After a thoughtful pause, Zion asked,What else were you able to learn?
His new beta’s name is Juan, and he was one of Akari’s attackers.
Juan is Armando’s younger brother, so that makes perfect sense, Zion told him.Was there anyone else?
There was a fourth wolf. I didn’t get a name, but his appearance is unique. I’m hoping Diego will know his name.
Good work, Zion praised.You’ve made remarkable progress.
There’s one more thing, and it’s seriously disturbing.Isaac sighed. He wasn’t even sure how to explain this.The injections Babcock is giving the women are causing fatal side effects. Elias stood there and watched while his lover transformed to death.
Transformed to death?Zion sounded aghast. What the hell does that mean?
Just what it sounds like. She shifted and shifted, over and over until it drained the life from her body.
Fuck,Zion muttered.Sounds like we need to go get Babcock sooner than later. We can’t let him get his hands on the new captives.
Agreed.Which meant he needed to find out where the wolves had the women stashed.I better get back in there.
CHAPTER 6
Tara and her mates had just finished dinner when Diego knocked on their cabin door. The day had been bright and sunny, but a storm rolled in with dusk. Kyle motioned Diego inside and quickly closed the door.
Diego shook off the snow that had accumulated on his shoulders and said, “I hate to drag you guys out on this miserable night, but Zion wants this dealt with now.”
Isaac skirted the dining table and crossed the living room. “Until we locate the entrance to the tunnels, there’s not a lot we can do.”
Kyle cringed. That had been the topic of much of their dinner conversation and Tara was depressed and sulky because of it. He looked at her and smiled, but her expression didn’t change.
“We can make sure Babcock isn’t around to inject any more of the females,” Diego pointed out. “He only escaped Team Three because of the latest attack on the females. It must end, and now is the time.”
Kyle’s heart lurched and he sucked in a breath. “Do we finally have a kill order?”
Diego shook his head. “He needs to be interrogated. The order is capture and we’ve confirmed that he’s in the lupine village right now.”
“Our covert shields are less effective in the snow,” Jon reminded as he joined them by the door. “And even if we’re invisible, our footprints are not.”
“It’s a risk either way,” Diego countered. “The wolves are more active when it’s warm. Tonight, they’ll be in their cabins huddled around their fires. Besides, half the village guards are in the tunnels protecting the females.”
“What about Juan and the man with the neck tattoo?” Isaac wanted to know. “Can we take care of them while we’re in the village?”
“Zion okayed a hit on the tattooed wolf, but Juan is to be taken alive. I split the objectives into two separate missions. Shadow Team Three is going to take out Mr. Tattoos and capture Juan. You guys are to secure Babcock and bring him back here. It might seem like the easier mission, but Babcock is more important.”
“If we’re all going hunting, Tara needs a security detail,” Jon insisted.
“Already arranged,” Diego assured him. “A team of four is stationed around this cabin. I didn’t figure you’d want them inside.”
“Damn right,” Jon responded, his expression fierce. “No one touches Tara but us.”
Diego acknowledged the statement with a nod, then asked, “Are there any other questions or concerns?”
“Is anyone still searching for the women?” Tara pushed back from the table and stood. Her tone was respectful, but unshed tears shimmered in her eyes. “The last time the wolves kidnapped women, Zion gave up without a fight.”
“Our best hunters have been searching the forest for the entrance to the tunnels,” Diego told her. “They’ve lost the light for today, but they’ll be back out there as soon as the sun rises again.”
She nodded then pleaded, “Please don’t give up on them. If Claire is claimed by a wolf, I don’t think she’ll survive. And Dawn’s situation is even worse. She’s terrified of everything.”
“We understand their history. We’ll keep searching.”
