Chapter 331 [Bonus chapter] The Gateway  

~ SASHA ~

The females milled around on the flat land around the outside of the cave, and within the mouth of the cave itself.

Nick on her heels, Sasha pushed through the crowd, reminding them all to stay in their groups and to be focusing. When she got to the Gateway itself, Patty stood there waiting patiently, her own bag over her shoulder. She looked relieved when she saw Sasha and Nick.

Sasha was about to tell her to lead in, when it occurred to her that the Chimera didn't know they were coming. Not exactly. And she couldn't afford for Nick or Patty to get attacked, or set up any kind of trap by going through the gateway first.

She blew out a breath. She'd come so close to making a stupid mistake—what if she didn't catch herself next time.

Clawing a hand through her hair, she turned. "Change of plan," she said quickly to both of them. "We'll let the females go first. Then me. Then you two come through after. Let me warn the males that you're coming and they're not to touch you before you get through there."

Nick nodded, though Patty frowned. "I think it would really be better—"

"Trust me, everyone over there is on a hair-trigger right now because I disappeared. You don't want the guards thinking you're coming through to take more. And I don't know how the females are going to react to being back there. Give us half an hour to get them settled and on their way to the settlement before you come through."

"No, absolutely not. The entire agreement was that we watch over everything, observe and monitor everything with the females," Patty said firmly, though her eyes cut to Nick more than once. "I'll agree to go in the middle so that the guards can be warned, but as soon as they're in Thana, we need to be there, too."

Nick winced at that. "It doesn't really work that way," he said quietly. "But yes, we'll follow you through immediately."

Sasha sighed, but agreed. She didn't have much choice. They were going to be here alone after she left. It wasn't like she'd have a way to delay them anyway. Better if they thought she was being reasonable, working with them. So she nodded, then called the nearest little-alphas and warned them to prepare their lines. They were about to go through.

She clapped her hands and got everyone's attention, warning them all to keep their focus, to remember Thana if they knew it, or to think on those they knew who would be there, or just the desire to be in the world itself if they hadn't visited before.

She asked Nick if he had anything to add, but he was leaned into Patty's ear, explaining something, and he shook his head.

Tension boiled under Sasha's skin as she turned to face the females. This was it. This was what she'd been aiming for. This was the moment. Were Nick and Patty here to screw it all up somehow? Or was this really going to happen?

She realized then that everyone was watching her, waiting.

She blinked and took a deep breath. "Who wants to go first?"

*****

When the first female—one of the alphas—stepped into the gateway, Sasha was suddenly blinking and swallowing tears. By the time half the females had filed inside, all of them reminded to keep their minds focused, she had tears on her cheeks. But she wiped them away and tipped her head for Patty to go after the next group.

"You know how to focus on Thana? Have you been there before?"

"No, but I'm certain I'll be fine," Patty said, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Nick's given me very clear instructions. I'll see you on the other side!" she said.

Sasha nodded and prayed that the alphas would have the presence of mind to warn the guards before Patty arrived.

She stood back. The crowd on this side was beginning to thin. They had arrived with over sixty females and only about twenty were left when Sasha walked to the back and let the groups handle themselves while she watched, her heart beginning to trill.

She was going to see Zev! And she was bringing back females to Thana! The males were going to be over the moon.

She just prayed Zev had remained healthy and hadn't been doing too much. She was dying to touch him again and be close and… gah.

She shook her head. Only an hour or two, she reminded herself. Once she was through the Gateway it was just the hike to the village, then she'd finally see him.

There was only two groups left to go—ten females in total, including their Alphas. Sasha smiled at Mae who acknowledged her before stepping into the Gateway and being swallowed by the wall.

Then there were five. Then only two.

Sasha hadn't realized she was holding her breath until the last female strode carefully into the Gateway, and a cry of joy broke in her throat.

Sasha clapped her hands and leaped forward, but Nick's hand caught her elbow just as she moved.

She whirled on him, face twisted in a snarl, but he released her and put his hands up. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—I just need you to tell me something before you go through!"

"What?!" she snapped.

"I need you to… to promise to protect me," he said, swallowing. His face was pale, she realized. That sheen of sweat back on his brow.

He was terrified.

"I need you to tell me you'll order them not to… to eat me, or whatever. You need me over there, Sash. Nathan won't leave you alone unless he's hearing regularly from me. You have to keep me safe!"

Sasha shook her head. What a fucking coward.

"I will order them not to touch you physically, Nick. They won't kill you. But I don't have any control over Zev," she said, trying not to smile. "And I can't control what the creatures will do if you start roaming around outside the village. So my advice is to stay close."

Nick nodded quickly. "I will. I will. I just need to observe and make notes. That's all."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "You really are a coward, aren't you, when you don't have all your tech and control of the situation."

"No," Nick spat, his hands clenched to fists. "But I've lived to witness enough death that I'm not looking forward to my own. Or Zev's. So I'm asking you to help me keep us both safe."

"I'll give you what protection I can, Nick. But the rest is up to you and God."

"I don't believe in God."

"Well, you better start," she said, then stepped into the Gateway.

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