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Chapter 397 – Hindsight

It\'s Reth\'s Birthday (Anniversary?) this Sunday! If you\'d like to join me for the LIVE voicechat with Reth Merch giveaways, and some fun surprises, visit linktr.ee/aimeelynn and join my discord chat. The event will be there at 1pm PST, Sunday, 6 February (Los Angeles date and time!) See you there! (This message added after publication so you aren\'t charged for the words.) 

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GAR

Rika gasped and shrank behind him as Tarkyn materialized from between the trees.

Gar\'s heart raced, but he didn\'t react, turning slowly to meet the Captain and the half-a-dozen disformed who stood at his shoulders and behind him, two equine guards on their heels.

Tarkyn\'s jaw was tight and his eyes darting back and forth between Gar, the horse thing, and Rika.

"That is the human we\'ve been tracking. You knew where she was the entire time?"

"No," Gar said truthfully, though only barely. He was certain he could have found her if he\'d needed to. "When the others told me what direction they were in, I knew how to track her."

"And how did you track a trail that keeps disappearing?"

"Does it matter, Tark? The point is, I was brining her back."

"And her… friends?"

"Injured or dead, I can\'t be certain. They attacked me."

Tarkyn\'s jaw twitched. "Exactly what you told me we needed to avoid."

"Exactly why I told you going after them was a bad idea! I tried to get her out, to get her information to Elreth without the others knowing, but they—"

"Excuses and lies! Again! What the fuck, Gar?! We\'ve been trying to find these people for weeks—how can you just stand here and expect me to believe you didn\'t know how to find them!"

"I told you all I had met her—"

"Seen her! Engaged with her! You never said you were socializing! Are you a traitor to your own people, Gar?! Is that why you\'ve taken such relish in leading the disformed? Do you fancy yourself a King? Do you really think the humans are the ones who will give you power?"

"No! I went to get her to bring her to Elreth, so she could explain—"

"You resisted anyone else reaching out for her and her colleagues, then left to get her yourself when we refused!"

"Because I knew you all would fuck it up and she\'d be in danger!"

Tarkyn\'s eyes narrowed. "Who the fuck cares if the human invader is in danger, Gar? She\'s a threat—"

"I CARE—SHE\'S MY MATE!" Gar\'s roar echoed through the Wildwood, startling the early dawn birds from the trees above. The horse thing snorted and backed away a few steps, but didn\'t flee. Interesting.

Tarkyn\'s head snapped back and Gar felt Rika\'s hands at his back—to cling to him in fear, or hold him back, he wasn\'t sure. But his body flooded with the rush of her touch and he had to force himself to keep Tarkyn\'s gaze and not turn to her. Was she freezing up again? Was she going to panic—

"You know that I\'m here and can hear all of this… right?" she said from behind him, her voice a little shaky, but firm. "I\'m not an invader. I want to see you all survive. That\'s why I\'m here."

Tarkyn blinked and his eyes dropped to just left of Gar\'s arm where Rika was peering around him. He wanted to push her back, to keep himself between her and the Captain. But he was afraid touching her against her will might frighten her again.

He balled his hands to fists and forced himself to just keep facing Tarkyn and the others, who were staring wide-eyed between Gar and Tarkyn—except for the two guards at the back,  who leaned in, clearly itching to step forward and take Rika into custody.

A low growl began deep in Gar\'s throat. The disformed all dropped their chins and rolled their shoulders, giving him his due as their alpha. The others trembled, fighting the urge to submit.

But Tarkyn\'s face had gone blank. He stared at Gar, apparently unconcerned about the human female peering around him.

"You\'re certain?" he asked quietly.

Gar nodded.

"Is she?"

He shook his head. "The humans aren\'t accustomed to the bond."

Tarkyn snorted. "Convenient."

Gar\'s growl puttered again, but Tarkyn held his gaze levelly. "You should have told us."

"I wasn\'t certain for a long time. Then it was too late. I went to get her to keep her safe, but to bring her to Elreth. I wasn\'t defying her order, I was following it through."

"The order she gave to me!" Tarkyn snarled.

"You didn\'t know what I knew, and I had to make sure she understood—"

"Gar, whatever way you slice it, you should have told us! We should have known! You have to stop trying to do everything yourself. We cannot win this war if we work against each other. We have to aim for the same goals or we only dilute our strength!"

Gar wanted to growl, wanted to fight the Captain, but in truth he knew he was right. He wouldn\'t change a thing, of course. He would never have left Rika in the hands of the guards. But he knew that moving forward he was going to have to toe the line. He couldn\'t afford to lose Elreth\'s trust, or Tarkyn\'s for that matter."

"I\'m… sorry," he said through his teeth.

Tarkyn\'s brows shot high and he blinked. "I\'m sorry… did you just say—"

Gar did growl then and a couple of the disformed stifled smiles. Rika looked between the two of them, clearly uncertain whether this was a joke or not.

But the levity soon faded. Tarkyn folded his arms and looked down at her. "What is your name?"

She glanced up at Gar and he nodded. "He\'s my sister\'s Captain of the Guard. He\'s a good male," Gar said quietly.

Rika raised an eyebrow, but faced Tarkyn when she answered him. "My name is Erika, but I go by Rika."

"Rika, I am here at the order of the Queen of the Anima, the Alpha of All, Dominant of all Clans. You are an intruder in our world and you will be required to answer for your actions here."

Gar wasn\'t sure if Rika knew her body was leaning back, away from Tarkyn as he spoke. Gar took her hand and kept her close to his side, afraid she would flee—that would convince the guards that she was a threat. She had to face them, show her strength and character.

"I didn\'t know when I came, what beauty is here," Rika said, clearing her throat. "I have no desire to see the Anima captured."

Gar\'s heart sank as Tarkyn\'s entire body swelled.. "Captured?" he growled.