Brir (Wanderers Between Worlds #2)

Chapter 38

The outskirts of Pharia City

Arya

Wraith was curled around me as I sat, looking back at the city. The silence was always peaceful out here.

As the sun descended, the fading light painted the skyline with hues of orange and crimson. The colors were so different from the world I came from. Wraith's warmth seeped through my clothes, comfortingly familiar and anchoring me in the moment. The city loomed in the distance, and I could see other Rizugae from Wraith’s pack patrolling the borders. They were more alert since the attack.

His breath ruffled through my hair as I snuggled him, my head resting on his leg. Tears fell silently down my cheeks as I contemplated what I was going to have to do. I closed my eyes, trying to picture the city as before.

The empty buildings and abandoned stores. The cars that had been left. Apartments torn to pieces.

It was hard to imagine. Three days from now, the once bustling city would be a ghost town. The homes that held memories of families, the parks that echoed with the laughter of children, the streets that once held festivals—all would soon be left to the hands of time.

I had tried so hard to rebuild this place. To give these people what they had lost when our world had been destroyed. The black ground that had spread over our planet, the plant life that had withered in days, water turned into acid. The destruction and death still haunted my memories. The ghosts of the people who had died followed me—the people I couldn’t save.

I had given these survivors hope, a new home, anything to keep them together. Now, New Pharia was being ripped away. This place, too, was destined to become another casualty. I wiped my tears away briskly, ashamed of being unable to hold them back.

I felt Wraith shift behind me. “You don't owe these people your life, Arya,” he said. I moved closer to the Rizuga. I had the most tremendous respect for the creature. He had always had my back. I leaned back into his warm body.

Even the Rizuga had an opinion about how I was failing these people. I sighed, not wanting to hear another lecture from Wraith. He hadn’t liked what I had already done to save what was left of our planet.

“Don't, Wraith. I can't take it from you, too,” I told the creature, one of my oldest friends. Theo and Brir were the only people I looked up to now as parental figures. They had raised me after what I had done. Wraith, I rescued as a kit. He had been with me since I was an adolescent. I was beyond proud of the Alpha he had become. Wraith had taken me to war and had fought beside me, kept me safe, and made sure I had always been protected. Like I had protected him.

"Then don't be a fool, " Wraith responded, his voice calm and soothing. His massive head moved over my shoulder, his large black tongue slithering out to lick across my neck. I ran my hands over his scaley head. “You are not your Bearer, Arya. Nor your seed maker.” His golden eyes looked at me. “You owe these people nothing.”

His words, though simple, struck me like a lightning bolt. I wasn't my parents. I wasn't responsible for this world's misfortune and distortion. Yet, here I was, carrying the burden as though it were strapped on my back. A deep sorrow gnawed at my very soul.

"There is more to life, Arya," Wraith continued, his scales shimmering in the weak light that managed to penetrate the gray clouds above. "Yours has been a life of servitude, sacrifice, and loneliness. You've given so much and asked for nothing in return."

I turned away, my gaze falling on the desolate landscape. The ruins of a once-thriving city stood silent, just past the barrier that I had built to protect what was left of my home. Now, it was just another scar on the face of our battered world.

“I feel like I am like my parents,” I told him honestly. “Like I’m moments from destroying everything.” My eyes were lost in the depth of his golden gaze, a sharp contrast to his dark, ebony scales gleaming in the faint sunlight.

Wraith didn’t respond at first; he just continued to watch me with his golden eyes glistening with a pearl of ancient wisdom. “They were going to kill hundreds, Arya. You stopped them. You have saved these people time and time again. Released them from slavery. There is a reason these people believe in you. You have given them more than any leader ever has before. You have given them hope. But you’re not alone anymore, Chihito. You can’t do this on your own. The weight is too heavy.” Wraith craned his neck, nudging me gently. His roughened scales felt oddly comforting under my fingertips. "Your heart is too heavy, Arya. It is too good for all of this," he said. "You carry the weight of several worlds; it threatens to crush you." His claws scraped gently against the rocky surface we were perched upon. His golden eyes searched my face with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

I sighed again, wrapping my arms around his enormous head. He pinned his ears to his head to nuzzle into my chest. His scales, rough like worn stone yet comforting in their familiarity, dug into my skin slightly as I held on.

"And yet," I whispered, "if I do not carry this weight, who will? It is too much to ask of anyone else." My fingers trailed over the grooves between his scales, each a testament to the battles he'd fought and the wisdom he'd earned.

"You mistake your role," Wraith replied, the soft rumble of his voice reverberating through my body. "You carry this weight because you choose to, not because you are the only one capable. You are powerful, Arya, but you are not alone." Wraith’s voice resonated deep within his hollow chest, rumbling against my shoulder.

I looked at Wraith, a bitter smile playing on my lips. "And yet here we are, having to leave our home for the umpteenth time," I said. My voice was steady but laced with pain that was all too familiar.

“Yes, we leave,” Wraith admitted, his enormous eyes reflecting the distant glow of the sunset that made the city look like it was burning. “But remember, Arya, taking them to Vale is the right thing to do. He is a good male. He has been leading that city well.”

"But Vale isn't home," I argued, swallowing the lump in my throat. A pang of sorrow seeped into my voice as I looked out across our lands for what could be the last time. "This… this has become our home, Wraith."

"Homes can be rebuilt, Arya," Wraith said, his voice heavy with the weight of centuries of wisdom. "Homes are not just places of stone and wood. They are also built from bonds and memories." He turned his massive head to look at me, his golden eyes soft. “You taught me that, Arya.”

I sighed, my heart heavy with the responsibility on my shoulders. Wraith was right, of course, but it didn't make it any easier to give up yet another home. I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of our people's faith in me and the love that bound us together.

I couldn't help but think of the lives we were leaving behind—the vibrant city, the friendships that had blossomed, and the laughter and tears shared within its walls. Knowing that we were leaving a piece of my heart here as well was a bittersweet feeling.

Wraith’s head lifted off my lap and swung behind us. I could hear footsteps approaching, but I didn't bother turning around.

“Who is it, Wraith?” I asked.

“Leonovus,” Wraith answered as his head turned back to me. He looked down his nose at me. “Do you want me to send him away?”

“No,” I answered. "Not yet," I added, my gaze fixed on the fading light of the horizon.

I heard the crunching steps draw nearer until they stopped behind us. I braced myself, steeling myself. I took a deep breath and turned my head to see Leonovus, who had stopped just feet from us.

He was a tall figure, his broad shoulders framed by the vibrant orange glow of the sunset. His dark purple fur made the colors of his hair glow. His eyes tracked the tears on my face, and his lips pulled down into a frown.

“Jasily,” Leonovus said, the nickname pulling at my heart. It was the name of the purple flower that no longer grew in our world.

Leonovus crouched on the ground and stretched out next to me. Wraith narrowed his eyes at the Valeti as Leonovus laid his head next to mine on his leg, but he said nothing.

“What’s the matter, Jasily?” Leonovus asked as he raised a hand and wiped a tear from my cheek.

"I can't believe we have to leave it all behind... again," I whispered, the tremor in my voice barely concealed. "It's like... it's like we're only ever allowed to taste happiness.”

“You know that is not true,” Leonovus said, his voice gentle.

"But it feels that way, Leonovus." My words hung in the air, vulnerable and raw. I could see the pain in his eyes, mirroring my own. He sensed my grief and shared it even, but he had always been the stronger one.

His hand gently reached out to tangle with mine. “What's really bothering you, Jasily? Because I know that's not it, or at least that's not the only thing that has your mind in pieces,” Leonovus asked. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

"It's just…” I started, but the words got lost. I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t want to admit all of this to another person. “I feel like I’m losing control, Leonovus.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

Wraith nuzzled my shoulder again. He knew what had been going on since the rupture. The Rizuga had been anchoring me, keeping me in check with reality.

“My polar has started, Leonovus,” I admitted.

The shock on his face made my stomach drop.

“No, that’s impossible!” Leonovus stammered, his pink eyes widening in disbelief. "You can't... you're not... you’re not old enough yet."

I know," I muttered, the words coming out like shattered glass. My hands clamped shut on his, urging him to believe what was unfathomable. "But it’s happening anyway. I never should have shifted like that. I’ve never lost myself to anger like that before, and we’ve been through some worse shit together.” I paused to find the best way to describe the feelings inside my chest. The slithering monster that pushed at my skin. “I thought the unease was from the rupture, that it just made my animal unsteady, but it’s gotten worse.”

“You think the rupture caused your polar? You think it activated your soul decay,” Leonovus said as he started connecting the dots. I could see his mind spinning.

“We both knew this was always a possibility, Leonovus. You told me so, remember? It was why you were sent to kill me,” I reminded him with a sad smile.

"Yes, but..." Leonovus’s gaze washed over my face as if he was seeing me for the first time. "That was just a theory, Jasily. We never truly believed that it would—I mean, we did say that. But I was wrong. The council was wrong. You weren't a threat. You proved that.”

“I wasn’t then, but the council warned us. Without an Anchor, I would become one,” I told him. “The monster inside of me will take over.”

His grip tightened around my hand, reassuring me he wouldn't let me fight this battle alone. For a moment, we sat in silence, his gaze fixed firmly on mine. "Then we find an Anchor," he finally said, determination creeping into his voice.

I could see in his eyes that he believed in his words. He wanted to believe that we could find someone for me. “You know it’s not that easy,” I protested. “I am the last Ellid, Leonovus. “You know what happened to my parents, what I had to do. What they sent you to do to me.”

“That won’t happen, Arya,” Leonovus said. “I won’t let it come to that. Merrick bonded to a human, and he’s not the first. We can find your Anchor.” Leonovus looked at me unflinchingly, his hand clenching mine with a force that belied his calm exterior. "You're not alone in this, Arya. Remember that."

"But I am," I replied, tears streaming down my face like a silent waterfall. “The changes are already becoming permanent. I know you see it and now we have to go to Vale. He has the Magi there.”

Leonovus was silent for a moment, his face etched with deep concern. "I do see it, Arya," he admitted softly. "But that doesn't mean we're out of options. I will handle the Magi."

“You haven’t been around her in three hundred years, Leonovus. I will not ask you to stay there.” I gave him a stern look, pulling up my walls to lose another person close to me.

“She won't dare cause you trouble, Arya. Vale has her on a tight leash,” Leonovus said, his teeth grinding in frustration. “She knows Vale will put her down if she tries anything, even if you're going through your polar. We will find your Anchor, and you will get better.”

Dozens of responses swirled in my mind—from sarcastic rebuttals to bitter accusations—but all that slipped past my lips was a soft sigh, a fragile surrender to the reality of my situation. “I’ve waited hundreds of years, Leonovus. No one has ever triggered my rut. You know the council said there was no record of an Ellid ever bonding outside their species. They warned us that I would need to be put down eventually.”

"I know, Arya," he murmured gently. “But history isn't always a roadmap to the future. We're not out of time yet." His gaze was steadfast, and his voice was imbued with a determination that made me want to believe in the impossible.

Wraith’s head raised to look behind us. A growl rumbled from his throat. Leonovus sat up to look.

“Who is it, Wraith?” I asked for the second time in an hour.

“It’s a human,” Leonovus said, eyes narrowing at whoever was moving towards us. “One of the soldiers.”

I sat up as well with a sigh. I had come out here to be away from the city's people. To try to piece my thoughts together. I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

“What do you want, human?” Wraith snarled, baring his teeth.

The bronze skin of the human’s arms was shiny with sweat from the hike. He had made an effort to come here to talk to me. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking between Wraith and me, then to Leonovus. I knew his face as one of the men that I had let live when the military had attacked the city.

“I just want to talk to her,” he said, his voice calming, his eyes tracking me.

The soldier approached slowly, his face glistening with sweat as he crossed the distance between us. Wraith's hackles rose, his large paw resting protectively next to my hip, but I ran my hand down the large creature’s leg, soothing his disturbed scales.

"Leave him, Wraith, " I ordered, my voice steady despite my chaotic emotions. The Rizuga’s growl quieted, but his vigilant eyes remained on the human.

The soldier's eyes flickered to Leonovus and Wraith before finally resting on me. I could see a flicker of fear in his gaze,

"What do you want?" I asked curtly. I didn't have to be kind to these men because something in me had saved them.

The soldier took a deep breath before speaking. "Arya. That's your name, right?" he began, hesitating momentarily. I gave him a hard look and then a single nod. His gaze was steady, unflinching as he continued, "I know what you're about to do, and I want to help.” His words echoed in the quiet air around us. I narrowed my eyes at the man as I tried to place which of the soldiers he was.

I huffed out a disgusted sound and rolled my eyes.

Leonovus glared at the man, his arms crossing over his chest and a sarcastic half-smile of disbelief on my face. “And why would you think you could help us?”

The soldier seemed unfazed by Leonovus's hostility. His dark eyes locked on me. His eyes held a softness that was stark in contrast to the surly Wraith. He nervously removed his hat, exposing cropped, dark chestnut hair that was longer on top and curled into rings. He looked at me for a moment and swallowed hard.

"Because you saved my life," the soldier responded, his voice hoarse. "And I owe you a debt that I intend to repay." His eyes held a deep-seated conviction, a stark contrast to the uncertainty in his voice. “I have good manners like that.”

I laughed, a hollow, mirthless sound. I caught the barest flicker of surprise in his eyes before he quickly masked it. "Manners don't win wars, soldier," I said bitterly. My fingers absentmindedly traced the ridged scales on Wraith's leg, feeling the familiar rush of warmth beneath my fingertips. His body shifted under my touch. I turned my attention back to the soldier, prepared to dismiss him again, but something in his eyes held me still.

"True," he acknowledged, his gaze steady, "but intelligence does." He reached inside his pocket, his fingers reappearing with a folded piece of paper, which he handed to Leonovus. Leonovus opened it and gave it to me. My eyes scanned over the neatly folded paper.

“And what is this?” I asked, setting the piece of paper down beside me.

The soldier cleared his throat, sounding unusually nervous. “It’s a detailed list of everything that will go wrong when you move these people out of the city.”

I picked up the paper again, my eyes flicking over it again. His list was just one word on the piece of paper. “Ambush . ”

Wraith grumbled at that. I could feel his tension.

The soldier, however, did not move. Instead, he squared his shoulders and looked at me with renewed determination sparkling in his eyes.

Leonovus balled up his hands. “Is that a threat?” he growled out.

"No," the soldier responded, shaking his head with a calm that seemed out of place. “But you do need help. Or, more clearly, you need my friend’s help.”

“And why would we need the help of a human?” I asked.

I could see that he was studying me as his eyes narrowed. “Look, you don't have to like me. I get that, but you said I could have a home here. I've seen how you listen to and interact with your people. If you care about them, you need to listen to me because you have many people here counting on you, and you'll need help getting them to wherever you're going or you're going to get them all killed.” His snarky tone angered Wraith, who lurched to his feet, snapping his large jaws inches from his face. However, the man didn't even flinch. He looked into the maw of the Rizuga and then back at me before he crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“Wraith,” I said lightly, and he stepped back. “You’re very dumb to dare anger a Rizuga,” I told the man, looking at him with cold eyes. He still didn’t back down.

“I know he won't hurt me,” he said, turning back to glare at me. “Not without your permission. I've seen just how they act with you.”

I was done with this conversation. I waved him off. “Go away.”

But the soldier stood his ground, the glint of stubborn conviction in his eyes unyielding. He shook his head, a scowl etched onto his face. “No,” he said, his voice low and simmering with determination. “Are you not going to give me the same respect you give your people? I thought you said you don’t hold grudges. That we could be one of your people. Were you lying?”

Those words hung in the air, a challenge between two fierce beings under the crimson-dyed sky. Silence followed, only interrupted by the sporadic gusts of an approaching storm. I cocked my head slightly to one side, studying the human before me.

I felt a tight knot of irritation in my chest. His audacity, his relentless pursuit of my acceptance, irked me. But I remembered the respect he'd shown for my people and the efforts he'd made to integrate, and I sighed heavily. Wraith growled beside me, reacting to my shifting mood. Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger to dissipate the building headache.

But his courage, or perhaps stubbornness, was laudable. I sighed and ran a hand through my unkempt hair, a gesture of frustration rather than fatigue.

"And what makes you think you're in any position to offer me help?” I asked as I leaned back on my hands.

The soldier held my gaze, his eyes hardening with resolve. “Because,” he began, defiance etching each word, “I know who you’re going up against.” His gaze softened slightly as he gestured around. “I know what they will hit you with, and your people are all civilians. They can’t defend themselves, and you know it.”

I was silent for a moment, taken aback by his honesty. Then, an uneasy realization hit me; he was not wrong.

Leonovus sat back, his form casting an imposing silhouette against the dwindling light of the setting sun. “We can protect them,” he countered.

The soldier smiled sarcastically back at the Valeti. “No, you can’t. You don’t have enough people.” The soldier placed his hands on his hips. He was getting frustrated, and a vein on his forehead began throbbing.

A crack of thunder in the distance punctuated his words, momentarily pulling my gaze from the stubborn man before me to the horizon where blue lightning struck the horizon. I studied him briefly, my eyes dragging down his body as he stood before me.

“Sit with me, human,” I said.

“Wyatt,” he said to me sternly. “My name is Wyatt.”

“Wyatt,” I parroted, chuckling. “Sit.” When he only raised a dark eyebrow at me, I smirked at him. “Please.”

He hesitated, his gaze flicking to Wraith before he finally moved to join me on the ground. Wyatt, as he insisted on being called, folded his legs under him as he sat beside me on the rocky outcrop. He crossed his arms, staring back at me.

“Wyatt, why do you think you can help me? I have led people to war. I'm very experienced in combat. I know how to move soldiers. I’m very good at what I do," I explained. But I didn’t look his way. I kept my eyes on the landscape in front of me. "I can move these people.”

"Your people are not soldiers,” he retorted, shifting his gaze to the encampment below us. The lone figures moved about like ants, their lives hanging in the balance of our conversation. “They are farmers, craftsmen, women and children. They will break under the pressure of a real fight.” There was a bitter edge to his voice that hadn’t been there before. His deep-set eyes were filled with the weight of knowledge. “You guys are still using bows and sharp sticks. You don’t know how to move against human weapons," Wyatt continued, his voice echoing in the vast emptiness around us. "Your pride will slaughter them." His tone wasn't mocking or insulting. Instead, it was filled with a serene sort of confidence that made me question my own.

The words hung heavy in the air, his conviction unyielding. It stung me; the truth of it was apparent yet unspeakable. I clenched my fist, turning my gaze towards him.

"Wyatt," I grumbled, my voice grating against the silence. "Do you think I have not considered that? Do you believe that I am so blinded by pride to risk the lives of my people?"

He met my gaze with a calm, unfaltering expression. “No, I’m hoping you will listen to me.”

"Your hope seems to be borne of arrogance, Wyatt," I retorted, clenching my teeth. "But... go ahead. Speak your wisdom."

“Look, lady. You almost lost the city last time. You had a trump card no one knew about. They were going to take this city. You guys aren't bulletproof. You played your cards, and now they all know your hand. They are going to aim for you first, and you know it. They are going to make sure to kill you this time. And you know what I don't see around this whole fucking city?” He paused, but I didn't speak up, so he continued, “A single fucking gun,” he said the last part slowly, punctuating each word.

His words cut through me, sharp and unexpected. I hadn't anticipated this confrontation. Yet here we were, on the precipice of a conversation that might very well shape the course of our survival.

"And why would we need guns? Why adapt to their ways when we can use ours?" I shot back.

Wyatt's eyes shifted toward the cityscape, his gaze scanning the horizon. "Because your way isn't going to cut it anymore.”

“We don't need guns to kill,” I told him. “They are rudimentary. They allow humans to kill without the feeling of doing so. You lose the consequence of taking a life. You can't separate the kill from your guilt from the task. If we kill, it is with the risk that that kill will break us.” My hands clenched into fists at my side. The anger I felt was a hot, seething pool in the pit of my stomach. But there was also fear there.

“You have what? Two dozen, maybe three, fight against a couple of thousand humans with vehicles, high-tech gear, and rifles. You won't win,” Wyatt said frankly. “They will track you from this city and hit you when you're on the road. You need to adapt. You need to fight fire with fire."

His words hit me like a punch in the gut, a mixture of stubborn defiance and cold logic. I knew he was right to a certain degree, but accepting his words was another matter altogether.

Wraith growled, exasperated by the human's tone. I placed a hand on his back, calming him down. “I would like to see humans try. I will eat them,” he snarled.

“You won’t have the chance. The military already knows how to kill the Rizugae. No matter how many of you there are, you’re no match for jets with missiles that can pick you off, and then you're not going to be protecting anyone,” Wyatt stated, his voice more resigned than vindictive.

His words echoed in my mind. I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in his argument. It was a harsh reality that we had to face.

"I would die protecting my people," I said quietly, determination seeping into my voice.

“That’s what they’re hoping you’ll do,” Wyatt said. “That you will die.”

I sighed, looking out at the landscape again. "Wyatt, what do you expect me to do? If we stay here, these people will get killed. If we leave, we will be hunted. I don't have good choices here.”

Leonovus ran his wrist down my arm, marking me with his scent and trying to calm my racing heart.

Wyatt was silent for a moment, his eyes focused on the horizon. "You're right," he admitted reluctantly. "The choices are terrible. But that’s why I’m sitting here. I want to even the odds for you, but you must trust me."

I frowned. Trust was a complicated word, an even more complicated emotion. Did I trust this human?

"Why?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation.

“What do you mean?” Wyatt asked, his brow furrowing.

“Why do you want to help us?”

“Because I like it here. I like these people. I see the good you’re doing,” Wyatt responded, his words soft yet firm. He turned to face me, his eyes filled with a sincerity I had seldom seen in humans. "You're not monsters, as much as the military might want to paint you as such. You're just trying to survive, same as us."

I studied Wyatt’s face. He was human but contradicted every prejudice I'd held against his species. His words were empathetic, and his regard for us did not originate from familiar hate or fear but respect. And that alone stirred something in me.

“How do you expect to help us?” Leonovus asked.

"By being smarter than the military," he said firmly. “They know your power hitters. We need to add some new ones.” Wyatt smirked as his eyes roamed over Leonovus. “I know a group of people with a lot of firepower, and I know they will be willing to help you.” His face was severe. “I know you saw my memories. You know it's true.”

I turned to look at him, my gaze piercing into his. He held my stare unabashedly, his eyes glowing with a determination that matched mine.

My jaw tightened, and I turned my face away from him, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. “The memories of the soldiers that I saved are all fractured. They are a mess in my head,” I admitted.

“Then look at them again,” Wyatt offered. I furrowed my brow, studying him. He met my gaze, his eyes steady and patient. "I mean it."

“You would let me look around your head?” I said. “You're not scared of what I’ll see?”

"No,” Wyatt said with a chuckle, “I’m not worried. Take a look around. I have nothing to hide." The seriousness in his gaze didn't waver, nor did the resolve in his voice falter. His willingness and his vulnerability took me aback. To offer up one's mind for exploration, to expose one's deepest secrets and memories. It was a raw honesty that I hadn't expected and one that touched me more than I cared to admit. “The group I know has the resources and firepower to help us. You just need to look at the memories inside my head. I'm willing to let you do it to show you I'm not lying."

The silence between us became tangible, filled with the weight of his words. I tried to swallow the knot in my throat and focused on the steady rhythm of my breathing. I knew he was right ... as much as it pained me to admit it.

I looked at him, really looked at him.

“Okay, come here.” I raised a claw to my wrist and sliced it open. Wyatt watched my blood run down my arm. I waved him forward, and he positioned himself before me, knees touching mine as I raised my hand to his temple. He looked calm. I placed my other hand on his chest, and his heartbeat was calm against my palm. He had no fear of me. My fingertips touched his temples, and l directed the blood to do its job. To connect us. The traveling liquid was warm on my skin.

Wyatt stiffened when my blood touched his skin, but he did not pull away. I could feel the tension in his body, coiled like a spring just below the surface. His breath hitched, and I gave him a reassuring look. My fingers stayed at his temples, tracing the contour until his heartbeat steadied against my palm.

My gaze never left his face, and he never winced away from me like the others had. He trusted me, and that made my heart hurt. Most of my people didn't trust me. I watched as my blood soaked past his eye. This part was painful, but he didn't scream, just winced his jaw tight, and when mine did the same, the world faded away, and his memories started playing backward. I watched his life in reverse, a whirl of color and sound. Fragmented images, laughter, tears, joy, and despair washed over me in waves.

I saw this very moment first as he looked at me through the haze of my blood. The fear coursed through him. The smell of it suspended in the air. We were tethered to me by bloodlines that made up who I was. I felt his disgust when his commander told his team to kill everyone as the barrier fell.

I watched as he emptied every bullet from his clip, sliding them into his pocket before he climbed into the back of a vehicle. He had been determined not to hurt a single person. I watched as he sat in a chair, relearning how to use a silver metal arm. Watched an older man scream at him. The names he was called were too shameful to be repeated. Watched as people attacked a group of raiders that he fought beside. I watched as he danced with a woman with an eye patch on.

I pulled away, severing the connection. The memories faded back into their own spaces, leaving the heavy weight of secrets now shared. Wraith, ever the protector, was watching me warily.

I looked into those eyes, the windows to a soul that had seen so much, endured unspeakable pain, and still held on to an unwavering faith in humanity, but only because of another. I’d seen Wyatt’s brother, a man with admirable strength and unspoken vulnerability at the same time. Wyatt’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he panted for breath.

“What did you see?” Leonovus asked. He eyed my blood as it dripped down Wyatt’s face.

“He's right,” I whispered, my claw falling away from Wyatt’s temple. “He is not one of the military. He was a plant for a rebel group. They call themselves War Dogs.” I watched as Leonovus’s face twitched, the only sign of his surprise.

Leonovus looked at Wyatt, who still sat in the dirt.

"Can we trust him?" Leonovus asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yes,” I said. I saw Brir and Artemis walking over to us from over Leonovus’s shoulder. Artemis eyed Wyatt with unease, one hand clasped in Brir’s.

“You’re sure these friends of yours will help us?” I asked.

“They will if I ask them.” Wyatt looked over at the couple. I broke eye contact with Wyatt and looked them over. Artemis was fidgeting. Brir carried the file I remembered from my apartment in his free hand.

“Then meet your new partner, Leonovus,” I told the Valeti. “I’m going to need you to work with him on this.”

I didn’t give Leonovus a chance to respond before waving Brir over.

“What can I do for the two of you?” I asked them. “I doubt you’re here to discuss the weather.”

“No, we’re not.” Brir squeezed Artemis’s hand reassuringly. “Artemis and I are going to leave to save his sister. We’re going to break into the lab.”

My heart fell. I had called the meeting initially to work out those details. I had told them Leonovus would go because I needed them here.

“No, you’re not, that wasn’t the plan. I’m going,” Leonovus told him, crossing his arms over his chest. “You won’t make it into the lab, and you know that.”

"But we have to," Artemis argued. “This is the only lead we have on Apollo. I have to know if they took her and if you have to move these people you need here. Brir and I talked about it. We think it's for the best.”

“It's not what's best. Not if you get caught,” I told the pair. “I’m not allowing it.”

“You can’t stop us.” Brir’s brow furrowed, and his grip on the files tightened. “With everything going on, you don’t need us.”

"She’s not trying to stop you. She is stopping you," Leonovus shot back, his voice like frostbite. "We are telling you, you're not going. Arya is going to need you two here. She’s going to need your help with the people. There is no one better to do that than you. You can’t handle the military on your own. I can. I’m still going.” I could see Leonovus’s words had pissed Brir off. The anger poured off him.

Brir looked like he was seconds from swinging on Leonovus.

Wyatt stood up and moved in between the two, which was stupid. He was easily a head shorter than both of them, wiry and a fragile human. Still, Wyatt raised his hands, his face a mask of calm. "Guys, guys," he began, "what the fuck is going on here? This sounds like a little more than just hiding the people of New Pharia.”

“Stay out of this, human,” Brir growled, but Wyatt didn’t flinch. He merely set his jaw and held up a hand out to Artemis.

“I’m Wyatt.”

Artemis looked at the offering for a second before he took it and shook.“Artemis.”

“You’re a hybrid,” Wyatt stated the obvious as he looked over the scales on Artemis’s arms. “And I’m guessing you’re the package the military has been freaking out about losing.”

Brir’s spine went rigid, and he pulled Artemis away from the man.

“And if your sister is like you, she’s in the lab in North Dakota,” Wyatt continued as Brir eyed him with disdain.

“You know a lot about what’s going on,” Brir growled, wrapping his arms around Artemis protectively.

“It’s my job,” Wyatt said quickly, shrugging his shoulders.

The air around us seemed to thicken, freezing everyone in place. Artemis turned to look at Brir, whose jaw clenched and unclenched uncontrollably. The silence was so deafening that it felt almost physical, pressing down on all of us.

"The lab in North Dakota?" Artemis questioned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "How do you know about it?"

Wyatt shrugged again, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "Look, the guys you have here are trustworthy. They all worked for me. They were a part of my team, trying to gather information on what was happening in the cities. I’m supposed to report back to Crash. She’s the person I can go meet who will help you," he replied, pointing at me. “I need someone to help me get to Arizona.” Wyatt looked to Leonovus. “After that, I can take you to North Dakota. Hell, I might even be able to get you into the lab.”

“You might?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“I’m presuming all the information is in that file.” Wyatt looked over at Brir.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Can I see it?” Wyatt asked.

Brir looked to Artemis, who just shrugged his shoulders.

“Arya?” Brir said my name like a question.

“Show him,” I told Brir.

Brir hesitated for just a second before he handed Wyatt the file that he had taken after the soldiers had attacked him weeks ago. I had added all the information I had found out to it.

Wyatt went to open the file, but I reached a hand out to stop him. “If you betray me, I will end you, human,” I told him, looking at him hard.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Wyatt said with a cocky smile. He walked over to a large rock and sat down, then opened the file and started flipping through the pages.

I watched as he poured over each page, his fingers running over the lines of text, occasionally flipping back to cross-reference some detail. A knot formed in my stomach. I was worried we had made a mistake that Wyatt wasn't as trustworthy as he portrayed himself, even if his memories told me he was. Artemis seemed to share the same sentiment—he looked worriedly between Wyatt and me.

Artemis and I watched as Wyatt’s eyes darted across the pages, his expressions shifting between curiosity and astonishment. Brir stayed close, his large form casting a menacing shadow over Artemis’s shoulder, his arm around his middle, cradling Artemis against his body.

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed as he skimmed through the pages, his brows furrowing deeper with every line he read. Seeing him engrossed in Apollo's information made my heart throb painfully again. I felt terrible for Artemis. Everything he hoped for hinged on one man right now. I would send Leonovus to the labs because Brir had promised Artemis they would find her. I owed Brir everything I had, but I also needed those two safe. If they went to the lab, they would most likely die there. Leonovus was the best option they had. He would bring Apollo back to Artemis if she were still alive.

"Leonovus," Wyatt said, letting the file fall onto his lap. “Have you read this file?”

Leonovus moved closer and looked over his shoulder at the documents.

“Yes,” Leonovus replied, “but I didn’t see anything that stood out.”

“Okay, tell me your plan,” Wyatt demanded as he turned another page.

“I was just going to take a Lepot there,” Leonovus admitted. “Watch the lab for a bit and get her out.”

“You planned to ride a Lepot?” Wyatt looked wide-eyed at the Valeti. “That would take you weeks.”

“Do you have a better option?” I asked.

“Yeah, we get a fucking car,” Wyatt said sarcastically. “It would take us three days max with a vehicle.”

“Yeah, that’s not an option in the middle of the apocalypse,” Artemis said, rolling his eyes.

“Maybe for you guys,” Wyatt said with a huge grin that showed his perfectly straight white teeth. “Crash has a bit of a hobby. I can get us a car. Can you get us to Arizona in one piece?”

“Of course I can,” Leonovus told Wyatt.

“Then I can get us from Arizona to North Dakota,” Wyatt said.

“You’re very confident about that,” Brir said, looking at Wyatt suspiciously.

"Damn," Wyatt swore under his breath, the weight of the situation starting to sink in. His gaze flickered between me and Artemis, his mouth forming soundless words as he tried to process the information. Then, he was back to turning the pages in the file. “You guys saw this, right?” Wyatt pointed. All of us moved closer, looking at what he was pointing at. “CLASSIFICATION: ANGEL,”

“What does that mean?” Artemis asked.

“No idea.” Wyatt turned another page. “I was hoping you knew.”

“You’re sure you can do this, Wyatt?” Artemis asked.

“Yeah, we can take two Lepots to Arizona,” Wyatt said. “I can do the rest from there.”

“No. No Lepots.” Wraith’s growling voice spoke from behind us. We all turned around to face the Alpha of the Rizugae, who had been primarily silent this time. “Two of my pack will escort you there.”

I was utterly shocked. “Wraith, you would do that for us?" I asked. Rizugae never let anyone but a bonded ride on their backs. They were not animals of burden. They were sentient creatures. It was beneath them. It was unheard of.

Wraith made a low sound deep in his throat and an almost imperceptible nod.

“It is the best option, Arya,” Wraith explained. “They will need protection with the military coming down on us. They need to get there. My pack will make sure of that.”

His eyes, previously hardened with determination, softened as they met mine, a silent reassurance that we were not alone in this fight. Wyatt and Artemis exchanged glances.

"Very well," Leonovus said abruptly, breaking the silence that had fallen over all of us. “Thank you, Wraith.”

Wyatt rubbed his forehead and let out a sigh. After a few moments of contemplation, he nodded and said, "Okay, I’m not going to lie. That scares the shit out of me. I barely know how to ride a horse. I’m guessing it’s not similar."

“We will give you a crash course,” I told Wyatt. “Okay, we have the transportation figured out, but how will you guys get into the lab?” I asked, looking between Leonovus and Wyatt. “That place is probably going to be heavily guarded.”

Wyatt grinned. “That’s the easy part. If this is where they are holding the hybrids—” Wyatt raised the folder in his hand for emphasis. “You’re right. The place would be a bitch for anyone else to get into.” Wyatt snapped the folder closed and leaned back before he started spinning a pen idly between his fingers. “But I can do it.”

Leonovus narrowed his eyes at Wyatt, clearly skeptical. "You think you can get us into the lab?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief.

“I know I can get us in,” Wyatt said. “And I know I can do it without even shedding a drop of blood.”

Leonovus leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “I don’t believe you,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Wyatt's lips curled into a cocky smirk as he replied, "Don't underestimate me, Leonovus." But his eyes remained cold and serious. “You might be able to whoop my ass in hand-to-hand combat, but I’m pretty fucking smart, and I know how these assholes work. Better than you.”

"Alright, Wyatt, if you’re so smart…" Leonovus said, his voice showing a hint of interest. “Tell me how.”

Wyatt snapped the folder open once again. He flipped to the last page and traced a finger along the bottom of the document, stopping at the bold signature scrawled in black ink. “Colonel James Hathaway signed off on this order,” he said, turning the file to me so I could read the signature.

Leonovus' eyes narrowed as he tried to determine what Wyatt was looking at. His lips tightened into a slight frown.

"Why does that matter?" I couldn't help but ask, feeling as confused as the others around him.

Wyatt's eyes scanned the document before him, his finger tracing down the page until it landed on a specific line. “Because,” Wyatt paused, turning the page, “it says here that Hathaway will sign for the package when it is delivered. I'm presuming you were the package that was supposed to arrive.” Wyatt pointed at Artemis.

A corner of Artemis's mouth lifted in a sly smirk, his rigid stance loosening slightly. "Looks like I was," he quipped, the tension in his body easing some as Brir rubbed his hands down his sides.

Wyatt leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "Hathaway is the key,” Wyatt continued. "See, if Hathaway is the one who was supposed to sign for Artemis, he's the military liaison at the lab. The guy who is keeping all the lab rats under control.”

Leonovus's eyes flickered with understanding, but he maintained his impassive facade. "So you're saying we use Hathaway?”

“Not Hathaway himself, no. We would never be able to get close to him. We would get gunned down. No, we need one of the few people who Hathaway gave security clearance to already. The soldiers wouldn’t dare search someone who carried his mark.” Wyatt’s tone was steady, his gaze never leaving ours.

I rolled my eyes at Wyatt and tapped my fingers on my thigh as I leaned into Wraith’s giant body. "How exactly do you expect us to find one of these elusive individuals?" I asked, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.

Wyatt's lips pulled back into a smirk, revealing his perfectly white teeth again. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and pulled out a plastic card before passing it to me.

I looked down at the card with Wyatt’s picture on it. When I read his name, my eyes widened.

Wyatt stood with his arms crossed and a smirk plastered on his face as if he had just won the discussion. I resisted the urge to punch him as he spoke, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You already have one.”

My hand instinctively clasped the card tighter.

His smirk seemed permanent now, a mask of smug satisfaction that contrasted sharply with the tension of the conversation.

“His son. Colonel Hathaway is my father.”

I had to force back a gasp, but Artemis wasn't as successful. His eyes widened comically for an instant as he read the name on the card.

“You can’t be serious,” Brir said.

"Oh, but I am serious," Wyatt replied, his smirk dissolving into a hard line of determination. He held his gaze steady, meeting each of our shocked expressions one by one. "He's my old man. Not that he ever cared to have me around much … unless it was for show," he added bitterly. I saw a flash of hurt in his eyes for just a moment before it was gone.

Wyatt plucked his ID from my hand, tucked it back into his wallet, and shoved it back into his pants.

“I can get us in,” Wyatt said, looking at Leonovus. “But can you get the girl?”

Leonovus, who had been standing still with his arms crossed, now uncrossed them and stepped forward, an impressed expression plastering his features as he held out a hand to Wyatt. His gaze was cool but certain as he nodded. His catlike tail whipped back and forth with excitement. “Don’t worry about me.” Leonovus flexed his claws, extending them for show. “I can get the girl.” Wyatt took his hand with a determined smile as they shook on their agreement to be a team.

“Then we have a plan we all agree on,” Artemis said, locking gazes with each of us in turn. I watched as he took a deep breath, the world around us seeming to fall quiet for just a moment.

“Alright, you two. Let’s get you geared up,” I said to Wyatt and Leonovus. “You leave in the morning.”

“I think I’m going to like you, human.” Brir held his hand to Wyatt next, a soft smile on his lips. “Take care of him, Leonovus. You're going to need him.”

Leonovus's smile turned feral. “You know I will,” the Valeti replied. “I will bring them all back to Kansas. You have my word.”

It was a good plan, and for the first time in the last few days, relief washed over me. I held my hand out to Wyatt, giving him my approval. “Welcome to the family, Wyatt Hathaway. I hope you understand what you just signed up for.”