Page 2 of Reconditioning the Wolf

Madagascar silently agreed as he headed in the other direction.

Stepping into the front yard, Madagascar paused and swept his gaze over the myriad of men preparing to leave. Kontra’s people loaded two SUVs and two box trucks with supplies. Their expressions were a mixture of anticipation, concern, and determination. Except for Payson—a hyena shifter that Madagascar knew he wasn’t alone in thinking had a few screws loose. No, Payson grinned widely and rushed about in obvious glee. Payson’s human mate, Land, however, stood on the front porch with a mixture of worry and fondness on his face.

“You ready?” Sam asked, the big Texas-longhorn bull’s long legs quickly closing the distance between them. “Get permission from your brother?”

While Madagascar hadn’t realized that was what he was doing, Beta Sam was right. His brother was his alpha. He hadn’t trulyneededit to go, but he’d wanted it.

“Yes, sir,” Madagascar replied.

Sam tipped his chin in a small nod before turning and leading the way toward one of the SUVs.

Madagascar slipped into a middle captain’s chair, his excitement ramping up.

*

It took every ounce of self-control Madagascar felt to keep from bouncing on his toes. He hadn’t told Congo, but Ryan had given him several shooting lessons. Even though Madagascar wouldn’t call himself a marksman, yet, he wouldn’t shoot any of his own people, either.

Plus, Madagascar would be more liable to shift into his bear if any real problems started.

Or I’ll stay back with Lamar, covering the peacock shifter, like Kontra and Sam instructed.

Sam, Ryan, Lamar, and Rueben—Lamar’s human mate—were headed to the control room. Madagascar was going with them. They were supposed to keep Lamar safe as he took control of their systems.

Of course, Madagascar had heard that Lamar was no slouch at taking care of himself. The shifter appeared fastidious and uptight, considering the way he always appeared clean and put together. Only his rough and tumble human mate managed to ruffle his feathers, and Lamar seemed happy about that.

“Remember,” Sam reiterated, focusing on Madagascar. “Stick with the group. No one goes off alone.”

“Yes, Beta,” Madagascar confirmed, even though that had to have been the tenth time Sam had said that.

A second later, Madagascar knew he wasn’t the only one to hear Kontra’s deep voice ordering that they advance through his earpiece.

Sam hefted a firearm in his right hand and the forged keycard in his left and led the way toward the secluded warehouse-like building hidden deep in the swamp. They’d already bypassed a security fence and a number of cameras. They’d just been waiting for all the other groups to get into position.

Madagascar’s group was going through what was supposed to be a secret entrance closest to the control room. There was a guard room they would need to neutralize outside it. The barracks were on the other side of the building, so most of Kontra’s people would be going in on that side.

Hoping their small incursion could swiftly and quietly secure the room, Madagascar followed the others through the swamp.

After Sam swiped the card through the reader, the door beeped. Rueben opened the door. Ryan slipped through the opening, his rifle ready at his shoulder. Sam followed his mate.

As ordered, Madagascar hurried after them, Lamar flanking him. He heard the door click behind him and knew that Rueben was at their back. They paused at a door to the left, and after Sam opened it, Ryan confirmed that it was clear.

Madagascar had been told that the word meant the room was empty.

They passed two more empty rooms without incident. Evidently, entering at night had been a good idea. Supposedly, that meant there would be little staff on hand, so fewer people to raise the alarm.

Just as they reached the door with a plaque heraldingControl Room, Authorized Personnel Only, a high-pitched claxon sounded through the place.

The alarm.

Madagascar couldn’t help wincing upon hearing the offending noise, but the others didn’t react. Instead, Sam used his keycard to try to unlock the door. It worked, the light on the panel turning green.

Rueben yanked open the door, and Ryan swung into the opening, weapon at the ready.

Able to see over Ryan’s shoulder, Madagascar made out two occupants—a slender guy in white sitting at a control panel and a huge, black-haired guy standing next to a bucket holding a mop. Unable to help himself, Madagascar found himself admiring the clearly shocked janitor’s heavily muscled body and lightly bronzed skin. His black brows had disappeared beneath his shaggy bangs, and his equally dark eyes were huge in his ruggedly handsome face. Even his full lips were parted, and Madagascar found himself wondering what they would taste like.

Shit! Focus!

Without turning from the computers, the slender guy asked, “Well? What triggered the alarm? I’m flipping through the damn screens as fast as I can, but there’s too many of the damn things.” The human continued to grouse as he kept hitting buttons.

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