to a stop.
The vehicle directly behind it swerved to avoid the strip and crashed into the guardrail.
The third vehicle screeched to a stop and was rear-ended by the last vehicle that couldn’t slow in time.
The smell of burning rubber scorched my nose as car doors flew open and nearly a dozen enforcers swarmed protectively around the second vehicle.
Jen stated the obvious. “Dr. Hurran must be in that car.”
“Give me your orders.” I crouched down, bloodlust stirring inside me.
Jen took a deep breath as if considering her words carefully. “Hunter, neutralize any entity that interferes or might interfere with our current mission. This order supersedes all other orders.”
My beast let out a roar of delight as I shifted. Bones and joints popped. Sinew and muscles realigned. A second later, I rose as a monstrous creature that towered over my handler and the enforcers below.
Jen slapped my flank. “Go get ‘em.”
Snarling, I leapt from our mountain perch directly onto the roof of the third Mercedes. The shiny black metal crumpled under my tremendous weight.
Jen, who’d jumped down onto the road, shook her head. “Always have to make a grand entrance, don’t you?”
If I could have communicated with her in this form, I would have answered, “Hell, yeah.”
The black-clad enforcers fired on us. Their bullets ricocheted off my hide.
Jen ducked behind the flattened vehicle as I sauntered toward our enemies.
My beast urged me to tear through them, but there was no fun in that. I slowed my pace, letting them get a good look at death approaching.
The largest enforcer, the one I recognized as Santiago, Javier’s Head Enforcer, was the first to throw his useless weapon to the ground. He barked an order in Spanish, then ripped off his clothes and shifted.
The other males followed his lead, and soon a group of snarling black leopards were circling me.
I chuffed in amusement at their show of aggression.
Santiago lunged for my throat.
A swipe of my paw sent him flying over Jen’s head. His feline body hit the asphalt with a wet crunch.
“Stop playing around and kill them,” she ordered. She turned and fired a bullet into Santiago’s skull before he could heal his injuries. Then she ran toward the second vehicle.
Hissing, the leopards turned toward her.
Unable to allow any threat to my handler, I attacked in a blur of claws and fangs. Moments later, the pavement was wet with blood and not a single leopard drew breath. Shaking viscera from my shaggy mane, I let out a triumphant roar.
“Be still, beast,” shouted an all too familiar voice.
I looked up to see Javier exiting his smashed Mercedes. Oddly enough, he didn’t look angry that I’d killed his enforcers or fearful that he’d be next.
My surprise at seeing him gave way to burning rage. For weeks I’d wanted to punish the Alpha for coveting my dancer. Time to teach that fucker who’s really in charge. I prepared to attack, but every muscle in my body locked up. Shit! He is more powerful than I am. Panicked, I searched for Jen. Surely, her commands could override his.
A wave of dizzying pain suddenly rushed through our bond.
Jen!
I found her at the other end of the car, writhing at the feet of Dr. Hurran.
There was no mistaking the dusky-skinned scientist holding a cattle prod over my handler. Dr. Hurran was even wearing the same white lab coat she always wore.
Jen made a garbled sound.
“Quiet,” ordered Dr. Hurran, repeatedly shocking Jen with the high voltage device.
Jen’s entire body seized up. Another burst of pain exploded through our bond.
I snarled, furious I could do nothing to help her.
Javier made a tsking sound as he watched my handler shake and thrash in the dirt. “I thought Titan soldiers were powerful.”
Dr. Hurran sniffed. “They are. But we microchip them too. And when their chip is exposed to high voltage…” She brought the cattle prod down on Jen again.
Jen’s body contorted so violently, her spine snapped with a loud crack.
Dr. Hurran let out a cold laugh.
Jen’s torment thrummed through our link. I shifted back to my human form so I could shout, “Stop hurting her!”
Javier’s amber gaze swung back to me. “The beast is protective of her.”
“She’s his handler. It’s part of his programming to follow her orders and protect her as if she was his alpha,” Dr. Hurran explained.
“Interesting,” Javier said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Can you reprogram it?”
The scientist tossed her head back arrogantly. “Of course.”
Javier smiled. “And you say it can become invisible?”
“For short periods of time,” Dr. Hurran confirmed. “He’s also