~ SASHA ~

Nick stared down at her like he felt sorry for her. She almost punched him in the nose. He took the rest of the papers she'd retrieved and threw them back into the trash can, then started back down the stairs, obviously expecting her to follow.

Sasha did, but to stand in defense of Zev and his people.

"So, they can't read. Big deal. That doesn't mean they're stupid.

"

"No, of course not. You're right. There's many, many ways they outsmart us. But that's not my point. They don't read or write because they've had no need to. But also, we've found that many of them can't. Their brains just don't work that way. They're tactile people—like animals. They learn through trial and error, by observation, cause and effect. There are many things they can do better than us. But there are also many things they can't.

"

Sasha blinked.

"But, Zev—

"

"One of these days you're going realize just how special Zev is, Sasha.

" Nick said, and it was the first time she'd heard something like passion in his voice.

"We don't know why, but Zev turned out different. The same process, the same kinds of DNA blended in the same ways. Yet he's every bit as human as you or I—honestly, he's a better human than me in some ways. Yet, he has retained the Chimeran senses, strength, and healing.

"

"But don't they all—

"

"No, Sasha they don't. The Chimera are not human. They do not live, think, or act like humans. Their bodies work differently, as well as their minds. It's one of the reasons Zev is so admired by his people—because they can sense that there's something different in him. Something better. Something that makes them all stronger, because no matter what you want to think, they aren't necessarily capable of caring for themselves.

"

"That's bull**. They're so much more capable—

"

"Give it a **ing rest, Sasha,

" Nick growled leading her deeper down the gravel road, into the trees.

"You're like so many humans who think that if we just leave nature to nature, it will take care of itself. Well, guess what? That's not always true. Have you ever seen what happens to wildlife that's been raised by humans after being rescued—usually from something that would have killed it—then returned to the wild?

"

"That's not the same,

" Sasha spluttered.

"Those animals are animals. They don't think rationally—and they lack the skills because we never taught them.

"

"Precisely.

"

Sasha frowned. Confused.

"But you're saying that the Chimera didn't have the capability for these skills which isn't true. And besides, you made the Chimera in the first place! They wouldn't have occurred naturally.

"

"Actually, Chimera have been around for thousands of years—and they were dying off. We resurrected the race.

"

"Wait, what?

"

Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Did Zev ever talk to you about the ancients?

"

The term rang a bell. Sasha bit her lip.

"I think he said Yhet was?

"

"Yes, that's right. We've actually never identified the correct DNA mix to create a Sasquatch, so we just left them to themselves. You can see where that got us,

" he said dryly.

"They're a sweet people, and incredibly strong, but they're like children. Curious, active, and self-destructive without even realizing it.

"

"Yhet is not self-destructive!

"

"Because he's been locked in Thana. Did Zev tell you why?

"

"Because he got caught wandering here and some people followed him and ended up coming into Thana.

"

"Precisely. Before we got involved, the Sasquatch were being hunted out of existence by the richest of the rich around the world. They'd become the new, impossible trophies.

"

Sasha wanted to gag. She tried to imagine humans hunting—actually hunting—Yhet. Her huge, blustery, adorable friend, running through the dark, panting and calling, desperate for a rest—Sasha shook her head and swallowed hard. She wanted to punch Nick just for putting the image in her mind. To know there was a measure of truth in it… Ugh.

"Well, I don't know what happened before,

" Sasha said as they rounded a corner in the trail and another, massive building, this one looking much like a barn, came into view under the trees ahead.

"But I do know that Yhet is an amazing man. And now he's completely alone. And from what I hear, that's because of you and your intervention.

"

"Yhet wouldn't even have been born if it weren't for our intervention. His mother was pregnant with him when Thana was a hunting ground.

" Nick sighed.

"See, this is the problem with half-knowing the truth. You get all idealist and convince yourself that we're the villains in every story. Without us, Yhet wouldn't even be alive today. The predecessors of my bosses bought the hunting ground and left the Sasquatch with the goal of repopulating so they could be studied safely. But they're so slow growing and maturing… there just weren't enough of them left. Add to that the germs humans brought into Thana, and the natural conflicts that arise between Chimera and end in death… now we just have Yhet. His race will die with him, and that's a tragedy. Yet, what can we do? We've tried to replicate him and had no luck at all.

"

Sasha scowled.

"What does that have to do with Zev, and the females, and us not taking their letters?

"

They were only fifty feet from the large door into the barn, but Nick stopped in the middle of the trail and turned to face her. Sasha stopped too, folding her arms against the piercing gaze of the man Zev called father, but that she was growing to hate for his smug, self-satisfied attitude alone.

"I'm trying to get you to see that you don't understand everything that's going on here. You don't understand every success we've had, every life we've saved. And you sure as hell don't understand our failures.

"

"So you admit you've failed them, then?

"

"Of course!

"

"Then…

" Sasha trailed off, hands on her head.

"I'm so confused. What are we arguing about?

"

Nick's face went very serious.

"I'm about to take you into a place that is going to… disturb you. And I'm asking you to consider that just because something doesn't work for you as a human being, that just because it doesn't appeal to your or your sense of right, doesn't mean it's bad for everyone, or everything.

"

Sasha stared at him.

"What are we doing, Nick?

"

He dropped his chin, but held her eyes.

"I'm going to take you into the breeding arena, and you're going to see that this isn't what you think. And then… then we're going to go see the sanctuary. If you're going to be Alpha, Sasha, if you're going to make this work, you have to understand everything we're doing. And you have to be on board. Because the men I work for aren't going to entertain your sensibilities. We're here to do a job, and we're going to do it, with or without you.

"

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