Chapter 24 Sydney

Chapter 24 Sydney

 

 

My mind raced.

Adam was my half-brother. “How old are you, Adam?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“Twenty-eight.”

“I’m twenty. The timing adds up, and our stories about our mothers are the same. We’re siblings.”

Adam’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. It was like he had trouble processing. So did I, but my excitement about discovering a blood relative mounted.

Finally, he said, “If that’s true, then your father killed my mother, which means Benjamin Pierce is your father.”

My jaw dropped. “No…” I shook my head. “My father is dead.”

“What makes you so sure? You said you were two when you were taken in by a human. Did anyone ever find his body? They sure as hell found my mother’s, so she’s dead for sure.”

“Our mother,” I corrected. “My aunt told me my father died along with Sophia.”

Adam snorted and rolled his eyes. “You were told? Sophia was the only one confirmed dead. Her body was the only one found.”

He probably thought I was a naïve fool. Shit. Could he be right? My heart stuttered. Could Benjamin really be my father? It seemed far-fetched. The man and I were face-to-face weeks ago, and he never said anything. I replayed our interaction in my mind.

There was a moment when his behavior seemed strange. He stared at me as if he recognized me. But I’d passed it off as me simply reminding him of someone else he knew. “You’re wrong; my father didn’t kill Sophia.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “How do you know?”

“He loved her. I’ve read his letters to her. He would have never hurt her. There’s no way Benjamin is my father.”

Adam laughed. “Do you hear yourself? You’re betting on letters? He’s a hunter. He probably befriended her just to get close enough to take her out. Hunters are vicious, conniving sons of bitches.”

I was at a loss for words because my brain was still trying to process the possibility of my father being alive—and I met him. “Okay, let’s not dwell on that right now. On the bright side, we’re siblings. I’ve always wanted—”

“That’s not a certainty, and I don’t need any more siblings. I’ve got plenty. My father took procreating for a sport.”

My shoulders drooped. Being rejected from all directions was a bummer. My mate couldn’t claim me, and I found a brother who had no desire to claim me either. “Right. I guess I jumped the gun. I mean, we don’t have concrete proof, just coinciding stories about our mothers.” I tamped down my excitement about a brother. “I should go. I need to get back to Cole’s.”

Adam gazed at me for a moment, then sighed. “Look, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“You didn’t.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

I averted my gaze. “Whatever. Are you going to let me go or what? I have some things to figure out.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “What things?”

“None of your business.”

His gaze narrowed. “You’re not going anywhere. I know you can help me find Benjamin.”

I threw my arms up. “How? You claim he could be my father, but for the last time, I don’t know him.”

“He’s obviously interested in you, so I’m going to use you to draw him out.”

I scoffed. “You want to use me as a pawn?”

“That’s right…sis.”

His mocking tone made me want to throw something at him. “Don’t call me that. You just said you’re not interested in another sibling.”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. You’re staying here until I get Benjamin.”

“Now, I’m really your prisoner,” I grumbled. “I’ve heard some members of your pack are whack jobs. I won’t feel safe staying here.” I felt mostly safe with Adam because he hadn’t done anything to hurt me. I didn’t know if the rest of his group was as decent as he was.

“Cole has been bad-mouthing my pack, huh?”

I shrugged. “Your reputation isn’t stellar around here.”

He sighed. “Cole is right. My pack is a bunch of assholes with no regard for rules or common decency. Most of them are monsters.”

I gazed at him, wondering why he sounded so disgusted. “You’re their Alpha…”

After a beat, he replied, “Doesn’t mean I’m like them.”

My gaze narrowed on Adam. I was even more convinced that his gruff attitude was just a front. Just as I was about to question him about how he became the Alpha of a pack he didn’t like, he warned, “Don’t start asking questions.”

“If you’re going to keep me prisoner, you should at least appease my curiosity.”

“One, you’re not a prisoner. You’ll be free to go as soon as you help me get Benjamin out of hiding. Two, mind your business, Sydney. The less you know, the better.”

“But—”

“All you need to know is that no one in my pack will touch you.”

“What makes you so sure?” I asked.

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. It was more wicked than friendly. “Because I have a gift for instilling fear. Besides, you’re my family.”

I quirked an eyebrow as I rubbed my aching leg. The wolf’s bite was starting to sting. “Suddenly, you claim me as family?”

Adam heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes. For the first time, I noticed how weary he looked. It seemed his hunt for the man who he claimed killed our mother took its toll. “The thing is, Sydney, the first time I saw you, my wolf demanded I didn’t lay a finger on you. That’s why I didn’t just grab you and throw you into my car trunk that day we spoke behind the diner.”

I grasped at the revelation of what he’d had planned back them. “You were going to kidnap me?”

He shrugged. “I wanted answers, and I thought you had them.”

Glowering at him, I shook my head. “Are all Alpha’s dicks? I swear, you and Cole are just alike. You’re both arrogant and think you can do whatever you want.”

Adam’s little smirk irked me to the point of wanting to kick him in the shin. If I weren’t injured, I’d do it and make a run for it.

“Admittedly, the role of power gets to my head sometimes.”

When my anger wore off, I chuckled. “At least you’re honest. So, your wolf told you to leave me alone? Do you think it sniffed me out and recognized that we shared blood?”

“Maybe.” Adam’s eyebrows scrunch together. “I didn’t pay much attention to him that day. I was so on edge about Benjamin.”

“Sometimes my wolf talks to me too…sort of. She isn’t that strong since I’m not full breed, but she alerts me to danger, and sometimes she comforts me. It’s like sharing my mind with a stronger, more confident personality. It’s so weird.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“If I had someone to teach me everything, I’d be accustomed to my wolf by now.”

“Your mate is doing a poor job helping you adjust,” Adam said.

“He’s not my…” I sighed. Explaining my complicated relationship with Cole would dredge up too much misery. “He’s usually busy with pack matters, and he has a company to run.”

“That’s no excuse.”

“Why do you care?” I snapped.

Adam held up both palms. “Never mind. I should get you something to eat and drink.”

Leaning against the bed’s headboard, I glanced at my bandaged legs. “How about painkillers instead? If you don’t have any, I’ll take the next best thing—a shot of your strongest liquor.” It felt like my leg was on fire, and my head was about to explode.

Adam frowned. “Are you sure painkillers or alcohol is best for you right now?”

“Why wouldn’t either of them be? I need some relief here. I’m not like you. I can’t heal in the blink of an eye.”

“Well—”

“You know what? Forget the food, drink, and pain meds,” I said. “How about we make a deal.”

His eyebrows elevated. “I’m listening.”

“You don’t have to hold me hostage to draw out Benjamin. I’ll happily help you if you do something for me in return.”

Adam folded his arms over his chest. “He might be your father. You understand that I intend to kill him, right?”

I frowned. Helping to lure a man to his death didn’t sit well with me, but if he really killed our mother…screw him. Besides, I doubted Benjamin was my father. Adam had that part wrong.

“I understand perfectly,” I said.

“In that case, what can I do for you?”

“Help me get out of New Orleans.”

The room became quiet as we stared at each other.

“After I help you find who you’re looking for, of course,” I added. “Although I doubt I’ll be of any help.”

“Why do you want to leave?”

There was a likely chance that Adam was my half-brother. We may be strangers, and he may not be excited about the idea of another sibling, but what the hell? I’d confide in him. He’d have to do it since I didn’t speak with Macy or Violet as much. They’d been going on with their lives while I sat in Cole’s apartment for months.

“Leaving will be the best thing I can do for Cole,” I revealed. “The guys who attacked me near his apartment were his own people. His pack is turning against him because of me, and I doubt Cole has any idea. He’s going to suffer for helping me.” I raked my fingers through my hair and fought the ball of emotion trying to surface. “Not just him but everyone else who has helped me. I have to save my friends from…me.”

Adam frowned. “Are you certain?”

“Positive. My attackers got cocky and spilled a lot of information. I guess they thought they could share since they were going to kill me. The elders and other members of the Moon Guardians are plotting against their Alpha, and it’s all my fault. I have to leave.”

“I get where you’re coming from, Sydney, but are you sure you want to skip town in your condition?”

I gawked at Adam. “My condition? It’s a wounded leg, Adam. I’ll get over it.”

He regarded me with bewilderment. “I don’t mean the leg. I’m talking about the same reason why I was reluctant to give you anything for the pain when I carried you here.”

Still, I stared at him blankly.

“Look, I don’t like Cole Grayson, but even I have to admit what you want to do is messed up.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You want to skip town with the man’s baby?” Adam shook his head. “Now that it is truly a dick move, Sydney.”

My jaw dropped. I struggled to process Adam’s claim. “Excuse me? What baby?”

Adam’s eyes widened. “Oh, shit. You didn’t know?” He rubbed his jaw and watched me guiltily. “I didn’t mean to beat you to the punch. I assumed you knew you were pregnant.”

“P-pregnant? How do you even…” My hand dropped to my stomach as I went over the last few weeks. My cycle had always been irregular, so I thought nothing of it when I didn’t see my period. The few days I felt ill, I passed it off as anxiety caused by uncertainty about my future. I constantly wondered when my life would get back to a semblance of normalcy.

Cole and I didn’t use protection when we were together. The few times were always so spontaneous and passion-fueled that we didn’t even think to be responsible. “Oh, God. What am I going to do?”

The question wasn’t really for Adam, but he answered. “You mean, what are you and Cole going to do? I have no experience with mates or babies, but I’m pretty sure this is something you deal with together.”

The thought of having a child without a stable partner had me terrified. Cole wouldn’t even claim me as his mate. There was no way he’d welcome a child with me. However, I was never one to take the coward’s way out. I had to at least tell him about the baby. I’d see how he reacted before I went further with my plan to leave New Orleans.

“You’re right,” I told Adam. “That’s why you have to take me back. I have to tell Cole.” Not just about the baby but about everything I’d found out about his pack.

“How on earth didn’t Cole detect your pregnancy? When I brought you back here, the moment I started cleaning your wound I smelled that there was something different about you.”

I rolled my eyes. “It annoys me when you guys do that. A girl has absolutely no privacy,” I grumbled.

Adam smirked. “My point is your Alpha’s sense of smell is as good as mine. He should have known.”

“He hasn’t been around me much the last couple of weeks. He usually gets home late when I’m already asleep.” In the guest room rather than his bedroom. “He’s been really busy. Distracted.” Which was why I felt so guilty about bringing more trouble to his doorstep. “You have to help me, Adam. Take me back to Cole’s so I can tell him what’s going on. I’ll still help you with Benjamin, I promise.”

Adam held my gaze for a moment as if trying to gauge if I was serious. Finally, he sighed. “All I wanted to do was find one man and get my revenge. Suddenly, I find myself in the middle of your and Cole’s relationship drama.”

“But you’re going to help me?” I asked hopefully.

He gave me an annoyed look. “Sure, whatever.”

I bit my lip to hide my smile. Adam tried so hard to be the bad guy when he was actually kind.