Page 36 of Anders (The Sunburst Pack #2)

T HE NEXT WEEK, AS Anders’s truck crossed an invisible boundary line reentering Sunburst territory, it shimmered through Etta in a ripple of awareness that traveled up her spine and settled somewhere behind her breastbone.

After spending the morning riding the perimeter with Anders as he removed the last of the Chimera Program’s surveillance equipment, returning to Sunburst land felt…right.

Pack land .

Territory that part of her recognized on an instinctive level, despite having no conscious memory of ever experiencing such a connection before.

You feel it, don’t you? Anders asked.

Etta suspected he didn’t need her confirmation; the mate bond between them transmitted her response clearly enough. Still, Etta nodded.

It’s like…coming home, but to a place I’ve never been before. She turned to look at him, studying the strong profile that had become so dear to her in such a short time. Is that normal?

For shifters, yes. Anders’s hands were relaxed on the steering wheel, but Etta could sense his heightened awareness as they moved deeper into pack territory.

Always the guardian, even—perhaps especially—here.

We’re connected to the land in ways humans aren’t.

Even with your memories suppressed, your wolf recognized this as safe ground.

The irony wasn’t lost on her. She’d spent weeks here as Chimera’s unwitting spy, reporting on the very sanctuary that now called to her at the deepest level, blood and bones.

The pack may not see it that way, she said softly, giving voice to the fear that had been growing as they approached the pack. I betrayed them. Not intentionally, but the end result is the same.

Anders’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. You were a victim, not a traitor. Malcolm and Larissa understand that. The rest of the pack will too.

His certainty was both reassuring and more than a little terrifying. Etta envied his confidence, even as anxiety churned in her stomach. The man beside her was respected by his pack, his judgment trusted.

But he was also emotionally invested in Etta in a way that clouded objectivity—a fact that neither of them could ignore.

And if they don’t? she pressed, needing to hear the contingency plan. Her time as Chimera’s asset might have been unconscious, but the analytical thinking they’d cultivated in her remained.

Anders was silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the road ahead.

Then we leave, he said finally.

The simplicity of his answer stole her breath. Anders Hamilton, whose entire identity was wrapped up in his role as head guardian, would abandon his pack for her.

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.

She looked directly at Malcolm and Larissa, refusing to hide from the consequences of the actions she couldn’t remember committing. I betrayed you without knowing it. I understand if you can’t trust me because of that.

A tense silence filled the room. Etta could feel Anders’s protective instincts flooding their bond, his body coiled with readiness should anyone move against her. But it was Sarah who spoke first, her voice surprisingly gentle.

The surveillance equipment we found in the basement of the newspaper office—you planted it?

Etta nodded, shame burning in her chest. Much of it, yes. Apparently during blackouts I can’t remember. The programming would activate, and I would…follow orders. The words tasted bitter on her tongue.

But you broke through the programming, Una observed, her sharp eyes studying Etta with an unsettling intensity. How?

Anders answered before Etta could. The mate bond.

It accelerated the breakdown of the chemical suppression, which in turn weakened the neural programming.

When the Chimera operatives activated the Epsilon Protocol—their kill switch—Etta’s wolf responded with a complete shift, burning out most of the interface’s control circuits.

Most, Raymond noted. Not all.

The diagnostic monitoring systems were still functional, Etta swallowed hard. They could track my location, possibly my vital signs, but they could no longer control my actions.

And now? Una asked.

Now the device has been removed, Anders said. We believe it’s been neutralized. But if it hasn’t, we’ll have to deal with it.

Removed with the help of doctors from other packs, right? Raymond asked.

Nick leaned forward, elbows on the table as he leaned around to look at the older shifter a few seats down from him. I brought in the Moonstone Pack’s doctor, Greg Weiss. I can absolutely vouch for him.