My brain stuttered as we drove away. Peeking in the side mirror I watched the marquee disappear—away from him, Hunter.

Every part of me paused while my thoughts caught up. It felt wrong, so wrong leaving him there.

What if my grandfather woke up?

What if the Alphas turned on him and his brother, hurt him—or worse?

My breathing stalled as my heart rate picked up as cold shivers ran through me. "We have to turn around." I turned to face Sylar and with an unsteady voice, told him. "I shouldn't have left him there."

Without looking at me, he put his hand on my shoulder and my mind instantly calmed, brushing away the hurricane of thoughts from moments ago.

'Breath Sage, relax,' I heard his voice inside my head.

My shoulders sagged as the trapped breath released.

"It will be okay; it will, I promise," he said as another wave of reassurance washed through me.

He was just like me.

But this was wrong.

For the second time in less than a few hours, I felt violated, although I knew he meant no harm.

"Don't," I said a little too sharply, shrugging off his hand.

"Don't what?" he asked, but kept his attention on the road.

"Do that. Get inside my head and mess with my feelings—thoughts. I've had enough of being anyone's puppet."

I felt his influence disappear as he shifted in his seat tightening his grip on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry, I never meant—"

Cutting him off. "Where are we going?" I tried to ease the escalating tension in the small space between us and I knew he wasn't about to turn the car around no matter how much I begged. I couldn't influence him either, he was stronger than me—a lot stronger

And this scared me.

What if he put me to sleep? Or made me do something...

Sylar cut into my thoughts speaking softly as you would a child. "I would never hurt you Sage, or try to control you. You don't have to be afraid of me."

His words appeared genuine. But I wasn't sure I could trust him... yet.

Pressing the electric button on the door, the window opened slightly to allow fresh air to rush in, brushing against my ear. It relaxed me slightly and I thought back to the dreams, the ones I'd been having for months now. I'd been excited to think that maybe there was someone else out there just like me. And I couldn't deny I felt something—a connection.

But what? I didn't know.

Was he my mate?

I searched for answers, knowing only one thing for certain. When I looked at him, I felt nowhere near the pull I felt for Hunter.

Thinking of Hunter, an ache pulled inside my chest. I honestly believed my heart had lived in darkness until the day I met him.

And it wasn't just his good looks, although it would be a lie to say they played no part in it.

But it was so much more than looks and attraction. His eyes, that cocky smirk. His voice and the way he held himself. Hell, even his smell was something I craved.

And not to mention the way he looked at me, and touched me. The simplest of touches made me feel more alive than I'd ever been.

So surely Sylar couldn't be my mate—Right?

I think my wolf would agree too... with Hunter I mean.

My wolf. She hadn't stirred since earlier, not a peep.

I closed my eyes and focused on communicating with her.

Nothing.

My frustration was as real as my worry.

"You okay Sage?" asked Sylar

Not answering him. I had questions. "What are we to each other, me and you?" I gestured between us.

Silence.

Frustrating!

"Sylar?"

"Can't you wait until we get home?"

Home? Where the hell was home? "Home?" I asked.

He licked his lips nervously and was clearly blocking out his feelings and emotions, hiding them from me.

But he couldn't hide the darkening swirling colours running through his aura.

"I assume you don't mean my home?" My tone was sharp.

He exhaled a defeated sigh. "You can't go back home, Sage. I know this must frustrate you and there are lots of things we need to discuss. But I don't want to talk about this whilst driving. Please be patient and I promise I will answer all your questions."

My inner bitch bristled; impatience curled around my stomach like a caged animal. "I need something now. How do I know I can trust you?"

I knew my behaviour was bordering childish, but I didn't care.

Shunted to the left, he swerved the car into a passing lay-by before slamming on the brakes. Leaving the car running, he twisted in his seat. "You don't trust me?"

He was outraged... upset.

I softened my tone. "Look at this from my point of view. I've been dreaming about you. I didn't know you were real, and then you show up and—"

He took hold of my hand. "Don't you feel Sage?" His eyes pleaded with mine. I gulped as his grip was firm but soft.

I searched his face, looking for any signs that might tell me more than just his words alone.

Yes, he was an attractive man, but I wasn't attracted to him. And he looked younger than me, closer to nineteen, maybe twenty?

I blurted out the words before I could stop them. "Are you my mate?"

He spluttered, eyes widening. "W-What?"

I shrank back into my seat edging further towards the window—did he not believe in mates, just like my grandfather?

"No Sage, I'm not your mate." He inhaled a large breath. "I didn't want to tell you this—here." He paused and I held my breath. "I'm your brother, Sage. You're my sister. And please let's get home and I can tell you everything."

Speechless, my mouth dropped open. I wasn't sure I was breathing.

Brother? How?

I studied him again.

No, surely not?

Yes, we had the same hair colour, the same blue eyes. But that was where the similarities ended. Then again, I couldn't remember what my father looked like. I had a small picture of my mother and my grandfather had often said I looked like my mother.

My breath eased out of my lungs as my mind ran off in opposing directions. I remembered a baby from my dreams. Could that have been a memory? "How do I know you're not lying to me?"

The pain in his eyes sent an ache through my chest. He reached over and touched my cheek; my mouth still open. "I know you feel it, Sage. In every dream we've shared, there's been a connection. We may not have been brought up together, but our bond is strong. And if you believe nothing else I tell you, then please believe that."

I sat silently.

"I can't make you trust me, Sage. But hear me out and I swear to tell you everything. The truth that's been hidden from you, for the last nineteen years."

Releasing my hands, he turned in his seat putting the car into gear and focused his attention on rejoining the main road.

We drove in silence until I just wanted to break it. Ease the awkward tension. "Are we nearly there?"

"Yeah, not long now."

After another five minutes of driving, he made a sharp turn right, now heading down a long driveway. We were surrounded by open green fields, stretching as far as the eye could see. "This is where you live?"

"No, it belongs to friends, they're letting us stay."

We pulled up outside an old farmhouse. A large wooden door opened, and I saw a woman excitedly rush towards the car, followed by a tall dark-haired man. Sylar exited the car to be pulled into a hug by the woman. I remained seated, frozen, watching their interaction closely. She pulled back, cupping his face with her hands. Concern and happiness crossed her face simultaneously.

It felt wrong watching them, as if intruding almost and then their attention turned towards me. All three pairs of eyes waiting for me to what? I didn't know.

Sylar leaned into the woman and whispered in her ear before walking towards my side of the car, he opened the door. "Come Sage. You don't need to look so worried."

He offered his hand, and I hesitated before finally reaching and taking it, letting him pull me from the vehicle.

The woman took two steps toward me before stopping. My eyes widened; the weird part was there was a familiarity I hadn't expected.

Her eyes were bright and green, warm and welcoming. I was sure I had seen those eyes before. The more I thought about it, my brain became a spinning top, throwing out pictures as if some part of me wanted to recall something important. But then it stilled as an image of a younger woman, laughing, flashed through my thoughts.

It was her.

She took another step towards me. I automatically tensed as Sylar whispered to me.

"Sense them, you know how to read them, I know you do."

His words shocked me. He wanted me to use my gift?

A quick nod of his head encouraged me. Taking a deep breath, I lowered my blocker.

Deliberately I let my feelers loose. They seamlessly spread, stretching, creeping along the cobbled stones. Reaching her feet, slowly they snaked, wrapping around her legs, her body. Her emotions spilled freely.

Love. Guilt. Fear. Shame.

That's what I felt.

"See, I told you, they don't want to hurt you." His hand pressed on the small of my back, guiding me to take a step away from the car, closer to them.

"This is Misha, and that's Gavin, her mate and husband behind her."

My gaze flicked toward the man. "Hello Sage, it's good to finally meet you," he said, his voice reassuringly calming. My feelers stretched past Misha and blended with his aura.

Pride. Love. Warmth.

It would be easy to submerge myself in his aura, similar to stepping into calm waters.

"You need not be afraid of them, they're like family—they are family," said Sylar.

I reigned in my feelers, absorbing, they settled, and I restored my blockers. The emotions from moments ago faded.

"Okay, I trust you Sylar," whispering. "Now tell me everything."

"Let's head inside, you're gonna want to sit for this."

A dark shadow crossed his face but departed in a flash. I didn't need to sense him to know I wouldn't like what he was about to impart to me.

Nevertheless, I needed to know.