CHAPTER 7 ā THE SECRET THEY BURIED FOR TEN YEARS
The sheriff carefully lifted the rusted metal tag from Victor Hale's truck.
Stamped into the steel were three faded words:
PROJECT GUARDIAN ā SUBJECT R-17
Thomas frowned.
"What does that mean?"
No one answered.
Not until an elderly woman stepped out of a government SUV that arrived only an hour later.
Her name was Dr. Eleanor Brooks.
She stared at Ranger with tears filling her eyes.
"It really is him..."
Emily looked confused.
"You know my dog?"
Dr. Brooks slowly knelt before Ranger.
Instead of barking, Ranger gently rested his massive head against her shoulder.
Thomas had never seen him trust a stranger.
Ten years earlier, Dr. Brooks explained, Ranger had been born as part of an experimental livestock protection program.
The goal had never been to create an attack dog.
Scientists wanted to breed guardian dogs capable of peacefully communicating with wild wolves and preventing deadly conflicts between predators and farmers.
Ranger had been the greatest success.
Until armed poachers raided the research station.
Several wolves were killed.
The puppies disappeared.
Everyone believed Ranger had died.
But he hadn't.
Someone had secretly carried him into the mountains...
Where a wild wolf pack raised him until rescuers eventually found him months later.
Thomas whispered,
"So... he never forgot either family."
Dr. Brooks nodded.
"He belongs to both worlds."
Before anyone could say another word...
A helicopter suddenly appeared over the valley.
It wasn't the government.
It belonged to the same international wildlife trafficking group Victor worked for.
Their leader had only one order.
May you like
"Bring me Dog R-17."
Dead or alive.
