Dani had been wrong. She’d been convinced that the child she carried would be a girl, but instead she’d given birth to a happy, healthy little boy and immediately fallen in love.

Looking over at her friend, Bailey said, “Are you sure about this? Blitz is going to be pissed.”

Dani looked up and grinned. “So is Talon, and he’s going to be doubly pissed because he’s going to think you dragged me into this little adventure.”

“If you think Talon believes you’ve turned into some kind of ‘good girl’ because of the baby, you are dead ass wrong. You may have Blitz convinced you’re perfectly behaved, but Talon is far too smart for that.”

Turning serious, Dani said, “But you think we can get to them.”

“I do, and what’s more there’s been enough time that they can see we were right.”

“Do you ever wonder how it could have all gone so wrong?”

“Arrogance and absolute power lead to absolute corruption. Those in the domed cities lead a decent way of life. The old men in power lead lives of plenty. I’m not so naive that I believe we can fix the Conquered Realm and save everyone, but as I said to Talon, I believe I…”

“We,” corrected Dani, who was determined to go with her.

“I’m still worried about taking you. What happens to the baby if something happens to you?”

“There are plenty of she-wolves in the pack who have babies and are nursing. I would have gone with you the first time, but I was still pregnant. I want to go, Bailey. It’s important to me. I was feral too; I know how much better life is here.”

Bailey nodded. “Then we need to go. I have one of the wrist bands and the mages are out doing something so if we’re going, it’s got to be now.”

Talon and Blitz had led a hunting party out early this morning, which meant there was an opportunity to slip in and out of the Conquered Realm and try to save more ferals. News over the past few months had become more dire. The Conquered Realm’s new government meant to crack down on the ferals and wanted to sue for better terms in the existing peace treaty. The problem was, ‘better’ was a relative term. It was only better for those already in power and living a good life. For those in the villages and the women declared feral, things were rapidly going from bad to worse.

Dani followed Bailey up to Bailey and Talon’s lodge. Once inside, they picked up their bows and a quiver of arrows and made their way out the back via an exit very few knew existed. They climbed up the path that led to the place the mages had established a new portal. As far as most people outside the pack knew, the Storm Rift Pack no longer had their own portal. Bailey had watched the mages enough times that she believed she could open a portal and get them back to the Conquered Realm.

Confidently she approached the control panel and initiated the sequence that would open the doorway to the Void and the Conquered Realm beyond. Quicksilver filled the doorway and once it stabilized, Bailey and Dani stepped through. Bailey hissed at the intense cold that seemed to invade every part of her body but began to make her way to the other side.

Once they were through, both she and Dani took a moment to catch their breath and let the sun rewarm them.

“I don’t remember it being as hot here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad for the warmth, but this is nasty,” said Dani.

“It does feel like the temperatures have risen since I left, which makes no sense as it should be getting colder.”

“Bailey? Dani? Is that you?” came a frightened voice from behind the bushes. A diminutive girl named Mina stepped out. Bailey had always wondered why such a small, delicate thing had chosen the life of a feral.

“Mina, isn’t it?” said Bailey stepping forward. “Were you waiting for something?”

“I was there when you came for the ferals. I didn’t believe you and was too frightened to go. Things have gotten so much worse.”

“Tell me,” said Bailey.

“The wolves demanded that the village that had hidden some of their women be destroyed. The men were sent to the underground works to provide slave labor. The women were rounded up, some going to the training camp, some as servants and some forced to become feral. They wanted to make their point.”

Bailey shook her head. “That isn’t the wolves. The Storm Rift Pack and those that stand with us would never do that. Besides, those that still prefer the Hunt want the most and best mates to be available. No, this is those in power’s way of putting down any ideas of rebellion.”

“I’ll bet the ones they turned loose as feral are not as desirable,” said Dani.

Mina nodded. “Some are past the point of breeding age…”

“They sent them to die. And let me guess, the village was one of the mill towns along the river.”

Again, Mina nodded. “They made it into a garrison, and it supplies food to the domed cities.”

“Of course, it does. The bastards,” spat Dani.

“We need to get word to as many ferals as we can,” said Bailey.

“There’s a place where we’ve been trying to meet to keep count of how many of us are left…”

“There’s not a hunt scheduled…”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. Those from the domed cities hunt us for sport. Things have gotten bad since you left. No one holds you responsible and you came back to try and tell us. Have you come back to try and get more of us out?” asked Mina.

“We have, but we have a limited time to do it. The Council on the Eclipse Province is being pressured to limit the number of portals. The one we used today is going to be shut down, so we have to get everyone collected who wants to go and through the Void before they do.”

“The sun is starting to set,” said Mina looking toward the western horizon. “The others will be gathering by the entrance to what’s left of your escape route.”

“Good. We can get whoever’s there and see how many others we can reach. We only have hours.”

“Won’t your mates be angry?” Mina asked.

Dani and Bailey looked at each other and began laughing.

“You have no idea,” said Dani.

“Talon will be pissed, but that will be offset by me being safe, but more importantly, more ferals brought to the Eclipse Province. I have to tell you, we’re a hot commodity amongst those packs allied with ours. Most of the ferals who came across have found wonderful mates. Those not spoken for are going to be housed with the Storm Rift Pack in a kind of dormitory where they can come to grips with what has to be, but where a woman can get to know what it’s like to be a shifter.”

Bailey and Dani followed Mina to a clearing where several women were gathering the makings of a small bonfire.

“We light the fire as the sun goes down,” explained Mina. “The city dwellers don’t like to be out after dark. The other ferals will see the smoke and the light and make their way in.”

“You’ve come back,” said one of the other ferals. “I hope you’ve come back to try again. We should have listened to you.”

“We’re here to help. We need to gather as many ferals as we can. This will most likely be our last trip through. Talon had to make a hard choice between providing for the pack that we have or coming after you. Winter is setting in and game is growing scarce. And we still have to leave enough warriors to protect our people.”

“Although that now includes a group of she-wolf snipers. We use bows with arrows tipped in an explosive residue. The first time a band of our enemies tried to storm our village because they believed us to be defenseless, they discovered the Storm Rift Pack has gone back further in our history and some of us she-wolves are warriors.”

“If you two can keep the bonfire going, we can see how many others we can find and bring them back.”

Bailey nodded. “We have until the moon has fully risen and then we must go back. Those who are left behind this time will most likely be trapped.”

The three other women and Mina headed out into the four different directions. Bailey and Dani kept watch and kept the fire burning as more and more women made their way to the bonfire. It seemed that the women who joined them had already been informed of the plan. At the height of the moon’s ascent, the women doused the fire and followed Bailey and Dani to the spot where Bailey could open the portal.

Once it was open, Dani led the way with the group of about fifteen women following her. Right before she fell in behind them, Bailey ran toward a flattened rock in the outcropping. She pulled a metal placard she’d had their smith prepare in his forge and nailed it in place. She darted through the portal and along the path, turning to shoot one of the explosive arrows into the other end, sealing it forever. The sign that she left behind, the one that proved they had been there might never be read, might be destroyed, but Bailey felt better having left it behind.

They called us feral, but they were wrong.

They used us as tribute, but we were not.

No net could hold us, no trap ensnare us.

In this spot many ferals chose to escape the destiny

others had planned for us. We chose our own fate

and that fate was freedom.

Bailey of the Storm Rift Pack