Page 20 of Held By a Monster

One of the bears walked toward another metal door, but the wolf—clearly the leader—stopped him with a chuckle. He looked up at our horns. “I think it best if we took the stairs.”

A series of steps swept in an arc and carried us to an upper level. The walls were made of an abundance of glass, and Kragen and I pressed ourselves against the one solid wall. The odds a human walking by would see us on the second floor were low, but not zero.

The were-creatures had moved into another glass room. This one contained a long table and large screens on two walls. When he noticed we hadn’t followed, he turned.

“It’s one way glass.” He nodded toward the outside walls. “We can see out, but no one can see in. It’s necessary whenworking with Society clients.” He moved back into the room. “Please have a seat. I have many questions.”

Kragen cautiously moved to the far end of the table and I followed, keeping Kendal behind me despite her snorts of protest. I managed to sit in the offered chair. It was plush and the back didn’t reach the seat, giving me a place to put my tail. It rolled and I shoved my claws into the floor to anchor myself.

I pulled Kendal into my lap and curled around her as best I could.

Kragen followed suit and settled into the chair next to mine. “We have questions as well.”

“Me too!” Kendal shouted, her voice muffled behind my arms.

The wolf looked at the bear on his right and said, “Maybe you should ask Gaelynn to come. Seeing how we protect all mates might make them feel more at ease.”

“Mate?” Kendal’s voice was high-pitched and she started pushing against me in earnest.

I relented and loosened my arms enough for her to poke her head out before she hurt herself.

I heard the bear mutter, “Fuck no,” in response to his superior.

If even these creatures saw nothing but monsters when they looked at us, where did we belong? Would we be shunned by allsocieties, human and supernatural alike? We would survive, but Kendal didn’t deserve a life like that.

Her voice snapped me back to the present.

“What do you mean, mate?”

Kragen snapped his teeth together, the clack getting her attention. “Perhaps your questions can wait?”

A flush crept up her cheeks. “Right, right. Sorry.”

For a long moment, we merely stared at each other. I didn’t see any hostility in their body language, and their scents were neutral, but the bear’s reluctance to bring his female wore on my mind.

Kragen broke the silence. “You’re the supernatural’s representative, Reinar?”

“Call me Zeus, the others do. And yes, I’m the Society council representative for this region.”

“Society council? You also represent human society?”

“Ah, no. Society includes all supernatural individuals. We call humans ‘normals.’” He shrugged. “Terminology that’s easier to say than ‘supernatural individuals’ each time, since our numbers are vast and our forms varied.”

Kragen nodded. “I understand. This council acts as a governing body over our kind? Separate from the normal’s government?”

“That’s correct. Only…” He tilted his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never heard ofyourkind. Wyrfang, you said?”

“I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of us. Our number is small. We asked Kendal to inquire about other Society in the hopes you could help us.”

Zeus was nodding. “I’ll do my best. What is it you need help with?”

Anger waved from Kragen like an oppressive heat. I found my own joining it.

“Finding the remaining members of the company that created us. And destroying them.”

fifteen

Shock rolled over thethree men’s faces. I had to remind myself they weren’t human.

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