The Hunter

Strategies

“Can two of you circle around the back?” Collin glanced at the Yellowstone wolves. “We don’t have numbers, so they won’t be expecting a flank.”

His voice had taken on a gruffness he knew well—one that only came when he was in battle—but this situation was right up his alley. He was good at battle strategies. Damn good, actually. While this wasn’t an epic war, they were facing formidable opponents who outmanned them. This was a situation that called for strategy, and while sneaking around the back wasn’t exactly a new one, it would be a surprise.

The trackers shared a glance before the two males took a step back. “Yeah, we’ll go, but are you sure this is wise?”

Mira stood in front of them, her nose twitching. “I trust his judgment.” The wolves nodded and turned back. It never failed to amaze Collin how quickly other wolves listened to her. “Oh, and take the truck keys with you. You might as well stop on your way around and move the truck. I doubt the police will take kindly to us having a Hunter tied up in the backseat. As far as they know, he’s just a man.”

“Why is there a hunter…” The female wolf stopped and shook her head. “You know what. I probably don’t want to know, do I?”

“He knows where a hunter lab is located.” Collin’s voice hadn’t softened and probably only would when he spoke to Mira. The two wolves weren’t likely to remove the Hunter’s gag and talk to him, and Collin hoped they didn’t. Right now, Collin had covered all his bases, including those with the Hunters, and the wolves talking with the Hunter would ruin that. “Now, you two go. She’s right and we don’t know how long it’ll be until the police show up.”

“Got it, Al… Err… Mira.” The male trackers bowed their heads and darted off.

Claude chuckled at their backs and shook his head. While Collin could find the humor in it, right now, he had bigger issues than laughing at how the two wolves had acted. “Now, almighty le capitaine, what are your orders for me?”

As much Collin wanted to lead the attack with his swords blazing, his arm and shoulder were still injured, which meant he couldn’t be reckless. If he were reckless, Mira would rush to his aid and get herself hurt. He didn’t want her to be hurt for him ever again. Right now, the rest of his tactics would depend on the scene of the fight.

If they were smart, they would stick to the woods and downwind from convenience store. The woods meant his guns wouldn’t be of much use. Plus he now had three new friendly wolves to discern from the nine enemies. He had learned the smell of the friendlies a bit, but if they were downwind from him, he wouldn’t be able to tell who they were from a distance. Obviously, anyone attacking Mira or Claude were to be shot immediately.

The best option would be to go back in time fifteen minutes, move the truck before they set off and then have each of the wolves shift so he could learn their scents and appearances. Sadly, as far as he knew, no one had developed a time machine yet. If they had, he would use it to go back three years, find an eighteen year old version of himself, convince himself that Mira really was the one for him and have the younger him stay with her from the start of her journey. He liked to think he could have prevented a bit of her pain at least.

“I wish we knew the lay of the land ahead of time.” Collin squinted his eyes in the direction the wolves went. It didn’t do any good, but it made him feel like he was attempting to spot them. “If they’re in a clearing, I’ll take to the trees. Otherwise, I’m going to have to rely on hand guns and the swords. Claude. If they are in the woods, use your agility to get the drop on them. Mira and… I don’t think I’ve actually been told your name.”

“Bridgett.” The female wolf didn’t take her eyes off Claude when she spoke. She appeared like she was trying to figure out Claude, but on a scale of zero to ten, it ranked a zero on Collin’s level of caring at that point.