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"I know the feeling," Wi were you in? Was it hard? Why did you get out? Tell ht years, several small conflicts, and tars The Army was easy Be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there and do as you’re told I was the fastest and the strongest I killed people, soe I didn’t love it, but I didn’t lose ood at it I liked being in It took the edge off and I felt norot promoted quickly, E-5 in three years, E-6 in five The Army provides you with a place to sleep, feeds you, outfits you If you don’t have a family and don’t care about the latest car with the shiniest rims, there’s not much opportunity to spend the money I put away half o to places the Army didn’t send me I’ve been on six continents out of seven, and the seventh is a frozen wasteland I kept looking for the place that felt right and none of the eant First Class It’s alo and still stay with the soldiers I knew if they chained o off the cliff"

Sean leaned back and took another s of tea "I fought the as I could, and when I couldn’t anyot to ether on a restaurant Nothing fancy, just a good solid lunch place that served Korean food It had a good location and it did well When I got out, it had two other locations and was turning into a sht me out With what I put away and the buyout, I had about five years or so to figure out what I wanted to do Thought about going private, but I’d worked with contractors before and I didn’t like it So I’d been through Texas a few tiht a decent house, and tried being a civilian to see how long I would last And then some alien piece of shit cas and people, so here we are"

That was the longest I’ve ever heard hi and never finding that right spot, that place that said hoeneration later, with all the opportunities in the world, still a soldier The genetic prograeneration" Wilmos studied him "They didn’t tell you about Auul?"

Sean shook his head

Wilhed "I can’t say I blame them"

He turned to me

"Are those Anansi pearls in your cart?"

"Yes"

"What are you going up against?"

"A dahaka," I said Why not? Maybe he knew so about it

"A nasty breed Need all the a at the corner again, at the scale armor

"Why don’t you take a closer look?" Wilmos said

Sean rose and walked over to the armor "What is it?"

"Auroon Twelve Stealth armor, made specifically for alphas"

"It looks" I searched for the right word

"Flimsy?" Wilmos nodded "It’s nano armor Meant to fit under your skin Once you put it on, it never comes off Every alpha wore some version of it They used to say you don’t wear the are with your body, any form, any shape Ever seen your mother or your father show tattoos on their necks when they’re upset?"

Sean nodded "Sure"

"Then you knohen the tattoos show, you’re in trouble It’s an instinctual response When you’re angry or threatened, the ar you, isn’t it?"

"Yes," Sean said

"Is it for sale?" I asked

"No But it can be had" Wilmos smiled at Sean "If you want it, it’s yours I have no use for it But soht call on you for a favor, alpha That tiht about it

"Take it," Wilood trade"

"No It’s a bad idea" I kneould never take it Not in a million years He didn’t trust Wilmos and it was a sucker’s deal

Sean held out his hand "You’ve got a deal"

Wilet it fitted"

"Sean," I said

He looked at me "I don’t knohy, but I have to have it I can’t stop myself"

"It’s a built-in compulsion," Wilson said "Don’t worry Once it’s on, the feeling will pass"

"If it’s a coood idea," I told him

"I know" Sean’s eyes were open wide, his pupils so large that his irises looked completely black

"It will be useful to you I promise," Wilmos said "You’ll feel better"

He turned off the force field Sean stepped forward, pulled off his shirt, and touched the shiny scales The ray slid around his arm like metal snakes, over his shoulders, over his chest Thehim, and broke apart into a thousand tinyhappened, then the dots uttural, brutal shout that turned into a roar