Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(44)

The Director jerked his head up, clearly caught off guard by Frank’s daring plot.

“Exactly what are you suggesting?”

Frank didn’t hesitate. “It’s simple. You need to kidnap-”

“The SAU doesn’t kidnap,” Markham corrected in stern tones. “We detain hostiles.”

“Very well.” Frank forced himself not to react to the idiotic interruption. “You need to detain Cora and bring her to me.”

Markham once again studied the picture, clearly considering the various implications of capturing the pretty young shifter.

“It would cause a rebellion among the Felines,” he at last pronounced with blatant regret.

“Not if you managed to extract her from the den before anyone knew that she was missing,” Frank said, inwardly wondering how the stupid fool had ever risen to the role of Director. Certainly it wasn’t because of his limited brains. “Once she is here, you could use her continued good health to ensure the cats’ good behavior.”

“It might work,” Markham slowly admitted.

“Then you’ll retrieve her for me?”

Without warning, the older man stepped forward, poking his finger into the center of Frank’s chest.

“No. I’ll retrieve her for the SAU.” Another poke that was certain to leave a bruise. “Perhaps you need to be reminded that despite your new office, you are a mere tool for our greater purpose, Talbot.”

Frank clenched his teeth, briefly considered the pleasure of reaching for the syringe he kept hidden in his pocket. It was loaded with a potent poison that would kill Markham in less than thirty seconds.

Then, with effort, he restrained his homicidal fury. For now, he needed the stupid bastard and the SAU.

Soon…

“Of course.” He pasted a stiff smile on his lips. “I am here to serve.”

“Hmm.” Markham looked as if he wanted to say more, but perhaps realizing that Frank was his best researcher, the Director pulled a phone from his pocket and pressed it to his ear. “Paulson, I need you to choose six of your best soldiers. I have a mission that demands the utmost discretion,” he barked into the speaker as he turned and headed out of the office.

Frank waited for the door to close before he gave a roll of his eyes. Pompous prick. Did the fool truly imagine that having an Alpha bite one human at a time would do any good? They had no idea the survival rate of humans undergoing the transformation. It might be one in a million. And they didn’t even know how often the Alpha could use his bite to create a shifter. Nightly? Weekly? Yearly?

Frank, however, had far loftier goals.

He smiled with anticipation.

Once he understood how the actual process worked, he intended to create a virus that would infect thousands of humans at the same time.

Let the SAU think small, he was meant for far bigger things.

****

Soren shuddered as he shifted from wolf to human, the agonizing pleasure wrenching a groan from his throat.

He’d intended to head straight to the shower before seeking his bed after a night of running in his animal form, but he’d caught the smell of his Alpha before he ever made it to his small cabin.

With a resigned sigh, he reached for the pair of jeans he kept stashed in a small cubby at the edge of the woods. All shifters learned to stockpile clothing in various locations in case they needed a quick change.

Scrubbing his hands over his face that was in dire need of a shave, he headed around the edge of the cabin to discover Holden leaning against the front door.

The lean male with brown hair and blue eyes watched his approach with an intensity that made his wolf give a low growl. His Alpha would always be dominant, but as the Beta of the Pack, Soren refused to take any shit.

“Trouble sleeping?” Holden demanded, glancing toward the crisp blue sky.

“These are difficult times.”

“No crap.” The fierce gaze never wavered. “But I suspect your restless night had more to do with a beautiful cat.”

Dammit. He’d known his absence would be noticed, but he’d hoped that Holden wouldn’t so easily suspect that it was Cora’s arrival that had lured him away from his duties.

“You’re my Alpha,” he growled. “Not my father.”

“Thank God.”

Soren rolled his eyes. “How did the ceremony go?”

For a minute, Soren feared his companion would press for details about the reunion. Not that Soren had anything to share. He’d seen Cora. She’d reinforced her opinion that he was a heartless pig. And he’d crawled away with his tail between his legs.

Badda-bing, badda-boom.

“As well as could be expected.” Holden at last allowed himself to be diverted. “In the short-term, we know that we have no choice but to try and share the same territory, and fighting between the Packs only helps the SAU convince the world that we’re dangerous beasts who need to be caged.”

Soren nodded. “And long-term?”

“We have to do whatever it takes to make sure there is no long-term.”

Holden didn’t have to point out the obvious. They all knew that two predatory Packs couldn’t live in the same territory. Not without open warfare.

“Have the tigers made any connections with the officials that might help our cause?” he asked.