Wrath Read online

  She hesitated. “My grandparents raised me. My Grandma said it was easier to care for if it was short and my grandfather was afraid boys would take notice of me so he agreed with her. They made me cut it every few months until I moved out. It was their house, their rules.” She smiled.

  “Can you take it down please? I am curious.”

  Lauren shrugged. She reached up and started pulling pins. She knew it would look messy but wanted to appease his curiosity. She understood it since she had a ton of questions about New Species. She realized that she might seem as strange to him as they did to her.

  She placed the pins on the table and unwound her hair and then pulled the ponytail holder out. She ran her fingers through her unbound hair, happy to have it down since she usually brushed it before bed, and met Shadow’s gaze to see his reaction.

  His lips were parted and his blue eyes were wide as he gaped at her hair. He blinked a few times but finally smiled. “It’s beautiful and longer than I thought it would be. I miss my long hair.”

  She glanced at his short-cropped hair. “Why did you cut it if you like it long?”

  “The mission was more important and it will grow back.” His smile faded. “I had to cut it to look more human and fit in with the task force. It wasn’t as long as yours but it hung past my shoulders.”

  She could understand that. “I keep mine up for my job. Maybe instead of cutting it you should have put it up.”

  Glass broke in the kitchen area. Lauren started and her head jerked in the direction of the loud sound. Wrath stared at Lauren, openmouthed, and the plate that held her sandwich was broken on the floor at his feet, where he’d dropped it.

  Shadow chuckled. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Much longer than I thought.”

  Wrath’s face tightened and his gaze lowered to the floor. A growl tore from his throat as he crouched and started picking up the mess. Lauren was confused and she glanced at Shadow.

  “Did he just growl? I thought I imagined it before.”

  “We all growl. It’s the change in us. We snarl too. Howl.” He chuckled. “We show teeth. Have you seen them yet?”

  She shook her head. “They look like regular teeth.”

  “That’s because we’ve learned to only open our mouths so far around humans. We practice speaking and smiling in front of a mirror so we don’t frighten humans when we deal with them. Would you like to see my canines?”

  She hesitated. “Sure, if you don’t move closer.”

  He laughed and opened his mouth all the way. Lauren couldn’t help but gawk. She swallowed hard. Shadow’s teeth were beautifully white and looked human until his fangs were revealed. They extended longer than a normal person’s canines and they turned into sharper points at the end. He slowly hid them.

  “We’re all canine on our team. That’s what we were mixed with. The feline mixes have the same anomaly, only they roar when they get emotional. We howl and snarl.” He shrugged. “We all growl. Don’t be alarmed when you hear it. We do it often. It doesn’t mean we’re angry.”

  “Feline?”

  “Some of our people were mixed with large-breed felines, what we believe were lions, tigers, and the black big cats—your people call them panthers. It’s just a guess but they have the catlike eyes and they roar. Canines are better trackers and deal with each other better. Our sense of smell is stronger and we enjoy company. Felines are faster and they can leap a floor or two in height. Most of them aren’t real social though, long term. They prefer solitary situations.”

  “Justice North is feline then, isn’t he?”

  “He’s the exception. He is feline but he’s very social.”

  “I have seen him on the news plenty of times. He seems really nice.”

  “He is.”

  “Here.” Wrath placed food and a can of soda in front of her.

  She carefully studied the sandwich.

  Shadow laughed. “It’s not the one that hit the floor. He made you another.”

  Lauren blushed, embarrassed that he’d guessed what she was thinking. She turned her head and stared up at Wrath. “Thank you.”

  He took a seat next to her but his attention remained focused on her hair. For whatever reason, he seemed fascinated by the sight of her blonde hair flowing down her back almost to her waist. She mentally shrugged it off. Shadow had said they liked long hair.

  The roast beef sandwich was good, he’d put mayo on it, cheese and fresh lettuce. She smiled at him.

  “Thank you. This is great. I appreciate it.” Lauren opened her soda.

  Wrath turned his head to glare at Shadow. “You should protect her and keep her close to you.”

  Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “No.”

  Wrath growled. “Please.”

  Shadow stared at each other for a long time. Lauren ate and watched the two men, wondering if they were silently communicating. It seemed as if they were having some kind of silent discussion as their eyes narrowed at each other and they made some strange facial movements around their mouths.

  “Are you two reading each other’s thoughts?”

  Both turned to gape at her.

  “No.” Shadow flashed a grin. “But it would be cool if we could. We were just studying each other. There are some things between us that go unspoken. We’re from the same testing facility and we have spent all our time together since being freed. We know each other well enough to understand how the other thinks.” His gaze turned to Wrath. “No.”

  Wrath looked angry. “She would be safer with you.”

  Shadow’s features softened. “That wasn’t your fault that you tried to attack a female while drugged in captivity, Wrath. You must get past it. You’re stronger than the conditioning and this will be a perfect way to do it.”

  Wrath suddenly stood. “How?”

  “You won’t harm her and you’re much stronger than you believe. We both know she’s not one of the humans who harmed us. She had no part in the things done and the drugs are long gone from our bodies. You will be fine.”

  “You are better natured than I.”

  Shadow frowned. “I have the same memories as you. We shared that hell together and you were stronger then. I was overdosed because I couldn’t manage my rage. She trusts you and you won’t betray that.”

  Lauren figured the “she” they spoke of was her. “What are you guys talking about?”

  Shadow slowly rose to his feet. “Our life in captivity. It is a private matter.”

  That made her realize she’d overstepped a boundary. She finished her food while they continued their staring contest. Wrath finally broke the silence.

  “You’re afraid too.”

  “Always,” Shadow admitted. “You were always stronger than me.”

  Wrath broke eye contact with his friend to peer at her grimly. “Lauren? Let’s go. You’ll be staying with me in my room. You can have the bed and I’ll sleep on the floor. I won’t harm you.”

  She was shocked. “I have to sleep in your room with you?”

  He hesitated. “Would you prefer to sleep in Vengeance’s room?”

  She stood on shaky legs. “I’m ready to go with you.”

  Shadow chuckled. “That was smooth.”

  Wrath snarled at him and gripped Lauren’s arm gently. “You can clean up the dishes. I will see you bright and early in the morning.”

  “Trust yourself,” Shadow called out as they left.

  Lauren was uncomfortable as Wrath led her back to his bedroom. He closed the door behind them, a grim look on his masculine features. He released her instantly, moved a few feet away, and appeared as ill at ease as she felt being closed inside a room together. It made her feel a little better knowing he wasn’t thrilled with having to spend a night together.

  He finally looked at her. “There’s no television but I have a radio and a few books on the dresser. I am going to take a shower.” He shifted his stance. “Don’t leave my room. Vengeance is out there and I don’t want there to be a reason for him to confr