CHAPTER 60

I stopped four miles out from the ranch in a thick bramble of woods, dropped my pack that had my supplies in it, and stripped, going over my borrowed clothes with the tips of my fingers, searching for odd lumps and knots.

*I could have told you there is nothing on us*. My wolf announced once I'd finished. *Except your speaking device and the one that alters our temperature so the other predators don't find us.*

Oh, right.

This new ability was odd because it only seemed to work for my wolf half. With our other senses I could sort of join in when we focused, and hear what she heard, or smell what she smelled. But this sensitivity to electronic fields...I felt nothing, and it made it easy to forget what she was capable of. By 'other predators' she meant the vampires too. I sensed she had grown to have a healthy respect for their capabilities.

*You've been brooding. I didn't want to interrupt*.

*I'm not brooding. I'm just...trying to remember*. Her tone turned frustrated.* I don't want to believe he was right, the things he said. But it explains some of our...*

*Weirdness*. I finished the thought for her, frowning while pulling my clothes back on, because she was right. And new problems came to light if what he'd said was true. The least of which was that I hadn't truly known who my parents were at all. All my memories, my family...it couldn't have all been a lie.

A deep sense of betryal struck me at the thought. My entire life I'd felt like I hadn't belonged. I'd never learned to trust anyone, except my parents. If I lost that too...

I shoved the thoughts away. Now was not the time to think about those things, now I had a job to do. Despite the guilt I felt about my spying gig, I was committed now, and it was time to get things done.

I let everything fade except the physical world around me, my wolf coming closer to the surface, stretching.

All around us the world teamed with life. Even at night the rustle of small creatures in the undergrowth, the leaves tossed in the breeze that had begun to stir, the near silent wings of an owl overhead. We heard it all, and we melded with it, our own sounds dampening until they were undetectable.

I moved quickly along the roadways and trails keeping well out of sight of any homesteads or traffic.
It took me about an hour, but soon I could scent the presence of wolves. Several of the organization's security members were outside, some in groups but many alone. They carried weapons, I could smell the distinctive scent of gun metal and ammunition.

The rest of the pack were inside the various buildings. So many of them. Wolves that, in general, went about their own lives and only interacted with the higher levels when necessary. Anthony must have called the majority of them in, circling the wagons since the attack.

I paused for some time, tracking their patterns...and learned that there weren't any. They were moving around, obviously patrolling the area, but it was almost random where they walked. I sat for another hour before I gave up. There was no set patrol routes, obviously, so I was just going to have to rely on my wolf to keep out of sight.

The main yard was about thirteen acres and was surrounded by a ten foot high palisade fence consisting of heavy metal beams that stood perpendicular to the ground, close enough together that it would be impossible to slip through. The beams bent outward and were sharpened to a knife's blade at the top, ensuring no one would want to climb over, either. This was my first obstacle.

My best bet would be to come in behind the old pole shed. The shed itself would block me from sight from most of the yard. I was fortunate in that wolves, in general did not use light as a security measure so there were no yard lights or security strobes to catch my movements.

I kept my wolf's senses extended, ensuring the patrols were busy elsewhere and opened my pack. One thing about having the CEO of a tech company on your side was that you didn't have to make due with jimmy rigged items, you got the best of the best. In this case a spy movie worthy grappling hook and a set of enhanced Kevlar gloves and arm guards. I wasn't certain how they were enhanced but they were subtle, almost like not wearing gloves at all, and when I brushed against the fence they made no sound whatsoever.

I hadn't had time to play with the grappling hook, so when I took the shot at the top of the fence I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of noise. Even when the hook caught through the slats on the other side the only sound it made was a soft thump.

I made short work of pulling myself up, at the top of the fence I had to bounce outward, while hanging onto the grappling rope before twisting my body and pulling so that I swung up and around the sharp tips. I could feel the blades of the fence through the gloves, painfully thin but not cutting as I grasped them, pushing myself over and into the yard so that I landed a few feet in.

My feet hit the dirt and I crouched where I landed, listening. Nothing had changed, the closest patrol, which was Jacob, on his own, was heading toward the barracks. His steps were a hint slow, dragging that tiny bit more than usual. He was tired, must be coming off his shift.

Slowly the tension left me and I stood, hitting the button on the grappling gun that retracted the hook. It came free from the fence easily, the tines of the hook itself folding back into their spear-like container. I took the time to put it back into my pack and remove the gloves. As great as they were I preferred to have my hands free, and didn't dare lose any bit of my dexterity.

I hadn't spent more than a day at the ranch, really, but in the time I had been there I was fairly certain I'd gotten a good feel for the basics of the security protocols and precautions the organization used. Which was why it came as a complete surprise when I rounded the corner of the pole shed and straight into a thick mist of scented spray. It was strong, and almost visible to the naked eye as it settled on my skin and clothes.

*I don't think I can block this scent*. My wolf informed me, her surprise matching my own, because the pack had taken on new security measures. And they were against me.