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nIf you like music while you're reading, try

"Burn it Down

" by Warren Zeiders. It summarizes Sasha's perspective for the next couple chapters pretty perfectly, lol.

n*****

n~ SASHA ~

nTrembling, Sasha sat in the front seat of a Jeep, holding onto the Oh Shit handle above the door as the vehicle rocked and rolled across the cleared land behind the complex, toward a thick forest that stood sentry over the land to the north.

nShe'd barely spoken to Nick that morning, and beyond making sure that she was okay, he'd stayed quiet too. She was still trying to figure out what to say, whether the events of that morning had actually been real.

nShe'd woken to a soft knock on the bedroom door, and Nick's voice, apologizing for waking her. He kept saying that the tests had to be done before she'd eaten or had anything to drink.

nSasha had still been bleary-eyed and disoriented when she sat up, then quickly became horrified at finding him in the apartment, though he was careful to keep his eyes averted and his head turned away from the gap in the door.

nShe was still reeling, still trying to find her bearings when he disappeared and the door opened wider to allow two medics in white coats and gloves to enter. They were both female, but somehow that just made the whole thing more surreal.

nThey were quiet, professional, and gentle… but Sasha found herself near tears as one provided her with a stick to pee on and ushered her to the bathroom where they checked every inch and corner before stepping her through the instructions again, then finally allowed her privacy.

nShe'd just stared at the door for a long moment when it closed behind the woman.

nWas this really happening?

nShe wasn't sure why she felt so violated by the process of peeing on a stick, but for some reason, leaving it on the paper towel the woman had left next to the basin made her want to cry.

nThen, the moment she'd stepped out of the bathroom—she hadn't even been allowed to brush her teeth—the other woman took her arm and led her to one of the chairs in the living room. They took her temperature, took blood, swabbed the inside of her cheek, and asked her to spit into a test tube, before the woman rubbed her arm and thanked her, then quietly packed her things. The second woman who'd stayed in the bathroom that entire time, emerged and had a whispered conversation with Nick in the corner, before leaving with her little bag, Nick holding the door for her.

nSasha knew she should be shouting at these people—they couldn't just treat her like another experiment. She was a person! She had rights! But the words lodged in her throat.

nThe woman in front of her met her eyes and there was sympathy in them before she patted Sasha's knee, then gathered her things and left.

nNick held the door for her, too.

nHe'd turned then, an apology on his face.

"I know that was strange. If you want to take a shower and have some breakfast, I'll wait downstairs until you're ready. Just come down to the office when you're ready.

nShe frowned at him. He waited, but when she didn't speak, he turned away, opening the door to leave himself.

n

"Nick,

" she blurted.

nHe hesitated, turning.

"Yes?

"

n

"What did the test say?

" Her heart pounded in her ears. She knew. At least, she thought she did. But the question of whether these people had interfered with her body left her suddenly terrified. Could they really do that?

nNick hesitated. He looked out the door as if he was checking that no one else was there. When he looked at her, there was a caution in his eyes.

"The human test was negative,

" he said.

"We'll have to wait on the others. They'll take a few hours.

"

nThat had been an hour earlier. Except for a hushed greeting to the Receptionist, and a couple single-syllable responses to Nick's questions about her comfort, Sasha hadn't really spoken since.

nShe was still shaking, and she didn't know why.

nNegative. It had been negative, she reminded herself. If she wasn't pregnant, they'd said she could go back to Zev.

nShe closed her eyes then and for a moment let herself just imagine seeing him—his bright blue eyes fierce and scanning her from head to toe. His strong arms wrapping around her body. His chin on her hair. His deep voice murmuring love in her ear.

nHer skin prickled, she felt it all so keenly. She wanted him so badly. Wanted away from this place and these horrible people so ferociously, the urge to just throw the door of the Jeep open and start running was visceral.

nHer little daydream was interrupted by Nick speaking in a normal voice, as if nothing was wrong.

n

"We'll have to stay out of the trees until they invite us in. They'll have heard the car coming, so they know we're here. But we try to give them a sense of independence. So we won't approach until we're invited.

n

"The Alpha here is female, too, obviously. She'll probably be quite curious about you,

" he said with a half-smile.

nSasha blinked, then turned to gape at him.

"Nick?

"

n

"Yeah?

" he was still peering at the approaching trees in front of the vehicle.

n

"You're a creepy-ass man and I don't trust you. Please don't smile at me like we're sharing a joke.

"

nHis brows rose, but he didn't look angry. If anything he seemed a little amused, which pissed Sasha off.

nWhen they were about twenty feet from the line of trees and underbrush, Nick slowed the vehicle to a stop, then turned off the engine.

nSasha's heart thumped and for a moment she didn't want to get out of the car. But then she remembered all the advice Zev had given her about being Alpha, about what the Chimera needed to feel safe. And about what they thought of the humans and those who worked with them willingly.

nThen she took one look at Nick, then shoved her car door open and stepped out. Nick got out too, and leaned against the side of the car, staring at the trees. But Sasha slammed her door and started for the trees.

n

"Sasha,

" Nick said, warning in his tone.

"Stay back. Give them some space to—

"

n

"Kiss my ass, Nick,

" she called back and set her eyes on the treeline where shadows were moving, praying that these females weren't the type to shift and kill her before they'd heard what she had to say.

n