Ch. 111..120

forward, chin low and eyes shining with the glint of death, stealing Sasha's breath because she'd never seen him look like such a… predator.

For a blink she saw him as others must—the honed body, the determined set of his jaw, the light in his eyes that rippled with the flames violence. She saw how his massive body flowed like water across the space between he and his brother, in the same moment his brother left her side and rippled across the space to meet him.

She wasn't sure what she expected—a handshake? A discussion? A referee? So her entire body startled when neither of them broke stride, but glided together—Zev stretching, one foot flashing in the exact spot Lhar's head had been just a blink before.

Somehow Lhars dropped his upper body and whirled to bring his own foot up in a flash, straight for Zev's temple—but Zev had already ducked to throw a whip-quick jab at Lhars' ribs while his brother was stretched into the kick. Lhars blocked the blow, but with a grunt, and the two danced back away from each other, to prowl in a circle, their eyes locked—twin near-black hair, twin blue eyes, though Lhars' were more a stormy ocean to Zev's bright and sunny skies.

They were exactly the same height and breadth—from the back as they circled, Sasha would have struggled to tell them apart. But there was something sharper about Lhars, something harder—both in his face and his way of carrying himself.

Zev looked deadly, but leashed. As if violence was an answer to an unsettling question within him. While Lhars… Lhars seemed to quiver with joy as he measured his brother for a mortal blow.

These impressions passed through Sasha in a few seconds as the two men circled each other, then Sasha's stomach jolted as Lhars lifted a leg faster than Sasha could see him move. But the jerk was feinting, his eyes widening as Zev took the bait, throwing his own foot high to snap first for Lhar's head, then his side—and when Lhars blocked his foot, Zev thrust a fist at Lhar's side.

Their arms and feet slapped and thudded with the impact of their blows and blocks, and Sasha felt sick.

Then Zev, his body positioned side-on and arms defending his side and chest, threw another whip-quick kick at Lhar's head.

Lhars dropped to a squat, following Zev up as he straightened, with an uppercut aimed straight for Zev's chin.

Impossibly face, Zev's head and shoulders rolled back to give the swing space and, as he found his balance, his hands snapped out to block two quick jabs to the face.

They both turned into whirling tornadoes then, Lhars' leg swinging around as his body seemed to hang in the air until he unleashed a kick straight for Zev's face—while Zev turned and dropped so it whistled over his head.

Then both were on the balls of their feet and dancing away again, their eyes promising death.

Sasha swore. They were so fast. So incredibly quick, it was only as she reviewed it in her mind that she could even take in what was happening.

"Someone's going to get killed," she murmured, hands both clenched at her sides. "He has to stop—"

But a firm hand caught her upper arm before she could even move and she snapped her head around, expecting to find one of these strangers holding her, but instead finding Dunken had slid between the wolves to her side. He met her eyes and shook her head.

"You can do nothing but distract him and make death more likely," he said firmly. "This had to happen at some point if Zev was going to win you. His brother honors him by acknowledging him. They will fight, and they will hurt each other, then it will be over. This is what it means to be Chimera, Sasha-don. Watch and learn."

Her jaw dropped. "I'm supposed to just sit here and watch the love of my life get… get… pummeled, maybe killed in front of me?"

"Yes," he said baldly. "You would dishonor him if you imply he needed help to win. You would diminish him if you try to stop the fight—as if he cannot handle it. Not to mention that you would be suggesting you believe Lhars will win—and putting yourself in Lhars' hands. Is that what you want?"

"No! I want them to not fight! I want them to realize that Zev is mine and I'm his and—"

"They will see that. After this," Dunken said softly, his voice velvet covered steel. "You cannot change the need for this, Sasha. I understand that in your world males do this for show more than truth. But here… here we understand the value of dominance. If Zev is to help the Chimera, he must prove his worth."

"I already know his worth! He doesn't have to fight to have my value!"

"It's not your honor he's fighting for. It's his own. He will not see himself as deserving of you if he does not win."

"What?! But—"

"Hush," Dunken said, turning back to watch the fight. "Watch. Learn."

Sasha shook with indignation and… something she couldn't quite put her finger on. The sense that she was misunderstood, that something in this was wrong and she was being silenced for it. But there was also an uneasiness in her chest… what if Zev did lose? Even the best fighters could make a mistake, or slip. He already had sore ribs. And Lhars looked like he'd had a full night's sleep and was enjoying himself.

What if Lhars won, what then?

"I can smell your doubt, Sasha," Dunken muttered, his eyes darting around the circle of men that surrounded them. "Do not dishonor Zev. He needs every support he can get."

She turned on him to tell him where he could put his criticisms of her—concern was only realistic! But then she saw his eyes, fixed on her, pleading, and firm.

"In our culture," he explained, "Alpha power and authority comes from within. You are born with it, or you aren't. But it is bolstered by the confidence of others. Do you believe in him, Sasha?"

"Of course!" she hissed.

"Then do not focus on your doubts, focus on that," Dunken said turning away again. "The strength of your belief will feed his power. Watch."

Sasha frowned. How could the strength of her belief have any bearing on whether Zev was faster and stronger than his brother?

But for once, she kept her mouth shut. It seemed like every time she opened it here she was saying the wrong thing. If Dunken and the others believed that her believing in Zev could turn this fight in his favor, then she was going to believe more than anyone present.

She turned back to the circling brothers just as they flowed together, sending her heart into her throat.

But her heart beat for Zev, and in case it mattered, she did focus on that, remembering all the ways she'd seen Zev out-fight and out-wit those men that came after them the other night. He was a weapon, and a powerful one.

She willed him to show Lhars just how powerful he could be.

 

Chapter 112

His brother still moved like a snake. And like Zev, the past three years had done nothing but add to his strength and speed. As they threw themselves together again, Zev smiled grimly when he realized his fears had been unfounded. His time with the humans hadn't blunted his instincts. He was still able to see his brother's attacks coming.

Lhars flowed forward, throwing both hands in thrusts for Zev's chin in a one-two that, if they had connected, would have dropped him like a stone. A human likely couldn't even have seen Lhar's hands move before the victim was on the floor. But Zev ducked his head and brought his shoulders up to block—one, two—then dropped his entire upper body to duck when Lhars added a jab for his temple.

Swinging himself to the side, Zev threw a low right hook, then a left, but Lhars twisted, blocking first with his elbow, then grabbing Zev's arm and turning, ending with Zev's shoulder forced down under his free hand while Zev grunted at the sparkling pain that shot through his still-healing ribs at the forced extension.

Quicker than lightning, Lhars tried to bring a knee up into Zev's face, but Zev gave a knife-hand to his thigh and Lhars cried out, flinching. Using the split-second his brother was undefended, Zev twisted his body, whipping his free elbow back, into his brother's side, then whirled to break the grip Lhars had on his shoulder and arm.

Lhars saw him coming and ducked, cursing at losing his advantage, but not stupid enough to drop his guard again—but when he tried to block, Zev clasped his arm and continued the turn until he'd reversed their positions and stood behind Lhars, his brother's arm and shoulder locked in his grip.

There was no time to think or plan—or soothe his painful ribs. His body flowed from one move to the next, from strike, to thrust, to block, to kick—and Lhars did as well.

Then he got his brother's upper body low—still unable to break Zev's grip on his arm—and tried to keep him extended, to kick him in the face to knock him out. But Lhar's only laughed and turned into Zev's body, rushing him, his shoulder plowing into Zev's stomach and bearing him backwards, off his feet.

Zev stumbled and almost fell, crying out when he caught his weight on his fingertips to keep himself upright, and the odd angle jolted his ribs again. He heard a horrified gasp from Sasha behind him, but he couldn't afford to take his attention off his brother for a single second as Lhars pulled him around and into a headlock from behind.

His arm stuck out awkwardly from his side, levered up by Lhars' arm curled under his armpit then snaked up in front of his neck. Then Lhars clasped his shoulder with the other hand, bearing down on his neck with his one forearm, forcing Zev's throat to pinch forward, into Lhars' other wrist.

Zev grimaced, his oxygen already restricted. Then his brother began to squeeze and Zev felt one of his ribs pop. He groaned. The grips Lhars had meant Zev couldn't release without injuring his brother—and probably himself.

He had to end this. He had to. But the question was, how? Did he want to kill his brother, who had always been a pain in the ass, and more cunning than kind?

Yet, Lhars apparently was subverting Xar's work with the human Team. And he'd helped Zev by challenging him directly—placed himself lower, and forcing the entire wolf pack to acknowledge Zev again. It wasn't an accident. It was a choice his brother had made.

Not to mention that they were both still in human form.

"You didn't… shift," Zev grunted, fighting Lhar's grip at his throat.

"Neither did you," his brother growled through his teeth.

"You spoke… to me… first."

"A mistake I regret," Lhars snarled. "Now submit, so I don't have to snap your neck."

Zev snorted a single huff of laughter—that cut off when his brother pushed his head down even harder to cut of his air almost completely.

He had seconds before he lost strength—and possibly consciousness—and Lhars knew it.

"I don't… want… alpha of… wolves," Zev croaked.

"I wasn't planning on giving it to you," Lhars sneered, and several of the males behind them roared with laughter.

"If… you submit… I'll ask… only that you… you help me… overcome Xar."

"You won't be asking anything with your spine snapped. Submit, Zev," Lhars growled. "You're already acknowledged. You can take your place in the pack and leave the female to me, I'll make sure to keep her pleas—"

"She's mine," Zev growled, reaching back behind his neck to grasp the wrist braced there with one hand, while he snapped the other arm straight up and dropped his entire bodyweight down, pulling an unsuspecting Lhars with him and breaking the grip he had around Zev's chest.

As he sucked in a deep breath, Zev snapped that high elbow straight down and into his brother's ribs.

Lhars grunted and pitched forward to meet the backhand Zev threw up right into his nose.

With a cry of pain, Lhars lost his grip completely, trying to push Zev away so he could scramble back and find his bearings again despite a nose bleeding like water, and eyes brimming with tears. But Zev knew this was his only chance. He had to finish his brother, finish the question of his own dominance, or he would end up dogpiled by the entire pack and brought down like a running deer.

Using the grip he still held on his brother's wrist, he leaned forward to snap tension between them, then pushed his hip into his brother's groin and yanked Lhars forward, over his thigh.

Lhars, still blinded by the blow to his face, cartwheeled over and thudded to the ground with a groan—and a hiss from the watching crowd who knew what they had just seen.

Zev stood over his brother who laid in the dirt, cursing and spitting blood. Zev was still holding Lhar's wrist, the arm twisted so that if Lhars put any tension on it, it would snap. Even so, his brother didn't submit, writhing, his face covered in blood from his nose, his eyes streaming.

Zev waited until he quieted and opened his eyes and they stared at each other for a long moment.

Zev's chest heaved, his ribs jangling with pain at every deep inhale, from the effort of the fight—and with a measure of fear. He did not want to kill his brother, he realized. But he would if it was what it took to keep Sasha from him.

"Submit," he snarled.

Lhars glared at him. Zev twisted his wrist further, to the very edge of snapping the bones in the join. Lhars gritted his teeth against the pain, but his heels drummed on the ground.

"Vow that you will remove the humans from us! Vow it!" Lhars spat.

"I will free the Chimera of any power or person that seeks to oppress us!" Zev snarled. "Now, submit!"

Lhars stared at him a moment longer, then closed his eyes and let his head fall to the side, breaking eye-contact and softening his posture in submission.

Zev groaned with relief and dropped his grip on his brother's arm, turning, still panting, to find Sasha staring at him, wide eyed over her hands.

"You don't have to avoid me anymore, beautiful," he wheezed, holding his painful side. "I'm staking my claim. If you'll have me."

Sasha broke away from Dunken and ran to throw herself into his chest.

He grunted with the impact to his ribs.. But he pulled her in tighter because he wouldn't exchange the pain for anything less than the sweet, sweet smell of her… and her utter conviction that he was going to win.

 

Chapter 113

Sasha ran to Zev and threw herself into his chest, fighting tears of relief. When his hands pressed into the small of her back, pulling her close, she let go of a huge breath she'd been holding.

For a moment they just held each other, then she lifted her head to meet his eyes and found him staring down at her, his gorgeous blue eyes penetrating—and sparkling with delight.

"Is that a yes, then?" he murmured playfully.

"Yes! I mean, yes! Yes!" she repeated, turning to face the crowd still milling close and staring. "Zev is my mate. He's the one I want! I choose him!"

Zev chuckled, the warm rich sound vibrating under her palm on his chest, and she turned back. "Is that it? Can you stop fighting now?"

"Not quite," he said, the smile falling from his face. "But things are looking up, definitely."

"Always the optimist," Lhars muttered from the dirt at their feet.

Sasha almost kicked him, but as he pushed himself up to sit, shaking his hair out of his eyes Zev let go of her with one hand and leaned down to help him up.

Lhars stared at the proffered hand for a moment, then took it with a sigh and let Zev pull him to his feet.

Once again the two brothers stood almost chest to chest, staring at each other. Sasha didn't miss that Zev had pulled her more to his side, giving himself room to step between them if Lhars did anything to her.

But his brother just sighed again. "Congratulations, Zev," he said. "The infamous Sasha is finally here, and likely to be yours. Now all you have—"

"Likely?" Sasha exclaimed. "What do you mean, likely? I just told you, I choose him. He chose me, and I choose him. That's the end of it, right?"

Lhars stared at her for a moment, his face a frozen mask, as if he couldn't let whatever he felt show on his face. Then he turned back to Zev. "We need to call the council."

Zev nodded once, his hand at her waist tightening again. He was keeping her pinned to his side, and she was happy to be there, clinging to his waist with an iron grip.

"Lupine!" Lhars barked suddenly, and every man in the clearing stood to attention. "Submit to your new Alpha, Zev, and his chosen mate, Sasha!"

A single howl rose mournfully into the darkened sky, but when it was repeated, the entire crowd—a hundred men or more—raised their howls with it.

Then, to Sasha's surprise, the men all dropped to one knee, their heads bowed.

But Zev frowned and growled, "Get up. I am Alpha, not King—I do not require worship. Get up!"

The men all looked at each other, then got to their feet, popping up, looking at Zev suspiciously, as if it might be a trick.

But the anger on his face was real. "I don't know what's happened since I've been gone. But you all know me. You know how I rule—how I will rule. I do not require your devotion, only your respect. Whatever has been asked of you," he gave a quick glance to Lhars, that made Lhars frown, "now you are free. Live your lives. Choose your paths. You answer to me only if you harm others, or resist the hierarchy."

A chorus of barks and howls rose then, with many of the men clapping their hands, or nodding.

But almost as many didn't.

Zev scanned the crowd, his eyes narrowing. "You have heard things today that are false—about my motives, and my actions. And I give you my word that I will tell you the whole story. You will hear from my own mouth what is true and what isn't. Right now, I need to meet with my chosen mate, and the council. I will explain myself to them and learn what has happened in my absence.

"Tomorrow we will conclave after dinner. Meet on the lakeside. Those of you who still have mates or families, bring them. Let us all celebrate and begin finding our strength as a pack again!"

A roar of approval met that statement, though Sasha could still see groups of men in clusters that weren't smiling, or joining in the celebrations of the others. She looked up at Zev and saw him marking some of them. His hand tightened on her waist again.

"Nothing will change in your daily lives on my account," he called when the noise had settled. "Lhars and your council will remain in place until the hierarchy is settled. Do not be concerned. I don't take Alpha to throw your lives into turmoil again."

There was another murmur of approval, but then a deep voice rose from somewhere in the crowd. "So you say, but you claimed loyalty to us as Alpha of the Clans three years ago, too."

Zev's face dragged for the dirt. Sasha gripped his waist and squeezed to offer comfort. He looked so sad. "I understand that with all that's happened, you feel… uncertain. I will not remove Lhars from daily leadership. You can continue to follow him and assume his orders are mine. Once I have cleared the path with the leaders, I will speak with you all tomorrow and hopefully… hopefully you can forgive me what needs forgiving. And forget the lies. But for now I need to speak with my chosen mate, and the council. And Skhal. Is he here?"

There was a murmuring moment where everyone looked around, obviously searching for the man he'd named. But he wasn't found apparently.

Zev turned back to Lhars. "Can you find him? I want him there. Call the Council to my cave and bring Skhal as well. I want everyone to hear what he's saying."

Lhar's jaw tightened, but he nodded once, then turned, limping into the crowd, growling at a couple young men to follow him and muttering instruction to them as he walked.

Then Zev looked at Dunken who had approached. "I'm sorry, friend," Zev said quietly. "I can't bring you to a pack council."

Dunken nodded. "Just don't forget me when you're in a position to bring us all together," he said tonelessly. "We share a vision."

Zev nodded and clasped his hand. "Thank you for your help today. This hasn't gone as I expected, but I suspect we wouldn't have got this far without you."

Dunken shrugged. "Only the Creator knows."

Zev's lips thinned, but he nodded tightly, then started to walk, pulling Sasha with him by the hand.

"Where are we going?" she asked as he hurried her through the crowd, all the males following them with their eyes—some reaching out to brush Zev as he passed, others faces frozen.

We need to get out of here before any of the other Clan Alphas hear about this and decide to challenge me, he said in her head. And I need to get you alone.

Sasha hurried faster.

 

Chapter 114

Zev tugged her through the crowd, accepting the submission and the wary glances as they passed most of the wolf population.

He would prove himself to them again. He would. But just then he needed to Sasha out and away. He needed to smell her and touch her and hold her, remind himself that she was his, and prove himself to her. Because this was going to get harder before it got easier.

They broke through the last of the crowd and he rushed her, jogging, through the village towards the trail that would take them to his cave. It was work not to be impatient as she hurried after him, gripping his hand like a vice. But her breath was heaving and by Chimera standards, she set a snail's pace. If they didn't speed up, they weren't going to get any time in the cave to themselves, because Lhars would have located everyone and brought them there before they even reached it.

Zev halted suddenly, and Sasha staggered to a standstill, her chest heaving, but her eyes were bright and there was a small smile on her face.

Then he dropped to squat in front of her, giving her his back. "Hop on," he said, pointing to his own shoulder.

Her eyebrows popped up, but then she beamed. "Like when we were kids!"

He nodded and couldn't help beaming back. "Yes, exactly."

She scrambled onto his back and he gripped her thighs, bouncing her higher so her head was over his shoulder and her arms around his neck. "Ready?"

"Sure," she giggled. "I feel like I'm about five, but—gah!"

She squealed as he took off in a run, her arms and knees tightening on him. Had anyone else's arm pressed on his neck like that he might have snarled. It would have been instinctive to remove the threat. But with her… with her it didn't matter. He trusted her and knew she'd never try to hurt him. Her hands at his throat were a gift. It meant she was there, finally.

He couldn't make the trip as quickly in human form as he would in the wolf, but he didn't think she was quite ready for that kind of piggy-back yet, so he clung to her and ran, keeping her body as tight against his own as he could so she wouldn't be jostled too terribly.

"How… far is it?" she asked in his ear after they'd been running for some time, her voice shaking in time with his pounding steps.

"Another ten minutes," he said quickly. "I need to get you away so there's no risk of another challenge. I'll have to meet with the Council soon, but… I just needed to be with you."

"I'm glad," she breathed in his ear, her grip tightening again. "Can we be together now? I don't want to be alone anymore, Zev."

The words were so plain and spoke such volumes to him, he almost stopped running to put her on her feet and kiss her and prove to her she never would be again. But he knew they didn't have much time.

Curling his fingers into the back of her thigh, he said, "You won't be, Sasha. Not if I have any choice in it. I promise."

He felt her tense then and remembered other promises, other times. She didn't know he'd still kept his promise to her—she thought he'd given up.

"When I left… I never really left… Sasha," he said, his breathing coming heavier now from running and carrying her.

"What d-do you mean?"

"It was part of the deal that they protect you… I got reports on where you were and what you were doing. They kept security tails on you in case there was ever danger. And when I came back to the human world, I was able to… put stuff in place. So if I ever needed to get you out like this, I could."

"You were stalking me?!" Her voice got really high at the end.

Zev snorted. "No. I never snuck into your apartment to watch you sleep, or anything like that." Though it had been tempting at times. He could have done it. "I never listened to your phone calls, or anything. I just… made sure you always had someone close enough to help you if you needed it."

"And apparently close enough… to have guys in the p-parking lot of the buildings… next to my best friend's apartment?"

"They did that for me, not you," he muttered, turning on the trail to head deeper into the forest. They'd reach the cave soon. "That guy was watching for me."

"And the ones that followed us?"

"They were following me—but they targeted you when they realized you were why I was there," he said reluctantly.

She didn't respond to that immediately and he let her chew it over before he gave her more.

"It was part of the deal that I ran your security detail when I came back. I mean, I'm sure Nick did stuff I don't know about. But I've been as close as I could be without actually making contact, Sash. I've been keeping you safe, like I said I would. Remember those two guys in the parking lot when you went to that concert last year?"

She gasped, "That was you?"

"No, our guys took them. When they started following you and your friend, our guys watched and followed. And when you told them to leave you alone and they moved away, they were circling around. They were going to try and intercept you before you made it in the doors. Our guys took them."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"What did they d-do to them? I mean… they were just assholes. Not… not… what were they?"

"One had a record for sexual assault, and the other had a pending warrant for aggravated robbery. They weren't good guys, Sash. I made sure they'd never come anywhere near you again."

"How?"

Zev blew out a breath and took the last turn in the trail before the stretch up to the cave. "They might believe that their actions that night put them under FBI scrutiny," he said carefully.

"You work for the FBI?!" she gasped.

"No! But… most people don't know the difference. When guys with technology and surveillance footage talk like law enforcement, people make assumptions."

"So… your guys aren't… part of the FBI or something?"

"No."

"Who are they then? G-government officials?"

"No," he said again tightly. "They are… powerful people. The kind of people that tell governments what to do… but you don't have to worry about that here, Sash. There's no government in Thana."

She was quiet for another minute as Zev pushed up the incline towards the cave, weaving around the boulders and trees that hid the trail from below, until they reached the cave mouth and he finally slowed to let her down from his back.

He was panting, though not sweating. Sasha was a little shaky getting to her feet, but he noticed she never stopped touching him—a hand on his back, or his arm. Their sides brushing when she turned to look at the cave.

"It's not much," he said. "But it will keep us dry and warm until I take you home later."

Then her eyes snapped up to him and her scent flushed with warmth.. "As long as you're with me, Zev… I don't think I care."

 

Chapter 115

The cave was beautiful and natural… and creepy as all get out. The walls were a beautiful, textured stone, molded by time and its infinite dwellers into a relatively smooth floor with an arched space peppered with tiny alcoves and ripples... that probably hid insects. Or... oh, fuck... bats?

Sasha had to force herself not to shudder bodily when there was a rustle at the back of the cave, in its shadowy depths, that startled her. Zev told her not to worry, it was just a few rats.

"I haven't had time to clean up yet from the carnage Lhars left while I was gone," Zev said, shaking out a fur, then laying it on the hard stone of the floor and gesturing for her to sit.

Unlike in the village homes that reminded her of lodges or cabins back home, everything here seemed dusty or dry—an old place, falling apart. The few jars and dishes she could see were piled neatly, but there was little furniture to speak of, and the furs she could see arranged in a bed at the back looked old and ragged.

There was a fire pit at the center with a pile of ashes and charred wood at its center. A soft glow emanated from it, but little heat.

"So…" she said as she settled cross-legged onto the fur he'd laid out next to it, looking around nervously. "Why are we here? What's going to happen now?"

Zev immediately joined her on the fur and took her hand. "I've made my claim, and you've accepted," he said with a delighted grin that made Sasha forget about the threat of cave spiders, and want to bask in that smile like it was the sun. "Unless I'm challenged again, you're mine." His voice had gotten very deep.

He'd just settled, his elbow on one knee, the other knee bent and folded in front of him. He reached for her hand and something electric crackled in his gaze.

Sasha leaned closer. "I am yours, Zev," she said quietly. "God help me."

He chuckled, but she felt the tension in him. He stared at their hands, twisting his palm against hers so he could line their fingers up, then lace them together. "Well, Lhars did me a favor tonight, though I don't know why."

"Lhars did? How?"

"By challenging me."

"How did that help you?"

Zev shook his head in apparent disbelief. "It was an acknowledgement, first of all. Because he outranks all the other wolves, by speaking to me he forced them all to see me. And then on top of that, he challenged for you. He should have waited for me to come for you, to challenge him to show his strength because he didn't have to look for the fight. But because I was still cast out, when I started coming for you, the others were turning on me. They would have defeated me…" he trailed off, his brows pinched together and face tight.

Sasha swallowed, seeing the shadow of death on his face. She'd had no idea it was that close. "Why would he do that?" she asked carefully. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did. But why didn't the others just go after you anyway, if he was in charge and didn't need to fight?"

"This world isn't like the human world, Sasha," Zev said.

Sasha snorted, swallowing back hysterical giggles again as all the impossible, crazy things she'd seen in the past two days flipped through her head like some kind of bad acid trip. "I've noticed."

Zev smiled easily and traced his thumb across the back of her hand. "Here, power is all. The hierarchy—who's in charge of who… that's the rule we live by. So unless you know your place in it, you're adrift."

"And your place is Alpha of the wolves now."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"The thing I don't understand is, in my world when someone's powerful, other people protect them so they don't have to fight. Because they're valuable. If Lhars was in charge, why didn't he just tell the others to finish you off for him?"

"He didn't have to tell them. They were going to do it. He did the opposite—he stopped them."

"How? Why?"

Zev sighed, frowning. "Well, the how is: As soon as he challenged me, the others had to back off and give him his shot—because he was Alpha. In this world, you become powerful by being strong—either physically or in your mind. And when you want to demonstrate that… no one should stop you. Alphas increase their power by defeating others. As soon as he declared his intention to fight me for you, he saved me from the others. Their wills are submitted to his as Alpha. So they stepped down. On top of that, he stayed in human form."

"Why is that important?"

"Usually it's a sign that whoever challenged isn't challenging to the death. When two Alpha's fight, whoever stepped up to make the challenge will approach in human form and once the challenge is acknowledged, they begin to fight. If they don't shift, then it's a challenge for the hierarchy. But if they do… there's no limits."

Sasha's mouth fell open. "So… anytime you fight in your wolf you're trying to kill the person?"

"No, no. It's not that simple. I'm just saying, Lhars staying in human form was significant. It said something. It helped me—again. But as for the why… I don't know. That's what's bothering me…"

"What does it bother you? You beat him. So, you're in charge of the wolves now, right?" she asked.

He nodded. "It wasn't what I wanted, but it's unavoidable. When I beat Xar I can appoint Lhars as Alpha of the pack again. But until then, he can lead as my second. It's just… I don't get it. Lhars hates me."

"Well, obviously not," she said, tracing the tendons on the back of his hand. "I mean, he's your brother, right? Brothers fight a lot, but they're still brothers."

Zev grimaced. "We aren't brothers the way you'd think of them," he said quietly, and she saw the grief on his face, heard it in his tone. It made her want to hug him.

"You're from the same parents, right?"

"Yeah, except, as far as I know, our parents never met. And they changed us—our genetics. The whole thing happened in a lab, Sash. It's not like I got to go to the hospital and take the big brother pictures with Mom, you know?"

"Okay, but you guys grew up together? Knew you were brothers?"

"Sure. But here that doesn't really… I mean, there's lots of wolves that are related genetically. It doesn't mean they're family."

"So you guys never got along?"

"We used to, when we were kids."

"What happened?"

Zev turned his head away to frown at the cave wall, his eyes going distant. Despite the unpleasant subject matter, Sasha couldn't help noticing the strong, square line of his jaw. The way his cheeks were shadowed with growth—and how that contrast made his eyes even more brilliant.

"What happened," he said slowly, "Was that first the Team treated me differently. Like I was more important than him. That added to my status in the pack even when I was young. And then… then I went away and found you," he said quietly, turning back to meet her eyes.

Sasha frowned. "Why would that cause problems for him?"

"Because the one thing Lhars always wanted was a mate. It was the one thing he could have that I couldn't. That's… when we argued one time, he said that. That by finding you I'd stolen from him the one thing he could have that wasn't tainted by me."

"What? That's awful! That's not your fault!"

Zev shrugged. "It isn't anyone's fault. He just… he just wanted to have something I couldn't," he muttered. "I thought when I left, Lhars would have had a party. He'd finally hold a place in the hierarchy higher than me. And whether he knew it or not, I'd lost you. He was going to beat me in that, too."

They stared at each other and Sasha's heart thumped. "Well, I'm really glad that he didn't," she whispered finally.

Zev nodded. "Me too." Then he smiled. "And we're almost there, Sash. Once we've done the mating ritual, that's it. You're mine."

Sasha's heart swelled and she leaned forward to kiss him softly. He took the back of her head and held her to him while they kissed, and they both sighed.

When she pulled back, Sasha grinned. "Okay, so let's get on that. What's this mating ritual?"

Zev's face went blank.

 

 

Chapter 116

Sasha's eyes got wary before he managed to pull the smile back up onto his face.

"What?" she asked, her tone almost panicked. "Why do you look like that?"

"Hey, hey, it's fine! Don't worry!"

"I wasn't until you looked like that!"

Zev shook his head and took her hands. "Look, it's just… it's going to sound weird. But our mating ritual… think of it like a wedding with lots of dancing, and a little male nudity."

"Dancing isn't—wait, what?!"

He raised his hands toward her, palms out. "Don't panic—"

"Why would guys be getting naked at my wedding?" she asked, her voice shrill. Then laughter bubbled out of her throat. She tried to catch it, but she was spluttering. "N-nudity? For real? What the h-hell kind of p-place is this, Zev?"

He gave her a flat look. "I was mostly being funny," he said. "But there are some, um, traditions that you'll probably find a little crazy. But you don't have to worry. It's all just for show. And… for you to prove that you're choosing me over the others."

"So, what," she giggled, "They all get naked to make sure I don't like their bodies better?"

Zev watched her warily and she stopped sniggering immediately.

"You can't be serious!"

"Sash—"

"Why does everyone here seem to think all a guy has to do is get naked and I'll suddenly abandon any feelings I have for you?!"

"It's not that—"

"That's what that displaying bullshit was about tonight, right? They were trying to… how did you put it, entice me?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"So does this mean the females are going to get naked too, so you have to choose me over them?"

Zev snorted. "No. That would be crazy." Even the thought was laughable.

Sasha gaped at him.

"What?" he asked, confused.

She widened her eyes, but he was still baffled.

"Zev, you're telling me it's crazy for women to get naked, but not men?"

"Males," he corrected. "And yes, because it's always up to the females to choose their mates. That's just… how life works. The males display and provide, the females choose. The females are always desirable. They don't compete, the males do."

Sasha dropped her face in her hands. "This is too much."

But Zev caught her hands and pulled them down, smiling at her. "Sash, seriously, you don't have to panic. By the time we get that far, the chances of anything going wrong are so small. It's the days between now and then we have to worry about."

"Days? How many days?"

"I'm going to ask the wolf pack to arrange the ritual the day after tomorrow, if they can."

"What has to be arranged? Why don't we just do it now?"

Zev's lips flattened. "We have to give everyone a chance to learn about the choosing and challenge me if they want to."

"What? Why? I thought that's what you just did—?"

"No, I told you, we settled things with the wolves—and they're the biggest clan. But the Alphas still have to have a chance to challenge me for you."

Sasha sighed. "How many of them are there?"

"At this level? Not many. That's what I meant about Lhars doing me a favor. Now that I'm pack Alpha, the only others who can try are other clan Alphas—but Oksa and Xar are already mated. So that only leaves the goats and the owls. Dunken will find out for me if Gheet has any plans. And Kyelle is technically Alpha of the owls, though she does have a male who could probably step up for their Clan if she wanted him to… I just… I doubt it." He trailed off frowning as the little voice in the back of his mind sang about the bird and the ways she might be motivated.

Sasha sighed. "Kyelle?"

"Yes."

"The one who's in love with you?"

Zev snapped his eyes up to meet hers. "She talked to you about that?"

Sasha had slumped, her elbows on her knees. She ran a hand through her hair and looked uncomfortable. "Sort of. I mean, it's not like I can blame her. But… seems like she might have a reason to see if she can put some kind of barrier between us."

Zev shook his head. "She's not petty like that."

Sasha shifted her weight. "She might not see it as petty. She might see it as… taking her last shot? She really cares for you, Zev."

He sighed, wishing this whole situation didn't have to be so complicated. "Well, she's out of luck," he said, pulling Sasha's chin forward so she had to meet his eyes. "You're my chosen mate, and I'm yours. That's the end of the story. If she sends a male, I'll kick his ass. It's that simple."

Sasha smiled, but forced one eyebrow high as if she were skeptical. "So cocky."

"No, I just know my own strength. And it's… impressive," he grinned. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Sasha rolled her eyes, but her smile widened and she leaned forward to kiss him quickly.

Zev hummed and buried a hand in her hair, holding her close when she started to pull away, and deepening the kiss.

Her hands appeared on his chest, clinging, and she leaned into him with a little sigh that started a fire in his gut. He groaned, and forced himself to pull away.

He was slow opening his eyes because he knew looking into hers would urge him to plunder her soft mouth again. Thank the Creator that he only had two more days to wait until there would be no more waiting.

Her eyes were bright, and she licked her lips—which drew his gaze down to them and had him considering whether those two days were really, completely necessary? But he knew they were. He was giving no male any reason to challenge their mating. So he cleared his throat and forced himself to focus.

Sasha leaned back and tried to take his mouth, looking concerned when he pulled back, shaking his head.

"Lhars will be here soon with the others," he said quietly, his voice rough with desire. "I don't want to make it awkward."

She blew out a breath, fluttering her hair. "What's awkward?" she asked dryly. "I mean, he's coming to the wedding naked, isn't he?"

Zev smiled and she sighed again, stroking his cheek with her soft little hand. "I know you have to do this. I know it's important and I'm glad that you're back in some kind of power. But… I need time with you, Zev. I need to… to get all of this straight in my head and remember why we're doing it. You're spending the night with me tonight, right? At the house?"

He nodded. "I'm not leaving you alone for another night, ever, Sash," he said huskily.

When she smiled it was like something that had been tied around his heart just loosened and fell away.

He was leaning in to kiss her again, and she was leaning forward to meet him when she froze and her eyes went wide.

Zev went still, his eyes darting left and right. But there were no intruders, and no sounds outside of footsteps approaching. Surely she couldn't have heard something he hadn't?

"What it is?" he whispered.

Her throat bobbed. "Did you say… wedding?"

 

Chapter 117

Zev didn't move, his eyes locked on hers.

"Yes? Is that… a bad thing?" he asked, his voice tipping up high at the end, which was odd.

Sasha swallowed again and shook her head, but she knew her face wasn't exactly painted in glee. "Of course not! No. Of course not," she repeated lamely as her heart cracked open, just a little.

Zev watched her, his brows pinched together. "What is it, Sash?" he asked quietly. "Did… are you unsure? I mean, I know the declaration was kind of abrupt, but I thought we'd already talked about it and you knew how I felt about you. When we were in the fox hole you seemed really happy to—"

"The mate thing?" she said, her voice way too high and strangled. "Yes, yes! I was. I mean, I am! I definitely want that. I feel it. That's our thing, right?" she said, trying to make herself laugh and brush off the bone crunching disappointment that washed over her like a wave.

It wasn't Zev's fault, she reminded herself. Their entire reunion had been a clusterfuck of epic proportions. First he'd had to steal her away from gun wielding robots, then fend off vengeful Alpha Kings, and then protect her from hormonal—possibly homicidal—shape shifters. They'd barely had a moment to breathe, let alone be alone and get romantic. And Zev had said he hadn't even known they were going to be going to Thana three days ago. It wasn't like she could expect him to have woven a rose arch to propose under, or anything ridiculous like that.

Sasha was a practical woman. She'd missed Zev for five years, and here he was, wanting to be with her, to spend the rest of his life with her. There was nothing more romantic than that. Nothing.

It was just that…

"Sash, why do you smell so sad?" His face was pained. He was truly confused, and she realized she was torturing him.

"It's fine! It's fine," she said, shaking her head and pulling him back in, lacing her fingers at the back of his neck and forcing herself to smile. "Don't worry about me, I'm just being silly."

"No, c'mon, Sash, what is it?"

"Zev, it's really fine, don't worry—"

"No it's not! What is going on?" He resisted her pull to come closer, his forehead lined with concern.

Sasha dropped her chin, saturated in embarrassment. It was quite possible that the only thing worse than not actually being proposed to, was having to admit that you wanted him to.

"Zev," she said to the fur on the ground between them, "It's really not a problem. Trust me. I just… the traditions around getting married are different here, that's all. And I just… there's stuff I hoped we'd—" she broke off, her cheeks going hot. "Look, it doesn't matter. This is us. This is where we are. You want me and I want you. That's the important thing, okay? So don't worry about it. Just, kiss me, please."

She brought her face up high enough that she could look at him through her lashes—something he'd always fallen for when they were younger. And for a moment, his face softened and he started to smile.

But then he caught himself when she leaned up to kiss him, and he shook his head and pulled away. "No, I want to hear it. If you're missing something, I can't guarantee it, but tell me so I can at least—"

Sasha groaned in frustration and dropped her face into her hands. "Zev, I was just disappointed that you didn't propose, okay? It's not biggie. I'm embarrassed I even let you see that. I wasn't thinking. So please… please can we just be happy to be together and not talk about it?"

He didn't respond immediately, and when she peered up at him through her fingers, he was gaping, his brows high and eyes wide.

"Oh, Sash… I'm sorry. I didn't even—"

"Please don't apologize!" she shrilled, mortified. "Things are different here. I get it!"

"I'm so sorry, I forgot to ask like a human—"

"It doesn't matter, Zev. I'm getting so much more. I mean… how many women get to see a crowd of Chimera display and try to… entice them?" she said, her smile mostly genuine—because it was something she wished she could have told her friends. They would have flipped. "I'm just glad that we're here together and you're safe and… it's fine, Zev. Really. It just took me a minute, that's all."

And it was, she realized. It wasn't fun. It wasn't what she'd dreamed of since she was seventeen. But she was going to experience something beyond her dreams. Something completely new. And if it ended in Zev being hers forever, that was what she'd really hoped and prayed for. Did it really matter, in the end, how it came to be?

No, she decided. It didn't.

But now, just when she found her smile, just when she shook off the little girl inside of her that had always looked forward to the day she would see a handsome man down on one knee and welcomed the woman that realized the man she got forever was more important than the moment, that man stared down at her with eyes full of grief. He stroked his fingers through her hair and she knew… she knew!

Apparently Zev at twenty-four still had that same, self-condemning streak that the Zev she'd known at eighteen had.

"Don't do it," she warned him when his mouth turned down.

"Don't do what?"

"Don't do that thing you do where you decide you're a terrible person and you start beating yourself up in your head," she said firmly. "Seriously, Zev. Don't do it."

"I'm not."

She gave him a look and he scoffed.

"I don't think I'm terrible. I just wish I'd remembered, that's all."

"And I wish you'd never had to worry about someone shooting me in the head, but we don't always get what we want, right? I'm sorry I brought it up, Zev. Seriously. It's way, way more important to me that you want to have me forever, than anything else. I don't regret this. At all."

His face softened and he shook his head slightly. "You're really amazing, you know that?"

"Well, I have to keep up with you," she said quietly, and her smile was genuine. The ache in her chest almost gone—because she really could see that what she was getting was more important than what she'd lost.

She'd be over it in days, she was sure. Probably just as soon as she and Zev got to—

"I love you, Sash," he rumbled, cupping her jaw and staring into her eyes so that she felt naked to his gaze—and she didn't care.

"I love you, too, Zev," she whispered.

And as they kissed again, she shoved away the niggling little voice in the back of her head that kept whispering questions in her ear about the past, and the future.

Because the warm, strong, solid male she'd yearned after for five years was finally here in front of her, and doing everything in his power to make sure they never had to let each other go again.

She couldn't ask for more than that.

 

Chapter 118

Zev wanted to snarl at himself for not thinking this through. Of course she wanted a proposal—she'd even told him that's what she'd hoped he was preparing for five years ago when he'd said he had something important to talk to her about.

Fuck he was an idiot.

As he kissed her and his blood lit in his veins again from the sheer thrill of being close to her, of having claimed her—the Chimera equivalent to a proposal—he turned his mind to how he might fulfill the human tradition in the short time had before the ritual.

But before he could come up a plan—and just as Sasha's kiss became more frantic, her hands clawing into his hair—he heard footsteps approaching on the path to the cave. They were already in human form and only walking, but still they would be there in a very few minutes.

Sucking in a breath to calm himself, he pulled back out of the kiss, Sasha following him for a second, before opening her eyes, her face twisted in disappointment.

"What is it?" she asked when she saw his face.

"They're here," he said. "The council. I have to… turn my mind to them for a time. Will you stay, please? I'm not eager to have you out of my sight."

She smiled and her cheeks, already pink from the kisses, bloomed deeper. "I'm kind of eager to stick together myself," she said quietly.

"Just follow my lead," he said. "Technically you aren't supposed to be present for a council meeting because you aren't an Alpha. But I'm going to argue that you're about to become one, so… they can just suck it," he growled, glaring at the mouth of the cave as if they were already there.

Sasha snorted. "Okay, then."

He flashed her a grin, then got to his feet, pulling her behind him. "Help me spread some furs around the fire? I'll light it and we can all sit here. It's going to get cold soon."

"Soon?" Sasha said dryly, but she didn't look cold, and she was already walking to the furs he'd spread at the back of the cave as a bed and picking them up.

He busied himself getting the banked fire re-lit, place the wood carefully so the smoke would drift up and be drawn to the chimney at the side of the cave while Sasha fluffed furs and laid them out in a circle around the crackling fire.

For a moment Zev had a mental image of their lives—living and working together like this, each of them at their task, but their efforts bringing them both success, and his heart howled with joy.

As the footsteps outside became near, and Sasha started back to the bedding to replace one of the furs she hadn't needed, he caught her waist and pulled her into a quick kiss.

Taken by surprise, Sasha's free hand curled into his chest, but she responded enthusiastically, and her heartrate picked up immediately.

When he broke the kiss, she stared up at him, delight on her face. "I love you, Sash. Just… remember that, okay?"

She nodded, then they both turned as two forms suddenly appeared in the darkened mouth of the cave, black because the trees and bushes that grew outside didn't allow light in, so there was little light except from the fire.

Their scents drifted to him before he could see them clearly on the other side of the light of the fire.

Joyte, the older wolf who had tried to tempt Sasha, and Jhon, Zev's best friend. Zev's eyebrows rose. He hadn't realized Lhars had kept Jhon on the council. It was a good choice, but… yet another unexpected move from his manipulative brother.

"Congratulations, Zev," Jhon said, beaming as he stalked across the cave to take Zev in an embrace so they could share scents.

Zev grinned and clapped his back until Jhon pulled back to turn to Sasha. "And welcome to the pack, Sasha-don."

Sasha blinked, but smiled and accepted the title, though she had no idea what it meant. Zev's heart thudded, heavy with emotion at the generosity of his best friend. He caught Jhon's eye as the male turned away to let Joyte step into the ring of light from the fire.

To his surprise, Joyte went a step further, taking a knee and dropping his chin to both of them. "You have my faith and loyalty, Zev-dan, Sasha-don."

Sasha's brows climbed high at that—she recognized him. Zev winked at her. "Don't worry, this means he's accepted defeat," he murmured to her with a smile to soften the words for the male.

Joyte boomed a laugh and got to his feet, nodding. "Yes, definitely, Zev-dan. I know when the better male has won. You have my submission."

"Thank you, Joyte," Zev said firmly, he would give the male no room to question that he had been bettered. Joyte was a good male, and a strong one, but that only meant that when he got an idea he was confident about, it was difficult to sway him.

The others began to arrive then, as well. Lhars and his closest ally, Bleddyn—a heavyset and dark natured brute of a wolf that Zev always felt like he needed one eye on. Wheyln, the white-blonde young empath that Zev had planned to bring into the council when he got a little older because he'd never seen a wolf more skilled in reading a pack and offering advice for bringing wolves alongside in support. Clearly Lhars had had the same thought.

Behind Wheyln, two young wolves, both teenagers, Hahry and Thula, Zev thought—he barely recognized them because they'd grown from gangly pups tripping over their own feet, into young men in the past three years.

Without thought, Zev waited for the females, the alphas and advisors of the wolves… But there was nothing. No more bodies filling the cave mouth. No more feet on the path outside.

Of course. They were gone. The thought was a spear in his guts as Zev turned to Lhars.

"Where's Skhal?"

"He's coming. I sent a messenger. Apparently he didn't return from the hunt when Xar called us all in after the humans arrived.

They stared at each other, because they all knew what that meant.

Skhal had either been hurt, or was stepping into outright rebellion.

"I'll talk to him," Zev said quietly. Lhars nodded, but rolled a shoulder as he turned away, the loss of the Alpha authority grating. But Zev ignored it—his brother would have to become accustomed to the shift in power, just like everyone else. Including himself.

"Thank you all for coming," he said quietly, gesturing for them to sit around the fire.

The males started to move, but Bleddyn eye's fixed on Sasha, who had settled on the fur they'd been sitting on earlier.

"What's she doing here?" the dark wolf asked bluntly.

Zev turned to face him, let himself feel the pulse of the Alpha authority in his veins. "She's my mate, and soon to be Alpha Female of the pack. She's here to help. Take a seat and I'll explain."

But Bleddyn didn't sit down.. He stared at Sasha and growled.

 

Chapter 119

Like a shot, Zev crossed the space between Bleddyn and Sasha, putting himself between them, and staring the male in the eyes.

Bleddyn's growl faded, but he didn't drop Zev's gaze.

Zev's upper lip curled back from his teeth. "She is the Alpha female. It's not your place, Bled."

"She's not the Alpha yet."

"The only thing that will stand between her and that title is me, and I do not," Zev growled.

"The other Alphas might yet take her."

Zev raised a brow. "You think I won't beat them just as I did a few years ago?" He stood on the balls of his feet, his hands loose at his sides, but poised. Bleddyn was strong and an excellent battle strategist—the perfect compliment to Lhar's cunning and ambition. But he was a dark wolf and the very tenacity that gave him such strength and single-minded purpose, also made him stubborn and slow to change.

"If you have a challenge to present, Bleddyn, it's to me, not to her."

"An Alpha female that can't fight her own battles?" Bleddyn snorted. "Female through and through—"

Zev didn't hesitate. Bleddyn was a male who didn't waver once he'd started on a path. There would be no swaying him from this. He was a wolf who needed evidence.

Clearly he'd decided he hadn't enough from watching Zev beat Lhars.

Sasha gasped when Zev rushed Bleddyn, but the others only waited. They all knew. Bleddyn was all strength and might, but little speed.

Within seconds, Zev had put a fist into the massive wolf-man's stomach that had him doubled over, then brought an elbow down on his kidney, dropping him to the cave floor, right at Zev's feet.

"Do you need more?" he snarled at the male on all fours, sucking against the winding of the blows.

Bleddyn shook his head. "No," he croaked when he could catch his breath. "I submit. But she remains un-acknowledged by the Clan. She shouldn't be at Council."

"Then call her my messenger if it makes you feel better. She's not leaving." Zev turned from the submitted male and held the eyes of each of the others, one by one. "Any more challenges? Let's get them out of the way so we can actually start bringing our people back to strength."

The others all dropped their eyes and shook their heads in the face of his glare, though Lhars was the last to do it, and slowest.

But that was as it should be if he was to retain second in the pack. He needed to be the whetstone to Zev's blade. Something he'd been good at since they were pups.

The question was whether his motives could be trusted now. By all accounts, he'd been in Xar's pocket.

Zev was undecided. The evidence against his brother was too mixed. For now, he would keep him in place since it would keep the pack more settled.

When no one lifted their eyes, Zev snorted. "Take your seats. Let's begin."

The wolves spread around the fire, settling onto the furs, except Harhy and Thula, who put their backs to the cave wall and squatted, waiting for orders. If there were messages to take back to the village, or requests for information, they would be runners.

Zev took his seat on the same fur as Sasha, her knee brushing his thigh when he sat with one knee up and leaned on it, while the other was bent on the ground so that he could rise in a single motion. Tensions were high in the room, and though he trusted all of these males to follow where he led—eventually—the taking over of new Alpha was always a time of uncertainty and unpredictable behavior in any strong members of a pack. And these males were some of the strongest.

He would have to prove himself not only physically tough enough, but mentally sharp and demonstrate to them that he had not lost his edge—or his loyalty—in the years he'd been gone.

It was frustrating to begin again with them. To begin with less trust than the last time, actually. But he was better equipped now.

He would show them. And then together they'd remove Xar and bring the wolves to their correct position as the strongest pack.

The question about why Lhars hadn't already done this in his absences niggled, but he pushed it away. Lhars had always been more circumspect about attacking in plain sight than Zev.

"Thank you for coming, and for being willing to hear me," he said, meeting eyes with every male around the fire. "I know it's been a difficult few years while I've been gone. I grieve it."

"What happened?" Bleddyn piped up immediately. "Why did you leave without warning us?"

Zev's jaw rolled. "That's why I brought you here first, so you can ask me any question you wish. We can't move forward until you're certain of me and my motives—and what I've done since I've been gone. Let me make it clear, you were not told the truth today. I don't know if the humans lied, or if Xar did, but there was little truth in the picture he painted." Zev took a deep breath and the others waited. "I'll tell you what happened the day I left, and then you can ask any questions you want. I'll answer all of them." He said, his voice a low growl. "But I ask you to have a care. The past three years have been… difficult." Bleddyn snorted, but didn't speak up, and Zev ignored him. "But I wager by the end of this we'll share what we know and understand better exactly what's been happening with the humans. Then our job will be to find a way to thwart them," he said.

The males all nodded and gave yips and barks of approval as Zev turned to look at Sasha.

She sat on the fur, her brow furrowed. When he looked at her, she put a hand up to his arm and squeezed, and he could feel her concern for him.

He prayed she still felt that way by the end of the night.

 

Chapter 120

Zev began to relay the things he'd told her and Dunken. But this time—with more time and fewer pressures, he was able to give more detail.

He sat next to her, the flames of the fire reflected in his eyes. His heavy brows and dark cheeks moving unselfconsciously as he fell into the memories, his gaze becoming distant. He gestured with his hands, while his eyes searched the flames, as if he saw things within them.

"The team came that day and pulled me aside," he said quietly. "They were only two days early, so I wasn't alarmed. I welcomed them. I'd planned to speak with them about the problems we were having among the youngsters with that cough—remember?"

Several of the other men nodded.

Zev cleared his throat. "Their medicines had been so effective the last time, it seemed a good idea to get them involved early this time. But I didn't want them coming through more often. I'd planned to talk to them about arranging a time to come, that I'd send healers to meet them, so they didn't have to come through at all… but as soon as we were alone, it was clear they were disturbed. The kind of disturbed the humans aren't good at faking, you follow?" He looked around and the others all nodded. "They sent four through that day, three who'd been many times before. I'd never seen them so agitated. They started asking questions about our health before I even raised the issue—and then they told me why they'd arrived early."

He took a deep breath and met eyes with everyone again. "You know they have the sanctuary in their world, where they make us. There's always a population there, usually younger than here. But they keep a few from each round of trials…"

He spoke about these things so easily as if they were simply given truths. Sasha's mouth fell open at the idea of an entire race of people stuck in any kind of lab or sanctuary. She hated seeing animals chained in any way—and these were people, not animals. But looking around the group of men it came home to her that all of these people in front of her had come to Chimera because of the intervention of humans like her.

To them, a place where they were "made" was a simple reality.

It made her skin crawl. She wanted to ask Zev questions, but he was already moving on.

"They'd had an outbreak of the cough among their young, as well, and it was deadly. They were becoming genuinely concerned that they might lose an entire generation—they were desperate, though trying to hide it. They feared they may have brought the germ from their world on their previous trip—something the humans were immune to, or that was more minor for them, but that was decimating their Chimera.

"They didn't know why the Chimera were weaker to this germ than to others. Usually we are far stronger against illness than humans," he turned to Sasha to say quickly, then returned to the men. "By the time we'd spoken for an hour, I was convinced: There was a genuine crisis occurring in our people in the human world. Nick had sent a message with them to make sure I understood how dire the situation was, and to personally ask me to return with them."

His jaw went tight, the little muscles at the back of it twitching. "It was the first lie that I swallowed completely," he said bitterly. "And one I wouldn't uncover for years. But he told me that they had reason to believe I was immune to this disease, and that it was crucial that I come work in the program they'd always told me I was made to… to head up. The entire purpose of my existence. Nick told me that it would be a few weeks at most. That I was needed, and I was needed urgently."

He shook his head, his jaw set and mouth frowning. "I wanted to go back, to speak to the council and set the hierarchy for my absence. That was the only thing I requested. But they were afraid that if they carried the germ and had spent that time close to me, that even in that short contact I might carry more of it back to the people, only to tell them I was leaving." He swallowed and Sasha's stomach flipped. He didn't turn to look at her, his eyes going dark and shadowed.

"He told me they would send one of the team back to the City right then, to inform you all—that was why they'd sent through four instead of three. That's what he said. And he assured me that I could return a message to you all—a recording, the way they brought me his. I thought… I thought it would be enough. A couple of weeks, I told myself. I could help our people over there, and you all would survive no trouble."

He took a deep breath and rubbed his face that was suddenly haggard.

Despite the sick dread in the pit of her stomach, Sasha reached for his arm again, and laid her hand there.

It was easy to see how much he hated this. And that he was avoiding her eyes, his shoulders hunching slightly with shame.

A part of her was glad to see it, glad that he wasn't untouched by this terrible part of his past. But the part of her that loved him, that hated seeing him hurt… that part of her wanted to weep.

He was heartbroken, and sickened… and, as he spoke, it became clear, Zev was also traumatized.

His body began to shake as he relayed what had occurred in those first days that he returned with the humans. And the picture he painted made Sasha want to scream—and to weep.

He brushed over the details—for her benefit, or his own, she wasn't sure. But regardless, his references to mating were little more than dark words punctuating a picture of technological and mental manipulation. He didn't see sunlight for almost a month—him, who had been living in Thana and breathing the fresh air for two years. Her vibrant, athletic Zev who was more active than anyone she knew. He'd been essentially jailed in fluorescent lighting, and told that he was saving lives. That the very future of his people was in his hands.

"From the very first week they had me in the breeding arena every day—but they didn't seem to be any happier. The females were healthy, but… blank. I don't know how else to describe it. But I checked with all of them. They were happy to be there, they said. Excited to be with me, to seek their own young."

Sasha's stomach roiled. She prayed she wouldn't throw up. She wanted to let him go, to remove her touch because it was cutting her to her bones to hear this, but it was so obvious to see how bereft he felt, she couldn't bear to break contact with him.

Zev's eyes closed. "The ones from those first weeks never returned to me," he said quietly. "I assumed it had been successful. I began to plan my return. I'd recorded a message for you with Nick in the first couple of days I'd been gone and… I believed everything here was simply progressing while I was gone. And that's when… that's when they lied to me again. And I was too fucking young and stupid to realize it," he snarled, his hand fisted so hard, his knuckles turned white. And the forearm under her hand became a steel bar.