Cole

Cole POV

"We've been contacted by a small group of survivors seeking asylum," Derek remarks, standing up from his seat at the round table.

"How many are we expecting?" Alyssa asks, taking a drink from her wine glass.

I placed them both together and gave them a seat on the council because of their yin-yang personalities. Derek is a strong fighter and an expert warrior in battle; he's also the most strategic in bringing back survivors alive. Alyssa is more of the nurturing type and has a very gentle touch that helps with dealing with survivors who just made the dangerous trek here.

While they both despise each other, it doesn't stop them from working well together—in more ways than one. They don't think I know about their affair, but it's obvious, at least to me, it is.

"They started with ten, but now they are down to six," Derek says in a more somber tone. He knows the loss all too well from making the journey himself once before.

"We can't keep taking in every stray pack that c