Page 82 of Anders
It won’t come to that,he added, reaching across to take her hand.His skin was warm against hers, the contact sending ripples of awareness through their bond.They’re good people.They’ll see the truth.
She wanted to believe him.Desperately.
The Old Packhouse came into view as they rounded a bend in the road.Several figures stood outside, waiting.
Etta recognized Malcolm and Larissa immediately, their postures conveying their status as clearly as any crown or throne.
Beside them stood the Stewart twins, identical in appearance but distinct in presence now that her enhanced senses could detect the subtle differences in their scents.
Anders parked the truck but made no immediate move to exit.Instead, he turned to her, his expression serious.
Whatever happens in there, remember who you are.Not what they made you, but who you chose to become.Eliana Thornwood.Survivor.Fighter.He paused, something vulnerable flashing across his face.My mate.
The word still sent a thrill through her, equal parts terror and joy.A connection she hadn’t chosen but now couldn’t imagine living without.
Etta squeezed his hand.I won’t forget.
The pack leaders watched their approach with expressions that revealed nothing.Malcolm’s stance was relaxed but alert, while Larissa’s assessing gaze moved between Anders and Etta with keen intelligence.The twins flanked them like honor guards, their synchronized movements a reminder of the bond they shared.
Welcome,Malcolm said, his deep voice carrying easily across the remaining distance.His gaze settled on Etta, not unkindly.Both of you.
Anders inclined his head slightly—a gesture of respect rather than submission.Alphas.We need to talk.
Yes,Larissa agreed, her tone measured.We certainly do.
Inside, the Old Packhouse was cooler.They gathered in what Etta recognized as the council chamber—a space she’d documented in her notes without understanding its significance.The realization sent a fresh wave of shame through her, which Anders answered with a gentle pulse of reassurance through their bond.
Malcolm and Larissa took their seats at the head of the large table.Anders guided Etta to a place beside him, positioning himself subtly between her and the door—a protective stance that no one in the room failed to notice.
The rest of the council will join us shortly,Malcolm said, his gaze moving between them.They’ve agreed to hear your report before making any decisions.But first—he looked directly at Etta—how are you feeling?The interface…
Her hand rose automatically to the back of her neck, where the neural device had been embedded in her flesh.
Dr.Weiss had examined her that morning, confirming that Etta was healing well.
Better than I ever expected,she said with a smile.
The door opened, admitting the rest of the council members—Nick and Sarah, Una Sanchez, and an older couple Larissa introduced as Stephanie and Raymond Gonzales.Each regarded her with varying degrees of curiosity and caution as they took their seats.
The coalphas waited until everyone was settled before speaking.Most of you have already reviewed the preliminary reports,Larissa began.Anders and Etta have returned with additional information about this Chimera Program and the threat it poses, not just to our pack, but to shifters everywhere.
The council’s attention shifted to Anders, who straightened with the easy confidence of someone accustomed to delivering tactical briefs.The Chimera Program is a black ops government initiative—a classified research project studying ‘enhanced genetic anomalies.’In reality, studying shifters.
He activated a display screen, bringing up scanned documents and images they’d recovered from the facility and Etta’s notes.At some point, the project moved from observation to experimentation, specifically targeting shifter children.They developed a method of chemical suppression combined with neural interface technology to control the shift response while maintaining enhanced physical capabilities.
Etta watched the council members’ reactions as Anders continued detailing the program’s evolution, the emotions flickering across their faces in waves.Horror, disgust, rage.
Their ultimate goal appears to be intelligence gathering and potential weaponization of shifter abilities,Anders concluded.The five ‘assets’ placed in key territories were meant to be the first phase of a larger operation.According to the documents we recovered, Chimera has been planning this for decades.
Nick leaned forward, his expression grave.And Etta was one of these assets?
All eyes turned to her, and Etta forced herself to meet their gazes steadily.This was the moment she’d been both dreading and preparing for since she’d decided to help eliminate the Chimera Program.
Yes,she said, her voice steadier than she’d expected.I was designated Asset E5.My real name is Eliana Thornwood.I was taken from the Silverleaf Pack in Montana when I was five years old, after hunters killed my parents.
She described the experiments, the memory suppression, the years of programming that had turned her into an unwitting spy.Each word scraped like glass in her throat, but she pushed on, compelled by the need for complete honesty.
I documented everything,she said, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.Security protocols, pack hierarchies, patrol patterns.Information that could be used against you.And I had no idea I was doing it.
