“Excellent job,” Keon said, putting the cigarette between his lips to fold the note and pocket it. “Your team are strong and capable. You understand your task? You don’t need me to clarify or explain anything?”
“No, Alpha…I mean, Keon,” Eliseo replied, correcting quickly. “Only, what should happen if we’re affected by the doorway? How will we find your friends?”
“You needn’t worry.” Keon took another drag of nicotine, ignoring Vega’s unwavering glare.
“Of course, Alpha.”
Keon smirked at the demure remark, and tapped his cigarette into the ashtray. Eliseo was the same age as Keon, but either Simeon had knocked the sass from him or he was intimidated. Maybe the remark he’d overheard had deeper roots than he’d thought.
With one deep drag, Keon laid the cigarette against the ashtray and tucked his hands into the pocket of his hoodie. “I meant I’ve taken care of all eventualities. A scout took a quick trip to the fraternity house days ago to warn them of your arrival. The doorway can tamper with time between the two worlds.”
He paused, because Eliseo wouldn’t know. “Have you seen the doorway open?” he asked, watching bright eyes narrow with confusion. “You know it can be sunshine here and night on the other side?”
Eliseo nodded.
“Occasionally, it shifts. I could go through the doorway and return an hour later to discover a day or longer has passed. The same goes for travelling in the other direction,” he explained to prepare him. “Scouts have more luck passing through, because they’re familiar with how to open the doorway in a specific location. I’ve assigned a scout to accompany you. He’ll bring you to the front lawn of the fraternity house. Someone will be waiting to take you to safety. You won’t be exposed to Dnara and left alone, I promise. When it’s time to return, send Janet with a note, and wait two days. Someone will be waiting on this side for your return.”
Eliseo muttered, “I see.” The tension evaporated and, for the first time, Keon understood what a weight he’d taken upon his shoulders. If Eliseo was determined, Keon trusted him to do the job well.
“They’ll know what to do if we’re unwell?”
“Yes. Rylee is an expert at retraining Vihaans who cross over. Mostly exiles,” he admitted, though he didn’t bother explaining how. “My friends will take care of you, I promise.”
“Thank you. You’ve eased my mind.” Eliseo bobbed his head, casting a glance at Vega.
“Vega, I don’t give you permission to go.”
Silence reigned and his words echoed in the room.
“I understand Eliseo needs every capable body, but you’re unreliable,” Keon argued to prevent Vega’s inevitable protest. “Your agenda would compromise their mission. Besides, I remember putting you under house arrest, awaiting Farley’s arrival.” He wasn’t feeble or forgetful. Nothing would make him forget imprisoning his true mate to prevent him causing trouble.
“You won’t let me speak?”
“No.” Rising, he crossed to the dresser at the side of the room and opened the slim top drawer. “West, get Vega under guard. Eliseo, stay. I want a word with you,” he called, removing a black pouch from the drawer. Turning, he found three shocked gazes focused on him. “Come on. Get moving.”
Weston was visibly torn. He wanted to stay to be Beta, but wanted Vega dealt with. The rise of Keon’s eyebrow made him huff, ushering Vega out the rear door like an unruly cat. Eliseo remained, biting his lip.
Keon stepped closer to keep this private. “I must broach a personal matter, and hope you won’t be offended,” he said, grateful Eliseo nodded uncertainly. “I saw you with Vega, and I overheard you talking about what it meant to be an Alpha’s mate.” When Eliseo’s mouth opened, eyes wide in panic, Keon put a finger to his lips and looked at the pouch in his hands. “I know you’re Simeon’s true mate.”
Eliseo shut his mouth, disappointment mixed with the sadness in his eyes.
Keon hugged the nervous man, and two hands clutched tentatively at his sides. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
The words broke a dam. One shuddering breath released the flood and the hands on Keon’s side became fingers gripping at his hoodie as Eliseo sobbed.
No one had known the heavy burden Eliseo lived with, and the immense grief he hid beneath the surface. No one had offered Eliseo the condolences he deserved, as a young man who had lost his true mate.
Keon held him, one hand on his head, the other rubbing his back, wishing he’d done this sooner. He’d meant to, but life had gotten in the way. He’d forgotten he wasn’t the only one suffering.
He let time slip away, uncaring of how long Eliseo held him or needed comfort. This wasn’t about comforting a pack member. This wasn’t fulfilling a duty from obligation. This was Keon Linwood comforting his brother’s mate through his grief. One grief-stricken man taking care of another. As much as he’d hated Simeon, no one deserved the soul-rending pain of losing a true mate.
“I didn’t…” Eliseo said, calming to attempt words. He remained buried in Keon’s chest, words muffled against his hoodie, body shaking. “I didn’t…like him.”
Keon raked fingers through Eliseo’s hair. “I know. I didn’t like him either.” To anyone on the outside, it would seem brutal, but Eliseo needed to understand his feelings—the hate, anger—weren’t wrong. “That doesn’t mean we didn’t love him.”
You didn’t get to choose your family and, regardless of what they did, love buried deep in your soul, impossible to dig out.
Eliseo backed away to brush a finger under his nose. He risked a glance, caught Keon’s gaze, and found strength from the lack of criticism. “We discovered our bond two months before you left and?” He shook his head, words hindered by the heavy emotions. “Simeon was always persuasive. We’d been intimate once or twice, but he never wanted more. Not until he knew I was his mate.”
