Chapter 127

As an Alpha, Beth could throw off sedatives without lasting damage. Whatever Andrew had drugged her with, it wasn't doing permanent physical harm, and the effects were reversing already. Her regenerative ability had only improved over the last year with the constant strain she had put her body through, and she thanked it now as they rolled through the streets past the growing chaos of soldiers searching the streets for their missing prisoner. With any luck, within a few days of having untainted food and drink, she and the baby would be right as rain.

Andrew had discovered her absence far sooner than she had hoped, but it couldn't be helped. Someone must have checked in with breakfast earlier than usual. But for the bad luck to strand them all in the city and get them caught up in the manhunt...

Matt had prepared everything, at least. She still had misgivings about him that would never go away for as long as she lived -- sounds wounds ran far too deep to ever forgive -- but he had done more than his due diligence, living up to his craftiness threefold. He had prepared a wig for her and some trendy but conveniently thick makeup that would change her complexion, easy to apply. The clothes in the back were also suitable for a vain merchant family, so Daniel and Beth quickly changed in the alleyway to complete their disguise.

The two Deltas accompanying Daniel also put on fashionable men's hats just tacky enough to make any soldier who looked their way automatically dismiss them as vain footmen or attendants of a merchant family. Matthew's familiarity with the economic empire spanning the country was coming in valuable indeed.

Within three minutes, everyone was ready to go, and a team of four horses pulled the parked wagon along the street.

"Four? A little noticeable, isn't it?" Beth muttered as she settled into the rear seats of the passenger cabin.

Matt shook his head as he took the seat opposite. Daniel had already taken his own next to Beth's, fast as lightning, leaving Matt only the opposite bench to sit on. "The more ostentatious we are, the less likely they'll be to suspect we're worth stopping to search. I have two men stationed at the gates, bribed to let us through the checkpoint. They think I'm smuggling contraband, they have no idea who I am."

"Your disguise isn't bad. The beard makes you unrecognizable."

Matt smiled faintly. "The compliment is appreciated. Now let's get you out of here."

Beth held Daniel's hand as the horses clopped down the street. If she could mind-link, she would have told him she was proud of his restraint, and that she understood how it tormented him to have to accept Matt's help. But of course he would. It was to keep her safe, and their baby safe. Daniel would do anything for the ones he loved, and they were no exception.

But mind-linking wasn't necessary anyway. He glanced down at her, and the look they shared said more than enough. She didn't care that Matt was watching; she craned her neck and left a soft kiss on Daniel's lips, cherishing his touch.

They were here. They were together. That was all that mattered. She paid no mind to the pain that flickered across Matt's face, looking at him only when he cleared his throat a moment later.

"I'll be back," he said as the carriage rolled to a stop near the checkpoint. "I'm about to secure our exit."

***

"This is definitely an Alpha pup," Beth grumbled several days later when they were in the clear. "I can barely stay awake more than an hour at a time. I'm drained. This isn't because I was drugged, either, that's worn off by now."

"That means our child's going to be strong. Stronger than I am, I bet. Because our baby is going to take after you." Daniel kissed her forehead as he straightened the blankets on which she slept in the covered wagon. "I can't wait."

They had stopped to make camp since Beth had been too queasy to keep traveling. But they were well on their way to the Heether pack in Silver Nation across the border, where Matt had secured a sneaky exit once again: he had spies everywhere, even more than he'd had in the first life they had both lived. He, like Beth, must have learned from his mistakes and amended them preemptively.

Daniel was in such a good mood that even he had begrudgingly admitted he was impressed. Mostly, though, he coddled Beth and treated her like an invalid princess. He had even argued to change her mind about meeting with her parents and Anna, and instead sent his Deltas to rendezvous with them and pass on the message that they needed to group up in Silver Nation.

Matt was far more subdued. He went along with everything they did, adjusting course as needed with no debate. It was natural, of course. For the last four days of travel, they had all discussed the repercussions of recent events, including the inevitability of all-out war with Gold Nation. After he dropped them off near the Heether territory, Matt had to return to Bronze Nation himself and prepare. Andrew would discover his involvement in Beth's escape if he hadn't already, and the lines had long since been drawn in the sand.

But it was about Beth's pregnancy, too. She and Daniel had not kept it secret during the trip at all, and there was no doubt Matt was thinking of Caroline... maybe. He had neglected their daughter in the first life. Perhaps he was regretting it all the more now since he claimed to be a changed man.

But it was too late for that. Beth had no love for the man she used to be fated to. She had a new love. A new man who treated her as she deserved, someone who would become her husband one day no matter what opposition they faced from everyone else.

And she was carrying Daniel's baby this time. A child she would protect to the very end. No war would ever, ever change that. Not this time.

The snow made it difficult to travel through the rougher terrain, but Matt had already plotted the safest and quickest path to the Heether pack territory. A week later, they arrived.

"Anything we need to know before you leave?" asked Daniel as he supported Beth, holding her up with an arm around her waist under her winter cloak. "You'll be gathering your forces while I do what I can here, coordinating with Iron Nation since Beth's father will be here soon if he isn't already. We meet in a week, as planned?"

"Yes. There's not much I can do since you know my military prowess is sadly lacking, but I have all the financial backing you could possibly need to fight Gold Nation. I would never succeed alone and he did his best to divide us all so we could never dream of standing against him, but that ends with my father. I've already made arrangements to take over permanently, with or without his approval in going to war."

Daniel nodded. "Do what you have to do. We'll send word like we arranged."

Matt nodded as well, but he lingered instead of turning to leave. His eyes remained fixed on Beth, a dull light gleaming in his gaze. He looked as if he wanted to say something to her, and Daniel's arm tightened around her waist.

But he looked down and turned away, quietly ceding to whatever silent debate he'd been carrying on with himself.

"Stay safe," he said. "We'll meet again soon."

***

Anna was waiting for her at the Heether estate, not their father. She leaped up as soon as Beth and Daniel received her in their visiting room, where Daniel's mother had also been sitting.

Luna Margaretta embraced Daniel while Anna threw her arms around Beth, and for a moment, they all basked in the relief that they were all in one piece.

Strange, thought Beth. A decade ago, a decade in the future, she had been such bitter enemies with Annalise. But... life had taken so many turns, and no one was the same. For a moment, Beth forgot about the terror and horror of the things the older, crueler Anna had done, and remembered only that she was hugging her sister who was alive and well.

"Are Mom and Dad okay?"

"Yeah, but things are in chaos. He sent me so we can communicate but he has to stay where he is. Gold Nation troops are ready to spill over into Iron Nation, and if he leaves to come here, they'll definitely attack. I slipped away and told him I would send word as soon as I saw you. And... um, Daniel, too. Anyway -- are you all right? What did Andrew do to you!"

"Nothing lasting, but not for lack of trying. There's a lot to tell you. Sit down, I'll explain everything."