Page 13 of Tracking the Alpha (Project Therianthrope #1)

“No. One of Davidson’s damned hunters interrupted before I could finish the kill and have a bite.”

“Bear’s all right, but if you want a real treat, bison is the way to go.”

For some reason the conversation had him chuckling.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“This. Discussing wild game as if I weren’t eating mine raw and fresh from the kill.”

“If it helps, I eat most of mine barely singed on the outside.”

In the darkness where she couldn’t see his face—or his vulnerability—he asked, “Why aren’t you more freaked out by my situation?”

“What would be the point? You didn’t become a wild predator on purpose. As for your diet, it sounds normal for a wolf.”

“I killed people.” He stated it starkly rather than hiding his actions.

“You took out those who would have harmed you. I would have done the same. When it comes to survival, you can’t be squeamish. My grandmother taught me that.”

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

“Sounding like a whiny cunt,” he said with a sigh. “I used to be the guy who led his section into war zones and fended off insurgents and shot people in the line of duty, not bitching and moaning about the shit life dished out.”

“I think you’re doing surprisingly well, considering. If it were me, I’d probably have been more like that coyote. Rabid and out for blood.”

Her words made him wonder, would the others in his section, his friends-in-arms, be rational like him, or insane and incapable of returning to their humanity?

“What’s wrong?” As if sensing the somber turn of his thoughts, she reached out and lightly touched his knee. The warmth of it had him admitting his greatest fear.

“Just thinking about the others being held prisoner and wondering how many of them kept their sanity.”

“No way of knowing until we break them out.”

A snort escaped him. “As if that will ever happen.”

“Never say never. Weren’t you the one saying you stuck around so you could find a way?”

“Yeah, I said that, but I’m not stupid. I know it’s impossible. I’m a good soldier, but, like you said, I’m no Rambo. I can’t win against an army.” It would be a suicide mission, which he’d admittedly contemplated when despondency overwhelmed.

“How many soldiers does the general have guarding that military installation?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m surprised. Haven’t you been out here for weeks? Surely, you’ve scouted the facility he’s using.”

“I have, but Davidson is a wily fucker. He’s got all kinds of nasty scents layered around the place so I can’t get an accurate count.”

“Interesting.”

“Interesting how?”

“Why would he bother masking the odor of his soldiers unless he worried about you finding out actual numbers? It makes me think he might be running that place with a skeleton crew.”

“No way. Davidson’s got the prime minister herself bankrolling his project and access to all the resources he wants or needs.”

“So he claims. Let’s say the PM is aware of his actions, even condones them, it doesn’t mean she can just pull troops to give Davidson without justification.

What the general is doing, medical experiments on people, is illegal.

As in, the whole world would condemn Canada.

It’s drag-our-government-to-trial kind of illegal.

Seems more likely they’d be trying to use as few people as possible to avoid an accidental leak. ”

“I don’t know…” He didn’t hide his skepticism. “Davidson didn’t have a problem sending soldiers to die trying to capture me. He wouldn’t do that if he had a limited number.”

“According to you, he sent troops at first but then switched to civilians.”

“Because his soldiers weren’t able to track me, so he hired pros.”

“Conscripted,” she corrected. “I have to wonder if the hunters he nabbed were considered expendable, as in, no one would care if they didn’t come back.

Look at me, for example. Only one left of my line since my family is dead.

My tribe chief wouldn’t give a hoot if I came back or not, especially if the general threw some cash his way. ”

“What you’re saying makes sense,” he mulled aloud. “But I’m not sure how we can test your theory that he’s got only a few soldiers to guard the place. Even if I get close enough, I can’t smell shit because of what he’s done.”

“There is another option. I count them.”

“You’re going to spy on the facility? Pretty sure the sentries will notice you.” He pointed out the flaw.

“Why would I skulk outdoors when I can get inside?”

“What?” He couldn’t stop the exclamation. “You can’t go in there. Have you not listened to anything I’ve said? Davidson will kill you.”

“Only once he thinks I’ve failed. Keep in mind, the general has no idea we’ve met and I know what’s going on. Technically, I can show up and say I need to refill my food rations. Add in a bit of grumbling about how you’re the trickiest wolf I’ve ever met and he’ll never suspect.”

“I don’t know. Davidson is an asshole, but he’s also pretty astute.”

“You got a better idea?”

While it pained him to admit, he muttered, “No.”

“Then, it’s settled. Tomorrow, I’m going to return to the facility and give a report.”

“AKA, tell Davidson you failed, which he might take badly.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Out of curiosity, how long did those other hunters last in the woods?”’

“Two days max.”

“Meaning I’m already doing better than all of them. Surely the general will be impressed that you’ve not managed to eat me like you ate the others.”

He winced. “I didn’t eat them. It was self-defense.”

“Self-defense implies they managed to find you.”

“Okay, so maybe I went after them. Your point being?”

“My point is, unlike them, I’ve survived, so why would the general get rid of me when I’ve already done better than the rest?”

“You’ll still be returning empty-handed.”

“True, but having now encountered you, I can advise the general of a new plan of action.”

“The plan being?”

“That I need proper bait.” He saw her teeth gleam in the dark. “A wolf can’t resist fresh meat. Say like a goat or a cow tethered in the woods.”

“You’re going to make him source farm animals?”

“Yes, because while he’s having them brought, it will give me time to snoop around.”

Thus far, her suggestion actually sounded as if it might work, but for one thing. “You’re not a soldier, so I doubt you’ll have much leeway to poke.”

“Sneaking is in my ancestral blood.”

“If you get caught?—”

“My ass is grass. I know. It’s also toast if I don’t bring you in, so I don’t see as I have much to lose.”

She had a point, and he didn’t like it. The hand on his knee squeezed. “You should be happy you’ve got an ally.”

“I don’t understand why you’d go through this trouble for a stranger.”

“Hardly strangers anymore and, besides, we have a common enemy.”

“You are being much too calm about this.”

“As opposed to…” She let the sentence trail off.

“I don’t know. Aren’t you scared? Freaking out?”

“Of course I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to have a meltdown. What would that solve? Grandmother always used to say, ‘Don’t cry about the possibilities. Work toward an outcome.’”

“Pretty sure that doesn’t apply to life-and-death situations.”

“Actually, it’s the perfect scenario. I don’t want to die, therefore it is in my best interest to work, with you, to ensure my best chance at survival.”

“Hardly working with me if you enter the compound where we can’t communicate.”

“I’ll only be inside for a few days. Once I get the intel, I’ll head back out to the woods where we can meet up and plot how we’re going to take the place down. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get my hands on some keys and we can fly to the nearest town and spill the beans on what’s happening.”

“The minute word leaks, the general will raze the place to the ground rather than risk being caught.”

“Meaning we need to free the folks he’s got inside first. I’ll keep an eye open for any holes in the security.” She patted his knee as she countered his every qualm.

Why couldn’t he shake the sense of something amiss? Everything she said was right. Her offer to help was exactly what he needed and, at the same time, too good to be true. A sudden thought hit him. What if she lulled him into a false sense of security?

“Why are you suddenly tense?”

Rather than let her know he was on to her, he lied. “I thought I heard something.” With that excuse, he fled the cave and watched it from a distance.

Waited for the betrayal that never came. No soldiers descended on his hiding spot. He didn’t hear them even close.

When Tanis emerged in the morning, looking left and right, obviously seeking him, regret at doubting her intention almost had him calling. Just as he opened his mouth and readied to reveal himself, she pulled out the walkie-talkie, and he heard the click as she turned it on.

The device almost immediately squawked with a voice that made his tummy clench. “About time you reported,” barked General Davidson.

Tanis planted a hand on her hip as she betrayed him. “Target’s den located.”