Page 47 of Tracking the Alpha
Her claim led to his next question being high-pitched with nervousness. “How long until we get to the spot?”
“Not long.”
“Good, because I don’t think I want this wolf waking up while I’m holding her.”
Poor kid. She’d planted a seed, and it took root, creating fear. Good. If only she could warn him to flee, but that would put Barrett, and her, in jeopardy.
“We should be quiet now,” she murmured, “We’re getting close.”
Best to remain silent rather than spill too much.
Tanis led Peter to a clearing a few hundred yards from the compound. A small fire had razed the area, and while growth had covered the ashes, trees had yet to dominate the space. Once there, she had Peter lay the female down and she went to work creating a pair of rope lassoes. She cinched one around a rear leg, and the other tethered the front. Tanis left enough slack so that once the female woke, she could pace, just not escape. The ropes themselves got anchored to trees, the ends of them wrapped several times and tied. Could the wolf break free? Not likely, unless she chewed through the thick fiber. Hopefully the wolf wouldn’t think of that.
Next, she set some snares while Peter watched. Apparently, the boy had been told to observe and absorb. More like Stevens ensuring she actually did her job.
When she finished covering them, Peter said his goodbyes, looking disappointed when she kindly rejected his offer to stay. Tanis had no interest in entertaining the boy, not when she suddenly had an idea. If the wolf were like Barrett, then would an injury bring her back to humanity?
Tanis paced around the sleeping beast, unable to bring herself to harm it. What if she were wrong? Barrett seemed to think it took a grievous wound for the trigger to work.
Maybe once the female woke, Tanis could try talking to her. See if she saw signs of humanity and intelligence in the gaze.
While she waited for that to happen, she located a tree and hung her pack from a branch. The walkie-talkie was clipped to the front, and she made a face at it. No hiding today. Not an issue since Barrett wouldn’t be coming around.
Late afternoon, as the sun began to set, a snuffling noise drew her attention to the wolf on the ground. The female roused suddenly, springing to her feet and shaking out her fur. The wolf stood still for only a second before trying to run, only to get yanked as the tether on her hind leg kept her from escaping into the forest. It led to a frenzied panic of the wolf thrashing and tugging, only to realize she was caught.
The wolf stilled but not calmly, judging by her heaving sides. Time to see if she was rational.
Tanis dropped from the tree and approached, crooning softly. “Easy now. I know this must seem confusing.”
The wolf whipped around and bared teeth as it snarled.
Tanis kept her gaze locked on the blue eyes, staring intently. “My name is Tanis and?—”
Forget explaining anything further. The wolf began to bark madly, and Tanis sighed. So much for reasoning with it. She retreated and crouched to sit at the base of a tree.
Maybe this wolf was just a wolf. Or, like the coyote, had lost its mind. Tanis leaned her head back and closed her eyes, listening to the commotion as the wolf tested the limits of the tether. Howled and snarled and barked in frustration. It took a bit before the creature quieted. Full dark had fallen in that time, and without the full moon, Tanis found it hard to see much. Some hunters used nighttime-vision goggles. Tanis relied more on her senses. She’d had a friend in school compare her to Luke using the Force. Same concept. Tanis listened. Felt. Trusted her instincts. Pity those instincts couldn’t see what the wolf had been doing while being seemingly quiet.
Only a disturbance of air currents warned, leaving Tanis barely time to react. Her arms came up just as the wolf slammed into her!
Like with the coyote, Tanis found herself fighting for her life. Hands up straining to hold snapping teeth at bay. Heaving under the weight of the wolf, which proved just enough she couldn’t easily dislodge it.
“Stop it,” she huffed. “Dammit, I’m here to help you.”
The words didn’t stop the frenzied gnashing of teeth or the dribble of drool that hit her in the cheek.
“I wish I knew if you were like Barrett,” Tanis grunted as she held a single forearm against the throat of the beast, taking a risk to reach for her knife.
The wolf suddenly stilled and made a soft whining noise.
The sudden cessation of violence had Tanis wondering what happened to gentle the wolf. It hit her, and she exclaimed, “Barrett. You know him?”
The wolf made a noise.
“I’m sorry, I can’t understand you, but you obviously understand me. Listen, this might sound crazy, but I might be able to help you change back to your human body.”
The beast went so still it might have been a statue.
Tanis definitely had her attention. “Barrett and I found the trick out by accident when I shot him with an arrow.”
