BirthStone (4 page)

This was something he wanted to know more
about. The speed and commitment in which the researchers and
factories worked to get the equipment perfected filled him with
pride.

“You are aware we are now able to detect the
bombs even when they are disguised in human tissue.”

Silas sat back in his chair. “Yes.”

“Two weeks ago we sent the diagram of the
detection device to the companies you specified to manufacture the
equipment parts. The first shipment of the assembled devices
arrived last night. I wanted to give you a brief
demonstration.”

Silas released a sigh of relief at the news.
Every wolf-owned company was at his disposal to manufacture parts
and additional security features so that all Alphas would have
access to these devices for public and private events. It had been
a major undertaking to neutralize the threat so quickly, but they
had come together as a national pack and completed the project in
record time.

“Yes, I would love to see it.”

The doctor pressed the intercom. “We’re
ready for the demonstration.” The picture on the screen changed to
one of the exterior security checkpoints. “Let’s start.”

A woman dressed in a lab coat and jeans
walked into the security device, a moment later it beeped and the
gate opened, allowing her access. The next woman who walked through
wore a lab coat as well and a short dress. When she walked in, the
side of the device blinked red on the outside. A gate closed behind
her and she was trapped between the two gates. The lights flashed
on the side of the device for several minutes.

“What’s going on?” Tyrese asked, leaning
forward in his seat.

Dr. Passen beamed. “We took it a step
further and incorporated a series of rays that lock onto the bomb
to shrink it so small it can pass safely through the individual’s
system as waste. I had my best team working on it and we’re super
excited to see it in action.”

Silas smiled. The doctor's eyes had lit up
to the point his wolf showed behind his lens. “I’m glad you were
able to add that component, it will make a safer situation all
around…what’s happening?” Silas pointed to the screen where the
woman was jumping up and down as though in pain.

“What’s going on?” Dr. Passen asked through
his microphone. Silas threw out his senses to the woman and
discovered the flesh covering the bomb was on fire and she was
trapped between the bars.

“
Open the gates,”
Silas demanded of
security through their link. The gates opened, the woman dropped
the box holding the explosive and ran out, brushing licks of flames
from her jacket. Security immediately secured the scorched package
and removed it from the area.

No one spoke until the bomb had been
replaced in a nearby metal container and locked away. “Seems like
you need a bit more work on those devices,” Tyrone said dryly

The doctor peeked at him over his shoulder.
“I’ll get a representative from the manufacturing company here.
Each of these were tested three or more times before they were
shipped. According to the paperwork I received, they all passed
inspection with no problems.”

“Is it possible the device was installed
wrong?” Tyrese asked, staring at the device on the screen.

Dr. Passen shrugged. “It’s possible. The
engineer from the factory came along and installed each one.” He
looked at Silas. “He was the same engineer you scanned and approved
a week ago when the other new pieces of security arrived.”

Silas had been ready to rip into the man if
someone had been allowed on the property he had not personally
scanned. “Good job on the identification of the bombs, which was a
critical part. Have your men check for errors and make the
corrections asap. I want these installed yesterday.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Silas gazed at the twins. “How soon do you
want to take that shot?” he asked Tyrone. There was so much work
that needed to be done, now was not the best time to lose both
men.

“As soon as possible. I’ve already discussed
it with my mate and we both understand there is some risks.”

Silas nodded with the understanding he would
need to hold some things off until Tyrese and Tyrone were available
again. He spoke to the doctor who stood near the computer. “Is
there someone available who can administer the shot now?”

“Yes, Sir. I will do it.”

“Okay, I’d appreciate if you take care of
it. Rese, I’m going to need you and Leon to work an assignment
later today once Rone stabilizes. We have a lot of information that
needs to be checked out. I want to find these assholes and put them
down.”

“Yes, Sir.” Tyrese nodded.

Silas watched the look that passed between
the twins. He knew Tyrone wanted to do more fieldwork and now that
he was out of running for the West Virginia Alpha slot, Silas would
use him more. “Rone, once the effects mellow, meet me in the gym. I
need to run you through your paces.”

Tyrone perked up. “Yes, Sir.”

Silas stood and straightened the crease in
his pants. “I’ll see the two of you later. Doc?”

Dr. Passen gazed up at him. “Sir?”

“Get that device working, pronto.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes, Sir. I’ve emailed
the technicians. They should begin testing within the hour. Do you
want to see a demo before they are installed throughout the
compound?”

“Yes. Security is too important to me for it
to half work. Send me a message after each one is tested. After
they pass that bar, I want another demonstration after each one is
installed, is that clear?”

“Yes, Sir. I understand.” He typed into the
keyboard while Silas stepped toward the door. He glanced at the
curtain and then back to the twins. “I hope this works, I’m going
to be very angry if it comes back to bite me in the ass. Make sure
it does not.” He stared at Tyrone.

“Yes, Sir. No matter what, I have to try. If
I never shift into a hybrid at least I will be amped up enough that
we can still spar and train.” And that was the root of it. The
twins needed to count on the other. Silas hoped it worked for all
of their sakes.

Chapter 3

Silas left the room. He didn’t travel far,
just to Asia's room. He typed in the code and then entered,
throwing out his signature energy so Asia would know it was him.
Once the door closed, he noticed she was on the floor on her knees.
Was she praying?

“Asia?”

“Yes, Patron?”

“Rise.”

Unassisted, she rose slowly. He took in her
appearance. She wore a sleeveless yellow tank top, leaving her arms
and neck visible. A twisted vine with thorns tattoo ran up her
right shoulder, disappearing beneath her shirt. Gold cotton
drawstring pants with small black diamonds printed on the pockets,
and black sandals completed her attire. He agreed with Dr. Passen’s
assessment. She appeared healthy if not vibrant. Toned honey-brown
skin stretched over a tall, statuesque frame. Long, thin braids
fell across her chest and down her back. A leather and metal
blindfold with a small locked clasp covered her eyes to block any
further transmissions. Silas refused to allow his enemy to see his
labs or anything else of his through the camera lens embedded
inside her eyes.

“How are you today?” Silas asked as he
crossed his arms and leaned against the cool metal door.

She tilted her head to the side before
answering. “Today is a good day. The headaches have abated with the
blindfold. There is still a deep throbbing in my mind which tells
me they know my location but can’t reach me. They’re attempting to
regain control of me.” She inhaled deep and then released her
breath slowly. “I am forever in your debt, Sir, for the freedom I
have experienced these past weeks. For the first time in years, my
sleep is uninterrupted from nightmares. Despite the darkness, I'm
seeing things clearly for the first time in years.”

Her comment peaked his interest. He watched
as she navigated the room and sat in the chair without mishap.
“Explain.”

She folded her hands and placed them in her
lap. With a thoughtful expression, she spoke. “I am part human,
part wolf, and now…part machine. My wolf hates the machine. She
tolerates the human side of me. Internally there was a constant
battle between them for supremacy. Since my capture, my wolf and
human sides have formed a partnership of sorts to get rid of my
mechanical parts.”

“That would be your arm, legs and eyes.”
Silas said, wondering if she realized just how important those
limbs were.

She nodded slowly. “I know. But I am
functioning well without the use of my eyes.”

“You’re locked in a controlled
environment.”

She chuckled dryly. “That’s not new, Sir.
I’ve been controlled for years, either through the camera lens that
are my eyes, or the fear they planted in my mind, along with the
endless surgeries I had. Every mission I performed, every person I
killed, every package I picked up and delivered, was controlled
from the moment I left until I returned. I was never alone, not in
here.” She tapped her head. “Never. There were, and still are to a
certain extent, devices which control me. So functioning without
the use of my eyes is a good thing.”

“You need your arm, and your legs, Asia.” He
sensed the frustration of her wolf, felt it snapping beneath the
surface despite her cool façade.

“Yes, I do.”

Neither of them spoke as wafts of
determination rolled from her. He suspected she wished to be rid of
the foreign objects no matter the cost. There had been cases where
a wolf would gnaw his leg to break free from traps, but this was
different. He would talk to Dr. Passen to see what could be done to
assist the feisty bitch. She had been a tremendous help to them,
and he didn’t want her to self-terminate over her metal limbs.

“I hate them, Sir. Sometimes it is so strong
I can taste it,” she said in a ragged whisper. “They turned me into
a monster. I will do anything to destroy them for this. I
volunteered my body for research to channel my hate into a
productive venue. I hope the doc finds something to turn the tides
of this war.”

“War?” Although he recognized he was under
attack, her use of that word surprised him.

“Yes, Sir. They declared war on you years
ago, you’re just now showing up on the battlefield.”

Turn the tides of this war? He stood and
braced his legs apart. “You think I’m losing?”

“No disrespect, Sir, but they have you on
the defensive. You’re just now learning about people like me with
merged forms who are difficult to destroy in battle. I’m not the
only one created, there are more like me.”

That did not surprise him. Her next comment
did.

“From what I gleaned, at first they used
full-bloods, but they couldn’t break through the pack mentality.
Too many died in the labs. Then they discovered half-breeds who
didn’t embrace their wolf as strongly, and that’s when their work
really got started.”

“How long ago?”

She shrugged. “I tried to keep track of
time, but they have planted so many memories in my mind I don’t
know what’s true. I do remember seeing signs that said ‘colored
only’ while on a mission. I remember sitting in a separate section
on the train heading for Washington D.C. I remember wondering why
things were so different outside. In the training facility, race
was never an issue. Everything, your ranking, your living quarters,
even your privileges, were based on how well you did your job.” She
shook her head. “It wasn’t ideal, but it was all I knew at the
time. Things were different…back then.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

During the few conversations they’d had
before, her thoughts had been chaotic, disjointed. This was the
first time she appeared relaxed enough to share her thoughts with
logical precision.

“A few years back, there were some changes.
The training became more intense. The focus shifted to my wolf. The
experiments went from enabling me to merge both sides smoothly to
causing tension between the two, to determine how much interference
my wolf would tolerate.”

“That’s probably when the split happened,”
Silas murmured, remembering the assassin’s cryptic words before
releasing Jasmine into the ravine.

“Sir?”

“A man attempted to kill my mate months ago.
He told me he had been approached by two groups. One wanted to kill
me and the other wanted to kill my mate. Is it possible that the
group began with the intent of strengthening half-breeds, to
prepare them to take over the wolf nation one day?”

She frowned. “It’s possible. But if so, that
group is no longer running the research. Those in charge now want
the power that comes with leading the wolves. I think they realize
they need you to a certain extent, at least for now. The only way
to do that is to invade your den, to take and then destroy your
mate and pups.”