Chapter 13 - Of Wolves and Daring Plans

It had always disappointed him how most ordinary humans thought of shifters such as him as being savage beasts. The one thing that his family found most amusing was how ordinary humans considered the animal that any shifter changed into as being separate in mind but not body to the spirit and body of the human. After all, the human and wolf body rarely existed as separate entities. While he was able to separate wolf from human and have both physically present not many shifters could do that. This was why whenever anyone from his family read a story on a shifter where the shifter spoke of "my wolf" they would snicker. After all, how could it be yours if it was you?

He supposed that the mystery behind shifters kept it possible for people like him to pass unnoticed. And while they could very well control the amount of strength they exerted, even when angry or upset, there were occasionally a few incidences where control had slipped creating almost urban legends. These were covered up cleverly with adrenalin theories and works of fiction that "explained" or invalidated whatever had been discovered so thoroughly most humans accepted that such things could never really happen in real life.

The hospital room was stark, he sat on the bed and behind him was a glass panel with blinds on it. All the standard equipment was in the room. It was very sterile.

He was very early; he had decided to be early just in case he decided to pull out. He still had several hours. He sighed, his brother Zachary would be unhappy with his decision to include Zachary's son. He could still remember the day that spurred his decision:

*Start of Flashback*

"Um Uncle Nate," Billy had walked into his office and shuffled awkwardly in front of his desk, "I need to ask you about something."

Nathan put down the file he had been going over and motioned for his nephew to sit in one of the teak and leather chairs in front of his titanium and glass desk. He watched the boy carefully. Billy had come up to his desk and hugged him. He hadn't done that since he was a kid. As they hugged Billy had opened his mind to his uncle.

What he saw shocked him. Men had approached his genius nephew and threatened his mother if he didn't help them. It would seem that his mother's new boyfriend was part of One World and they wanted to recruit Billy. It had come to their attention that Billy was a genius and he could be handy to them in the future.

They wanted to infiltrate Titania Holdings. Billy was just one of a few of the recruits on their list. They had recruits listed from all continents who were pegged for various enterprises across various sectors in the world. It looked like mafia-style corporate espionage. What Billy had figured out so far was invaluable to the investigation that Nathan started on the organization when he was still active on the force.

It also confirmed Nathan's suspicions. One World was attempting global domination on a whole new level. The power it had already was more than alarming. What had previously seemed like random acts of espionage and terrorism were acts that had been planned years ago.

One World was getting cocky and Nathan was going to bring it down. They had approached the love of his life in college and she had turned them down. As a result, she had lost her memory and had married another man. Nathan seethed at this thought.

Sadly, it was safer for her to be with that man than with him at the moment. It was the only thought that kept him sane. That and all the other precautions he had put in place to make sure that she was safe. He had a security detail around her at all times and another one that monitored the husband.

Billy sat across from his uncle and spoke of school, his mom's new man, and random things. Nathan knew immediately that even as they spoke One World was somehow monitoring their conversation so he kept the conversation light and asked what Billy's plans for school were. Out loud he offered Billy a scholarship to a prestigious private school where he would be taking up a teaching position as part of his philanthropic activities.

Mentally he told his nephew they would work something out and he would help him. Out loud Billy had been enthused about the scholarship opportunity and promised to talk to his mom about it. Billy looked interested. After making Billy promise to see his grandmother before heading back home Nathan pulled the boy into a man-hug and smiled at him.

"Your dad would be proud of everything you've achieved so far William. If you and your mom need anything at all you have my number. Call me."

*End of Flashback*

That had been a year ago. Billy had been 14 going on 15. Only one person on the police force knew most of Nathan's undercover operation and what it entailed. The plan was simple, infiltrate One World with his people, get evidence, take One World down and get his life back.

While preparing for the op it had come to his attention that the husband of the love of his life was heavily indebted to One World and they were now calling in for favors. Which was why he was not backing down from going undercover. His mother would have a heart attack if she knew what he was risking.

The procedure was one he had invented in high school. It was fairly simple; all you did was connect the consciousness and experience of one individual to the body of another. It was like using a remote control to operate the body of someone else only all the skills of both people were in the control of the body of the awake individual.

Surprisingly Billy had agreed to go ahead with the procedure. To make it all the more plausible Billy had stood up to his mom's boyfriend and found himself with a broken back and his mother had sent him to live with his grandmother to keep him out of trouble. This worked perfectly for Nathan's plans. One World wanted Billy to learn the ropes at Titania as a possible heir to the entire conglomerate. They wanted him to start young.

This made a lot of sense as Titania was at the innovative edge of technology. Virtually all the latest corporate and national security technology in the world had been developed by Titania's subsidiaries. All the work that Nathan had put into the company since his father had allowed him to have input was finally coming to fruition. The technology was almost alien in comparison to anything else on Earth.

Plus, who else could figure out how a genius like Nathaniel Woodcombe operated than another genius who also happened to be his nephew from his late twin brother no less? One World had its fair share of genius Nathan conceded. It was a brilliant plan. Fortunately, Billy had come to him first.

On the defense, he had his team prepare fully. His Elite Security team was comprised of only shifters and supernaturals. It was rumored that Nathan Woodcombe was the only American royal who could rustle together supernatural beings and get them to cooperate. Most Americans were full of self-righteousness that other supernaturals found overbearing.

Nathan's team had equipped Billy with a nano cam which was a micro-film that went over his eyeballs recording everything he saw as he saw it. The nano cam automatically registered geo-locations and could be turned on and off on a specific thought. In an emergency, such as its discovery, the micro-film could be removed as one would remove contact lenses. Such removal would turn the lenses into ordinary contact lenses with the information automatically backed up on servers on several continents.

To ensure that all bases were covered Billy had been taken to the optician and given special contacts to help with the migraine headaches he had developed after his accident. That was when the microfilm had been fitted.

Nathan had arranged for him to be told of his Lycan roots so that he knew when the change occurred what was happening. Billy's mother had never been told as her marriage to his brother had been brief and convenient. Soon after, Zachary's death had come, so there was no need to alarm her and include her in their world.

She was quite happy to not be involved with the Woodcombes and they tolerated her relationships with them. Naturally, this meant a small discrete security team to watch over the two of them in their town for Nathan and he got reports back on what was generally happening in their lives. He took pride in taking care of family even if they didn't know they were being taken care of.

Laying back on the hospital bed he let his mind drift. Thokozani's face was the focus of his mind's eye. His love was smiling at her mother but he could sense her sadness. Soon, they would be together until their natural lives ended. All he had to do was round off the investigation and bring One World down.