Earl leans over, picking up a small black remote sitting on the side table. He presses a button and a few moments later, a dark-haired young man enters the room from an area past the kitchen. He quickly moves to stand next to Earl’s chair and lowers his head, waiting to be acknowledged.
“Prepare some light refreshments for my guests,” says Earl, barely looking at the young man.
“Yes, Alpha,” he says in a quiet voice, not even glancing up at his Alpha’s face before scurrying off in the direction of the kitchen. As he passes, his lowered gaze flicks toward me and Luke, and catches on me. His steps stutter so briefly to be almost imperceptible, but the way his eyes widen when he meets my gaze is impossible to miss.
Does he know me? Why is he so surprised to see me?
I wrack my brain trying to put a name to his face—or anything at all to his face, but there’s nothing I can recall. I open my mouth to ask him a question, but he gives the barest shake of his head and rushes off into the kitchen.
As he turns the corner, light catches on the slim metal band around his neck.A collar.
My gaze moves from the collar to the remote still in Earl’s hand and a horrible feeling of recognition comes over me. I’m not sure when, but I wore one of those once, and the vaguememory calls up a phantom feeling of metal around my neck—and the pain that came when I disobeyed.
My hand instinctively flies to my neck. Luke shoots me a funny look, but before he can say anything, the front door opens and someone enters the house, heading directly toward the living room where we’re all seated.
A young male beta enters the room, smile wide as he looks at Wanda. “Mom, you wanted me to come over?”
Wanda almost claps her hands in excitement. “Oh yes, Clay.” She gestures at me. “Look who’s finally home.”
The beta’s gaze pans to me and he gasps, rushing over to the couch and falling to his knees on the floor in front of me.
“Oliver! You’re safe!” He drags me into his arms, patting frantically at my back and then running his hands down my arms and legs in an almost possessive way as if checking a delivery for damage. “Thank the moon. I thought I’d never see you again.”
Twenty-Four
Ollie
The beta on hisknees in front of me—Clay—looks a lot like Luke, but that’s the only reason any of his features are familiar to me. He clearly knows me, though, and I have no idea who he is beyond Luke’s half-brother and Wanda’s and Earl’s son.
Beside me, Luke lets out a low growl, and I kind of want to do the same. Despite how thrilled this guy appears to see me, something about his whole demeanor seems off, his reaction too over the top to be real.
Luke’s growl gradually rises in volume, but Clay completely ignores him. He does finally release me though, leaning back to stare into my eyes. He blinks quickly and sniffs, his hand rising to his chest as if he’s overcome by emotion.
But, as before, the whole thing seems downright theatrical.
Wanda watches the interaction closely, her gaze focused mostly on my face as if looking to see if I’m buying this crap.
“Oliver, say something,” says Clay, the words close to pleading. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
I blink at him, unsure what exactly he expects from me. “I’m sorry,” I say finally. “I, uh, there’s an issue with my memory and…” I spread my hands in a “what can you do” gesture and shrug. “I don’t remember who you are.”
There’s a flash of something in Clay’s eyes and the barest twitch at the corner of his mouth as if he’s smothering a satisfied smile. Just like his mother’s reaction to that information.
“That must be so awful,” he finally says, the words not quite matching the tone. “No matter. You’re home now, and I’ll take care of you.”
“No. You won’t,” says Luke, his voice barely controlled as he stares at Clay. “Ollie is mine.”
Clay blinks at Luke like he’s just noticing his half-brother is sitting there. “Who are you?”
“This is the Alpha I was telling you about,” says Wanda, both her smile and her voice kind of strained. “He’s the one who took dear Oliver in.”
“He’s also your brother and an alpha, so show some respect,” says Earl. “Turns out Emily’s boy wasn’t dead after all.”
“Isn’t that wonderful?” asks Wanda, the words spoken through her teeth.
Clay and his mother share a look, and then Clay breaks out into a grin, standing and holding a hand out to Luke. “Great to meet you. Thanks for bringing Oliver home.”
The young man from earlier returns, interrupting any response from Luke. He’s carrying a tray with some cups and what looks like a coffee carafe balanced on one arm. He sets the tray on the side table and begins to serve everyone, starting withhis Alpha. He pauses, his gaze darting to Wanda, before reaching across to hand me a cup as well.
