“I’m not expecting any deliveries.” Adam took off running for the house.
I was right behind him. We met Luke in front just as a black Hummer with dark-tinted windows pulled into the driveway.
“Luke,” Adam said without taking his eyes off the Hummer. “Tell Lana to be ready to take the babies out the back.”
He nodded and went inside while Adam and I stood facing the intruder. The passenger door opened and I held my breath. Polished black shoes stepped out onto the pavement, and I could see khaki green slacks, but the rest of the man was still hidden behind the door and tinted glass.
When he slammed the door closed, my heart stopped. Beside me, Adam rubbed his eyes.
Standing by the Hummer, in full general dress uniform, was our dead father.
He straightened his coat. “You two look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Jesus, his voice sounded like Malcolm’s too. Other than his graying hair being kept in a short military cut, he looked, sounded, and moved exactly like our father. If I hadn’t scattered the ashes myself, I might’ve believed this was him.
It was tough to bury my shock, but I did my best to hide my emotions.
I glanced at Adam, but he didn’t take his eyes off of the general.
Our father’s twin brother. Holy shit. The Pack elders and our dad never told stories about the past or our uncle, and when we pried, our Alpha redirected our attention. We finally assumed his brother must be dead, and he never corrected us. Maybe to our father he was.
The man approached with his hand outstretched. “I’m General Miller Sloan.”
Instinctively I took a step forward in front of my Alpha, making no move to touch the stranger. “What brings you here?”
The General raised a silver brow, dropping his hand back to his side. “I’m here on business. I need to speak with my brother. I received intel that Malcolm Sloan’s Pack meets up here.”
“Malcolm’s dead,” I said evenly.
Genuine surprise flooded the general’s features for a split second before his face became a mask of government authority. He rolled his shoulders back. “I’m sorry. I was afraid something might have happened to him. I hoped I was wrong.” He cleared his throat and went on. “Who has ascended to Alpha?”
If it weren’t so obvious he was my father’s twin, I never would have believed we were related to this man. Our blood ran hot, yet this general stayed completely in control when he learned his twin brother was dead. They obviously weren’t close, but they must’ve been at some point. How could he be so calm when I told him Malcolm was gone?
“I’m not sure that’s any of your business,” I said. “Malcolm never mentioned his brother.”
At that I caught a flicker of emotion, but in a blink it vanished. “We had a parting of ways years ago. I should have made contact sooner.” He shook his head. “I’m here on government business. Your father may not have mentioned me, but he probably told you about Operation Moonlight.”
Adam nodded. “He told me he thought he was going to serve his country and instead he and his friends became lab rats for Nero.”
The corner of Miller’s mouth pulled up a little. “He didn’t see the potential like I did.”
Adam shook his head. “You call shooting up werewolves for some Lycan Squad until their brains hemorrhage potential? Sorry, General, but that’s not the first word that comes to mind when I think about the unhinged wolf hiding out in my territory.”
“It went too far with the Lycan Squad. We realize that now, and that’s why I’m here. I came to help the Pack with this situation.”
“Thanks.” Adam let out a humorless chuckle. “But we’ve been fine without you all these years. I think we’ll pass.”
I caught a flash of anger in the general’s eyes. Maybe a Sloan heart was still buried somewhere under the military medals pinned to his chest.
His eyes narrowed. “Why don’t we let your Alpha decide?”
“Adam is our Alpha.” I added with a touch of sarcasm, “Uncle Miller.”
…
Since it was clear that the general had close ties with Nero, we were careful to keep the twins away. Adam suggested we talk in the barn. Miller followed us down the driveway on foot. I kept expecting him to ask how Malcolm died, but he didn’t. In fact, he didn’t say anything at all.
Adam leaned back against a stall door, and I took a post beside him, my muscles taut. I had worked with my father every day for years. Why would he let me believe his brother was dead all that time?
“Why are you really here?” Adam asked. “If you knew where Malcolm’s Pack was, why didn’t you ever contact him?”
Miller glanced at the horses and back to Adam. “I was respecting my brother’s wishes.”
I frowned. “He asked you not to contact us?”
“His actual words were more like ‘If you stay with these madmen then you’re dead to me.’”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And you chose Nero over your Pack.”
“My brother wasn’t my Alpha. He disobeyed our Alpha by leaving us. Our country needs us, now more than ever. I saw the mission through. He gave up.”
“You don’t know the first thing about our father.” Adam straightened up, stepping toward the general.
“I didn’t come here to argue with you. I came to collect my soldier.” His gaze moved between Adam and I. “I was the leader of the Lycan Squad before it disbanded. When I got word Fonthill had gone rogue in my brother’s territory, I thought I could help talk him down.”
“You’re his leader?” I frowned, struggling to contain the rage that smoldered deep in my belly. “You watched your men die at the hands of the Nero Organization and you did nothing?”
“My men understood the risks.” His jaw clenched, and he raised his chin. The stern gesture probably made men in uniform hop to and salute or something, but it made me want to punch the elitist bastard. “They volunteered to help their country.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t judge things you don’t understand.”
Adam raised a brow. “Did they understand they’d be juiced up and mutated until they went insane?” His gaze locked with Miller’s, baiting him. “Or was that in the fine print?”
“Impudent, short-sighted—” He lunged for my brother, but I knocked him back hard enough to get his attention.
It felt good, too.
“Damn, you are a fucking cold-hearted bastard,” I spat. “No wonder our dad never mentioned you.” I almost hoped he’d make a move, but he didn’t. “Don’t you even care what happened to Malcolm?”
A shadow of emotion clouded the man’s gray green eyes, and as quickly as I noticed it, it was gone again. “My brother and I chose different paths. I’m sorry I let time slip away like I did.”
Adam’s cheeks were flushed with color, like a volcano about to blow. “You let time slip away while you worked for the bastards who experimented on werewolves and made them into monsters.” He took a step toward the general, but the older man stood his ground. “You let time slip away while Nero waltzed in here and murdered your twin brother, you son of a bitch.”
Miller’s brow furrowed, and for once the emotion didn’t fade away from his features. “Nero killed Malcolm? That can’t be. He’s never been part of the mission.”
“He wasn’t their mission—Adam’s mate was.” His gaze shifted to me. I crossed my arms over my chest. “They sent their own private army to Lake Tahoe. Malcolm died in the fight.”
His confusion morphed into denial right before my eyes. “Impossible. Nero works for the government to enhance soldiers. Your brother’s mate wouldn’t be a target unless she was in the military or a part of our program.”