Chapter 316 Good News. Good Luck  

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*****

~ SASHA ~

The first thing Sasha became aware of was the pain in her back. She groaned as she rolled over in bed wondering how she'd hurt herself. Then it all came rushing back.

Pregnancy.

Period.

Fucking Nick and Nathan and…

THAT ASSHOLE DRUGGED HER.

She sat bolt-upright in the bed, blinking and squinting against the broad daylight pouring in through the window to her left in the strange room. The walls were a pale gray, the carpet dark. She couldn't see anything but the window on the wall, but there was a beeping sound—

"You're awake. Good."

She sucked in and whipped her head around to find Nick sitting in a recliner to the right of her bed. Her bed with a hand rail on it.

Her hospital bed.

What the hell?

"Where am I?" she asked rubbing her eyes, her stomach sinking.

"You're in the medical center. Don't worry. When you're awake and solid on your feet you can leave."

Sasha dropped her hands from her eyes and stared at Nick. He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, staring at her. His face looked a little pale, and his expression was calm, but concerned.

"What the fuck did you people do to me."

Nick shook his head and flapped one hand, but he looked away when he answered her. "Relax, you're fine. They did their tests, they got their answers, and now you're free."

"Tests? What tests? What answers? And if they needed to do more tests, why didn't they just ask me?"

Nick did look at her again then, his eyebrows high, as if she knew the answer and he wasn't going to waste time giving it to her again.

"The good news from your perspective," he said, as if she hadn't asked anything, "is that you aren't pregnant, and since they got what they wanted, you're going back to Thana tonight."

Sasha gaped. "Tonight?"

"Yep."

"For real?"

"Yes."

Sasha blinked and was about to challenge him, but her head was beginning to clear. If they'd reached the point of drugging her to do medical experiments on her, she didn't want them having any more information or warning than she could avoid giving them.

She didn't believe him. But she sure as hell was going to act like she did.

"That's… amazing," she said faintly.

"I'll admit, I didn't think you'd pull it off," Nick said, getting to his feet. "Well done. You were very… persuasive."

"The females?"

"They're going to send fifty or so with you. They've been separating them out, getting them ready. We can go to the arena if you want to. That's where they're gathering the ones they'll allow to go with you."

"Yes. Yes!" Sasha blurted. "I want to talk to them. Where are my clothes?" Sasha looked around because she was in a hospital gown but she couldn't see anything else in the room.

Nick tipped his head towards a door in the short wall behind his recliner. "The bathroom's there. I believe they've left a change of clothes for you. I'll go out so you can wash up and change, as long as you're sure you're steady on your feet?"

Sasha gave him a flat look. "Like you care?"

Nick frowned. "I didn't drug you, Sasha. I didn't know Nathan was going to do that."

"Right."

"You don't have to believe me, but you ask Zev. It's really not my style."

"Whatever, Nick."

He rolled his eyes, but got up and started for the door. "I won't look, but can you please just get to your feet so we can make sure you aren't going to tip over again? That was… scary."

Sure it was, she thought to herself, but with Nick's back to her near the door that must lead to the hallway, she threw back the blankets and swung her legs over, easing onto her feet on the thinly carpeted floor.

She did feel a touch lightheaded, but standing there for a moment was all she needed. "I'm fine," she said, starting towards the bathroom.

"Good. I'll wait for you in the hall," Nick said. She imagined she heard a hint of sadness in his tone, but when she looked over her shoulder to measure his face, he was already stepping outside. She only caught a glimpse of his profile. He was frowning.

But she hurried to the bathroom where, sure enough, they'd left one of those black suits for her, along with a jacket, some hiking boots and warm socks.

It was how they'd dressed the Team when the team went into Thana, but Sasha didn't let herself get hopeful.

She went to the bathroom, discovered the reason for the ache in her lower back, thanked God that she wasn't pregnant, took the world's fastest shower, got dressed like it was an Olympic event against the clock, and got out of there.

When she met Nick in the hallway, he was leaning against the opposite wall reading something on that device. He saw her and tipped his head down the hall. "This way."

Sasha followed him, feeling strange—her head still not entirely clear of the fog of whatever drug Nathan and dropped in her drink. The hallway had no doors or windows and led directly to a stairwell at the end that turned back and forth on itself all the way to the bottom floor where it led outside.

Sasha trotted down the steps as normally as she could, but rage churned in her chest. These men were so sick! She realized she was walking with her hands in fists, and made herself relax them.

If there was any chance they were sending her back to Zev tonight, she wasn't giving them any reason to change their minds.

She didn't make a sound until they were in the Jeep outside and she could look back to see the building she hadn't visited before. It was one they'd driven past on their way to the Arena that first day.

"What were they testing me for?" she asked Nick finally, almost spitting the words she was so angry.

"I don't know. I mean, I know, but I don't know why the tests are important," he said, checking the rearview mirror.

She didn't ask any more questions until they'd parked outside the barn, walked down that long aisle of "stables" and Nick was opening the door at the end.

When they stepped through, Sasha's mouth dropped open.

There were dozens of women in the Arena. Dozens of them. In clusters, talking quietly, a couple curled up on jackets on the sawdust, and a few sitting or standing alone.

Sasha blinked and blinked, but they didn't disappear.

"Is this for real?" she breathed.

"I told you, Sasha, I tell you the truth. Get ready. These females are all very agitated. They'll need a strong leader to take them home. Most of them are terrified. They haven't been to Thana for three years—if at all."

She whipped her head around to meet Nick's eyes. "They're sending some of the made Chimera?"

He nodded. "Just a couple. But you're going to be their first Alpha in the wild," he said with a grin. "None of these females are excited about the humans that are herding them and getting them ready for the bus. You might want to talk to them." Then he patted her shoulder. "Good luck."