Page 68

CHAPTER 67

I START TO cry again. Twice in one day! Holo looks up at me, like Do you need me on your feet now? I shake my head. Draw in ragged breaths as the tears slide down my cheeks.

Poor Wendy. She knows her real, full name. She knows that the man she thought was her father was a criminal. And now she realizes that somewhere out there are people who missed her— mourned her—for over three decades.

Everything Wendy ever believed in was wrong. It’s like losing two whole lives at once. No wonder she’s panicking.

I make a decision that very instant: if there’s a truth about my past—and of course there is—I don’t want to know it. Ever.

Holo’s hand reaches out and closes softly around my ankle. He’s crying now, too.

Randall comes into the cell with a wad of toilet paper in his hand. “Sorry,” he says. “This is all we got.”

Rollins grabs the wad and thrusts it toward my face. I take a few crumpled sheets and wipe my eyes. Holo does the same.

Wolves grieve, but they don’t shed tears. Humans are the only animals who do that.

For the record, crying doesn’t make me feel better.

Eventually Wendy’s breathing slows. She’s not hyperventilating anymore. Instead she’s starting to moan. Softly, but like she might never stop.

I blow my nose. Holo uncurls himself from around Wendy’s ankles and sits up, sniffling.

Dunham says, “Well, Kai—Holo—I know this is pretty overwhelming. But it’s necessary. It’s like I told Chief Greene. ‘The FBI never forgets a missing child.’ We found Wendy. And now we’ve found you.”

My breath catches in my throat. “Does that mean that someone wanted you to find us?” I ask. Someone like… our family? Our real mother?

Dunham’s face falls a little. “Honestly, no. I’m sorry. We found you because we were looking for Wendy. But just because no one’s reported you two missing doesn’t mean that you aren’t.” He leans forward. “I want to talk about where you came from. What do you remember, Kai? What can you tell me? Is there anyone who might be looking for you? Missing you?”

I shake my head. “I don’t remember anything,” I say. “As far as I can tell, the only ones missing us now are the wolves.”