Page 31 of Eclipsed Heart

Scanning the room, I took in the warm browns and earth tones. On his chestnut wood nightstand, there was a picture of Theo and me taken when we were around twelve, and there were personal things, such as Theo’s guns, lining the walls.

When I reached the foot of the bed, Theo’s topaz eyes focused on me. His normally caramel-brown hair was dark and matted to his face, which showed deep scratches that were starkly pronounced since his olive skin was a shade lighter than usual and looked unhealthy.

He gave me a faint smile. “You came to see me. I knew you would.”

However, when Bodey stepped in beside me, Theo’s smile faltered.

“Why ishehere?” Theo’s nose wrinkled.

Lovely, another pack reunion that was going super well.

Bodey snarled, “Because I’m hermate. That’s why.”

“The two of us wanted to check on you.” I cut my eyes to Bodey, glaring as I linked,Please, don’t. We need him to be willing to talk to me. That’s why I initially said no to you coming.

He started it,Bodey sighed, his guilt flowing into me.

Not bothering to reply to him, I sat on the edge of the bed and smiled sadly at Theo. His neck had claw marks on the sides, and blood from a gash in his shoulder had stained the sheet draped around his chest. He must have gotten slashed a few more times after Bodey and I escaped the area.

“I’ve had better days,” he said stiffly as if it hurt to talk. He scanned my face, and when he reached my neck, he stiffened. “Holy shit, you really are marked! I thought I saw it on your wolf form, but I wasn’t certain. How is that even possible?” he gasped.

I lifted a brow. “You didn’t know?”

“Of course not. Why would you ask that?” Theo tried to sit up but couldn’t rise more than an inch before groaning and giving up. There was no hint of him lying.

“Because your dad knew from the moment he brought me here when I was five.”

His jaw dropped. “Hedid? He never told me, but that makes sense. He spent so much time with the royal family.” His face twisted. “So why was your wolf hidden, and why didn’t he tell anyone?”

Some of the worry I’d had about him betraying me flitted away. “He said he didn’t tell anyone because he was protecting me, especially since my magic had been blocked by the witch who killed his beta.”

Bodey cleared his throat as if reminding us he was still in the room. “How did you not recognize her? Didn’t you spend time with her as a kid like the other advisors and I did? We hung out with you, too, sometimes.”

My head snapped to Bodey, and I linked,We hung out as children?

He nodded.We were close, you and I. When I met you as an adult, you actually reminded me of yourself as a child, but I didn’t realize you were the same person.

“Dad never took Mom or me to meet the royal family.” Theo bit his bottom lip. “Entire weeks would go by when we wouldn’t see him. He said being around them was too much of a risk and that the two of us needed to stay home.”

There had to be more to this story. It didn’t feel complete, but Theo’s eyes were closing.

We were running out of time to question him. “Do you have any idea how the queen’s wolves knew where and when to attack us?”

His eyes shut, and I reached over and nudged his hands gently. “Theo, did you hear me?”

He shook his head. “I wish I did. I want to kill the bastards,” he murmured.

I blew out a breath. He was fading, and he needed rest to heal. We wouldn’t get answers with him in this state. I’d link with him later and try to get them.

“Okay, we’ll leave so you can rest.” When I’d been seriously injured, I hadn’t liked having people around. “Do you need anything before we leave?”

He shook his head and then snored faintly.

Slowly, I stood and tiptoed across the room into the hallway, Bodey right behind me.

When we walked out the front door, the guys were missing from Zeke’s yard. Bodey linked,Any luck?

We’re checking out the area now,Samuel replied.It’ll take a few minutes.

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