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Prologue

Chinhae, South Korea, 1966

“Luca? Luca? You’re going to be late!”

Luca de Rossi charged down the stairs after hearing his wife’s call. His boot-clad feet sounded more like a herd of… rhinos, he thought with a grin.As soon as he hit the bottom tread, Luca grabbed his hat and bag, tossing the latter over one shoulder. Ella emerged in the foyer, her stomach swollen with his child. He’d never get enough of seeing her like that, his heart swelling more as her belly did. She leaned in for a kiss, a sultry smile on her red-glossed lips.

In that moment, he didn’t care that he might run late. He drew his woman close, inhaling her scent before kissing her deeply. Luca smiled at the moan that bubbled up her lips as they parted.

“You’ve got duty,” she whispered as she pulled away.

“I know, but I’ve got a duty here, too.”

His wife chuckled before pulling away slightly. “I’ll try to stay up for you tonight so we can finish that kiss then,” Ella said as she used her thumb to wipe away the remnants of her lipstick that apparently covered his lips.

“Try?” he asked, wrapping his hand around hers and laying another kiss on her wrist. “I need a little better than try.”

Ella used her free hand to spread over her expanded belly.“All I feel like doing lately is sleeping.”

Luca lowered to one knee and pressed a kiss to her belly.“Umberto taking it out of you, hmm?”

“I’ve told you a dozen times… I am not naming our son that,” Ella admonished.

“It was my grandfather’s name,” Luca said, lifting his head with a grin. Passed down from his father and his father… and his father.”

“In twenty years, you can be the one this baby blames for saddling him with that thing,” Ella said, smiling back.

Luca rose to his feet. “I can handle it.My skin’s tough as leather.”

“Rhino tough,” Ella said with a wink.

Luca grinned, but it soon faded. Worry filled him.“The full moon’s coming soon.Are you ready?” He half expected her to give birth on their next shift—they were both still coming to terms with their wererhino sides. If she gave birth shifted, it would leave them even more vulnerable than they already were.

Her smile faded as well. “We’ll be okay.”

He didn’t share her confidence. “I hope you’re right.”

Ella cupped his cheek, her smile returning. “We’ll be okay.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Now, get going before you get in trouble.I don’t need you thrown in the brig.”

“Never,” he whispered before giving her a last kiss.He headed out, offering a wink before closing the door.

Years later, in random moments of clarity, he’d remember the soft smile on her face —standing there, full with their child.It would bring him moments of peace…

By the time he arrived on duty, there were several uniforms waiting for him.

“Petty Officer de Rossi… I need you to come with us,” one of the officers said as he entered the building. Luca read the name embroidered over the man’s chest. Harding.

“Yes, sir,” he said carefully, sensing this had nothing to do with his being late.

Luca followed Harding down a long hallway, the two other servicemen trailing behind them. The florescent lights hanging above flickered slightly, adding to the terror growing in his heart. Drawing in a breath, he thought he scented fear on the men surrounding him.

Why are they afraid?

Of me?

His body stiffened; a sense of danger pumped through his veins.

His sense of duty… the years of training to follow orders… was at war with his inner survival instinct. By the time he realized he needed out, it was too late. He felt the prick of the needle at his neck seconds after he came to a full halt. Luca roared with anger, turning on the two behind him.

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