Page 56 of Anders
Report,Malcolm said the moment Anders entered.
Two vehicles heading east on Route 40,Anders said, pulling up the tracking data on the main screen.Five operatives, all armed.They’ve sedated her with something designed to work on shifters—it disrupted our mate bond.
If Malcolm noticed the ease with which Anders now acknowledged the bond, he didn’t comment on it.
They mentioned a Chimera facility,Anders continued.And a ‘reset’ procedure including complete memory wipe and maximum chemical suppression.
Sarah gasped.They’re going to take everything from her again?
No,Anders said, the word like steel.They’re not.
He moved to the main console, fingers flying across the keyboard as he accessed his specialized programs.The screen filled with data streams as the tracking devices relayed not just location but vehicle diagnostics, communications frequencies, and electronic signatures.
They’re using a secure communications network,he said as the others gathered around.Military-grade encryption.But their vehicles’ systems have vulnerabilities I can exploit.
How do you know this?Quinton asked, leaning over his shoulder.
Anders didn’t look up from his work.Because I helped design some of the countermeasures while I was in Special Forces.I know where to look for weaknesses.
The room went silent at that revelation.Anders rarely spoke about his military service, and never in detail.
You were military intelligence,Malcolm said slowly.Not just Special Forces.
That’s classified,Anders replied automatically, then sighed.But yes.Special operations with a focus on counterintelligence and asset recovery.
Asset recovery,Sarah repeated.Like what they’re doing with Etta?
Anders’s jaw tightened.Not like this.Never like this.
His fingers continued their work, breaking through the vehicles’ security layers, accessing their onboard systems.External cameras, GPS navigation, internal communications—all feeding data to his screens.
There,he muttered as a grainy image appeared—the interior of the lead SUV, showing Etta unconscious on the rear seat, her wrists secured to a central bar, her head lolling against the window.
His wolf snarled at the sight, and Anders had to force himself to remain clinical, to focus on the technical aspects rather than the rage building inside him.
The vehicles are heading for a secured facility approximately two hours east,he reported, analyzing the navigation data now flowing into his system.Heavily guarded, isolated location.Likely a black site for whatever program is running these operations.
Can we intercept them before they reach it?Malcolm asked.
Anders shook his head.The transport team is trained for countersurveillance and evasion.Direct interception would result in a tactical response that could endanger Etta.He pulled up another screen, showing a satellite view of the highway ahead.But we can track them to the facility, gather intelligence, and plan a proper extraction.
An extraction from a government black site?Quinton looked skeptical.That’s not just dangerous—it’s potentially suicidal.
I’ve done it before,Anders said quietly.He met Malcolm’s gaze directly.I know what I’m doing.
The alpha studied him for a long moment, then nodded once.What do you need?
A small team.Four at most.Quinton and Conall for their coordinated abilities.You for alpha strength if needed.Anders turned back to the screens.And time to plan properly.Rushing in will get us all killed or captured.
And what about Etta in the meantime?Sarah asked, her voice soft with concern.
They won’t begin the reset procedure immediately.They need to prepare the equipment, run preliminary tests.Anders forced his expression to remain neutral, and his voice remained steady through sheer force of will.We have a window.Not large, but enough.
How can you be so calm about this?Sarah demanded.She’s your mate.
Don’t mistake my focus for lack of concern,he said, his voice rumbling, low and dangerous.Every second, every breath I take, is dedicated to getting her back safely.But I will not let emotion cloud my judgment when her life depends on precision.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room.Anders took a deep breath, reining in his wolf’s instinctive aggression.
