Page 7 of Their Defiant Mate

Tara thought about it for a moment then nodded. “I do. He has no reason to lie about this.” She hesitated to make the next point, wasn’t sure if it would help or terrify. “They could have just done it and not told you a thing, but they wanted your permission. That indicates a sort of code that I think we can trust.”

“And what will be done to the wolves?”

“I don’t know. Zion said it’s against the law to hurt any female. I guess they would?—”

“This isn’t about the law,” Akari cut in. “It’s about the war. Zion wants a reason to kill wolves.” She was walking so fast now that Tara had to jog to keep up with her. “We’ll kill a bunch of them, and they’ll kill a bunch of us. Nothing ever changes.”

Tara didn’t respond. She happened to agree with Akari, but Akari needed to make this decision on her own.

“However.” Akari heaved a loud sigh. “If the wolves get away with what they did to me, it will embolden Elias.”

Tara knew enough about the wolf leader to agree with Akari. By all accounts, Elias was an evil bastard.

“Can I think about it for a day or two?”

Zion had said time was of the essence, but Tara didn’t care. She would not pressure Akari into doing anything she didn’t want to do. “Of course you can. Take all the time you need.”

“Why do I get the feeling that’s your offer, not Zion’s?”

Tara smiled. “Because you’ve met the pride leader.”

Akari returned Tara’s smile, and for the first time since Tara met her, the warmth went all the way to her eyes.

CHAPTER 2

Crouching behind a massive boulder outside the walls of the lupine village, Isaac took a moment to center his mind. He’d been distracted ever since Tara walked into Zion’s office that morning and he struggled to rid his memory of her image. She was a delightful distraction, one he welcomed and intended to explore for the rest of his life, but now was not the time for romantic strategies. He was leader of Shadow Team One and every mission they undertook was dangerous.

Are you in position?Isaac sent the question across the heavily shielded mind link he shared with Jon and Kyle. In their human form, all three could effortlessly refract light. Their lions were stronger, faster, and more powerful, but this mission required stealth and patience. The energy shield projected by Shadows made them invisible to their enemies. Unfortunately, it also made them invisible to each other.

Two is ready, Jon responded.

Three is waiting on One, Kyle assured, his tone light and annoyingly calm.

Jon approached each mission with a hyper-focus that allowed him to spot the most minute details and anticipate problems. Kyle’s easygoing manner balanced out the intensity of the other two. Isaac was able to see the big picture, to assess each move in context and anticipate possible ramifications. It was the combination of their personalities that made them such a good team.

Here we go, Isaac added and crept toward the perimeter wall. The guards, all four of them, were huddled around a relatively flat rock. The evening meal had been delivered a few minutes ago and the wolves were using the rock like a table. They glanced around, pretending to keep watch, but they were paying more attention to their food and the lively conversation than their surroundings. It was a habit Isaac had capitalized on numerous times before.

Agilely climbing a massive tree that should have been cut down years ago, Isaac belly-crawled along the thick branch that extended over the wall and dropped to the ground on the inside of the village. He heard the crunch of fallen leaves as each of his teammates joined him.

Travis, a wolf spy, had given them the location of their target, but asked not to be directly involved. Isaac had no problem with the stipulation. Until Elias wised up and cut down Isaac’s favorite tree, the Shadow teams could come and go as they pleased.

Creeping along in the shadows of the crude cabins, Isaac made his way toward the center of the settlement. He could sense his teammates following, but their steps were as silent as his. Lupine village was a smaller, messier version of the feline village. It was unlikely that Elias had patterned his layout after the feline village, but certain features simply made sense when setting up a secure community.

He passed a small group of wolves huddling around a fire. They laughed and mocked each other, completely unaware of the intruders. A bit farther down the path, an argument raged inside one of the cabins. The door flew open and a hybrid was shoved out into the yard. The male still inside the cabin tried to shut the door, but the other hybrid charged him.

“Fuck you, asshole,” one of the wolves yelled as they began to grapple. They tumbled out into the front yard snarling and growling as both smoothly shifted into wolves.

Drawn by the disturbance, the group around the fire ran over to the other cabin. They didn’t attempt to break up the fight. They stood back and cheered.

Isaac sensed his teammates slowing.Ignore them. We have work to do.

The cabin Travis had indicated was set slightly apart from the communal buildings in the center of the village. Isaac stopped well back from their destination and signaled telepathically for Kyle and Jon to do the same.

This was a recon mission, assess and investigate only. The order didn’t sit well with any of them, but information was all Zion wanted, for now. Travis had warned them that Dr. Babcock, the driving force behind the Griffin Project, was still alive and working with the wolf leaders. The wolf raid on the human encampment had been so violent, so savage that not all the dead could be identified. Clothing and proximity led them to believe that Babcock was among the dead, but Travis swore it had all been a ruse.

A movement to Isaac’s right drew his attention. A tall, thin person made their way toward the target cabin. The strangerpaused on the stoop and pulled off his glove so he could scan open the door.

Show time, Isaac announced as he slowly approached. The Shadows’ ability to disappear was widely known, or at least widely presumed. Their more exotic abilities, however, varied greatly from person to person and were more closely guarded secrets.Go around back, he directed.I’ll let you in.

---