Ch. 401..410

Chapter 401

"Last thing," Sasha said quietly, looking at Zev. "If anything goes wrong at any time—tonight, tomorrow, whenever… get out of here. Take who you can, but get out. We've been given this one shot. If it all goes wrong and you're the only one left, get out. You can't fight the humans if they come through with weapons. It's that simple. Don't try. If the threat appears… leave. Take who you can and make a new life. You know how to do that now—you will be the legacy that this whole people leaves behind. And that's a good thing. So don't question it. Just go."

They all squirmed in their seats, while Zev went rigid beside her. She put a hand on his arm without looking at him. "It's my job to make the last stand, not yours, you hear me? Your job is to get out of here and to never, ever reveal what the gateway can do to the humans. Ever. When you go tonight, you don't tell the females what the gateway can do, just in case. You only tell them we have a safe place for them, where the humans can't touch them. That's it. When we go pick them up, that's when we'll explain. We just can't risk the humans figuring this out."

"But you're human, and you figured it out," Jhon offered.

Sasha shrugged. "Well, if they know it already, we can't control that. But the Gateway took me somewhere it says the humans can't reach, so I don't think they do. And let's keep it that way."

They all got to their feet then and started down the trail towards the Gateway, talking quietly. Lhars was watching Kyelle, but Zev stepped in to talk to him about the group of females he was going to look for, and Sasha tugged at Kyelle's elbow before she followed them.

Kyelle turned to her, her eyes haunted.

"Be honest: Are you upset because I didn't want you to go through—I had to choose the guys because they were the only ones left. The females trust you, Kyelle and I don't think it's safe to have such a large group corralled here by the guys, they might—"

"No, no, Sasha-don," Kyelle said, her eyes tracking the brothers on the trail ahead of them. "I would have done the same thing. I want to help these females. I don't trust them with anyone else, except you. I'm just… thoughtful about it all. I hadn't considered the danger. I've been so focused on needing escape and a new life… I just hadn't thought about how many of these steps could tear any one of us away."

She swallowed and her forehead wrinkled.

Sasha nodded and her stomach trilled. "That's… yeah. Zev's struggling with that right now, too."

Kyelle turned to her and smiled with a genuine smile. "Because he cares for you," she said. "I'm glad that he can't watch you walk into danger without concern."

Ahead of them, Lhars turned and looked over his shoulder, finding Kyelle, though he was still talking to Zev.

She smiled at him and they all kept walking. But as soon as he looked away, Kyelle's face sobered.

Sasha didn't know what was happening between the two, but she was certain this wasn't the time to ask. She just prayed that when they all found peace in the safe place that Kyelle's heart would open to Lhars.

Once everyone was settled into their plans, Sasha suggested they shift and get to the Gateway cave as quickly as they could, that Zev would carry her there and they'd meet before they went through.

Skhal and Jhon took off immediately, and Zev shifted to carry Sasha. But Lhars took the opportunity to catch Kyelle's arm before she shifted. Her brows rose in surprise, but she didn't speak as she watched the others disappear around a bend in the trail, then she turned to him.

"You're upset," he said bluntly when she looked at him. "I can smell it. What's wrong? If this isn't a safe time for you to walk into the Gateway, don't do it, Kyelle. You're strong and you've been through before. I'm sure you can lead them through—"

"No, Lhars. Thank you. I'm fine. I'm just… unsettled." She put a grateful hand on his arm, and even though the black suit he'd borrowed from Zev, the hairs on his forearms rose at the tingle under her touch. "Sasha checked in with me too," she said sheepishly. "Clearly I'm losing my ability to hide my emotions. I'm just scared, Lhars. That's all. This is dangerous and any one of us could be lost. I've been so focused on the females, I just hadn't really thought about that before."

Lhars stood there. She'd moved close to him, to reassure him. He could smell her warmth and see the light in her eyes. He didn't want to move. She was standing so close, it was intoxicating. She was so beautiful, and he was so broken about it. He yearned to pull her close and comfort her but knew that was probably the most likely way to scare her away. But she was tense. If he pushed…

He cleared his throat and looked down. "Please be careful," he muttered, forcing himself to keep his hands at his sides and not reach out for her. "But also, don't worry. If… if something happens to me, I've made sure you'll be watched over. You won't have to do this alone."

Kyelle's eyes widened, then she blinked. "I'm… worried for you, not for me," she breathed. Then swallowed. "For-for all of you. This is such a dangerous thing, going to the Compound…"

"It's worth it," Lhars said with a fatalistic shrug.

They stared at each other a moment longer, then Lhars frowned. "Kyelle, something's not right. What is wrong? What's heavy for you?"

Kyelle huffed a humorless laugh. "Everything," she said. "Nothing about any of this is right." Then she swallowed and put her hands on his arms. "So… if this goes wrong… just in case… can I have a hug?"

 

Chapter 402

The words were like water to his soul.

Forcing himself not to whine with sheer joy, Lhars wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in, and she came willingly, leaning into him, her knees pressed to his, her arms wrapped around his waist. And she rested her head on his chest.

Lhars couldn't breathe. As they stood together in the cold night air, he marveled that she fit against him so perfectly, all of her curves softly embracing all his hard angles. It was, he thought, the perfect metaphor for their friendship as much as their bodies.

They were opposite in so many ways, and yet their differences complimented each other, rather than grating.

Lhars closed his eyes and drank in the sensation of holding her, waiting for her to pull away. But she didn't. She didn't.

Then she squeezed him harder and he held his breath, his chest tightening.

His heart was pounding—he knew she could hear it, but she didn't pull away. The hug became an embrace, and went on so much longer than any sharing of scents, or hug that they'd shared as friends before.

When she still didn't move, Lhars blew out a breath and, trembling slightly, slid one hand up her spine to cup the back of her head. His heart slammed against his ribs as he pulled his head back far enough to look down at her. He knew she had to be hearing his heart—feeling it against her. But he couldn't bring himself to let her go and when she looked up at him, her eyes were liquid.

She didn't pull away.

Lhars searched her eyes, saw it all there—her uncertainty, her pain, her fear, and… something that wanted to be near him. But was it love? Or only their friendship?

Slowly, so slowly, he lowered his chin to let his lips brush her ear as he whispered, "Kyelle, I l—"

Kyelle sucked in a breath suddenly, pulling out of his arms and turning towards the trail, her eyes averted as she murmured, "We need to catch up with the others."

Lhars, no longer surprised by this, stared at her sadly as she turned away and then shifted into her owl. He just stood there, watching, as she ruffled her feathers, but didn't fly away. Then, as if she'd made a decision, she met his eyes for a long moment, then turned and flapped, heaving her heavy-but-streamlined body into the sky, leaving him standing there alone.

Again.

Lhars was the last to arrive in the cave, though he wasn't far behind the rest of them. Sasha caught that Kyelle was oddly standing close to him, but not meeting his eyes.

She didn't look happy.

When all of this was said and done, Sasha was going to talk to her. Those two were miserable, and Sasha had a feeling it was Kyelle that kept them apart.

But this wasn't the time or the place for those thoughts. Zev had commented on both the tracks and the smells in the cave. Many creatures had come through already, and though there were none there now, they couldn't be certain there wouldn't be more that night.

Sasha clapped her hands and got their attention, only Yhet and Dunken hanging back at the cave opening since they wouldn't be going through.

She made each of them walk her through where they needed to go, who they were looking to find, and the message they would take to ensure the females were certain that Sasha had sent them.

Then she looked each one of them in the eye. "Thank you." She turned to include Yhet and Dunken in the speech as well. "Thank you for being trustworthy and brave. Thank you for being willing to help others. Thank you that as soon as we realized we needed you, you were willing to come. When you get done, please come find me or Zev immediately and let us know any questions or problems you had. Tell us how the females are doing, and only take the time to make certain they understand that we're coming for them.

"I don't think I have to tell you that this purpose is the most important the Chimera have ever faced. I am so grateful to have you all alongside for this. And please… be certain… if anything should happen to you, you will never be forgotten. We will honor you. But please… please don't let anything happen. Come back to us quickly and safely. Take so much care for yourself while you're in there. Please."

The males all nodded, saluting her, but Kyelle gave her a small smile.

Then she realized she was really just trying to put off the moment when she had to hand this to them, and there was no point in that.

"Godspeed," she said quietly. "I'll be waiting for each of you to come back safely and with good news. Thank you. Thank you."

Skhal was the first to turn and walk through, the Gateway flashing as it swallowed him. But Jhon was right on his heels, then Lhars. Lhars met eyes with Kyelle for a long moment before he stepped through and the gateway flashed again.

Kyelle's eyes closed for a short time and she bowed her head for a breath. Then she took a deep breath, rolled her shoulders back, and she walked through too.

Sasha was left standing there with Zev, both of them staring at a plain, rock wall.

Then he put an arm around her shoulder and turned her and they joined Yhet and Dunken on the trail back to the City.

It was the strangest feeling just walking away, knowing that their friends were all undertaking tasks that could save lives, or end their own. Sasha struggled for several minutes, fighting the urge to turn and run back. But to what point? They had two hundred and fifty people to ready to move. They had a human prisoner to manage and hide their plans from. And they had an enemy that might show up at any moment and decide to remove them from this plane of existence.

There just wasn't time to worry. She could only silently pray and hope that when the sun rose, all her friends would be safely back, and with good news.

 

Chapter 403

As soon as he stepped back into the gateway Lhars stopped and took a moment, leaning against the side of the strange place to breathe. He was so confused and… unfocused. He'd been through the Gateway three times in his life. He knew that being uncertain was a good way to get lost in the maze of this place. So he stopped to breathe and refocus and remind himself that, no matter how Kyelle had looked at him, no matter what amount of fear and sadness he'd smelled on her, no matter what way she'd held him… there was nothing he could do if she didn't feel the bond, or want it.

And the truth was, at that moment, he couldn't afford to focus on Kyelle. If the roles were reversed he would have wanted her to enter this place with her sharpest wits about her, so he forced himself to recenter and made himself stop looking back and think about what was next.

He had been tasked with finding a group of females that were in the apartments in the Compound. Sasha had warned him that there might be some who hadn't been to Thana among them and that they were likely less trustworthy. They weren't going to take kindly to a strange male turning up—especially without Sasha.

Sasha had been quick to give those warnings, and Lhars felt a lash of pride that she'd chosen him for this task. He was determined. He would make sure that the females understood and were ready for their salvation.

In his mind, he fixed the location—the compound, where the group of females were that lived like humans. He needed to enter their space at a time and place where the humans couldn't interfere.

Lhars blew out a breath. Beneath his feet and around him the gateway tunnel looked like water but felt like stone. When he'd fixed that location in his mind, the light began to ripple as if the surface moved, but the only thing that changed was the light that glowed all around him, then seeped up the tunnel walls to arch over his head, and lead him.

Keeping his mind focused on those things, trying not to wonder what he would see when he found the Gateway, he walked quickly and decisively, following the glittering, rippling trail of light. It seemed to take some time to finally see it curve around a corner in the tunnel system, then reach a doorway. But finally, with a sigh of relief, and some apprehension, Lhars gripped the edge of the doorway and stepped into it, careful not to step all the way through.

As if the cave around him disappeared, Lhars found himself standing in an arched space, light flashing and rippling over his head. And in front of him was one of those sterile, human habitations that he'd known since he was a cub, and yet had never felt comfortable in.

He blinked and recognized a living space—couches, chairs, a television on the wall, a large low table between the seating where people would rest their drinks. It was the type of space he knew to be normal for humans, but he was surrounded by a dozen sets of wide, female eyes, all staring, blinking, and shocked. He was about to reassure. But when he inhaled to speak the smell of the place hit the back of his throat.

It had been several years since Lhars had been taken back to the Compound. While Zev was still in high school, Lhars had been growing up in Thana. At one point, when he was still a teenager but was getting close to his full growth, he'd been yanked out of Thana by the team.

It hadn't been a pleasant trip, designed to test his physical strength and limits, and mental fortitude.

He wasn't sure he'd ever told his brother, but he knew before the end of the trip they were comparing him to Zev at the same age and stage in his development—and Lhars was being found wanting.

That had grated on him. But the worst part of the trip had been the tests they'd done on his mind. He'd been drugged and shown videos while his mind was convinced that the images in front of him were real…

The whole incident had left him utterly shaken. Young as he was, he couldn't understand why the humans wanted to test him in those ways—or what they gained by doing so. He'd fought. Resisted the entire process. Which had only made it worse.

He'd been left hollowed and full of fear, with no way to process the experience.

He'd done his best to leave it behind, not to think about it. But as this place opened in front of him, the smell was here—the tang of whatever it was they used to clean the lab. The mingling of human and Chimeran scent trails. All of it mixed with the earthy scent of the outdoors in this area—wet grass and pine trees.

Instead of immediately reassuring the females that were now gaping at him and backing away, Lhars found himself standing there, gaping back.

"What… who…"

Lhars blinked. Focus. He had to focus. But his hand trembled as he raised it to greet them. "I'm sorry," he said, stumbling over his words. "I was sent by Sasha. She said to tell you the prophecy is coming true. Tomorrow—in Thana anyway—we'll be returning for you. To take you to a safe place—not Thana. A place where the humans can't interfere with you anymore. Sasha sent me, do you understand?"

Only one of the females nodded. Lhars wanted to growl. "You need to be prepared, no matter where you are or what you're doing, to walk through with me. when I come back we'll have only a few minutes. But if you follow my instructions, I'll take you to a place where you're free and the other Chimera are there. You won't have to stay in this place ever again."

They all just stared, their mouths open. Where were their instincts? Their self-protection? Hell, where was their spirit.

Lhars almost stepped toward him. Adrenalin flooded his system as he caught himself—so close. He had to focus!

"I know this is unexpected. Sasha knows that you expected her. But remember: the prophecy is coming true. Be ready. I will come for you and when you leave with me, you'll find yourself in a place of safety. I promise. Do you understand?"

But they all just stared.

Hours later, he was standing over Sasha as she argued with the Alphas when he realized that the light was rising. He looked up quickly. Sure enough, the dark black of the night-time starscape was giving way to gray, then a halo of light blue that outlined the mountains in the distance.

Where the hell was Lhars?

Kyelle had been the first to return, just an hour after they'd left the cave, she found them still in the village, having a whispered conversation with Nick's guards.

She'd landed in the Square and waited until they were done, then Sasha had pulled her towards the trail.

"Did you find it?"

Kyelle nodded. Her eyes were bright to Zev she smelled of fresh air and some kind of tree he'd never smelled before.

"It's beautiful," Kyelle said, breathless. "And so big. I know it will frighten the females, but… what a place! Sasha-don, how did you find it?!"

"I didn't, Sasha said simply. "The Gateway showed me. What did you pick up? What did you smell?"

Kyelle smiled then launched into a description of animals, trees, plants, even the sun rose and fell differently there. "There's an entire system. Creatures. Food sources. Water…. Everything we need. I didn't recognize half of it, but I could… I could tell that it was good!" she said quietly, fighting a smile.

Zev was fascinated, and so grateful. His clever, clever mate. How had she done it?

Sasha's shoulders had been less slumped when they left Kyelle, who assured them she'd wait for the males to come back, then let them know in the City when everyone was safe.

Her eyes had lost their sparkle when she'd talked about that—as if she weren't sure what she said was true. She'd looked back towards the trail to the gateway. "I hope they all find it as easily as I did," she said. "It will raise their spirits, I think."

Sasha was smiling when they left their friend. Kyelle promised to patrol and to warn the others as they came back if Nick was suddenly on the move.

They'd returned to the City buoyed. Despite their nerves, knowing that Kyelle had found it too made it real, and both he and Sasha had been fighting smiles.

Zev sighed and looked at the sky again.

But now…

It was almost dawn. Zev could smell Sasha's tension. Both of them had grown quieter, their tones shorter, as the night wore on. Because while Skhal and Jhon had both returned and were safely announced by Kyelle, there was still no sign of Lhars.

At first, because Skhal and Jhon came through at almost the same time, Kyelle had flown back to tell Sasha, then thought perhaps she'd missed Lhars' in the forest somehow.

But there was no fresh scent, and he hadn't shown up in the village, or at the City—and Zev knew he'd be quick both to report to Sasha and to reassure himself that Kyelle was safe.

No… the fact that they hadn't heard from him meant that he wasn't back yet.

Zev's stomach twisted. He huffed at himself.

That had to be right. They couldn't fathom anything else.

 

Chapter 404

To his right, Sasha was becoming agitated. "No, we can't wait. You don't understand. Once Nick returns there might be no time left. The humans will likely learn that Zev was on his device, and once they come through, they'll own the Gateway. We can't afford to give them any time, any at all. You are to pack your people—focus on clothing, tools, and food rations for three days. No more. The place we're going has plenty of resources. But it may take us some time to find a place to settle and hunt."

She caught eyes with Zev and he nodded, encouraging her. But she only looked away, her jaw flexing.

Where the hell was Lhars!?

Jhon had gone to pack and perhaps rest for an hour when they reached the City. But Skhal stayed nearby, helping organize people and watching over Zev and Sasha.

Yhet, too, seemed agitated, staying close and not giving ground even when the Alphas entered his space.

It had almost caused a fight with Gheet, but Zev had asked the male to excuse Yhet's stubbornness—he was watching over Sasha at a nervous time.

Gheet, a stickler for tradition, had scowled, but even he was showing the signs of excitement at what was to come.

Zev had pulled the massive male aside. "Yhet, you can't create problems right now. We have to keep everyone focused and listening. What's wrong?"

"I don't know," Yhet rumbled, glaring over Zev's shoulder at the males behind him. "But I feel… itchy."

Zev blinked, praying his friend wasn't beginning to fall to the darkness of the mourning. He'd seen other males go through it, and a time of anger and stubborn agitation was a telltale sign that the male was on the downhill slide.

"Yhet, are you—"

"Zev, it's Kyelle!" Sasha gasped, grabbing at his arm.

"Sorry, Yhet. We just need to check something that Kyelle's been patrolling for us."

The male waved him away but followed closely when they stepped nearer the center of the courtyard, where Kyelle's owl was back-flapping to give her a moment to bring her feet under her from flight.

A moment later she stood in front of them—naked, which still made Sasha blink. But the pre-dawn was cold, and Kyelle took a fur that Zev handed her gratefully.

"Is he back?" Sasha asked before anyone could speak.

But Kyelle's mouth dragged down and she shook her head. "I had to let you know that Nick is awake and talking about returning to the human world early. The guards are trying to talk him out of it. If they can't… do we delay him forcibly if Lhars hasn't shown up yet? Or should we just let him go as if nothing is happening?"

Sasha cursed and clawed both hands into her hair. She chewed at her lip and looked at Zev.

What do you recommend? she asked him in his head.

Zev wanted to smack something.

Let him go, he said sadly. We'll just pray that Lhars doesn't come through in the minutes that Nick's there.

Pray that he comes through at all, Sasha sighed into his head, then turned back to Kyelle.

"Let him go," Sasha said quietly. "And start praying."

Kyelle's face crumpled.

"It's okay, I'll make sure they understand." The tallest female in the apartment was the only one who seemed to have recovered from his appearance. He'd been talking to them for almost an hour, everyone tense and watching the doorway out of his sightline behind the gateway that had opened.

"I mean no harm, but you'll have to be ready. When we come for you, we can't afford to use too much time. We'll be taking all of you at once, we can't let them raise the alarm."

The female nodded and scanned him from head to toe. "I'll get them ready. We'll be ready."

Thank you, he said, relieved. "What's your name?"

"I'm Ehva," she said and leaned forward awkwardly to share scents. Lhars didn't let himself lean out of the gateway, but took her scent and let her take his.

"Ehva, thank you. But I have to go."

She nodded again, her face blank. Then she scanned him from his toes to his crown. "Are they all like you?"

"All… who?"

"The males. You smell good," she said simply.

Lhars blinked. "You've never met males before?"

"I did as a pup, but since they took all of us back here, no, only the humans," Ehva said with a shrug. "I have been curious. Your appearance is… attractive. It feels strange to me. I never noticed that when I was a pup."

Lhars almost spluttered a laugh but made himself keep a straight face. "Thank you," he said. "I'm one of a huge wolf pack, and many of the others also. I'm certain there will be a… male for you among them."

Ehva nodded and Lhars frowned and looked at her again, confused.

"Were you brought here when you were young?" he said.

Ehva nodded. "When they took all the females, I was with my mother."

Lhars went still. That didn't make sense. "How old are you now?" he asked.

Ehva frowned and looked at the others. "I think… I think I've had ten summers."

Lhars' head snapped back. She was almost as tall as him and fully developed. But she was only ten? She shouldn't even have reached sexual maturity, yet she looked almost as old as him, and he could scent her cycle… How was that possible?

"Ehva," he said quickly, then stopped. How did he even ask this? "How many summers have you been here?"

Ehva tilted her head. "Three. I think. It can be hard because we're inside all the time. But I believe that's right."

Lhars raked a hand through his hair. "You were seven three years ago?"

She smiled. "Yes. That is how it works."

Lhars felt ill. "Have they… done things to bring you to this place? You should still be a pup, Ehva, do you know that?"

She looked down and her cheeks pinked. "They grow me," she said, squirming, and her body language was the body language of a ten-year-old.

"They… what?"

"They grow me. They say that pups are too difficult to care for. They grow us to adults quickly so that we can be self-sufficient."

His head spun. She was a child. A pup. Who presented as an adult.

Holy shit.

Holy fucking shit.

He opened his mouth to ask her more, when there was a ding, and all the females who had been very quiet to that point, panicked. "They're coming! The humans!"

"We'll be back, be ready! The prophecy, don't forget!" Lhars hissed, then leaped back into the gateway so it closed behind him just as the sound of a door opening reached his ears.

Lhars made himself pause and think before he moved out of the side tunnel to that door.

Shaking and sickened by what he'd just seen and knowing he'd been far longer than he was supposed to be, the temptation was to simply return to Thana. But he knew it would be safer for the females he saved if he could describe the new land. And he was curious.

Quickly, he thought to the Gateway. I need to see the safe place quickly—the place where no humans can interfere with us.

Thankfully, the lights appeared under his feet and curled over his head, leading him on.

*****

He wasn't sure how long it took, time didn't seem to shift normally in the Gateway. But when he stepped to the doorway the gate showed him, it was with a rapidly beating heart. Would this be his new home?

Would he share it with Kyelle?

When he made it to the doorway and gripped the edge of it, the rippling surface disappeared and Lhars found himself standing high above a panorama so beautiful it stole his breath.

In the far distance to the left and curving around in front of him, a long range of mountains, some spaced apart, sprawled purple and blue in front of a pink, dawn sky. Beneath him a forest that seemed almost endless spread left and right and all the way to the foothills of the mountains ahead. Only to his right and ahead was the sky clear and the horizon visible.

Lhars' eyes went wide and he inhaled deeply, almost weeping with the sheer beauty of the place—green trees, purple mountains, pink sky, and a gold sun rising slowly behind the mountains directly to his right.

The wind blew up from the horizon line and on it the slightest hint of salt, of water, but it was quickly washed away the thick scents of the trees and pollens of the vast forest below. The forest, and creatures… and absolutely no hints of humans, or their technology.

This place called to his heart. Lhars wanted to simply step out of the gate and float to it—though he knew he'd only plummet to his death from this height.

But with a smile on his face, he took one last, long look from left to right and laughed.

This would be their home. This would be their safety.

He could hardly wait.

His stomach clenched when he stepped back and the doorway rippled back into place, closing him in. But he understood now why Sasha had wanted all of them to see it.

Thank you for her, he prayed. Thank you for this.

And he turned, with no hesitation, his heart buoyed and mind full of the joy that would come to all of them when they could escape, he told the Gateway in no uncertain terms to take him home.

The home that he wouldn't need for long. He laughed with disbelieving joy.

 

Chapter 405

When Lhars reached the opening of the Gateway, he wanted nothing more than to sprint out, shift into his wolf, and get back to the others as quickly as he was able. To make sure Kyelle was safe, and the others had all returned. His body itched with restrained tension and he was poised to run. But the moment he stepped into the cave he swore.

The cave curved from its opening so he couldn't see the door, but it was impossible to miss the glow of daylight creeping into the depths of the cave. How was it morning already? Hadn't he only been gone a few hours?

Then it struck him. He'd forgotten to ask the Gateway to take him back before dawn!

Shit! So did that mean the humans were on the move?

Lhars froze for a moment, listening. When he didn't catch anything immediately, he began creeping through the cave, his steps wary. As he approached the front he could hear approaching from the trail that led to the cave mouth outside. The question was, was it his brothers looking for him, or that fucker, Nick, on his way?

Tentatively, Lhars reached out with his mind, seeking other wolves, and found them soon enough.

Lhars, you're safe! Thank God!

Get the hell out of there, Lhars.

It was Skhal's voice in his head, growling. They quickly exchanged images, Lhars showing them his location and asking for theirs.

Move. We're almost there, Skhal snarled, then immediately sent an image of Nick, walking nervously up the path towards the cave, surrounded by guards, and a smiling Ernie scuttling in their wake.

Lhars cursed and shifted. Keeping his wolf low to the ground he hustled out of the cave on liquid joints that kept his footsteps utterly silent, his back and head low and unmoving, tail extended flat behind him.

He paused for only a second when he reached the mouth of the cave, his sharp ears having no trouble locating the group walking up the trail towards him. Even as he watched, the tops of their heads bobbed into his line of sight as they climbed the trail.

They'd see him in seconds.

Lhars darted out of the cave mouth, whipping to the right—away from the trail down towards the village—to flatten himself behind an outcropping of rocks and a scraggly bush.

No Chimera would be fooled by such an open hiding place. They'd all smelled him already if the wind was right—but Nick was sight-blind. The black outfit Lhars had borrowed from Zev, along with his wolf's coat would blend enough with the shadows and rocks that the male likely wouldn't even notice his presence.

But still. The humans had surprised him at times, their instincts sensing things their eyes and ears missed. So he took no risks, crouching below the level of the rock and bushes, heart-pounding for how close he'd come to being discovered—and frustrated with himself for forgetting such a crucial instruction. He'd have to submit to Sasha-don. She would be worried.

Nick and his entourage walked into sight, all of them moving slowly—at Nick's pace. While he waited for them to cross the space to the cave, Lhars reached, scratching at Zev's mind when he found it and found his brother.

Thank God, you're safe, Lhars!

There was genuine relief in his tone. Lhars was touched.

I forgot about the dawn instruction, Lhars muttered, frustrated with himself. I was almost too late.

He hurriedly sent an image of Nick and his guards now clearly visible on the trail.

I'll wait until they're deep enough into the cave that he can't catch sight of me passing, then I'll start back.

Good plan. Don't take any risks.

Lhars waited, but Zev didn't offer and he had to know.

Did they all make it back? Is… is Kyelle safe?

Zev laughed in his mind.

She was the first back, and she's going to be very relieved when I tell her you finally showed up. She was really worried when dawn broke. I'd say you better watch out. I think you'll get the sharp side of her tongue when she sees you. What held you up?

Lhars sighed with relief. But then his stomach sank.

I don't think you'd believe me if I told you, he sighed to his brother.

Try me, Zev said, his tone flat.

So, Lhars did. He explained how difficult it had been with the females—how frightened and young they were in truth. Then he sheepishly admitted he'd been so overwhelmed by the beauty of the safe place, that he'd rushed back without thinking about the timing.

It's incredible, Zev. Sasha's found an amazing place. I just pray we can all get there safely.

Me too, Zev replied, then sighed. Well, I'm glad you're safe, and there was genuine warmth and relief in his words.

Lhars' heart squeezed. Me too.

They sat with each other for a moment and Lhars wondered if Zev was appreciating, as he was, how much better it was to feel his brother as an ally, rather than an adversary.

That raised uncomfortable niggling thoughts about the role he'd played in putting the wedge between them, but there was no time to analyze it.

Nick and the others had almost reached the cave.

Skhal's hunter's eyes had no trouble locating Lhars' between the leaves of the little tree that gave cover. Their eyes met and Lhars went very still. But Nick didn't even glance in his direction, and since Skhal was walking behind him, he tipped his chin up in acknowledgment.

If Lhars had been in his human form, he would have smiled.

Nick—sweaty, eyes darting left and right, his breathing too fast—strode forward, surrounded by the Chimera, but his jaw was set. The idiot's eyes never even searched the surroundings—except to keep tabs on where Ernie was. He looked over his shoulder as he entered the cave and shuddered when he caught sight of the creature on the edge of the path in the shade of a tree.

Sight-blind didn't even cover it. All Nick's attention was on reaching the cave and making sure Ernie didn't get too close. He was utterly unaware of Lhars' presence.

A minute later the group passed into the cave. Lhars waited while their low voices muttered as the Chimera gave cautions and Nick growled at them just to make sure none of them followed. That he was likely going to end up staying overnight, so they shouldn't look for him until morning. That they shouldn't come looking for him. He would be back. And they couldn't afford to put anyone in the hands of the team that would be meeting him.

Skhal growled something, but they were deep enough into the cave that they were hidden from the entrance and obscured by the curve of it. So Lhars ducked out from behind the outcropping and raced down the trail towards the village, his heart pounding, not with fear of Nick, but with the anticipation of being around Kyelle again, of the Chimera finally being free of the humans—there was only another day to get through! They had to do this!

Zev's thoughts and images had indicated that they were at the City, so Lhars followed the trail around the edge of the village towards the city, running, his tongue lolling as he set himself an easy lope that he could maintain for hours. It would eat up the miles between him and the City, but not exhaust him before he got there.

He had to get back and help them prepare, he told himself, pushing away thoughts that his eagerness was far more to do with finding Kyelle and ensuring himself of her safety.

He'd been running for some time when a shadow passed over him and instinctively he flinched, but then there was an ear-shattering screech and a huge, beautiful owl hit the dirt fifty feet down the trail, immediately shifting to Kyelle's human form and sprinting towards him.

Alarmed, Lhars slid to a halt, taking his human form. "Kyelle? What's wrong—"

She hit his chest at a full sprint, sobbing, wrapping her long arms and legs around him, her face buried in the spot where his shoulder met his neck. Lhars staggered back, holding her, his heart pounding with fear and confusion.

What had happened? Why hadn't the others warned him?

"Kyelle? Kyelle, what—?"

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! You're safe! Thank the Creator!"

Lhars, stunned, stood there holding her, one hand in her hair, the other wrapped around her lower back to support her weight.

"I'm fine. Kyelle, I'm fine, shhhhhh, I'm sorry you were frightened—"

"Don't apologize!" she sobbed, her words muffled against his skin and making goosebumps rise on his back. "I'm the one who's been a fool!"

Lhars gripped her tightly. "What? What are you—"

Then, she pulled her head back to look him in the eye, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him.

 

Chapter 406

The scent of Kyelle washed over him when she took his mouth and for a moment Lhars was lost in the softness of her lips, and the rush of her breath. She had wrapped her body around him, her ankles locked at his back, her arms around his neck and she whimpered into this kiss. She clung to him as if she was afraid he would run.

Lhars was overwhelmed. He held her the way he'd ached to for so many years, his fingers clawed into her ass and taking her weight. But his head buzzed and his heart… his heart was so confused.

Then it hit him what was happening and fear slammed into him. Lhars was so stunned he dropped his grip on her and froze. But Kyelle didn't even break the kiss, just put her feet down and pressed up on tip-toes, pulling him down into her hungry, soul-searing kiss.

Her fingers dragged across his scalp. Her lips traced his, probing, demanding. Her tongue found his, darting, and seeking. Lhars hadn't even closed his eyes, he just stared at her, open-mouthed until her kiss faltered and she stopped, pulling back slowly, eyes wide to stare up at him.

"Lhars…" she whispered, stroking his face like she was afraid he'd been injured. "Please. I'm so sorry. I know I got it wrong. I know I hurt you. If there was anything I could do to take that back… please… I was so scared. When you told me… my new feelings got all tangled up with the old ones—I had to be sure. I knew I couldn't come to you if I wasn't certain it was you… but… but I thought… I was starting to see… then when you didn't come back this morning it broke me, Lhars. I saw Zev an hour ago and I didn't even care. All I could think about was my fear that something had happened to you and I was the fool who'd been too afraid to tell you. I thought… I thought you'd been hurt without knowing and I'd lost you because I'm an idiot and I was so angry at myself. It's you, Lhars. I can see now… it's been you for a long time and I was just so—"

"Kyelle?" Lhars rasped, his voice cracking and gruff.

Like a frightened prey, Kyelle went very still, her eyes full of fear at the harsh edge of his tone.

"Yes?"

"Don't… don't ever mention my brother in this context to me. Ever."

Kyelle blinked and licked her lips. Lhars eyes dropped to watch her mouth and a shiver danced down his spine. He could hear her heart pounding.

He could smell her desire. For him.

"Okay. I'm sorry," she breathed. She watched him, searching his eyes, obviously uncertain of his mood or the reception she could expect.

Lhars heart raced so fast it throbbed in his scalp.

It was happening. It was happening. She was really here for him—or at least, she thought she was. A pang of fear sliced through him. What if she was still confused? What if this was just a reaction to her worry about him?

But she was so beautiful. And she'd kissed him. She'd finally… Kyelle had finally…

It's you, Lhars, she'd said.

The moment stretched, trembling on the edge of shattering as his heart swung wildly between euphoria and terror. Kyelle watched him, her brows pinching her forehead with worry, one hand on his chest.

She'd kissed him.

Holy fuck, she'd kissed him.

Lhars blew out a breath, then lifted a hand to let his fingers cup her neck, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. And he inched forward so their chests brushed.

Kyelle stared up at him, her eyes pleading, her lips soft and slightly open.

She was letting him touch her. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted him.

It's you, Lhars. She said it. She'd said those words.

A thin whine broke in his throat and her forehead wrinkled. Her hand at his waist tightened.

"Lhars… please… forgive me. I wish I could go back and change everything—right from the very first day—"

"I'll always forgive you," he croaked. And when she opened her mouth to answer, he snapped his leash and took it, pulling her into him, his kiss hard and demanding.

Fingers clawing in her hair, tongue invading, he took her with all the desperation of years of restraint suddenly unbridled. It was wrong, he knew. He should be soft. He should be gentle. Even by Chimeran standards, she wasn't experienced with males.

But Kyelle whimpered into his frantic kiss, and to his delight, she gripped him tighter, arching her belly against him and pulling him closer as they stumbled off the trail together until they came up hard against a tree.

With a low growl, Lhars pressed her into the rough bark. Kyelle tipped her head back and gave a happy, breathless laugh—a noise he'd never heard her make before—but her hands clawed into his back, demanding he come closer, and when he felt the bite of her nails even through his shirt, that growl puttered in his throat again.

His kiss was bruising, he knew—and he knew he should soften it, should show her how precious she was. But he wanted to devour her. Ached to possess her. And it was everything he could do not to take her on the spot.

His hands trembled as he raked them through her hair, up and down her body. His breath tore, puffing through her hair, his teeth bared to graze that triangle of skin under her ear. He growled at the taste of her, and she sighed, her breath fluttering against his cheek.

Rather than shrinking from his onslaught as he might have expected, Kyelle came alive under his hands, her body undulating against his and his name on her lips when he released them long enough to taste her skin.

When her hands clawed down his back, he shuddered, the fire inside of him roaring through his veins until he trembled from head to toe.

Then he dropped his chin to kiss his way down her neck, to her shoulder, and Kyelle leaned her head away, baring her throat to give him more room. His body shuddered at the vulnerability she offered.

Then she whispered his name, and that single syllable lit a bonfire in his gut that threatened to send him up so he was nothing but smoke and ash.

Kyelle had gripped his hips to pull him against her, apparently unintimidated by his very prominent arousal. He might have been nervous, afraid of overwhelming her, but she slid her hands under his shirt and up his sides, her fingers dancing over his ribs, then around to his back, her nails clawing as she pulled him tighter against her and whimpered again.

Desire was a bolt in his stomach and he trembled as his mind and body went to war.

It was too soon.

They were outside.

He needed to calm down.

Then she dropped a shaking hand down to stroke up his thigh, then palmed him and he almost came in his pants like a teenager.

"Fuck, Kyelle," he dropped his forehead to her shoulder, arching to suck in a breath and watch her touch him.

"Please, Lhars. I've waited so long. I'm sorry I was so blind. Please—"

"We can't do this here," he rasped, then took her mouth desperately again before she could respond.

It was insane, the fire inside him—and the flames that roared, prickling his skin and making his hands shake.

But Kyelle seemed just as frantic, pulling him in, grasping, arching into him, and pleading.

Fisting his hand in the back of her hair, he forced himself to pull away far enough to meet her eyes—and find them hooded and sparkling, her pupils wide with lust.

He growled and kissed her again. "You're mine," he snarled.

"Yes."

"Only mine, Kyelle."

"Yes!"

Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkling, locked on his. And he wanted to believe it, so badly. He swallowed back his lust and asked the only question left for him.

"What happened?" he breathed. "What changed?"

Her brows pinched over her nose and her eyes went sad for a moment. She put a hand to his face, but gently, her thumb tracing his lower lip.

"I thought I lost you and it just about killed me," she said. "I'm sorry, Lhars. I'm sorry that it took that. But… I see it now. And I know. I'm certain. I promise. You're my mate. The other half of my heart. And I can't believe I missed it. Forgive me, please. And don't doubt me. Ever. You're my heart's song, Lhars—"

With a strangled call he took her mouth again and for a long minute, neither of them spoke words, but let their bodies speak for them.

 

Chapter 407

The world became very small. A universe of her scent, the softness of her skin, the tantalizing slide of her hands under his shirt, and her lips on his neck.

His appetite to explore her, to finally follow those curves with his palms, to finally touch those places with his fingers, to finally press himself against her, was endless. And while his mind screamed at him that this was not the time or place, for every moment he intended to release her, the next came and she was still in his arms.

A chittering fear rattled under the surface of his joy, threatening and reminding.

She'd said no before.

She'd leaned in, then pulled away.

She'd been so unsure for so long… a piece of him was convinced that the moment he let her go she'd forget that she was his, and he'd lose her.

The animal in him urged him to take, to possess, to mark her with his scent and be utterly certain every male alive knew it. But the love in his heart said this was the first time for both of them, that it needed time and space and care and thought…

Then he was reminded there was no time, and frustration had his fingers clawing at the bark of the tree behind her until it crumbled, pattering over her shoulder and into her hair.

She sucked in a breath and leaned her head back, her throat half-bared. A snarl of possession ripped out of his throat, and Kyelle laughed with joy as she put a hand on his chest before he could dive for it.

"Soon," she whispered, her gaze smoldering, her chest rising and falling. Her breasts peaked and the dusky nipples—dear god he was going to—

She cleared her throat and forced his chin up so he'd meet her eyes. "The City is closer," she said in a husky tone he'd never heard before. It made his belly clench and his groin twitch. "But a lot is going on there today." Her eyes got sly and he almost growled. "There'd be more privacy at my treehouse in the village…?" she let the question trail off, one brow up in a question.

Lhars took her mouth again, long and slow this time, tugging at her lower lip with his teeth as he pulled away reluctantly. "I vote for solitude," he rasped.

Kyelle's lips turned on one side and she put her hands to his chest and opened her mouth, he was fascinated, desperate to hear what she'd say, but he was suddenly aware of claws scratching at his mind. The instinct was there to ignore it, but everything that was happening—that was supposed to happen that day—crowded in and he growled—not in approval this time.

Kyelle was suddenly alarmed.

"What is it?"

"The wolves… they're trying to talk to me," he muttered.

Kyelle's face fell, but she gave a resigned sigh and let her hand slide up his chest to cup his neck. "What are they saying? Is it important?"

Closing his eyes against the beauty of her, Lhars opened his mind.

WHAT?

It was Zev. Shit.

Brother, are you still in the village? Can you scent Kyelle? Sasha's told the females about the trip and they're freaking out. I think she could use some help. If you see Kyelle can you tell her to get back here?

Lhars groaned and let his forehead drop to Kyelle's shoulder again. She held him there, whispering, asking what was wrong.

I'll tell her, he sent back, each word torn from him and just as painful as yanking a healthy tooth.

"Lhars?"

"You have to go to the City," he whispered, the words trailing off into a frustrated whine. "The females are upset and Sasha's struggling with them."

He felt her slump against him. "Damn."

He took a deep breath, sucking in the scent of her then pushed back, bracing on the tree behind her, his arms steel, to meet her eyes.

"We'll go," he said reluctantly. "I'll be there with you. I'll wait… as long as it takes, Kyelle, I'll wait. But please… please don't—"

"I'm not going back, Lhars," she said with a smile, cupping his face and leaning in to kiss him softly. "I'm sorry. I was confused and afraid, but I'm not anymore. You're mine," she whispered. "I'll go figure this out and then… we'll take some time." She raised her eyebrows in that beautiful, promising smile and he kissed her again, fiercely. Then again, a little softer. Then again because he could, and because a big part of him was terrified it was the last time he'd be able to, that she was under some kind of spell from the drama of it all and as soon as she was out of his arms she'd come back to her senses and reject him again.

Their parting took far longer than it should have. But neither of them wanted to go, and so they kept falling back together.

Even when he finally stepped away from the tree and ordered her to shift and start flying, because if she didn't he was going to take her there in the forest, and to hell with the consequences. But she giggled and made a great show of submitting—which clanged in his belly so hard it stopped his breath.

As she stepped past him, her hand trailing across his chest, then down his arm, she kept her eyes locked on his even when she had to turn to look over her shoulder. She hesitated as she was about to let go, squeezed his fingers, then sighed and dropped them, turning to take two steps then leap into the air, shifting as she did so, and dragging herself into the air.

Lhars watched her go, that whine piercing in his throat, but then he shook off his self-pity, shifted into his wolf, and ran.

He hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours, but he felt as alive and energized as he could ever remember.

He would get to her side as quickly as was possible, and then he would never leave it, he vowed.

Never.

 

Chapter 408

Zev stood outside the door into the female's hall, pining, though he wouldn't have admitted it to anyone but Sasha herself.

He'd had to be out of the hall. Sasha had warned even the guards to stay outside. Earlier, she'd told the females that they were going to leave that night, or early the next morning. She'd had to explain the threat now that Nick had returned to the humans with the device that could identify that Zev was interfering with their plans. They were going to move after they got word that Nick was back.

And while some of the females had apparently seemed eager for a fresh start, those that hadn't left the hall yet had panicked. And even now, were frantic, pacing the hall and trembling.

The last thing they needed was more stress, but it would be unavoidable, and—he kept reminding Sasha when she questioned the wisdom of forcing them—they would be in a place of safety with as much time to heal as they needed when this was all done.

Sasha had agreed and returned to the females to continue to encourage them to see it this way. But it was a huge relief when Kyelle finally showed up, looking a little flustered—a little angry, going by her scent—but her eyes were clear and despite pink cheeks, she asked a few quick, efficient questions, then disappeared into the hall, assuring Zev that she would give Sasha all the help she needed.

He knew they were both capable. That they were both what the females needed. And he knew there was nothing he could do to help them until they asked. Yet he found himself reluctant to be far away. So, after slouching his way to the bottom of the stairs, he took a seat on one of the low walls at the side of the courtyard alongside Chet, Mae's mate, who had become a fixture since the females arrived.

Zev's heart went out to the male. And he suspected had the roles been reversed, he would have done the same thing. Then the events of the night before came back to him and he wondered if he'd see Dunken there soon.

And he wondered which of the females had caught Dunken's heart.

When he sat down, Chet eyed him nervously. "I know there's a lot to do, Zev-dan, but I can't leave for long. I will ensure we're packed, and I'm asking the brothers to bring me any tasks that I can do while I sit here—"

Zev raised his hand to interrupt. "It's fine, Chet. Don't worry. I'm joining you today. Everyone's in motion now. Everything is happening. But I find myself reluctant to let her far out of my sight. So don't worry. We'll sit vigil together."

The male looked relieved.

They spoke a little as they sat there. Zev had never had much occasion to spend time with Chet, had always assumed the male to be a little weak. But he soon discovered a thoughtful and resilient beta wolf hidden beneath the quiet exterior. He made a mental note to make more use of him once Mae had returned to him and things were settled down. Chet would prove an asset as they navigated the coming changes, he thought.

The wind shifted and Zev scented it to see if he could catch Sasha and make sure she was okay, but instead he found his brother's scent on the air and moments later, saw Lhars enter the City in wolf form at the run.

He stood quickly—was there an emergency?—as Lhars galloped into the Courtyard, shifting back to human midstride, still running, his eyes on the upper level, where the large, open hall windows had been covered in hides and they all knew the females gathered. The wind curled, and the scents of the females wafted through the courtyard, bringing Sasha and Kyelle and the others.

Lhars' expression was fixed and intent, and Zev's stomach dropped. He'd just come from the human world and the village. Nick was already on the move. Did Lhars know something? Had something happened?

Lhars called to Zev as he ran through the Courtyard, "Did Kyelle make it back safely?"

"Yes, but Lhars, you can't go up there," Zev said quickly. When his brother didn't stop running, Zev growled and slipped across the space to step between Lhars and the stairway that went up to the second level of the large building.

His attention was only half on Lhars, his ears perked for the females, and also half a thought for poor Chet who'd been so patiently waiting for days. Lhars needed to give some consideration to others who also wanted to see the females.

He'd assumed Lhars was only being thoughtless and probably wanted to catch up with Kyelle, hadn't thought through the stress they were all under and the repercussions.

Lhars' attention was very clearly on the upper level of the building until he stepped under the cover and towards the stairwell. Zev stepped into his path again, casually raising a hand to his chest. "Lhars, you'll need to—"

There was a vicious snarl and Lhars' teeth snapped so close to Zev's jaw, Zev felt the air shift.

There wasn't even thought, Zev immediately snarled back and made himself as big as he was capable, standing over his brother, eyes locked and teeth bared, a guttural growl rising and falling in his throat.

Instinctively, he was a hairsbreadth from shifting.

Lhars was second in the wolves, a powerful male, an Alpha, and they had history. Zev's wolf scented a challenge—if an entirely unexpected one—and wanted it dealt with. His blood thrummed with Alpha authority and the growl rolled in his chest as he stared Lhars down.

Everyone in the Courtyard froze at sight and sound of two of the strongest males facing each other in genuine aggression.

Zev kept his hands open and ready at his sides, didn't move to the defensive. He was in power and he would take control if it was needed. But this was his brother, and clearly something had happened.

Lhars' chest heaved, his growl rising and falling with it, his eyes flashing with his wolf and he didn't submit. He leaned into Zev, his teeth still bared.

"Stand. Down," Zev warned him in a low mutter, his eyes narrowed.

 

Chapter 409

Lhars had been running through the Courtyard with only one thought on his mind. He could smell Kyelle, and she was stressed. He'd barely even registered the other males, been on his way to find his mate and make sure she knew he was there and he would help however he could, or he would wait—when suddenly a body stepped in his path with a command to stop, and Lhars only knew two things: The male was a threat, and they smelled faintly of his mate.

He'd snapped before he even thought, his wolf snarling forward—no one touched her, no one. She wasn't his yet, they wouldn't know. She hadn't been marked or scented. But he wouldn't allow her to be taken—

"Stand. Down." The words were a command.

For the first time, Lhars registered that they came from Zev. Alpha of his pack. His brother. Mate to the Alpha of All.

And the male that had almost taken Kyelle away from him forever.

His entire body tensed.

"She's mine," he hissed. "Back the fuck off, Zev," he let the words roll off into a growl.

Zev twitched at the threat in his words and his own growl began to roll, though he still didn't raise his hands or shift.

"What the fuck, Lhars?" he hissed, but his eyes remained locked, and he didn't relax.

Lhars' head buzzed, his pulse thrumming in his ears. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. All around them males went still and silent, watching with cautious eyes.

Choosing their sides.

No. No, he wasn't challenging for Alpha! He had to make that clear! But he also wasn't letting Zev keep him from his mate! His heart and mind swam, twisting in different directions, tugging at him. He had to think! He had to be careful.

He had to get to Kyelle.

A low but resonant call huffed in his throat, and his heart flipped as he gave it. A sound he'd never made before. But there was no time to consider it, he had an Alpha to back down.

"Why do you stink of my mate?" Lhars seethed.

"Stink of your mate? Lhars, what—"

"Why are you trying to stop me from reaching her?"

"What are you talking about? Lhars—" Suddenly, Zev's eyes widened, though he didn't step back. "Lhars… did Kyelle accept you?!"

"She is my mate, and I told her I'd wait for her, she needs to know I'm here, and—"

"So we'll tell her that you're here. You can't just go racing into the hall. The females are in crisis!"

"Then let me through to check my mate—you can't just—"

Her scent hit the back of his nose only half a breath before her voice sounded from the stairwell behind Zev.

"Lhars, it's fine. Zev just filled me in before I went up to the hall, that's all you're smelling. And I'm here. I'm here. It's fine."

"It's not fine," Zev snapped. "He challenged me."

"I'm not challenging you for Alpha," Lhars muttered. "You were stepping between me and my mate. You smell of her."

"Barely!" Zev growled. "And… wait, so you're both… I mean this is—"

Kyelle interrupted him by pushing past to step between them, leaving Zev behind her, keeping her eyes fixed on Lhars, who hadn't dropped his locked gaze with Zev.

"Lhars," she breathed, putting one hand on his chest. "I'm here. And I'm not with him. He didn't know. He wasn't stopping you from reaching me, he was stopping you from frightening the females."

Lhars needed to stop growling. He needed to submit. His mind knew this, but his body bristled. If he'd been in wolf form, his hackles would have been standing inches off his back.

Then Kyelle pushed up on her tiptoes, wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and lifted her chin, baring her throat to him as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I'm here. Look at me, Lhars. I'm here."

Zev remained tense and poised, but his eyes were smiling.

Lhars forced himself to blink, to break eye contact, dropping his eyes to meet the beautiful, blue, liquid gaze of his mate staring up at him.

"Hi," she smiled, when he finally did, though he could feel the tension in her. He snaked an arm around her back to keep her close.

"Hi." His voice was husky, dark.

"I'm glad you're here, Lhars," she said, her voice shaking. "My mate."

The entire Courtyard went silent, waiting to see if he'd acknowledge her. Or make her win him. Because she'd been the first to declare, she'd put the choice in his hands.

And Lhars saw the thread of fear behind her eyes as she handed him that gift.

Then she pulled his head down and kissed him.

Everything else in his mind disappeared at the slow, soft slide of her lips. His body, suddenly alight with a whole new energy, quivered. He made that call again, a low hum that vibrated his chest. Kyelle sucked in a breath, her hand fisting his shirt.

But he held her chin, kept her there for a moment, on her toes, nipping at her lip. Then he whispered, "My mate," in her ear.

The howls of the wolfpack rose in a chorus around them as the males stood to acknowledge they were witness to the pairing of their Second in command.

Zev even raised his voice, though he still trembled with the tension. Lhars didn't miss that a handful of the pack had moved silently to stand at his back.

As it should be.

Lhars would commend them. Later. When his wolf wasn't still trying to snap at Zev's throat. Or take his mate.

Kyelle's fingers curled into the back of his neck and she whispered, "Calm down. I know it's hard. It's hard for me, too. But we have to trust, Lhars. Trust me. Please. They know now. And soon… soon it'll be undeniable. I just need a couple of hours. That's all." She looked up at him, pleading. "Please don't fight."

His hands tightened on her.

 

Chapter 410

She'd been so consumed with trying to soothe the females, talking to Mae about how to help them, listening to Kyelle's ideas on moving the females overnight, regardless of when the males went—so that they could travel separately—that she'd been completely unaware of any conflict outside until those god-awful snarls cut through the air.

And even though she'd never heard him make that sound before, she knew it was Zev. Something in her chest pinged and her breath stopped.

She turned on her heel, instinct driving her to go see him, to see what was wrong, to make sure he was safe. But she turned to find the crowd of females, so many of them still in anxiety or shock.

She had to help them.

But she had to know if Zev was okay?

She turned again, searching for Kyelle. She'd been there just a moment before, helping. But now Sasha couldn't find her.

Her heart began to race and her breath got shallow. She put a hand on the back of the female who'd just broken down next to her and she had to fight. She had to battle with herself not to just abandon them.

What the hell was going on today? Why was everyone suddenly losing control just when she needed them to be calm?

Sasha swallowed back her panic and looked back at Mae who had gone still and was frowning at the big window.

"Can you tell who it is? What's going on?" she said quickly.

Mae nodded, her eyes never leaving the wall of hides they'd used to cover the gap. "It's Zev. And Lhars and…" she blinked, her eyes widening. "Mates?" she breathed.

"What? Who? Why are they fighting? Mae—"

"Kyelle… she's… she's declaring for Lhars," Mae said.

Sasha's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?"

The females next to her weren't paying attention and for a moment Sasha reminded herself that she had a job to do. She urged Mae to keep relaying what they were saying. But she was fighting a smile so she wouldn't upset the other females. Lhars and Kyelle? This was fantastic! Except…

"Why did Zev and Lhars fight?"

"They didn't fight. Zev stood in his way when he was searching for Kyelle—he hasn't possessed her yet. He's on edge. Lhars…" she trailed off, listening, then swallowed. "He wasn't challenging for Alpha. He thought Zev was stopping him from reaching Kyelle."

"Are they okay now?"

"I think so, I…"

Howls rose, eerie and haunting. Even Sasha caught the murmur of bodies moving—the wolf-pack celebrating Lhars and her heart sang. And she ached—she wanted to share this moment with them.

Then she realized she could.

Show me! she said in Zev's head. Show me what's going on.

And he did—immediately the image of Lhars, his arms wrapped around Kyelle, his eyes ablaze with pride and possession, her hands curled around his neck and in his hair…

And it all came with Zev's heart—his relief that his brother wasn't challenging, his joy for them that they'd found each other, and his love for Sasha.

Her cheeks heated as watching his brother kiss his mate fanned the flames in Zev's belly for Sasha. She had to swallow back her own bout of desire.

She licked her lips and had to think twice to answer a quiet question from one of the females.

Oddly, they hadn't seemed worried about the snarls from the males when they were fighting. They'd taken that with barely a flutter—yet, here Sasha was, trembling for it. But she made herself focus. Zev was safe—and Lhars too, that was the important thing. The rest would have to wait. Would they go on the Solitude now? But how could they? Perhaps in the Safe Place, but… how would they do that when everything would be in such turmoil and they'd have to be establishing an entirely new home…

Her mind spun so that she was slow answering questions and had to ask the females to repeat themselves sometimes. But then Kyelle was there, and the females from the wolf-pack rushed to greet her, to submit.

Sasha smiled, watching Kyelle, with tears in her eyes, accept all their salutes and submissions. She seemed very uncomfortable with the attention, and for a moment Sasha's nerves were up—was Kyelle uncertain of him?

But then the female turned to meet her gaze and she smiled and Sasha rushed forward to hug her.

"I'm so happy for you both," she whispered in Kyelle's ear as they embraced.

"Thank you. Me too."

This made them sisters now, right? Sasha was about to ask, but Kyelle cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. "You need to go talk to Zev," she said, sounding sheepish. "He's a little off-balance."

Sasha didn't argue. Reassuring the females that she'd return in a few minutes, she slipped out of the hall. But not before marking that Mae stood at the window, staring at the hides as if she could see through them. And Sasha suspected if she'd drawn a straight line from Mae's eyes her gaze would end at Chet.

Sasha sighed as she hurried down the stairs and into Zev's arms.

He pulled her up into a hug and kissed her neck.

"Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly. "That sounded so scary!"

Zev set her down on her feet but still held her. "I'm fine. He wasn't challenging for Alpha. He was agitated because he was so focused on Kyelle. He hasn't mated her yet and the bond is chafing."

He tipped his head to the side where Sasha saw Lhars standing in a circle of the males, accepting congratulations and sharing scents. He looked ecstatic. And very tense.

"Can we organize a ritual for them?" she asked.

Zev shook his head. "There's no time, and it would be too distracting. It's fine. They can just mate to complete the bond. Everyone saw their declarations, which is really the important part."

"What can we do to help them?"

"The best thing we can do is just give them some time together today. Tonight. As much as possible."

Sasha nodded, frowning. There wasn't going to be much privacy for them. "They definitely need some space," she said uncertainly.

"They aren't the only ones." Zev's voice was deep and rough and twanged in her belly. Sasha turned quickly to meet his eyes and found them aflame.

She smiled. Then it faded. "Time is the only thing we don't have right now."

Zev sighed and pulled her into another hug.