caffeine. We’d stayed up most of the night going through the Nero flash drive, and then while he went back to the ranch, I’d made calls and worked on another article that was due next week.
I glanced out the window at the sunny street below. People walked on the sidewalks, cars drove by. It looked normal, and busy. I glanced at the door. Adam wouldn’t like it, but I needed a little pick-me-up.
I’d only be gone for a few minutes, and if Sebastian didn’t kidnap me last night from my private hotel room, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t grab me from a busy street in broad daylight. With my cell phone in hand, and the room key and pepper spray in my pocket, I headed out to the Starbucks across the street. Coffee wasn’t my thing, but chai tea and some sort of pastry sounded great.
Just getting out in the fresh air made me feel more alert. I focused on the different scents around me, half expecting Sebastian to jump out of the shadows. Instead, he walked right up to me in the sunshine.
“Did you review the files?”
“Hello to you too, Sebastian.”
He rolled his eyes. “We don’t have time for pleasantries. Did you look at the files?”
“Yes,” I said as I crossed the intersection to the coffee shop. “And I have some questions.” He followed me, his head swiveling with each step. I frowned. “Is someone following us?”
“You do not smell him?”
I shrugged and then inhaled deeply. The scent was faint and sort of familiar. It was probably Adam’s scent on my clothes. The more I consciously noticed smells the better I was at recognizing them, but I was nowhere near Adam’s or Sebastian’s skill level.
He stayed on alert as he pulled the door open for me. We ordered our drinks and headed for a private corner booth.
“So why did you give me the Breeding Experiment file?”
“Because when I found the files about the jaguar sightings, I saw an email referencing that breeding experiment.”
“So you think I was the missing twin?”
“I think it is possible.”
“If that’s true, did they just lose me then?” It didn’t make sense to me, but nothing did anymore.
He shrugged, his eyes searching the area again. “I think you were hidden.”
“How? By who?” My heart was in my throat, aching for answers, wishing that it meant maybe my parents did really leave me to protect me.
He finally met my eyes. “I’m not sure. I came to tell you that one of the goals of the Nero breeding program is to achieve live births of females born into their powers. It’s a liability to bring in human women. Some of them go mad with the conversion. But if females were born into their powers, we could continue our race without human interference.”
“That’s why they want you to bring me to them.”
“I believe so, yes.”
“If I really am the result of that experiment, then I have a brother somewhere?”
“Yes.” His eyes met mine.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And are my parents still at Nero?”
“Your father is.” He shifted in his chair a little, the only sign he might be uncomfortable. “Your mother was eliminated.”
The cold reality was like a sucker punch in the stomach. I’d spent much of my life hating her, but the moment I discovered she might have saved me, she was gone.
“I cannot give you much more time.” Sebastian took a swallow of his black coffee. “If I do not complete my mission soon, they will send another in my place.”
I breathed deep. He seemed to really be trying to help me. Not that Sebastian was my friend. Half the time he was so imposing it was tough to think around him. I saw what he did to Gabe. I knew what he was capable of. So why was he not just taking me to Nero?
“I have some leads. Thanks for everything Sebastian.”
He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I will do what I can.”
“What’s in it for you?” I asked before I could censor myself.
“My mission was not what I was told it would be. I don’t appreciate being deceived.” I expected some sort of come-on or another swipe at the werewolves, but his voice was soft and I couldn’t detect any sarcasm. “I need to know who I work for and why they’re lying to me.”
Without another word, Sebastian got up and left the Starbucks.
I stared at his empty cup, pondering what he’d said when I heard the door beep again. I glanced up, shocked to see Adam in the doorway. That had been his scent—just not on my clothes. He must’ve tracked me.
I raised my hand slightly to catch his attention. He nodded and walked over to my table. I expected him to kiss me hello since he’d given me such a nice kiss goodbye, but instead he just sat down across from me. His hair was wet and slicked back. I’d never seen it like that. It gave him a more sophisticated look. He took a whiff of Sebastian’s discarded cup and frowned.
I put my hands up and shook my head. “I swear he just showed up, okay?”
“Who showed up?”
My brow furrowed. “Sebastian. You remember. Creepy cat man?”
He nodded, but something was wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Can we go someplace more private?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m done here anyway.” I threw away the two cups and followed him out. He held the door for me, but he still didn’t smile. It didn’t make sense. He’d left in such a good mood…
It finally registered as I passed him going out the door. His scent. I recognized the natural earthy scent— maybe that was a base for all werewolves—but the musky, almost spicy smell that I associated with Adam wasn’t there. This couldn’t be Adam.
He let the door close behind us. I started to run, but he caught my wrist in a vise-like grip, walking me over to a bench outside and sitting us both down.
“Who are you?” I asked. “Where’s Adam?”
“I should ask you those same questions.” His voice sounded like Adam, too. But he most definitely was not Adam.
“You look just like him.”
“Where is he?”
“You can let go of me. I won’t run.”
“Answer my question.” His eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice. “I know you’re a jaguar. Gabe is dead, and now I want to know how and why you know my brother.”
Adam’s twin. This was the man in the picture at a college graduation in Adam’s house. I’d been staring at his brother and never knew it. My eyes widened at the realization, and at the same time, my heart clenched. This was Adam’s twin brother, and I didn’t even know his name.
“Adam didn’t tell me your name.”
The wrinkle between his eyebrows deepened. “You’ve been talking to Adam?”
I sighed. “Look, can we start at the beginning like human beings, okay? I’m Lana.”
“I’m Aren,” he replied. He also let go of my wrist.
I rubbed at my throbbing skin. “Adam is supposed to meet me at my hotel in a few minutes. I thought you were him. I guess he’ll be here soon.”
Aren let out a sigh of relief. “That must be why he didn’t answer his cell phone. He’s been acting strange. I was worried.”
“How did you find me?”
“I followed Adam to your hotel last night. When you guys went up, I checked out his Jeep and caught your scent. I thought my brother might be in trouble because you were a…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, as if just saying the word out loud was distasteful. Great.
“Jaguar? Is that the word you can’t bring yourself to say?”
Adam’s twin raised a brow. “I’m just surprised you’re still alive. Adam’s been hunting for the jaguar that
