~ ZEV ~

1

If there hadn't been such a sense of dread hanging over their heads it might have been a very pleasant morning. Yhet was quiet, so Zev and Sasha discussed their plans through the mind link.

Lhars took about four hours last time, Sasha said. But I hope he'll be quicker this time. And besides, we don't want to wait too long, in case the humans do try to follow—in case they can do things we don't know about and locate us or something. I say we get everyone through and wait about three hours. That should be enough time for them to get the females out, but not so long that some huge force of humans could be in place.

Zev winced internally. She highly underestimated the capabilities of the Team when they were on alert. But in truth, that meant there was no time they could step in without being at risk if the humans knew something about the Gateway that they didn't. So he shrugged.

But we're moving into the future, remember? He said gently. Is there any need to wait at all?

They went back and forth on it, eventually deciding that they would take a short time when everyone was gone, then step in.

They walked on quietly and Zev drank in the sights of his home.

Walking through Thana as the sun rose to make the snowy mountains glow was one of Zev's favorite things to do.

For a moment his stomach clenched in fear—what if this new land wasn't beautiful? What if they got there and couldn't find that same peace from Creation? But he shook his head. Lhars had sent images of what he'd seen, and the land truly was beautiful—clearly warmer than Thana. But lush and green and with mountains, though green and brown instead of purple and blue.

No, Zev didn't need to worry that the Chimera would have an unnatural world. And he was grateful for that. Once they got through—

His mind stopped, snagged on the image in his mind of stepping out of the gateway into the new world with Sasha and their son.

Both of them.

Awake.

Wait.

They'd were only minutes from the cave and they'd caught up to the back of the crowd—moving slowly now as the Alphas ahead organized and assigned the Chimera different spots. Lhars sent him an image suddenly of some of the females balking—a warning that Sasha was needed. But Zev's heart was pounding in his ears so he could barely think.

Yhet had melted into the crowd, moving ahead to see if he could help with anything while he waited to go through at the end, ahead of Lhars.

But as Zev turned to tell Sasha that she was needed at the front, he found her staring at him, concerned.

What is it? she asked in his head.

The plan, he replied, swallowing. We missed something.

"What?!

"

"We were going to knock you out. But if we do that, you can't hold the Gateway open while I get our son,

" he said, frantic.

"Sasha, how are we going to do this?

"

Sasha's eyes went wide. But there was a shriek ahead of them, one of the females and they both turned.

When Zev looked down at her again, they both knew she had to go up there to help the others.

"You stay here,

" she said quietly.

"I'll help them get through. We'll talk about it after.

"

"But—

"

"Zev, there's nothing we can do. We have to go ahead. We'll figure it out when everyone else is gone. We have to just… pray. Pray that the bond—which clearly doesn't want us apart—will somehow keep us together?

"

3

He stared at her, chilled as his mind threw up every kind of death and destruction that could happen to either of them as they walked into this. But Sasha just leaned up on her toes to kiss him quickly.

"Don't worry,

" she said.

"We'll figure it out.

"

Then she darted into the crowd and let the Chimera give her space to walk through quickly so she could reach the females at the front.

Zev was left there, gaping at her back, staring at the milling crowds of Chimera, as fear washed over him in waves.

They couldn't go through separately. Even if they were able to open the Gateway together, that separation had almost killed them last time. They couldn't risk it again now—and certainly not twice!

But he'd never heard of anyone crossing in pairs or groups without being separated by the Gateway.

What the ** were they going to do?

Zev had to turn his back on the others, to glare his anger and fear out at the landscape around him so he wouldn't cause tension.

What the hell?

What the actual hell?

1

He turned his chin up to stare at the sky, to snarl at the Creator Himself.

I get it. I know I was wrong—and a fool. But you know that I try to protect her. That I want to save our son. Why bring us this far if you'll stop us—is this a game to you?

I'm doing everything I can to fix the things I broke, not just for her, but for everyone—all the Chimera. To make myself good enough. I'm doing everything I can to… to be good. To love and care and protect. And it's as if you want to destroy me! But you'll take her down too if you do! How can that be right? Why would you destroy the one who is good? Is this punishment for me? Is she doomed because I'm condemned?

He growled in his throat, clawing both hands into his hair as he gazed out at Thana. The beautiful land he was willingly leaving to give them all a chance to live in peace.

You've let them steal our son. You've made it impossible for us to cross apart. Now you'd kill us just when we're so close?

If you want me dead, just do it! Stop toying with me!

But if you do… save her. Please. If you take me… save her. Save both of them.

*****

WE'RE ALMOST AT

"THE END!

" If you want more great shifter fantasies (or something completely different) go to linktr.ee

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authoraimee to find my seven books on WN, and four published elsewhere!

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