A snarl to my left shot a wave of urgency through my being, but the deep growl rumbling from within Soren's chest curtailed it. I watched as he showed his teeth like I'd seen so many revenants do, tilting his head to the left. It wasn't at me he showed aggression toward, but at the infected standing somewhere beside me.

Chancing a glance, I caught sight of the challenger and my heart fluttered. Staring back at me with lustful eyes stood another higher-staged revenant male. Half of his cheek had been ripped out and showed a side of wicked fangs. His blonde hair strung in damp strands and framed his pale face, contrasting with the bold black veins climbing across his skin.

The tattered fatigues stretched tautly across his broad chest and rigid limbs caught my attention. My heart wrenched in my chest. The revenant had been an Eagle, my brother in arms, but now he was inhuman and thirsty for more than just my blood.

Soren turned, his arm snaking back and keeping me close to him as he faced the revenant head on. Every muscle on him tensed and he stood tall, teeth still bared like an angry alpha wolf.

The challenger glanced from me to Soren, his face contorting into a beastly grin. He took a step forward only to be driven back by a threatening snarl from Soren, but he didn't go far.

As the revenant began to pace and circle us as much as he could, I reached for the pistol strapped to my thigh. Nothing about this screamed a good ending and I craved the comfort the cold touch of a gun brought. Lifting the sidearm from its resting place, I slipped my arm up against Soren's hip. If things got ugly, I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet anywhere I could in the ugly motherfucker holding us up.

The revenant ceased his frenzied stalking, leaping forward and grabbing Soren with clawed hands. He snapped at Soren's throat and pulled him into a deathly embrace, jerking Soren away from me as the two began a grapple for dominance.

I brought the gun up, wrapping my other hand around the grip as I kept a steady aim on the head of the revenant. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Soren could do this alone, but the primal sounds of aggression and the flash of fangs mixed with the snap of jaws kept me on my toes just in case.

The duo pushed against each other, their arms grabbing at their opponent's shoulders as they growled and snarled like a bunch of rabid wolves. For every step the revenant took forward, he took two steps back as Soren slowly gained the upper hand.

My breath caught in my lungs as Soren's eyes made contact with mine. The wild racing through the bright yellow tones of his irises spread a chill up my spine. Right then, he was more than Soren, and it scared me.

Too late Soren realized his mistake in looking at me, and the bigger revenant forced him back against the wall. He lunged forward at Soren's throat with a howl of victory only for it to come out in a mangled cry of pain as Soren kneed him in the groin.

Soren lost no time wrapping his hands around the infected's throat, lifting him into the air and slamming him against the wall. He held the challenger up there as if he weighed nothing, a powerful roar leaving his lips and making the revenant squirm. Seconds later, he dropped the opposing male with a final growl of warning.

As the loser sulked away with one last glance at me, Soren lifted his chin. "Challenge me again, bitch."

A relieved laugh escaped my lips although I tried to hold it back. I shook my head and wiped away the drizzle of rain from my forehead, sliding the pistol back into its holster. "I— Well, I can't say I've ever seen someone kick a revenant in the balls."

"Figured it was universal for men regardless of the species," Soren stated after a few moments, a slight shrug touching his shoulders. The animalistic side of him had mostly eased, but the darkness set his eyes aglow with the color of the revenant's. He looked at me with concern. "Are you okay?"

I smiled at his first comment before nodding. "I'm fine thanks to you."

"Good. If that asshole would've hurt you—" He paused, blowing out a steady breath. Rubbing the back of his neck, he lifted his gaze to me. "Which way to the safehouse?"

I didn't answer his question right away because I wasn't sure myself. Chewing my lip in thought, I stood at the exit of the alleyway and stared out into the open space. A small grin wrapped itself along my features as the light of the safehouse shone not too far ahead. I crossed my arms and dipped my head at the sight before us. "Straight ahead."

Lucky for us, the final leg of our journey to the safehouse went without a hitch. With Soren on high alert for anything harmful, we had no more revenant encounters. The fact he could see perfectly in the dark added to our chances of skirting any more run-ins.

I stopped him just before we reached the light, pulling him to the side before we got close enough to be spotted. "Stay here. I'll be back in a few."

"What do you mean stay here? I'm coming with you," he protested, crossing his arms and frowning.

"I can't risk anyone finding out what you are," I argued before chewing my lip as my brows furrowed.

He sighed, cutting his eyes to the side. "But—"

"Fine. But your eyes give you away. Put these on," I commanded as I handed him the pair of shades from my backpack. Maybe I shouldn't have relented, but I knew how much he missed being around others and only God knew when we'd get the next opportunity. I linked my arms over my chest. "And whatever you do, don't speak of your. . . condition."

"Yes ma'am," he echoed me with a smile so big it filled out his tone.

I had to admit, the aviators I gave him looked pretty nice on him at night, and it made me wonder just how good he'd look during the day. I mentally facepalmed. Thinking about how handsome Soren would look definitely wouldn't help me out in helping him blend in around my fellow Eagles. I needed to get a hold of myself, and quickly.

He shifted the strap of the AK-47 slung on his shoulder as we stepped into the light. "These guns won't make them think we're enemies, will they?"

"Nah, they know me," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile.

Or at least, I hoped they did.

The soldier guarding the gated entrance trained his rifle on us before dropping it and saluting. "Sergeant Pierce! We thought you were KIA."

I chuckled, ignoring the sting I felt over the "killed in action" comment. Even grunts I didn't know knew about me, and my failure to appear. "You wish. How long have y'all been posted here?"

"Ehh, a few hours give or take. We're on the way to the Boston QZ on Ward's orders, but had to stop here for the night," he replied, his gray eyes swinging from me to Soren. "Who's your friend?"

"A survivor I found after hell went down at the LZ. I'm the only one left of Alpha Chaos," I informed, internally thanking God my voice didn't quiver at my last statement. The last thing I needed was to look weak.

The soldier's jaw dropped. "Holy fucking shit! Well I'm glad you're still alive. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable."

He backed away from the open gate, making just enough room for Soren and I to walk through. Once we were inside, I signalled Soren to follow me and began the short walk to the large squat building situated in the middle of the SafeZone.

A few soldiers milled about the entrance, many of them greeting me with surprise and rumors they'd heard. Apparently everyone and their mother knew about Alpha Chaos and how it went completely silent after attempting to secure the LZ. According to them, everyone back at the QZ assumed we had been completely wiped out. It was disheartening, but not as much as finding out my cry for help had never been received.

"Wow, you're popular," Soren teased as we finally got away from the last soldier — a young woman — who spouted my praises with every breath she took.

I snorted and stepped through the double doors of the safehouse. "Something like that."

"Pierce," Hayden, the leader of this squad, called out as he walked up to me. "What brings you here?"

"Just needing some supplies and a place to rest for the night," I answered carefully.

"You are more than welcome to it." He studied my face for a moment before his focus shifted to Soren. "Who's Mr. Shades?"

I glanced at Soren, uneasiness creeping up my spine. "A survivor friend of mine."

"In that case, he'll have to be tested," Hayden announced before flicking his wrist at a nearby Eagle.

As the soldier Hayden chose walked up to Soren with a small gun-like scanner, I shook my head frantically. "No, testing him ain't necessary—"

My words were cut off as the woman with the scanner lifted it to the back of Soren's neck and it beeped like a crazed chicken.

She looked up with fearful eyes. "He's infected."