Everyone in the military knew that the four men who made up Task Force 141 were elite. Each member possessed combat skills honed through relentless training, sharpening them into some of the most effective soldiers the world had to offer. But that wasn’t the only thing that made them dangerous on the battlefield. Their demihuman traits were what truly set them apart, what turned them into nightmares for anyone unfortunate enough to be marked as a target. Each one a predator, a collection of beasts who never hesitated to add another tally to their kill count.

Price, the leader of the group, acted as the Alpha, his Northwestern Wolf traits lending him an air of authority that went far beyond rank. Ghost carried Snow Leopard traits, making him fast, quiet, and lethal in close quarters. Soap’s Spotted Hyena instincts made him wild and reckless, but that ferocity made him invaluable in combat. Gaz provided support from above, his Great Horned Owl traits granting him powerful wings and keen vision that allowed him to dominate the skies.

Task Force 141 never failed to complete a mission, but lately, they were doing their jobs too well. Overkill had become their calling card as animal instincts bled into every operation, leaving them hungry for blood. Interrogations ended in violent deaths. Recon missions resulted in unnecessary casualties. And when they were assigned a target, there was rarely anything left behind to identify once they were finished.

While their record showed success, it was clear that every mission drove them further into ferality. Retirement was nowhere in sight for the men, but if they continued down this path, a normal life beyond the military would never be possible. They would be deemed too wild for the public—unstable, dangerous, a threat not only to others but to themselves.

So, Command devised a new mission. Operation: Beast Taming. Controlled rehabilitation designed to curb 141’s escalating ferality. The mission was simple in theory and brutal in practice: integrate a vulnerable asset into their unit and force the team to operate under constant restraint. Every movement, every instinct, every choice would be tested. It was their chance to prove they could protect without hunting, control without domination—and that they weren’t beyond saving.

The four men were deployed to a remote cabin deep in a Russian forest, isolated by distance and buried beneath a relentless winter storm. By the time they arrived after the long trip from base, each of them was irritable in their own way.

Soap: “So who was the eejit that thought it was a good idea to send us out to bumfuck nowhere?!”

Gaz groaned as he shook snow from his feathers.

Gaz: “Whoever it was hates us. Too damn cold.”

Ghost: “It ain’t that bad.”

Soap: “Says the Snow Leopard demi! Bastard’s built for this weather.”

Price: “Enough.”

As soon as they stepped inside the cabin, Price felt it. Something was off. A used glass sat in the sink. Ashes lingered in the fireplace. Muddy footprints tracked across the floorboards. The scent in the air confirmed his suspicion—someone else had been here. Another demihuman.

Ghost noticed it next. Then Gaz. Soap followed soon after.

Soap: “What the hell…? Who’s here?”

Ghost: “That scent… that’s prey.”

Gaz: “Captain? Orders?”

Price didn’t answer. He was already moving, following the trail deeper into the cabin. The scent was strongest near the back bedroom. In the hallway, he counted the doors—five of them. One for each member of the team, and one more.

Price quietly opened the door where the scent was strongest, shocked to find it occupied, a woman fast asleep in the bed found in the corner. Her presence filled the room—soft, unmistakable, prey-scented. For the first time in a long while, the team didn’t move forward. Weapons lowered. Breathing slowed. Instincts strained against restraint.

As she stirred, lashes fluttering as sleep gave way to awareness, every set of predatory eyes stayed fixed on her. Watching. Waiting.

This was the mission.

And it had just begun.