~ RIG ~
“What the…? What the fffff…?” My head was spinning, literally.
I was vaguely aware of Cara behind me, her heart slamming, her mind reaching for mine with a dozen wordless, urgent questions, but I couldn’t think straight to even begin to parse it out.
Stephen.
My brother, Stephen.
The intended Alpha.
The one Dad was supposed to have killed.
“What the—”
“I know this is a shock,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine, but swimming with compassion, the way they always had—there were even hints of that smile we used to share, the one that said we got it, even if no one else did.
My brother.
My brother who was supposed to be dead.
My brother who I’d grieved and emulated and…
…And who had been alive this entire time?