Page 13 of Alpha Hunt

“What’s that?” I look over my shoulder.

“When we get back, Alpen will check in with Callum to give him a full report and we can—”

“No!” I interrupt him sharply. “I’ll do the report.”

“But he’s team leader. He should do it.” Tarkin is about to get himself in trouble, but I don’t get a chance to respond.

“We’ll go in together. We all have something useful to share.” Edirn has moved up to walk alongside me, and I feel his eyes on me. It makes me go tense.

Cut it out, Stone!

I can’t believe I let that asshole get to me again.

“We’ll figure it out as we go,” I say curtly. “We’ve spent enough time out here. It’ll be night soon.” I turn away from them and break into a fast walk, wanting to put distance between me and the man who somehow manages to infuriate me simply by breathing the same air as I do. It’s ridiculous. I never get worked up over shit like this.

As we head back toward Steel Lakes, my strides eat up the ground in an angry, punishing rhythm. The trees blur past, but I barely register them. All I can focus on is the seething resentment burning in my gut.

“You know, you’re only proving my point with that pissy attitude of yours.” Edirn’s deep voice cuts through my fuming thoughts. He’s at my side, covering the ground in an easy, earth-devouring stride.

I whip my head around to glare at him. “I don’t recall asking for your damn opinion.”

“No surprise there.” He doesn’t even have the decency to look at me as we move, those intense blue eyes locked ahead. “You never want to hear anything that doesn’t stroke that massive ego of yours.”

Is he for real?

“My ego?” I bark out a harsh laugh. “That’s rich coming from Mr. Superiority Complex. You think you’ve fooled everyone with that holier-than-thou act of yours?”

“I don’t think it. I know it.” There’s the barest hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of his stupidly perfect lips. “Why else would they have brought me in? Face it, Stone – you need me.”

I let out a wordless snarl of outrage and break into a jog, pulling ahead of him. How dare he! As if I’d ever need that arrogant prick for anything!

It’s only when the buildings of Steel Lakes finally come into view that I realize I’ve been pushing myself far too hard in my fury. Jeans are not made for running, and the heavy fabric chafes me. My lungs are burning, and there’s a stitch in my side, but I refuse to let Edirn see any weakness.

Rounding the final corner toward the central courtyard, I catch sight of Callum waiting for us. Edirn must have radioed ahead to let him know we were heading back. Organized as usual. I should appreciate it, but somehow, it feels like yet another thing that annoys me. Callum turns at the sound of my pounding footfalls, eyes widening slightly as Edirn appears a few seconds behind me.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“These two have been going at it like a pair of rabid dogs all the way back here,” Tarkin comments with a smirk.

Callum eyes the two of us, then turns to Edirn. “What did you find out?” he asks, clearly choosing to disregard our issues.

“We picked up wolf scent at a trucking zone on the outskirts of town,” he tells our team leader. “Something is being moved through there – transported in trucks, and we’re pretty sure it’s under duress. I’m willing to bet there are more of them like Sierra and Savannah. Abducted from somewhere.”

“But that means this thing is some sort of organized operation,” Callum muses.

“Definitely.” Edirn nods. “And it goes further. Tell him what you picked up, Tarkin.”

“There’s a so-called ‘wolf sanctuary’ out in the hills past Sweetwaters,” the male says. “Barrett’s gone out there to check it out.”

“Alone?” Callum raises an eyebrow.

“That’s exactly what I said,” I grumble.

“You know what he’s like. When he gets an idea in his head, there’s no stopping him. He said he’d be able to move better without me.” Tarkin makes a face. “Probably right.”

I can’t argue that. Barrett Chord can be like a ghost.

Edirn continues. “We think it’s strange that there’d be signs of shifters being moved through human settlements. And then, on top of it, for there to be a pack in captivity so close by…” He pauses, letting Callum come to his own conclusions. “We also found this.” He hands over the torn garment he found in the yard.

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