~ SASHA ~

Yhet found her on the trail before she reached the village, his big, broad face wide with concern.

"Sasha-don, what happened?"

He looked so worried, Sasha almost cried in relief that she wasn't the only one who was scared. But she swallowed it back.

"His wound opened up and it's gotten infected."

"Oh no! How did he do that!"

Sasha's cheeks colored at the memory and she flapped a hand. "It's not important. But Yhet, I need to thank you. Thank you so much! Your home… it's beautiful!"

He dropped his shaggy head then, nodding. She couldn't tell if he was smiling or grimacing. "You're welcome, Sasha."

"It was such a haven, Yhet. I'm… I'm sorry that you can't enjoy it anymore. It's truly beautiful and it made our time very special."

Yhet lifted his head and looked around them on all sides before turning back to her and lower his voice so it sounded like a whispering bear. "Did the mating go smoothly? I know it can be a little… frantic to begin with. But the bond has clearly taken. You stink of him! So that's good!"

Sasha blinked and spluttered a laugh before clapping a hand over her mouth.

Zev was seriously ill. She was exhausted. There was a homicidal twin in the city, and she wasn't going to have Zev's supporting presence as she returned to this people who thought she was leading them… And Yhet wanted to know if the mating went well.

"It went… very smoothly," she said, blinking too much because she struggled to hold his eyes.

"That's good news," he said, beaming, patting her hair so hard she stumbled forward. "I pray you'll have offspring very soon!"

"I… I mean that won't… thank you, Yhet, but—"

"It's okay!" he whispered hoarsely. "There's no one else here. We're in private. You don't have to be careful with your words."

She thanked him and, afraid that he might ask more questions, asked him if he would run to get their bags.

"The others will bring them," he said confidently, turning to walk with her on the trail. "And I wanted to speak to you, so perhaps this is a good time?"

"Oh?" she asked nervously.

"Yes, I… I owe you my submission," he said sadly, his great shoulders slumping suddenly.

Sasha frowned. "Whatever for?"

"I didn't do my job. When Xar came for you. I was taken so off guard. I wasn't prepared. I watched the crowds in case someone working with him came for you. By the time I'd realized, he already had you in his hands. I failed you, Sasha. I'm very sorry."

Sasha opened her mouth and closed it again. "I… it's okay, Yhet."

"No, it's not. And Zev will have reason to stand over me. I want to assure you, I will not challenge him when he does."

"Zev isn't going to… what? Stand over you? What's that?"

"It's a form of discipline," Yhet said. "Something you'll need to become familiar with now if you're Alpha, Sasha-don," he said earnestly. "When we fail someone higher in the hierarchy, we have to acknowledge it, publicly."

Sasha frowned. "Publicly? Why?"

"So that others know the higher ranks aren't weak," Yhet said, ushering her past a bristling thorn bush that was growing over the trail. "If Zev doesn't address it, the others will think it's okay to step around his instructions. We can't let that happen. I just want you to know not to worry. When he steps up, I will submit. Regardless of the cost."

"I… okay… well, I trust you, Yhet. But I want you to know I'm not upset, okay? I'm grateful to you. I wouldn't have gotten through those days without you. I'll ask Zev not to be too hard on you."

"Oh, no, don't do that!" he rushed, shaking his head vigorously. "He can't be easy on me, that will cause problems also."

Sasha gave up. She didn't understand this hierarchy. How was she ever going to lead these people? But the talk with the twins had given her an idea, and perhaps that was the answer.

Yhet kept pace with her as she walked—very slowly—back to the village. It was embarrassing out how of shape she was. Twenty minutes running and she was drenched in sweat, her throat parched, and her body weary.

At one point Yhet offered to carry her the rest of the way to the village. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

Reassuring him, she forced herself to pick up her head and push her shoulders back. As the trail widened and the gaps between the trees became larger and longer, she knew they would meet more and more people. She needed to appear in control and expecting… what? Control?

Sasha groaned to herself and Yhet looked at her with concern, but she just waved him off, grateful that they were almost home.

Except, of course, she couldn't go home. Yhet led her to the healers hut—a building that was large by village standards, though Yhet couldn't fit through the door. There a bed was being prepared and several males hurried around picking out bottle and bandages, setting up a table at the foot of the bed.

They all submitted to her when she walked in, dropping their heads and crossing an arm over their chests in salute. But she told them to continue as they had been, and they did.

She was given a chair and assured Zev would be there soon. Then they went about their business. Then Lhars arrived, scanning the room and seeing the empty bed with her in a chair next to it, and he took a deep breath.

"The wolves will meet you this evening," he said quietly, coming to stand at her shoulder, watching the healers as they hurried around the room. "And the Alphas have been informed that there will be a strategy meeting on the third day."

"Thank you," Sasha said, sighing. Now that some of her adrenaline had worn off, she was exhausted. Struggling even to sit up straight.

Lhars watched everything with sharp eyes, posting himself next to her, hands at his sides, arms tense.

It took her a moment to realize what he was doing. But then he glared at a new healer who stepped into the building and Sasha shook her head.

"You can be here—I'd be grateful if you'd stay to see Zev and help me. But you're here as his brother, as his second, not as a sentry."

"I am here as Zev's brother," he said darkly. "As a brother of the clan. You're my sister now, Sasha. And any one of the Chimera could defeat you. If I let one of them harm you, Zev would have my throat."

"These are healers, they're here to help! I can't look so uncertain of my place that I need guarding here. You heard me, Lhars. Back down. Take a seat. Give me advice. But don't do this."

Their eyes met and locked. Lhars tensed, but he didn't argue. Instead he nodded once, then looked behind her, found another chair and pulled it over so he could sit next to her.

And together, they waited.