Gripping the wheel, she eyed the left-hand side of the road, looking for the obscure turn outlined in the directions shed memorized and then burned three weeks ago. Three miles later she found it. Or hoped she had.
Turning, she braked in front of a metal gate. It was simple, the kind any landowner might use, along with the black and white NO TRESPASSING sign nailed to a post next to the chain and padlock. Neither posed a deterrent to her bolt cutters or her determination.
Leaving the truck running, she grabbed the cutters and made short work of the chain, then unwrapped it, letting it hang from the gate. In for a penny. If she was in the right place, shed soon have a lot more to worry about than a measly charge of trespassing on government property.
After swinging the gate open enough to drive the vehicle through, she returned to the truck and did just that. Then
she got out and closed the gate again, wrapping the chain around it so that, hopefully, nothing would appear out of the ordinary to a casual passerby. So far, so good. She continued on her way.
A couple of miles deeper into the forest, the second barrier was an unpleasant surprise, and a formidable obstacle. She could have screamed in frustration.
The chain-link fence was about ten feet tall and topped with razor wire. This gate was much more sophisticated, at least two feet taller than the fence on either side, and automated, with a pass code box on the drivers side. On top of the security box, a camera lens stared her in the face like an all-knowing eye.
Shit.
She didnt have the code. And after several minutes of punching a green CALL button and then waiting, it became evident that no one planned to answer her summons. The operatives inside were probably having a good laugh. Maybe they thought shed get bored and go on her merry way.
They thought wrong.
Calmly, she reached for her purse, never happier that the captain had returned her weapon. Extracting the Glock from within and squinting, she pointed the gun at the camera lens. Knock-knock, assholes.
And fired, sending a shower of glass and metal raining all over the drive.
That ought to get their fucking attention. Best to meet them head-on. Stepping away from the truck, she tucked the gun into the waistband of her jeans and walked over to inspect the gate. State-of-the-art stuff, a real fortress. What was this place and how was Micah involved? She wasnt leaving until they enlightened her.
A shuffle sounded to her left. And low growling.
Turning, she cursed softly, eyes widening. Guard dogs? Several of them, on her side of the fence, fanning out to surround her, heads down, ears flat, fangs bared. Moving almost silently through the sun-dappled forest.
But no, these werent dogs. They were
Wolves! And one really large black panther ?
She blinked rapidly as they approached and backed slowly toward her truck, thinking she must be seeing things. Wolves were now common in the Shoshone, thanks to wildlife rescue efforts. But shed heard that wolves went out of their way to avoid humans. Right? Just not these wolves.
And what about the big cat? Black panthers didnt even technically exist!
Tell that to this one.
Stay, she called, holding out a shaking hand. Nice doggies. Im not going to hurt you.
A loud snarl came from behind her, and a glance nearly stopped her heart. One wolf had moved behind her, blocking her escape to the truck. She was completely surrounded. Her pulse beat a terrified tattoo in her throat as she gripped the butt of her gun, easing the weapon from the waist of her jeans.
Just then, the images of three of the wolves and the cat began to shimmer. Sort of like heat waves on hot pavement. Their bodies began to re-form, the fur retracting. Canine and feline limbs becoming arms and legs. What the shit? Staring, she told herself she was not seeing a group of sexy, naked men standing among the rest of the wolves and wearing a range of emotions on their faces, from amusement to grim resignation.
A dark-haired god of a manwolf, whateverstrolled forward. Im Nick Westfall, commander of the Alpha Pack team. And youre in a shitload of trouble, Miss Chase.
How did he know her name? Rowan couldnt catch her breath to reply, even if she couldve formed a response. Her vision blurred and the tough woman raised in an East L.A. barrio did something shed never done in her life. Not even when shed been informed of Micahs death.
She fainted dead away.
Two
As she sat up, a slight pain lanced the back of her head and she winced, probing the area with her fingers. Under her hair at the back of her skull lurked a lump that throbbed when she pressed a little too hard, but it wasnt too bad. Anyhow, that seemed to be the least of her worries.
Shed come to this placeif she was indeed inside the
compoundseeking answers about Micah and had seen what, exactly? Then shed fainted like a rookie observing her first autopsy. With her gun in hand.
Her gun that was now missing.
Looking to the nightstand, she reached out and opened the drawer. Empty, except for a sheet of paper typed with a list of what appeared to be phone extensions. Sliding the drawer shut, she took another survey of the room. Her purse rested on the top of the otherwise bare dresser. The black duffel bag shed brought, stuffed with several changes of clothes and underwear, sat on the floor in front of it. She doubted very much that shed find her weapon stashed in either one.