“We’re not going to turn over any cars tonight,” Noble said. “We don’t need more support.”

“No? Then what?”

“We’re going to divide and conquer.”

Argus was lying on his side, his head cradled in his open hand. “Oh, I like the sound of that.”

Noble turned. “You’re going to like this a lot.”

Harlan crawled out of bed. “I’ll get Tora.”

* * *

They reached the protest site around midnight. There was a good-sized moon hanging over the mountains, but they wouldn’t be needing it to find their way around. The loggers had lights up throughout the camp and the constant hum of a generator could be heard in the distance. The lights hadn’t turned night into day, but it was more than enough for the guards to see any trespassers entering the camp.

“What now?” asked Tora in the harsh voice of her werewolf form.

The pack had been watching the camp from a safe distance, and if the lights weren’t enough to put a stop to their plans, there were at least six men on guard duty, each carrying a shotgun or rifle.

Noble hesitated. “Let me think.”

Argus chuckled under his breath. “You mean Noble Brock doesn’t have a back-up plan?”

Both Harlan and Tora looked at Argus.

Noble sensed an edge to Argus’s voice, as if he were making fun of his smaller brother, or resented his brother’s role as leader of the pack. Whatever the problem, it would have to be addressed later. Right now, Noble had to come up with something or the night would be wasted. A few moments later he had it.

“Wait here for my signal,” he said, already heading down the slope toward the camp.

“What’s the signal?” Tora asked.

But Noble had changed into his wolfen form and was unable to answer. Not to worry, he thought. They’ll know it when they see it.

* * *

Noble took his time getting down to the campsite. He was a wolf in the woods…nothing unusual about that. Nor was there anything unusual about a wolf visiting the site. Wolves were curious creatures, and it stood to reason that all the activity in the area might draw their attention. But how close would a wolf get to satisfy its curiosity? That’s where Noble would diverge from the norm and do something unexpected.

He moved as quietly through the woods as he could until he was within earshot of the guard sitting on a wooden box—possibly full of ammunition—in front of the company trailer. There was a light on over the door of the trailer that lit a large circle of ground all around it. When Noble was sure the guard could hear him, he stepped on a good-sized branch with his front paw, snapping it in two.

“Who’s there?” the man asked, getting up off his box and peering into the woods.