"Since I was eleven." I didn't elaborate. He didn't need to know about the visions, the dreams, the years of inexplicable obsession. He just needed to trust that I knew what I was doing.
"Supplies," I continued. "Food, water, medical equipment, sedatives for transport. Neal — what can you pull from the Center without raising flags?"
He considered. "Basic medical supplies are easy. Sedatives are tracked, but I can fudge the paperwork — claim I'm running tests on Cal."
"Gear," I said, turning to James. "Tents, cold-weather equipment, climbing supplies."
"Equipment shed by the athletic complex." James's mouth curved. "The lock is shit. I broke in last time."
"Good." I looked back at the map. "Here, based on where we found Cal."
Neal frowned. "Are you sure?"
"They're there." I didn't know how I knew. But I did. The same way I'd known Cal was waiting to be found. "I'll find them."
Neal was quiet for a moment. Then: "How long do we have? Before someone notices we're gone?"
I considered it. “Ivy can cover for me—tell people I’m at the Healing Center. That might buy us a day or two.”
"After that, Twilson comes looking." Neal's voice was grim. "And Rae figures out what we've done."
"Then we'd better move fast."
The bond with Cal hit me halfway through packing.
It came without warning — a spike of fear so sharp it made me gasp. Not my fear. His.
"Lumi?" James was at my side instantly. "What is it?"
"Cal." I pressed a hand to my chest, where the bond pulsed like a second heartbeat. "Something's wrong."
I didn't wait for explanation. Just ran.
The Healing Center corridors blurred past me. I burst through Cal's door to find him in the corner — wolf form, shaking, whimpering, eyes wild with terror.
"Cal." I dropped to my knees. "Cal, I'm here."
He looked through me. Like he didn't know who I was.
The bond flickered. Dimmed.
Gone. They're gone. I left them and they're gone—
He'd felt it. The vision. The memory of his pack running, the alpha staying behind. And it was destroying him.
"They're not gone," I said fiercely, grabbing his face. "They survived. They ran. They're still out there, and we're going to find them. But I need you to hold on."
His eyes focused. Just barely.
"We're bringing you with us," I continued. "You and me and James and Neal. We're going back to that mountain together. Do you understand?"
A whimper escaped his throat. He pressed his head into my hands.
Don't leave me.
"Never," I promised. "I'm never leaving you again."
James and Neal appeared in the doorway. I looked up at them, Cal still trembling in my arms.
