An extreme decision, but necessary if Milo wanted to survive this journey without further pain. When Janet offered a fresh bottle of water, Keon unscrewed the cap, poured the mixture into the water, grabbed the lid, and screwed it on to shake the bottle. The mixture diluted and no longer a clump of herbs, Keon focused on Milo.I need you to drink this,he said, unscrewing the cap single-handed and holding the bottle. Sad eyes gazed back as he helped Milo drink, but he didn’t resist.You can go steady, but I need you to finish.
Milo took the bottle and drank in long, steady sips, gasping between guzzles, nose scrunching at the taste.
Keon let him rest, taking bites of beef and protein bars in between sips, as he checked on the others. Isaac lay by the stream, one hand in the water, gazing at the sky as Janet berated him for disobeying the order to remain at the pack. He didn’t care, but didn’t argue how useful he’d been. He accepted his sister’s concern and promised he wouldn’t do it again, like a good brother.
Gale sat by the trunk of a tree, cigarette between his lips, one leg bent to rest a hand on his raised knee. The other leg lay straight, with Jude’s m’weko head resting on his thigh, Gale’s free hand drifting through pepper-grey fur. Gale took an occasional bite of cured beef before offering the strip to Jude. They shared openly, without reservation, and Keon caught a glimpse of what they’d shared in Dnara. It was beautiful.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Keon
THE REST DIDthem good. Isaac was quick to locate Haley’s scent, following it past the stream and into the thick of the forest. Headed into unmarked territory, the place between packs kept as neutral ground. If they passed beyond, they would emerge into Alpha Katarina’s territory.
Katarina was tough. As a human, she was delicate and beautiful, like a princess from a fairy tale. As m’weko, she was bigger than Simeon, one of the largest Keon had seen, and had a temper that left marks.
He wouldn’t encroach on her lands unless they had proof of Haley’s presence. Keon doubted Katarina would bargain for Haley’s return. As a stout feminist in the m’weko male-dominated society, she’d believe Haley safer under her care.
Milo grew stronger with each step, stopping for a brief rest or drink when the team did, but no longer lagging or struggling to maintain his balance. Hope kept him mentally strong.
With the mixture at work, they trekked into the night. Pushing their limits. Using the darkness to their advantage. Though Keon excelled at hunting, and Jude and Gale had led countless successful hunts, Isaac’s nose was superior. When most m’weko would have lost Haley’s scent by the stream, Isaac knew she and her companion—Vega, he thought—had found the trail on the other end.
By noon of the next day, the sun was high, Haley’s scent was weak, and Keon was thirsty. The heat bordered on unbearable as they left the shade of the forest for an expanse of open field. The scents on the wind suggested no other animals lurked nearby, as water was a long way in either direction.
Too far, and Haley’s scent was growing old.
*
Milo
AFTER REACHING THEcopse of trees, everyone prepared for sleep, relieved to be off their feet and the chance to rejuvenate their energies. Though Milo desperately wanted to sleep, he couldn’t. Something was niggling at his brain.
While Keon curled across his legs, offering warmth and proximity that was more comforting than he knew, Milo opened his pack to remove the notebook he’d been using until his family journal was returned.
Skimming through the last few pages, he found what he was looking for. A link. A connection. A thread of worrying images that formed one awful story.
Haley being attacked from behind and bleeding.
A man laughing maniacally.
Weston’s hands stained with blood.
The weight of a body holding his down, while life seemed to fade away.
Milo shivered, closing the book as he realised there was one logical explanation for those images. There were others he’d noted in those visions, but which didn’t make much sense when combined with these scenes. But if he was right and these instances were connected, that meant someone cruel and uncaring had attacked Haley, injured her, and left blood for Weston to find. And Milo may end up dying in the process of fighting her kidnapper or attempting to rescue his sister.
He glanced at Keon, brushing light fingers over his fur and between his ears. He loved Keon and loved the life they were building. But if it came down to a choice of whether to keep his life or save Haley, there was only one choice he could make.
How could he live, even with a man who made his heart happy, knowing he’d sacrificed his sister for that life? It was impossible.
If dying was the only way to save Haley, fine. Milo would do whatever was necessary, even if it meant giving up everything he had, everything he’d ever dreamed of, to make it a reality.
After all, he’d always known his fate wasn’t tied to his mating. Hadn’t he suspected his gift was the true reason the Fates had put him into this world? Wasn’t that why he thought the Mother had given him life? To be here, in this timeline, to see these visions and prepare the people involved for what was to come.
Pressing a hand to the open pages of the notebook, Milo fought the rising emotions that came with the reality of his fate and began thinking logically. What did these images tell him that he could potentially use to his advantage? What did they suggest to help him rescue Haley or remain one step ahead of her kidnapper?
These were the least detailed images of those visions, and Milo cursed himself for not seeing more, or having more knowledge about his gift. Was there a way to tap into a previous vision to revisit it and learn more? He would never know. His mother had disappeared, taking all hope of learning about his gift with her.
Milo was in this alone. No one else had his gift. No one else could help him or read his mind to replay the visions. This was something only he could do.
