~ ZEV ~

Zev had been feeling drowsy and considering sleep. But when Sasha spoke in his head, it was a balm to know he could still hear her at that distance.

That made him think of Lhars and reach out for his brother.

Sasha's hiding, Lhars told him briefly. We've got the wind in our faces. I can smell the guy. He's almost here. The Sentries are saying no one else has tried to enter yet.

Zev was comforted by that.

Send me an image, he replied to Lhars. I want to see if I know them so I can offer advice.

He felt rather than saw Lhars nod. There was a lull then. Sasha wasn't sending, and Lhars was distracted with someone else. So Zev waited, turning over in his mind who might have had the balls to come into Thana alone.

But suddenly Lhars said I don't know this one, do you? and an image bloomed in Zev's head that made his blood run cold.

A tall, strong, older man, sandy-blond hair that was threatening to dull into gray, but hadn't yet. He was dressed in thick snow gear that swathed his body and made him move oddly, so it took a second for Zev to believe what he was seeing. And when he did, almost leaped out of the bed.

THAT'S NICK, he screamed in his brother's head. Then without a pause he screamed at Sasha to get moving, to get out of there.

GET OUT, SASHA, RUN! THAT'S FUCKING NICK!

He felt Sasha's shock and confusion.

But… you said Nick didn't come into Thana?!

HE DOESN'T. THIS CAN'T BE GOOD. GET OUT. GET OUT OF THERE NOW.

But everyone went quiet in their heads, and no more images showed up, and suddenly he was alone in his head and frantic.

He pushed the furs back and tried to sit up, but the pain was so intense, he groaned and the healer came running.

"No, Zev," the male said apologetically. "It's not safe for you to move yet."

"The human, it's—"

"I don't care. Don't make me force you to rest."

"You're not understanding me!"

"I am, Zev. You've sent people with her to handle it, and the Alpha gave her instructions. If you don't cooperate, we'll knock you out to force you to rest."

"Don't even think about it!" he snarled. But the male only looked at him sternly.

"Even Alphas need to heal, Zev," he said, determined.

"And this Alpha needs to keep his mate alive, so you don't fucking touch me with drugs right now, or I'll take your throat."

The male paled, but took a deep breath. "Please, Zev. She'll be really upset if—" the healer reached for his good arm and Zev snapped his wrist, twisting it to pin the male's hand down on the bed and lean up into the male's face, though it made his side scream.

"She might not live to get back here and get upset with you unless I help her, so you do nothing to interfere with me right now."

The male frowned. "Why are you suddenly afraid. She has guardians with her to keep her safe—"

"Lhars just sent an image of the male, it's fucking Nick!"

The healer blinked. All of the Chimera had heard about Nick by now. Those that were old enough to remember Zev's rule knew him as their Alpha's father-figure. But the stories of his deception had reached all corners of Thana now. They knew that Nick had been involved in convincing Zev to leave the Chimera, and later using him to breed with the females.

The healer looked uncertain, but a growl puttered in his throat.

"Yes, that's right. That Nick," Zev snarled back. "Now, I need help. I need to be able to move. And quickly. I don't care what you give me, but it needs to cover the pain without making me drowsy. I need to get out there. She has no clue what she's dealing with!"

The healer stared at him, frowning.

*****

~ SASHA ~

Sasha's heart was pounding. Lhars and Yhet had both taken defensive stances, but Nick was still making his way close to them.

Sasha wasn't sure what she'd expected in Nick, but while he seemed familiar physically, his cowering, stumbling gait and clear fear of the forest felt all wrong for this figure that Zev had described—cold and calculating. Deceptive. Manipulated. Strong.

The man who had beaten Zev.

It was a temptation to just leap out of the trees and order the others to take him down, to confront him, and make him hurt for what he'd done to Zev and the Chimera. But Sasha knew Nick was armed—he had a gun his hand, though he hadn't brought it up when he'd seen the Chimera blocking the trail. As he stumbled towards them, he still seemed more concerned about the shadows under the trees, than the huge men standing in the winter sun.

Sasha waited until he made it to just a few feet ahead of where Dunken, Lhars, and Yhet stood, blocking the trail—even Yhet looked fierce.

Nick's throat bobbed but his knuckles were white, gripping the gun.

"Thank goodness," he panted, his eyes still sliding warily to the trees around them. "I need you to take me to Zev."

Lhars was the one who stepped forward of the others, his arms folded across his chest. "What for?"

"Look, you don't have to fear me. I know he challenged for Alpha and Xar's dead. They all know that, okay? And that's great. That's what I wanted for him. But Zev has to know what's going on from our side. If he doesn't handle this right, they'll kill him! I'm here to warn him. They need a compliant Alpha, or everyone's dead. Not just Zev!"

Lhars opened his mouth and Sasha knew he was about to tell Nick about her taking Alpha, but she hissed quietly and he caught himself. He didn't take his eyes off of Nick, but he had clearly understood that she didn't want him to speak of her position. So he took a deep breath and his fingers flickered in a strange little movement that drew Sasha's eye just enough that she missed the moment the two wolves slipped out of the trees behind him.

In a split second, one had the hand with the gun gripped and pointed away from the others. And even though Nick struggled, the two Chimera were quickly and efficiently able to remove the weapons from his hand, his belt, and two from pockets and a sheath on his black suit.

They tossed all the weapons to Lhars, who caught them easily, passing the guns to Yhet and keeping the blades himself.

"Just here to warn Zev, you said?" Lhars said, his voice low and menacing.

The two had Nick's arms pinned behind his back. The man struggled, but couldn't get free. "I have to protect myself as well! I've come here with no team. No backup! To save you all, you fucking idiot!"

All three males tensed and leaned in, baring their teeth.

Sasha's heart slammed against her ribs and she trotted quickly out of the trees to stand between Nick and her friends.

The moment Nick saw her his eyes widened and he stopped struggling. "Sasha? Holy shit, is Zev here too?"