I recognized the instant he sensed what had happened.
“Here? At Sombertooth? No, that can’t be. It’s not possible. We were told…”
Corvin held me at arm’s length and studied my face. “You know, don’t you.”
There was no use denying it. “A little, but not all the details.”
“Is this why Atticus is missing?”
I filled them in on the blood donation, and they sank onto the bed. Corvin put his head in his hands.
“We have to see him.”
Oh, no way is that happening. My wolf was thinking the same as me.
“He’s recovering from physical and emotional pain.” I didn’t need to point out the source of the latter.
“Corvin, is that a good idea? It was a long time ago.”
Atticus’s omega dad pursed his lips and said he wasn’t leaving until I agreed.
This was fucked up. I told them to wait, but if my mate said no, I wouldn’t override him.
“They’re asking to see you.” I hated that I was even asking Rawling. He shouldn’t be forced to make a choice, and I chastised myself for not refusing Atticus’s folks. But again, it wasn’t my decision to make.
My mate sat up in bed and patted the bedding. He took Eira in his arms. “They can come. I’m interested in hearing their explanation because I could never do what they did.”
I hugged him and our daughter. “I love you both. You’re my everything.”
I led Atticus’s folks into the infirmary, and they stood with straight spines and hollowed-out gazes at the foot of Rawling’s bed.
“How could you?” Atticus swept into the room.
Atticus
My parents gasped. “What happened to you, baby boy?” Dad slapped a hand over his mouth. “Your beautiful face!”
“Who did this to you?” Father demanded as I limped toward them. “I’ll deal with them.”
“My ex-freaking lover who was supposed to be latent but was secretly a big fucking bear.” I’d had sex with Jack and had no clue about her bear, though she was a beast in bed.
“And now this latent is my what? Tell me. Confirm what I saw in my vision. How did that happen?”
My father, Peregrine, cleared his throat and his face reddened. “As you suspect, he’s your brother. Technically, he’s your twin.”
“What?” Both Rawling and I yelled. The kid stirred but didn’t wake.
“But we have different birthdays.” Mine was a few days before Rawling’s.
Both my folks stared at their feet and spots of pinks appeared on my dad’s cheeks.
“We gave a fake birthdate to the orphanage because...” He glanced at Father, and they clasped hands. “We didn’t want him to be associated with you in any way.”
My wolf reacted to that remark, saying that was cruel.
Phelan was standing beside Rawling, holding his hand and probably wishing he could protect him from all of this. Maybe this was why I could never find anything about Rawling’s parents online. I was hoping this revelation and what was yet to be exposed would be enough to get Phelan and his mate out of the damned school and away from me.No way would Rawling want to stay in such a toxic environment, and I didn’t want to be associated with him. Gods, this was fucked up.
“Orphanage. So you didn’t want me? Why?” Rawling’s voice trembled.
