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

A slice of metal caught the lowered lighting. It gleamed as Arius caught it with two fingers, spun it once, then back, and caught it. The metal snickedand clinkedand settled, blade out.


Balisong, Matthew thought. His heart dropped from chest to belly. He could feel it laying there—he was sure of it—jackhammering furiously in his digestive juices. The taste of bile, of fear, rose in his throat. Both he and Gavin whispered, “Please,” at the exact same time.


“Oh, don’t be such a boor,” Arius said in deadpan, completely ignoring their plea. “It’s a butterflyknife. We’re not in the fucking Philippines. That’s like calling Santa Claus Saint Nicholas. Or fucking Odin, for that matter. Get with the times, doctor boy. You’re in America.” He held up the knife, pointing it at Matthew’s face. “It’s a goddamned butterfly knife.”


Matthew nodded, slowly. He couldn’t seem to make himself speak. Whatever you say, Arius. Butterfly knife it is.


Chapter 53