The Runaway Alpha's Feral Mate

Chapter Thirteen

Liam squinted at the tablet screen, fighting both exhaustion and the glare of early morning sunlight streaming through the hunting lodge window. He'd been analyzing the salvaged device for hours, trying to make sense of the encrypted data Akira had brought back from her night hunt.

"I think I have something," he said, looking up from where he sat cross-legged by the woodstove. Mary glanced over from where she was packing supplies, while Akira merely grunted without looking up from the collar she was dissecting with single-minded focus.

"There's a pattern to these security protocols," Liam continued, tilting the screen to reduce the glare. "See these data clusters? They're preparation for a major operation." He scrolled through several screens of information. "According to this, Eclipse is planning to move all research subjects in approximately 36 hours."

That got Akira's attention. Her head snapped up, silver eyes narrowing. "Where take Kova?" she demanded.

"It doesn't say," Liam admitted. "The destination is encrypted. But the logistics are clear—multiple transport vehicles, military escort, aerial support."

Mary abandoned her packing and peered over his shoulder at the tablet. "Eclipse never moves subjects. They bring researchers to the facility, not the other way around."

"Must be important," Akira said, rising fluidly from her crouched position. She approached the tablet cautiously, looking at it like it might bite her. For all her evident intelligence and adaptability, technology clearly made her uneasy—a reminder that despite her human form, she was fundamentally a creature who had spent the majority of her twelve thousand years as a wolf.

She leaned over, sniffing at the device briefly before recoiling slightly from its electronic smell. "Need more information. Need... person who knows."

"Elena Moontooth," Mary said decisively. "Magnus's ally in Wiseman. If anyone has intel on Eclipse's movements, it's her."

"Who?" Liam asked.

"Former special forces. Alaskan native. Has contacts throughout the north." Mary was already shouldering her pack. "Magnus mentioned her for a reason. She's been monitoring Eclipse for years."

Akira nodded once, already moving toward the door. "Go now. No time."

Liam carefully powered down the tablet to conserve its battery and slipped it into his pack. "How far to Wiseman?"

"About forty miles northeast," Mary replied. "If we move quickly and the weather holds, we can reach her by nightfall."

Akira gave a short, huffing sound that might have been derision at the mention of weather as an obstacle. She'd already stepped outside, clearly impatient with human preparations and conversation.

Within minutes, they had eliminated all traces of their presence and set out toward Wiseman. Mary led the way, navigating with the confidence of someone intimately familiar with the Alaskan wilderness. Liam followed, with Akira moving in a wide perimeter around them—sometimes visible, sometimes not, but always present.

They maintained a punishing pace, stopping only when absolutely necessary to check their bearings or refill water bottles. Each time they paused, Liam found himself studying Akira, fascinated by how she interacted with the environment. She moved with complete confidence through terrain that challenged even Mary's experienced navigation, often disappearing for stretches before rejoining them with no explanation of where she'd been.

"Not keeping up," she observed bluntly during one such pause, eyeing Liam's labored breathing with what might have been disapproval.

"Some of us haven't spent twelve millennia perfecting our wilderness survival skills," he replied, trying not to sound defensive.

Akira just snorted and turned away, scanning the horizon with predatory focus.

By mid-afternoon, they'd covered impressive ground, the landscape gradually changing as they approached the foothills of the Brooks Range. Liam's academic physique, though enhanced by his werewolf heritage, protested the relentless pace. His mind, however, remained sharp—processing what they knew about Eclipse, about Kova, about the upcoming transport operation.

"What do we actually know about this Elena?" he asked Mary during a brief rest.

Mary took a long drink from her water bottle before answering. "Magnus trusts her. That's enough for me."

"But who is she? How does she have access to Eclipse information?"

Mary shrugged. "Ask her yourself when we get there."

As the day waned toward evening, they crested a final ridge to see Wiseman spread below them—a small settlement nestled in a valley, its few buildings casting long shadows in the setting sun. Unlike the government outpost at Coldfoot, Wiseman had the organic feel of a community that had grown naturally from the landscape, its structures weathered and functional rather than institutional.

"There," Mary said, pointing to a cabin set apart from the others, positioned against the base of a wooded hillside. "Elena's place."

They approached cautiously, using natural cover until they reached the edges of the clearing surrounding the cabin. Unlike the others in the settlement, this structure showed signs of modern additions despite its rustic exterior—solar panels on the roof, a satellite dish discreetly positioned, and what Liam recognized as carefully concealed security measures around the perimeter.

"Let me go first," Mary advised. "Elena can be... territorial."

Liam followed Mary across the clearing, with Akira trailing several steps behind, her posture suggesting she was ready to disappear at the first sign of danger. When they reached the cabin door, Mary knocked in a specific pattern—three quick taps, pause, two slow.

The door opened immediately, revealing a woman who defied every expectation Liam had formed. Elena Moontooth stood well over six feet tall, with shoulders broad enough to fill the doorframe. Her black hair was cropped military-short, highlighting sharp cheekbones and dark, watchful eyes. She wore practical wilderness gear—flannel shirt, canvas pants, boots that had seen serious use—but moved with the unmistakable readiness of someone trained for combat.

"Mary," she acknowledged, her voice surprisingly gentle for someone of her imposing stature. "Been a while."

"Too long," Mary agreed. "We need your help."

Elena's gaze shifted to Liam, assessing him with quick efficiency before moving to Akira. At the sight of the direwolf in human form, her entire demeanor changed—body tensing, nostrils flaring slightly.

"Inside," she ordered. "Now."

They followed her into a cabin that belied its rustic exterior. One wall was covered with maps and surveillance photos, many featuring what appeared to be Eclipse Facility from various angles. Another wall held an impressive array of weapons. A communications setup that would have impressed military intelligence occupied one corner, quietly processing data from multiple sources.

Elena secured the door with three separate locks before turning to face them, her attention focused entirely on Akira.

"Direwolf," she stated simply.

Akira's silver eyes narrowed. She sniffed once, deliberately. "Bear," she replied with equal directness.

Liam blinked, processing the exchange. "Wait—you're Otherkind?"

Elena's glance in his direction carried barely concealed amusement. "Half. Mother's side." She returned her attention to Akira. "Thought your kind was gone. Government records list the last confirmed direwolf sighting in 1943. Siberia."

"Government wrong," Akira replied with a dismissive gesture. "Often wrong."

A brief smile flashed across Elena's face. "Clearly." She gestured toward a sturdy wooden table. "Sit. Explain."

As they settled around the table, Mary quickly outlined their situation—their escape from the research facilities, Eleanor's data, and their discovery about the upcoming transfer of subjects from Eclipse.

Elena listened without interruption, her expression betraying nothing. When Mary finished, she remained silent for several moments before rising and moving to a nearby cabinet. She returned with a bottle of amber liquid and four glasses.

"Whiskey," she said simply, pouring generous measures. "You'll need it."

Akira ignored her glass, her attention fixed on Elena. "Know about transfer?"

Elena nodded once. "Eclipse is moving all research subjects to a new facility in Nunavut. Underground installation beneath an abandoned weather station." She took a drink of whiskey. "More isolated. Better security. Once they're there..." She left the implication hanging.

"They'll disappear completely," Liam finished grimly.

"Why move?" Akira demanded, leaning forward slightly, her intensity filling the room.

"Consolidation," Elena replied. "OCD cutting programs, centralizing high-value research." She set down her glass with precision. "Been planning this for months. Very few people know the full details."

"How do you?" Liam asked, suspicion edging into his voice despite himself.

Elena's dark eyes fixed on him with sudden, predatory focus. "My brother is inside Eclipse."

The blunt admission silenced the room.

"Taken five years ago," she continued, voice controlled but with an undercurrent of rage. "He was seventeen. Showed bear traits early—too early to hide them properly." Her hand tightened around her glass. "OCD classified him as 'genetically significant' due to our Inuit bloodline. Been planning to get him out for over a year now."

"Why wait?" Akira asked, the question direct and pragmatic rather than accusatory.

"Eclipse is impenetrable," Elena replied. "Triple-layered security, underground sections, trained Harvesters. But a convoy?" Her expression hardened with purpose. "Different story."

Liam leaned forward, hope stirring for the first time. "You're suggesting we intercept the transport?"

"Only viable option," Elena confirmed. "I've mapped the route, identified vulnerable points. Been gathering resources." She glanced at Akira. "Wasn't counting on direwolf assistance, though. That changes possibilities."

Akira nodded once, the simple gesture conveying her commitment. "Find Kova. Find brother. Free all."

"Your son," Elena said. "How old?"

"Five winters," Akira replied. "Never seen him. Only felt."

Elena's expression softened almost imperceptibly. "My sources say there's a young wolf-child who refuses to shift to human form. Stays wolf despite all attempts to force transformation."

A flash of fierce pride crossed Akira's face. "Strong cub," she said simply.

"Strong indeed," Elena agreed. "And valuable to them because of it. He'll be heavily guarded during transport."

Liam studied the maps on Elena's wall, his academic mind already analyzing patterns and possibilities. "How many subjects are they moving?"

"Twenty-three," Elena replied without hesitation. "Different species, different research programs. Four transport vehicles, military escort."

"Need help," Akira stated, the simple words carrying the weight of tactical assessment rather than a request.

"Already working on it," Elena assured her. "Northern Lights pack—Magnus's people—have lost three cubs to Eclipse in the past year. They'll help." She moved to a map of the local region. "Night Hunters pack to the east lost their alpha's daughter three months ago. Both have reason to fight."

"Will they risk it?" Liam asked, knowing how territorial werewolf packs could be.

"For their children? Yes." Elena's certainty was absolute. "And there are others who owe me favors. People who've lost family to OCD containment programs."

As they began discussing potential ambush locations and tactical approaches, Liam noticed that Akira had grown restless. She prowled the cabin's perimeter, occasionally stopping to examine maps or equipment with wary curiosity. When she reached Elena's communications setup, she regarded it with obvious suspicion, keeping her distance as if the technology itself offended her senses.

Mary had fallen unusually quiet, contributing occasional observations about terrain or weather conditions but otherwise remaining withdrawn from the planning. She sat slightly apart from their discussion circle, nursing her whiskey with uncharacteristic slowness.

Akira suddenly stopped her prowling and moved to stand directly in front of Mary. She leaned down, sniffing deliberately, her silver eyes narrowing.

"Fox," she stated flatly. "Arctic fox. Why hide?"

The cabin went silent. Elena seemed unsurprised, but Liam felt his jaw physically drop as he stared at Mary—the woman who had flown them, guided them, helped them for days.

"You're Otherkind?" he managed finally, embarrassment washing through him as he realized he'd completely failed to detect what Akira had apparently known immediately.

Mary sighed, running a hand through her graying hair. "Not hiding. Just not mentioning. Simpler that way." She shrugged. "Been passing as human for forty years. Becomes habit."

"But I should have sensed it," Liam insisted, his academic pride wounded. "I've studied Otherkind physiological markers for years!"

Akira made a sound that might have been derision. "Book knowledge," she grunted. "Not nose knowledge." She tapped the side of her nose meaningfully before resuming her restless circuit of the cabin.

Liam felt his face flush. She was right, of course. For all his academic expertise on Otherkind biology, he'd spent so many years suppressing his own wolf nature that his instincts had atrophied. Akira, who lived fully as what she was, had recognized Mary's true nature immediately.

"Fox explains good pilot," Akira added from across the room, where she was studying a weapons rack with evident interest. "Good eyes. Quick hands."

Mary actually smiled at that. "Helps with engine maintenance too. Can squeeze into tight spaces."

Elena cleared her throat, bringing them back to the matter at hand. "We have thirty-four hours to finalize the plan and position our forces. I'll contact the Northern Lights pack tonight. Mary, can you reach Night Hunters through Magnus? I think Tutuk is their Alpha now."

Mary nodded. "He'll have a radio frequency they monitor."

As the others discussed communication protocols, Liam returned to examining the tablet, searching for any additional information that might help them. A series of coded designations caught his attention—possibly subject classifications. He became so absorbed in trying to decipher them that he didn't notice Akira approach until she was standing over him.

"Show," she demanded, pointing to the screen.

Liam hesitated, then turned the tablet toward her. "I'm trying to identify which transport would be carrying Kova. There are subject codes here, but I can't make sense of the classification system."

To his surprise, Akira leaned closer, eyes scanning the text with evident comprehension. Her finger moved to a specific code: "DW-NK-05."

"This one," she said with certainty. "Direwolf-North Koholic-Five winters."

Liam stared at her, then at the tablet. "You can read?"

The look she gave him would have withered a lesser man. "Twelve thousand winters," she reminded him flatly. "Learn many things."

"Right," he muttered, properly chastened. "Sorry."

Her finger moved to another designation. "Bear. Here." She pointed to a code labeled "UB-JM-22."

Elena appeared instantly at her side. "That's Jimmy," she confirmed, surprise evident in her voice. "My brother. Ursus-Jimmy Moontooth-Twenty-two years."

Liam watched as Akira continued scanning the information, identifying species designations that he had missed entirely. For all her wariness of the physical technology, she grasped data patterns with remarkable speed.

"Same truck," she noted, indicating a vehicle designation. "Second vehicle. Heavy guard."

Elena studied the information, nodding slowly. "Makes sense. They'd group the most valuable subjects together." She looked at Akira with newfound respect. "How did you learn their coding system?"

"Listened," Akira replied simply. "Eight years in lab. Scientists talk. Think I not understand." Her silver eyes gleamed with cold intelligence. "Always underestimate."

Liam felt a chill run through him, reminding himself yet again that despite her simple speech patterns and technological wariness, Akira was far from primitive. She was ancient, adaptable, and had clearly spent her captivity absorbing every piece of information that might aid her eventual escape.

"Why didn't you escape earlier?" he asked suddenly, voicing the question that had been nagging at him. "With your abilities, you could have broken out long before Eleanor found you."

Akira went still, her expression unreadable. "Felt pup," she said after a long pause. "Not see. Not touch. But felt. Here." She pressed a hand to her chest. "Had suppression collar. Still felt him. Before pup, stopped caring."

"You stayed because of him," Liam realized. "Even though you'd never seen him."

She nodded once. "Then moved him north. To Eclipse. Different lab." Her eyes darkened with memory. "Broke collar. Escaped to find him. Caught by other facility. Where Eleanor worked."

The simple explanation revealed volumes about Akira's character—her patience, her determination, her absolute commitment to finding her son despite never having seen him. For eight years, she had endured captivity, biding her time, gathering information, all because she sensed her child's presence.

"We'll find him," Liam promised, a protective resolve solidifying within him that had nothing to do with academic interest and everything to do with the bond forming between himself and this extraordinary being.

Akira held his gaze for a long moment, something unspoken passing between them, then gave a single nod of acknowledgment before returning to her restless exploration of the cabin.

As darkness fell outside, their planning continued—strategies forming and reforming as they considered every possible variable. Elena's tactical knowledge combined with Mary's familiarity with the terrain created a solid foundation, while Liam contributed what he knew about OCD protocols from Eleanor's data.

Suddenly, Akira stopped mid-circuit of the cabin and moved to the door, opening it to stare into the night.

"What is it?" Elena asked, instantly alert.

Akira didn't answer immediately, her head tilted as if listening to something beyond human hearing. After a moment, she turned back to them.

"Need more help," she stated. "Not just wolves."

"What do you mean?" Liam asked.

Instead of answering, Akira stepped outside into the darkness. The others followed hesitantly, watching as she moved to the center of the small clearing in front of the cabin.

What happened next left Liam speechless. Akira lifted her head and released a sound unlike anything he'd ever heard—not quite a howl, not quite a call, but something primal and ancient that seemed to resonate with the land itself. The sound carried through the valley, echoing off distant mountains before fading into silence.

For several long moments, nothing happened. Then, from the surrounding forest came responses—the howl of wolves, the cry of eagles, the rustling movement of smaller creatures emerging from hiding. At the forest edge, a massive bull moose appeared, watching them with calm intelligence. In the trees above, ravens gathered, their black shapes visible against the night sky.

"My God," Mary whispered beside him.

Akira turned to them, silver eyes reflecting the moonlight. "All help," she said simply. "All watch. All fight."

Elena stared at the gathering wildlife with undisguised amazement. "You can control them?"

"Not control," Akira corrected with a sharp gesture. "Ask. They choose." She indicated the animals keeping respectful distance. "Eyes everywhere. No secrets from forest."

Liam watched in wonder as more creatures appeared at the forest edge—foxes, lynx, wolves, wolverines, even a black bear that regarded them with curious eyes. In all his years studying Otherkind, he'd never encountered or even heard of an ability like this—to communicate with ordinary wildlife across species boundaries.

"Twelve thousand winters," Akira said again, as if that explained everything. Perhaps it did.

As they returned to the cabin to continue their planning, Liam found himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about Otherkind evolution. Akira wasn't just a remnant of an ancient species—she was a living connection to an older world, where the boundaries between different forms of life were perhaps more permeable than modern science recognized.

And tomorrow, they would need every advantage that ancient connection could provide if they were to have any hope of rescuing Kova, Jimmy, and the others from Eclipse's convoy.

Liam glanced at the tablet one more time, at the coded designation that represented Akira's son—a child he'd never met but already felt responsible for. DW-NK-05. A five-year-old direwolf who refused to take human form, defying his captors through the only resistance available to him.

Kova was clearly his mother's son.