Page 40 of Monster

“Like I said… the facility is almost done.If this is a transport of the creatures we’ve made, we can free them and house them here.It’s been the roadblock all along.”

Deacon frowned.“It’s barely done.Some of the sections are still being completed.We can’t rush things and put everyone in danger.”

“A matter of days,” Malachi said.“The construction crew is only finishing up a few small jobs. By the time the transport is scheduled to come through, we’d be ready.”

“Nothing’s been tested,” Deacon argued.

“A single transport can hold… what, maybe three to five creatures, at most? Even if there was more than one vehicle, ten to twenty beasts is a helluva lot smaller test than a prison filled with hundreds,” Malachi said. “It’s a good way to check this facility and see if it’s ready.”

Deacon sighed. He rose to his feet, exhaustion still plaguing him. “We send out three scout teams.They lie low and check the proposed routes—and get back here with intel.”He turned to Bull and Malachi.“You two head up two teams, and I’ll lead the third.”

“The hell you will,” Bull said to Deacon.

“Three routes… three leaders.This is the way it needs to be,” Deacon said. “I want to get a feeling for what’s going on.”

“I’ll go in your place, Deacon,” Cal announced.

“You don’t have the training I do,” Deacon said, shaking his head.

“We just got you home,” Bull said before giving Cal the eye. “Cal’s the better choice.”

Cal was the first beast they’d freed… and while he’d proved himself to be in control of the beasts within, Deacon wasn’t sure he was willing to let the shifter go in his place. Cal had worked with them for months now, but he wasn’t a heavily trained soldier with years of battle experience. If Bull was willing to accept Cal as a team lead it meant they thought he was… “I’m no invalid.I was released from the clinic.I’m fine.”

“No. You’re not,” Bull murmured under his breath. “We need you, Deacon.Alive and well. I won’t let you go.”

“Won’t let me go?” Deacon asked, one brow rising.

“Bull’s right,” Malachi said, turning to Deacon.A smile crossed his lips. “Don’t make us call Glenn and Emmanuel.”

“Fuck you both,” Deacon spat. If his mates learned he planned to head out, they’d have his ass in a sling.

The exhaustion wore on him. He knew both males worried about him, but he also felt the need to push himself. It was the only way he’d improve.

“We need someone here to help coordinate,” Malachi said.“I nominate you, Deacon.”

He glared at the two men. After a growl, he clenched his jaw.“Fine.I’ll remain here. Cal, you can lead the third team.”

“I’ll send our strongest team with you, Cal,” Deacon said.“Our finest. They’ll help back you up.”

Bull rose to his feet and looked over Deacon’s shoulder at the folder. “So where are those routes?”

* * * *

A distant memory…

After the meeting was over and a plan for the scouting teams in place, Cal wandered down the corridor, Samuel at his side. Quiet, his mind roared, searching for something in the darkness.Even after all the months of serum injections and therapy to handle the torture he had at the hands of General Lore, there were still dark spots in his mind that alluded him.

“What’s wrong?” Samuel asked at his side.

“Don’t know. Something’s itching inside my brain.Something that wants out, but I can’t seem to get a bead on it.”

“I can sense it’s troubling you, whatever it is.”

Cal smiled down at his mate.Samuel and his connection was almost unreal at times, but then, Samuel was a powerful shaman and an elemental power.

“Are you worried about leading the team?”

“No,” Cal answered, truthful.It was only an information gathering trip, not one where he’d likely find a fight.But if he did, he felt more than ready.

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