He cocked his head and made eye contact. His fangs receded and he winked. “Yes, ma’am.”
The hatch opened and three armed betas dressed in black entered followed by Henrik who grinned at her, his fangs long. His missing right earlobe uncovered as if advertising Slade would pay for biting it off. “Ah, I’m so happy you are awake, my dear…please…what is your real name?”
She crossed her arms. “Cricket.” Ass-wipe.
He lifted a brow. “I’m alpha Henrik Ax. Known to lycan society as omega Henri Brown.” He laughed. “I do understand your pet-like name. Why bother naming a runt?”
Slade growled and she shook her head at him, signaling him to play it cool.
Henrik turned to Slade. “Actually, a runt who survived the change is of great interest to us.”
Cricket frowned. “And who is ‘us’?”
“My dear Cricket, you will soon find out.” Henrik unlocked her cage. “Please, do me the honor of being my guest.” He extended his arm.
Guest beats corpse. Leery of his intent, she hooked her arm around his.
Henrik leaned down and took a long inhale. “I see why you make an excellent Lycan agent. You smell almost human.”
And you smell like ass. She smirked. “So I’ve been told.”
He turned to his men. “Bring Prince Slade.”
The men bowed their heads and went to open his cage.
Henrik addressed Slade. “It would be a shame to have to break her pretty little neck.”
“I’ll do as you say, as long as she’s not harmed,” said Slade.
Cricket felt tempted to order Slade to kill them and run, but dying wasn’t a pleasant alternative. Anyway, how would she help the others escape Herr Earless Henrik? If Slade had his memory erased, she’d need to reach Team Greywolf.
They walked down the cargo plane’s ramp. Two black SUVs waited for them. She scanned the ice field landscape. Alpine glaciers and chilly air. Isolation. “Patagonia?”
“Why yes, my dear. Have you been here?”
“No, but Patagonia is on my bucket list.” She snarked. “Minus the company.”
He laughed. “Indeed.”
However, getting back to my territory is first on the new bucket list. With Team Greywolf.
The man she recognized as Pinky or Jack opened the door. “Nice to see you again, Cindy.” He winked. “I mean Cricket.”
She rolled her eyes and entered the backseat, followed by Henrik. After he shut the door, she looked out the back window. Slade entered the second vehicle without a hitch.
They drove on an unpaved road until they came to the side of a towering mountain. At least she thought it was the side of a mountain until the natural-looking granite wall opened. It reminded her of the entrance to Batman’s cave.
The lit underground area had a paved road big enough for an 18-wheeler. Hell of a bunker. They parked in front of a glass building that looked like a lab facility. Slade’s vehicle continued on, but then veered right. Out of her sight. Shit. Where are they taking him?
“Welcome to Ragnarok Research Area,” said Henrik as he led her out. Jack grabbed her carry-on luggage and followed.
“As in Norse mythology doomsday?”
“A new beginning,” Henrik said cryptically.
“Where are they taking Prince Slade?” Like he would bother explaining, but one never knew.
“Don’t worry. He’ll join us later for the grand tour.”