Read Online The Lycan Rebirth (The Flux Age Book 3) by Steven J Shelley - Free Book Online Page A

deep, dreamless sleep. Children were playing somewhere nearby and a dog was chasing a rooster or chicken around. Jack opened his eyes and found the world wasn’t lurching from side to side anymore. He felt a lot better now that his fever had broken. What would’ve taken a human a week to get over he had done with one good night’s sleep. Even better, a clean set of clothes were folded at the foot of the bed. They were strangely rough, like they’d been crafted from natural materials found in that mountain valley.
    His eyes adjusting to the light, Jack ventured out into the campsite. The sun was climbing above the pine stand to the east and the site was bustling with activity. Jack was surprised to see how big the camp was - it stretched for several hundred yards down the west bank of the MacDowell River. Tents had been arranged in very neat fashion so as to conserve space. A larger, circular tent was positioned amongst the trees to the west.
    In this part of the valley the stream looked to have slowed down, making it ideal for water collection and fishing. Considering the natural protection the surrounding mountains afforded, the camp was perfectly placed to support up to a thousand people for quite a long time.
    As Jack threaded his way west through the various tents, the settlers looked upon him with open curiosity. They seemed quite entrenched in their subsistence way of life. Jack was quite impressed with the level of dedication shown in this valley. Uprooting the family to go and live in the wilds of North America couldn’t be an easy choice. Jack wondered of these folk had heard about the Flux Age or knew it existed.
    It was pretty easy to find the leader of the settlement. A large, stout-chested man stood outside the circular tent with an appraising eye. He didn’t seem surprise to see Jack approach, and his grip was strong.
    “Seems I owe you my life,” Jack said by way of thanks.
    “Wasn’t my idea,” said the man curtly. “Damned healer goes walkin’ upriver and has a soft heart.”
    “Well, I’m kinda glad he does,” Jack said drily. “Came to pay my respects and be on my way.”
    “Probably the best thing,” agreed the man. “Don’t see too many silver bullets roun’ these parts.”
    Jack looked sharply at the man, his senses suddenly on red alert. Did this man know he was a lycan? But of course, it was obvious. Jack could well have been in werewolf form when the healer found him.
    But then, there was something in the man’s gaze. Something that suggested that his knowledge ran a little deeper.
    “My name is Jack Foley,” the werewolf offered, deciding it was time for proper introductions.
    “Nate Fincher,” the large man said, his eyes telling Jack to move on without any more questions. “Well, I’m glad we could be of help, Jack.”
    Now Jack’s suspicions were raised to a whole new level. This man was hiding something and he sensed he needed to know.
    “I’ll leave,” Jack said. “But I think you deserve an explanation. I’m one of the last operatives of the Lycan Society. We were slaughtered by an alliance of ghouls and aquilans.”
    To Jack’s surprise Nate spat a gob of tobacco to the dirt. “Damned aquilans been harassing our northern borders for a while now.”
    “That’s interesting,” Jack said. “Now why wouldn’t such a bloodthirsty people just march on in and kick you off this prime real estate?”
    Nate looked Jack in the eye. “Let’s get one damned thing straight, stranger. We don’t fear the aquila or anyone. Having said that, we’re a peaceful folk with no time for fightin’.”
    “I’ve been plain with you,” Jack said. “About time you did the same. This is a shifter community, isn’t it?”
    Nate grimaced and looked like he was about to walk away.
    “There’s nothing here for you, stranger,” he said irritably. “You’d be best served leaving this valley as soon as you can.”
    “Naturebound,” Jack said suddenly, as it all fell into