Chapter 14

I shake my head. “I’m sure that it jumps around, but women on my mother’s side of the family tend to get it. When my mother found out that I was seeing and talking to her, she hid me.”

Sebastian’s brows furrow. “What do you mean she hid you?”

“It was like I didn’t exist. She would, um, hide me in the house, so the alpha didn’t know she had a child. She feared that the alpha would come after me, assuming I have the ability—”

“Which you do.”

“Yes.”

Sebastian leans back on the couch. “Did you go outside?”

“No. I spent most of the time…upstairs.”

A worried look comes to his eyes. “Evangeline, that’s—”

“I know it sounds bad, but she was just trying to keep me from him. After an attack on the pack, he blamed it on my mother, saying she lead the other pack over. He thought that she did it because it would be easier for her to take over the pack if it was in ruins. That’s why she sent me to my grandmother’s because he was coming at her more than ever. My mother knew that I would be safer away from it all, and she would be too.”

“Where are your parents?”

I swallow. “She was so paranoid that the alpha was watching her, following her, so she thought staying away from me would keep the alpha from finding out I exist. I don’t know where she is now, just that she’s probably far away from me with my father.”

Sebastian takes a breath. I wait patiently for him to say something, and he does.

“So you think the men who asked Henry about you…you think they are linked to this alpha. You think he discovered that you exist and that you have this ability.”

“Yes. I think he’s after me. I think he wants to get rid of me.”

The idea of a man so dedicated to ending this genetic lifeline scares me greatly. Though I have never met the man, something inside is telling me that he will kill me. Sebastian’s face is flooded with worry. How upsetting it must be to find your mate and discover that there is a target on her back.

“The pack.” He ponders lightly.

“What?”

“The pack that attacked yours. How many years ago did it happen?”

“Ten,” I tell him while trying to figure out what is going through his mind.

Suddenly, he gets up and walks directly to his office while I trail behind him. I stay silent as his fingers trace down a book from one of the shelves. He slips it out and flips through the pages. From what I can see, the pages look to be handwritten.

“What was your old pack’s name?”

“Uh, Kenn Pack, I think.” Sebastian exhales and drops the book to his desk.

“Is something wrong?”

“My father attacked your pack,” he says unexpectedly. “I had thoughts…”

I fall back into one of the two seats.

“Oh.”

“He was a reckless alpha who only cared about taking down others. He had a constant hunger for power, for control, and it caught up to him eventually. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No, it’s alright. It’s just a little surprising. Your father…Why did he attack? Is there any way you can find out? Was there any specific reason?”

“He may have done it for the land, or maybe just to show

dominance. As I said, he was very reckless with his leadership.”

My eyes tumble down into my lap. “That attack is the reason why I was sent to live with my grandmother. It’s why I can’t see my parents.”

“I’m sorry, Evangeline.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s just a little strange how everything is connected somehow.”

The night comes quickly as I spend the rest of the day thinking over everything I have learned. My family has been living in the shadows because of a man with an obsession. The lengths he is willing to go to chills me to my core, making me second guess all the times I thought animals were watching me in the forest.

What if it was him? What if his eyes were the ones stalking and watching every one of my movements? The idea creeps me out. Part of me has a deep hatred for him, a loathing so intense that my mind cannot wrap around it. Half of me wants to watch the stranger burn.

My fingers unknowingly wrap strands of my hair as my mind continues to stray. Lying on Sebastian’s bed, I stare up at the ceiling, and I am not sure how much time has gone by. For some reason, time feels as if it has stopped. It is as if everything has been put on hold. It is a selfish idea to think in such ways, but with all these thoughts and theories whirling around in my head, I do not care. Maybe accepting my selfishness, for now, will not do me any harm, but I cannot get addicted to it.

My attention shifts to the doors as one opens from the corner of my eye. Sebastian comes through, causing me to sit up swiftly.

“This is where you’ve been,” he says and comes over to me.

“Sorry. Henry has people over, and I was just looking for some quiet.”

Sebastian sits down on the edge of the bed.

“His company left two hours ago, Evangeline. How long have you been lying here?”

“Maybe four hours then. It sure didn’t feel like it.”

Not at all. If Sebastian did not tell me, I would have guessed that I have been up here for only twenty minutes. There is just truly too much to think about. Maybe some sleep will do me good. I cannot bother myself with the alpha if I am asleep.

“Do you mind if I sleep here again?”

“I’d prefer if you did.”

A small smile curves from my lips.

“You know, I’ve realized something today—that I don’t want to be hidden anymore. I don’t feel hidden here.”

Sebastian’s hypnotic green eyes study my face.

“I wouldn’t want you to.” He pauses. “You know, I’ve realized something too.”

“What’s that?”

“That I may just do anything to see you happy and to see that genuine smile on your face.”

My lips slightly part from his bewitching comment. I feel the color pour into my cheeks, yet I do not feel the need to hide it from him.

“Really?”

“You are the most intriguing creature I have ever met.”