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*****

~ ZEV ~

Zev took a deep breath, watching the gathered clans. They weren't fighting him, but they weren't giving their support yet either. He needed to inspire them, to persuade them in their hearts.

Once again he wished they'd had more time to see Sasha in her strength. To hear her passion. Although he was almost certain the wolves were already in service to her, he opened his mind as he spoke and showed the wolves his memories of her while he spoke, calling for them to stand publicly in support of her.

"Their world is different, Chimera. I've lived in their culture. They are far more distant. Far more insular. They have a saying, "live and let live," and so they give each other space. They gather in much smaller numbers, loyal to family units as they were born, or as they choose in adulthood.

"Sasha is uniquely loyal among them, giving her heart to the purpose of a people, not just their benefit to her. And she has seen you, Chimera. She's given her heart to you. She stands as Alpha, a mystery to her because the human kind do not live like we do. But she understands power and influence. And she knows she can help. Because she has set herself against her own people to stand for you. Do you understand that? You are her chosen people. And she denies any other."

Zev swallowed, emotion squeezing his throat tight at so many thoughts of his mate, and the wolves responses as they watched his memories flicker. Her joy, her strengths, her determination to help the females—and her conviction that that was the reason she'd been brought to Thana.

"As a human she can move in their world easily and without their help. She has no need to hide. She can call on powers that would require the attendance even of the team. They are not without accountability in their world. Yet, most humans don't know or care about us to ask it of them. But your Alpha does."

As the wolves began to shift in their seats, whining or growling in response to the threats and thrills of their Alpha, Zev made a split second decision. He hadn't intended to show them, but… but perhaps it was needed.

How to show them the certainty of what he knew without giving up their secrets, though? It came to him then, how to tell them without lying, but without revealing the whole truth.

He had Nick to thank for his ability to think in those terms, Zev realized grimly.

He blew out a breath. "Even as I speak, she works on your behalf. She works in secret, and in fear, but she doesn't give up." He swallowed hard. "Before she left she told me her goals and forced me to vow that I wouldn't interfere. She didn't want to worry you. She didn't want you focused on anything but your own health and strength. But I will tell you… as I have healed, I… I crossed the gateway last night. The humans have means of communication that don't require being in the same place. And I used… I used a resource available to reach her, to reach within the grip of the Team.

"I can tell you with certainty: Sasha stands against the humans, using their own thoughts and processes against them. She stands in danger and does not waver. I offered to return her to this world and she commanded me to wait. To give her more time. Because she believes her efforts are paying off. She is not defending herself, but instead is pouring every effort into reaching out for the females and negotiating for their release.

"Do you hear me, Chimera? She has abandoned her own needs in the hunt for yours. She ignores her own wounds in an attempt to heal yours. This is the leader that you follow. This is the Alpha I am proud to serve. This is my mate." He bit the last word off, reminding them of his own sacrifice in letting her go—not that she'd given him much choice.

But these days apart were showing him… if his pain and anguish was this strong, how much worse did it have to be for the males whose females were locked in the compound? How much had they endured? Could he fault them for struggling against new leadership and even greater insecurity?

Zev sighed. "Our strength is in our ability to stand shoulder to shoulder, to be for each other," he said quietly. "That is my call to myself as well. I wait, terrified, for the destruction of my mate, but I know my pain is nothing compared to those of who have already faced the death or abductions of your mates. I cannot… My mind doesn't want to conjure what must go on in your hearts. I am not without tears for you, brothers!" He shook his head, disappointed in himself for not thinking more on this, sooner. "All I can ask is that you trust. Trust Sasha. Trust me. Every effort. We make every effort to bring those who are still alive, back to you. And if we can't, we'll avenge them.

"The Chimera have been in weakness for years. We aim to raise our people back to strength. But we can't do it if our city is divided against itself. Can you see? Can you see that you are needed? That you are crucial to this effort?

"Sasha works among the humans. I work here to prepare. You… your work must be to stand behind the hierarchy. To follow our lead. And to give your strength to the good of all—not just your family, your clan."

The wolves had caught his excitement and were getting to their feet, one by one, popping up with short, sharp huffs and growls to offer their support.

"We face a powerful enemy, brothers, we all know this." Zev said, still turning to meet eyes with the males on all sides. "I have fallen to their deception, to their interference… those of us who were made have all fallen to our uncertainty against them. But now… now we have one of them fighting for us.. Fighting against her own. Stand with her, Chimera! Stand with your Alpha and fight!"