~ ZEV ~

"What do you mean they make him stronger?" Zev asked Lhars quietly.

"I mean exactly what I said. They're strengthening him, doing everything they can to make sure he doesn't lose control—because he's completely under their thumbs," Lhars growled. "I don't know what they've promised him, but whatever it is, he has no desire to resist them, and as long as he's in power, the Chimera will follow too. It's part of the reason I didn't challenge him—only part," Lhars admitted. "I knew they were going to help him stay in power. But they were nervous today. I think you're the one they've warned him about. They all seemed very twitchy."

"That's got to be why he cast me out," Zev said, his lip curling away from his teeth. "It was such a wrong reaction… I can't help but think it was specifically designed to slow me from reaching him, to challenge for Alpha."

Surprisingly, Lhars nodded along with that.

Zev stared at his brother. "You know this?"

Lhars didn't look away from the flames but shook his head. "I only suspect. He's been imbalanced about you from the beginning. And you've come back stronger. He's nervous."

"Is he?" Zev scoffed. "If anything, he seemed less concerned than he should be."

"He's a master at hiding his fear. But he lives in it. The male has nightmares every night—the humans give him medication to stop them. At least, that's what he says. Or what they say. I have my doubts."

"Nightmares are hardly—"

Lhars looked up, his face twisted. "The kind of nightmares that close his hands on the throat of anyone who tries to wake him or help. The kind where he locks his door from the inside at night so no one can come to him when he's asleep. The male is insane and losing control."

Zev blew out a breath. "Why hasn't anyone challenged him before now? Why haven't you? Pure strength won't win you Alpha of All—you know that."

Lhars nodded and his face went hard. "No, you're right. Had you not shown up soon, who knows what would have happened? I've been preparing the wolves to abandon the Village, just in case."

"Why not just beat him?"

"Because we couldn't risk yet another dissolution of the hierarchy that gave the humans even more reason to be here, to interfere!" Lhars snapped. "I didn't have support outside of the wolves, and even then… I told you, Zev. Everyone's been waiting for your return. And now here you are. Clearly it's the Creator's will."

Zev's lips went flat at that, but he didn't respond. "So it's best if I challenge Xar when it's been a few days since the humans medicated him?"

"Definitely. I think you would still win, but he'll be easier to beat when he isn't juiced up."

Zev eyed his brother, his senses crackling with suspicion. "You seem very eager for me to fight the Tiger that you weren't prepared to fight yourself. Why?"

Lhars frowned. "I told you, I want to see the Clans back to balance and… why are you looking at me like that?" he growled.

"Because I don't trust you," Zev said. "You're acting… strangely."

Lhars' mouth dropped open. "I'm submitting. To you!"

"Exactly. You've never done that before. Why now?"

"You're serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious."

Lhars shook his head, his upper lip curling. "I do the right thing… you show up and I do the right thing and that's what makes you suspicious of me!? You aren't the only one who grew up in the past three years, Zev. But I'm happy to take another shot at kicking your ass if that's what it takes for you to see sense."

Sasha put a hand to his arm just as Zev was about to bite back. They met eyes and she shook her head.

Zev sighed. She was right.

"Fine," he said after a moment. "I just… Is there anything you haven't told us? Anything you're still holding for the Tiger?"

Lhars' eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "No," he spat, "I have done everything in my power to help you today, and this is how you treat me. I can't win with you, Zev." No one spoke, then a moment later Lhars pushed to his feet. "You have my vote for the mating ritual, and to attack Xar afterwards. I need to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Lhars," Zev started as his brother stormed for the front of the cave, but Skhal stood and shook his head.

"I'll go after him," the older male said. "He's just tender about losing his position. But he's right, Zev, he's done the right thing. It's up to you to acknowledge that."

"I already have!" Zev said, feeling like a sibling defending themselves against their father. "I spoke in his mind and thanked him for all he's done."

"Then get your head out of your ass and mean it," Skhal said bluntly. "Because you're going to need him in the coming months. And you can't be looking behind everything he does to help you otherwise you'll never see the real enemy because you'll be so busy looking at the ally that you don't like."

"Weren't you the one who always warned me about him?"

Skhal snarled. "I warned you to watch for yourself because he wasn't submitted. Now he is. Since when do we not respect a Chimera who has submitted publicly?"

He left Zev sitting there, blinking, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he went after Lhars.

Sasha's hand tightened on his arm, but he didn't speak.

Was he wrong to be suspicious of his brother?

He barely spoke as Jhon led the vote for both the mating ritual, and for challenging Xar, then they all said their farewells.

Zev's head was spinning so badly, so off balance, he was late getting to his feet to receive the submissions of the councilors—a tradition he couldn't afford to skip as their new Alpha. So, motioning for Sasha to stand back since she wasn't yet an Alpha, he walked to the front of the cave and embraced and shared scents with each male before they left.

He couldn't help wondering what it would have been like if Lhars were here.

Would he have felt better, safer, sharing scents with his brother as well as the others?

He still didn't know.