If you like music while you read, try "Shouldn't be a Good in Goodbye" by Jason Walker. It's what I listened to while writing this chapter and the next!
*****
~ ZEV ~
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 ca 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 scread "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 mont 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 asure.
"I'll get you sothing 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 sothing 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 so ti to work, but when it does, your pain will ease. You just have to promise you won't harm yourself by walking and… you have to promise 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 beca 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 rember 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 hard… 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 beco 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 Chira. 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 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 last ti. 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 co get , okay?
Sasha, please! You can't do this! His voice was hoarse and tornted 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.
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