Page 146 of Red Marked

One of the guards pulls the door open. Flint thanks him. I keep my mouth shut and my chin up and follow him in.

The office is one room with a fan turning overhead and a shifter male behind the counter. Flint puts the folder down in front of him, and I lay my ID on top.

The male looks at every page.

My palms are sweaty, so I press them flat against my shirt. I half expect him to know I’m a fraud. That my ID is fake.

He turns to the last page. Then he picks up Flint’s ID, glances at it, and puts it down. He picks up mine and looks at it, then at me, then at the card again.

I hold still, trying hard to act normal.

He reaches under the counter. I stop breathing. His hand comes back up with a stamp, and he brings it down on the top page, then twice more, further in.

“Welcome back,” he says to Flint. Then he turns to me, and the corners of his eyes crease. “So, Pearl. It says here you’re joining the capture team. Are you really going to hunt ferals?”

“I am.” I smile.

“A pretty female like you? Going after them? Really?”

“I’m very capable.”

“I’m sure you are. You look capable.” He leans on his forearms, his eyes on my breasts. He slides my ID across the counter to me and keeps one finger on it. “If the jungle doesn’t work out, we’re always hiring. The hours are better, and the company is⁠—”

“We need to go,” Flint growls. “Pearl already has a job…thank you.”

“Of course, yes…no problem.” He nods a few times.

“Thanks.”

I take my card, and we head out.

“Asshole,” Flint says under his breath as we walk out. “Don’t tell me he was just being nice.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Outside, we strip off again. Flint zips the folder into his duffel. Six guards are waiting in their scales at the end of the lot by the time we shift. They take to the air around us as we take off.

The cleared strip passes under my belly, and then there’s only jungle, green and unbroken, all the way to the mountains. My females are somewhere in those peaks. I look once and then keep my eyes on Flint’s tail.

The center appears between the trees, a cluster of white buildings inside a double fence. The only time I’ve seen this landing pad was in the middle of the night, and I was rushed across it like contraband. Today, I come down in full sun with an escort.

The guards don’t land when we do. They bank in a wide circle over the pad and head back the way we came.

Flint and I shift.

“So this is it?” I say.

“Welcome to the rehabilitation center, Pearl.” He hands me my bag. “Your new home.”

We get dressed and go inside.

We’re a few steps down the first hallway when a human male comes around the corner at a near jog and then slows to a stroll, like he happened to be passing. I recognize him, but I don’t remember his name.

“Hi, I’m Brian.” He sticks out a hand. “Welcome. You must be our new team member.”

I shake it. “Yes, I am. I’m Pearl.”

“It’s amazing to meet you, Pearl.” He’s still holding my hand. His ears have gone pink. “Can I show you around? I⁠—”