“No!” Grif shoved her aside—putting himself in the pack leader’s path.
Her heart stuttered as she fell, her body twisting, hands out to try and reach Grif, knowing the instant the dart pierced his skin it would bring death.
Grif’s gaze locked with hers, a farewell before they’d even begun. “I love you.”
Talg crumpled at his feet, his hand with the dart never reaching Grif.
Ramm stood behind the leader’s body, a glowing spear in hand.
48
Shock, then horror, ripped through the pack.
Ramm had killed Talg.
The warbling traditional grief cry that should have pierced the air, did not.
A heavy silence coated the stillness instead.
Grif shoved to his feet. He grabbed for her as she launched herself at him.
Only Ramm appeared as stoic as before, his gaze locked on Grif. Perhaps he was simply in shock. With a single act of rebellion, he had transformed the pack’s destiny. “Mave tarish dlakim?” Ask your male if the deal still stands?
She was too stunned to do anything but obey, repeating the request to Grif.
Wrapping her tighter in his hold, he nodded. “Tell him yes. But there will be no more second chances. Tell him that you are under my protection. Anyone who tries to harm you will be killed.”
She repeated his answer, but then asked Ramm a question of her own. “Whashe?” Why?
Ramm did not need clarification. “I do not know if the Ancients will judge my actions as just, but I cannot regret what has been done. I…” he looked away, “I never agreed with many of Talg’s decisions, but he was leader.” He shook his head. “I did not ask the questions I should have. I did not listen to my doubts. I will have to live with that cowardice, and what it has cost me.” He looked around. “Cost us all.”
Nayla’s heart bled for him. “You are a male of honor.”
The tip of his ear twitched, the only indication of the well of emotion behind his somber stare. “I do not know what is truth, but I do know this. Talg always said the Others were savages. Good for nothing but death. But this one not only pushed for peace, he was willing to give his life for you. That is a bond between pack and Other we never imagined was possible. Like so much else today, we have seen with our own eyes something new and miraculous.”
Awe whispered through her. She had always known that what she and Grif felt for each other would reshape them for the better. She had not realized their love would alter the fate of so many others, as well.
For a Gazi who had always wanted to matter, it was a heady realization.
“Your Other’s act of courage showed me I could do no less.” Ramm stared down at his ex-leader’s body, his scowl deepening. “Talg stood in the way of this path.”
Grif had found a way to keep his promise to her, after all. Thanks to his act of courage and love, there would be no bloodshed. Instead, there would be peace.
Ramm turned to address the fearful pack. “This rotation we make a different choice. We forge a new way. Anyone who disagrees or who seeks to challenge my rule, do so now.”
Silence. A few hunters shifted their weight, their grips on their spears tightening, but no one stepped forward. Ramm would make a better leader than Talg ever had.
“The Others will keep their word, pack leader.” She used his new title, a confirmation of what he’d just won.
Ramm nodded.
Grif shifted beside her, his tension growing with every moment that the exchange between her and Ramm continued.
“You could rejoin pack. Serve as go-between.” The new pack leader’s usual blank expression wavered slightly and, for an instant, she saw the same male who had given her the spear and words of hope, the one who had looked at her with longing. “It would be an important position.”
She appreciated what he offered. Greater respect and the chance to join the pack in some capacity. More than she had ever dreamed was possible before Grif. Except now she knew so much more awaited her.
“I will not rejoin pack.” She hurried on as the male’s skin flashed red. He might be a better leader than Talg, but he was still pack. He still thought of her as Gazi, and he would only tolerate so much. “With your blessing, though, I will serve as translator and negotiator and look out for pack concerns.”
His frown lessened. “This is acceptable.”
“What’s he saying?” Grif had had enough of waiting.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Malin and the others freeing the missing females from the pens, Lana at the head of the charge. With a cry, the dark-haired female ripped the anazi off one of the females. Zale swept another into his arms. One by one, all were freed. Soon to be reunited with their friends and families.
It would never erase what she had done, but it was a start in the right direction.
Behind Ramm, the pack shifted restlessly. The presence of so many Others moving freely in their midst only added to their strain as the suns disappeared behind the horizon and darkness crept closer.
Ramm grunted her way again.
“He says it is past time for us to collect the females and go.” She smiled up at Grif. “But that I should come back to trade food for metal soon.”
“Tell him, where you go, I go, too.” He hauled her close, nuzzling her neck in the pack form of affection, a claiming all of its own. “You will never be alone again.”
They were two enemies from different worlds, swirling though the Void like dust, molded by an indifferent, harsh universe, who fit together perfectly.
Epilogue
“Tell me what I need to know and there’ll be no unnecessary suffering.” Grif stalked toward the foot of the bed.
Life on Dragath25 was war. Combatants all around. One couldn’t just nicely ask the enemy to give up information or believe that a scowl and a threat would do the trick.
Unless that target was his beautiful mate.
Of course, she thought they were just playing per usual. She had no damn idea.
“I always like your consequences.” Restrained to the bedposts, arms and legs spread wide, she stared up at him, a feast of golden skin, wild hair, and, best of all, iridescent kitten eyes filled with unabashed need and trust.
Even after he’d surprised her by scooping her up early from tonight’s settlement party, hauling her to their bed, pulling out his ropes, and tying her up tight.
In his view, there were too damn many get-togethers anyway, but his mate cherished them so he sucked it up. But tonight, he’d drawn the line.
Tonight, he was taking Nayla for himself.
Tonight, he was finding out what she’d been keeping from him.
“Rule number one, you’re allowed to scream my name.” Circling to the side, he trailed the end of his rope over her belly and up the valley between her golden breasts.
Her skin flushed pink.
“Rule number two,” he circled the braided end over one pebbled nipple. “You’ll give me your full attention.”
“Always,” hips lifting, she arched toward his rope, “that feels so good. I love when you play me.”
“And I just plain love you.”
Just looking at her in their home, spread across their bed, made his cock hard and his chest tight, rousing the ferocious tangle of lust, protectiveness, and possession he always felt for her. Especially when he remembered how close he’d come to losing it all.