D-Day

If you like music while you read, try "Right Where it Belongs" by Nine Inch Nails (trust me). It's what I listened to while writing!

*****

~ SASHA ~

In the end they waited almost eleven weeks from when their baby was stolen. While the Gateway seemed to be less guarded, Zev didn't want to risk trying to go through, only to find that their baby still hadn't been delivered, so they would have to step back into Thana without know who was there.

"But we can't leave him with them, Zev! Not even for a few days!" Sasha had cried.

"We won't, babe. We'll make it take us back to the first day after he's delivered that we can get in there."

That had soothed her somewhat, but the sudden shift of her expectations had been hard to swallow. When they'd made the decision, it was only three days away from ten weeks. To have to wait another ten days had almost killed her.

But the morning before the night that they would travel dawned bright. Sasha had barely slept, and woke before Zev again, her body already humming with adrenalin.

She was going to meet her son tonight.

She couldn't quite take it in.

She also couldn't wait.

The day crawled by. Mundane things like eating, making sure the fire was completely out, bathing…. She wanted to rush through them all because it seemed like completing tasks would make the moment to leave come faster. But in truth, it just left her with longer gaps of time to fill.

But finally, finally the bright glow outside the ice cave began to fade and Zev started packing up. They were taking their bags and furs, just in case. They didn't know what they would face in the Safe Place

—or if they'd get stuck somewhere. Zev was insistent that they not make the same mistake as last time and leave themselves stranded.

When they'd gotten everything together and stacked in the middle of the cave, when the fire was cold, and there was no light in the cave except from a single candle Zev had found rolled under the huge dresser, they stood there, staring at each other.

It hit Sasha then, just how much of a toll this had all taken on him.

He had to have lost at least thirty pounds since this started. He was leaner, which made his muscles even more defined. But it also hollowed his features.

Staring up at him, her mate, Sasha felt a rush of love, and of fear.

Dark circles cut under Zev's eyes like bruises. With the hard light of the candle in his hand, the shadows in his hollowed cheeks made them look gaunt—his eyes sunken. The yellow flame warmed his skin, but in daylight he was paler than he had been, she knew. Whether that was the lack of sun because of their need to hide, or a health problem, she wasn't sure. But she prayed that when they finally made it to the safe place, he'd fill out again and find his joy.

"Are you ready?" he asked softly.

Sasha nodded, though she wasn't sure at all.

Zev took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling once, then he took her hand in his free one, bowed his head, and began to pray.

Sasha blinked, but clung to his fingers.

"We need help," Zev said bluntly. "If you're real… if you've been making all this happen… we need help. We need to get past the humans without being caught. We need to get through the Gateway to the right time and place to save our son. And we need to get him out of there without leaving a way for them to follow. We need to get to the Safe Place together, all three of us—" Sasha's breath caught. She hadn't thought of that—neither of them was bonded to their son. Would they even be able to bring him?

"—and we need to reach the Safe Place with him, to find our friends, and food and… we just need a life again. A life that isn't being manipulated or full of deceit. Please… please…" he breathed. He opened his eyes like he was done, but Sasha jumped it before he could say anything else.

"And please… show Zev that you love him. Show him that all of this is… it has to be for a reason. Show him that you're helping him, not hurting him. That he's not condemned. Whatever we have to do… please… bring us all home together and with confidence. Please?"

She bit her lip, watching for his reaction. Zev didn't look at her, but he nodded. Then they were done.

Then Zev picked up the large burden and hooked it over Sasha's shoulders before shifting into his wolf.

Before she climbed onto his back, Sasha looked around one final time and that terrible ache began again in her throat and behind her eyes.

"Thank you, Yhet," she breathed. "Thank you for loving us, and helping us and… thank you for being so brave." Then she looked skyward, though she felt kind of silly doing it. "I know he's there, with you. Please… give him a hug from me?"

Zev made a strange huff, but Sasha just sighed, then climbed onto his back and buried her hands in his ruff to keep them warm, then they were on the move.

That was… really sweet, Zev said in her head as they walked out of the cave and onto the trail that would lead down to the crevasse, then the valley. He would love that if he heard that. He would have been tickled.

Sasha gave a little sobbing laugh. "I miss him so much."

Me too.

He walked down the trail, keeping his steps careful because it was difficult for Sasha to balance downhill with the large bundle on her back. But then they were in the crevasse and Zev began to trot, then lope.

This is it, he said in her mind. Do you want to stop at the City, or just cut straight through to the Gateway?

It's time, Zev. I'm done waiting.

He gave a little huffing woof.

Me too, Sash. Me too.