Page 23 of M.A.Y.A (After the End #4)

“Really? I was only worth ten-armed guards with guns? I thought I was more special than that. And the fact that you have Drayden and our two security guards on their knees with guns pointed to their heads doesn’t bode well for your attempt at a peaceful negotiation,” she said.

She met Drayden’s eyes and saw his abject fury.

She hoped that her stern glare conveyed that he shouldn’t shift—otherwise he’d be putting both himself and the other security detail at risk.

“You’ve found your voice now that you’re out of your little room, haven’t you?”

Maya’s arm beeped erratically as the guards stepped aside and a shorter man wearing a padded vest came into view. Her main tormentor. The one who took sick pleasure in the way he inflicted pain and had forced her to experience agony without an ounce of sympathy.

“I’m a failed experiment,” she said, praying for nonchalance.

“Why did you even bother coming to retrieve me? You’re planning on destroying the world anyway.

Might as well get rid of me as collateral damage.

It’s obvious you’ve made more automatons.

I’m assuming you’ve refined your technique with other captives. ”

Her tormentor adjusted his suit coat. He claimed to be a scientist, an engineer, but he was just a political drone. “You’ve retained your humanity, my dear,” he said softly. “And that’s something that deserves to be studied.”

She shook her head. He was interested in her because she wouldn’t break. This was about power, not about some research study. “How did you know I was here? That I was still alive?”

“We had live footage on Unit 20,” the scientist replied. “Although the feed cut out when you killed him, it was enough to confirm your location and whereabouts.”

Maya shifted from left to right again, hoping that she was buying enough time for Alex to call Isaiah. “You’re making a mistake. This world isn’t like the rest.”

“We can negotiate a peaceful transfer if that’s what you desire,” the scientist continued. “Then we can talk about all the information you gathered for us.” He linked his fingers in front of his waist as if he was having a completely normal conversation.

“That’s not happening.”

“Yes, I believe it is. You come with us, and we’ll leave these…underdeveloped humans alone. Their fate has already been sealed, as you well know. With your cooperation, they have a little more freedom before we come back to…speak with them.”

Underdeveloped humans. His disdain confirmed that he didn’t know about the shifting. She glanced at Drayden who gave her a barely perceptible shake of his head.

Good.

“What’s the guarantee that you won’t just kill my friends here?”

The scientist’s eyes narrowed at her. “We’re not completely without morals. You tell us everything you know, and we’ll honor your request to avoid re-entering the portal. For now.”

“If you want information, then you should be talking to me.”

The voice was both a soothing balm and raging fire that licked up her arms. Isaiah stepped into the clearing, his shirt haphazardly buttoned and his hair disheveled from sleep.

He looked at Drayden and his security detail on their knees, and Maya could see the quick flash of wolf in his eyes before he was able to get it under control.

Then he turned to Maya who stood a few feet to his left. His smile was warm and filled with affection, as if he’d known her for so much longer than the two-week period they’d been in each other’s lives. He looked at her as if he’d already claimed her.

In a way…he had.

“Tiny warrior, you should know by now that I’m in tune with your feelings. How could I sleep through your distress?”

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered.

He winked, as if to assure her it would be okay. Then he turned to her former captor. The morning light illuminated parts of the glen that were covered in shadows minutes before. The sun gave Maya strength she didn’t know she needed as she braced for what was to come.

“I’m sure your little robot experiment is a prize that you want back,” Isaiah started.

“However, I lead this region while our trespasser here has only been living in an isolated safe house with limited knowledge and access to our dimension. It would be in your best interest to negotiate the terms with me and take me as her replacement.”

Maya’s heart clenched. “Isaiah, what? No!”

He held up a hand to stop her. “It makes sense, right? You see, I’m attached to my men, and Maya has become family. We are an emotional bunch here and take family very seriously. I have no problem putting myself in your… capable hands instead of Maya.”

There was a quiet curiosity that the scientist couldn’t hide from his expression. “Did you call yourself the leader of this region?”

“Alpha Isaiah Star,” Isaiah said with an easy grin.

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

“Don’t,” Maya said, knowing that desperation was leeching into her voice. She stepped forward, and ten different weapons cocked and powered up in unison. “Ignore him. Take me back. Isaiah is lying to you.”

There was wide eyed shock, then delight on her former captor’s face. “Well, this is interesting,” he said slowly as he ran a hand over the front of his vest. “Whether or not he is a leader doesn’t seem to matter as much as your invested interest in his safety, does it?”

Maya’s arm began to beep, a few of the weapons trained on her, and a growl echoed through the trees.

The scientist whirled around, searching for a wild animal, but when he failed to see the beasts in front of him, he adjusted his vest. His laugh sounded nervous, and Maya saw him for the coward that he was.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so animated, Unit 13. That should be enough to accept the terms of the negotiation. Just know that your reprieve is temporary. We plan on coming back for you soon, so enjoy your freedom while you can.”

Maya was going to kill Isaiah. What was he thinking?

He had a pack to protect, and he was going to sacrifice himself?

Her blood chilled at the thought of this precious wolf, her mate, in the same glass box that she’d been subjected to for years.

Tears burned in her throat, but she kept steady, hoping that this was just a ploy, just a bad dream.

“Do we have a deal?” Isaiah prompted. “Leave tiny warrior and my men, take me instead, and vacate the premises?”

“We do,” the scientist said. “I’ll have to check with the board when we get back, but in the meantime, we’ll proceed.”

“The board?”

“Not your concern,” her captor said.

“What board is he talking about?” Isaiah asked Maya, not bothering to hide his voice.

“He’s not really a scientist,” Maya replied, trembling now with fear. “He’s a pawn for a group of government politicians that appointed him. They’re the ones with the real power.”

The man turned towards her with fire in his eyes. “I should kill you just for that comment alone, Unit 13,” he said.

“Then you wouldn’t know the lay of the land, the political structure, and the populations and resources in this region like I do,” Isaiah replied. “Take the deal. And if you re-neg, know that you’re declaring war and there will be casualties on your end. Can you afford to lose?”

“Fair question,” the scientist said, some of his anger easing. “Fair question, leader.”

The man motioned to one of his guards, who passed over something that looked like old fashioned cuffs. He tossed the cuffs halfway across the clearing.

“Pick those up, Unit 13. Then tie them on the leader. We’ll exchange in the middle.”

“No—”

“Do it, otherwise I instruct my men to start putting bullets in all of your heads.”

The calm tone that he used to threaten her packmates had Maya ready to crawl out of her skin.

She was clammy with sweat, her fingers trembling.

This couldn’t be happening. She’d been trying to protect her found family from her world this whole time, and instead she’d brought danger to their door.

She was the reason why this horror touched their world, and now Isaiah was going to pay.

“Come on, tiny warrior,” Isaiah whispered, his head bent towards her, his eyes filled with affection even as she felt her soul fracturing from the pressure. “Get the cuffs. It’ll be okay.”

“How can you say that?” she whispered back.

“You just have to trust me, baby. And trust yourself. You made the plan; all you have to do is execute it.”

He was right. She just had to trust him, like she’d asked him to trust her. Maya had to believe that they’d get through this. She’d get him out. She crossed the clearing in easy strides and picked up the cuffs, then walked to Isaiah and wrapped them around his wrists in front of his body.

“Stay safe for me,” she whispered and then stood on her toes to press a soft, lingering kiss against his mouth.

Before she could step back, he called her name.

The one she’d chosen for herself. When her eyes met his, she found love and safety.

“Just know,” he said. “That even if fate hadn’t decided for us, I would’ve still chosen you.

The small part of your heart that’s left belongs to me; time, space, and science won’t keep us apart. ”

Maya’s eyes filled with tears, but she straightened her shoulders and nodded. Then, taking a leap of faith, she said, “Let’s hurry this up, because when you come back, we have a claiming ceremony to complete.”

His eyes went wolf, and she watched him struggle to control his beast. The rumble in his chest was audible only to her, but she knew that his animal part was desperate to get out. Good, she thought. He was ready to fight to return to her side, which is exactly what she wanted.

Isaiah’s jaw tightened, but he stepped around her and slowly started towards the center of the glen.

Drayden and the other security details were yanked to their feet and shoved forward.

Both of them made a valiant effort to look like clumsy humans who didn’t have the quick reflexes of shapeshifters.