Keon eyed his oddly sentimental Beta, but chose not to tease. This was dangerous, with no telling how it would end, and Weston was worried about Haley. He rubbed his face against Weston’s jeans, letting his Beta cry without comment, as he walked to the front door. A few steps had the weight of the two packs shifting, adjusting to his gait, but it was necessary.
Milo would help them on with their packs, be their eyes, ears, and voice. The reassurance Haley would need to know she was safe.
Leaving the house, Keon’s step faltered on the top step of the porch when he found a half-dozen men and women outside the door. Gale leaned against the veranda, a cigarette in his mouth, naked and ready to shift, unconcerned Jude’s m’weko stood perfectly placed to hide his impressive hardware.
“Isaac spilled his guts.” Gale blew a cloud of smoke as he ground his cigarette into the veranda banister. “I’ll explain once we’re out of the village,” he said, meaning it was important but only for the ears of the search team. Gale rubbed Jude’s ear, and the m’weko moved into the touch. Janet huffed as she approached Milo and rubbed her muzzle across his shoulder.
Milo’s eyes grew wet as he stepped beside Keon.She said Haley’s scent is strong, leading from the village, with no blood trail.
Keon nuzzled at Milo to share the minor celebration, her huff a response to Milo’s mental quest for answers. He hoped Haley remained uninjured, or well treated.
With Janet’s news, Keon faced the waiting pack and let his confident posture speak volumes. He would bring Haley home. Kicking and screaming, if necessary, but he would bring her home to his pack, where she belonged. Once they knew she was safe, he would resolve the underlying problem, sending her to live with her father or with another pack, if she wanted.
Ignoring the stares, he bowed his head to Weston, acknowledging his new position of power, glad Leo approached his Beta, tipping his head in reassurance Keon needed. With Milo by his side, Janet and Jude close behind, he walked around the side of his house. They could have left by the rear door, but Weston wanted the pack to see Keon leaving to prevent rumours or concerns.
Janet had explained their mission, after searching for a blood trail, telling those curious that a member of the pack was injured and missing, no more. It made a difference, knowing Keon would search for the pack member and bring them to safety, not send scouts to find and banish them, as Simeon had.
He was grateful to the team. People had seen Gale and Jude preparing for another trip and worried more exiles would be arriving. Keon was proud to hear the concerns weren’t about the pack, but concern for Eliseo’s recovery. Gale explained Eliseo would be recovering in Dnara and redirected their attention to helping the exiles settle in.
As reassuring as the logical explanations were, people knew something was wrong and weren’t sure whether to panic. Keon had learned a long time ago nothing ripped a pack apart more than rumours.
As they left the village and crossed into the tree line, Keon stopped and looked to Gale for an explanation. He huffed and leaned against a nearby tree, Jude’s m’weko nudging close to his leg.
“Isaac behaved for about ten seconds.” Gale caressed fingers into Jude’s fur, rubbing between his ears. “He prepped a space on the podium to camp and watch for Haley. When the bloke from the book group walked past, Isaac jumped him, quizzed the kid about his search in the woods, and scared him shitless.” Jude’s m’weko took exception to his pause, and the lack of motion in his fur, to bite at his hand. Gale merely tugged his ear in warning to behave. “Luckily, Isaac’s honed his scent ability. The kid explained what he sensed in the woods, pine and sage, and said it matched one person in the pack. You won’t like it.”
No, Keon didn’t, but he’d known that scent his whole life. Had basked in it. Had hoped to spend his life never acknowledging another scent.
“Vega.”
*
KEON’S M’WEKO WASstrong and robust, lean, compact muscles moving with precision, and his nose caught delicate scents in the air. Everything from Milo’s distinctive scent to the sweat of the team building over the last hour of running, he didn’t miss a single sign.
Nor did he scent Haley.
They’d passed his clearing and crossed the border of their land when Milo paused and glanced behind.
Something wrong?He stopped to show the others to wait. Milo lagged due to his fatigue and muscle weaknesses, but Jude stuck close and Keon led the team. They’d taken on instinctive, unspoken roles, but this wasn’t a pause caused by fatigue.
Milo cocked his head.Isaac is joining us.
The explanation made no sense. He’d told Isaac to remain behind for a reason, and because Isaac was barely an adult. He’d faced minimal risk in Dnara, with the team and a fraternity of shifters, but this was different. They couldn’t prove Vega was responsible, and if he wasn’t, what they might face. He wouldn’t lead a young, innocent kid to his death.
Do you scent him?
Milo sat patiently in the long grass, resting his legs.No. He spoke inside my head. He’s got heecha blood,he explained, glancing at Janet, unaware what was about to happen.Is it possible he isn’t related to Janet?
Keon sat and scratched at his right ear.Isaac was found abandoned in the forest, five days old,he admitted, though few knew the secrets written into their history. A discovery he had made when checking Simeon’s laws.Janet isn’t aware. She was three years old when he came into her life. He’s always been her brother.With his itch scratched, he crossed to Milo and nuzzled at his neck.How are you faring, mikha? I’m sorry we haven’t scented her, yet.
It’s not your fault.Milo leaned against his shoulder as they waited for Isaac. His snow-white fur shimmered like ice in the sunlight, and Keon couldn’t resist burying his nose to bask in his scent.
A bark merged with an unfamiliar mind link screaming,Alpha!
He needs to temper his volume.Keon stood to shake his fur. A flying bug buzzed, making him itch with the incessant, irritating noise.
Milo shot him a side-glance.I’m not sure it’s on purpose. His mind is screaming because it’s a strong thought. A need,he reasoned with a delicate shrug.I can teach him how to control it.
It could come in useful,Keon agreed, a useful tool to adapt and control, as Isaac grew in confidence.
