by Lisa Kessler
Every muscle in my shoulders tightened. “They use their school to find girls for their breeding program.”
Lana pressed her lips together and pointed at the screen again. “There’s more.”
I read, skimming notes about reproductive cycles and conversion dates.
And two fetal heartbeats. Twins.
I glanced at Lana. “Twins. Just like the Pack. Two shifters, but you were a girl.” The final notation in the file was a live birth of a single male. There was no mention of a second infant.
Lana’s gaze met mine. Her eyes looked haunted. “There were two heartbeats, but only one birth recorded. What happened to the other baby?”
“Maybe he’s trying to throw us off the trail.”
Lana shook her head. “He asked me to destroy this after I looked at it. He said he’d be punished if anyone found the information outside of Nero’s walls. He wouldn’t have risked that to give me a red herring. This has to be my parents.”
“Then you’ve gotta be the missing baby, right?”
Lana nodded and closed her laptop. “If this is all true, then somewhere I have a brother.”
“And they know the other twin is missing…or was until they found you.”
“Could be. There’s no notation about a still birth. Nothing about that second heartbeat.”
“Maybe your parents didn’t want to leave you.” I took her hand and held her gaze. “Maybe it was the only way to save you from a future with Nero. If Nero found out their experiment worked, they’d be testing you and trying to replicate you for the rest of your life.”
“Probably.” She nodded. “And there’s one more thing.” Lana glanced at her laptop, then back up at me. “Sebastian mentioned something about Operation Moonlight and testing Nero did on werewolves.”
I frowned. “I’ve never heard anything about Nero until I found you.”
“That’s weird…” Her voice trailed off for a second. “It wasn’t on the flash drive either, just something Sebastian mentioned when he gave it to me. He told me to have you ask your Alpha.”
“I don’t take orders from jaguars.” Sebastian was full of shit. Or my father had some secrets the rest of us knew nothing about.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lana
I yawned and looked over at the clock. Adam wouldn’t be here for another half hour, but I needed some caffeine. We’d stayed up most of the night going through the Nero flash drive, and then while he went back to the ranch, I’d made calls and worked on another article that was due next week.
I glanced out the window at the sunny street below. People walked on the sidewalks, cars drove by. It looked normal, and busy. I glanced at the door. Adam wouldn’t like it, but I needed a little pick-me-up.
I’d only be gone for a few minutes, and if Sebastian didn’t kidnap me last night from my private hotel room, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t grab me from a busy street in broad daylight. With my cell phone in hand, and the room key and pepper spray in my pocket, I headed out to the Starbucks across the street. Coffee wasn’t my thing, but chai tea and some sort of pastry sounded great.
Just getting out in the fresh air made me feel more alert. I focused on the different scents around me, half expecting Sebastian to jump out of the shadows. Instead, he walked right up to me in the sunshine.
“Did you review the files?”
“Hello to you too, Sebastian.”
He rolled his eyes. “We don’t have time for pleasantries. Did you look at the files?”
“Yes,” I said as I crossed the intersection to the coffee shop. “And I have some questions.” He followed me, his head swiveling with each step. I frowned. “Is someone following us?”
“You do not smell him?”
I shrugged and then inhaled deeply. The scent was faint and sort of familiar. It was probably Adam’s scent on my clothes. The more I consciously noticed smells the better I was at recognizing them, but I was nowhere near Adam’s or Sebastian’s skill level.
He stayed on alert as he pulled the door open for me. We ordered our drinks and headed for a private corner booth.
“So why did you give me the Breeding Experiment file?”
“Because when I found the files about the jaguar sightings, I saw an email referencing that breeding experiment.”
“So you think I was the missing twin?”
“I think it is possible.”
“If that’s true, did they just lose me then?” It didn’t make sense to me, but nothing did anymore.
He shrugged, his eyes searching the area again. “I think you were hidden.”
“How? By who?” My heart was in my throat, aching for answers, wishing that it meant maybe my parents did really leave me to protect me.
He finally met my eyes. “I’m not sure. I came to tell you that one of the goals of the Nero breeding program is to achieve live births of females born into their powers. It’s a liability to bring in human women. Some of them go mad with the conversion. But if females were born into their powers, we could continue our race without human interference.”
“That’s why they want you to bring me to them.”
“I believe so, yes.”
“If I really am the result of that experiment, then I have a brother somewhere?”
“Yes.” His eyes met mine.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And are my parents still at Nero?”
“Your father is.” He shifted in his chair a little, the only sign he might be uncomfortable. “Your mother was eliminated.”
The cold reality was like a sucker punch in the stomach. I’d spent much of my life hating her, but the moment I discovered she might have saved me, she was gone.
“I cannot give you much more time.” Sebastian took a swallow of his black coffee. “If I do not complete my mission soon, they will send another in my place.”
I breathed deep. He seemed to really be trying to help me. Not that Sebastian was my friend. Half the time he was so imposing it was tough to think around him. I saw what he did to Gabe. I knew what he was capable of. So why was he not just taking me to Nero?
“I have some leads. Thanks for everything Sebastian.”
He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I will do what I can.”
“What’s in it for you?” I asked before I could censor myself.
“My mission was not what I was told it would be. I don’t appreciate being deceived.” I expected some sort of come-on or another swipe at the werewolves, but his voice was soft and I couldn’t detect any sarcasm. “I need to know who I work for and why they’re lying to me.”
Without another word, Sebastian got up and left the Starbucks.
I stared at his empty cup, pondering what he’d said when I heard the door beep again. I glanced up, shocked to see Adam in the doorway. That had been his scent—just not on my clothes. He must’ve tracked me.
I raised my hand slightly to catch his attention. He nodded and walked over to my table. I expected him to kiss me hello since he’d given me such a nice kiss goodbye, but instead he just sat down across from me. His hair was wet and slicked back. I’d never seen it like that. It gave him a more sophisticated look. He took a whiff of Sebastian’s discarded cup and frowned.
I put my hands up and shook my head. “I swear he just showed up, okay?”
“Who showed up?”
My brow furrowed. “Sebastian. You remember. Creepy cat man?”
He nodded, but something was wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Can we go someplace more private?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m done here anyway.” I threw away the two cups and followed him out. He held the door for me, but he still didn’t smile. It didn’t make sense. He’d left in such a good mood…
It finally registered as I passed him going out the door. His scent. I recognized the natural earthy scent—maybe that was a base for all werewolves—but the musky, almost spicy smell that I associated with Adam wasn’t there. This couldn
’t be Adam.
He let the door close behind us. I started to run, but he caught my wrist in a vise-like grip, walking me over to a bench outside and sitting us both down.
“Who are you?” I asked. “Where’s Adam?”
“I should ask you those same questions.” His voice sounded like Adam, too. But he most definitely was not Adam.
“You look just like him.”
“Where is he?”
“You can let go of me. I won’t run.”
“Answer my question.” His eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice. “I know you’re a jaguar. Gabe is dead, and now I want to know how and why you know my brother.”
Adam’s twin. This was the man in the picture at a college graduation in Adam’s house. I’d been staring at his brother and never knew it. My eyes widened at the realization, and at the same time, my heart clenched. This was Adam’s twin brother, and I didn’t even know his name.
“Adam didn’t tell me your name.”
The wrinkle between his eyebrows deepened. “You’ve been talking to Adam?”
I sighed. “Look, can we start at the beginning like human beings, okay? I’m Lana.”
“I’m Aren,” he replied. He also let go of my wrist.
I rubbed at my throbbing skin. “Adam is supposed to meet me at my hotel in a few minutes. I thought you were him. I guess he’ll be here soon.”
Aren let out a sigh of relief. “That must be why he didn’t answer his cell phone. He’s been acting strange. I was worried.”
“How did you find me?”
“I followed Adam to your hotel last night. When you guys went up, I checked out his Jeep and caught your scent. I thought my brother might be in trouble because you were a…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, as if just saying the word out loud was distasteful. Great.
“Jaguar? Is that the word you can’t bring yourself to say?”
Adam’s twin raised a brow. “I’m just surprised you’re still alive. Adam’s been hunting for the jaguar that killed our friend Gabe. It’s not like him to ask questions first.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I might not have had anything to do with Gabe, or that I’m a person just like you?”
“It’s irrelevant now that one of my Pack is dead.”
“You just assume since a jaguar did it, I must be the one?” I didn’t mean to raise my voice, but I couldn’t help it. “We jaguars are all alike, right? Heartless killers who deserve to die.” I stood up from the bench, pointing at his chest as I went on. “How can you be so prejudiced? It’s pissing me off.”
A hand touched my shoulder, and I flinched. When I turned, Adam was standing behind me, but his smile vanished when he saw who was sitting beside me.
“Aren? What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same thing,” his brother said.
Adam looked at me again. “Are you all right?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking me that?” Aren stood up.
I wheeled on him. “Why? Because I’m a jaguar so I shouldn’t matter?” Before Aren could respond I turned to Adam again. “I know you told me you were born in sets of twin males, but I stared at those pictures in your house and you never even told me his name.” Insecurity crept through me and that gross feeling of being an outcast thrummed in my veins. I sighed and shook my head. “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway since you were never going to introduce me to your family.” I looked from one hot guy to the other. It really wasn’t fair to have them both looking at me with their green eyes, muscles taunt. “Now, I just want to go back up to my room and sleep, okay? I’ll talk to you later, Adam. And Aren”—I tipped my chin up toward his face—“I can’t say it was a pleasure.”
I squared my shoulders and headed for the corner, clinging to my anger like a shield. Once I was across the street and in my hotel, I held myself together until the elevator doors closed. As the floor lifted, my spirits sank. It was all so unfair. When I slipped my room key into the door and it closed behind me, I fell onto the bed and a strangled sob escaped my throat.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Adam
“What the hell is this?” my brother barked.
I watched Lana walk through the crosswalk and into the hotel. She never looked back.
I shook my head. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Aren crossed his arms over his chest. “Just because she’s got a nice body and a pretty face doesn’t change the fact that she’s a jaguar in our territory and Gabe is dead. Connect the dots, Adam.”
I’d never wanted to punch my brother as badly in my life. “I have connected them, Aren. I told you I know who killed Gabe, and it’s not Lana. A male jaguar dumped him at the lake to frame Lana for his murder.”
“Did she tell you that story?” Aren shook his head. “She’s a cat. She’ll tell you anything. You know how they operate.”
“She isn’t like that. She didn’t even know what she was when I met her.”
“How long have you known her?” Aren’s brow furrowed, and his arms slid back down to his sides. “I knew you were hiding something, but this is too much.”
“It wasn’t like I planned for any of this to happen.”
“Any of what exactly?”
I glanced over at the hotel. Lana was right—my family would never accept her. But she was also wrong; if they didn’t want her, I wouldn’t want to stay. I’d never be able to forgive them. I clenched my jaw as I faced Aren again.
“Look, I caught the scent of a jaguar on the night of the new moon near the Hot Rod Café. I went inside to deal with it, but the second I met Lana something inside of me…” I shook my head. “I’m not sure how to describe it, but when I touched her I knew. I felt this tug inside, like she was bound to me. I didn’t plan it, and I’ve been trying to deny it, but this feeling won’t go away.”
“What are you saying?”
“I love her, Aren. She’s my mate. My instinct to protect her hit me like a Mack truck. I stayed with her through her change. She was scared and didn’t know what was happening to her. She’s not like the other jaguars who have come through here before.”
Aren was speechless. That didn’t happen very often. My brother always had something to say. I waited, but Aren just kept staring at me.
Finally he took a step back, his voice was low. “This is a mistake. You can’t take a jaguar for your mate, Adam. This will kill Dad. You know it will.”
“You can’t tell Malcolm, or anyone. I haven’t even told Lana yet.”
“The Pack will never accept her.”
I raked my hand back through my hair in frustration and growled. “You think I don’t know that? I’m not stupid, all right? I realize this is hard for you to understand, but Lana is the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.” I sighed and met his eyes again. “She’s gutsy, smart, and beautiful. You’ve already seen that she’s hardheaded enough to take on both of us at once. How many women have you ever met who could do that, huh?”
“So what are you going to do, leave the Pack?”
“I don’t know.” I couldn’t tell my brother that the thought had crossed my mind more than once.
Aren’s eyes widened. “You’re actually thinking about leaving with her?” He shook his head slowly. “You barely know her, Adam.”
“I know it sounds crazy. Malcolm came by the other day telling me that I needed to trust my instincts, and my instincts are screaming to be with her and keep her safe.”
“Your instincts are wrong,” Aren interrupted, raising his voice. “All of this is wrong. She’s playing you. I can’t believe you’re willing to give up your family and your Pack for a hot piece of tail.”
I hit Aren so hard that he fell backward onto the bench. Blood trickled down from his nose. He reached up, tentatively wiped at his face and saw the blood. Aren’s eyes cut back to me, and a heavy mantle of guilt settled on my shoulders. But right then the wolf inside of me was in control and he was pissed.
“Don�
��t ever talk about Lana like that,” I growled.
Aren stood up and took a step closer, encroaching on my personal space, but I didn’t retreat. For a moment we stood in silence, two immovable walls. So much had suddenly changed between us, but I couldn’t go back to the way things were.
Finally Aren broke the silence. “I won’t tell the Pack about this, but you should find out all you can about this girl before you abandon the people who really care about you.”
“I’m going to bring in the jaguar that killed Gabe, and when I do, you’ll owe Lana an apology.”
“She’ll still be a jaguar, Adam. It’s only a matter of time before she betrays you. It’s how they operate. And we can’t have treachery in the Pack. Our strength is being able to count on every member to watch each other’s back. I won’t depend on a jaguar when my life or my brother’s is on the line.”
My fists were clenched, but somehow I forced my voice to stay even. I’d done enough damage to my relationship with my brother today. “I just need some time to figure this out.”
Aren nodded and turned to leave. He stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “You better think long and hard. It almost killed Dad when we lost Mom. We can’t lose you too, Adam.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lana
I’m not sure when Adam came up to the room, but when I woke up I found his arm draped over me. I smiled in spite of myself. Through the sheer hotel curtain I could see the sky starting to brighten. Morning. The scattered clouds were painted in stunning orange hues. Through the window it looked like anything was possible.
Too bad reality was setting in.
Closing my eyes, I tried to push it away. I breathed in Adam’s now-familiar scent and relished how good his body felt against mine. Finding myself snuggled in his arms was a much better way to wake up than alone in another new hotel. I could get used to opening my eyes and seeing his smile.
But reality pushed right back, reminding me that I’d have to leave soon. Maybe even sooner than expected if Adam’s brother had his way. Plus, if Sebastian was right and Nero sent someone else to finish his mission, I’d be putting Adam and his family in danger. If I ran, Sebastian would follow me, leaving Reno far behind. The mystery of the Nero Organization, my birth parents, and how I fit into the puzzle could be solved on the road. No need to drag Adam through the mess. He had a life here. I had… A laptop and a duffel bag full of clothes and toiletries.