Page 2 of M.A.Y.A
She input the encryptions she was given and let out a breath in relief when there was a soft hiss, and each lock disengaged. Once she entered the room that smelled of mold and stale air, she scanned for guards, to ensure her perimeter was clear. Taking hesitant steps forward, she approached the metal disk in the center of the floor surrounded by a handrail.
As she inspected the bunker portal, she recognized the 1900’s style keypad, the rotary dials, and the small grey screen. This lock was a crypto linguist’s dream. Digging deep into her mind, relying on her skills that she’d once used daily, she got to her haunches, and ran a finger over the rusted widgets until the feel of the grooves and metal were familiar again.
“Please work,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. One flick of a dial, one button at a time, she entered what she believed was the keycode based on her interpretation of the prompt.
The sound of footsteps was getting louder, the building shuddered around her, and her breath caught as a blue light circled the bunker portal.
A deep hum, like a machine or light powering up, echoed through the room. When she heard a release of air—a decompression—she grabbed the handle and yanked until it opened just a fraction. Without hesitation, she slid through the crack and shut the door behind her. Even as she was cloaked in darkness, she let herself hope, something that she’d rarely allowed herself to do. Even if she couldn’t live a normal life, a life that she’d once dreamed as a child, she wanted to save others by making sure her captors could never enter the last bunker portal.
With that final defining thought, her world went dark.
ChapterOne
Earth, 2040, Dimension 6: United States of America
Isaiah Star paced his home library in slow, easy strides. Back and forth, back and forth. He’d become Alpha of his wolf pack in the Pacific Northwest three years ago after he inherited it from his father uncontested. He was marked at a young age, and as his parents’ only child, he knew the responsibility that rested on his shoulders to carry on his family’s legacy. His entire life had been about preparing for the role he possessed today.
Since his initiation, he’d worked tirelessly to expand their territory, establish peace treaties with humans and other shifter groups, and brought the pack’s businesses into the next century. He was involved in every minute detail in order to create a financially stable and safe place for his packmates to thrive.
As Alpha, Isaiah also worked hard at honing his physical and mental strength. His intuition was sharper than a knife’s edge. That’s why when something felt…off, he knew he had to pay attention. Today, his intuition was ringing alarm bells.
Just as he was about to make another turn around his library, Alex, the leader of his Beta council and his best friend, pushed through the door. “We’ve got a problem,” he said.
I fucking knew it.
“What’s wrong?” Isaiah replied. He felt his coat ripple just under the surface of his skin, as if his wolf was preparing for a shift.
Alex looked just as agitated when he combed his fingers through his thick, dark hair. He was the same age as Isaiah, but leaner with Irish and Scot genes while Isaiah’s broad build came from his North Indian and Scandinavian ancestry. Regardless of size, Alex was nearly as strong which was why he was such a powerful second.
“The Omegas are feeling your tension, and we’re starting to experience some infighting. I just came from breaking up a group of pups who had released their claws and drew blood.”
A deep, rumbling growl echoed through Isaiah’s chest. “Were they reprimanded?”
Alex sat facing the scarred wooden desk, his limbs too long for the chair he occupied. “Of course they were reprimanded,” he said. “But this is about you. You have to get a hold of your emotions. It’s so thick I can grab onto it. When was the last time you had sex?”
“Fuck, Alex,” Isaiah said, rolling his eyes. “Have some respect for your Alpha. Not everything is about sex.”
“With this it is,Alpha. It’s my job to watch your back as your second, but also as your best friend. We’ve known each other since we were born. I’m calling it like I see it: you get testy if you haven’t had some physical intimacy in a while, and now it’s affecting the entire pack.”
Isaiah continued his easy pacing, even though the tension in his shoulders tightened. “I’ve been busy. Everyone has entrusted me to expand and support the pack, and that takes time. More importantly, there’s been something that feels off lately. Just in the past month or so. It’s driving me insane. I need focus.”
Alex shook his head. “What could you possibly need to focus on that you haven’t taken care of already? After three years of establishing yourself as our leader, you’ve gained the respect and admiration of everyone in the pack. Enjoy the peace, brother. Get yourself some action before shifters start going feral.”
A part of him knew Alex was right. He had to manage his emotions, his needs, because whatever he felt could filter through and hurt his people. How long had it been since he’d taken a lover? Was it New York? No, Chicago. It was during the shifter Congress meeting. There, he’d found a Beta from a neighboring ally pack that was willing to scratch an itch. That was six months ago, and for an Alpha shifter, six months wastoo long to go without touch.
“I’ll think about it,” Isaiah finally said.
Alex leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees. “Look, you’re never going to find your mate if you’re holed up in your office, or in your cave.”
“Whoa, no one said anything about mating,” Isaiah said, palms raised. He felt the tickle of panic in the back of his throat. “I have enough responsibility on my shoulders than to mate.”
He’d spent thirty-two years on this earth, and he’d not once felt the mysterious pull from his fated life partner. Although he’d seen mates find each other over the years, his parents included, it wasn’t in the cards for him.
If he were to mate, his focus would no longer be the pack that he was destined to protect. No, his focus would become his mate, and he’d spend the rest of his life—and all the ones that followed—cherishing, loving, and protecting the other half of his soul.
As Alpha, he knew that a mate could be dangerous and fracture his priorities and for someone like Isaiah, that was unacceptable.
“You know my feelings about mating,” he said.
