Between Imminent Fates (The Immortal Accords #12)

2. Chapter One

Chapter One

Jax

The darkest hours show the light of inner strength.

The motto repeated in Jax Hunter’s mind, something that had given him courage during life’s trials. After his parents had passed away in a car wreck four years ago, he’d thrown himself into his career with the U.S. Army. He dedicated himself to the cause and focused single-mindedly on supporting their mission. Long hours became a way to escape the quietness of his apartment—and the effort had been noticed.

He’d been promoted to a new position under a new commanding officer, who had hand-chosen him for a confidential assignment.

Colonel Barlowe sat quietly in the back seat of the Army Humvee Jax was currently driving. Beside him, another Captain—Sobell, also new to the role—remained silent. Outside the vehicle, the night was illuminated by the rising moon. The barest hint of darkness along one edge was still visible; it was only a few days away from the full moon.

Jax simply focused on his task: getting the Colonel to their destination without incident. The Army Humvee drove like a tank—every dip in the pavement, every pothole, shuddered through it.

For years, Jax had been stationed at the Lewis McChord Air Force Base. Now, the three of them would make their base at a location that didn’t exist on any field list. He would be one of only four people who knew about the site. Colonel Barlowe operated as their unit leader. The other Captain would work with them on a daily basis, and a Brigadier General that Jax had neither seen nor heard from was their sponsor. Everything was held close to the chest and on a strictly need-to-know basis.

With this promotion, he was hopeful that the work would fill the part of his soul that’d been torn away with the loss of his parents. Once, when he’d filled out his will for the Army, he’d asked them about their own end of life plans. The pair of them had seemed heartbroken at the thought of having to live without the other. The fact that they’d gone together ensured neither of them felt the pain of a spouse’s death.

This confidential mission intrigued Jax. He had moved into a new town, relinquished his former life, and separated from the comrades he’d worked with closely for years.

Lost in thought, Jax parked the car in the empty lot. Barlowe exited, biting out a curt, “Come.”

Jax swung open the door and followed the Colonel and Sobell toward the poorly-lit facility. The box-shaped building was in a middle-of-nowhere forest, clearly the product of a reclusive CEO or government powers with an over-active imagination.

The stench of whatever was within greeted them before they had even stepped foot inside. Jax attempted to conceal the urge to gag when Barlowe shoved open the door and was met with the sound of dogs. Yelps, ear-splitting howls, and a collection of feral-sounding growls were muted by several walls, but they were unmistakable.

“I needn’t remind you, Hunter and Sobell, that what you see here is confidential.”

The low, threatening tone of his commander was almost swallowed by the noise coming from inside, but Jax kept his head.

“Yes sir.”

A series of doors and hallways separated them from what Jax believed to be the main rooms, and he followed Barlowe without any commentary. With one final door, they entered the dimly lit warehouse full of kennels. It was there that he realized the animals weren’t dogs.

They were wolves.

Massive, ill-kept beasts weaved or leapt back and forth behind the reinforced steel cages. All of them looked mangy, dirty, and downright mean. Barlowe showed no fear as they walked in the space next to the cages.

Filth littered the cement flooring in each cage, the wolves inside reeking of urine and waste. Most of them—and there had to be dozens, if not a hundred or more—had matted fur that appeared dirty brown.

For such beautiful animals, Jax was appalled.

“Sir, an inquiry?”

“Make it quick, Captain.”

“Why are they kept in such squalid conditions?” he asked. “These animals should have proper care.”

A disconcerting level of intelligence shined in the feral eyes of the wolves beside them. The way they watched him screamed something more than animal, something capable of reason. Jax’s attention snapped back to the man who’d halted before him.

“The animals aren’t to be babied.” The colonel wore an impatience that hinted he’d heard the question before. “We clean the cages as often as we can, but their rabidity makes it difficult.”

Spinning on his heel, Barlowe continued down another row of cages, the animals hemming them in on both sides. Now that he knew what he was looking for, the frothing mouths gave it away.

Squaring his shoulders, Jax cleared his throat even as his eyes watered from the acidic air. Another turn revealed a man standing at the end of one row holding a cattle prod. An almost sick glee washed over his features as he stabbed in through the fence, eliciting a yelp from the animal inside.

The man continued tormenting the wolf as they approached. On closer look, Jax discovered the telltale signs of tarnish on the bars that indicated they were made of silver.

Frowning in confusion, Jax refocused on the man ahead of them. Tall, at over six feet, his well-honed physique suggested martial arts more than hours in the gym. Black hair, so dark it looked inky, was casually tossed back from his cruel blue eyes. He held an intimidating aura, a toxic sort of energy that chilled Jax to the bone. It scrubbed abrasively at his skin, and he had the sudden urge to fist his hands and prepare to defend himself. Every instinct he possessed screamed in warning.

“Orlov, meet Captains Hunter and Sobell,” came the introduction. “Men, this is Rayn Orlov. He’s responsible for the wolves in this facility.”

“Pleasure, Captains.”

Foregoing the military salute given he had no idea of Rayn’s rank, Jax took the other man’s hand in greeting. As soon as he touched his skin, Jax bristled.

Though he couldn’t describe it, something malevolent seemed to be seeping through his mind, pilfering through his secrets, and commandeering every intention he’d ever had.

While his gut clenched, Jax finished the curt shake and retreated to an ease position, internally shivering at the sensation of something other crawling through his brain. The other Captain appeared unaffected. Jax put it down to the unpleasant opinion he had formed about this Orlov based on his shocking behavior towards animals. Rayn and Barlowe began discussing plans for release, and though neither of them explained it to him, Jax understood the concept.

They would be releasing the wolves on U.S. soil.

Perhaps some malicious force had made base within their borders, Jax reasoned, or a terrorist organization had spread without public knowledge. As they continued to speak, it became clear that the target wasn’t a foreign threat, nor a domestic one.

The intended target was civilians. Ones that’d angered the wrong people, but civilians, nonetheless. A mixture of disbelief and horror made him fixate on their continuing conversation, and every word embittered him further.

At some point, it must’ve shown on his face. Rayn’s undivided attention seared into him in the next moment. Jax easily held the punishing glare, a challenge building beneath his skin.

“Something to say, Captain ?” The way the last word was emphasized showcased just how little Rayn thought of him. “By all means, spit it out.”

Barlowe gave him a warning look.

“Nothing, sir.”

One inky black eyebrow rose in disbelief. “Nothing? Then why does it feel as though you’ve already cast your dice here? Have you already made up your mind?”

“Sir, my mind is wherever my commander wishes it to be.”

“Good.” The eerie note in Rayn’s voice had Jax frowning. “If I find you’ve crossed lines, Captain, I’ll take you out of the equation.”

And then, deep in the recesses of Jax’s mind, he heard it.

Don’t make me kill you.

No one had spoken out loud, and Rayn was already speaking with Barlowe again. Bewildered, Jax discreetly glanced about the room, attempting to discover where the voice had come from. Sobell showed no signs of hearing the same and proceeded to follow the pair without comment.

Shrugging off the odd sensation, Jax kept up, making mental notes of everything they discussed. When Barlowe opened the door to a classroom, they followed him in. The air wasn’t nearly as rancid here, and he was grateful for it.

Sobell took the seat beside him. Though he didn’t show it, Jax was eager to understand the reason for the kennels—and why the project involved a release on U.S. soil.

Rayn’s attention settled on him. Noticing the intensity of his stare, Jax straightened in his seat. He wouldn’t be made to cower, especially not after coming this far. He was up to the challenge of whatever this briefing would entail.

As Barlowe stood before them, Jax dragged his attention away from the other man and refocused on his commanding officer.

“Today, you join the ranks of the few who know about an escalating war thus far fought in the shadows. As part of this confidential unit, what I say within these walls is top secret and disclosing it will earn you a court martial and dishonorable discharge.”

“If not worse,” came Rayn’s snide comment.

Barlowe didn’t look like he disagreed. “Several years ago, we became aware of a class of creatures that have preyed on humans, using their abilities to steal, coerce, punish, and kill the innocent. This facility is one step toward eradicating their despicable kind.”

“What do you mean by ‘creatures?’” Sobell asked.

Barlowe replied simply, “Inhuman ones. Immortals.”

Inhuman . The very word clashed violently with Jax’s perception of reality. His center of balance seemed to tip as he gripped the edges of the desk, trying to connect what he knew with what he’d been told. Inhuman could mean any number of things, but before his imagination carried him away, Rayn stepped in.

“The wolves you see here aren’t animals,” Rayn began. “They’re werewolves, infected with a type of rabies unique to their kind. They are our weapons against a threat you couldn’t even begin to fathom.”

“Werewolves,” Jax parroted.

A saccharine smile twisted Rayn’s mouth. The man seemed to take pleasure in his shock, gliding over to stand in front of Jax.

“Werewolves. Vampires. Raeths. Elementals. All of them are real, Captain, and you’ve just joined the fight to save humanity.”

One glance at Barlowe confirmed Rayn’s statement. If Jax hadn’t been seated, his legs would’ve given out. He could barely comprehend what these men were telling him. Reality seemed to shift as he tried to fit this new information into a mind already reeling with consequences.

Rabid werewolves howled only yards away from where he sat. What had been impossible only moments before was now proven fact.

“Vampires have the ability to twist the human mind, to make us their puppets,” Barlowe continued. “They take our blood without consent, ruining lives, and stealing what is rightfully ours.

“Werewolves, like the ones you’ve seen today, go rogue and massacre innocents,” he snarled. “There have been crime scenes linked to supernatural shifters for centuries, and only now have they been exposed as truth.”

“A third class of immortal, Raeths, have a wide range of abilities. Some have destructive traits—including one that has a known ability to kill by touch alone.” Barlowe briefly closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Their very existence is a plague against society, a scourge we must eliminate for the greater good.”

Battling through his shock, Jax asked, “What about the other ones you mentioned … Elementals?”

“To our knowledge, they are peaceful,” Barlowe said. “The other immortal races, with one exception, have been approved for indiscriminate elimination.”

“Which exception?” Sobell asked.

“Commander Rayn. He is the sole Raeth to be pardoned.”

A jolt of adrenaline coursed through Jax’s veins as his attention sliced toward the black-haired man only feet away. Even if he ignored the brutality the other man had already displayed, Rayn’s sinister presence made Jax’s skin crawl. All at once, his fingers reached for his firearm. Though it was a small movement, it didn’t go unnoticed.

Before he could process what happened, an unrelenting pressure was applied to his wrist. It halted further movement, but didn’t succeed in startling him enough to make him gasp. Gritting his teeth against the sudden pain, he held Rayn’s gaze as the supernatural being yanked his hand away from his weapon.

“Don’t antagonize me, Captain,” the Raeth mocked.

The pressure vanished, leaving Jax with his fist held aloft. The showing of strength had also been a showing of cruelty. It made him wonder why this man had been pardoned when all others of his ilk were earmarked for death. All Jax knew was that he was in no hurry to ever meet another one of these immortals.

Barlowe ignored the interaction and placed a small black disk, the size of several quarters stacked together, in front of Jax and Sobell. The red button in its center was unlabeled.

“This piece of technology can be used to confirm the identity of most of these creatures,” Barlowe announced. “It will temporarily incapacitate werewolves and vampires, but we’ve not yet utilized it on a Raeth. It needn’t be said, but do not activate it in Commander Rayn’s presence.”

It took most of Jax’s willpower to remain still when he asked, “What side effects does it have for humans, sir?”

“None. It emits at a frequency we can’t hear.”

Despite the sourness in his commander’s expression, Jax pushed the envelope. “May I speak freely, sir?”

“Granted.”

“To what end are we keeping the rabid werewolves alive? Should we not simply put them down, end their misery?”

“Our intel has gathered several locations where the enemy lives,” Barlowe replied. “The werewolves will be released on those populations. Immortal against immortal. They stand a better chance at eliminating them than any human solider.”

“But if we release them, wouldn’t we be endangering civilians if they were to escape that immediate kill zone?”

“That’s enough, Captain Hunter. We’ve work to do.” With a nod to Rayn, Barlowe said, “The process of creating a werewolf is rather simple. A single bite transmits the curse, and they turn on the following full moon.”

The repercussions of what his commanding officer had revealed made Jax suck in a breath. He wondered how many werewolves existed in the world. Given the simplicity of the process, a person could have easily been bitten by accident and the curse would’ve been transmitted. Barlowe had said that anyone who was a werewolf, a Raeth, or a vampire was categorically labeled the enemy. Under that classification, they were condemning an entire people to death without exception.

The thought sat ill with him. Genocide wasn’t something be applauded or supported, it was to be fought against . This new command seemed to encourage the opposite. Grabbing the small disk, he stuffed it in his wallet, unsure when he’d ever use it—if not on Rayn.

Rayn and Barlowe’s voices built ahead of him as he and Sobell followed them from the room. The stink of the kennels made his eyes water as they re-entered the indoor holding area. Though he covertly glanced at Sobell to see how the other Captain was taking the news, he was surprised to see a look of callousness on his colleague’s face.

Before them, a single kennel held a larger wolf, the beast pacing back and forth in the squalid cell. The colonel didn’t glance back at them as Rayn went to a darkened cage just beside it.

“Watch and learn, gentlemen.”

Jax held himself at attention while he did as he was commanded. Light flickered on above the darkened cage, illuminating a group of people huddled together in one corner. Rayn didn’t bat an eye as he grabbed the bearded man closest the door, yanking him up to stand on his bare feet.

Dread made Jax’s heart twist as the bearded man was dragged toward the werewolf. It took only moments to realize what they intended. Immediate, unrelenting horror made his muscles lock in place and his breath stall in his lungs. Barlowe and Rayn were creating werewolves—and doing so with what appeared to be unwilling victims.

The people sitting in the cage remained silent, their eyes fixed on Rayn and his prisoner. Fear seemed to permeate the space around them, and the bearded man’s hoarse pleading only confirmed Jax’s suspicion.

Jax stepped forward. “Sir—what are we doing here?”

The bearded man’s arm was thrust through the small gap in the silver link, and immediately, the wolf latched onto the flesh with savage intent. A scream of terror and pain sliced through the air.

“ We aren’t doing anything, Captain,” Barlowe replied nonchalantly, completely immune to the savagery before him. “You will be an admin, setting up additional sites while Rayn and I do the actual work. You will exist on a need-to-know basis, and what happens afterward is none of your concern. I will not ask you to participate in the fieldwork, nor will you attempt to turn any yourself.”

Jaw working, Jax turned to look at the people who’d been caged. The very idea nauseated him. Horrified, he watched as Barlowe struck the wolf with a cattle prod. Shocked, the animal released his hold on the bearded man, who then collapsed beside the cage. Rayn dragged him to his feet and then tossed the victim into a nearby cell.

It took everything inside Jax to remain still instead of going to the man’s aid.

“Our success depends on building the largest pack of werewolves we can,” Barlowe continued, “and then replicating it. That’s your purpose here, Captains. Your mission will be to locate suitable spots across the United States to build new facilities, get boots on the ground, and do the paperwork so that I don’t have to.”

Somehow, Jax managed to keep his disgust off his face.

The colonel pointed to a door beside the classroom. “Through that door, you’ll find a set of laptops and a missive. Get to work.”

With a salute, Jax and Sobell spun and entered a small office with two desks. A tall partition separated them. Seating himself on the chair, he grabbed the document detailing his work. Though the direction was clear, his head was not.

Sobell didn’t seem bothered by any of this.

The sound of another shriek had Jax glancing at the closed door, and the urge to sprint out there and stop this madness was nearly overpowering.

There were three of them, and only one of him. Even if he used the device to incapacitate Rayn, Barlowe and Sobell had the benefit of being as well trained as he was. Swallowing against the sudden weight on his chest, he realized the futility of his situation. He could do nothing to stop this.

Not here—not now.

Jax couldn’t buy into what his commander was trying to sell. Civilians on home soil didn’t deserve the inhumanity of being attacked by rabid wolves— no one did . Without a trial and due process, he wouldn’t condemn an entire group to death.

He couldn’t fathom the thought process behind this mission. It was a statistical improbability that every member of any society was inherently evil. Supporting genocide against them would be tantamount to war.

What was happening just outside the door was no better. To forcibly turn someone into a werewolf was an atrocity, and if he made it out of here alive, there had to be a way to stop it.

He slowly realized the untenable position he was in. Confidentiality and top-secret clearance meant few people in his former reporting structure would know what was happening here, and if he blew the whistle in the wrong ear, he was certain he’d be the one in those cages.

There had to be a way to stop this madness. He simply didn’t know how.