Page 20 of Tracking the Alpha (Project Therianthrope #1)

Chapter Thirteen

The knock at the door had Tanis opening her eyes to daylight and then flailing in her cot in shock.

She’d not meant to fall asleep, especially for that long.

How had that happened? A hunter never slept so deep.

Judging by the way Barrett had been just as startled, it had been accidental for him too.

Had they been drugged? Could it have been in the food she’d consumed at dinner?

But that wouldn’t explain why Barrett passed out hard too.

“Ms. Rivard, ma’am?” The person outside her door called out her name, and the doorknob began to turn.

No time to get Barrett out. Tanis sat up and yanked the sheet to her bare chest creating a tent over her bedmate just as a head poked into her room. She recognized the young soldier she’d spoken to the day before.

“Excuse me. Why are you barging into my room?” Tanis huffed, keeping her gaze from Barrett, who had his face buried in the pillow. What could the young man see? Would he realize Barrett shouldn’t be here?

Wet-behind-the-ears offered a sheepish and apologetic smile. “Sorry, ma’am. You didn’t respond when I first called out. You’re wanted by the major as soon as possible.”

“What time is it?” she grumbled, even as she wondered if the young man lied. No way she’d slept through him shouting unless someone tampered with her somehow.

“It’s just past oh-seven-hundred, ma’am.”

Her brows rose. “That late?”

“Yeah. Everyone slept in. Seems like you’re not the only one who had a bit too much fun last night. A few never even made it to bed after playing cards. Must have been a wild night.” His graze went to the uniform and boots strewn on the floor.

Her cheeks heated. “If you don’t mind… I should be getting dressed so I can go see the major.”

“Of course. You should tell your friend to get moving as well. Major’s already ranting about punishing the lazy.”

The young soldier closed the door, and Tanis heaved out a breath. “That was close.”

“But shouldn’t have been. I never sleep that deep,” grumbled Barrett.

“Me either, which suggests an outside influence.” She glanced at the ceiling with the ventilation shaft inset. “Think they pumped a sleeping drug throughout the barracks?”

“Why do that?”

“At a guess, they were moving some of the captives last night and didn’t want anyone not in on the secret seeing.”

“Seems kind of extreme.”

“Only if you assume everyone’s in on the secret. I don’t get the impression the soldiers really know what’s going on. The guy who just knocked for example. He’s convinced the coyote we encountered somehow got inside the walls, killed someone, and escaped again.”

“It’s possible they’re unaware,” Barrett replied slowly. “I never actually saw anyone in uniform other than the general while I was held captive. Only doctors in white coats.”

“Making them innocent.” Her nose wrinkled. “Guess we’ll have to factor that into any plan we make.”

“A plan ruined by sleep,” he grumbled.

“I’m sorry you missed your chance to do anything.”

“Not your fault.”

“If I’d not dragged you to bed?—”

“Don’t you dare apologize for that. That was sorely needed and amazing.” He reached over to run a fingertip down her ribcage. “Being with you gives me a reason to not give up.”

She shivered at both the words and touch.

She could have corrected his misassumption it would happen again.

After all, Tanis didn’t usually do relationships, preferring the freedom of making her own choices.

However, she, too, couldn’t help but recall the pleasure and passion.

The exhilaration of them coming together.

The sense of connection and rightness and fulfillment she’d never experienced before, likely caused by the fear of discovery along with the thrill of taboo.

It would most likely wear off after a few more skin-to-skin bouts.

Then, he’d say something stupid, and her attraction to him would shrivel. ..

“You should get going before the major gets suspicious,” he reminded.

“What about you?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“I’ll figure something out. Now that I’m on the inside, time to see what kind of damage I can wreak.”

“Won’t sabotage give you away?”

“Only if I’m caught.” His grin had her quivering in spots that should have been sated. “There’s ways of causing havoc that will seem accidental. The more I can disrupt Davidson’s operation, the more likely we’ll get them distracted enough we can free the others without a fight.”

She bit her tongue lest she mention her fear his friends might be more like the coyote than him. They’d deal with that when the time came.

Tanis rolled out of bed and dressed comfortably. Athletic pants along with a matching tight shirt layered with a plaid, sherpa-lined sweater coat. As she slid her feet into her boots, which had thankfully dried since her dip in the creek, she glanced at Barrett from under her lashes.

“Where do you want to meet up later?” A brazen query that made assumptions.

“I’d say the best spot is right here in your room. If you don’t see me before dinner, expect me before lights out.”

“Assuming you’re not caught.” She worried. While a uniform would help him blend in, the soldiers would immediately notice the new face and question where Barrett came from.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I am not planning on being captured.

” He rose from the bed, naked and just as splendid looking as the night before.

She clamped her thighs together to control the arousal quivering between her legs, but that didn’t stop him from sensing it.

His nostrils flared, his eyes flashed, and a wild sheen rolled over them for a second.

“I will see you later,” he growled in a low tone before dragging her close for a kiss.

The embrace curled her toes and had her pussy clenching so tight she had a mini O. She’d not even thought that possible from just a kiss.

“Be careful what you say and do around the general and major,” he murmured.

Tanis planned to be super cautious. However, she worried that the major would somehow suspect who she’d spent the night with.

If she were caught sleeping with the target…

She’d be just as screwed as if she caught him or didn’t.

There was no winning scenario but the one that saw this place dismantled.

Exiting her room took more courage than expected.

Tanis half expected soldiers to be waiting to take her in custody.

A dumb fear because had they wanted her or Barrett captured they’d have done it while they were conked out.

Obviously, no one knew the wolf in sexy man-flesh had infiltrated.

Hopefully Barrett managed to move around without anyone noticing.

It helped that the current soldiers hadn’t ever seen him.

Still, the appearance of a new soldier might give rise to questions.

Not something she could worry about and she needed to settle her qualms before meeting the major, or she’d be the one to give Barrett away.

She hit the communal bathroom for a pee and a wash of her face, mumbling a good morning to the groggy-eyed soldiers that staggered in.

She left as they complained about having a hard time shaking fatigue and exclaiming over the fact they’d fallen asleep playing cards.

Just reinforcing the drugging hypothesis.

The scanner at the main building made her go through its usual routine before giving her admittance. Rather than joining the major in the ops room, though, he stood just outside the door, beside Dr. Lindt.

“Good morning,” Tanis stated.

“You’re late,” Stevens snapped.

Her brow arched. “Not sure how you figure that when I only was informed less than fifteen minutes ago that you wanted to see me.”

“You’d have known earlier if you’d gotten up at a proper time and gone to breakfast,” his riposte.

“Excuse me for getting the first good night’s sleep I’ve had since getting here.” Her temper flared, and she clenched her fists. Prudence indicated she shouldn’t be antagonizing Stevens.

“Surrounded by laggards,” Stevens grumbled. “Anyhow, now that you’re here, I had a chance to discuss with Dr. Lindt your idea of baiting our wolf.”

“Dr. Lindt says you already tried, and it failed to work,” Tanis pointed out. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

The major shrugged. “At the time, it wasn’t information I felt you needed. Anyhow, she had a suggestion we wanted to run by you.”

“I’m listening.” Tanis folded her arms.

Dr. Lindt pushed up her red-rimmed glasses.

“The major told me that you asked for some livestock hoping to tempt the wolf, but as I told you, the last time we tried that, the beast went after those who staked it out instead of the creature. Perhaps appealing to its belly isn’t the hunger we should be targeting. ”

A crease between her brows, Tanis replied, “I’m not sure I follow.”

“A wolf, or any wild creature for that matter, is driven by a few basic needs. Hunger and survival being the most obvious,” the doctor explained.

“But an alpha male, such as the wolf we’re trying to recapture, has another driving imperative.

” She paused before stating, “Reproduction. He’ll be seeking a female to give him pups and to satisfy his carnal desires. ”

Her matter-of-fact statement had Tanis suddenly reliving the night before. How Barrett came to her and allowed her to seduce him. Had he truly been that attracted, or was he just answering a biological need? Did it matter? She’d been a willing participant.

“I think it will be harder to find a female wolf than a cow or goat,” Tanis pointed out.

“Not really. As you’ve probably guessed, we are doing some animal studies in this facility. The wolf that escaped isn’t the only canine we have in custody. We actually have several others, including a female he is familiar with.”

The admission chilled Tanis’ blood. “You want to set a second wolf free?”

“Goodness no,” chuckled Dr. Lindt.

The major jumped in. “We would take every precaution to ensure the female is secured. Tether her instead of a goat or cow to draw the missing male.”

They wanted to whore out another prisoner—one Barrett already knew—to capture him?

Jealousy reared its head, and it took Tanis a second to push past it and give them a valid reason to scrap that plan.

“While the idea has merit, it has a high likelihood of failure. Mating is about more than presenting the opposite sex. Wolves, like people, need to form a connection. You can’t simply expect the alpha to sniff a female in the vicinity and immediately decide to lay a claim. ”

“He wouldn’t be able to resist if she’s exuding the right pheromone,” Dr. Lindt countered. “We have a drug to put her in heat.”

“I can’t believe you’re advocating rape,” Tanis blurted out.

“They’re animals. Consent is a human thing,” the major remarked with a sneer.

Tanis once more had to bite her tongue lest she make another statement that revealed she knew these wolves weren’t animals.

Who knew what would happen if the major or general realized she’d figured out their secret.

However, how could she condone staking out a victim oozing “mount-me” pheromones?

Then again, Barrett wasn’t a furry beast anymore, so it wasn’t as if he’d actually be tricked into coming for a shag.

Knowing that, why the heck was she arguing so hard? If they wanted to waste time, let them.

“Guess there’s no real harm in trying to lure the wolf using a female in heat. Guess the question is, how do we get her to a location where I can set a trap? I can’t exactly walk her there on a leash like I would a cow or a goat,” Tanis pointed out.

“I’ll have some soldiers carry the cage for you. Just try not to go too far.”

Tanis shook her head. “That’s no good. They’ll be shedding their scent all over the place.”

“Not if we spray them,” Dr. Lindt offered. “We’ve been working on some scents.”

“And have you tested them to see if they work?”

“No, but we’re fairly confident in them.”

“When do you want to do this?” Tanis asked.

“The sooner, the better,” the major jumped in to say. “You will keep your walkie on at all times.”

“So you can ruin my hunt again?” she riposted.

“We promise to keep radio silence, but we want to keep track of your location so we can be ready to swoop in and secure the beast. Now I assume you’ve already chosen where to spring this trap.”

“I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“Why the delay? You claimed only yesterday that you returned to study the maps to decide where you’d be setting up next.”

“When did I have time? You had Dr. Lindt here asking me questions a good chunk of the afternoon,” Tanis complained.

The major’s lips pressed into a tight line. “You have this morning to figure it out. I want a location before lunch.” Not asked, demanded.

Tanis didn’t tell him where to go with his attitude. She nodded. “I can do that.”

What she couldn’t do was find a way to let Barrett know what had happened because when she returned to her room, he was already gone.