Ch. 241..250

Chapter 241

"Zev said the same thing to me," Sasha breathed, more for the Chimera than Nick, but he leaped on the statement.

"That's what I'm telling you! Zev knows—and he knows I'm not lying about this! Let me ask him. Let him tell you that I'm telling the truth!" Nick stabbed his thumb at his own chest. But Ernie shuffled on his feet behind Sasha, and Nick flinched and took a step back before he caught himself.

He had to stop, to catch his breath, to catch himself. But he did it. Then he looked at her again. "I'm not lying."

Sasha looked around at all gathered.

Even if he's not lying about this, he's a liar and a manipulator in general, she reminded herself.

But Lhars and Yhet, even the creatures looked nervous.

Nick didn't sound like he was lying. And Zev had told her that Nick was his father. And that he took a personal interest in the survival of the Chimera…

Even if it was for his personal pride, that didn't mean he was lying now.

But did that mean she should listen? She and Zev had agreed it was too early to try to cut off the humans. They wanted to bring the females back first. And they couldn't do that if they were blocking the gateway and fighting a war for survival.

But they'd never save the females if they kept getting sucked back into these plots.

Sasha's idea was crazy… and it just might work. And it also just might kill Zev.

So… which was the greater risk?

The pressure of it all, the impossible decision, weighed on her. There was no way she could let Nick see Zev, know that Zev was injured. It made him too vulnerable—it made all of them vulnerable.

No. She had to fix this.

"I need a minute," she said. All the males around her blinked—most of all Nick, who's eyes widened and he looked like she'd just said she was feeding him to Ernie. But she couldn't… she couldn't do this without talking to Zev, and she couldn't risk any of them realizing… If her eyes went blank the way Lhars' did when he was sending over a distance, it was going to give this whole thing away.

So she took a step away. Yhet tried to catch her arm.

"Sasha," he rumbled. But she shook her head.

"I'm not going anywhere. I just need a moment to think. Just… just give me a minute."

She walked off the trail and into the trees, feeling all their eyes on her back, but as soon as she was on the other side of the trees, she knelt and covered her face.

Zev. Zev, I need you.

I'm coming—

No, Zev, I need your advice and I need you to be calm and think this through.

What is it? What's going on?

Sasha bit her lip and prayed he wouldn't injure himself.

Nick doesn't know that you're not Alpha. He's asking for you. He says the team—the organization—needs to be convinced that you're on board, that the Alpha is on board. Otherwise they're going to steal the ones they want and kill everyone else. He's… I don't think he's lying Zev.

There was a hesitation. She could feel him thinking, his heart racing, put a hand to her own heart that was beating too quickly too.

I don't think he's lying either, Zev said quietly, his voice brimming with tension. I'll get some help, and I'll come—

No, Zev… listen to me.

He went deathly still and with her eyes closed, Sasha could feel him… as if he were right beside her. In her head she imagined putting her hand to his chest and felt him place his over hers.

Sasha… his voice was so stilted, so afraid.

I have to go, Zev, she whispered in his head. I'm Alpha. And I'm human. They can't ignore me. You said so yourself. I have to go.

SASHA, NO!

Zev, be calm. You're going to be needed here.

SASHA, NO, NOT WITH NICK. YOU CAN'T!

I have to, Zev. I know this is scary. And I don't want to leave you. But I think he's telling the truth. And I think he's right that we're not ready to face the hell they can bring in a few hours. I have to go, Zev.

SASHA—

Listen to me—he said it will only be a day or two, okay? If it's more than that, you all figure something out and get over there and get me. In the meantime, we can talk like this okay?

NO SASHA, THE LINK WONT WORK ACROSS THE GATEWAY, YOU HAVE TO—

I can't, Zev. And I think… I think in a little while when things have calmed down, you're going to realize you would have done exactly the same thing. I'm just… I'm just mimicking you.

SASHA, PLEASE—

I love you, Zev. You know that. You know that. Don't panic. Lead.

SASHA, STOP, YOU CAN'T—

Be calm and lead. I'll see you in a couple days, okay?

Then she sent him a picture of them the way they'd always been, with her standing and him behind her, curled around her… that perfect fit.

Then, when he screamed her name again, she cut off the link and stood up, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She had to get Nick out of there before Zev figured out a way to get to them.

When she strode back to the Chimera, they were all watching. She prayed her eyes weren't too red.

She ignored Nick, stalking straight to Lhars. "You need to go back and calm your brother. When he finds this out, he's going to lose his mind, and I need him here and safe."

Lhars frowned. "Finds what out, exactly?"

For an answer, she turned to Nick. "If the Alpha comes with you, negotiates willingly with the organization, the rest of us will be safe?"

Nick nodded once.

"So if the Alpha comes with you… no one else has to leave?"

Lhars startled, and Yhet rumbled a growl. But she ignored them both.

Nick says "Exactly."

She nods. "Okay, then. Our friends here are all going to accompany you and stay at the gateway and make sure no one else comes through when you leave."

Nick nodded quickly. "Sure. As long as I have Zev over there, everyone else will be fine."

Sasha smiled. "Well, then, let's go."

Nick frowned. "We need Zev… is he here? Did he—" He started to turn to where she'd gone into the trees, but Sasha shook her head.

"No, you don't need Zev. You said you need the Alpha."

Nick's eyes went wide and he turned quickly to Lhars. "You took Alpha?"

Lhars shook his head.

"I did, Nick," Sasha said quietly. "I'm the one you want. Everyone else is following my orders—including Zev. So if you've got negotiating to do, it's me you want."

She said the words with such conviction, every Chimera present bowed or saluted.

Nick stared at her, stunned.

But Sasha could barely hold his gaze, because despite her attempts to shut Zev off so he couldn't interrupt her, he was fighting, scratching at her resolve. And as the Chimera around her submitted, giving truth to her statement, it was Zev's voice, cracking with desperation, frantic with emotion, echoing in her head.

No… Sasha… Please… YOU CAN'T DO THIS!

 

Chapter 242

Zev roared her name so the ceiling shook. He rolled, desperate to get out of this bed, but the healer hadn't brought him the pain medication yet and he was gasping and trembling before he'd even pushed himself up to sit.

Shit.

SHIT.

Breath heaving, bracing himself on the bed he scrabbled at Sasha's mind, but she was holding him out, so in desperation he reached for Lhars.

GET HER OUT OF THERE. NOW!

But Lhars was holding him off as well and Zev's stomach went cold and he cursed under his breath. What was Lhars doing? Why would he shut Zev out at such a crucial time—was he setting Sasha up? Was this his work?

The healer walked in, saw Zev rolled onto his side and rushed to the bed. "Zev, no, you can't—"

"She's going to leave with him! She's going to get herself killed!"

"You can't help. You'd never make it and if the wound opens again and gets infected again—you need help, Zev! You can't move!"

Then Zev blinked. Of course. Of course. He needed help. Yes. The male was right.

As the male rolled him onto his back and muttered to himself, Zev closed his eyes, tipped his head back and howled, and on the resonant call of his howl he sent as far and wide as he was able.

He shook with the effort of reaching—as many minds and hearts as he was capable of touching, every wolf within hearing. He howled, and they heard it in their minds, and in the air.

Their Alpha called for them. Their Alpha needed them. The Alpha's mate was in danger.

Howls rose across Thana—discernable to Zev's ears, as well as his head and heart. He choked on the emotion of their response, wolves dropping the things they were packing and turning on their heels, howling, then leaping into their beasts and beginning to run to their Alpha.

The healer listened to Zev howl, then heard the responses outside and took a deep breath. "Well, that's one way to do it, I suppose."

"I need everyone—I can't know how far away they are."

"You need to conserve your energy. Reaching that many at the same time—"

"There's no choice."

The door flew open and three wolves galloped in, shifting to their human forms mid-step and trotting to Zev's side, naked. They'd obviously shifted in a hurry not removed their clothing—or just thrown it aside. Zev didn't care that they were naked. But if they had to shift back in front of Sasha…

Right at the front was Jhon and Zev sighed with relief to see his friend. But Jhon's face was a mask of worry and fear.

The three thumped to Zev's side and stood, poised, ready for instruction. Outside, Zev could feel the others coming, gathering, all of them ready to serve.

"Nick is here," Zev said hoarsely, his eyes locked with Jhon's, pleading for his friend to take this seriously. "He's convinced Sasha that she needs to go with him—that as Alpha she has to meet with the humans. She's not remembering his manipulation. You have to get her out of there. I don't care what it takes. Try and beat them to the gateway, cut them off. Take Nick out."

Jhon nodded once, but his throat bobbed. "Take him out… you mean…?"

"Kill him," Zev said on a growl. "I'm done letting him play with our minds—and I won't risk her to them. If she goes down to the human plots, we all do."

Jhon paled. "That will be… that will be war, Zev."

"We don't have any choice!" Zev snarled. "I'd do it myself, but he'd beat me right now. If you can't stomach it, I'll find someone else—"

"No, no. I'll do it. I just wanted to make sure you understand what you're doing."

"Of course I do! No one understands this better than me!"

Jhon nodded again. "Okay. We'll do it. Does he have weapons?"

"No. I think they've been removed from him. But Lhars and Dunken and Yhet are with her, a few of the creatures too—Ernie's there. He'll help you, no doubt. I'm surprised he's kept his claws off Nick this long. Lhars must have really dominated him."

"Lhars is with him? Why not have him—"

"Because I don't trust my brother's intentions. And if I rely on him in this of all things… just trust me. Nick will have the right words to stop you'll. He'll have the reasons you can't. You can't listen to him, do you understand?"

"I do," Jhon said solemnly. "Don't worry, Zev. We'll bring her back."

"Thank you, thank you." He was near tears and embarrassed about it, but Jhon just slapped his good arm and tipped his head at the others, towards the door.

Zev's nerves spiked as they ran out the door and walked into the crowd gathering outside, sharing scents and letting them all know what was to happen.

Zev, still linked with the wolf minds, could see them—some slavering, and ready, others fearful and reluctant. He grimaced, wishing he could have just done this himself.

But a little voice in the back of his head asked the question… was he really strong enough? He loved Nick. Always had. Nick had saved his life more than once.

But he'd also stolen it away.

And it was past time that Zev broke free of him. Maybe it was God's mercy that he couldn't physically fight on this day. Maybe it was the devil playing with his life. Zev didn't know. All he knew was, he refused to let Sasha be taken into their hands the way he was.

That would destroy everything.

Choking on his anger and fear, Zev dropped his link with the wolves and turned back to Sasha, scrabbling at her mind, whining when the door didn't open.

He knew she could hear him and he screamed at her to stop. That she couldn't do this. Please!

But he could feel her pulling away—keeping him at arm's length. And moving.

She was moving.

Dear God, she was going with him.

They had to get to her, now! With a snarl, he reached for Jhon's mind again, growling his instructions to hurry, hurry!

And hurry they did. But would they reach them in time? Sasha was slow, but they were far closer to the cave than to the village.

Please… he prayed.. Please don't let her cross.

 

Chapter 243

They'd started walking immediately—as quickly as Sasha was able. Sasha used the time to make sure there was no chance of the hierarchy imploding while she was gone.

"Zev is dominant. He's to be listened to and protected—he can't fight or run right now. Lhars, you have to help him."

Lhars nodded, his face tight and pale. Sasha tried to give him an encouraging smile.

"Lhars is second—he can take Alpha of the wolves. Zev's going to be busy healing and freaking out about me being gone. He'll need even more support. Share the wolves if you need to, Lhars, but don't let them feel like there's no leadership.

"Dunken, you stay exactly where you are. Listen to Zev and follow his orders. But remember, he needs to be protected, even from himself. Don't let him be reckless. If you have to… remind him that if he harms himself, he harms me. Force him to consider his actions. He'll kill himself trying to help me, but remind him that will only kill me."

Dunken nodded.

Sasha sighed. "Is there anything else you all had trouble with when Zev left?" she asked, terrified. She was really going to do this—and potentially send the Chimera into chaos at the same time that she broke Zev's mind because she disappeared. "I need you all to explain to me how to make this official… or whatever. What I can do so it will be upheld by the Clans. We can't afford a battle right now!"

Lhars shook his head. "You've set it in place. Your choices are correct. There won't be any problems, at least not in the short term. I'll send the word to all the wolves, and they can spread the word…" He trailed off, his eyes widening.

"What is it?" Sasha asked, stopping to watch him.

"I'd been paying attention to you and… keeping everyone out of my head, but…" Lhars' eyes sharpened and snapped to her face. "Zev's called the wolves to come get you and bring you back. To… get rid of Nick," he said in a low growl.

Nick stumbled back a step, eyes wide with horror. "You have to give me back my weapons. It's not fair. I'm here to help!"

Sasha started walking, as fast as she could in the snow. "I am Alpha right now—he doesn't take the mantle until I leave, correct?"

Lhars nodded.

"Will the wolves listen? For real? I mean, I'm me and he's… Zev. Will they listen to me?"

"If they get from you directly—that you give a different order… yes, they will."

"Can you show them? Me, I mean? Can you send them… me giving an order?"

"Yes."

They stopped walking and Sasha stared at him. "Are you ready?"

Lhars nodded, swallowing as she locked eyes with him and fisted her hands, giving every ounce of conviction and certainty she had that she was doing the right thing, and that they all needed this.

"Stand down. Your concern for me is… wonderful. But do not fear.

"I am going to the human world for a short visit to negotiate with the humans and determine their movements in Thana going forward.

"You will not attack. You will not stop me from leaving. And you will not harm the human with me. When I leave through the gateway, Zev will be Alpha. Lhars will be second. And Dunken will retain Captain. You are safe in our hands."

Lhars sucked in a deep breath as she turned away and started walking—pushing herself as fast as she could in the snow. When Zev realized she'd stopped, or attempted to stop, his plan, he would be furious.

"You need to go to him," she said to Lhars who walked at her side, frowning at the ground. She wondered what the other wolves were saying to him. "He's going to lose his mind."

Lhars nodded. "Are you certain? About this, I mean?"

Sasha nodded. "It's… we actually discussed it. What my role was to be. We agreed. He's forgotten because he's afraid, but when he calms down, remind him. He agreed—I am here to deal with the humans and make things better."

Lhars looked at Dunken, whose face was hard as marble and just as expressionless. Yhet was the one who looked agitated, his eyes sliding back and forth between Sasha and Lhars and Nick.

"Sasha," the massive man rumbled. "Zev has reason to be concerned."

"I know he does," she panted, embarrassed, knowing all of them—even Nick—were slowing to keep her pace. "And if our roles were reversed I'd be terrified too. But he's not here. He doesn't understand. Lhars needs to show him."

Lhars frowned harder. "How did he know to send them, though? He knew we were coming to meet Nick. I didn't tell him you were leaving with him, I—"

Sasha blinked and caught his eyes as his brows pinched down hard and he looked up at her.

She held his gaze, willing him not to speak the words he was thinking, the question he had.

Lhars' eyes widened and she shook her head slightly. "He's fearful. He's afraid I'll be manipulated. Let him know that I'm not. Let him know I'm going in with my eyes wide open. Go, Lhars. He needs to know. He needs to see it from someone who was here. Please?"

Lhars closed his mouth and nodded. He gave her the salute, then stopped walking. "I'll do as you ask, Sasha-don," he said quietly. "Go well, and be safe."

"You too," she returned, swallowing the pinch in her throat as he turned on his heel and she knew he was running straight to Zev.

Her Zev.

Suddenly every conviction she'd had fled.

How could she do this to him? How could she leave him—and with Nick? Even if it was just for a few days, that would send him over the edge. It would have if she'd been in his shoes…

Lhars paused to take his clothing off and tie it around his waist before he shifted and ran. Watching him go over her shoulder, Sasha's eyes ran into the Spider—Ernie, she reminded herself.

What a ridiculous name.

This whole thing was just crazy. How could it be real?

But then that little piece of her heart throbbed, recognizing Zev's call as he tried desperately to get through to her. She almost opened her mind. But she knew if she did, he'd convince her. And she was already convinced.

So she shook her head and kept walking, praying that God would be merciful on her mate.

 

Chapter 244

Zev was in the middle of snarling at Jhon, who'd found Sasha's trail and was leading a handful of wolves on the trail when Lhars' sending came through and every wolf within reach shuddered.

Sasha's eyes, her voice, resonant with conviction and the Alpha's authority.

Stand down.

She was going to the human world for a good purpose.

Zev was to lead only after she'd walked the gateway.

Zev screamed "NO!" as he felt Jhon and the others slide to a halt, snarling, licking their lips, their heads dropping.

Lhars. Fucking Lhars coaching her—it had be to. The images had the texture and color of a moment sent—he'd been a witness and showing them what he saw. But Sasha hadn't shown that kind of control before. She hadn't had that… power.

Zev began to tremble as he realized he was stuck. Utterly stuck. He couldn't save her.

He couldn't physically do it. And she was leaving. She was determined. She was leaving him and she'd be taken.

Panic made his heart slam against his ribs. His wound throbbed.

The healer who'd heard him scream, rushed back into the room, but found only Zev laying in the bed, his hands on his face, fighting tears and rage in equal measure.

"I'll get you something for the pain," he said.

Zev didn't answer him, but his body shuddered.

She was leaving him. How the hell was she able to do that? Even the thought made him panic, how could she just calmly… leave him?

His mind spun—had they drugged her? Had Lhars lied to her? Had Nick done something to make her lose her will?

But… no. That was his Sasha. Determined and in control. She didn't have a bit in her mouth. There were no reins pulling her.

She really thought she had to do this.

Fuck!

The healer trotted to his side. "Open your mouth, Zev. I have a powder for you, and a drink of water. It will take some time to work, but when it does, your pain will ease. You just have to promise me you won't harm yourself by walking and… you have to promise me you'll rest."

"I will," he croaked, lying through his teeth.

As the healer tipped a small paper cone over his tongue and the bitter powder became grit between his teeth… as the water washed his mouth, swirling the powder down his throat, Zev could barely breathe.

All he could see was her—her neck snapped. A bullet wound in her temple. A knife in her back.

They were going to kill her, to get back at him. And then he was going to die.

And all he cared about was that he wasn't going to be with her. He had to be with her!

He swallowed convulsively, pushing aside the rest of the water now that his mouth was clear. He fisted the furs and stared, dry-eyed at the ceiling as he felt Jhon and the others shake themselves, and he sent an order.

An order that didn't contradict hers, but would leave the wolves in a position to help her should she encounter problems before she left the gate.

Left.

She was leaving. And they wouldn't stop her.

Zev whined in his throat. He couldn't make them resist her. Not while she was still in Thana. But the minute she was gone? He would do whatever it took.

Zev was never resting again until his mate was safe, or they were both dead.

*****

~ SASHA ~

Sasha's nerve peaked as they reached the wider, almost road-like trail that she knew would take them through the valley floor, and then up to the cave where the gateway was. It was so strange to be back here, to remember how stunned and unaware she'd been when Zev brought her through… could that really only have been a little over a week ago?

Nick made a strange noise, and she realized as the trail had opened out, Ernie had scuttled up alongside him.

She shot a glare at the spider-man, but he only snorted. "We usher the Alpha to her gateway—make sure the human doesn't take liberties." Then he turned his head to look straight at Nick. "Because the human knows if he ever shows his face here again and the Alpha isn't safe, or has been harmed… we won't be so disciplined. Doesn't he?"

Nick nodded, his face pale and sweaty.

Sasha shook her head. How was it that this had become her world? Her reality.

She was doing everything she could to ignore the fact that she was walking away from Zev. Even letting her mind brush up on that fact made her entire body shake and her stomach churn.

Two days, she reminded herself. It was just two days. Nick was invested in seeing Zev live. And the Chimera. She'd make sure Nick understood that harming her would harm Zev. And that harming Zev would harm her.

Sasha stumbled at the thought of what he must be going through. And she was weak. She couldn't let herself walk away without reassuring him again. She knew it was a mistake. But she was weak.

Zev…. Her voice was plaintive and weak, even to her own mind.

Sasha! Dear lord. Please tell me you're coming back.

No, I just… I needed to tell you that I love you, okay? I'm not leaving you. I'm going to try and keep everyone safe—

Sash, that's exactly how he convinced me last time. Do you realize that?

I know. I'm not saying he's not making plans. I'm just… I just have to follow my instincts, Zev, and I can tell. I'm here for a reason. And this is it. So you focus on healing. If I'm not back in a week, you come get me, okay?

Sasha, please! You can't do this! His voice was hoarse and tormented in her head, and she wanted to cry. But she shook it off and reached out to him across the bond.

I love you, Zev. Don't give up. I love you so much.

 

Chapter 245

When they started up the trail to the cave mouth, Sasha could barely breathe. She had to force herself to focus on the others. Inside she wanted to scream. Fear of what was happening. Fear of leaving Zev. Leaving Thana. Fear of... she didn't even know this man. All that fear underlined by Zev, the echoes of his pleading and demands. He was still scratching at her mind, pleading with her. The piece of him inside her pulling back, threatening to suck out of her heart and through her spine, to flee back to him. She was beginning to tremble.

With Yhet on one side and Dunken on the other—both silent, though Yhet's face made his opinion on this whole situation very clear—Sasha decided to let the creatures torture Nick because she didn't have energy to do anything else. Ernie scuttled along, just inside the tree line, just in their peripheral vision. Every time he moved, Nick twitched.

When she spoke to Dunken and Yhet, it was the quietest breath of a whisper she could manage so Nick wouldn't hear it. "You both need to go straight back to Zev once I leave. He's… he's going to be falling apart. He doesn't trust Lhars yet. He'll need you."

"Sasha," Yhet sighed, casting a dark look at Nick. "Are you certain?"

"Utterly," she said, shaking her head and rubbing Yhet's broad arm. "This is our only chance. I can convince them to let the females go, or learn how we'll steal them back. I'm certain of it."

Dunken's face didn't move, but she could sense his skepticism. She was grateful that the man didn't give voice to his thoughts. She didn't want to worry Yhet any more than he already was.

"You two need to make sure Zev doesn't hurt himself. He's going to want to come after me. Don't let him do it until he's healed—by which time I'll hopefully be back. But just… you know. Don't let him travel until it's safe."

They both nodded.

Sasha was going to thank them, but just then, a pattering of feet and paws sounded behind them, and they all stopped and turned.

A swathe of dark gray and brown wolves was running up the trail behind them, silently, their eyes fixed on Sasha. She'd told them not to come! Not to interfere! What were they doing there?

She stopped walking, head spinning, asking herself how she was going to handle this when they all reached just a few feet down the trail and slowed, shifting back to their human forms.

And they were all naked.

Sasha felt her cheeks heat, but she didn't let herself think about it. Just locked eyes with Jhon, who was at the front, and told herself not to look down.

"I told you," she said through her teeth, "Stand down."

Jhon nodded, dropping his chin and shoulders in submission. "We don't come to interfere, but to… guard. Make sure you travel safely."

Sasha pressed her lips thin. She was skeptical. But at least they weren't trying to stop her.

"Okay," she said carefully. Then she lit on an inspiration. "It's good that you're here. When I'm gone, you all stay guarding the cave. Make sure the team doesn't come through. We've been told that all that's needed is for the Alpha to speak with them. That there's no need for them to come through if I go. Isn't that right, Nick?"

Nick, swallowed hard, but nodded. "If we catch them before they cross—which we will if we hurry—no one else will come through."

"We'll make sure you're telling the truth," Jhon said, his voice hard. Then he turned back to Sasha. "Do you have any further instructions?"

She didn't, of course. Could barely think straight. But she didn't miss the look of stunned disbelief on Nick's face.

When he turned to her, she just raised an eyebrow. "You're really Alpha?" he croaked. "How the hell?"

"I'll explain later," she muttered.

They reached the mouth of the cave, and Sasha almost cried—her mind full of that moment when Zev had led her out of here, so proud and excited to bring her to his home. And she'd been so uncertain, but so ready to be close to him…

She'd watched him step out into the snow while she tried to take in the vista in front of her, and the look on his face—the sheer joy—had sucked her back into that day when she'd given herself to him. She'd last seen that expression when they lay curled up in her tiny bed and he was holding her.

She'd blinked away the memory and made herself focus on the present, and this incredible winter wonderland.

"Thana?" she asked stupidly.

Zev nodded, his eyes sparkling. Then he looked away from her to scan the gorgeous purple-blue, snowcapped mountain across the valley, the forest sprinkled in snow that reminded her of a Christmas scene, and that rushing river on the valley floor.

"I've wanted to bring you here for so long, Sasha. I can't believe it's finally happening."

"Where is here, exactly?" she asked hesitantly.

He tensed then and it took a minute for him bring his gaze back to hers. "It's… nowhere you're familiar with," he said. "And I can't tell you how to get here because you won't be safe if you know. Just… just trust me, being here makes you as safe as it's possible to be in my world…"

His world. He'd meant that so much more literally than she'd taken it at the time.

And she'd been so grateful to be back in his arms. To have him again. To be close. The last few days of their solitude had been a dream come true.

So, how was it possible she was the one walking away now?

She cleared her throat and stopped before they entered the cave, turning to talk to the Chimera that all pressed in, their eyes dark and sharp on Nick, but attentive when they turned to her.

She almost laughed hysterically, but she swallowed it back.

"Okay, so we're going to go now," she said to the gathered Chimera. Yhet made a low, puttering growl in his throat, but she turned and put her hand on his arm. "I'm going to be safe. Zev is the one who needs you, okay? I'm going to my home—I know how it works. I have support there. I'm not as… helpless as I am here."

Many of the Chimera shifted on their feet.

"I'm far more confident over there than I am here, so don't worry about me. But worry about Zev. Keep him resting and healing until I get back, okay?"

Dunken bowed low, one fist on his chest. "We'll do as you say," he said, his voice rough and tight. "Do you have any other tasks for us while you're gone?"

"Just that one," she said sadly. "Don't let him hurt himself."

Dunken thumped his chest. "I vow it."

Sasha sucked in a breath as Yhet edged forward his eyes cutting to Nick with a flat glare, but when he put his arms around her and patted her hair. Sasha almost squawked when he pulled her into his stomach and his fur went up her nose, but she just patted his sides—which were all she could reach—while Yhet rumbled at Nick.

"If she does not return safely. If she does not return quickly… I will hunt you down," the huge man said, his voice a low, rumbling growl "If you hurt her, if you cause her pain, if you do not return her… I will snap your neck—but only after I have feasted on your guts."

Sasha was so startled, the hair on the back of her neck standing at the sight of Yhet, his teeth bared and that low growl that seemed to make the very dirt vibrate.

Nick raised his hands in surrender. "I don't… I won't hurt her. I want her safe too."

Yhet's upper lip curled away form his teeth and for a moment she saw the creature that humans would see if they ran into Yhet in her world—a humongous, feral man with teeth wider than her fingers and an unpredictable light in his eyes…

If she didn't do something quickly, this wasn't going to go well. So she stepped out of Yhet's arms and urged him to step back from Nick.

"Thank you," she said, then turned to look at Dunken and the wolves. "Thank you, all of you. Please don't worry. Just keep things calm while I'm gone. And hopefully I'll return with good news. Are you ready, Nick?" she said, clasping her hands together to stop them shaking as the man backed away from Ernie, who'd scuttled right up behind him again.

"Yes, yes. Let's do this. I'll go first if you aren't prepared yet."

"Prepared?"

"To cross the Gateway. You remember when you came through? The certainty? The…" he trailed off frowning at her look of confusion.

"I have no idea what you're talking about?" Sasha said. "Certainty of what?"

 

Chapter 246

Nick looked at her oddly. "How did you cross when you arrived?"

"I was asleep. Zev gave me something to help me stay unconscious and he carried me through. He said it was important I didn't know where the gateway was so I couldn't betray it."

Something about that seemed to disturb Nick, but he shook it off quickly. "Okay, well… let's go. I'll explain as we walk through the cave."

Yhet growled again and moved to follow, but Sasha waved him off and gave a quick smile to all of them watching. "Thank you again. Please take care of Zev for me, okay?"

Several nodded, but most of them just kept glaring at Nick as Sasha stepped into the darkness of the cave mouth and followed the man into the curving tunnel.

"So, the gateway is… unique," Nick said, looking ahead and stepping carefully through the cave. "It crosses worlds. Multiple worlds. Countless worlds, from what we can tell. It was discovered… well, that's not important now. The thing that's important to understand is that if you remember where you want to go and fix it in your mind, you'll have no trouble seeing the path—the light will show you the way. Easily. But we're not quite sure what it is, because it seems to be able to read your thoughts. The Gateway seems… almost sentient."

"What?!" Sasha snapped.

"It knows how to… tempt you."

Sasha's brows flew up, but Nick just raised his hands to soothe her. "Not like that. What it wants to do is take you somewhere. Anywhere. So you have to fix your mind on where you want to go. The world you want to step into. As long as you're focused on that, fully convinced of your destination, it will guide you through. No trouble. But if you waver… it will try to show you other places that might fulfill what you want. It… wants to please you."

Sasha was confused. "This place is going to try to tempt me to go into some random world?"

"A world that it measures would fulfill the things you want. That's why you have to be focused. Just… give yourself over to going home, okay? Focus on that. Remind yourself why you want to go and you'll be fine."

They'd reached the back of the cave. There was a discarded fur here—the one she'd been laying on when she woke up. She wasn't sure whether Zev had left it, or it had already been here. But it was dusty now and something inside Sasha quavered at the memory of waking up with Zev leaning over her….

"Just make sure you don't start thinking of another place, another world, or something else that you want more. It might spit you out in a world where the gateway isn't easily accessed. Or worse. Don't step into it until your conviction is certain. You know where you want to go. You have no question of your destination. And you know nothing will sway you from it. If you do that, you'll pass through quickly and safely."

Now that they were out from under the eyes of the Chimera, Sasha saw the strength in Nick again. It was true that being here in Thana made him afraid. She suspected she knew why. She couldn't decide if she was comforted by his growing confidence now, or more afraid. But she nodded.

"I don't step in until I'm certain I want to go back to our world."

Nick nodded and patted her arm, which made her skin crawl, but he didn't hold onto her. "Do you have any other questions?"

"I have nothing but questions, but I guess I'm about to find out the answer to all of them."

"Yes, you are," Nick smiled and he looked almost pleasant. Which made Sasha want to frown. "For what it's worth, Sasha, I could always see why he chose you. I don't want you to worry. I'm not lying to you. Your visit to our world is going to be brief. Just long enough to establish how this will work. I think my colleagues are going to be quite excited to learn what you've achieved in such a short time."

He smiled as if he expected her to be pleased about that. But Sasha just shook her head at him. "I'm going to keep everyone safe. But let's be utterly clear about this: You're taking me from the place I now call home, and out of the arms of my mate. There is nothing about this trip that… pleases me. Except that it will make things better for everyone in Thana. So please don't talk to me like I'm a child who needs a cheerleader."

Nick's brows popped up. "Well, then. Okay. I guess I'll go first so you can see how it's done. We won't see each other inside. We don't know why. It's like everyone takes their own route. But I'll see you on the other side. If you're ready?"

Sasha stared at him, stunned. "You're… going to let me go after you? What if I don't come? What if I just stay here?"

Nick's face got very serious. "I wasn't lying to you, Sasha. And I'm praying you weren't lying to me. I need you to come and be seen and negotiate, and generally convince my colleagues not to abandon this project. If you stay here… I won't be able to stop them coming through. And that band of merry men you have out there will be killed the moment they do. They won't have a chance to attack and protect like they think they can. Our weapons are… unique. And deadly. If that team shows up here with the decision made to take the Chimera out… Thana will be razed to the ground. So I pray you won't do that, Sasha. Because you won't live for many more hours or days after you do."

Sasha swallowed, then nodded. "I won't," she said. "I'm coming with you. Then it's your chance to prove you aren't lying and to let me come back here quickly so Zev doesn't have a cardiac arrest."

Sadness flickered on Nick's face, which surprised her. "I'm sorry I didn't get to see him," He said quietly. "I know he thinks I… he expects me to work against you. It's a sad fact that at times I have. But I'm not now, Sasha. If you're ready. I'll go in. You stand here until you know that you know that you know where you want to go. Then you step in after me and I'll see you on the other side. Between us, we'll get this fixed, okay?"

"Okay."

Nick blew out a breath, turned to face the wall at the back of the cave, took a deep breath in, then stepped forward.

Sasha braced—he looked like he would face plant right into but. But then her mouth dropped open as the wall seemed to simply absorb him.

Two seconds later, it was as if he'd never been there.

 

Chapter 247

Zev had been laying rigid in the bed for the past fifteen minutes, ever since she'd last opened to him, pleading with God to give him one more chance to speak to her, to convince her. He cursed the bed he lay in, the body that had failed him. He cursed himself for not seeing ahead enough to realize this might happen.

Then the wolves reached the cave and he'd watched through their eyes as she farewelled Yhet and Dunken. He'd found grim pleasure in the fear on Nick's face, and his tension when Ernie came close.

But he had eyes only for Sasha. And when she walked—of her own free will—into the dark cave at Nick's side, his stomach turned over. He thought he might be sick.

The pain powder he'd been given began to creep up on him then. The burning in his side eased just a hair, but with that tiny relief came a measure of drowsiness as well. Zev set his teeth and gripped the furs, scratching at Sasha's mind again and again, muttering under his breath, pleading for her to give.

And then with no warning, suddenly she was there again, turned to him in her mind, her nerves at a peak.

Zev?

He didn't even wait. He could feel her shaking, her shock.

Sasha! Stop. You don't have to do this. You can't do this.

I have to, Zev. You know I do. This is exactly what we talked about. I'm just… I'm scared. I'm weak. I'm afraid of losing you. That's all. I know I'm doing the right thing. Please… stop trying to stop me. Just… be here with me for a second before I step in, okay?

You're at the gateway? What's Nick doing?

He's… he's already gone.

Zev blinked in shock. He's gone… and he left you there? Alone?

Yes.

Everything in chest swelled and he sucked in a breath. THEN GET OUT. Leave, Sasha! Run back now, to me! We'll send someone—

No, Zev. He's going to stop the team. They're on their way. And they aren't coming to make friends. They need to know that they still have some power here. Even Yhet and Dunken didn't think he was lying about that. I have to show up so they won't come through. But… I'm leaving the wolves here—Jhon's in the lead—to stop them, just in case. Just in case he's tricking us.

Zev snarled, gnashing his teeth. If he'd been in full health he would have shifted and run, heedless of her warnings.

Nick was fooling them all this time!

I have to go, Zev. Please… hug me for a second. Please.

Her voice was tiny and breathless in his head and he almost broke. Teeth gritted and body a plank of tension, he had enough clarity to realize this was his last chance. He could fight her until the moment she stepped through. Or he could be with her now. Hold her…

With a whine of grief, he sent her an image of himself, and her. She stood as she always had, facing the world boldly. And he placed himself at her back. But he wanted her to know… needed her to see.

As Sasha sighed his name, he showed himself wrapping around her, his head dropping to her hair, his arms around her, curling himself around her until she almost couldn't be seen and he stood between her and the world.

You're mine, Sash. Only mine, he panted.

Yes. I know. You're… you've always wanted to protect me, Zev. I'm so grateful. I get it now, what you were doing all that time. Now it's my turn. If I do this, we can protect the rest of them. Together. We're going to do this, Zev. If he lies to me, if I'm not back in two days, you get healed, then you come get me, okay?

I love you, Sasha. Please be safe. I can't do this without you.

You won't have to, she sobbed. I love you, too. So much. We're going to do this, Zev. We're going to free them. And ourselves. Forever.

He reached for her with his heart, preparing to take one more shot at convincing her, but then the image in his mind… shifted.

Sasha took the image he'd given her and she changed it—turning in his arms, her arms snaking around his waist. She lifted her chin and laid her lips on his neck, kissing him—and she let him feel how she ached for him.

Zev's body responded immediately and he cried out, gripping his hair in his fists. Sasha, please! Don't… don't cut me off again. If you're going, take me with you as long as you can.

He felt her try to swallow her nerves. Okay.

There was a pregnant pause, then he felt her stroke his mind as if she cupped his face. I love you Zev. I'm going now.

Did Nick explain about the gateway? He asked desperately.

Yes. Don't worry. I know I have to be focused and determined. That's the only part of this I'm sure about. I know where I need to go, Zev. I'm certain of that part. I just… pray that I can do what we need to get done when I'm there.

He shuddered in fear. But knew there was no point trying to talk her out of it. He needed to stay with her as long as he could.

The back of the cave, he whispered. It looks solid, but it's the gateway.

I know. I watched Nick go through.

She showed him what she could see then. The dusty, dark back wall of the cave that looked normal and dirty… but that would shimmer into nothing when she stepped through it. He saw her thoughts—the hopes she had that Nick's story was completely true and she'd be back in a couple days. The fears she had that she'd be met with police and weapons when she got to the other side.

I will come for you, Zev vowed, growling. If he takes you—

Don't think about that, Zev. Just think about… think about healing, and about the day we're back together. All the ways we'll be together.

His breath caught as she sent him an image of herself, in his lap on that snowy afternoon—was that really only two days ago?

Okay, I'm just stalling now, she admitted before he could say anything. I'm going to step in. I'm going to convince them that I'm still working with them… and while I'm there, I have to figure out how we can get the females out. This is the only way.

But they're going to keep you!

Then you need to heal fast and come get me. I'm going now, okay?

Zev shaking, couldn't even make words. He sent her a deluge of images—his love, his body, his want for her, his fear—flashes of their lovemaking, of his memories of her sleeping… that bath.

And as she stepped forward, Sasha sent it all back. She took every image he sent and turned it, showed the memory to him from her perspective, full of love and adoration for him, heat, and hope.

As they held each others hearts and yearned, Sasha stepped into the wall and as Zev watched, the rock and vines of the cave gave way to the deep blue, shimmering glass that looked like rippled water, but felt like diamonds, the gateway rolling in a wave over her head and the tunnel lighted as if from within, drawing her forward.

Fear crackled through his veins and he sat up, gasping, sending with a force and desperation he'd never had before. I love you, Sa—!

But she was gone.

Zev slumped back into the bed and howled.

 

Chapter 248 -

"I want to go back to my world," Sasha breathed to herself as she stepped into the wall of the cave. She could still feel Zev with her as her foot landed in the Gateway and her jaw dropped open.

She stood in a tunnel that swirled over her head like water, it's surface rippled and faceted. Yet beneath her feet it was hard as stone and slick as glass. As she turned her head and looked around, trying to take in the beautiful, impossible place. The gateway seemed to ripple like moving water in the corners of her vision, but wherever she looked at it directly, it remained still.

The glass—or whatever it was—glowed as if light shone from behind it, urging her deeper. Ahead, the tunnel rolled into other shafts and gateways, turning off in other directions. But those tunnels remained dark.

Fascinated, Sasha took a step forward—and immediately stumbled, sucking in air against the tearing pain in her chest.

She cried out, clutching at her chest and trying desperately to breathe as the piece of Zev that had nestled within her since the bonding was torn away, leaving a gaping wound in its place.

"Zev!" she screamed, falling to all fours, gagging and heaving as she almost lost her stomach. The tunnel around her seemed to swirl and cascade, the walls moving far closer to the center of her vision.

Even as the pain began to ease, Sasha's entire body trembled, half-from the tearing loss that stung and ached, half because she was terrified she'd just broken the bond—and what did that mean?

Shaking, tears running down her cheeks, Sasha pushed to her feet. She looked over her shoulder to find a darkened tunnel leading back to the cave—she assumed. The light from under her feet, the light that had glowed within the walls, seemed to flicker and crackle now, rolling, shooting back into the dark, then forward again, like lightening under her feet and over her head.

What if she'd broken the bond. Would it come back when she returned to Thana? Did this mean they couldn't leave each other, or use the gateway without losing each other?

She took a hesitant step back, her resolve wavering. She could go back, make sure that the bond would return when they were in the same world. Make sure that he was okay. Then leave again…

But would she?

She turned again, facing back up the tunnel in the direction the light was leading. Had led. It had changed now. It was still there, but not as brightly, those crackling shafts of light zipping around over her head and down the shaft behind her.

What was it Nick had said? She couldn't question. She couldn't waver. She had to know where she was going or the Gateway would take her somewhere else.

She had to do this.

With a sob of pain and fear, pleading with Zev to forgive her, Sasha closed her eyes and focused her mind on her destination.

She had to return to her world. She had to find the females. She had to understand what the humans were doing so she could make a plan and bring it back to Thana, and save their people. She had to. She had to… even if it put the bond at risk. Because without the safety of the Chimera there would be no Zev. No chance for a bond.

There would be no Sasha, for that matter.

Swallowing the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, Sasha took a step forward, away from Thana. Away from Zev. The tunnel seemed to throb around her, the light within its walls beginning to grow and seep back towards the ceiling.

She took another step and it became brighter still.

So, with one final prayer for forgiveness, Sasha started forward, holding the emptiness in her chest. Praying that it wasn't permanent.

Praying that she'd find the answers they needed to make all of this worth the price.

*****

~ ZEV ~

Sasha disappeared from his mind first. He felt the connection close and knew she couldn't hear him anymore.

After the howl, Zev had slumped back into his pillows, cursing and pleading with the Creator to keep her safe. For Nick to be on one of his saving missions, not a sinister plot.

But before he could even finish the thought, pain—glittering and cold, like a blade—sliced into his chest, right over his heart, that was beating so hard it threatened to explode.

"Wha—SASHA!" he cried, gasping, groaning, clapping both hands to his chest, sucking at the air as something dug between his ribs and tore out a piece of his flesh. He tried to fight it, to wrestle the thing that was stealing from him, but then cried out as something was ripped from the center of his soul.

"What's wrong? Zev? What's happened?" The healer darted in from the next room.

"I… my chest… I…" Zev rasped. He looked down at one trembling hand, expecting to see it come away with blood. But though his fingers trembled and his chest screamed as if someone had plunged a hand in and snapped off a bone, tearing it out through his skin, there was nothing there.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

The place in his chest that had been inhabited by Sasha was… a hollow, whistling gap.

What the hell? What the ACTUAL FUCK?

He sat bolt upright, his side and ribs lighting up in pain, but it was nothing compared to the jarring emptiness in his heart.

"Sasha!" his voice tore from his throat in a guttural scream as the healer leaped on him, trying to push him back by the shoulders. But the pain powder he'd been given was beginning to work, and he was blind with terror.

He was losing the bond. He was losing Sasha!

NO!

He fought with the healer, wrestling to get off the bed and to his feet. He had to go after her. He had to—

The door flew open and Zev caught a bare glimpse of dark hair and sharp eyes flowing across the room, before a second set of hands and a much heavier body pressed in, helping the healer.

Zev snarled. "Let me up! I have to go her! We're losing the bond!"

"Zev, no! You have to stop! You're going to hurt yourself and then you won't be able to help her at all!"

"Zev, stop. You're Alpha now, you can't leave!"

"LET ME GO!" he snarled with every ounce of the Alpha authority he possessed.

Both males shuddered and released him, the healer dropping to a knee, though Lhars managed to keep his feet, his eyes not meeting Zev's, but his lip curled back as Zev pushed himself off the bed.

The moment his feet hit the floor, the entire world tipped sideways and he had to grab the bed to keep himself from pitching forward, straight into Lhars' arms.

"You can't go anywhere, Zev. You're too weak!" Lhars growled.

Zev chest heaved and he put a hand to it, still leaning on the bed, gripping it with his other hand to keep himself upright. He shook like a new spring leaf, panic screaming in his head.

She was gone. She was gone.

She'd been inside him, a part of him. And she was gone.

Zev groaned and pushed to his feet, stumbling forward towards the door, his body screaming at him in pain.

"Where are you going?!" Lhars barked.

"The Gateway," Zev growled. "I'm going to kill Nick, and bring Sasha back. Or die trying."

 

Chapter 249

Lhars, in his wolf, tore through the forest, ignoring the trails, leaping logs and twisting between trees so quickly his tail flicked the leaves off underbrush. He was doing everything in his power to get back to the village, to catch Zev before he lost his mind.

His brother was so desperate, so frantic for Sasha, he'd opened himself utterly as he sought to reach her mind. The other wolves didn't know that was even possible, so to them it was simply their Alpha, howling, screaming, claws scrabbling—and his love, his adoration, his terror, his pain laid bare.

Lhars didn't know how it had happened that Sasha could mind-link with Zev. Clearly it was a result of the bond. But regardless of how it had happened, his Alpha had made it clear she didn't want others to know. He had to get back to Zev before he revealed something—or killed someone—in his desperation.

Every wolf who hadn't shut their minds was seeing, just as Lhars was, the jittering panic in their Wolf-Alpha's mind. His longing and desperation, his rage and fear. As he rounded the final tree and broke into the clearing of the village square, Lhars heart pattered and his breathing heaved, but he would make it. He was only a moment from reaching the healing center and—

A howl exploded in Lhars' mind in the same moment it sang through the trees. And in the next step, it was as if Lhars' heart physically tore in two.

With a yelp and a snarl, he tumbled to the dirt, flipping head over tail until his nose was in the dirt and his body shivering.

He could barely breathe, the pain… where…

Lhars blinked. The pain wasn't within him—it was Zev's. His chest torn, a gaping wound. Someone was trying to murder his brother!

Lhars leapt to his feet, but his body still shook—Zev had no guards up. No restraint. The entire wolf-pack howled, crying for the grief, crying for the pain, crying with their Alpha.

Lhars lifted his chin and sang his own song of grief to echo his brothers, but he cut off quickly and stumbled forward in human form—it would give him a fraction more protection from the jangling terror and pain singing through his mind.

Throwing the door into the healing center open, he found a healer wrestling with Zev, who was trying to push himself off the bed.

Fucking idiot.

Lhars leaped into the fray, leaning his weight and strength to the fight, keeping Zev down. His brother growled, his teeth snapping.

"Let me up!" Zev snarled. "I have to go her! We're losing the bond!"

The healer, frantic and pleading, tried to get him to stop. But Lhars knew there was little point trying to talk him down. Zev was so desperate, he was losing his control.

"Zev, stop," Lhars snapped. "You're Alpha now, you can't leave!"

"LET ME GO!" Zev snarled, putting all his Alpha authority behind the command.

Lhars' hands leaped off of Zev as if they weren't under his control, his body shuddering with the desire to submit, but he didn't give in. He was fulfilling the instructions of the Alpha before she'd left. He had the authority to defy Zev if he could find it in himself.

The healer didn't even try to resist, just submitted, though he grimaced, clearly distraught.

As soon as their hands were off him, Zev pushed himself off the bed—and promptly almost lost his feet, gripping the bed with one hand to keep himself from falling, and his own chest with the other.

Zev was going to make himself worse. Hurt himself. Make his injury worse.

Fucking, fucking idiot.

"You can't go anywhere, Zev. You're too weak!" Lhars growled.

But rather than respond, Zev sucked in on himself and everything in his mind flew out to slam every wolf within reach.

Love.

Fear.

Adoration.

Teeth-cracking terror.

And lava-hot rage.

His mate, his mate was gone. He would not give up his mate!

Lhars groaned, Kyelle's face flashing in his head, his body responding—urging him to find her, to hold her, to make sure she was safe.

But then Zev groaned and stumbled forward.

Filled with his own rage, and still blinking back Zev's gut-wrenching desperation, Lhars moved after him. "Where are you going?!"

"The Gateway," Zev growled. "I'm going to kill Nick, and bring Sasha back. Or die trying."

"I can't let you do that," Lhars growled. "She made it very clear—"

"I'm Alpha now," Zev snarled. "You'll do whatever I—"

But it was too late. Lhars had already thrown the blow to his brother's protected skull.

Zev dropped to the hard floor like a sack of potatoes, and healer sighed. But as they both stood over him on the floor, Lhars sighed with relief for his empty head, pulling himself away from the link and guarding his mind.

His hands shook as he helped the healer lift Zev from the floor into the bed.

"That really isn't smart," the healer sighed. "If you misjudged, you could do him real damage."

"If he didn't stop screaming in the heads of the pack, they would have started tearing each other apart. He was kicking everyone's instincts into gear, but without mates or families to protect, they'd end up turning on each other. We need to get him bound and sedated before he wakes up, or he's going to try and cross. We can't have both of them over there."

"Agreed. I just… it's an unorthodox method of restraint," the healer said dryly.

They worked together to get Zev back into the bed, his arms and ankles tied down, then Lhars made sure the healer could keep him quiet for half an hour while he gathered the Alphas and the wolf council.

"He'll need the steadying presence of the stronger males," he said.

"Go," the healer replied. "I'll make sure he's still here when you get back."

With a growl of frustration, Lhars turned and ran out the door, shifting into his wolf as he hit the porch of the building.

Everything in him still sang with the need to be close to Kyelle, to make utterly certain that she was safe, and to pull her close and stand between her and danger. But she wouldn't appreciate the sentiment from him, he knew.

So he would find Geet, first. The Goat Alpha. He would find all the Alphas, then Kyelle last of all. So if there was any time, any space, they could have just a moment. A short moment for him to reassure himself that she was okay.

Because the truth was, once she saw Zev, she'd only care that he was okay.

Lhars knew the feeling of that hollow space in your chest.

He didn't envy Zev that much, at least.

As he tore through the village, following the Goat Alpha's scent trail, Lhars shook his head so hard his ears snapped.

He didn't care what it took to keep Zev safe and in Thana, he would do it. No one was going to stop them all through this—not Nick, not Sasha, and definitely not Zev.

No matter what, Lhars would make sure the Chimera were freed from the humans once and for all.

No matter who he had to defeat to make it happen.

 

Chapter 250

Sasha took the last step through what appeared to be a pulsing, glass window, rippled and shifting to obscure what was behind it. The ground on its other side was uneven dirt and she stumbled, catching herself on a stone wall, then blinking so her eyes would adjust.

She stood in an old tunnel—brick and stone sides curved together over her head, though the floor was dirt and lead seamlessly out into the bright sunlight at the end. As she blinked and squinted, she could make out a rough staircase climbing to the right, while the ground plunged over the lip of earth and down into a forest ahead. The place looked ancient and handmade. Perhaps left over from the war?

Where the hell was she?

Then a shadow shifted, right where the sunlight was cut and the tunnel turned dark. Sasha startled as Nick materialized, his voice heavy with relief.

"Good, you made it. I was starting to get worried. I didn't want to have to tell the team to go after you."

He turned and started out of the tunnel, Sasha stumbling after him, looking around, awed and terrified, and deeply sad.

It smelled like home.

Well, like the parts of her home she'd never really spent a lot of time in. Yet, here she was in a set of furs with her hair unwashed, padding down a dirt trail through ancient pine trees and Cedars.

"I… I thought you said the team would go across regardless?" she asked, her jaw feeling too tight to properly speak.

"Not now. I told them I got you."

"Got me? I came with you—"

"Yes, you did. And I'm really grateful, Sasha," he said quietly, still walking ahead of her, leading her down a narrow trail. "A human Alpha. That's incredible. If we'd known it would even be accepted… how did you do it?"

"I told you, I killed Xar."

Nick glanced at her over his shoulder, his eyes unreadable. "But… I mean, why did they accept it as an Alpha fight? We thought Zev was the one who challenged for Alpha."

"He was. I was standing at the side, watching. But Xar came for me—and he had a knife. He'd dodged Zev, and the only weapon I had was a rock. I just grabbed it and clocked him with it and… he just fell.

"When I stood up, Zev was there, and everyone was kind of quiet and… they all just started calling me Alpha," she said uncomfortably. "Zev said that technically he should have challenged me to take Alpha, because I'd beaten the Alpha. But he didn't want to do that, obviously, so he submitted, and then everyone else did too."

Nick shook his head again.

But Sasha was finally making sense of the niggling feeling she'd had when this came up the first time. "How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That Zev challenged Xar for Alpha? And how could you not know that I won? Everyone was there. They all knew. They called me Alpha to my face."

Nick's lips twitched. "We have sources."

Sasha huffed. "Apparently your sources aren't super reliable." Which made her feel better.

Nick gave a one-shouldered shrug that made her uncomfortable, but he didn't elaborate. How was he comfortable with being given false information?

A few minutes later they reached a massive, cross-wire fence, hung with NO TRESPASSING signs at each section, and a massive gate signposted as private property.

"Don't touch the wires," Nick said quietly, working the latch of the eight-foot gate free. "They're electrified."

Sasha shrank away from the sides of the gate as she followed him through. But Nick seemed to have the answers he'd wanted, because they walked silently for another twenty minutes or so before she started to hear road noise.

A few minute later they emerged from the woods into a gravel carpark. The road noise came from further away, a highway that couldn't be seen because the parking lot was completely surrounded by the forest. And there was only one vehicle in it—a thick, white suburban that looked like it had more than a few years of wear on it.

Nick picked up his pace, trotting across the gravel to the car and reaching into the space under the car's fenders, his hand emerging with a small, metal box. He flipped it open to pull out an electronic key that he tapped.

The suburban blooped and the door locks thunked open.

Nick looked into the passenger seat at the front and winced. "I've got a ton of equipment in here. Do you mind riding in the back seat for now?"

"No," Sasha said, relieved that she might have a little more space. She was feeling suddenly woozy, as if everything was surreal.

How could her normal world suddenly feel surreal. But staring at the little metal guard rails around the parking lot, and the almost-perfectly circular gravel area… it was as if it all threw her off balance.

Nick opened the back door of the car and Sasha climbed in, sitting back in the seat as he reached up to pull her seatbelt forward of her shoulder.

"Thank you," she said awkwardly.

"You're welcome," Nick replied, then closed the door and trotted around the car to the driver's seat.

The big car rocked when he got in. He immediately leaned over the open the glove box and pull out a cellphone, tapped the screen a couple of times. Then when a voice answered he simply said, "Yep, we're on our way."

He tapped the screen again, dropped the phone into a cup holder between the front seats, and turned the car on.

As the car began to roll out of the parking lot, Sasha could see a couple small buildings further up the gravel road. She felt relief. "How long is the drive to… wherever you guys do your thing?"

"Less than an hour," Nick said, his eyes finding hers in the rearview mirror.

"Can you stop here so I can use the restroom before we get on the road, then?" she asked.

"Sure." Nick slowed the car and pulled up on the emergency brake, then started to get out.

"It's fine, I'll get myself out," Sasha said, pulling up on the door handle—only to find it loose and useless in her hand.