Fuck. Keon brushed his thumbs across Milo’s cheeks.You know you’re adorable, right?
Shut up.Milo pressed his lips and fought his laughter.
“Alpha,” Weston called, clearing his throat to distract his attention.
“Yeah,” he answered, pressing a finger to his mouth to shush Milo, teasing him for being a distraction. Keon joined Weston in the centre of the podium, giving a casual wave to the pack. Some patiently waited while others shot knowing looks at Milo. “I’ve got a couple announcements, and wanted to keep everyone informed.”
Keon gave the nod to Leo, who made his way to the podium. “First, an apology. Where’s Yosi?” he called, waiting for Yosi to raise his hand. “Ah. I know I said I’d be next, but I’ve had a request for someone to jump the queue.”
Leo stepped onto the podium and Weston’s gaze narrowed on Keon, knowing but curious. “Thank you, Alpha.” Leo bobbed his head in acknowledgement and crossed to Weston’s side. He took the notebook and pen from his hands, handed them to Keon, and sank to one knee. A gesture few understood, except those who had spent time in Dnara. Weston, the know-it-all, gasped. “Weston, my love,” Leo said, tossing blue hair from his eyes and taking Weston’s hand, “I’ve loved you my whole life. With the Alpha’s permission, I ask you to mate with me in the foame way…and marry me, as a human would. If you say yes, we’ll be mated by the Meskli on his next visit, and forever joined as one.”
The speech was sweet, old-fashioned, and perfect for Weston. It suited his stuffy-old-man heart beautifully.
“Leo!” Weston cried and covered his mouth, staring at Keon with big eyes.
“Congratulations!”
The pack raised the call, congratulating the Beta. General cheers of celebration resounded and someone whooped.
Keon cleared his throat and implemented Phase Two. He caught Gale’s eye, their deal made during their private chat at the barbecue. He checked on Milo, tearful but eager to continue as he’d had a special part in the preparations, keeping Weston and Jude occupied while Keon spoke with Gale.
Gale climbed the steps and stood in the centre of the podium. People stopped congratulating Leo and Weston, as they tried to escape the crowd with laughter and smiles. The sight of a warrior on the podium brought a hush over the pack, as he recounted the news of the Meskli’s imminent return to deal with Vega and to mate Keon and Milo. “While I’ll be celebrating with you, the Meskli will perform one more task.” Gale found Jude in the crowd and held his gaze. “He’ll be mating me to my true mate.”
Gale walked to the edge of the podium, jumped off, and started walking. The pack parted, surprised, confused, but eager to discover where he was going. When he walked to Jude, the guard was practically shaking.
Gale kissed him. Hard. Adamant. Defiant and dominating. A claim. A warning Jude was his, everyone else be damned. While they celebrated, Keon called the meeting to a close and thanking them for coming.
In the midst of the pack, Gale saw what a spectacle he’d made, breaking the kiss long enough to speak to Jude. He walked away, disappearing into the crowd, mate steady in his arms, doubtless planning to leave scant space between them for the foreseeable future.
Keon perched on the arm of Milo’s wheelchair and kissed his temple. “What do you say, mikha? Want to go home?” he asked, running fingers through his long fringe.
Tears of joy fell as Milo cocked his head. “Which home? Your words suggest one and your dirty mind implies another.”
“I’m thinking we go to my family home, pack the last of our belongings, and officially move into the Pack-House?” He kissed pouting lips and beamed. “Which means christening our new bedroom. The kitchen, the dining table…” he teased, pecking delicate kisses from tempting lips.
Milo caught his jaw in soft hands. “I like that. Having a real home.” With one more kiss, he nipped at Keon’s bottom lip. “Everything else sounds good too.”
Keon shot to his feet, knowing exactly how he would spend the rest of the day…sore, but fucking happy.
Chapter Forty-One
Milo
One Week Later
Drew,
Today is my mating day. Can you believe it?
When we talked about whether I would come home, I didn’t know what to do. I knew Vega was my mate and didn’t want to confront that. I didn’t realise, but I was hiding. Putting off the inevitable.
If I’d behaved differently, I wouldn’t have Milo and…yeah, I can’t imagine that. I know the mate bond transferred once I fully rejected Vega, and Milo accepted me, but it doesn’t make sense to feel the way I do about him. I feel like we’re two halves of a whole, in a way I could never have been with anyone else. It’s fucked, the way the Fates screwed us over, but I wonder if Haley was right—everything until I met Milo was predestined to force me to be stronger, different. Maybe I was meant to never fit into the pack because I needed to be the one to see the problems and work to change it?
Who knows. All I know is I wouldn’t trade Milo for anything. He’s a part of me I never knew I was missing.
I wish you could celebrate this huge step into my future. I swear, one day I’ll find a way for our people to cross the doorway without suffering. Without losing pieces of themselves. Maybe when you drag your lazy ass through your college course and graduate, it will be ready. You can spend your ‘gap year’ in Vihaan with us. I’ll show you the sights, and introduce you to Milo and Haley.
Shit, I should get ready. I have a few hours to the full moon, when I’ll mate with the one man who understands me. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
