Chapter 33

The meeting with the Elders reveals a new universe to me as I kneel by Alpha Skye, head bowed, eyes open as they all sit around a holographic map of the planet – defining cohabitation.

Most of what they spoke of – I could not understand the terminology. However, I could understand emotive mentions of 'The Residue'. It is an interesting term for my Kind, at least, the remainders of my Kind who were rebels causing havoc in unprecedented ways on Genesis.

However, one topic is constantly discussed and revolved around, everything about territory is for Wolf Dominion's concern.

My concern is the mind-blowing details I receive from Elder Iou's report to Skye about The Residue.

"In Cracklen, 5 miles deep – all Residue activity has remained completely covered or corrupt. All information has become unreliable as the spies have been paid off – from a very small Solividian mine that the Residue have acquired. It's not much and will last them a decade of money, but a decade is a long time to have spawn – to breed their kind."

"Numbers, Iou," Skye murmurs, looking interested.

"A small hundred worth of females and twenty, or less, male Human Kind," Iou tapers off.

I gulp, my knuckles turn white and I forget to breathe, as I focus on fighting the urge to raise my head.

Males?

I thought there were none left.

I feel faint from the shock, but I quickly exhale and inhale, focusing my sight down as my ears prick to Skye's response.

"20 or less? That's too many," Skye murmurs low, "What do we know about this Solividian mine?"

"Cracklen is the Shade's territory and they are only allies through physical trades – their word is what they make it, to keep you quiet," Iou sounds flustered.

"That's not the question I asked," Skye raises his voice a little and Iou remarks with a forced cough.

"…apologies… Alpha… I have no information for you," Iou seems uncertain in his tone, without looking at his face I feel his fear in his statement.

"Why is it so impossible to receive lucrative information from Cracklen?" Skye changes tactic.

"The Shades –"

"Untrustworthy or not as Genesis Kind with no ties to Dominions, they have truth inside," Skye slams the table, "How do I pay them for what I want most?"

"…that depends on the Shade, Alpha," Iou whispers so quietly, I can barely hear him.

"Is there something you're not telling me, Iou?" Skye kicks my thigh rough as he steps to the side. I jerk away in annoyance, but his foot keeps nudging me a few more times as the response is suddenly interesting.

I raise my head briefly – and I capture the gazes of the council of Elders of Wolf Dominion, all glaring at Skye.

"Something we're not telling you? Are you feeling disoriented again, Skye?" a different Elder I had learned was called Uoth, asks with a high pitched awful tone of voice, like his voice box was strained through constant authoritative speech, "You know Iou does not hide facts from Wolf Dominion. No one here does," Uoth doesn't have a leash either, because his snarl echoes suddenly, "Why do you question us like the enemy?"

I wonder why Skye hasn't set them all for execution with that lack of respect, but I guess they have some sort of special wisdom that requires their overbearing presence.

"The worm at my feet is the real enemy," Skye kicks me again, his boot in my ribs, "Up – rise, woman," I stand quickly with a huff while holding my rib cage and keeping my tongue in check, "I see my enemy so well she stands right beside me," I don't know what Skye's playing at but I pretend to be submissive with it.

"…what are you trying to say?" Iou now speaks, completly bereft, "Skye."

"I made my enemy a Lunette," Skye drawls, with a chuckle, while the Elders all pale in shock, "As I wish to know why."

"Why what?" Outh snaps, "Ivor is dead because of her!"

"I wish to know why my council are lying to me about The Residue. I've counselled this girl and found nothing but a sweet soul branded by the sun, but it has set her strength alight. She is a worm of patience… a warrior by a war wolf's flank… a good listener, most importantly… she is loyal," Skye murmurs that word with such passion, and gentle love, "LOYALTY TO WOLF DOMINION," Fuck, even I am set shaking on the spot from the roar Skye sends their way, "She tells me truth! Ryder will find The Residue, she will speak to the Shades and she will bring me the truth I seek."

No Elder has a response.

"Brother, please," In the aftermath of silence from Skye's roar and threats, Vastian steps from a table off to the side, where he has been mapping in the meantime. He speaks to Skye, with a tired gaze, "We cannot take many more risks involving heretical decisions against the Church we vow to follow."

"The light of the Genesis Moon guides me back to her," Skye grabs the back of my head, and I'm trying not to smile – which helps when he pulls on my hair a bit, and then I'm trying not to punch him in the side for his enthusiasm that turns to painful handling, "My nose for building my Dominion is flared and detecting traitors… among us…" Skye leans forward to the conference table and his words are like teeth tearing into his council, "Not outward – but from within. I see truth in her and lies in all of you. Vastian, you will listen also. What is the truth I am being denied –?"

"Okay, Alpha, please, I volunteer some information," Fawn steps forward, an older lady, raising her hand, "…you have correctly detected a fear, within me, as I have begun a research project, that only I and Iou and Outh know of – even the rest of the council are unaware."

"Go on," Skye unhands me, and he stares down Fawn, his death drawl is not let loose lightly.

"Human females are necessary for our research into our origins," Fawn lowers her head, "It is a controversial worry – we are looking into our roots, and where and if we are bonded to the other Dominions. I was going to present you with the findings once I had them detailed, not before, lest you think the idea an abomination from the start."

"Why do origins matter?" Skye asks, genuinely confused.

"Elders value history in that sense," Vastian contributes, "Skye, disband the meeting, your next appointment is with me and I expect you'll come, brother. I am very busy too."

"Go then. Disband," Skye allows the Elders to leave with a dissatisfied snarl he can't hide from his face.

I stand where I am, until the conference room is emptied.

Skye waltzes toward Vastian, while I watch the holographic map of the planet flicker off, as the power dies down. The rest of the room is circular with a ceiling window to the Genesis Moon, which shines down natural neon blue light.

"You're pushing buttons harder every damn year," Vastian whispers to Skye, but I hear as I approach, and I receive the tail end of Vastian's glare, "Worm. You're now a liability beyond measure."

"No, I'm not," I counter, even as Skye turns toward me and he cuts me off with a look I can't discern.

"Go to Lemeri," Skye nods at me, "I'll speak with you later."

"If her mouth runs off –" Vastian starts to growl his warning.

"I am loyal to Skye," I quickly jump in, "I am loyal."

"Ryder is – I know it," Skye speaks anecdotally.

"Lemeri is not," Vastian rolls his eyes, "That kind of influence is badder than bad."

"Not while she's Raygar's pet," Skye chuckles under his breath, then looks at me one more time, winking at me briefly, "I'll see you for dinner… and dessert… and perhaps I'll show you how to properly use the steam room?" Skye speaks with humour, turning to walk off, grabbing Vastian and pulling him along.

They exit and I find myself looking around realising freedom.

I have… a difference kind of freedom forming… from… trust – some sort of alliance.

I choose not to dwell on it yet. I just don't want to be out here too much on my own for too long. I remember the way back towards Skye and his families residences because it's a straight path.

I head past a Genesis Moon Church with translucent Moon stone stairs and pillars and altars, set in the centre of Wolf Dominion. I don't gaze too long at the procession having a mass, it makes me uncomfortable in my core.

I go straight to Lemeri's residence with the intent to avoid all topics of Raygar – sticking to finding out how to help Fyre instead. The little fighter and survivor was my priority.

I don't expect to knock on Lemeri's door and find the place empty.

I spin on the spot, and I look… up at the ceiling.

One level above, is Raygar's residence.

I should go back to Skye's place… but I find myself giving into curiosity.

I wonder what Raygar's place looks like?

I travel up and I walk towards a door, set ajar.

"What's it called?" It's a voice that travels but it's not Lemeri, it is another female.

"Rogue Master, darling," Raygar responds.

"That sounds formidable – Peal, don't fiddle with his robes, sweet heart."

I hear child like giggles and I walk up closer to peer in, checking out Raygar's home.

Four female humans dressed in minimal scraps of slave clothing, are walking around holding little mini Raygars. Sons.

These are his Breeders.

Ray himself is standing in front of a mirror, fixing himself up.

Lemeri is not inside.

But she does grab my hand in that moment and I turn, holding my breath and any squeak fighting to get out, as she appears behind me, a dark look in her eye.

"Aren't they all ghastly and ugly with their little gremlins?" Lemeri whispers into my ear and pulls me away, a mischievous twinkle in her gaze.

She drags me down the honey comb corridor to a sitting room by a window, overlooking the dry landscape so far below. It gives me vertigo, so I don't stare too long down.

"I've been looking for you –" I begin, as I take a seat next to her on a viewing couch.

"I've been stalking you all morning," Lemeri reclines back into her side of the couch and her arm rests along the back of my side, her fingers tapping the material, "…since you… and Ray… returned… to Skye…?"

Great.

We were talking about it.

I hold Lemeri's eye and I just blurt the truth, "We did exactly what you're thinking and I'm so sorry it happened, but it just –"

"I know you did," Lemeri blinks and holds her tongue, although her flaming eyes tell a different story, "He does everyone like that."

"Skye commanded –"

"Let it go, Ryder," Lemeri squeezes my shoulder and nods at me, while threading one of her hands through her long red hair and petting herself as she gazes at me, "I don't truly get jealous of who Raygar fucks, I get jealous of any woman he were to love… and he has only ever loved me. The worms, no offence, are just… chew toys. Or Breeders. Young Alphas fuck a lot, you see… and he can't be seen too much with me. Hostage. Cat," Lemeri claws her fingers into the couch, as if to remind me.

"Oh, ok, yes," I nod awkwardly and keep holding her eye, waiting for her to ask something very uncomfortable.

Instead, Lemeri actually changes the subject herself, "Fyre is doing terrible," my heart plummets into my stomach. I open my mouth but it's dry, and my words are stuck in my throat. Lemeri goes on, a tough skin helping her pass on the information, "She's refusing to act complicit and they're already torturing her with starvation and they've broken her arm… and I hear an ankle. Are you going to be sick?" Lemeri trails off as she stares at my cheeks and she reaches up to run a few fingers down my cheek, "You're going green."

"I must save Fyre," I gasp out, breathless from the horror of what I've heard, and I try to stand, but Lemeri kicks out my foot and forces me to sit back down.

"That's not how you save her," Lemeri holds my arm now, her claws digging in, "You act you don't care first off – then – you wait – next – you deceive her into a position of lesser torture. That's all you can do."

"I will speak to Skye," my voice wavers, but I try to remain strong.

"You can try, but he won't care," Lemeri finally unhands me, "You came to find me, then Raygar – what do you want with Raygar?"

Back to him.

I was going to be sick.

"I was going to say goodbye," I speak to the window, "He's leaving on a mission."

"What?" Lemeri trails off, clearly not knowing, apparently, "I –"

"I'm going back up," I stand up now while she's distracted and I walk away, needing to be alone.

I'm queasy all the way up to Skye's residence – but my day does not improve.

Outside his door…

…is a dead body.

A female helper has a shredded neck, the head is almost completely decapitated.

The gore doesn't worry me.

It's the cause.

"XRAT?" I yell out as I open the door, and I hear his bark of excitement.

I walk in and I shut the door, locking it.

Xrat doesn't come for me, so I go searching for him.

I walk into Skye's bedroom.

As I enter, I freeze as I see Xrat simply sitting by the window, blood dripping down his jaws and his chin, as he sits in a patch of Moon light, smiling with all his teeth. The neon light cause a glow to appear on his fur, in his eyes, across his teeth and fangs.

It's a smile for me – something he copied to greet me with. I always thought he looked goofy trying to smile like me – but right now I don't feel like laughing.

His yellow and blue eyes hold mine, as he looks like a demon wolf, baring his teeth at me. He looks ready to slaughter in that moonlight, but it's just an illusion.

A few seconds later, his grin disappears and his tongue lolls out as he tilts his head, furrowing his wolfy brows.

I get a low whine and a wag of his tail, and I relax also.

As soon as my spine uncurls from being so straight, Xrat bounds across the room and almost knocks me out.

I fall to the ground and I get bloody saliva dripping through the licks slopping over my face, while Xrat focuses on my bruises on my wrists next, trying to heal me with his 'magic' saliva.

It's gross and I try to crawl away, scolding him under my breath, but Xrat gently snaps his jaws around my ankle and pulls me toward a beanbag chair we've shared together in the dining room, when he was a very small baby pup, he fit on it.

This time he basically destroys the bag, while he forces me to sit in the middle and he curls around me, keeping me warm as he somehow traps me between his hind leg and his shoulder, so he can continue to lick my head – cleaning me.

I give into the assault of love and I relax back into his fur, while I wonder of the body outside the doors.

Xrat was getting too big for indoors.

He was also a little too much of a bad wolf.

A very bad wolf.

I'm afraid Xrat's feeling my own feelings a little too much.

The Helper he killed was one I didn't particularly like, one I had imagined killing in my dreams out of revenge for her rough handling of me in general.

It was just a daydream, though.

Xrat, however, seemed to take my dislikes seriously – and he had a gateway into my mind, as I was bonded to his.

If he starts to kill more Genesis Kind – I was worried for that.

Hopefully Xrat didn't get a spot on an execution list.

The way I was going, Skye was valuing loyalty above everything right now, and I didn't need to lose that position yet.

I had so much more work to do.

Fyre needed my help.

Even with my position at Skye's side, I had now found out about The Residue.

And the existence of males… of my own Kind.

I felt that the chance of survival for Humans was all weighted on my shoulders now… and what the hell I could do, to get Genesis Kind like Raygar, away from impregnating Breeders… and getting those females back to the men of Human Kind.

It seemed the only chance of saving my entire people from extinction was from a small group of rebels in a place called Cracklen… five miles underground.

If Skye actually sent me there… on a real mission… we might have a chance.

What was that chance?

I couldn't think about it too much, because it would mean toppling the most powerful Dominion on Genesis… and that… would involve death… of the Alpha I had fallen for, and for his brother who was a friend.

I had these options, I had power.

I just wasn't sure I liked it very much.