Lured

Chapter 2- Ceri

I knew Ghost had his suspicions about me despite me doing everything I could to ease his suspicious nature. I shrugged it off, he wouldn't be the first and he wouldn't be the last. I had bigger problems to deal with. Which is why I was up at 4.30am towel and bottle in hand heading for the training room. I pushed open the door to reveal blessed silence and emptiness which is exactly why I was here. I put my headphones in, blasted my music and headed for the weights. 

I didn't build muscle as easily as some other shifters or hybrids were capable of, however they did help me get stronger. I picked up a set of weights that would make almost everyone look at me in shock. Being very slender and pale, most people assumed I wouldn't be able to lift much. Unbeknownst to them, I had spent almost two centuries honing my skills and abilities. Fortunately for me, I found myself on a team of shifter soldier men also used to lifting heavy. I piled three hundred kilos onto the bar and began a warm up set of bench pressing. As my sets progressed, I added additional weight until I began to struggle. At that point I did a one rep max before resetting the weight. I moved around the bar with an ease that came with practice working my entire body in the hour that I had to myself before the gym became littered with men who would gawk at me as I moved around in my leggings and training bra. 

I checked the time and packed away the equipment and wiping everything over before I slipped out of the gym. I caught sight of Ghost coming around the corner however I ignored him as I headed for my room. I figured that being a great horned owl he tended to find himself awake at night far more often than not.

He seemed to have the same thought, ignoring me as he headed for the gym himself. I hoped he got his head out of his ass soon though, I knew Price would want us to work together more often. 

I showered and dressed presentably and headed for Price's office. 

"Come in," he called before I'd even knocked on his door. Instead the hand I'd lifted went to the door knob turning and pushing the door open. 

"How do you always know it's me?"

"Do I really have to answer that?" He asked without even looking up from his paperwork.

"I suppose not," I laugh softly. "Though I do have to ask, how do you manage to resist my particular brand of charm?"

"I have my ways," he smiles slyly finally leaning back in his chair. "Now what have you done to make Ghost so suspicious of you?"

"No idea. My guess is my passive aura affects him strongly enough that he forgets his concerns, and when I'm no longer near him his suspicions return harder. It happens sometimes. Shifters are usually immune to it though."

"If I'd known you were going to cause problems with Ghost, I might not have called in my favour."

I shrug non-commitally. "It's not like I'm doing it intentionally. Hell, if he wasn't so high strung and suspicious normally, I doubt it would even be a problem."

"He's earned his right to be suspicious."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I wave him off. "I know what you've said and I respect your decision."

"Then you'll let me tell him the truth?"

"Absolutely not. You know exactly how my kind have been persecuted over the centuries."

"Ghost isn't like them. And you make a great team, he'd accept you."

I shake my head. "No one accepts me Price."

He grins at me. "I do."

I freeze, mulling over his words. They sound sincere. "I'll think about it."

"Fine. But you have duties to attend to."

"Yes sir." I stand and head out, again seeing Ghost lurking down the hallway. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought he was following me. I did know better and decided he was following me. I slipped into my room, changed out of the typical green uniform and slipped into a black outfit that was not military in anyway. In fact it was a very formal looking dress with a thigh high slit. I slipped some stiletto heels on and applied some make up, my hair tumbling down my shoulders. 

I stepped out into the hallway, only to run into Ghost standing right outside my door looking shell shocked. 

"Ceri-" He stepped back as he finally saw my outfit. "What the hell?" He asked, frowning shaking his head as if he felt foggy.

"You look great!" He said as his expression lightens. "Where are you off too?" 

I sigh slightly closing my eyes in irritation, wondering why Ghost had been outside my door at all. 

"I have some stuff to do for Price. I'll be back later." I stepped around Ghost really not wanting to be late to be meeting an informant. Ghost frowned in confusion wanting to ask follow up questions, but I was already gone before he could ask them.