“Cream, no sugar.”
“Just like me.” She returned with two mugs. “Let me know if you have any questions.”
Gaby flipped to the visuals of the behaviors. “I’m familiar with the postures, fur and tail positions.”
“We have similarities with wolf and dog behaviors, but our lycan behaviors are more refined and stricter, too human in some ways, but feral in other ways.”
“Who told you about my former job?”
“Rylee had some intel. The first night, while you rested, we had an all hands meeting about you and Steele.”
Gaby scratched her neck where she’d been pricked. “You mean after you tranquilized me.”
“It was for your own good.”
“In Las Vegas, Kane sensed a werewolf.”
Cricket frowned. “Who sensed a werewolf?”
Gaby rolled her eyes. “Steele.”
“That was Slade and me. Then you skipped out on us.”
“How did you know we were in Las Vegas?”
“Top secret.” She sat at her computer and turned it on. “Going to catch up on work.”
Gaby understood the “need to know” basis. “Got it.” She returned to reading. Soon, she was absorbed in their unusual beginning. Magic and a wizard named Stallo. Two hours later, she continued reading about their history, pack dynamics and status behavior. She shook her head. “Who knew you are born wolf first until bitten to become human?”
Cricket turned. “Only if we survive the change.”
“Sounds awful. I just read the transformation often takes eight hours or more of pure agony.”
The petite lycan snorted. “No one knows that better than I do.” She returned to her keyboard.
Gaby was curious, but didn’t want to pry. She returned to reading what felt like an epic fantasy of a deep secret society.
Cricket closed her laptop and went to the kitchen. “Time to eat.” She heated a pre-made meatloaf and set the table for dinner. “I ordered a meal ahead of time. I’m not much of a cook.”
On her third cup of coffee, Gaby had lost track of time. Already five thirty p.m. “When will I sign the contract?”
“I believe she scheduled you for the contract ritual tomorrow evening. Until then, you can’t leave your room, unless I accompany you.”
Gaby bit her lower lip. Why did signing papers sound freakin’ weird? “Ritual?”
“Blood ritual. Did I forget to mention the marks?”
Her skin chilled. “No, you never said anything about blood. All you said was contract signing. What do you mean marks?”
“It’s quick.”
“Can you elaborate?”
Cricket sighed as if it were no big deal. “After you sign the vow, three alpha witnesses mark you with a claw. A permanent scar, which lets all werewolves know you signed the contract. It means you were marked to keep silent. If any lycan witnesses you exposing our society, he or she can kill you outright. That is unless you belong to an alpha. In which case, they need his or her permission to execute you.”
“So my master can say no?” After escaping from one master, I’ve had enough of being someone’s dog. Although, Steele might make being my master kinky fun.
“Or do the deed himself or herself, which is normally the case.”