Page 162 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

The modest brick houses came into view, and my heart twinged. With each house I looked at, the image of the family who had lived there popped into my mind. Every person meant so much to me. We’d been one large family, the way every smaller pack should be.

These houses were all one-story structures, similar to those in Killian’s pack neighborhood, but missing the Craftsman feel. These were simple and built to be low maintenance. The only sign that the town had been abandoned was the tall grass and weeds in everyone’s yards, now that the weather was warming with spring.

Griffin drove slowly, but soon, we took the curve leading to the back of the neighborhood and my family home.

In front of my parents’ house stood fifteen wolves. They didn’t hide but rather stood side by side, staring us down.

The tallest man stood in the center of the group with seven flanking each side. His hair was a shade darker than Julius’s but silver nonetheless. He appeared to be a few years younger than Dad and held himself in a similar way. And his golden flecked silver eyes zeroed in on me.

Could he be my uncle?

Griffin huffed as he turned the Navigator so that I faced the group head-on only a few feet away. When I rolled down my window, the faint floral, musky scent of the silver wolf filled the car.

I lifted my head high, making sure my posture exuded confidence. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

“Maybe we should ask you the same questions,” the man who obviously was the pack alpha retorted. He lifted his head high, mimicking me. “You don’t look as if you belong here.”

A loud laugh escaped me. This had to be some sort of joke. “I grew up here.”

“Really?” The alpha placed his hands inside his jean pockets and tilted his head. “You’ve let the place go to shit, then.”

The insult burned. He was right. I should’ve done more. I shouldn’t allow my childhood neighborhood to deteriorate like this. “I’ve been kind of preoccupied. Once again, who are you, and why are you here?”

“We thought we should check out the area.” The alpha shrugged, but there was something strange wafting off him. His intent was good, but he was trying to hide some sort of pain. “See if we could find a place to land.”

I wasn’t in the mood to play games. Dad had told me that political maneuvers were an important piece of leading, but all they did was convolute things. I hated it. I got that there was a time and place, but now didn’t feel like the time. “I’m Sterlyn Knight. Are you my uncle?”

Babe, I know you want him to be part of your family, but maybe you were a little too forthcoming.Worry pulsed from Griffin.Now he could pretend to be your family.

If he lies, we’ll know.There were some things you couldn’t hide.He looks like my dad, and he’s the right age.

And he left for a reason.Griffin placed his hand on the gear shift, ready to pull away.We don’t know what it was.

The alpha’s mouth dropped open, and he quickly scratched his nose as if trying to cover up his reaction. “You cut straight to the point, huh?”

“I figure there’s no reason to beat around the bush.” I scanned the entire group. The other men were around the same age as the alpha, so they weren’t his children. There was no way a silver wolf could reproduce like that, and their mates couldn’t be silver. “So my question is, what was my father’s favoritedessert?” Dad’s favorite was odd. Mom and I gave him hell, but he said his grandmother introduced him to it at a young age.

The alpha remained quiet for a moment, as if he were considering my words. “Jalapeno orange marmalade cupcakes. Grandma’s specialty.”

Even though I’d suspected this was my uncle, having him confirm it was surreal. “You’re really him.”

“And you’re really her. I thought you died...” The emotion grew thick in his voice, and he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

“I escaped.” I sounded like such a coward. “I was out in the woods when the attack happened. When I finally reached home to help, the slaughter was over. Dad was mortally wounded when he found me, and he told me to run. He had a huge gash—” I choked off.

“Look, I’m not trying to be an asshole,” Griffin said, and glared at my uncle. “But why the hell are you here now?”

“That’s a long story.” He ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. His focus landed on Griffin and the other two men in the back seat. “And one that Sterlyn deserves an answer to. I was hoping to check out the house. Would that be all right?”

“How do we know we can trust you?” Killian asked. “If we walk in there, we could be walking to our deaths.”

My uncle nodded his head in approval and looked at me. “Who are these two?” He gestured from Killian to Griffin. “They aren’t silver wolves.”

“No. I met them after I escaped.” Even though we might be family, I wasn’t going to tell him my entire story. At least, not yet. Complete trust had to be earned, and I had learned that being family didn’t always mean someone had your best interests at heart.

“And who’s the other guy in the back?” my uncle asked.

“My brother.” If he knew my name, then his reaction to this little tidbit would tell everything.

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