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“She wanted it,” he shouts. “They all want it. You can deny all you want. Women want a powerful man that takes over.”

“No. No…not like that,” I deny, violently shaking my head. “He raped her.”

“He didn’t,” he seethes. “She loved every second.”

“Bullshit,” I growl, my claws shifting.

“She wanted it so much that they did it again, and again. Your father found out. He was upset that she wanted him more, so that’s why he accused him of rape. Of your mother and of the other girl he walked in on. My dad was just seeking comfort with another from his heartache because he couldn’t have who he wanted. My dad, the Alpha,” he snarks, “told him to back off. To walk out and not say anything. He wouldn’t listen. He pushed and he pushed.” He spins toward me, pointing at my face. “He warned him what would happen if he didn’t drop it. It had been five years of hell for my dad. Six years of watching and waiting for her.

“Your dad didn’t wait long after they met to knock her up. You were born and it didn’t shake the love my dad had for her. That’s when you were promised to me. The Alpha swore he would take care of you if something happened to your dad.”

“The Alpha was the one that killed him,” I remind him, sneering. My cheetah pushing me to act. My claws are itching to scratch his eyes out.

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Your Alpha killed my dad. You and your pack killed my mother. What more do you want? I will never be with you.”

“You will.” He circles me and I pivot to keep him in sight. “What makes you think I killed her?”

Shivers rack my body. “What do you mean?” Circle. Pivot.

He grins mysteriously and I grit my teeth, sick of his evasion. “Your mother had another child,” he whispers in my ear.

I jerk back. Circle. Pivot. “No.”

“Yes,” he hisses. “My dad didn’t like condoms. You were two years old when she got pregnant again. She gave birth to another baby girl with the same black hair as my dad. She looked just like him.”

“I…” I stumble back. “No.”

“Deny it all you want, it’s the truth. When your mom ran away with you, she left her other daughter behind. Of course, I have to give her credit—she did try to make up for it, just twenty-plus years later.”

“Is my mother alive?” I sob. “Do I have a sister?”

He smirks. “Another story.” He rubs his hands together. Circle. Pivot. “You see, your mom knew how to reach out to me. She knew my dad was dead. She knew I had your sister—my sister. The day we found you, your mother told me where to find you both.”

“No,” I yell through gritted teeth. “She wouldn’t do that.”

“Would she do it to protect her other daughter? She gave herself up. She let you go. We decided that I would get you both to come with me peacefully. I would have you and she would be able to see her other daughter again. She didn’t hold up her end of the bargain,” he tsks, his finger waving in my face.

“Is my mom alive?” I growl. Circle. Pivot.

He slowly smiles. “I had to punish her. Your sister too. Just because. I have a reputation to uphold.” He leans forward and whispers, “I hurt her just enough to cause massive pain. She healed. But she has been my guest for four years.”

He lunges for me but doesn’t make contact. Bash is there. He shoves his hand against Grant’s chest and he flies into the trees. Suddenly, Marie and Ryker surround me.

“Saylor,” Marie says, her eyes filled with tears.

My mind is racing. My mom? Is she alive?

I have a sister. Can I trust what he said?

“Vampires,” Grant shouts as he stumbles back toward us. “You brought vampires.”

“Stay the fuck back unless you want to die with my hand around your heart,” Bash threatens. “I took it easy on you.”

“You have no right to interfere. This is not your business.” He jerkily brushes the leaves from his pants.

“You are mistaken,” Ryker says. He slides a knife out of the leather sheath that is strapped to his chest. He turns the wicked blade in his hand. “Saylor is our friend. Her mate is also.”