Free Sol: Luna Lodge #1 by Madison Stevens

today. He was ready to take out anyone that might be trouble, the deep scars on his face contorted in rage.
    Sol shook his head. “I’ve observed her multiple times without her knowledge. She’s not with them. However, they do still want her. Mark had been trying to recruit her to rope us in, but it seems the group has other plans.”
    He paused and looked around the room at the various hybrids to express the gravity of the situation. “They mentioned Bona Dea. We have underestimated them. They were able to identify her as a Vestal somehow before we had even met.”
    “Vestal?” Carter chimed in.
    “The idea with the Bona Dea project was that the right women was needed in order to create a second-generation hybrid.” Sol’s eyes shifted to the other non-hybrids at the table. “The Vestal is such a woman. One that produces a certain pheromone that entices the male hybrid.”
    Carter looked between Titus and Sol. “And Ms. Scott is a Vestal.” He looked to Titus for a long moment. “I assume Kate Walker is as well.”
    Titus nodded his head slowly.
    “And why didn’t the others pick up on her?” Carter asked.
    “I have a theory,” Dr. Fisher said. The balding man was one of the few doctors they had allowed to inspect them over this past year. Despite his genetics background, the doctor only poked once and took enough for what he needed. He also treated them like equals, like humans.
    Sol also suspected that the man’s age played a factor. This man was not a threat.
    “Please,” Titus said.
    “You are an alpha,” he said to Titus. He held up a hand when Titus started to argue. “I realize that you don’t follow traditional wolf pack rules, but your genes might not care about that. The reaction you had to Ms. Walker was likely to a specific pheromone that particularly attracts alpha males.”
    Sol considered the idea. It very well could be. Although he could sense it in her, it wasn’t nearly as strong as what he was getting from Erica.
    “Could that be true for each of us?” he asked the doctor.
    Dr. Fisher considered the idea for a moment. “It’s a possibility. We would really need to call in an expert for this.”
    “No,” Titus said. “I’ll not have my men poked and prodded just to see what gets them hot and bothered. We’ll sort this on our own with what we have.”
    The doctor sighed. “I understand, but there might come a time when you want to change your mind. If anything, for the sake of your men. If they are only attracted to certain pheromones, it could make finding a woman difficult.”
    Sol turned to Titus, who seemed deep in thought. They might have to compromise at some point in order to make a life for themselves.
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” Titus said after a moment.
    “Another concern I’d like to mention is that Kincaid must be working with someone other than just the Horatius Group.” Some murmurs came from the table. “We know that some in Washington are not happy with our new freedom. I suspect they are the ones who helped him get in and might even be connected with the Group.”
    “Let’s not be rash here!” Carter jumped from his chair and shouted from the other side of the table.
    “Tell me I’m wrong!” Sol shouted back. “Someone had to have the pull to get him in here and direct him to my office. Lot of lobbying groups in DC. Maybe the Horatius Group is just another one with a few politicians in their pockets.” He breathed in deeply. “It’s not too easy to forget when someone calls you an abomination and pushes for you indefinite imprisonment.” He looked into Major Carter’s eyes. “Tell me again it’s not possible.”
    Carter nodded after some time. “We’ll keep all possibilities on the table. But the fewer that know this, the better. If they are working with people in DC, we’re going to need the element of surprise.”
    “Agreed,” Titus said. He looked around the group of men gathered at the table. “This does not leave this