He knocked, a voice calmly inviting him in. Pushing the door open, Keon found Eliseo sitting in bed, sporting a good complexion, a sling around his right arm and shoulder. He looked happy and relaxed for the first time in years. As soon as Eliseo caught him in the doorway, he put his book aside, slotting a bookmark in.
“Alpha, what are you doing here?” he asked, pressing a hand into the mattress to rise into a seated position. “Do you need me to return?”
“No.” Keon grabbed the chair from the desk to place by the bed, wondering whether to be amused or concerned by his panic. “How are you faring?” he asked, eyeing the sling with concern.
“Healing well,” he admitted, unconcerned though a hand lifted to rub the sling. An unconscious but familiar act. “The doctor says I’ll be fully healed within the next two weeks,” he explained, letting his gaze flit around the room.
Keon had a feeling he knew why. “Good. It wouldn’t be safe to travel through the doorway injured,” he said, searching for a tell to indicate a problem. When he didn’t find one, he took another guess. “Do you like it in Dnara? I found it to be enlightening… freeing,” he admitted, in case Eliseo was worried he’d get in trouble.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Eliseo met Keon’s gaze. “I’d like to remain to learn and study. I’ve been reading, and I’m interested in the way medicine has evolved,” he confessed, animated as he lifted his book. Not a novel, but a medical text. “I could be of use to the pack, if I could learn how to run a hospital or identify the aids needed. If I knew how to build them, we wouldn’t need to import them from Dnara.”
The idea was sensible and beneficial to the pack. Keon was sure Milo would approve. “I agree. It sounds like you’ve thought this through, and I’d be happy if you stayed,” he agreed, seeing no reason to dampen his good mood. “Milo wants to open a clinic for the pack, and I’m sure he’d love help. If we didn’t import aids, we could focus on bringing in medicine and other supplies.” In time, he hoped to create painkillers and treatments, grow a medicine garden and natural supplies made from what was native to Vihaan.
“Thank you, Alpha.”
Keon waved it off. Of course Eliseo should stay if he wanted to. “I’m glad you’re recovering well, and you can get the experiences you’re hoping for. To grieve in a safe place,” he hinted, curious if he was taking the time to grieve. He wanted Eliseo to have a good future, to enjoy his life and forget his pain, if possible.
They talked about Simeon and Milo, sharing stories of the past few weeks. Eliseo asked about the ceremony and to hear the story of capturing Vega. When Eliseo tired, Keon returned his chair to the desk, said goodbye, and kissed Eliseo’s forehead.
“I’ll come, if you need me. You’re always welcome home, whenever you’re ready.” Keon made sure he knew the pack had changed. He didn’t want Eliseo to worry he had no place in the pack. “You’ll always have a home with us. You’re my brother.”
Despite a lengthy hug, Eliseo’s tears didn’t fade as Keon left the room. He sensed the longing in Eliseo, the sadness of grieving for Simeon. Being here would be good for him. Necessary. What he needed to grieve and recover from his loss.
Leaving hurt and filled Keon with pride. Eliseo had grabbed hold of his future, choosing the path toward happiness. Though nervous, he was ready to take a risk and try something new. Keon hoped Eliseo found the inspiration he needed in Dnara, but he’d be happy to celebrate his return to Vihaan.
*
Milo
THE EXCITEMENT OFbeing in Dnara for Christmas?a holiday he’d never celebrated, but which intrigued him?had Milo fighting the fatigue of too much adrenaline coursing through his body. He hated that adrenaline made him tired, when it was involved in many emotions and instinctive reactions.
When he fumbled taking a cup of hot chocolate from Rylee, he cursed his body for constantly sending more drama than he had a tolerance for. “Thank you.” Milo sipped at the chocolatey goodness, as Rylee took a seat on the sofa. He was different to how Keon had described him, only because Milo sensed an inner calm and patience in the man Keon hadn’t mentioned. His eyes were ever-watchful, taking in every nuance of movement and reaction, especially from Keon.
When Rylee smiled, his eyes crinkled and he lifted his own cup to sip. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you’re different to what I expected,” he began, surprising Milo.
Keon had been starkly honest with Milo about everything. Drew’s past history, how he met Rylee, the problems that had stood in their way, and even that Rylee had presumed Keon had ‘Daddy issues’?a Dnaran term Milo had to ask him to explain.
Smiling into a second sip, he carefully lowered his cup to cradle in one hand, enjoying the heat against his frozen fingers. Not sure if Drew had shared his letters from Keon with Rylee, he took a guess. “You expected someone…older, authoritative, perhaps larger and muscled?”
Rylee’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Precisely. I’m glad Keon didn’t keep secrets from you, as I know how hard a mating can be when things remain unsaid,” he admitted, reminding Milo of Rylee’s own tragic love story.
“Secrets are part of the reason we were both hurt before finding each other,” Milo confessed, glad Rylee was interested in getting to know him. Keon had promised Rylee and Drew would ‘adore’ him, but there was always fear in the back of his mind that the people Keon loved most would reject him.
Turning solemn, Rylee nodded, lifting one leg to rest over the other knee, relaxed and comfortable in his presence. “Keon left us before he was ready to return to Vihaan. He had a lot of things to work through, but he made the right choice in the end. I’m glad to see it’s worked out as he hoped,” he said, his tone reminding Milo of a caring parent or grandfather, trying to impart wisdom.
The thought made him smile, as Rylee offered advice on how to maintain a strong marriage, using his experience with Drew to add insight into these strangers Milo desperately wanted to call family. Milo listened without critique or interruption as Rylee advised him on how to be a strong Beta to his Alpha, how to be a supportive partner to his mate, and all the lessons he’d learned from his successes and failures as a married man.
Every word was valuable.
“How is Eliseo?” Milo asked, as the topic drifted to how Eliseo had troubles of his own to work through. An enigmatic remark that spurred his curiosity.
Rylee hummed, leaning forward to set his cup on the table. “As Keon did, when he came here, he has a lot of emotional trauma and baggage to deal with, as well as a wealth of unexpressed grief over losing Simeon,” he admitted, talking freely, perhaps because neither Eliseo nor Keon were here to overhear. Or perhaps he trusted that Milo genuinely cared about Eliseo, who had become a member of his pack and family upon his union to Keon. “It will be some time before Eliseo is ready?emotionally, as well as physically?to return to Vihaan. It would be best if he remained here to take advantage of a Dnaran trained therapist. We have one who is a kalou, whom he can talk freely with if he chooses.”
“That is incredible.” Milo’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but his mind whirled with the possibilities. “You’ll be aware Vihaan doesn’t recognise mental health. But with the changes Keon is about to implement, there will be a lot of uncertainty about the future within the pack, and I’d like to know how to properly help them deal with that,” he said, wondering if Keon would object to visiting a bookstore. He didn’t have money, but within an hour, he could read and make notes. Or a library might be better. He wouldn’t need much time.
A chuckle drew his attention to Rylee, who stood and left the room. Milo worried, for a full minute, if he’d insulted him or if Rylee was simply getting another cup of hot chocolate, before he returned with three large books. He placed them onto the table beside Milo’s armchair, where his wheelchair had been folded at the side. “The books are our Christmas gift to you. Drew told me about your request in your letter, and I’m happy to help. Your tenacity, knowledge, and care will be a much-needed gift to your pack.”
Milo’s breath caught, eyeing the medical books with interest. “Thank you,” he whispered, already reaching for the top book. He resisted at the last minute, not wanting Rylee to think him a bad guest.
