Two priorities occupied his personal list. One, to have Weston and Leo reunited, if not mated, and two, to progress his relationship with Milo. As a courting pair, nothing was off-limits except m’nuni, though most modern foame found no harm in completing it early as long as the official ceremony took place. Tonight, he hoped to take another step toward their eventual mating, if Milo was willing.
With the Pack-House needing another month of renovations, and the subsequent chaos disruptive to live amongst, they had plenty of time. Which warranted experimentation. Starting with one more task for his list: to get Haley out the house for the night.
“Are the rooms in the barn adequate for sleeping, yet?” Keon asked, remembering one final task.
Weston glanced at his notebook, flipping pages. “Yes, Yosi reported the last rooms as filled yesterday. Up to twenty people can be housed comfortably,” he said, as they’d made the barn a temporary resting place for the returning exiles.
“Good.” He glanced at Weston and cleared his throat to say the next words. “I thought you could spend the week in the Pack-House.” He tried not to react to the sharp, suspicious glance from his Beta. “I know you’re worried about the renovations, and you’re the perfect person to oversee the work. It would give you a break from Haley’s incessant mood swings,” he said, tossing multiple reasons into the mix to convince him to agree. “Eliseo isn’t coming home for weeks, and I was thinking of offering Haley his home, on a temporary basis. Get time alone with my mate.”
The suspicion faded, and Weston shook his head. “If that pleases you, Alpha. I’ll leave this afternoon to give you time with your mate.”
Good. Despite Milo’s insistence he would agree with the lie, Weston had bought it. Which left one last task. Keon glanced at his watch. Not long. He’d been forced to abandon his digital watch for an older wind-up version to accommodate Vihaan’s reluctance to work anything mechanical.
As sunlight glinted off the cave entrance and shimmered like a pool of water, Keon caught a scent on the breeze to lift his spirits. He didn’t need to look, the mulch of grass warning enough. When the wheelchair stopped at his right side, he removed his hand from his pocket and gave it to Milo, who clasped it and kissed his palm.
“They’ll be through in a second,” Milo said, with the same surety he’d had when the storm blew over.
Keon didn’t understand his gifts, but didn’t need to. He trusted Milo.
True to his word, the doorway morphed from shimmering light into a black hole of nothingness. The cave entrance had returned to its natural state, and a figure emerged from the cave.
Janet paused, checking the area was safe and clear. A minute passed, probably a pre-determined pause; then Isaac stepped into the light, shading his eyes. He beamed at Keon and waved, moving to the opposite side of the cave entrance. The siblings flanked the space as bodies appeared.
Thirty souls emerged from the doorway, the team managing them beautifully, stopping them from heading into the village to count heads. Quick, efficient, and well organised.
Jude and Gale came through last, and the doorway shut behind them, sensing no other living creature on the other side.
Keon gave the team another minute to function as a unit. Gale checked in with the others, getting confirmation everyone had come through. Janet and Isaac wove through the bodies, checking no one was ill or uneasy. Tasks complete, Jude saluted Keon.
“Good to see you, Alpha,” he said, glancing at his hand, clasped in Milo’s. “I have a letter from Eliseo.” He extracted an envelope from the breast pocket of his T-shirt, a deft slip of the finger revealed two. “And one from Drew.”
Of course. “Thanks.” Keon appreciated the knowing smile suggesting Jude had learned about his friendship with Drew. “Did he have you run as m’weko at one of his infamous picnics?” he asked, convinced Drew would have taken the opportunity when presented. With few foame in Dnara, Drew would have wanted to let Kerr run with another animal.
“He did, and it was fun,” Jude admitted, glancing at Gale and Janet.
“You’ll be tired and hungry.” Keon gave Weston the nod of approval. His Beta lifted the whistle around his neck and blew once to draw the crowd’s attention. “Morning, everyone. Good to see you on home soil. I’ll keep this short,” Keon promised, raising his voice.
“We have a temporary home in the barn at the other end of the village. If I can ask Janet and Isaac to accompany you,” he said, the siblings acknowledging the request with a nod. “If anyone wants to speak to me, you’re welcome to stop by the house. I’m staying in my family home, and I’m never far from it, at the moment. However, I’m planning a feast to welcome you home tonight. If you want a casual chat, you’re welcome to wait. The whole pack will be in attendance. I’m sure you want to spend today seeking out families and loved ones to reconnect with those you lost.”
Keon looked over the confused faces, half lingering on Milo. “For anyone who doesn’t know or remember me, I’m Keon Linwood. Nyseth Linwood’s son, Turner Linwood’s grandson. Sadly, the last surviving family member of the Linwood name,” he revealed, intrigued by a handful of surprised faces in the crowd. Unaware of his elevation of status, or his father’s passing.
“Things have changed, in ways I hope are for the best. I apologise and grieve with you for the unpleasant changes. The losses, the distance, and lost time. Today, spend your time with those you love. Tomorrow, your new life will begin.
“Most will remember Weston. As Beta to Grier, he served this pack with loyalty and distinction. As Beta to my brother, Simeon, he protected the pack from my brother’s stupidity,” Keon confessed, needing them to see the difference between his rule and Simeon’s. “Weston has agreed to continue to serve this pack as my Beta. If you need anything or have questions…if you don’t feel comfortable coming to me…you can always count on Weston.
“Finally?” Keon gripped Milo’s hand, his mate bravely bearing the stares. “?let me introduce my future mate, Milo Amell, son to Alpha Thatcher Amell.”
He let silence follow, the admiration in Milo’s eyes making him feel ten feet tall. “We’re thrilled to have you home where you belong to help us expand the pack and make it a family. We’ll see you at the feast.” He redirected his attention to where Jude stood nearby. “Could you come by the house when you’re done to give your report? Bring Gale,” he said, hoping to see them in closer quarters, to figure out what had changed. They were good fighters, members of the pack army, and took their shifts at the perimeter posts without protest, but their easy-going rhythm was erratic.
“Of course.”
Keon let him walk away to inform Gale of their summons. Whatever the problem, it would be clear soon. He bent to kiss the nervousness from Milo’s eyes.
“Keon,” he muttered in complaint.
He pecked his lips a second time. “Let’s see if we can find Leo, shall we?” he whispered, intending to fulfil their matchmaking plans. The fact Milo was excited eased his mind. This was right, for LeoandWeston.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
