Page 96 of Hayden's Haven
“Nothing we can do now,” Callen whispered. “Need to go, before they realize you’re gone.”
“But Hayden—”
“He lost as planned.”
“As planned?”
“Hayden intentionally missed several opportunities to take Drake down. If he had killed Drake, he wouldn’t find the HEV. He needs Drake for that. This way Drake will use him, give him the remaining HEV to turn over to the DSA. It solves a problem for Drake, getting rid of the HEV, Hayden, and the DSA. Drake doesn’t want the HEV. He knows it's a liability at this point.”
“How do you know this?”
“Listening to some of the guards talk while you and Hayden were. . . busy.”
“The DSA will kill Hayden, Callen.”
Callen said nothing, because there was nothing to say. It was the truth, and he knew it, except there wasn’t a better option.
“Mila, he wants you safe. Trust me when I say this, Hayden will be at peace with his choice if he knows you’re safe.”
“I can’t leave him!”
Callen grabbed hold of her hand and started running. Mila felt as if she were on autopilot as she ran alongside Callen. She trusted Callen and Hayden, but there had to be another way.
“How long before Damien returns? Can he send shifters directly to Liam’s pack, before Drake hands Hayden over?” Yes, that could work. Hayden would have the HEV in hand at that point.
“No time to wait for Damien. There are others I can get. But it’s going to be tight. Hayden will stall as long as he can.”
“Stall?”
“It’s one of the contingency plans we discussed.” Callen quickly stripped and shifted. They’d make better time in wolf form.
For the first time in a while, Mila felt as if she could breathe. Hayden wasn’t lost to them yet. Despite how crazy and desperate this plan of theirs sounded, there was a chance it would work. The males both knew how to adapt to changing circumstances. She had seen them work together before, when they’d first walked into that bakery in Wyoming.
All she needed to do was to keep up with Callen as they raced to Damien’s territory. She stripped and started to shift. The shift was painful, and Callen kept watchful eyes over the area as he waited for her. She hated that he had to wait for her, that she was slowing him down, but there was nothing she could do about it except keep moving forward. Everything would work out. It had to.
Except something was still bothering her about what Chitman had whispered to her, before the challenge. Hayden was in more danger than he or Callen realized.
Mila grabbed her clothing in her mouth. Callen sprinted forward, north. That’s when Mila turned and headed south.
Chapter Twenty-One
MILA
“Stop, Mila!” Callen whisper-screamed from not too far behind Mila.
By the time Callen caught up to her, it was too late. She was on a hill not far from where the challenge had taken place. Hayden was being escorted out by six guards, while Drake limped his way along.
Mila dressed quickly. She still only had her underwear and Hayden’s sweatshirt, but it was better than going down there naked. The very thought of going before Chitman naked turned her stomach, but she pushed forward. This had to work, or Hayden would be a dead shifter.
Mila took a deep breath, inhaling Hayden’s scent on his clothes. It was the encouragement she needed to race down the hill, Callen hot on her heels.
“Go back to your pack, Callen!”
“You really don’t know me very well.”
She actually did, but she had hoped he’d go just the same, especially if she was wrong and ended up risking both of them for nothing.
All the guards, Drake, and Hayden turned toward her and Callen at once. The shifters had caught their scent on the wind, but that was fine. She wasn’t trying to hide now. As always, her eyes automatically sought out Hayden. That look of peace that had been on his face gave way to fear. His eyes sought out Callen. Anger danced across Hayden’s face.
