"I’m really sorry, Jared. I know how much you dreamed of a family, of stability, of safety. I know what it’s like to dream, because I live in dreams too, and you won’t hear a word of criticism from me. You followed what you felt might give you happiness, and I get that."
Tears fill Jared’s eyes, but he quickly wipes them away. "Thank you, Alex. And I’m truly sorry I didn’t listen to you back then."
"Don’t apologize. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has the right to them. Maybe now things will finally turn around for you?"
He leans in and embraces me. Wow, when did I start sounding so paternally, so seriously? Am I getting old?
???
Two hours later, we stop in front of the large hall belonging to Fate’s Choice, a matchmaking agency and a fair-and-auction house at the same time.
Fortunately there are no marriage-contract fairs today, the kind they host often, which is a relief since I hate crowds. There is a peculiar atmosphere here. As we get out of Jared’s car, we walk past the complex, I get the chance to see the upper floor of the administrative building attached to the hall, the same one that was damaged in the bombing during the attack on Blue.
They tried to cover it with some campaign posters and banners, but it’s still visible. The explosion must have been quite powerful; it’s a miracle Blue survived. Purple alphas are not to be trifled with, so it’s good Storm was here and protected my tiny omega uncle.
The hall feels empty as we walk through it. Rows of glass booths line the space, the kind where people sit and wait for somebody to buy their marriage contracts, hoping a suitablematch show interest. But today there’s no one here, only employees. I had texted Storm earlier that we were coming, and I think he already knew Jared would show up, because he accepted it calmly and invited us straight to his office.
Walking inside, I feel unsteady. I haven’t seen Storm in eight years. Last time we met he was a tall, rebellious fifteen-year-old.
He was the only one of the brothers who never tried to play chess with me, as if he accepted his defeat without ever stepping onto the board.
He had always been the most isolated one among them, the least liked, even though Snow also tended to stand off to the side, but Storm was always in the middle of the fire in that family, constantly at war with one brother or another, his purple alpha temperament shining through in everything.
Though perhaps for a reason beyond my understanding, he never seemed to have much of a beef with Bay, they were more likely to stay out of each other’s way.
When the door opens, I tense even more.
The room is small, probably repurposed temporarily as an office, the renovation of the administrative building clearly moving at a slow pace, forcing employees to squeeze into whatever space they can.
"Hello, Alex," I hear Storm’s deep voice as he approaches with his hand out.
Gosh, he’s huge, seven feet two, and massive at that. Though I must say, Bay doesn’t seem much smaller in sheer muscle mass, which is impressive in itself, considering Bay isn’t a purple.
I shake his hand cautiously, afraid of that familiar burst of pain, but nothing happens. Just a normal handshake. Maybe Blue’s therapy is finally desensitizing me? But it can also havesomething to do with the fact that Storm is already mated and his body may now produce neutral pheromones.
"Hi, Storm, long time no see," I say with a small smile, trying to keep my tone light, then turn toward Jared who stands behind me, holding Tommy in his arms.
"And this is Jared Ferguson…"
"Jared Daniels," Jared corrects me as he shakes Storm’s hand.
For a moment I freeze because that’s not our family surname. And then it hits me. Jared introduced himself with the surname of his biological father.
"Oh, I guess I’m lucky with that surname," Storm laughs with a hint of arrogance. "Three weeks ago I found a True Mate for someone with the same last name. Even looked a bit like you. Maybe it’s a good fortune."
"Oh, it’s a common name," Jared smiles politely. "Though I have a half brother, Star, by the same name. Sadly, we’re not in contact."
"Oh," says Storm, suddenly tensing. "The guy I helped find his True Mate had exactly this name…"
An uncomfortable silence comes down on us.
Only then do I notice Storm isn’t alone. A short omega stands against the wall at the back of the room, he’s maybe two inches taller than me, with reddish-pink hair, a heart-shaped birthmark on his cheek, and a soft, rounded figure.
A shiver runs through me. Of course. I should have expected it.
I know who he is. For the first time in my life, I’m standing in front of my biological brother, Damien.
The question is whether he knows who I am. I doubt Storm told him my surname, and even if he did, I have no intention of making myself the center of attention. I would rather slip out;I’m well aware they are not exactly ready to welcome me into the family just yet.
