her mate is not permitting her out of his sight.”
How does Mia feel about that? “Is that typical of women who became a lycan’s mate?”
Jesper took the contract and passed it to Trevor who looked over each signature before passing it to Selene.
Rylee snorted. “Not necessarily, but Mia shares your DNA. She also happens to be mated to the alpha enforcer and is pregnant.”
By a werewolf? “Lev mentioned such a hybrid would be born human.”
“Yes, but their child will have the ability to shift and never suffer the change.”
Rachel was curious to learn more about the change. The transformation seemed so far out from the realm of science and reason.
Selene handed the contract binder to Rylee. “Done.”
“Good. Take Rachel to see her father.”
Selene bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Once you have a visit, you’ll be taken to your quarters.”
Chapter 17