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Authors: Kendall McKenna
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enjoyed pinning that lithe body down and marking it with his teeth. He liked the feel of Noah beneath him, the sounds he made, as well as the scent of him.
“What’s next?” Lucas asked, giving himself a mental shake.
“We’re going to walk the perimeter of the base and check security,” replied Noah, voice sounding oddly strained. “We’ll be leaving the FOB during the run, and if we encounter trouble and have to retreat quickly, I want to make sure we’ll be returning to a defensible position.”
“It’s a Marine Corps Forward Operating Base,” Lucas said dubiously. “How much more secure could it be?”
Noah glanced around them, lifting his face into the spare breeze as he answered. “Marines are guarding against Taliban, hostile forces and insurgents. If the wolves have to retreat, it’s likely we’ll be fleeing from something else entirely.”
“Shit,” Lucas breathed. “I hadn’t considered that.”
They reached the main gate, and Lucas glanced around to see if the shifters were nearby. He saw them approaching as a group, dust and sand kicked up around them as they pulled down the brims of their covers against the dirt and sun.
“It’s fine if you trail along while we walk the perimeter, Lucas,” Noah said. The use of his name, in that husky tone, surprised him. “But I need you to stay downwind from me.” He surprised Lucas further by placing a hand in the small of his back and leaving it there.
“Wh…why?” Lucas’ face flamed at his own stutter.
“Because I need to be able to smell anything suspicious.” Noah lowered his head and pressed his face to Lucas’ neck.
Lucas’ eyes widened in shock, and his breath caught in his chest. He heard Noah inhale deeply. All around them, he could see Marines taking an interest in the two of them.
“And your scent is very distracting,” Noah growled against the shell of his ear just before he stepped away.
Lucas stood frozen, watching Noah and the other three werewolves stride toward the tall barricade walls of the base. Many of the Marines they encountered gave ground readily, bowing ever so slightly in Noah’s direction. Their behavior seemed to be an answer of some kind for other onlookers. Those that showed Noah deference also gave Lucas respectful nods if they walked by.
All around him, the base went about its business, oblivious to the fact that for Lucas, the world had stopped spinning.
Afterward, Noah changed the entire procedure for the run. He sent Chandler, Hubbard and Grant to spread the word among the werewolves.
“Why the main gate?” Lucas asked, genuinely curious but trusting Noah’s judgment implicitly.
“Watch towers,” Noah answered with a vague gesture. “They have the best vantage point to see us if we have to make a fast getaway.”
“Solid logic,” Lucas replied, even knowing Noah didn’t require his approval.
Lucas located Gunny McAlister and advised him of Noah’s plans for the run. Together, they headed for command to file the necessary paperwork. He wasn’t sure what reaction he expected from the battalion commanders, but disinterest and easy acceptance wasn’t it.
“See,” said Vince, as they left the building. “They got over being pissy and adjusted their battle plans. They know they have no choice but to go along with Noah.”
“All right, point taken,” Lucas said with a laugh.
He returned to the hooch he shared with a lieutenant from Echo Company. There was no one there. Lucas prepped his bedroll with everything he thought he’d need to stand Sentinel , whatever that meant.
When the sun touched the very tops of the Afghan mountains and the temperature dipped, he gathered up his gear and set out for the main gate. He spotted Noah immediately, head lowered in conversation with several Marines.
As Lucas watched, Noah’s posture stiffened slightly. His nostrils flared and he looked up, eyes meeting Lucas’ unerringly. A corner of
“What’s next?” Lucas asked, giving himself a mental shake.
“We’re going to walk the perimeter of the base and check security,” replied Noah, voice sounding oddly strained. “We’ll be leaving the FOB during the run, and if we encounter trouble and have to retreat quickly, I want to make sure we’ll be returning to a defensible position.”
“It’s a Marine Corps Forward Operating Base,” Lucas said dubiously. “How much more secure could it be?”
Noah glanced around them, lifting his face into the spare breeze as he answered. “Marines are guarding against Taliban, hostile forces and insurgents. If the wolves have to retreat, it’s likely we’ll be fleeing from something else entirely.”
“Shit,” Lucas breathed. “I hadn’t considered that.”
They reached the main gate, and Lucas glanced around to see if the shifters were nearby. He saw them approaching as a group, dust and sand kicked up around them as they pulled down the brims of their covers against the dirt and sun.
“It’s fine if you trail along while we walk the perimeter, Lucas,” Noah said. The use of his name, in that husky tone, surprised him. “But I need you to stay downwind from me.” He surprised Lucas further by placing a hand in the small of his back and leaving it there.
“Wh…why?” Lucas’ face flamed at his own stutter.
“Because I need to be able to smell anything suspicious.” Noah lowered his head and pressed his face to Lucas’ neck.
Lucas’ eyes widened in shock, and his breath caught in his chest. He heard Noah inhale deeply. All around them, he could see Marines taking an interest in the two of them.
“And your scent is very distracting,” Noah growled against the shell of his ear just before he stepped away.
Lucas stood frozen, watching Noah and the other three werewolves stride toward the tall barricade walls of the base. Many of the Marines they encountered gave ground readily, bowing ever so slightly in Noah’s direction. Their behavior seemed to be an answer of some kind for other onlookers. Those that showed Noah deference also gave Lucas respectful nods if they walked by.
All around him, the base went about its business, oblivious to the fact that for Lucas, the world had stopped spinning.
Afterward, Noah changed the entire procedure for the run. He sent Chandler, Hubbard and Grant to spread the word among the werewolves.
“Why the main gate?” Lucas asked, genuinely curious but trusting Noah’s judgment implicitly.
“Watch towers,” Noah answered with a vague gesture. “They have the best vantage point to see us if we have to make a fast getaway.”
“Solid logic,” Lucas replied, even knowing Noah didn’t require his approval.
Lucas located Gunny McAlister and advised him of Noah’s plans for the run. Together, they headed for command to file the necessary paperwork. He wasn’t sure what reaction he expected from the battalion commanders, but disinterest and easy acceptance wasn’t it.
“See,” said Vince, as they left the building. “They got over being pissy and adjusted their battle plans. They know they have no choice but to go along with Noah.”
“All right, point taken,” Lucas said with a laugh.
He returned to the hooch he shared with a lieutenant from Echo Company. There was no one there. Lucas prepped his bedroll with everything he thought he’d need to stand Sentinel , whatever that meant.
When the sun touched the very tops of the Afghan mountains and the temperature dipped, he gathered up his gear and set out for the main gate. He spotted Noah immediately, head lowered in conversation with several Marines.
As Lucas watched, Noah’s posture stiffened slightly. His nostrils flared and he looked up, eyes meeting Lucas’ unerringly. A corner of
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