shade of their mom’s. He was the same height, same cheekbones as Wes, same slanted eyes. If he smiled, it would look like Hunter’s smile. “That’s not Bones, Summer. He’s my brother,” Wes said as his boots hit the asphalt.
“He doesn’t remember!” she yelled just as he slammed the door.
“Remember what?” he asked through their bond.
Her voice was shaking when she whispered back, “He doesn’t remember you.”
“Summer, lock the door,” Wes ordered through the bond.
From a few yards away, Sam cocked his head and studied Wes as he leaned against the side of the truck. Sam’s voice came out raspy, as if he didn’t use it much. “My alpha can feel you hunting us.”
God, oh God, oh God, it was Sam. Even smelled like Sam. Sam and fur. And dominance. Inside of Wes, the wolf was wary, watchful, snarling softly. He cleared his throat and tried to swallow down the threatening sound. His wolf just didn’t understand Sam was like Hunter. He was his brother.
“Your alpha. You mean Leif?”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “Don’t like when people call out his name. Don’t like you. Why are you hunting him?”
“Because of what he did to us.”
“You’re still breathing,” Sam said in a gritty voice.
Frowning, Wes said, “Yeah.”
“You should’ve enjoyed breathing and left him alone. Whatever he did to you and your pack, it wasn’t so bad. We don’t let enemies live.”
“You think I’m an enemy?”
“I don’t know you.” There was truth in his voice that rammed the dagger of realization into Wes’s chest.
“You don’t remember me at all?”
“Tired of talking. You and your bitch have taken up too much time. Have to get back to my alpha.”
“Your name is Sam. Samuel Allen Kaid. I’m your brother,” Wes said, stepping forward, pressing his hands to his own chest. “Me, I’m your brother. You can’t remember me?”
Sam’s frown deepened, and he backed up a step. “Don’t have a brother. I just have an alpha. He’s my family.”
“Wrong. You’ve been lied to. Manipulated. Your alpha was the one who Turned me against my will. Against yours. You have two brothers. We thought you were dead, Sam. We’ve been mourning you for years. I’m Wes. Wesley Kaid. Hunter is our baby brother. He’s dumb as a post but funny and loyal. He always looked up to me and you.” Wes took another step forward. “He doesn’t even know you’re still alive, Sam. He’s—”
“Enough! Stop calling me Sam. That’s not me. That’s not my name.” He calmed and let out a steadying breath, and that empty smile took over his face. “I’m Bones. Enforcer of the Wichita Pack, Second to the alpha, Leif.” He lifted his chin proudly. God, his smile chilled Wes’s blood. There was nothing but bloodlust behind those silver eyes. Sam twitched his chin to the truck. “No bitches allowed in our pack. That’s why we are what we are.”
“Just keep him talking,” Summer whispered through the bond. “Keep him calm.”
Sam’s attention snapped to Summer, and Wes could see it. Could see his pupils constrict to pinpoints. “Why can I hear you?” Sam growled.
“Because you’re bonded to me and Hunter. If you reach out, you can feel their mates.” Wes jerked his chin toward the truck. “That’s Summer. She’s…mine.”
“Then I’ll enjoy killing her, too. It’s not smart to hunt Leif. No one lives. Not since he took me in.”
“He didn’t take you in, Sam! He Turned you and molded you into his weapon.” Wes reached for that sickly, mangled bond that connected him to Sam. It felt like pouring poison into his chest cavity to open it up. Through it, he said, “That’s all you are to him. His weapon.”
Sam roared and slapped the side of his head. “Stop it.”
“I love you, Sam. I’m your brother and I love you.”
“No, no, Leif said you would do this.” He laughed a hollow, unrecognizable sound. It was an imposter’s laugh, too cruel to be Sam’s. “He said you would have power over me and to fight it. To kill you. To free myself.” Sam’s fists were at his side, but when he flicked open his right hand, dark fur rippled down his forearm and his claws grew longer. His smile exposed lengthening canines.
What the hell? How could he only Change parts of himself? He was heaving breath, growing taller with each inhalation. When the poisonous bond burned straight through Wes’s chest, he nearly doubled over with the pain.
Summer was screaming, but he couldn’t understand what she was saying. His ears were roaring with questions. With realization.