Hannah
She fixed her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear as they walked into the central conference room.
This is it, girl. Speak your piece, and then you’ll have to see what they say.
The command group was already assembled, including some of the Underground she’d only met in passing, who didn’t liaise with the Sentinels much. It was an intimidating group, but Chad stepped up to her side, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and then they walked inside to address them.
To ask if they could stay.
During the week that Josh had been unconscious, Hannah had asked Madison if she could join the Underground. It felt right to her, where she could contribute in more ways than just words. Where actions could lead the way, to show that she, and her kind, were ready to come back into the fold of shifter society.
That we aren’t crazy.
Madison had been more than willing, but she said that the leaders in Genesis Valley would have the final say, as they funded the organization. So the human-turned-shifter woman had reached out to Valen and Marcus Kedyn, relaying Hannah’s words to them. Although Valen had known what they were, and that they weren’t crazy, he wanted someone there in person to listen and gauge the reactions of others as well.
So he had sent Ajax and his mate Arianna, both of whom already had experience with the Agency and the Underground. He was the one she would have to convince, to prove that they belonged.
At a nod from Madison, she went straight to the front of the room, Chad trailing along behind her. Despite him being the more natural orator between them, they had both agreed that Hannah would be better suited to make this speech.
“Thank you for letting me speak,” she said without preamble. “I’m not used to that, so my apologies if I only have a few sentences prepared. That’s all I can normally get out.”
An awkward chuckle ran through the room at her reference to people normally attacking her once they knew what she was.
“The reason I’m here is to ask that the Underground—and the people of Genesis Valley as a whole—allow my brother and I to…” Hannah trailed off as she looked around the room.
“Why are all of you still smiling like that?” she asked.
The entire group had big smiles on their faces. Especially Josh; he was beaming at them. Then he coughed to cover up a laugh.
“No seriously, I had this big speech prepared, and now I get the feeling I don’t need it,” she said, shaking her head in confusion.
“That’s because you don’t,” Ajax said from his side of the rectangular table.
“I don’t? Why not?”
“Because I’ve already gotten your story from the others. I was waiting for Josh to come around so that I could speak to him, as he knows you better than anyone else. But your actions in saving them after the explosion at the hotel speak more about who and what you are than any rumor.” The big shifter from Genesis Valley paused thoughtfully. “I cannot say that it will be easy, and that you won’t face any prejudice or dislike. Not everyone who lives among us in the valley is as open-minded as those in front of you. But you are welcome there, make no mistake of that. It may take us time to accept what you are, and hopefully you can find it in you to forgive any automatic reactions we may have. But I promise you, you have a home among us now.”
Hannah barely heard his words through the storm of tears coming down her face. She had been so stressed over the speech she had prepared, knowing it was her one true chance to change things. And now, the others were telling her that they didn’t need to hear her speak. They had heard words in what she did, words enough to welcome her amongst them.
To offer her a place she could call home.
Josh came to her side and swept her up in his arms, allowing her to discreetly wipe some of the tears onto his T-shirt. They didn’t stop flowing, however, even when he kissed her repeatedly.
“You knew about this,” she accused, though there was no malice in it.
“Surprise?”
“You’re going to make up for keeping that from me tonight,” she said, her head bobbing as his chest bounced with laughter.
“Of course,” he said, touching his lips to her forehead.
Ajax came up alongside them after shaking her brother’s hand and welcoming him.
“Thank you,” she said before he could speak a word. “Thank you for taking a chance.”
The big shifter nodded solemnly. “Those of us from Genesis Valley have been through a lot. The world is changing, and I don’t think it will necessarily be for the better for our kind. It is best, in my mind, if we stick together. You have demonstrated your courage, and your ability to keep calm. You’ve proven to us that the rumors and the things we have been taught are done so in error. It will take time for that to be corrected, but it will take longer if we don’t start somewhere. I wish you the best, Hannah Terrik, and if there is anything I may do, please do not hesitate to ask.”
With that, the man was gone, disappearing back into the crowd to find his mate.
Hannah let herself be pulled into her own mate’s arms.
She knew it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t last. The Agency had struck at them again, indicating they were growing stronger, and feeling ready to renew the conflict. Hannah hadn’t been part of it initially, but she was now.
The Agency had found new troops, new allies.
But so had the Underground.
She took Josh’s hand in hers. There was going to be a fight, but she was confident—with them facing it side by side—that they would emerge victorious.
They had to.
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