Page 155 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

“They thought you weredead.” His accusation stunned me. “The witch assigned to heal Mom told them that you died while she was cleaning us up. The witchhadto be in on it. She broughtyou back out with me, and you didn’t have a heartbeat. She must have spelled you or something.”

“I want to hear this from them.” He climbed to his feet and waved his arms around. “I’m assuming they’ll be here at some point. They wouldn’t want to leave their preciousdaughterunattended for long.”

Wait. He thought our parents were still alive? He had no clue that they were dead. But then who else was in play? I wanted to break the news to him gently, but I wasn’t sure how that was even possible. In some ways, their death would be worse for him because he’d never have the opportunity to know them. At least I’d had that, and selfishly, I wouldn’t change it for the world. “They’re no longer living.”

“What?” He sagged against the wall. “They’redead?”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t hide the pain in my voice. I missed them so damn much.

“But…when?” The strong young man I’d met today now looked broken. Like every bit of hope he’d clutched had been destroyed.

“A few weeks ago.” I should tell him more, but I wasn’t emotionally ready for it. If I tried, I’d fall apart. And that was something I couldn’t do. Not in front of him. Not yet. I didn’t trust him, and the only people you should ever show weakness to were the ones who had your back even in the worst of times. Killian, Griffin, Rosemary, and Sierra had proven that. I deflected the situation. “I’m curious about who raised you in their absence, though.”

“Just some person who was paid and forced to do it. Don’t worry, she wasn’t the one who wanted you. When I got old enough to take care of myself, she disappeared just like everyone does with me.” He frowned and glanced around the room like the answer would magically appear. “How did you find out about me?”

I wanted to push the conversation more, but there was so much pain in his words. Besides, this was where I’d hoped we’d land from the very beginning. He could read the stories in Dad’s own words. That would mean so much more than coming from me. He’d be able to read the heartbreak in them and maybe find a sense of peace over time.

I gestured to the journal that lay closed on the shaggy carpet. “In there. I found the journal and album back at my pack house.” I grabbed it and opened it to February fourth of the year we were born, then handed it to him. “Here, read it.”

Julius took the worn leather book in his hands and turned it around. As his eyes scanned the pages, my heart broke in two, watching and feeling his pain.

His hands tightened on the book, and I forced myself to remain quiet. I didn’t want him to hurt the pages, but he had to go through his process, and I didn’t want to interfere.

His jaw clenched, and he began to swallow like his throat was dry. When his eyes watered, I wasn’t surprised; everything he’d ever wanted to know was right in his grasp. But sometimes, no matter how badly we wanted the truth, we weren’t nearly as prepared for it as we thought.

“This has to be some sick joke.” Julius slammed the book closed but didn’t put it down. “There’s no way that happened. You’re manipulating me, trying to turn me into one of your brainless followers like those idiots out there. I won’t fall for this act.”

I could only imagine what he was going through. I took a deep breath and sighed. “Cyrus—” I hated calling him by his fake name.

“No!” he yelled, and his face turned red. “Donotcall me that! That’s not my name. And even if it was, your lying ass better not call me that. All those years, my caregiver told me the truth about you. You’re just a piece of shit who’ll do everythingpossible to be on top. You’re only good for breeding an army.” He shook his head and marched to the door. “I can’t do this.”

He yanked open the door, revealing Griffin. My mate snarled, “What the fuck is your problem? You can’t yell at her like that.”

And he was right—Cyrus couldn’t, but only I would be able to demand his respect. Griffin couldn’t command it for me, so I knew exactly what I had to do.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I grabbedJulius’s shoulders and slammed him into the wall, causing the door to rattle. I allowed my wolf to surge and felt alpha will begin to bubble within me, but I pushed the urge down, needing to make him respect me without that influence.

Alpha will should be used only as a last resort, when nothing else would work, or if there was a deadly risk if someone did not obey. Respect should be earned, not forced, whenever possible.

“I get that you're upset.” I did. Hell, I was upset, too. My life hadn’t been bad, and though he’d had it a lot worse than I had, my past hadn’t been a walk in the park, either. “But you can’t act out like that. I didn’t cause this. Why would you think I was involved? I would’ve loved having a sibling growing up.”

He held his chin high in defiance as his lips flattened. Despite the rage pouring from him into me, he held the picture album and journal tight against his chest and snapped, “Are you going to let me go now?”

Keeping my gaze locked on his, I shook my head. “Not until you tell me that you understand.”

Griffin stepped beside me and cracked his neck from side to side. “And apologize before I have to make you.”

Oh, dear God.Please stop. You’re going to make this worse.I loved that Griffin wanted to have my back and support me, but all he was doing was antagonizing Julius—and all I wantedhimto do was calm down. He needed time to process his emotions, but not in an explosive, disrespectful way. All we’d done was help him.

“You and what army?” Julius sneered at Griffin, while a faint glow lightened his silver irises.

They were having yet another pissing match. “Yeah, we get it. You’re a big, mean, silver wolf.” I let the sarcasm drip from each word. “But I’m one, too, and stronger than both of you.” I glared at Griffin as well. There, I’d insulted both of their manhoods. Maybe that would wrap things up more quickly.

If I didn’t love you, that would infuriate me,Griffin linked.

All strong wolves desired to be the strongest alpha. That was how most supernaturals were wired and one reason why there was so much corruption in our world. In wolves, alphas not only wanted to be the strongest, but also to protect their pack. It was an internal struggle that was always at the core of our wolf.

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