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Nicholas gaped at him. “I have no psychic ability. How can I be hearing you? How is this possible?”

Jake’s heart pounded.I think you know why. Why not put it to the test?

Nicholas’s chest heaved.

Please, Nicholas.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.I love you too.

Tears pricked Jake’s eyes, and his throat tightened.

“But why now?” Nicholas demanded. “Why not when we were younger? And why didn’t we know this right away when we met again?”

Jake laughed. “You expectmeto have all the answers? I’m as much in the dark about this as you are. And who’s to say there are rules for this?”

Dad? Are you all right?Dellan’s voice pierced the tumult of his thoughts.

Jake wiped his cheeks.I’m more than all right. I just found one of my mates.

The lack of response told him he’d stunned Dellan into silence.

Nicholas’s mouth fell open. “Oneof…. You mean there’sanotherone out there somewhere?”

Jake nodded.

The universe had opened a door and shown him how little he knew.

Now all he wanted was to open the door to that glass room and learn the truth.

Chapter Five

DELLAN BREATHEDeasier as soon as he walked through the front door. He always did when he returned home. Maybe it was knowing Tom Prescott had built the house for his mom. He’d loved her, and while they were married, she’d been happy with him.

Mom had been on his mind a lot since Maine, and he knew why.

I never got to say goodbye.

He’d only learned of her death when he finally shifted back into human form, and that had been hard enough, but learning Fielding had murdered her had dealt him a body blow. Being home where she’d lived, laughed, loved….

That eased the pain a little. Not much, but it was a start.

They’d been home maybe half an hour before Mrs. Landon appeared. Judging by all the bags, she’d been to the store. She smiled as he walked into the kitchen.

“Oh, you’re home. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you, but I had some last-minute groceries to buy. I’ve been dashing around ever since you called. I’ve only just finished getting all the rooms ready for your guests.” She paused. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he lied. He peered into the refrigerator. “Oh my God. It looks as if you’re feeding an army.” There were plastic boxes stacked up, filling every shelf, and yet there she was, unpacking cartons of milk, butter, cooked meat, cheese, eggs….

“The downstairs refrigerator is stuffed too.” Mrs. Landon laughed when he gaped at her. “Well, when you called to say there’d be fourteen mouths to feed, I got busy. I was up at dawn, making three casseroles, four meatloaves, and about six batches of cookies.” Her eyes twinkled. “Except knowing all of you, that’s probably not enough.”

Horvan walked into the kitchen as she was speaking, and his eyes lit up. “Did someone say cookies?”

She shook her head. “They talk about the way to a man’s heart. I guess the same is true of bears too.” She hugged him. “Good to see you. And I baked the chocolate chip ones for you.”

Horvan grinned. “You spoil me.”

It was Dellan’s turn to hug her. “Thank you.” He released her, but to his surprise, she didn’t move away but studied him for a moment. “Is anything wrong?”

“I was about to ask you both the same question.” She frowned. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I haven’t been in the house five minutes and already it feels as though there’s an atmosphere around here. Now I don’t know what went on while you were away—and I don’t expect you to tell me—but all I have to do is look at you to know something happened. I’m right, aren’t I?”