Page 12 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Are you my dad?

The guy stared at Jake. “You… you’re Jake Carson.” His voice cracked.

Seth blinked. Okay,thatwasn’t part of the usual script.

“How do you know my name?” Jake demanded.

“I saw a photo of you, about two months ago.”

“Where?”

“In Illinois. Where I met your son, Dellan.”

Jake gasped, and as Seth watched, he crumpled. Seth caught him. “Hold on,” Seth whispered. “Don’t let them see. Please, Jake.”

Jake wiped his eyes and straightened. “You saw Dellan. You’re sure it was Dellan?”

The young man nodded. “He was with his mates.”

Seth gaped. “Mates?”

Another nod. “He was with a bear and a lion.”

“But they said they were mates?” Seth pressed.

He nodded. “Meeting them changed everything.”

Jake finally found his voice. “Who are you?”

“My name is Jamie Matheson, and two months ago I learned you were my father and Dellan my half brother.” He swallowed. “I also learned my whole life was a lie.”

Jake pulled Jamie into his arms and hugged him, and tears pricked Seth’s eyes.

When Jake released him, he pushed the hair back from Jamie’s forehead. “I have so many questions. How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven. And until a few months ago, I believed shifters were at the top of the evolutionary ladder. We were the dominant species.”

Seth stilled. “You’re a Geran?”

Jamie smiled. “Correction—Iwas. Meeting Dellan and the others changed all that.” He cocked his head. “You… you’re a tiger too.” His eyes widened. “How the fuck do I know that about you?” Before Seth could get a word out, Jamie stared at him. “Stupid question. I already know the answer to that. SomethingelseI learned when I met Dellan and the others.”

Jake leaned in close. “This is another half brother, Seth Miles.” Jake gave Jamie a watery smile. “I can see we have a lot of catching up to do.”

Seth tugged on his arm. “Not now. We’re attracting attention. This family reunion will have to wait.” Then he glanced over Jake’s shoulder. “Besides, we’ve run out of time. Those are the guards from the breeding block, and they’re heading this way.”

Jake squared his thin shoulders. “Here we go again.” He glanced at Jamie. “We’ll talk more later, okay?” He scowled. “Once I’ve recovered.”

“Don’t make them use the drug, okay?” Seth pleaded. “You’re always so ill afterward. I know you want to resist, but—” He gestured to Jamie. “—we need you to be alert.”

Jamie nodded. “I have so much to tell you, and something to give to you.”

Jake managed a tired smile. “And what’s that? The key to the compound? You’ve got a helicopter hidden away somewhere?”

Jamie took his hand and squeezed it. “I bring you hope.”

Chapter Three

HORVAN ANDSaul stood in front of the world map on the wide screen.

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