Scarlett

"My sister," was his answer.

"I've known you nearly my whole life; you don't have a sister," replied Cade, still watching him suspiciously, his jaw tightened. I couldn't help but wonder how Cade knew him.

"She's been gone a long time," Kyle answered cryptically as he held Cade's gaze. They seemed to have a standoff for a few minutes before Cade relented.

"Fine, come back with us and we'll try and help you."

Kyle nodded his head in agreement and, within seconds, Kyle and Cade shifted back into their wolf forms.

The run home was more serious and my light-heartedness from earlier was forgotten as I thought about Kyle's sister.

I couldn't help that little bit of jealousy that I felt when I saw siblings together. A sibling was someone who grew up in the same circumstances and environment. They would know you better than anybody else—even your parents.

There had been more than a few moments in my childhood that I'd been so lonely that I'd wished for a brother or sister, but no matter how much I'd wished, it hadn't changed the fact that I was an only child.

Cade ran beside me the whole way back to the compound, with Kyle and his pack following behind us

The gates were open and there were a few people waiting for us as we entered the compound. Cade stopped beside me and shifted back to human form. I'd managed to transform into a wolf, but I wasn't sure how to shift back.

Take our visitors into my study. Tell them I'll be with them in a few minutes, Cade instructed Jake.

When I didn't shift back, Cade dropped to a knee in front of me.

You having troubling shifting back?

I nodded my head.

Close your eyes and see yourself in your human form.

He was so thoughtful, I leaned forward and licked his cheek. He laughed and wiped his cheek. It was nice to see him in the carefree state; it didn't happen often.

I closed my eyes and did what he said. Sure enough, I felt my body change. But unlike when I shifted into a wolf, I felt pain shoot through my body. When the shift finished, I was on my knees with my hands grasping the sand as I breathed through the pain.

"It's okay," Cade soothed as I felt him pick me up. He tucked me closer to his chest as he carried me to the house. I was glad that Kyle and his pack had been directed to Cade's study so that they wouldn't see me like this.

I heard the murmur of voices coming from the study as Cade climbed the stairs. Once inside his bedroom, he laid me gently on the bed.

How are you feeling?

"A little achy, but I'll survive," I answered him out loud. It was still more comfortable to talk aloud than to talk to him through the mind-link. He sat down beside me and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

"I'd stay but I have to talk to Kyle," he said as he pressed a kiss to my lips.

"It's fine, go do what you need to."

He gave me one last lingering look before he left.

I lay on the bed for about fifteen minutes before I felt the ache ease from my limbs. I wondered if it would be this painful every time I shifted back to human form, but then I remembered Cade saying something about it only hurting a few times after the first shift.

Thank goodness.

I wandered downstairs in search of Cade. I knew he was in the study with Kyle. Most people would have left them alone to talk, but I wanted to know what was going on.

The door was closed, but I didn't knock. I opened the study and walked in. Cade turned to look at me. I wasn't sure if I expected him to be mad that I'd barged in, but he smiled.

"Hi," he greeted as he stepped forward.

"Hi," I replied.

I heard a gasp and I turned to see Kyle standing a couple of feet away from me with his gaze fixed on me in surprise. His mouth was slightly open in shock.

It was like he'd seen a ghost.

"Eyes off her," warned Cade when he saw Kyle gaping at me. Cade took a menacing step toward him. Kyle was yanked back to reality as he shot a glare to Cade. This guy was really acting weird. Then, despite the warning from Cade, he turned to me. His eyes softened slightly as he searched my face.

"Scarlett?" he whispered.

Cade stopped mid-step. Confused, he looked from Kyle to me. I didn't know why Kyle was acting the way he was, but I stood firm.

"Yes, I'm Scarlett," I confirmed while holding his questioning gaze.

A few moments of deathly silence descended.

"I'm sorry, should I know you?" I asked, feeling a little impatient that I wasn't seeing the whole picture.

"Yes...you should know me," he replied cryptically. I racked my mind, but I'd never seen him before today. He didn't go to our school and he didn't live in our town so I wasn't sure how I was supposed to know him.

In the meantime, Cade looked deep in thought as he rubbed his chin and then it was like a light went off in his mind.

"Scarlett?" he said to Kyle. Kyle nodded his head gently, but his attention didn't move from me. I hated not knowing what was going on.

"Where am I supposed to know you from?" I asked, feeling a little impatient as I cocked my head to the side and studied him.

"You..." he began, "... are my sister."

My eyes narrowed for a moment as I considered the fact that he might be high on something. I looked to Cade but Cade's expression was blank as he watched my reaction. The fact that Cade wasn't laughing his ass off told me that he believed what Kyle had just said.

A brother.

It was unbelievable. I heard a rush of blood in my ears as the room suddenly became too hot. I took a deep breath and released it.

"Sit down," Cade instructed as he steered me to a chair and I sat down.

One thought after another ambushed me. More questions than answers flooded through my mind. How was it possible? I dropped my head into my hands for a moment to try and get a hold of myself.

"You okay, Scar?" Cade questioned with concern and I looked up to see him bent down on one knee in front of me as he searched my face.

A brother.

The thought resounded through my mind and my eyes went to Kyle's, who was watching me just as carefully as Cade was.

It was his eyes—they were gray, like mine. Could he really be?

I stood up and Cade shifted out of my way as I walked to Kyle. Everyone else in the room was forgotten about. I stopped just in front of him and he stood watching me as I studied his eyes. The more I looked at him, the more I saw glimpses of my dad's strong features and my mom's coloring.

Then it hit me. He was my brother and I felt a sob rip from inside of me.

I wasn't the emotional type, but in that moment I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. Another sob followed as I felt the tears start to run down my cheeks while I cried.

The parents I'd mourned since I was a little girl lived on in him and I held him close, feeling like I was connecting with my parents in some small way. The grief that I'd wrestled with began to break free at the thought that I had a brother I knew nothing about.

His strong arms wrapped around me and held me tightly against his chest. That small gesture made me sob even harder. I didn't know how it was possible, all that I knew was what I saw confirmed that he was my brother.

For the first time since I'd lost my parents, I didn't feel alone in the world.

I pulled back and brushed his cheek with my thumb and he smiled at me. Feeling vulnerable as my throat thickened with emotion, I took a step back.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, averting my gaze. I felt embarrassed at my outburst.

"I needed that as much as you did."

My eyes went to his and I bit my lip to keep more tears from breaking free.

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I need time to process this," I told him, brushing the tears from my cheeks.

"You take as long as you need."

It seemed to be enough that somehow he'd found me.

I turned to see Cade watching me. I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he saw right through it. Overwhelmed, I turned and rushed out of the study.