Episode Ten Get to the Other Side

C haska

Fuck. Just when I thought this situation couldn't get worse. Shanna might die. Dear God, I love this woman. I couldn't bear to lose her. And besides the emotional pain I'd feel if she dies, she's the glue for the three of us men.

She's the one who talked Alex down before he killed Ro. She's the one who tucked Ro in and calmed his fears. I don't have that ability. Shit. If she dies, Alex will eat Ro in five minutes flat.

I pull myself out of these maudlin thoughts and tug her onto my lap, her hip against my belly. My cock, ignoramus that he is, doesn't realize we're living through the apocalypse. Nope. He decides it's time to get frisky.

"Just ignore my boner, babe," I tell her. "I love you so much. You heard her. They don't really know shit. They're out in the middle of the ocean somewhere. And even if she's correct, there's a chance you'll be fine, right?"

"Sure," she says, her voice hollow.

I tuck her closer and graze my lips along the top of her head. I think I can handle the world changing, can tolerate a wolf and a bunny as my mates for fuck's sakes. Losing Shan? It would kill me.

"Hopefully," the newscaster continues, "you've been following our prep instructions. I hope you have a month's worth of food and several firearms in your homes. Board up your windows if you can, and wait for the initial mayhem to subside."

"I did a little of that," Shanna says. "I've been socking away nutrition bars, soup, and canned goods. Stupidly," she scoffs, "I didn't stock up on raw steak for my near-feral wolfman."

She pauses a moment, seeming to try to wrap her head around our new normal. "I don't have anything to board the windows, but I did ask Ro to buy an extra gun. I just don't know where he put it."

"Good, babe. You're the smartest of us all."

"I hate to make this last announcement," the announcer says.

You can hear the regret in her voice. What could possibly be worse than the news she's already delivered?

"I imagine there are families from all over the world sitting at home listening to this broadcast. If someone in your home becomes unstable…"

Why is she pausing here? Is it to give us time to recall Alex trying to kill Ro? To bite out his carotids? Whether the announcer is doing it on purpose or not, by the way Shanna's shoulders tense, I'm sure we're both picturing the same thing.

"If someone in your home becomes unstable, you may need to use extreme force to protect yourself and your children."

Children. I didn't even consider that. Everyone is mandated to get the shots. Even infants. It's impossible to imagine a rambunctious ten-year-old turning into a wolf. From the way an adult attorney is acting, I doubt children would have any self-control at all.

"I urge you to decide now that if you must, you will do whatever it takes to keep yourself safe. Even from your loved ones."

Shanna bursts into tears. Not quiet tears like she sheds when she's watching a sad movie. This is loud weeping, complete with wailing. Her shoulders are shaking and she tucks herself closer to me, her fingers curling around my shoulders.

Alex shouts from the other room, "What is it? Shan? You okay?"

"See?" I tell her. "He still has humanity." To Alex, I yell, "We're fine. We'll be there in a minute."

She starts hiccupping as her crying jag slows, but the tears keep coming. I stroke her beautiful chestnut hair, combing my fingers through it, shushing her like I did my nieces and nephews when they used to cry.

Thinking of them sends my mind into a whole new line of panic. My siblings and their families live half a continent away in Denver. There's no way to reach them. I wallow in grief and terror about how they're fairing for a moment, picturing horrible scenarios of what they might be going through.

I may never know what happens to them, because our phones aren't working. Who knows how long we'll have electricity? I take a deep breath and push the grief to the back of my mind before it overwhelms me.

The ones I love most in my life are right here and need me to hold it together.

"I don't care what that woman said," I tell her, "We're different. Our love is so deep, so wide, so meaningful, we're going to get through this. No matter that Alex is a fucking wolf. No matter Roman is a terrified rabbit. No matter what happens to me or you. We're going to live through this and come out okay on the other side."