Page 29 of Tracking the Alpha (Project Therianthrope #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Barrett probably should have been more concerned about the fact something so vicious had escaped, but in truth, it wasn’t his fucking problem.

The prisoner with wings had just as much right to freedom as he did.

And if it killed? Again, not Barrett’s fault.

Blame the military. Blame those who thought it okay to experiment without permission or compassion.

The only thing Barrett cared about? Getting his people to safety.

As they journeyed, the captives’ individual stories emerged, all very similar in the sense they’d all been given the protocol. Where they differed, other than the pair who never changed at all? Not everyone needed to be severely wounded to shift.

One guy, named Morton, who’d not been part of Barrett’s section, could turn into a wolf on the full moon, and like a werewolf, his furriness ended at dawn.

Phoenix could actually shift on demand into a tiger, which explained the amber eyes.

Takhi, also a giant orange feline, declined an offer to injure her to change her into a woman.

Understandable, seeing as how they didn’t have any extra clothes to give her and it was getting chilly, especially overnight.

It turned out the majority of the group turned into wolves, which included Barrett, Freya, Radley—who still hugged himself and didn’t talk much—Zendaya—who’d gone from screaming to not saying anything at all and staring blankly—and one of the strangers named Lawrence.

Idris claimed to be a bear and proved it when he stubbed his toe.

Unlike most who required severe injury, the slightest booboo had Idris turning furry, or human, depending on his current shape.

Given he shredded his clothes transforming, though, he ended up having to travel on four paws.

Only two people couldn’t change at all despite supposedly having all the right genetics.

Slater and Jasmine. Both bore scars from the attempts to injure them and force the shift.

Would they ever change into an animal? No one knew for sure, and there wasn’t anyone they could ask.

Slater joked he’d probably end up being something dumb like a turtle.

Barrett hoped it wasn’t something worse.

Hearing how some people died because they lacked gills to breathe made him realize how lucky he was—how lucky they all were—to be alive.

They surprisingly enough ate well. Takhi the tiger and Idris the bear, along with Tanis, hunted for the group, meaning they had meat to keep them strong.

Tanis knew the art of making a fire without a lighter or a flint.

She taught them how to spit and cook the rabbits and venison they caught.

Flayed fish with the simple utility knife Barrett had managed to hold on to and fried them on rocks.

Not much late-season fruits or vegetables in the woods, but no one seemed to care.

Blame the fact most of them carried a carnivore inside.

Their long journey on foot gave them much time to discuss their next move.

The debate on whether to expose Project Therianthrope tended to garner the most heated discussion.

Much as everyone wanted revenge, a surprising number didn’t feel going public would work to their benefit.

As Freya pointed out, “Humanity has a tendency of balking at anything they don’t understand. ”

“I think the word you’re looking for is killing,” Slater bluntly stated. “Most will see us as mutants. A danger to society.”

“Are they wrong?” Radley quietly stated.

“I wouldn’t hurt anyone unless they deserved it,” Idris insisted indignantly.

“Me either!” piped in Morton.

It was Barrett who pointed out the cold hard reality. “Radley’s got a point. After all, Wendell stated they couldn’t be sure if what they did to us was contagious. Not to mention, we still don’t know why some of the patients turn rabid.”

A prime example? Zendaya. Three days into their trip, she snapped out of her walking, comatose state.

Barrett had hoped that being free—and in her human body—would help her to recover.

Instead, as they were walking, she suddenly threw herself at Freya and tried to rip out her throat.

When Idris pulled her off Freya, poor crazed Zendaya bolted—and ran right off a cliff.

They’d all stood at its edge and stared in silence at her broken body lying at the bottom of the gully.

Phoenix and Freya kept watch for hours in case she suddenly healed by turning into a wolf that would come after them.

They didn’t relax their vigilance until the scavengers came along and proved she was truly dead.

Zendaya wasn’t the only one to suddenly snap. It came out of nowhere with Lawrence. He’d not been super talkative, but he’d seemed all right considering. In his case, he didn’t try to kill anyone, just quietly hung himself.

Would that be the fate of them all? Utter despair or bloodthirsty violence?

The not knowing—and fear he could be contagious—led to Barrett distancing himself from Tanis, despite the fact he wanted her more than ever.

They’d only had that one magical night together, and yet he dreamed of her every time he closed his eyes.

Wanted to taste her so bad, he kept biting his tongue, using pain to distract.

Tanis had to have noticed the way he avoided being alone with her—easy to do in a group their size—but she said and did nothing about it until they actually reached civilization almost a week after their escape.

Upon realizing they’d reached the outskirts of a small town, the group had to decide their next move because while Barrett wore a stained uniform and Tanis leggings and a sweater, Takhi and Idris, remained in their animal shape rather than end up naked, and everyone else still had on their hideous green scrubs, which would stick out like a sore thumb.

“We need clothes,” was the common consensus.

Obviously, yet how to buy any without money? Barrett’s sense of honor insisted good men didn’t steal.

Tanis had no such compunction.

As they walked into the town under the cover of darkness, she stated, “Any ideas on how we can get some quick cash?”

“I’m thinking maybe I can get a job that pays under the table.”

“Doing what?” she scoffed and before he could reply added, “Who do you think would hire us? We’ve not properly bathed and haven’t changed clothes in days. Not to mention, do you really want anyone seeing you in that uniform?”

“Probably not.” His lips turned down. “What do you suggest then?” he growled, feeling the weight of frustration and expectation on his shoulders.

Without a word, she veered into the front walkway for a clapboard house and headed around to the back.

“What are you doing?” he asked as he trotted to catch up, only to find her peeking in windows.

“This house has no lights on so I’m checking to make sure no one’s home.”

“Why?”

She showed him, smashing the pane of the window inset above the handle for a door. It took but a second to unlock and let herself in.

“We’re not thieves,” he hissed, following her inside.

“No, we’re not, but we are desperate. I’m not planning to rob the place blind. I’m going to shower, hopefully wash my stuff, grab a few articles of clothing for the others, and maybe take one thing of value we can pawn.”

“These folks aren’t rich,” he remarked, glancing around at the well-worn cupboards and kitchen furniture.

“I’m aware but don’t really have any other option. Make note of their address and you can send them some money later to assuage your conscience. Right now, as beggars on the run, we can’t be choosers.”

He hated she had a point.

She pointed to a calendar by the fridge. “Looks like the owners are out of town.”

“Until when? We don’t know what day it is,” he reminded.

“It’s Saturday,” she murmured. “I’ve been keeping track.”

Which meant three days before the homeowners returned. He relaxed somewhat. Plenty of time for them to scavenge outfits and food for the group.

“No turning on any lights,” she stated as she moved deeper into the home. “Don’t want the neighbors calling the cops.”

“Obviously.” He wasn’t the one who’d have trouble navigating in the dark.

She opened and shut a door that had stairs going down to a basement.

“What are you looking for?”

“A shower before we go back. I am in dire need of some soap.”

“Oh. In that case, I’ll give you some privacy.”

“Of course you are,” she snapped.

“You sound pissed.”

“I am.”

The moment he dreaded rear its ugly head. “I’ve been expecting this. You’re mad about the fact I might have infected you. In my defense, at the time we had sex, I had no clue.”

She snorted. “Oh please. I’m aware you didn’t know, and I’m pretty sure we’d know by now if I was changing.”

“Would we?”

She whirled and jabbed him in the chest with a finger. “Yeah, I would. You think I don’t understand my own body? I’ve heard enough of your stories these past few days to know you all felt something after the injections.”

“Maybe it’s different?—”

She gave him a shove. “Stop making excuses. If you don’t want to be with me, that’s fine, but don’t you dare use your condition as a reason.”

“What?” He gaped at her. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Oh? Then why have you been keeping me at arm’s length?”

“We’re together now, aren’t we?”

Her brow arched. “Which is kind of surprising. I half expected you to take Freya. After all, you seem to enjoy spending the most time with her.”

Did he hear jealousy in her tone? “There’s nothing going on between me and Freya. She’s like a sister to me.”

“And what am I?”

He almost blurted “mine.” Instead, he huffed, “You don’t see me freaking out about the fact you’ve gotten cozy with Phoenix.” Even as the sight of them together boiled his blood.

“At least he doesn’t ignore me.”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

Once more she snorted. “Oh please. We both know I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.”

“You are. I don’t know what we would have done without you this past week.”

“You would have eaten raw meat until you found your way out.”

“I still don’t see why you’re so pissed. I thought you only wanted casual.”

“I thought so too.”

“What changed?”

“We had sex and I realized maybe I want something more. Thought you did too. Guess I was wrong.”

She stalked off and entered a bathroom, judging by the sound of running water.

He should have left her alone. After all, he could hear her shucking clothes, but…

“You’re mad I won’t fuck you again,” he stated, following her in.

She didn’t look at him as she kept stripping. “I am because you made it seem like what happened was special.”

“Because it was.”

“Ha.” A scoffing reply. “It’s pretty obvious by now that I was just a handy receptacle for you. I just wished you hadn’t lied the morning after. It got me thinking that what I felt was something more.”

“I didn’t lie. What we shared was epic,” he insisted. “I want nothing more than to touch and kiss you again. To claim you?—”

“Claim?” She whirled and gave him a glare. “I’m not something to be owned.”

“I’m aware of that, but something inside me wants nothing more than to make you mine. To keep you close and never let you go. But that would be wrong and selfish seeing as how you still have a chance for a normal life.”

Her brow arched. “How do you figure? I can’t go back home. Davidson made sure of that.”

“But you can start over somewhere else.”

“So can you.”

“Not with the secret I have inside. I’m carrying a ticking time bomb.”

“So you’re planning to become some kind of hermit?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” He scrubbed his face. “Everything’s so fucked up.”

“You don’t have to be alone. You seem to forget I know your secret, and it hasn’t scared me off.”

“Yet. You’ve seen what happened to some of the others.” His greatest fear was he’d lose his mind.

“Have you forgotten how handy I am with a bow? I’m even better with a pistol,” her wry reply.

“Would you shoot me if I turned feral?”

“Yes. I like you, but I like me more.”

“Ouch.” He winced, only to chuckle. “But also good to know.”

“I don’t think it will come to that, though.”

“Don’t be so sure. Lawrence flipped suddenly.”

“He didn’t attack anyone but himself. If you ask me, that wasn’t him going feral so much as letting depression consume him.”

“Why would you want to be with a mutant like me?”

“Because you’re more than a science experiment. I see a man with honor who would risk his life to save others. Who would deny himself pleasure and a chance at happiness because he wrongly assumes it’s the right thing to do.”

“What are you saying?”

Tanis stepped close and tilted her head to keep her gaze locked with his.

“I’m saying that, right here, right now, I want to be with you.

Which, I will add, isn’t something I say lightly.

I don’t date much. And who knows, in a week, a month, a year, you could wake up and I’ll be gone like the morning frost once the sun hits. ”

“Meaning you’ll stick around until you get bored of me.”

She shrugged. “Isn’t complacency what usually ends most relationships?”

His lips quirked. “Guess you’re saying I’d better keep things interesting.”

“Somehow I don’t think that will be a problem.”

He dragged her close. “Think there’s room in that shower for two?”

“Only one way to find out.”

The tight bathtub-shower combo really didn’t allow for much more than kissing and groping, which suited him fine. He took his time caressing the body he’d dreamed of for so long. Tasting the lips that claimed they wanted to be with him.

And when he took her to bed… he fucked her fast the first time. Took his time the second round, each slow and deep stroke a shuddering pleasure.

What made it more intense? The fact they both had their eyes open. He saw the wonder in her gaze when her orgasm hit. Savored the clenching bliss as she climaxed around his cock. Basked in that sense of rightness, of completeness.

Afterwards, as she lay in his arms, she murmured, “Who would have thought a job tracking an alpha would lead to me claiming him as my own.”

“Now who’s trying to own who?”

She laughed. “Maybe we can belong to each other.”

“Deal.”

Barrett wanted nothing more than to belong to her. Not just for one night, day, or week, but forever.