Page 34 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Thirty-Four

BLAIR

My mother was taken by an Alpha werewolf and held captive for two years.

Two years.

What happened to you, Mom?

I’ve got a sinking feeling about it all, but I can’t say for sure what really happened, and I don’t know if I’ll ever truly know. My aunt doesn’t know, and I doubt Leon knows any of this.

Shit—Leon!

I sit upright, and Calix groans beside me, stretching his limbs on the too-small bed. I fight a smile when he yawns, his lazy gaze sharpening when he sees me.

“Blair, what’s wrong?” His voice is groggy but panicked, and I reach out to cup his face.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about my mother, then I wondered if Leon knew…”

Calix is silent for a minute before shaking his head. “No, Leon didn’t know.”

I frown. “What makes you so sure?”

Calix shrugs. “He saw me once.”

My jaw drops open. “Leon saw you as a werewolf?!”

Calix nods and sits up. His hair falls into his eyes, and I stroke it away while awaiting his answer.

There’s no way Leon knew werewolves existed before I did. But then he let Calix take me… and it explains why Calix helped Leon out a few times… Shit!

“He saw me in my wolf form, yes.” Calix tilts his head before swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

“He’d had a few drinks, and I think he knew it was something he needed to keep to himself.

” A soft chuckle escapes his lips as he rises to his full height.

“I don’t think anyone would have believed him, anyway. ”

I stare at the floor.

Would I have believed him?

Probably not, I realize guiltily. I would have assumed he was drunk and seeing things.

“See?” Calix grins, reading my thoughts before dropping a kiss on my forehead. “Speaking of Leon, we need to find your brother.”

I nod and climb from the bed, tugging on the same clothes as yesterday before brushing my teeth in the bathroom.

I join Calix, who is seated at the kitchen table, while my aunt fusses, pushing a cup of coffee towards me.

Dark circles surround her eyes, and I sigh.

Last night was heavy on all of us. I sip my coffee and glance at Calix, who’s munching on bacon and pancakes. He nods at me to eat.

As my aunt twists her hands, I select a few pancakes and douse them in maple syrup.

“Are you okay?” she asks me, her voice hoarse.

“I will be. I need to find Leon.”

My aunt nods and turns to stare out the kitchen window. “Have you checked your house?”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“Well, he said he had to work, so I’d check there and maybe the garage?” My aunt keeps glancing at Calix like she’s nervous.

“What’s wrong?” I demand, looking at Calix pointedly.

My aunt pales. “N-nothing.”

Calix lifts his gaze to hers, and a smile spreads over his lips. “She’s scared I’m going to hurt you.”

My aunt steps back. “I’m n-not.”

“Then why are you stuttering?” I interrupt. “Calix will never hurt me.”

My aunt swallows. “He’s an Alpha.” She bows her head, and I frown.

“So?”

My aunt tries to crack a smile, but it just looks broken. “I’ve not met a good one yet.”

Calix sighs and looks at me helplessly. “Tell her I’m nice.”

I snort, and my aunt blinks. “You’re an asshole.”

Calix gasps. “How dare you?”

I giggle as he squeezes my thigh and look at my aunt. “He’s a teddy bear, honestly.”

My aunt says nothing in response to that.

“Don’t be scared,” I encourage gently. “We’ll head out now. Thank you for having us, and for breakfast.”

I dab at my mouth with a napkin she pushes towards me.

Calix studies her. “You know, if you ever want to rejoin a pack, you will always be welcome with us.”

My aunt's cheeks flush. “Thank you. Be safe, Blair,” she adds, reaching out to hug me.

I’m still not sure how I feel about what she hid from me, but she’s not the only one. Leon knew werewolves existed. Did he put two and two together? Did he realize wolves had attacked our parents?

A lump forms in my throat.

My poor parents. My dad probably didn’t even know what was happening.

“Hey.” Calix laces his fingers through mine. “Let’s find your brother.”

We walk into Leon’s garage, surprised to see him working on a car.

Why would Leon say he was coming to get me and then go to work?

It doesn’t make sense—he can’t be that worried about me.

Yet here we are, and there he is, lying flat on his back beneath a red Chevy.

Whistling.

“Leon?” I say, clearing my throat. “Leon!”

The radio is too loud for him to hear me, so I stomp over and turn it off. My brother slides out from beneath the car, his eyes widening when he sees me.

“Blair?”

Calix scowls at him as he jumps to his feet. “You said you were coming to see her,” Calix all but growls, stepping closer and sniffing the air. “So, why are you here?”

Leon swallows, and his eyes dart between us.

Something is off.

What's wrong with him? I ask Calix, who says nothing back.

He moves closer to Leon, who glares at him.

“Why are you getting in my face, man?”

“Leon!” I snap. “What’s wrong with you?”

Leon sneers as he looks at me. “Says the one fucking a mutant.”

He may as well have spat the words at me.

I stare at him in stunned silence, watching as Calix grips him by the throat and lifts him from the ground.

“Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Or what?”

I don’t understand… Leon was never like this to Calix.

Is he calling my mate a fucking mutant?!

My head reels. I want to speak to Leon about our parents, but he’s being vile and disrespectful.

“Leon!” I snap, my hand on Calix’s arm. “He could really hurt you; please don’t antagonize him.”

Leon’s eyes are bloodshot and red, and a trickle of fear drips down my spine.

“He hasn’t been drinking,” Calix says slowly, tilting his head. “Yet he looks like shit.”

Leon struggles against Calix, but it's pointless—he’s too strong.

“Leon,” I say, my breath catching in my throat. “I’ve just been to see Aunt Ray. She told me a few things… things I think you already know about.”

Leon’s gaze shifts to me, and he grins.

And I know immediately this isn’t my brother.