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Lincoln! My heart pounded, and I sat up, clutching the covers to my chest.
It hadn’t been a nightmare. This was real. I drew in a steadying breath and shoved my fingers through my hair while fighting back tears.
Lincoln hurried to the door. He opened it just enough so he could see out.
I pulled the covers higher so they were just under my chin, watching as he talked in hushed voices to whoever was on the other side of the door.
It wasn’t Sawyer. He felt farther away, and I could feel the irritation rolling over Lincoln in waves. It was an odd sensation and I couldn’t describe it, but it was there, like it was a piece of me that had always been there, hidden.
Lincoln opened his bedroom door farther, grasping a tray in his hand. A man I didn’t recognize stood on the other side of the threshold. His eyes met mine, and he smirked when he saw me in my cocoon of blankets.
Lincoln kicked the door shut with his foot, balanced the tray as best he could, then locked the door.
His feet thudded softly against the floorboards as he approached the bed. He set the tray in the middle and sat on the opposite side. “That was my youngest brother, Mikey. Stay away from him. He’s my dad’s equal when it comes to cruelty.”
I swallowed and nodded. “How many siblings do you have?”
“It’s just Sawyer, Mikey, and me now. My sister passed a while back. Dad took a few lovers over the years, but he never had any other children. I think that’s why he’s having his kids breed now. He can’t.”
Well, that was a bit of good news. We didn’t need more children being raised by him.
Lincoln motioned to the tray. “Take whatever you like. I’ll eat any of it.”
I picked up a piece of toast and smeared some jelly on it. “Do you always get breakfast in your room?”
“Usually. I don’t like being around people.” He scratched the back of his neck. “They make me uncomfortable. I only come out for dinner.”
A wolf who didn’t enjoy being around others. That was unusual. Though, given the circumstances, I couldn’t say I blamed him.
I took a bite of my toast. “I’m okay with staying in here.”
No one I’d met here seemed friendly. Except Willa and Sawyer, but they had their own appearances to keep up.
Lincoln picked up a piece of bacon. “It’s the safest place for us both. We need to stay off my dad’s radar.”
I tore off another bite and nodded my head. If I never saw Alpha Dane again, it would be too soon. If only I could be that lucky.
“He’ll be going away for a few days at the end of the week. It will give us some reprieve. Maybe I could show you one of my favorite spots.” He glanced up and met my eyes for a short moment before looking away. “It’s down by the creek. If you want to, that is.”
I licked some jam off my finger. “It would be nice to get out. I used to run every day at home.” A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “My siblings and I would race. It was always a toss-up between…”
The smile fell from my face, and I blinked back tears.
Lincoln looked back up at me. His eyes were wide, expecting, like he was listening intently.
I picked at the corner of my toast and tore off some of the crust. “My brother… Darrin and I were always close. It was always a toss-up of who would win.”
I swallowed hard and looked to the window as my jaw worked. Even if I went home someday, we’d never race again. Alpha Dane had seen to that.
“You’re close with your siblings?”
I nodded as emotion clogged my throat.
“And with your parents?” His voice dropped lower.
I licked my lips and sighed. “I miss them.” I set the toast down on the tray and leaned back into the pillows. “I’m afraid I’ll never see them again, and if I do, I’m afraid he’ll kill them like he did…like he did Darrin.”
Lincoln stopped chewing and let the bacon in his hand fall back to the plate. “My dad killed your brother.”
