Calopus laughed. “No such place. After you eluded us in New Orleans, and we finally found you in Nepal, I ordered my wolf brothers to mention a frozen island. In case Chernobyl Werewolf found you. As it is so happened, he did and killed my men. Soon, they will be scanning all satellite data for our phantom island.”
“Let me guess, you are taking me to The Island of Dr. Moreau, instead?” Calopus reminded her of the cruel scientist in H.G. Well’s novel, who created animal/human hybrids on a secluded island.
“No. We are taking you to wolf country. To a land we call Stallo Territory. An area the packs call oath breakers’ necropolis.”
“As in graveyard?”
“The wolf necropolis was once a place of dishonor where the bones of executed werewolves lay. Living werewolves avoid it as it is considered a place of evil.”
“Sounds like bad juju.” Regardless, Lev would enter hell to find her.
“Yes, dark, but powerful magic.”
He signaled for a man near the door and nodded.
Oh shit. The man took out a syringe and approached.
“You don’t need to sedate me. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
“Better you rest. All this stress is not good for you. We need you healthy.”
And eventually pregnant. How am I going to get away? The man leaned in and shot her in the neck as Calopus held her still with an iron grip.
Her vision blurred.
Chapter 23
Lev and Rylee arrived to a scene of chaos. Lev opened the hatch and leapt out before the helicopter touched ground. A rush of adrenaline encouraged blood lust. He flared his nostrils and stared. Men and women stood and stumbled around as if disoriented. His heart clenched Rachel!
Rylee went partial wolf and turned to Manny, the computer tech, who joined her at the helipad in front of the ranch house. “Report!” She signaled everyone to meet inside, while listening to Manny.
“They hacked into our system and turned off our anti-LRAD.”
“Get it turned on, now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The device to ward off high frequency sonic weapons was a device a Russian scientist friend had designed. Lev growled. “If they took Rachel, we only have the evening to find her.” They had to rescue her before the lunar eclipse.
Rylee met his eyes. “We will.” She shoved the door opened and shouted, “Scan the area for explosives.”
Howard rushed toward them. “They took Rachel.” He continued in an emotion choked voice, “I tried to find her…but…I…”
Lev’s heart pounded and his blood heated. Fur lined his limbs and he snapped at her ineffective father. He had not protected his daughter, but then again neither had the entire compound. “How long ago?”
“Thirty minutes. The entire pack was knocked out. I used the stairwell and rushed upside only to see the helicopter leaving.”
Rylee threw Lev a scolding look, placed her hand on Howard’s shoulder and assured him. “We’ll find her.”
Trevor stood at attention, avoiding eye contact with Lev. “We sent two helicopters to scout, but if they use the sonic weapon against our pilots, they’ll crash.”
Lev scanned the premises. Slade sat, holding Cricket.
Rylee’s gaze flinted toward Cricket. “Shit.” She dashed to her side, her maternal instinct appearing to the surface over her normally aloof manner. “Cricket, can you hear me?”
“Come on, hon. Wake up,” coaxed Slade.
Rylee raised her voice. “Cricket, wake up, that’s an order.”