Page 83 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
“We’re calling it Anomaly Eight,” Sloan answers. “We have no evidence that it’s a snake.”
“A few hundred eye-witnesses?” I point out.
“Eyes on the ground aren’t always reliable, Stanton, and it may change form. From a military perspective, it’s Anomaly Eight.”
“Okay,” I agree, wondering why it’s number eight, specifically, but knowing better than to ask. “So, you think it moved?” I ask instead.
“Well, whatever it was, it wasn’t natural. No weather pattern moves like that, and the heat and density were all wrong.”
“But there’s no sign of it now?”
“No. The area appears quiet. But there are cave systems there, so maybe it’s gone underground.”
“It just got out of one rock. Why would it jump straight into another one?”
“I don’t know,” Sloan shrugs. “Not my area. We’ve got some science geeks here if you want to ask them.”
“I’ll pass, thanks. There’s nothing going on at the stone?”
“Absolute zilch. It’s just a rock. Our magic guys are having fun trying to decipher the runes, though.”
“So, why did you want to ask me about this?” I ask, beginning to suspect the conversation isn’t casual.
“I want to know if you have anything to add to your report,” Sloan says, looking at me steadily.
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Big snake popped out, got all scary, killed the people trying to free it, then fucked right off to you don’t know where?”
“That’s my understanding of it.”
Sloan narrows her pale, slate-blue eyes, and I stare her down. She’s been in command for a few years and has earned every single badge on her chest.
Eventually, she just shakes her head and goes back to studying the map. “Okay. Well, I guess you can go. Take note of our formations, though, because we’ll be setting up watchtowers between Eccles, Rose Hollow, and any locations we think the snake might be hiding in.”
“Right,” I say, checking out the map. “Let me know if you need any help with it.”
“Funny you should say that,” she grins. “Because your liaisons are right here.”
I look over my shoulder to see my boys, all grinning. “What’s this about?”
“Looks like we’re retiring, boss,” Brad says. “Right here in Rose Hollow.”
“Fuck off!” I scoff. “Actually?”
“Semi-retired,” Sloan corrects. “May be recalled to active duty, should the need arise.”
Part of me feels like she’s using my buddies to infiltrate my town because I won’t suspect them, but the rest of me is just too happy that my best friends in the world are going to be joining my pack.
“Told you we had news, boss,” Brad laughs.
“You can stop calling me boss,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Ah. Alpha Stanton, then.”
