Page 195 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

After the restlessnight at the apartment, which included the Shadow City police getting involved since Dick had died in the alpha wolf’s home, I almost cried in relief when we pulled into Killian’s pack neighborhood and I saw our house.

Just getting out of the city and away from all the politics put me more at ease…almost.

“Do you think when Julius and Bart get here that your brother might be willing to tell us information now?” Griffin growled. “I mean, he could’ve helped us before now.”

Part of me wanted to take up for my resurrected brother, but Griffin was right. I understood that Julius didn’t trust us, especially with how he was raised. However, I was done being patient. We had to make sure both he and I were safe.

I linked with Bart,We’re back at the house. How much longer until you two get here?

We’re walking into your backyard now,he answered.Just know he’s nervous.

Oh, I knew that. I could feel it through our connection, but I worked to lock it down. I couldn’t let Julius influence me. I’d been so concerned with his feelings and well-being that I’d put Griffin and myself at risk. That time was over. I just hoped thatDick had been the person in charge of hunting me and my pack.Doesn’t matter. Do you think he’ll tell us anything?

Yes, I think he’s ready to come clean.Bart paused.Hearing that you were attacked again bothered him.

Well, there was that.

When we pulled into the garage, I opened the door, eager to get the conversation going. “I’m going to let them in. They’re in the backyard now.”

“Okay, but Sterlyn…” Griffin grabbed my hand.If he doesn’t cooperate, we’ve got—

I cut him off, not wanting to hear it.I get it. The games are over. He puts everything on the table, or I’ll have to figure out a way to punish him without him feeling like we’re turning our backs on him.He was family and a silver wolf, after all.

Appeased, he let me go, and I marched straight for the door. When I opened it, Bart and Julius were standing right there, their floral, musky scent invading my nose.

Julius averted his eyes to the ground, not even attempting to challenge me, and his usual animosity was absent.

My concern for him coiled inside me, and I had to make a conscious decision to push it down. “Thanks for coming so quickly. Please come in.”

“I’m glad you’re safe and well.” Bart hugged me and kissed the side of my head. “But you are the alpha of our kind, so I’m also not surprised.”

Being around him was nice. He reminded me of my father and had the same temperament. The association was bittersweet, but I clung to it.

I stepped out of the way, not wanting too many of the guards outside to take notice of them. Griffin had talked with the guards who were watching the back, but the fewer who knew about Bart and Julius, the better. They entered the house, heading directlyto the living room, where Griffin waited, as tense as if he were preparing for a fight.

I hoped it didn’t come to that, but I couldn’t blame my mate for his demeanor. The best course of action was to get everything in the open and let things fall into place. That was something Mom taught me when having candid conversations with Dad. She’d say, “Men aren’t mind readers, and they aren’t very intuitive about certain things. Be assertive with them, and remember that it does not, in fact, make you a bitch or aggressive. Those are terms that men who aren’t as confident as your father call women when women act the same as they do.”

I pulled out a picture Ulva had given me of her, Atticus, Dick, and Saga, taken a few weeks before Atticus died. “Was this the man who gave the order to kidnap me?” I asked my brother.

His eyes flicked to the picture, and he grew pale. “Yes, that’s Topper.”

“I wish you’d known his real name.” I tried keeping my voice even, but a little frustration leaked through as my throat tightened. “This is the man who was trying to steal Shadow City away frommy mate.”

“I didn’t know that.” Julius lifted his hand. “The way he talked and acted, I thought he didn’t even live in the city.”

“Wait.” Griffin’s hands clenched. “Dick wanted tobreedwith my mate?”

“No!” Julius shook his head, then paused. “At least, I don’t think so. When he was talking about it on the phone, it sounded as if she was intended for someone else. Topper said that person was weak, but he needed an ally. That was almost two years ago. I haven’t seen him since then.”

My stomach dropped. Hedidhave an accomplice. “Who was he working with?”

“I…I don’t know.” Julius sighed and walked over to the windows to look out. “I grew up with a woman who wasdisinterested in me, who made sure I had the bare necessities and trained hard each day with instructors they brought over with any sort of combat skills a non-shifting wolf could use. When he first met me at sixteen, Topper—Dick,” he amended—“didn’t seem comfortable with me and didn’t want to be around me more than he had to. Almost as if he’d just found out about me. When he talked to some woman on the phone—I never met her, just heard her voice—she pointed out that Topper was meant to lead, and that some man named Atticus being dead was a blessing for everyone.”

Heartbreak slammed into me as my mate heard how Dick had regarded his father. He’d already been through so much. I wished I could take this hurt away, but unfortunately, this was the world we lived in.

I wished, at least, that Julius knew more so we could take down every single asshole who’d caused our families pain. “Who sent all the people you trained?”

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