Page 24 of Tracking the Alpha
“Okay.”
“Not going to argue?” He sounded surprised.
“My pack is impermeable, and while water isn’t the greatest for my gun and bow, you know these woods better than me.” Not to mention entering the creek would make them harder to track if the military used dogs. Doubtful, seeing as how she’d not seen or heard any, but then again, she’d never suspected they had a giant coyote or a bunch of people being used as test subjects in their custody either.
“The water isn’t super deep. If you want, I can hold the gun above my head so you can do the same with your bow.”
Voluntarily arm him with a weapon? She’d trusted him thus far, seemed kind of dumb to balk now. She unstrapped the firearm and handed it over.
His brow arched. “I seriously thought you’d tell me to go fuck myself.”
“Either we’re allies or we’re not.”
His teeth gleamed as he smiled. “Definitely allies. I’ve seen how well you can shoot that bow.”
“I missed.”
“But you got the closest of everyone who came after me,” he pointed out as he gripped the gun and began wading into the water.
“You moved faster than expected,” she admitted.
“And you still managed to nick me. I was impressed.”
“Is that why you were stalking me?” she blurted out as she followed him into the creek, which chilled the flesh upon contact.
“You were interesting.” His reply rather than denying it.
“You wanted to eat me.”
“You make that sound like a bad thing.” A comment tossed over his shoulder with a teasing smile and a wink.
Her mouth rounded. Had he just… Her foot slipped as a rock rolled underfoot, and she only barely managed to keep her bow out of the fast-moving current.
“We need to move quickly over the next hundred paces or so, as we will be exposed to anyone on shore.”
“How far is this hiding spot?” she murmured, concentrating on her footing as the creek deepened and tugged at her body.
“Not too far. Once we reach it, we’ll have to climb to keep your weapons dry.”
The moving water made it hard to hear, for her at least. Barrett, on the other hand—or should she say paw?—once more proved he’d kept some of the wolf even in his human shape when he informed her, “They found the coyote woman’s body.”
The news hastened their pace. The creek curved and went between two mounds of ragged stone, the channel cut through them, but Barrett didn’t follow. He paused and glanced at Tanis.
“This is where we climb. Want me to take the pack so you have less weight?”
A feminist would have blasted him for even suggesting it. A soaked Tanis, who knew she’d be heavier already with her sodden clothes and footwear, simply removed it and handed it over. “Put it on and then I’ll strap the rifle to it.”
He loosened the straps first before threading his arms through, and when he presented his back, she quickly affixed the rifle. “You’re good to go.”
“Okay. Follow me, but keep in mind I’ve never climbed into my den this way. Oh, and I lost my skirt to the current so maybe don’t look up.”
She couldn’t help but snicker. “Is this a bad time to sing ‘Do your balls hang low?’”
“Very bad and thanks for putting that stupid song in my head,” he groaned as he started the ascent.
“You’re welcome,” she chirped, keeping an eye up the creek in case anyone had followed. The full moon made it easy to see.
“Be careful on your way up. Some of the rock is crumbly,” he warned as pebbles of it rained down.
