Chapter 31

Jericho stared at the soda, "Want something harder?" the bartender, Christmas, asked him.

Jericho shook his head, staring dejectedly at the can.

"What's the problem?" a voice asked.

Jericho peered to the side and saw Snow. He took another gulp of soda, before spinning the can and shaking his head, "Nothing."

"Are you going to make me interrogate you?" Snow asked.

Jericho couldn't help the chuckle, "I am still mad at you," he told him.

Snow sighed, "I understand."

Jericho pulled the elastic band out of his hair and ran his hands through it, "It's May," he started.

"Go on," Snow said, propping his head on his hand and giving Jericho a wave.

"I didn't protect her," Jericho continued, "I let her be sent to Fuller and then, Kit attacked her, and Hope attacked Kit, and then took May."

Snow stared at him, blinking and then, "Wait, what?"

Jericho had to look away, "How can I protect her? I didn't protect her from Fuller and I didn't protect her from Kit."

Snow ran his hand down his face, "I see what you mean," he answered.

Jericho groaned, "I am not a good mate," he said.

"She agreed to become your mate?" Snow asked, amazed.

"I find your tone insulting," Jericho answered drily.

"Listen," Snow said, "she went to Fuller to protect her sister. And she did. Her sister was released because of her choices. But you got her out of Fuller, and, apparently, mated with her. She chose you, Jericho. After Fuller. She has no doubts about you, so why do you doubt yourself?"

The radio at Snow's belt cackled, "Breach at Section 84 of west wall. All available officers to security for weapons and transport."

Jericho stood up, as did many of the other New Species in the bar, and rushed out. He ran with Snow to the security office, getting inside his head, listing off the things that needed to be done. Fury and Tiger were there, barking out orders.

"Petra and Tammy are secured; Leo and Valiant are hunting. We have officers there already, and they have been engaged with high caliber weapons. They've been pinned down by a sniper, and are unable to extract the females."

Jericho's stomach plummeted, "What females?" he asked.

Tiger's head turned toward him quickly, his face paling.

"What females, Tiger?" Jericho asked again, already knowing the answer.

"I'm sorry, Jericho," Tiger said, "Someone was supposed to find you before you made it here."

Jericho roared. The New Species next to him jumped back in surprise.

"Let's go," Snow told him, handing him a weapon. Jericho could barely hear him through the rage that was plugging his ears. He followed Snow through the crowd of males, who parted for him immediately. He met some gazes and thought he saw pity there.

Snow jumped on an ATV and pointed to one for Jericho. He got on, his vision tunneling. He focused on Snow and put the machine in gear, roaring across Reservation. Snow stopped well before the battle, but he could hear the volleying of gunshots. Jericho slung his weapon across his back and began hunting. When they got closer, he took to the trees, moving with a grace that his size belied. He swung from branches and leapt across divides; one thought hammered through his mind, Protect May.

As he approached the wall, he could see humans surrounding a jeep. It had bottomed out in a gully. He scanned the area desperately for Hope and May. A reflection from a tree showed the possible location of the sniper. The other humans were slowly making their way forward, using rocks and trees as cover. Jericho saw a tiny flicker of movement beneath the jeep, a small foot pulling back underneath it. There. That was May. He looked around for Hope, finally seeing a flash of dark hair along the tree line. Hope had made it to the trees, leaving May under the jeep. Why would she abandon her there?

Jericho stopped himself from growling, but his hands gripped the branch he was perched on tighter, the bark cutting into his palms. He could smell another male nearby and turned in that direction. Leo was in the trees as well; it was a feline/primate party, and it was in the sky. When they landed, the humans were in for a nasty surprise.