Rise of the Dark Alpha

~ ZEV ~

As the sun climbed higher and the numbers of Chimera slowly dwindled, Zev began to pace. This was taking hours longer than they'd anticipated. If Nick had been right to be nervous about the Team they could show up at any moment.

But there was nothing they could except wait and hope. And pray.

He watched his brother grow more and more tense—then deflate when he was told that Kyelle had gone through hours earlier.

He watched Sasha, exhausted, move immediately from leading one group of females into the cave to returning, only to walk straight to the next and begin preparing them while the next group of males went through.

He watched Yhet stand guard over the mouth of the cave, his eyes narrow and stance fierce, like he would personally tear any human limb from limb who dared appear from the Gateway.

Then finally, when the sun was high in the sky, Sasha emerged from the cave, her face pale and haggard, but she stopped just outside, scanning the trail.

There were no more females.

She'd done it. She'd gotten them all to go through. She turned to find Zev, her face pleading.

He was at her side in seconds, folding her into his arms and holding her, his heart thudding uncomfortably, but eased a little by being close to her.

They didn't speak—even through the mindlink. They just held each other as the last of the males milled around them, awaiting the last wave with their Alpha.

It was Goats—they'd chosen to send the wolves through first because they could communicate with each other over distances, and hopefully find each other if they were dropped out of the Gateway in different locations.

But Sasha's idea—about sending Kyelle through and having everyone concentrate on getting to her—was Zev's hope that there wouldn't be the uncertainty of that kind of separation on the other end.

For a moment as he held her, the temptation was there to just knock her out and take her through. To get them to safety and never have to think about this particular danger again.

But then he thought of his son—helpless and weak—held in that lab and watched over by Satan himself, Nathan, and... no. He couldn't do it. They couldn't do it.

They had to go get him.

Sasha pulled out of his arms finally, wiping her eyes. "They're gone. They're all through. I just hope... they were so scared..." she whispered.

Zev stroked her hair and just listened as she unloaded all her tension about the females and the fears that some of them hadn't heard her. That they might get lost in the Gateway.

"They've all been through before, Sash," he reminded her. "They'll remember what they need to do. You've done what you can. This is it. Now we focus on our family."

She snapped her head up then to meet his eyes, surprise and joy and fear crowding each other in her eyes.

"Our family," she breathed.

He nodded.

"We have a son, Zev."

He nodded again, but he knew his face was grim. He hadn't communicated his fears to Sasha. He knew from experience that while the Team did everything in their power to keep the young alive—they were precious to them, too, though for all the wrong reasons—there was every chance that their son hadn't survived.

The survival rate in the labs was fifty-fifty at best. And lower for males than females, from what Zev had been told.

He'd tried, while he was waiting for Sasha, to reassure himself that if their son had died, Nick would have been told.

But then as he scanned back through the conversation they'd had with the asshole, he couldn't remember either of them actually asking him right up front whether their son was still alive. He'd said he would take them to him. He'd said where he was being housed. But had they actually asked if he was alive?

Nick had said he was thriving... right? Or had he only mentioned the Team were waiting to see if he was healthy?

Zev growled, he couldn't remember. His head spun with too many questions, too many worries.

"What is it?" Sasha asked quickly.

Zev blinked. Right. He'd growled.

"Nothing," he said, forcing a smile for her. "I'm just feeling protective."

She tried to smile too, but sighed. Yhet, Lhars, Skhal, and Jhon were gathered at the mouth of the cave, while all the others that were still on this side now all fit inside the cave.

It would be minutes until they were alone.

Zev looked at his closest, most trusted friends and brother. And suddenly their power seemed so small.

These four males were all they had? Their forward guard? Everyone else had gone. Everyone else was on their way to safety. Only these four stood between the humans and freedom for the rest of the Chimera.

What were they thinking, sending so few? Why hadn't they made a better plan? With more back up?

He tensed and Sasha, always perceptive of his mood, looked at him sharply. "What, Zev? What is it?"

But he turned away and shook his head. "Nothing but a little panic," he muttered when he realized she wasn't going to relax until he'd answered. "I'm just... I'm just ready for all this to be over."

Sasha sighed again. "Me too."

A few minutes later a pair of guards appeared in the mouth of the cave, looking for him and Sasha.

"We're the last," the dark-haired one said. "Everyone else has gone except for your team."

Sasha clasped her hands at her chest. "Focus, brothers. Kyelle is there with the females. It's the safe place—where the humans can't interfere. Ask to be taken to where they're gathered."

The males both nodded. Sasha walked toward them—was going to hug them, Zev thought, and a growl began to putter in his throat. But both males submitted, saluted, then turned on their heels and walked into the cave.

Watching the shadow climb down their backs until they were deep inside and hidden from view. Zev sighed.

This was happening. This was really happening.

Sasha turned to the other three.

"Your turn."