Rise of the Dark Alpha

Chapter 308 Feel Me Close

~ ZEV ~

The gateway on the human end was an old mining tunnel. The opening was rimmed in bricks that were likely a hundred years old, or more. An old, stone staircase crawled up to his right to curl over the top of the cave and lead to the hilltop above. But the trail out of the cave led straight down. If he followed it, he'd hit a locked fence first, then eventually the parking lot near the highway.

But all of that passed through Zev's mind only vaguely, because the moment he stepped out of the gateway, that spot at the center of his chest, the place where Sasha lived inside him, bloomed to life. He almost wept with relief when he felt here there, warm and tightly held within him.

Thank you, he prayed, then immediately reached for Sasha's mind. Scratching at her consciousness like a dog at the door.

Sasha?

She didn't answer immediately, which wasn't a surprise. He could feel her. Knew she was alive, which was the most important thing. But she would likely be asleep. He needed to wake her. He wasn't sure how much time he could take. The time in the gateway always shifted differently, and anyone passing through it could do so in a blink, or it could feel like a short journey, but could turn out to have taken hours when they finally reached the other end. He needed to get back before dawn.

Sasha? Please wake up beautiful. Talk to me.

ZEV?!

Her voice shrieked in his head and Zev had to stifle a laugh of relief and love.

Sasha, beautiful, are you safe? Are you okay?

Zev! What are you doing here?! You can't be here! You're going to get—

I'm just checking on you. I had to know… about the bond. I was so scared…

He felt her sigh. Me too, she sent.

There was a moment when their bodies reached for each other. Zev's hands closed to fists, the urge to touch her was so strong.

Dear Lord, Sasha, I'm just…

Me too, Zev. Her voice sounded as if she was on the verge of tears. You shouldn't be here, but I'm so glad. I've been so scared.

Me too. Have they hurt you? Are you okay?

I'm fine. I'm scared, and tired, and… everything about this place gives me hives. But they haven't hurt me, Zev. They're being very careful with me. They don't want to hurt me.

Shivering with relief. Zev let himself lean back against the wall of the cave and slide down to sit at its foot.

What are they doing? he asked, his voice faint with worry. Why did they take you?

They want to know if I'm pregnant. To you.

Zev blinked. But… you said it was too—

It is. I'm not pregnant, Zev, but they're… they've convinced themselves I might be and they're waiting to make sure. But I'm using this time, Zev. I'm going to get the females out of here.

Her voice rang with determination and resolve. Zev's heart squeezed.

I'm already negotiating with them about it, Sasha continued. And I think… I mean, they haven't said no.

Zev grimaced and dropped his face into his hands.

You can't trust them at all, Sasha. They'll keep stringing you along while they just do whatever they want to do, anyway.

Yes, I'm seeing that, she sighed. Then a moment later, she added in barely more than a whisper, I can't believe you're here. You can't be here, Zev. You can't risk it. If they catch you—

I'm not coming to you, Sasha. But I had to know. I had to face…whatever we might have faced without leading the others. If I'd lost you. If this broke the bond… it would have killed me, I think.

I know, I know. I'm so glad you're here. Zev, I miss you so much.

Her voice sounded pinched, growing higher, as if she was beginning to cry. He was so desperate to touch her, to comfort her, he clawed his hands into his scalp.

Show me where you are, he whispered. Show me where they've put you.

Almost immediately, an image flickered, then solidified in his mind as Sasha worked to show him and the room was revealed.

At first she showed him what she could see—a blank wall, a small nightstand, her own knees curled under quilts, and a door into the living room—open so she could see the space beyond it.

Zev recognized that it was one of the apartments immediately. He'd been there himself. Relief and tension twisted him between their hands. Having her in an apartment meant they were treating her as a guest. Which was a good sign. But… he didn't trust anything they did to mean what it seemed.

Then Sasha adjusted the images, and showed him herself, laying in bed, curled on her side, her hair splayed out on the pillow behind her.

He could feel the ache of her, yearning for him.

Zev… She breathed in his head and his body responded.

I'm here, Sash.

He took the image she was showing him—half memory, half vision—and inserted himself into it. Let her feel him lift the blankets and slid between the sheets, into the bed behind her. He found her hip with his hand and followed the line of her waist with it, pulling her back into his chest, his lips on her neck as he clung to her, curling his body around hers, his knees fitting perfectly behind hers and pressing her legs up, so she curled too, and he embraced her, surrounding her entire body, holding her close.

Oh, Zev.

I've missed you so much, Sasha. I can't even tell you. I have to… to not think about it, because when I do, it consumes everything. We're coming for you, beautiful. We aren't leaving you here.

You have to, Zev, she whispered as if they really were laying in that bed together. You have to. You have to leave me long enough that I can convince them, Zev. We'll never get them out of here without some agreement. If you show up, they'll take you and then neither of us will ever get out of here—and none of the females, either.

But—

They're dying, Zev. This place is killing them. They know it. They expressed that to me. They're… they're being destroyed, and the humans can't even see it.