Page 62 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

Elena. My Elena. Where are you?

I rubbed my temples and left the study.

"Marcus."

He'd been waiting outside and immediately bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Prepare the car," I said. "I need to find Liam."

Marcus bowed and went to make arrangements. I stood in the hallway, looking at the sunlight outside. Liam must still be wandering the streets. I'd cut off his card—he shouldn't have much money on him. Knowing his personality, he wouldn't come home on his own. He was probably getting into more trouble.

I had to find him, talk to him properly. I didn't know if he'd listen, but I had to try.

Because I'd already lost Elena. I couldn't lose Liam too—couldn't let him keep spiraling down this path.

Chapter Nineteen

Elena

We just stared at each other like that.

The noise of the fast-food joint—the sizzle of frying oil, the ding of the register, the chatter of other customers—all of it vanished. The world went quiet. Just me and him.

Liam.

My son.

"Mom—ma'am," he hesitated, switching how he addressed me. That carefulness made my heart ache. Liam's voice was hoarse, unstable the way voices get when they're changing. Werewolf aging was different from humans—he was ten, which put him at the human equivalent of adolescence.

I'd missed five years of his life.

My arms were still around Anya. She peeked out from my shoulder, looking at Liam with curiosity.

"Mommy, that boy keeps calling you," Anya whispered.

I took a deep breath and let her go, standing up. Liam stepped back half a pace, like he was dodging on instinct, but his eyes never left my face.

"How did you—" My voice shook.

"She almost got hit by a car." Liam cut me off. He glanced at Anya. "I saw it and pulled her away. Then..."

He paused. His Adam's apple bobbed.

"Then I just knew she was my sister."

Blood recognition.

Blood recognition between werewolves. When the blood relation was close enough, the wolf identified it automatically. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it drumming in my ears.

"Sister?" Anya tilted her head at Liam. "Are you my brother?"

Liam didn't answer. He was still looking at me. Those gray eyes—the exact same eyes as Lucifer's—held too many things. Confusion, hope, caution. I knew he was waiting for my approval. He was afraid I wouldn't like him acknowledging Anya directly.

"Of course, Anya." I touched Anya's head. "He's your brother. Liam."

Liam's eyes lit up instantly. His lips trembled, and his hands didn't know where to go. Anya grabbed Liam's hand. "Brother!" She looked up at him. "Let's sit!"

Liam let himself be pulled down. His face flushed with excitement and embarrassment, so he pushed the food on the table toward Anya to hide his emotions. "Here. Eat."