Mated to the Beast of the Wasteland (Gillian and Merrick) novel Chapter 3

"I'm ready, Gillian," Mabel called, stepping out of the back room with a small suitcase in hand.

When she'd heard Gillian had sold their house, she'd only let out a soft sigh and said nothing more.

The two of them slipped quietly out of their home.

Gillian checked the street outside. No suspicious beastmen were lurking nearby.

Just as I guessed. The Grayson family hasn't had time to set a watch on me yet. They're probably still busy trying to fix that eunuch.

The damage she'd done wasn't easy to repair.

"Let's go, Grandma. Hurry."

By the time they reached the 9th Legion's temporary outpost, the place was already bustling. Many beastmen were boarding the small, agile shuttlecraft used for intercity travel.

The 9th Legion was mobilizing. Time was running out.

Gillian hurried into the compound. She found Freya—the woman who'd helped her this morning—packing up to leave.

"Hi," Gillian said, out of breath. "My grandmother and I want to come with the legion. Can we leave with you right now?"

"What? You want to come with us?" Freya paused, looking up at the girl she'd met earlier.

"Yes," Gillian said, lifting her wrist terminal. "Don't you allow family members? I bonded with one of your soldiers this morning."

She showed Freya the military marriage certificate with Merrick's name on it.

"I remember you," Freya said at once, holding up a hand. She saw how pale Gillian was, her sharp eyes noticing something was wrong.

Freya continued, "But joining the legion requires your beastmate to file an approval request. The review takes three days. You can only come after it goes through."

Gillian's heart sank. "But I already sold my house."

"You sold your house... just to follow the 9th Legion?" Freya exclaimed, loud enough that several nearby heads turned.

Flustered, she waved them away. "Sorry, nothing to see."

Gillian nodded. "Yeah, sadly I didn't apply."

Gillian thought fast. Her backup plan was to buy a civilian shuttle ticket to Wasteland City on her own.

She recalled from her past life that the Grayson family had left her alone at first because they feared the 9th Legion. They'd only moved against her after the legion was wiped out.

The male she'd neutered was definitely high-ranking.

She couldn't just stay in Goldspine City and wait to be caught.

"I guess I'll just buy a ticket and follow you on my own, then," Gillian said, putting on a show of disappointment. She turned to leave.

Suddenly, Freya grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Wait. You're serious about this? You really want to come?"

"I'm serious," Gillian said, meeting her eyes. "I sold my house. I brought my grandmother—my only family. Does that sound like a joke to you?"

Freya glanced past her at Mabel, who waited anxiously by the door, scanning the area.

She really brought her grandmother. This girl is dead serious. And she's clearly in deep trouble.

"My name's Freya Reed. Let me make a call. Wait here."

Hope flared in Gillian's chest. "Thank you, Freya."

"Don't mention it."

Freya stepped away, her back to Gillian as she made the call. Gillian only caught bits and pieces.

"A woman down on her luck who bonded out of love and wants to follow the legion... What do you mean by 'no'? She sold her house! Just some impulse? She brought her only grandmother!"

Gillian stared up at the ceiling, half guilty, half amused.

I'm not that noble. I'm just freeloading a ride to save my own skin.

Freya turned around abruptly, her expression serious. "Gillian, be honest with me. Are you in some kind of trouble here?"

"Yes," Gillian admitted, choosing to be straightforward. "I neutered a beastman from the Grayson family. That's why I came here. But bonding with a soldier from the 9th Legion was my real choice. You're all true heroes. I don't regret it."

She wasn't afraid the legion would betray her. In her past life, they'd all died defending Void Star in Wasteland City. They weren't like the Graysons.

Commander? That must be "Black Rick," the leader of the 9th Legion. Gillian had heard he was fiercely protective of his people.

I made the right choice coming here.

This time, no one will hurt Grandma. No one will hurt my kids.

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