Page 21 of Tracking the Alpha (Project Therianthrope #1)

Chapter Fourteen

The major had given an order, and Tanis had no choice but to obey.

When she couldn’t find Barrett to advise him of the change in plans, she headed to the ops room, where Stevens had left satellite imaging of the terrain for her to peruse.

It didn’t take long to find a few nearby clearings with space enough to tether bait and trees sizeable enough to hold her weight.

She settled on one and circled it on the map, even as she memorized the direction and approximate distance from the compound.

As she packed some stuff, she wondered how Barrett managed to leave the barracks without being seen.

Did it simply take wearing a uniform to be ignored?

Even if that worked, he couldn’t go many places.

The main building, with its facial-scanning security measures, would never give him access.

Knowing he roamed kept her distracted as she waited to be summoned.

After the midday meal of a shitty sandwich with mystery meat and a soft apple, she headed to the loft to stare out the window, which was where Wet-behind-the-ears found her.

He had a wide grin as he said, “I finally get to leave the base.”

Hardly a base but she didn’t correct him. “Where are you going?”

“With you into the woods. Major says I’m to carry a wolf for you and help secure it.”

“Are you insane? You can’t carry a wolf. It will take a chunk out of you.”

The boy chuckled. “It won’t be awake. Major’s gonna have it drugged. Says we’ll have plenty of time to get it where you want.”

Guess this would be happening. So much for Barrett joining her in bed tonight. “How long before we’re supposed to set out?”

“Within the hour. Major says they’ve already got the bitch ready to go. Just need to give Dr. Lindt time to spray me down.” He grimaced. “Gonna smell like dog piss until I can shower.”

“Dog?”

“Guess I should say wolf. Doc says the spray should have me smelling the same as the female I gotta carry. Not sure why I need to be skunked when you don’t.” He eyed Tanis with question.

“Because I know how to have my scent meld with the forest.”

“Why can’t I do what you do?”

“I don’t share my secrets.” How to explain she’d always had the ability to blend in?

She couldn’t have said how or why. Did it come from her heritage?

Had she simply spent so much time in the forest that her body didn’t smell like other humans?

Not to say she couldn’t be tracked. Barrett claimed he could smell her, and yet, when she went hunting, more often than not, animals never knew she lurked nearby.

The young man left, and Tanis paced, knowing the time for departure arrived quickly and she’d not seen Barrett. Best she could do was leave an obscure note in her room that looked as if she’d been making a checklist.

Bring rations. Ropes for snares. Change batteries in flashlight. Blanket for overnight.

Would he get the hint she’d gone back out into the forest?

Would he be okay without her?

Would she ever see him again?

With more questions than answers, she met up with the young soldier in the courtyard. She smelled him a few paces away and wrinkled her nose.

“Ew. That’s a strong scent of pine,” she commented. “And not wolfish at all.”

“The general apparently swung by the doctor’s office and said the smell they wanted to use was junk. Told them to make me stink like the forest instead. I think they used a little too much.”

“You’re like one of those cardboard tree air fresheners people get as stocking stuffers,” she remarked.

“Think it will be okay?”

“Yeah. It’s actually a better idea than faking an animal scent. Speaking of which, where’s the female wolf?”

“Coming.” As he replied, the door to the main building opened and a pair of white coats came out rolling a cage. Inside, a gray wolf, lying on her side, breathing deeply, eyes closed.

“You sure it’s female?” Tanis inquired. “Seems rather large.”

The guy with short-cut hair and a patchy beard didn’t look at her as he unlatched the cage and replied, “No, because we don’t know how to look between the legs to figure it out.”

Rude and uncalled for, but Tanis didn’t care because it kind of confirmed this wolf was most likely an experiment like Barrett.

It didn’t take long for the young soldier to load the female across his shoulders and follow Tanis out of the compound, which seemed a more fitting word than facility or base.

As they walked, Tanis chose to converse. “You know who I am, but I don’t know your name.”

“Private Thule. But you can call me Peter.”

“How long have you been here, Peter?”

“About two weeks.”

“Crazy posting,” she stated. “I thought soldiers only worked in war zones or on bases.”

“Me too. I got the summons soon as I finished basic and wasn’t even told where I was going. Me and two others were shipped out in the middle of the night.”

“Is it true none of you can call home?”

“Nope, nor do we get to go into town or anything.”

“Isn’t that weird?” She tried to draw him out slowly.

“I guess. Don’t know, this being my first posting and all.”

“What are the military even doing out here in the middle of nowhere?” she asked with what she hoped didn’t sound like a fake laugh.

“Dunno.” His voice lowered. “I’m thinking it’s probably to guard some kind of secret lab underground, though. I mean, why else the secrecy and all those doctors?”

“What kind of lab?” She hushed her own voice to give him the impression they were in cahoots.

“Who knows? Bioweapon, most likely.”

“I don’t know. I mean, what’s up with the wolf they had hiding in the main building?” Tanis tried to lead him in the right direction.

“You don’t think they had her brought in special either, eh? I don’t remember any deliveries, meaning she must have already been here. Maybe she’s like a lab rat for them to test on.”

“Seems like an actual rat would be cheaper,” she snorted.

“Hey, you don’t think the wolf that’s in the woods escaped from the lab, do you?”

“What makes you say that?”

Peter’s gaze darted left and right. “I heard it’s big as a bear and has it out for people.”

“It is definitely larger than normal and, from the sounds of it, quite vicious.”

Her claim led to his next question being high-pitched with nervousness. “How long until we get to the spot?”

“Not long.”

“Good, because I don’t think I want this wolf waking up while I’m holding her.”

Poor kid. She’d planted a seed, and it took root, creating fear. Good. If only she could warn him to flee, but that would put Barrett, and her, in jeopardy.

“We should be quiet now,” she murmured, “We’re getting close.”

Best to remain silent rather than spill too much.

Tanis led Peter to a clearing a few hundred yards from the compound.

A small fire had razed the area, and while growth had covered the ashes, trees had yet to dominate the space.

Once there, she had Peter lay the female down and she went to work creating a pair of rope lassoes.

She cinched one around a rear leg, and the other tethered the front.

Tanis left enough slack so that once the female woke, she could pace, just not escape.

The ropes themselves got anchored to trees, the ends of them wrapped several times and tied.

Could the wolf break free? Not likely, unless she chewed through the thick fiber.

Hopefully the wolf wouldn’t think of that.

Next, she set some snares while Peter watched. Apparently, the boy had been told to observe and absorb. More like Stevens ensuring she actually did her job.

When she finished covering them, Peter said his goodbyes, looking disappointed when she kindly rejected his offer to stay. Tanis had no interest in entertaining the boy, not when she suddenly had an idea. If the wolf were like Barrett, then would an injury bring her back to humanity?

Tanis paced around the sleeping beast, unable to bring herself to harm it. What if she were wrong? Barrett seemed to think it took a grievous wound for the trigger to work.

Maybe once the female woke, Tanis could try talking to her. See if she saw signs of humanity and intelligence in the gaze.

While she waited for that to happen, she located a tree and hung her pack from a branch. The walkie-talkie was clipped to the front, and she made a face at it. No hiding today. Not an issue since Barrett wouldn’t be coming around.

Late afternoon, as the sun began to set, a snuffling noise drew her attention to the wolf on the ground.

The female roused suddenly, springing to her feet and shaking out her fur.

The wolf stood still for only a second before trying to run, only to get yanked as the tether on her hind leg kept her from escaping into the forest. It led to a frenzied panic of the wolf thrashing and tugging, only to realize she was caught.

The wolf stilled but not calmly, judging by her heaving sides. Time to see if she was rational.

Tanis dropped from the tree and approached, crooning softly. “Easy now. I know this must seem confusing.”

The wolf whipped around and bared teeth as it snarled.

Tanis kept her gaze locked on the blue eyes, staring intently. “My name is Tanis and?—”

Forget explaining anything further. The wolf began to bark madly, and Tanis sighed. So much for reasoning with it. She retreated and crouched to sit at the base of a tree.