Rogue Wolf Read online

  Flynn joined us long before the drone reached its destination. Zeus stayed outside, knowing that we’d be busy in the coms rooms. He’d settled into a routine of checking the perimeter of the compound, but was restricted from entering out enclosures. An intruder would have to cut the power to the fence then scale its thirty foot height and get through the razor wire at the top. They’d have to do the same when they reached the inner fence. Still, he felt compelled to check several times a day to make sure no one had tried to get in.

  It took an hour to fly the drone to the property that we believed housed the pack. The grounds were empty of life and Mark shifted closer to the buildings. Three large structures huddled close together. Two dogs were on patrol and I was glad that we’d had Zeus’ help to determine how high Mark needed to fly the drone. Neither showed any signs that they could hear our aerial surveillance.

  “I’m switching to thermal,” Mark said and the picture changed again.

  Bright orange dots appeared on the screen. I counted sixteen large bodies and four smaller ones.

  “That’s a large pack,” Flynn remarked. “We’ll be heavily outnumbered if we try to attack them on their own turf.”

  “We might not have to,” I ventured and all eyes moved to me. “I’m pretty sure the rogue shifter is still watching our compound. He’s waiting for his chance to get to me and I think we should take advantage of it.”

  “You want to use yourself as bait,” Mark realized.

  Reece instantly protested. “That’s crazy!”

  “Is it?” Kala asked. “Or is it a stroke of sheer brilliance?” She gave me a proud smile. “I’d rather lead him into a trap than try to take on his whole pack.” She wasn’t a coward, she was just being realistic about our chances of winning a battle when we’d be so badly outnumbered.

  Mark wasn’t ecstatic with the idea, but he didn’t discount it. “Let me think this through,” he said and we went quiet to allow him to mull it over.

  Using the drone, he inspected every inch of the property. The shifters had been split into several small groups. Judging by the children, they were probably family units. Another building off to the side held their vehicles. Mark zoomed the cameras in to verify that the black pickup truck was missing.

  Finished with his surveillance, he brought the drone home. Instead of landing it, he flew it around the edges of our compound. Moving in a wide circle, he stopped when he saw a bright orange blob.

  Zooming the camera in again, he switched to infrared and we saw a person sitting on the hood of Ned Wilson’s pickup truck. He was watching our compound through binoculars. Our base had only a few windows and they were too heavily tinted for him to be able to see inside. I could almost feel his eyes on me anyway.

  “He has no idea we’re watching him right now,” Kala murmured and I shivered. She moved her chair closer to me until our shoulders were touching.

  “Can’t we just sneak up on him and shoot him?” Flynn asked.

  “He’s proven to be very wily so far,” was Mark’s response. “I want to make very sure he can’t escape when we spring our trap.”

  “You’re going to use Lexi’s plan,” Reece said in an unhappy tone.

  “He’s fixated on her. She’s our best avenue of taking him down with minimal bloodshed.”

  “How are we going to lure him into a trap?” Kala asked.

  It was time to voice the plan that I’d thought up. “I have an idea about that.” At her enquiring stare, I elaborated. “How would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow?”

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “I hope Mark’s right about this,” Kala said as she drove the SUV towards the closest town. It was a two hour drive away from our compound. The road was empty in both directions at the moment, but I still felt vulnerable and exposed.

  “He’s right,” I said, determined to ignore my qualms. My dreams last night had been plagued with nightmares about the rogue wolf. In them, I hadn’t managed to throw him off and he’d bitten me. I touched the spot where he’d almost marked me, desperately wanting to put an end to this mission. “The rogue won’t try to take me when there are other people around. He’ll wait until I’m alone before he moves in.”

  She sent me a strained look. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t like the idea of letting you wander off alone. Remember what happened the last time you did that?”

  I grimaced, remembering it well. I’d gone after Lust on my own and had ended up falling beneath her spell. “Nothing is going to happen to me this time. The guys will have my back.”

  “It sucks that I can’t be part of the takedown,” she sulked.

  “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get a chance to rip someone limb from limb again soon.”

  “I hope so. I get bored when I’m not allowed to maim things.”

  We shared a nervous grin and I glanced into the rearview mirror. There was still no sign of our pursuer. If Mark hadn’t called me to advise that we had a tail, I’d never have known the pickup truck was following us.

  “Zeus wasn’t happy about being left behind,” she remarked. He’d followed our SUV all the way to the gate, whining the entire time. He didn’t know what I had planned, but he did know that it would be dangerous. Only my direct order had stopped him from following us out of the grounds. Kala hadn’t seemed to notice my body clench in pain as she’d driven past the cross.

  “I didn’t want to risk him getting in the way.”

  “Did you see him snarling at Garrett when he had you by the throat?” She shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe a dog would stand up to an alpha werewolf like that.”

  “It was pretty brave of him.” That was how much Zeus loved me. He was willing to challenge a being that was far above him in the canine hierarchy.

  “No sensible feline would challenge a Rex like that.”

  I looked at her blankly. “A Rex?” That was the nickname she’d given Reece when they were children.

  “That’s what an alpha lion is called,” she explained.

  “No wonder Reece hates it when you call him that.” It made sense now. He was our team leader and it was her way of teasing him.

  “He loves it,” she said airily. “Maybe I should start calling you Rexina.” She slid a sly look at me.

  “That’d be awesome,” I said with false enthusiasm.

  She snorted a laugh then checked the rearview mirror as the black truck made a brief appearance. It immediately dropped back out of view. Her amusement fled and she scowled.

  “Remember how I made you get off me when we were wrestling once?” I said to distract her before she could start pouting about missing out on the takedown again.

  “I’m not likely to forget that in a hurry.” Her tone was dry and slightly insulted.

  “It worked on Ranger Delgado as well.”

  Her gaze snapped back to me for a second before she returned to watching the road. She didn’t drive at the same reckless speed as Reece, but she was moving faster than the posted limit. “When did that happen?”

  I’d almost forgotten about the episode and hadn’t mentioned it to Mark. He’d probably be very interested to hear about it. “It happened when I realized he was following me in the woods.” I explained what had happened and described him picking me up by the throat.

  “Why do so many people try to strangle you to death?”

  I rolled my eyes at her mocking tone. “Bruce wasn’t trying to kill me. He probably thought I had something to do with the missing camper. Besides, I pulled my gun on him first.”

  “You know, if he wasn’t a bear, I’d climb him like a tree,” she said almost dreamily.

  I stared at her, appalled by her admission. “He’s old enough to be your father!”

  “So?”

  “I thought you liked young, clean-cut guys. Not big, hairy lumberjacks.”

  She shrugged then smiled. “I don’t have any particular type. I like a wide variety of men.”

&n
bsp; I struggled against my curiosity then caved in. “How many…” I trailed off and flushed at asking such a personal question.

  “How many guys have I had sex with?” she finished for me. I nodded and she lifted a shoulder. “I’m not sure. I haven’t been keeping count.” Frowning, she put some thought into it. “If I had to guess, I’d say more than twenty, but less than forty.”

  My eyes bulged at that number. “I hope you use protection,” was all I could say.

  “Always,” she reassured me. “Shifters are highly resistant to catching human diseases, but you can’t be too careful.”

  It didn’t really bother me that she’d slept with that many guys. It was her feline nature and she couldn’t change it. I did wonder what she’d have been like if she hadn’t been turned into a werecougar. We’d never know, so it was useless to speculate about it.

  “We’re about ten minutes away from town now,” she informed me. “It doesn’t look like your stalker is going to make a move yet.”

  Mark had set up our trap well. We’d all gotten up before dawn and Reece had driven Mark and Flynn into town in the van. He’d returned alone and had parked out of sight near our compound. Kala and I had eaten breakfast then had headed for town in the SUV.

  Our boss was operating the drone from a hiding spot up high, using his tablet to control it rather than the game controller. He had an overhead view of the highway and had spotted the pickup truck emerge from a copse of trees after we’d driven past it.

  From his position up high, he was following our progress and that of the vehicle behind us. Reece was bringing up the rear. He was following the truck at a distance so he wouldn’t be spotted, but not so far back that he couldn’t catch up to us if we needed his help. Mark was fairly certain that our target would try to nab me when I was alone. Now we just had to give him an opportunity to do so.

  Kala entered the town and took the route that Mark had mapped out. I saw Flynn wave from an alley as we drove past and I raised my hand in return. Mark would remain up high to coordinate our movements. He’d use the drone to follow the rogue on the off chance that he managed to escape from our trap.

  My cell phone rang and I didn’t bother to check who it was before answering it. “Is our plan working?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Mark replied. “The truck is entering town now.” He was silent as he watched the vehicle drive down the main street. “Pull into the parking lot to your right then turn on your earpieces.”

  Hearing his order, Kala did as she was told. She pulled into a vacant slot between two cars. “This is going to be fun. It’s about time you updated your wardrobe,” she said to me.

  She was right about that. My wardrobe consisted mainly of plain white tank tops, t-shirts, jeans and cargo pants. I owned three jackets and a couple of sweaters. Now that I was gainfully employed, I had enough money to be able to widen my range a little. New underwear would definitely be a welcome addition.

  Thinking about the clothes I needed was helping to keep me calm. Climbing out of the SUV, I pushed the tiny earpiece deep into my ear. I refrained from looking over my shoulder when Mark spoke again, this time directly into my ear. “The target has parked in an alley at the back of the mall and is now on foot. He’s wearing a black t-shirt, tan cargo pants and a dark blue cap.”

  “I see him,” Flynn whispered.

  Reece spoke next. “The alley is a dead end and I’ve just blocked the entrance. He won’t be going anywhere.”

  Approaching the door to the mall, I saw Mark’s reflection on the building behind me. “You’d better step back, boss. I can see you.” He melted into the shadows and became much harder to spot. He’d only be seen now if someone knew he was there.

  “Flynn, shadow the target while Reece enters the mall from the far end,” Mark instructed. “I want to know every move he makes.”

  “I’m on it,” Flynn responded. “He’s halfway down the street and is watching the girls enter the mall.”

  “Game on,” Kala said and linked her arm through mine as the door closed behind us. “It’s time to take this psycho down.”

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  It was disconcerting to carry on a conversation with Kala while listening to the others coordinate their surveillance through our earpieces. Flynn gave our boss regular updates as he followed our quarry at a distance.

  I caught a glimpse of Reece sitting on a bench halfway down the mall. My eyesight was now sharp enough to be able to make him out clearly. He was almost unrecognizable in a dark gray suit, a white business shirt and glasses. His hair had been combed to the side to disguise his short Mohawk. Pretending to read a newspaper, he could easily pass as a businessman.

  “Rex looks pretty good when he dresses up like Mark,” Kala noted. “He looks like a real agent for once.”

  He looked at her sideways and glared. “Do you have to call me that?”

  “Yes,” she smirked then pointed at a black leather jacket. “You’d look hot in that, Lexi. You should try it on.”

  I followed her inside the store and she chose a jacket in my size. It was a perfect fit and I made my first purchase. It was far from the last. Two hours later, we were both burdened with shopping bags. I’d picked out everything that I needed and more.

  Kala had tortured all of us by spending half an hour trying to decide between several bras then ended up buying them all. Since we were there, I chose a few items for myself. It would have been more fun if there had been any chance that I’d get to model them for Reece. That thought would have sent me spiraling into a depression if I hadn’t been so focused on our task.

  “He’s moving closer,” Flynn warned us when we finally took a break for lunch.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw a man matching the description that Mark had given us. He took a seat at a table across the courtyard where he could watch us. It was hard not to give away that we knew he had us under surveillance.

  “Is everyone in position?” Mark asked after we’d finished eating our unhealthy meal of burgers and fries. He received four affirmatives. “Okay, Kala, it’s time for you to make your move.”

  He’d found blueprints and photos of the mall and had researched the building thoroughly. He’d come up with a plan that he hoped would result in the least chance for injuries to occur to us, or to innocent bystanders.

  Kala noisily sucked up the last of her chocolate milkshake through her straw, drawing a disgusted stare from an elderly couple sitting nearby. “I have to go to the restroom,” she said and stood. “Make sure no one steals my stuff while I’m gone.”

  “I’ll guard your bras to the death,” I said solemnly and received a snigger in return.

  I half-heartedly played a game on my phone as she made her way to the restrooms. Feeling the shifter’s eyes boring into me, I casually swept my gaze across the café.

  My stalker immediately ducked his head so the bill of his cap hid his face. Now that I could see him clearly, it was easier to understand why I’d almost mistaken him for Reece when I’d woken up to find him in bed with me. They were very similar in size and build. Even his hair was the same shade of brown. He lifted his head again and I dropped my eyes back to my cell phone before he could catch me watching him.

  Kala returned a few minutes later and I stood. “It’s your turn to watch the bags,” I said far more calmly than I was feeling. “Don’t leave any of them behind,” I whispered and she gave me a sour look.

  “I’m a highly trained operative and I’ve been delegated to being the bag girl,” she muttered as I walked away.

  I remained at what I hoped was a normal pace as I made my way towards the long hallway that led to the restrooms. This would be the optimal time to jump me, but my stalker still wasn’t moving. I stepped inside the ladies room and remained tense while I visited one of the cubicles. I was very glad that I wasn’t wearing a camera. It was bad enough that the rest of the squad could hear everything I was doing in here.

  “He’s on
the move,” Flynn said just as I left the cubicle.

  “Where is he heading?” Mark asked.

  “Towards the restrooms.” He was silent for a few moments. “He’s taking the bait.”

  “You know what to do, Agent Levine,” Mark said.

  “I’m ready,” I replied as I stepped over to the basin. Washing my hands, I checked my reflection. Thankfully, I didn’t look as nervous as I felt.

  Drying my hands, I took a deep breath then let it out. I removed my earpiece and switched it off. I’d be out of touch with the squad, but I couldn’t risk the target overhearing Mark’s orders. I trusted the team implicitly and knew they would keep me safe.

  The moment I stepped into the hall, he was on me. Spinning me around so my back was to him, he clamped a hand over my mouth. A knife pricked my side and I stopped struggling.

  “If you scream, I’ll kill you,” he said with icy calm. “Nod if you understand me.” I nodded and he dropped his hand to my shoulder and squeezed it tightly. “I’m glad you’re being sensible about this. Once we’re alone, I’m going to bond you to me and you’ll belong to me forever.”

  I shivered in revulsion at having his body pressed up against me again, and at his promise. His tone was fervent and sincere, which just made him sound even crazier than I already knew he was.

  “Walk,” he ordered then herded me towards the exit at the far end of the hallway. If everything was going according to plan, Reece should be hiding in the alley, waiting for us. Flynn would be moving to the mouth of the hallway behind us to block our quarry’s retreat. Mark was still up high, just in case the shifter managed to escape and he needed to follow him with the drone. Kala was stuck in the food court, holding our bags.

  Pausing to glance behind us to make sure we weren’t being followed, he shoved the exit door open and pushed me outside. I pretended to trip and lunged forward, buying Flynn a few more seconds to get into position.

  He yanked me back against him then cursed when he saw that the alley was blocked by our van. He went rigid when he realized it was a trap. I slammed my elbow into his stomach, but he was ready for it and absorbed the blow. Grasping a fistful of my hair, he yanked my head back and put his knife to my throat.