~ ZEV ~

An hour later, Zev was more confident, but still uneasy. The Chimera had heard his call, and eventually given themselves to it. When he called for them to stand, they did so with bodies and voices, popping up one by one to tilt their heads and howl and call, calling to each other, urging the other clans to come alongside.

But there had still been murmurs. There were still sidelong glances, and fearful eyes.

Zev knew he couldn't expect to bring every mind and heart with him—especially given what some of them had lost. Their fear was understandable. But he needed them to work with him, and believe the picture he painted as they moved from inspiration, to action.

Bringing the Alphas alongside to describe their plans, he had given them the picture of the City, now inhabited again, prepared for the return of females, and ready to face humanity at arms.

"The humans will not be allowed into the City," he'd snarled—a declaration that brought more thrill and excitement from the Chimera than anything else he'd brought them so far. He had had to raise his voice to be heard over them. "We came here to take our lives back, and we will fight to do that. Look around you, Chimera! This has been the home of our brothers and ancestors for all of living memory, and even before. Our brother Yhet stands as a testament to the ancient ones. There will be a day when we are remembered among them, but only if we work together to protect ourselves and each other.

"Soon, you will be called to measure me, and if you choose to submit, we will walk into this future together. I trust my mate. I trust our Alpha. If she works to bring the females home, we have to prepare. If she is successful, they can't walk into the chaos and back-biting that we're choosing now!"

He had let that idea sit with them, sobering, for a long moment. Then he'd explained… resisting their cynicism, resisting their weariness, he'd shown them the New City.

No clans positioned above others. No fighting between them, all working together. If the females returned, they would find peace and sanctuary, not politics and jealousy. They would find males—hopefully—united in purpose, not ambition.

The murmuring between the people had increased, but he'd seen as many nodding and urging him on, as showing their concerns.

Now, he stood before them, the entire picture in their minds and the Alphas aligned behind him. The air hummed with tension. They knew what came next, and they waited for it, all of them, whether they stood behind him or not. Because the following minute would determine whether all of this had been in vain, or if Zev had brought the Clans with him. Everyone needed to know that.

"That's the future I paint for you, the future your Alpha aims for," he said quietly, his shoulders back and chin low to show no weakness. Let them see his eyes. Let them hear his authority. Let them decide. "I know this is more change. I understand that I'm asking you to submit yourself to a process that you haven't seen before, and can't be expected to understand before it begins. But I am here to tell you I know with certainty that this is our best hope, Chimera. Will you join me? Will you follow Sasha? Will you trust and hold on, and join us, like arrows aimed for the heart?"

He hesitated, swallowing back his fear and letting himself feel the authority of the Alpha settle on his shoulders. "Will you fight the humans with us?"

"What if we don't? What if we don't want to lead, but we can't follow this?" a voice called from one of the higher levels.

Everyone turned to look and see who'd spoken. It was one of the Tigers, a male a couple years younger than Zev.

The crowd turned back to hear Zev's response.

Behind him he could feel the Alpha's tensing, but he didn't turn. He'd known they wouldn't get through this without some questions. The question was, how to answer them. With compassion? With strength? With unbending authority?

Zev took a deep breath. "I can't make you feel better. You have to choose," he said through his teeth. "If you will not step into the shoes to lead, you can only follow, or leave. I will not harbor any Chimera who sympathize with our enemies. Any leader who wants to see the humans defeated will have to choose their path. Ours is to work with them until we get the females back, then to stand in resistance and give them no quarter in Thana. It may end in war. But we believe it is a war worth fighting."

"So it's this way, or death? That's what you're saying? You call us to harmony—but only a peace built on your threats?"

Zev growled. "Is there another way? Would you choose to stay here, arguing, fighting for petty dominance? Trying to leverage your own clan over others, while all of us waste to death? If you can't support the path we choose against the humans, you will be asked to leave. If you do not leave, you will be beaten and banished. We cannot allow any dissenters to weaken our position. We will win this, no matter the cost. So make your choice: Lead yourself and bring the people with you, or follow in the safety and harbor of those who have stood to take the authority of the people."

Whispers, murmurs, questions and comments drifted on the air. Zev didn't allow himself to pick any out, to hear their doubts. But he knew he couldn't allow them too much time to discuss it.

"I'm here now… bring your challenge. I call you, as Alpha of all Clans, standing in the Stead of Sasha of the wolves… Do you bring a challenge?"

Zev held his breath alongside the entire Chimeran population, it seemed. No one moved. No one spoke. He had opened the gate for any to attack without recourse from the people. He'd offered himself, his leadership, his vision, and now his authority.

What would they choose?