It's been months since anyone at the Committee has had any contact from the O'Connell family or their pack members, and they are not happy. Suspicious of the activities that took place in D.C. and determined to find out what the wolves are up to, the Committee recruits one of their newest residents, Dr. Matthew Dietrich, to play the part of neighbor and infiltrate the family.<br><br>Matthew has always been a keep-to-himself kind of person. Though idealistic and optimistic, he prefers to work in solitude, at night, while he researches the findings that he hopes will one day change the world. When he's approached by the executives of the Center, he has no idea why they'd choose him. And to say he is skeptical over the concept of men that can shift into wolves would be an understatement.<br>

Wolf, in League

“Thine,” Isaac intoned (for unless they had guests, it could be no one else, Matthew figured), his voice implying he’d known that all along and was just waiting to see if his sister caught on, “chances for survival are few and far between.”


“A holy house, then?” Matthew asked, continuing their game. “Dost thou deny us entrance?”


“Show first the value of your gifts—”


“Oh, my God, Hannah, stop,” Isaac hissed. “You’re wrecking it!”


He shoved her to the side, lightly enough for a brother’s push, and peered out at Matthew and Gavin. “Show first the value of thine gifts before I decide.”


“Enough.” Vaughn appeared behind both children and drew them back into the hallway. “Before I decide you both watch too much television for your own good.”


“That sounded far more like vernacular garnished from books than from the TV,” Matthew said. He walked up the steps toward the door and put out his hand. “Hello again.”


Chapter 38