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