Horrified about what Keirn had just stated, Vernisa stomped off toward their home. She was moving out that night, no matter what. She could not be with Keirn, and he couldn't know her secret. Not yet. She had to tell her newfound mate, however. That was something she had to inform him of. There was no way around it. If she kept it from him, he might turn against her for not trusting him with it. She hoped it wouldn't go too badly. There was nothing that she could do about it. Well, there was, actually, but she was unwilling to do something like that.

Behind her, she could hear Keirn's footsteps following her. He was moving quickly, trying to catch up to her. Ignoring them, she kept going until she reached their small home that hid the bunker. Well, it was no longer her home; she was moving out as soon as she retrieved her belongings. She didn't have much, so it wouldn't take long.

Out of anger, she roughly pounded the button with her fist to open the door of the small dwelling before she stomped inside. She wasn't sure if it was her hormones or the fact that Keirn just pissed her off. It could be either, or both. It didn't matter. She knew she would have been angry either way, maybe worse than she would have been without the added hormones.

Once inside the small home, Vernisa rushed to the back room and used the replicator to produce a bag, then filled it with her belongings. She needed her clothing and personal products. There wasn't anything else she needed. She could always replicate more if she found she needed something. Everything she was taking, Keirn wouldn't need; they were all for females.

As Vernisa filled the bag, Keirn stumbled into the bedroom, bringing the odor of 'strong beverage' with him. Carrie had told her that her people called it beer, which was much easier to say. "What's wrong? I rejected her." He pleaded, not aware of what his words sounded like to her. He defiled the sanctity of the mating bond

Vernisa turned around, eyeing Keirn. Anger boiled in her eyes, consuming her. "Who is she?" she asked coldly. "Who is so bad that you would reject her?"

Keirn, not getting why there was something wrong with him rejecting his mate for her, rolled his eyes. "Her name is Jada, and she is a half-zombie. She got shot while coming to the dome protecting a group of humans. She was the only one hurt."

Vernisa recognized the name. It was the leader of the first group that Council Leader Vorik had sent her to help. They had asked her about the girl.

Vernisa straightened her posture. "I found my mate, too," she told him. Venom was spitting from each word as she spoke. "I did not reject him. I would not do that. The bond is sacred. He is human and the leader of another group that was brought here. His name is Julian. I am going to him now."

Keirn looked at her, stunned, unable to speak, as she snatched up her bag and dashed out of the small dwelling, giving him no time to respond to her confession. That was the last thing he expected her to say. He was stunned into silence for a moment. By the time he snapped out of it, she was already out the door.

Leaving Keirn behind, Vernisa headed to the dorms in search of her mate. On her way, she ran into Council Leader Vorik, who was walking in the opposite direction.

Council Leader Vorik stopped her before she could pass him. "Are you well?" he asked, concern in his features. His eyes moved to her bag, seeing she was packed.

Vernisa quickly gave the gesture of respect. "I found my mate, sir." She stated quietly. "He is the human male who leads the group in the dorm."

Council Leader Vorik studied her for a moment. "You appear to be upset about finding your mate. Are you going to reject him?" he probed. He was worried. He didn't want another incident like what had taken place in the clinic.

Shaking her head slowly, she whispered, "No, sir. The bond is sacred. I will not tarnish such a gift of the gods."

Council Leader Vorik nodded; he appeared pleased with her answer. "Come with me. I will prepare a home near the dorms for you. Julian will not want to leave his people behind. You may have to wait for him to come to you, but you will be nearby when he does."

As Vernisa followed her leader, Vorik continued to speak. She only listened. "Your duty assignment will be the dorms until further notice. That will keep you near him."

Vernisa smiled inwardly at being allowed to work where he was all day. Then the thought crossed her mind that he might not want her after she told him her secret. Her face paled, and she lowered her head in worry.

Guiding her to the nearest empty home, he used his ID to open the door and reprogram it for her so that it would open for her and anyone she chose to have access. He ushered her inside. "Do you have everything you need for the night?" Vorik asked her, still watching her closely. He could tell that something was wrong and let her keep her privacy by not asking her about it. She was grateful.

"I have everything I need, sir. Thank you," Vernisa told him quietly.

Just as he was leaving, Council Leader Vorik turned around. "Those in the dorm are still awake if you would like to go see him," he informed her with a gentle tone. He hoped it would make her feel better.

"Thank you, sir," she stated, nodding slightly.

Council Leader Vorik turned and disappeared around one of the small dwellings on his way to the shuttle pad. Vernisa stood inside the open door of her new home, her eyes moved from the dorm beside her and the space between her new home and her old one.

With a quiet resolution, she stepped out of her new home, letting the door slide closed behind her, and headed for Julian's dorm. When she entered, he looked up, and a soft smile formed on his lips before he stood up and slowly went to her. She could tell that she had returned to the dorm.

"You have returned?" he asked. "Is it out of duty, or do you wish to speak with me?" he asked her cautiously. He didn't want to come to conclusions to find that he had been wrong.

Blushing again, she looked up at him. "I wish to speak with you."

His smile got wider. He held out his hand. "Would you like privacy, or would you like to meet the others?" he asked gently.

She wasn't really sure of what else to say; she just smiled. "I will meet the others if you like."

Offering her his hand, she took it, and then he gently pulled her near his group so that he could introduce them to her.

Vernisa sat quietly and listened as Julian introduced each one of his people. Affection for each of his friends was clear. This made her happy.

Everyone in his group watched their leader with interest. Finally, one of the older females spoke. "You appear to have known each other for a long time. How do you know each other?" she asked.

Julian grasped Vernisa's hand. "It is the mating bond. We just met. I didn't think it was real until I looked into Vernisa's eyes. I knew right away that she was my other half. My purpose in life. She is the other half of my soul," he explained. "It was instantaneous."

The older woman looked between the two. "It happens that quickly?"

Julian spoke again in place of his mate, seeing her fidget with discomfort. "I only had to look into her eyes. We knew right away. I know we both knew the moment we made eye contact. I think you have to experience it to understand."

One of the males looked between them. "I really thought it was forced, but if Julian said it is real, I trust that he speaks the truth."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The quiet chatter of the group as they discussed finding their own mate was heard as Julian gently pulled her away from the group to talk with her in private.

A quiet corner was all they needed. He stroked her cheek as they spoke. Their bond was already getting stronger. It did that. The more you touch your mate, the stronger the bond gets. Vernisa, still shy, kept her head down, enjoying the touch of her mate. This was nothing like what she felt with Keirn.

Outside the dorms, Keirn watched in silence. His fists were tight with anger as he watched the human man stroke Vernisa's cheek.

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