Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore."
"Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny.
"Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?"
Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like."
Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it."
"About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color-black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation.
Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of makeup, unveiling claw marks running diagonally across his cheek. Kasia felt her breath catch in her throat as she took in his real appearance, so different from the man she had known before.
"We all have our secrets," Milo said, locking his gaze on Kasia's shocked expression. "I hope revealing what I really look like will motivate you to be honest with me. "Your secret's safe with me. I work for the Alpha King, not the Hunters."
"Fine," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "But not here. Somewhere private."
Nestled between the towering skyscrapers, the small mom-and-pop restaurant felt like an oasis of warmth and comfort in the heart of the bustling city. As they stepped inside, the rich aroma of home-cooked meals enveloped them, a stark contrast to the cold, impersonal atmosphere of the limousine they had just left.
Milo led the way to a booth near the back, his golden eyes scanning the dimly lit interior as if searching for potential threats. Kasia slid into the seat across from him, her mind still reeling from his unexpected transformation. Lily hesitated for a moment before joining them, her dark gaze flickering between Milo and Kasia with apprehension.
"You two have a very personal relationship," Lily assumed.
"Yes, I trained Kasia and Lana. I would say one of the best hunters I've trained," Milo explained. The waiter walked over. "Whiskey, neat for me. Ladies?"
"Cranberry vodka," Kasia ordered.
"Strawberry lemonade," Lily chimed in.
The waiter nodded and hurried away, leaving the trio to their tense silence.
"Three years ago," Kasia began, her voice barely audible over the hum of conversation around them, "the Hunter scientists distributed experimental pills to some of us. Do you remember?"
Milo's brow furrowed as he considered her question, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "Yeah, I remember. They were supposed to help hunters recover faster from injuries. But there were complications. They stopped giving them out," he confirmed, his expression clouding with concern. "What about it?"
"Those pills...they never stopped giving them out. I think they're what turned me into a lycan." Kasia's admission hung heavy in the air.
Milo's face paled, his tapping fingers falling still. "I've heard rumors about that," he admitted quietly. "It was why Lana never wanted to take them."
"Wait. They offered them to Lana too?" Kasia questioned.
Milo nodded. "Yes, she never took them. She thought something was off. I received an order to locate the few individuals who took those pills, as they vanished during their missions. You're the only one I know who's survived the transformation."
Lily frowned and pressed her lips into a thin line. "That's not good, Kasia," she murmured. "If the Hunters find out, they'll come after you."
"Maybe not," Milo interjected, his gaze flicking between Kasia and Lily. "There's more to this story than you know."
"Of course there is," Lily shot back, her frustration evident in the sharpness of her tone. "You don't just show up out of nowhere without a reason, Milo. What aren't you telling us?"
Milo sighed, running a hand through his short black hair. "The Hunters still have Kasia on the K.O.S. list," he said quietly, his golden eyes filled with regret.
Kasia's heart clenched painfully in her chest. "Why are they so upset about me?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion.
Milo replied solemnly, "Because you defied orders, Kasia. You inspired people to question the Hunters' authority, and they want to make an example out of you."
"Then we'll just have to make sure they don't find out," Lily said fiercely. "We'll fake Kasia's death."
"That won't work," Milo answered.
"And why not?" Lily questioned.
"They want her head, literally," Milo explained, "to put on display for anyone who thinks to betray the organization."
Lily looked at Milo in horror, then back at Kasia. Kasia felt her heart skip a beat, blood pounding in her ears. She swallowed hard. "That's a little excessive."
"There's something else you should know," he said, his golden eyes searching Kasia's face for any hint of recognition. "The Hunters have been tracking a red lycan."
Kasia fought to keep her expression neutral, but it was clear from Milo's gaze that he had already picked up on her distress. Beside her, Lily clenched her fists in her lap, her knuckles turning white.
"Yes, we know about her." Her voice wavered slightly, but she held Milo's gaze steadily.
"Her?" Milo echoed, surprise flickering across his features as he took a huge gulp of his drink. "Nadia gave me the order to find and kill the red lycan."
Kasia stared down at her hands, struggling to contain the whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. Nadia, the woman who had mentored her and taught her everything she knew about being a hunter, was now hunting her. The knowledge weighed heavily on her, filling her with a sense of betrayal and loss that left her breathless.
Milo studied them both carefully, his brow furrowing in concern. "I can try to buy some time and gather more intel," he offered quietly, the sincerity in his voice leaving no doubt as to his loyalty. "But I won't be able to play both sides forever. And I won't kill Kasia-or the red lycan."