Page 13 of Tracking the Alpha
“And where is that plane taking us to?”
“Northern Ontario.”
The destination raised her brow. “Couldn’t you find a local hunter?”
“We conscripted a few, actually.”
“And, what? They failed to track whatever animal it is you’re after?” She meant to sound sarcastic, and mocking, but the major replied with a flat, “Yes.”
He said nothing else, and she gritted her teeth. “Exactly what am I looking for?” Because he’d never actually said.
“A wolf. A very specific one.”
“Singling out a wolf might be difficult if it runs in a pack.”
“No pack. This beast is a loner, and your task is to capture, not severely harm. We want it alive.”
Her lips pursed. “Hate to break it to you, but you have the wrong person. When it comes to predators, I shoot to kill. Sounds to me like you need someone with tranqs and a cage.”
“It’s been tried without result. My understanding is you’re skilled at setting snares and traps.”
“Again, for things that don’t try and eat or claw people. It’s one thing if a buck doesn’t step into a snare, but a wolf, especially a hungry one…” She shook her head.
“You’re a professional. Figure it out. We just need you to subdue the beast long enough for us to get him back into custody.”
The phrasing offered a clue. “This wolf escaped your control?”
“Yes,” a terse reply.
“From a zoo or the military?”
The major huffed. “A military installation, and before you ask, this is no ordinary wolf, hence the reason why we’re going through so much trouble to retrieve it.”
“Not ordinary how? Did you do some experiment on it? Is it carrying some kind of disease?” This all sounded very odd.
“That information is classified.”
A bogus answer. “It could be important. If this wolf isn’t your run-of-the-mill sort, then that means I might have to adapt my usual strategies. So, I’ll ask again, what makes it different? Can I tell it apart from others of its kind?”
“For one, it’s smart. Very smart. It won’t fall for simple traps, so don’t even bother trying. Thus far, it has easily evaded all attempts to corner it. Also be warned, it’s ruthless when confronted.”
“It’s attacked people?”
“Yes.”
“Is it rabid?”
“No, but if it senses someone is a threat, it takes them out.”
The claim had her clenching her fists. “How many people has it claimed?”
“Several.”
“Including the hunters you sent?”
“Yes.”
Well, that added an unexpected wrinkle. “Given it’s a murdering beast, why the determination to capture? Shouldn’t you be culling it? One wolf hardly seems worth the lives of people.”
