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"Not everything is carved into stone," Munok said. "Sometimes, paths can be changed. Though some are permanent. I don't dislike you. I've always known it was my fate to be mated to you, just as I've always known it was my fate to serve Gan. It's all I've ever known. But it is hard to ignore what your people have done."

"I understand," Bryan said. He felt the pain of those transmitted memories surge up again. He knew who Munok had lost, and he found himself reaching for the Alpha's hand. "I wouldn't be able to either. And I can't, knowing everything I know now. I'm sorry about your brother, Munok. I can't even imagine losing mine."

Munok stared into the distance. "I suppose that was his fate," he said, after a long silence. "So, what will you do? What will be your choice? You can't expect to secretly come here forever."

"Lukas needs me," Bryan said. "I won't abandon him."

"Nor would I expect you to."

"I think this is one of those situations where the path can't be changed. Unless the impossible happens, I can't leave. And our people will never be able to open to each other."

Munok didn't respond, to Bryan's curiosity.

"Right?" he asked.

"We’d always understood that our fate was to be bonded to an enemy. But as far as prophecy is concerned, that was the extent of what we knew. Gan's dreams never told much more. My question is, why? If we were connected, then for what reason? There is one explanation that I wasn't so ready to believe."

"Which is?"

Nugai's voice came from behind them. "A bridge," he said, emerging from the tent with Gan. The two of them looked exhausted. "A connection between our people."

"I just can't imagine that happening," Bryan said quietly. "There's too much on both sides."

Gan caressed Bryan's hair, gently running his fingertips behind his ear and down his cheek. "My Omega, you have much to learn about the Uridimm. It's your side who would not be able to accept a bridge. And it always has been."

"The Uridimm would be able to live with Xyletians, even after all that's happened?"

"Yes," he said plainly. "If good faith were offered."

Bryan shook his head, thinking of Josef and all the other colony leaders who'd used their power to spread fear of the Uridimm and had been responsible for the massacres. "You're right. I don't think we'd be able to accept it. Not with the way things are." He took Gan's hand into his. "How did things go in there? Is everything alright?"

"We've done all we can. It's up to Uri now."

The four of them returned to the den, where Munok prepared a fire and Nugai and Gan reclined on their sleeping furs. Bryan sat with them, feeling particularly useless. He'd been coming to the forest just to satisfy his own cravings. He wanted to be more of service to them than just for sex. He wished he wasn't confined to coming in the dead of night when the village was asleep. He wanted to be a true mate.

But what use was he to them, really? Eventually, they'd realize the truth: that he couldn't get pregnant and wouldn't be bearing them children like they so adamantly believed. And when that happened, Bryan knew he'd find himself back where he started—with nothing. But perhaps that was for the best. He would be free, at least, tied to no one.

* * *

Bryan woke to Josef shouting in his face as he banged his fist against the wall. He'd overslept again.

"What is going on with you, Bryan? You're going to make me late, you useless Omega." He grabbed his arm and hauled him from the bed. "Come on, come on!"

Since he'd been returning from the village later and later, Bryan had been feeling the effects of sleep deprivation. Oftentimes, he would lay with the three Alphas as they slept, unable to himself.

Bryan stumbled hard to the floor, and Josef stood over him shouting profanities. "Get breakfast ready, you idiot! What am I wasting my time on you for? You're useless."

"Fuck you," Bryan muttered, pushing himself to his knees. He looked up at the man with fury. He couldn't take this anymore.

Josef's eyes widened. "What did you say to me?"

"I said, fuck you. I'm done."

"How dare you," Josef seethed. He grabbed Bryan's wrist and yanked him to his feet and then slammed him against the wall. "How dare you talk back to me." Then he raised his hand and slapped Bryan across the face.

Bryan's head rang with stars and his eyes welled up with tears, but he didn't back down. Using all of his strength, he drove a knee into Josef's stomach. The man stumbled back, spluttering bug-eyed.

"I'm leaving," he said. "Nullify the contract. You no longer own me."