Taya Quinn POV


    California was hotter than the devil’s balls.


    50


    I stepped out of the sleek ck SUV, already sweating and mentally flipping off the sun, my boots hitting the pavement like a damn war drum. Rylen was right beside me, calm and collected as always, but I could feel his tension. Anton, his wolf, was pacing in the back of his mind like we were about to walk into an ambush.


    Which, y’know… maybe we were.


    The massive gates of the Marine base loomed in front of us, manned by guards who looked like they hadn’t blinked since 2002. They immediately recognized my clearance code and our escort status and waved us through.


    As we were led inside thepound, I scanned every damn corner with my magic. Zuki was alert in my mind, tail up, her eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t like the way they’re looking at us,” she growled.


    “Oh, trust me, girl. Neither do I.”


    We reached the central courtyard, and wouldn’t you know it…Captain Monroe was in the middle of giving some hard ass speech to a battalion of soldiers standing in perfect formation. Her voice was pure steel, her posture wless, and her hair slicked into a braid that meant business.


    She clocked us immediately, her eyes narrowing. A few of the dudes in formation turned their heads, then their eyes hit me.


    One had the audacity to whistle.


    Before I could even open my mouth, Rylen stepped forward and let out a low, deadly growl. It wasn’t loud, but gods, it was lethal. Every soldier within earshot stiffened like they’d just stepped on andmine. My entire body shivered and Zuki turned to mush in my mind, purring like a damn kitten. “Our mate is so sexy.” I nodded my agreement, grinning.


    Captain Monroe barked out augh. “You boys picked the wrong damn tree to bark up,” she called out, clearly amused. “You see that?” She pointed at Rylen. “That’s a pissed off werewolf you don’t fuck with. Real protective of his woman. Back the fuck off.” <fn748a> ?????? ???? FιndＮovel</fn748a>


    I grinned maniacally, because honestly, she wasn’t wrong.


    “Carry on, men,” she barked. “Dismissed!”


    As the formation scattered, she strode over to us with the kind of swagger that said I’ve killed men with a spoon.


    “Captain,” I greeted, throwing my arms around her.


    “Taya goddamn Quinn,” she muttered into my hair. “Still alive, huh?”


    “Somehow.” I pulled back. “Got myself a wolf now, too.”


    Her eyes flicked to Rylen. “You poor bastard.”


    Rylen raised a brow, his lips twitching. “You have no idea.”


    14:38 Thu, Oct 2 0..**


    He does, actually,’ Zuki chimed in. He’s mated to us.”


    I smirked.


    “Come on.” Monroe waved us toward the main building. ‘Let’s talk somewhere less full of testosterone.”


    She led us through winding halls until we reached her office. As soon as the door shut, I scanned the room with a mutter and a flick of my fingers.


    “Two bugs, Zuki whispered.


    “One behind the bookshelf,” I said aloud. “And one in themp.


    Monroe didn’t even blink. “Figures.”


    She yanked the bugs out herself, then crushed them under her boot with a crunch. Now we were clear. She turned to us, arms folded. “Alright. Spill it.”


    Rylen looked to me. I took a breath and dove in.


    “There’s a waring. The Aegis Protocol, yeah, that group you thought was just handling supernatural security? They’re running underground hybrid experimentationbs. Torture. Breeding programs. Vampires, witches, human CEOs, big names.”


    I told her everything. About Elowen. About the prophecy. The vampire nobles. The hybrids. Our mission to rally allies. She listened in silence, eyes like flint, but not once did she interrupt. This was why I’d trusted her. Why my family had.


    When I finished, she leaned back slowly. “You think they’lle for the base?”


    I nodded. “If they even think one of your personnel might know something, or worse, if they find out you’re helping us, they’lle.”


    Her jaw tensed. “Then we hit first.”


    Rylen’s voice slid into my mind, warm and solid. “I like her.”


    “Told you.”


    Captain Monroe nced between us. “Your mama once pulled me out of a burning convoy in Afghanistan. Carried me on her damn back across enemy lines. I owe your family everything.”


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    Hunted Hybrid Aegis War Saga 1