Soul-Mate (Immortal Love 1) (28 page)

He laughed, but I was still a bit taken aback, unable to laugh right then. I was intrigued and still puzzled by the resemblances.
Why had I never noticed that Dad resembled Alaric
? If Eric looked like Alaric and my dad looked like Eric, then… I was trying not to verbalize my thoughts, the scary conclusion.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” my uncle asked.

“What’s wrong, Anna?” Shane questioned, stepping in front of me and making me look at him.
My mate.
That was what my mind kept saying to me. But Shane hadn’t trusted me. He had followed me. And now he was acting like I shouldn’t be mad at him. Besides, he was keeping another secret from me, because he should have known this. I should have realized it. When he said his name, when he said that cursed name like he knew him well.

Shane knew that Alaric was my uncle, my twisted, evil uncle.

I straightened myself, taking a big breath and motioning to Shane that I was okay. I just needed space. He obeyed, hurt in his eyes, those big adorable puppy eyes that I was trying hard to ignore so I could keep on my mean face. “I need to talk to grandfather,” I said to my uncle, who was now a bit more serious and perhaps intrigued by the way I was acting. I should have been happier, but the new revelations were heavy on my heart. Besides, I needed to talk to them about my brother.

Eric nodded to me and smiled. I did my best to not smile back. I was worried, and I was sad. I was feeling miserable about being mad at Shane. I felt like the weight of the world was falling on me. As if all perfection had been tainted by all the secrets we’d kept from each other. Everything had turned out for the best, though. We hadn’t lied about our feelings for one another. But I couldn’t understand why Shane hadn’t told me who I was when he found out.

My uncle took my hand, and I followed him, still wrapped up within my thoughts, down the stairs and out to a fancy car flanked by two other fancy cars with his bodyguards inside. He was well protected. Someone could possibly look at him and think he was the president of the country or at least the governor of some state.

I was feeling pretty numb because of everything that I had found out; suddenly I realized I was inside the car with my uncle and there was no sign of Shane. The car was already in motion. My entire body shook and my soul felt like it was going to break apart, sad and alone. I missed Shane beside me. It was as if a wave of cold had fallen over me that was stopping any heat from warming my body. I needed and wanted Shane by my side, even if I didn’t want to talk to him and was mad at him.

“Are you okay, honey?” my Uncle Eric asked me, probably noticing that I was looking around as though I was lost and confused.

“Where is Shane?” I inquired.
What if I never saw him again and he thought I was rejecting him? Would he leave and never come back?

“He’s following us in his car. He knows the way, don’t worry.”

This made me feel a little calmer. I couldn’t help but stare at Eric. He had such a nice voice and smile! I was glad that my uncle was friendly and seemed harmless. I began to notice the similarities and differences between him and my dad.

“I’m really happy to meet you. I know Dad will also love you. You are so beautiful,” he whispered, holding my hand. “You don’t need to be afraid of us. We don’t want any harm to come to you. We’ve looked for you for so long! I’m really glad you survived. And I’m also really happy for Shane and you for being mates. Your dad would be happy, too. Actually, he would be more than happy. Shane and he were really good friends. He would probably want to beat up Shane first, but he would be happy for the two of you being together.”

That statement made me chuckle. Daddy would most definitely kick Shane’s ass first. Not that I would let him do that, but he was really protective when he was alive. He had warned away other boys from school when he knew I had a crush on them or when they’d wanted to be more than my friends. However, I was a big girl now. I could take care of myself and I could… I was just happy to know that Dad would approve of Shane.

“So, how are you coping with all this?” he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“I don’t know. When Shane told me, I was a bit shocked. I had no clue that Shane knew my father or that my family lived here,” I said, trying to smile at him, to reassure him that I was not afraid and I trusted them. They had no reason to harm me.

“It was a delightful coincidence. Shane was one of his friends who supported his determination to leave and be happy with his soul-mate. At the time, my father was not pleased with the idea of my brother leaving and giving the crown away. However, George couldn’t be king if he was married to another species. Mentalities were different then.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“Shane is like a brother to me. Grandpa is really happy, and I’m also really happy that Shane is your mate. So don’t worry about it. No one will be against you two living your love. And Shane is also really happy.” Eric smiled, trying to get a smile from me. “You shouldn’t be mad at him.”

“I can’t help but to feel disappointed with him. He should have told me his suspicions about knowing my father and that I had family here. He shouldn’t have followed me.”

“We were all waiting for the DNA results. Besides, Shane just shared with us his suspicions last Sunday. We didn’t even know that you were alive until he shared his findings. He didn’t want to share you with anyone! He didn’t even tell us that you were a chaser. He was protecting you and did not want to betray you. He would never do that to his soul-mate. To him, you are the most precious thing in the world. He even kicked my ass this afternoon for wanting to meet you after I got the results.”

“Yes, I know.” I actually smiled after hearing that. It also helped to know that Shane had kept my secret safe from them until he knew it was safe to tell them. I had been too hard on him.

“So don’t be so hard on him. He didn’t have an easy life. Did he tell you how he met your father and came to live with us?”

“We haven’t talked much about our pasts,” I said, nibbling my lip with curiosity.

“You will have a lot of time to do that,” Eric whispered gently. “But I can tell you some details that will make you comprehend why he understands perfectly your pain and your loss.” I nodded, dying to know. Eric started to speak with his sweet, calming voice. “You see, it was your dad who saved Shane from slavery. He was still a pup. He’s actually a bit older than me, about two years or so. Shane’s family was killed, and he was taken prisoner by mercenaries along with the surviving members of his pack and his dad. There were some vampire lords who enslaved werewolves to work in the mines and build their towns.”

“Slaves?” I asked, unable to conceal my shock and disgust at such barbarian acts.

“Yes, it was really common. Vampires were greedy and searching for riches. Many packs that came here looking for a new place to live were dismembered and the survivors sold for labor work. He was only thirteen when his whole life was torn apart by the mercenaries who slaughtered and raided his father’s pack. Most of the women were raped and killed or taken to be sold as sex slaves. Most of them actually took their own lives rather than be taken and raped.” I gasped in horror. Eric nodded with empathy, understanding that it was not a pretty description, but it was the sad truth. “His younger brothers were killed because they were not strong enough to work. His father’s other surviving members were taken to be sold. They never got to the market, though, because your father saved them on the road. Not all vampires were bad at the time. You are just like your father. He couldn’t stand injustice and the wrong use of power. He would have been a wonderful king.”

“I know he was a good person. So, Daddy saved Shane’s life?”

“Yes. And Shane, after that day, followed your dad everywhere. Especially because his own father was broken and died shortly after his mate’s death. Werewolves break apart when their soul-mates die. Shane was left alone in the world. No direct family that he knew was alive. So our family took care of him and the rest of the pack,” Eric said, sharing parts of Shane’s life that made me realize that we truly had a lot in common.

I became really emotional, understanding now why it was so important for him to protect the king and his family but also to protect me. I was his only family. Before I met him, I had Kevin and Jason. Shane had no one, and he didn’t want to lose me. I didn’t want to lose him, either. There were still a lot of things I needed to know about Shane. There were many sad events that he had faced alone in life. We needed to talk, and we needed to forgive each other.

“So, you see, Shane thought all this time, while he looked for you and your brother, that he owed your father his life and that he would defend his kids with his own life if he must. If he loved you before he knew that George was your father, now he probably worships the ground you walk.”

I furrowed my eyebrows and made an unpleasant grimace at my uncle’s last words.
Talk about pressure!

“Oh, come on!” he teased, amused by my face. “You let him mark you—it is not like you don’t feel the same way he does about you.”

“I do,” I whispered, feeling a blush on my cheeks.

“So, forgive him and forget all of this. No harm done, therefore you shouldn’t be mad. Besides, your grandpa already thinks you are going to marry Shane and give him great-grandchildren.”

“What?” I asked, shocked, while Eric was laughing, amused.

“It is not like anyone of us can do it. Sasha is mateless and I’m mateless. So the pressure is all on you and Shane,” he said. I couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious. I was only twenty-three. For an immortal, it was a really young age.

“Okay, forget I said that,” Eric suggested, still appearing amused by the look on my face. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“He followed me.” I shared the thing that was hurting me the most about Shane’s attitude. “I can’t help but feel betrayed.”

“He was just worried about you. Besides, he… was trying to tell you everything tonight.”

“What were you doing at James’s house, waiting for me?” I asked, intrigued.

“James called. He told me what had happened—the missing files and the invasion of his home, along with Shane accusing him. I got worried too. Then Shane called me and told me everything. Dad had also called to tell me to go and pick you up and bring you immediately to talk with him. I’m sorry you had to find out about us like that.”

I looked away from my uncle’s eyes. I felt an overwhelming awareness of mixed feelings. I wanted to save my brother more than anything at that moment. I had to postpone my talk with Shane. There were important things to tell my grandfather and a boy’s life to save. “I will talk to Shane after we save my brother.”

“Your brother? Is he alive? I thought… Shane said… We all thought that there was only you left.” He was astonished now, and I kind of felt bad for not telling him sooner. I had told only Shane. I was planning to tell my grandfather and uncle when I was face to face with them both.

“Well, it’s a long story. I guess Shane didn’t tell you on the phone. He told grandfather, though.”

“Maybe Dad forgot to mention it to me. He was just really impatient to see you.”

“Well, Kevin is barely alive. But I will explain everything when grandfather and you are together, to spare us time.”

“Okay, we are almost at the palace, anyway,” Eric said, pointing outside where I noticed two large iron gates opening automatically to let the cars in.

Did he actually say palace?
My eyes widened with incredulity. In front of me, bathed by the moonlight and golden spotlights pointed at the rocky walls in the garden, stood in all its majesty and gothic beauty a big palace! I guess a normal home wouldn’t suit a king.

WHEN I GOT OUT
of the car, the initial shock of seeing the palace was overshadowed by my urgency to see Shane. I wanted to run into his arms and hold him tight. I was feeling sad over what my uncle had told me about his past, and I really needed to hug him! Even if I ignored him afterwards and pouted because he was being a creepy stalker, I didn’t like being mad at him, but there were things that a couple shouldn’t keep secret. I was also to blame in that regard, but I didn’t go and investigate his life. I’d trusted him. He hadn’t.

I should scream at him, call him an idiot, and have him beg me for forgiveness. He should properly apologize for investigating my life behind my back! I didn’t know how he would do that, but... I was still resentful. Resentment wasn’t as strong as disappointment, though. After standing really still with my back to the palace and staring at the driveway up through the palace gates, I noticed that there were no signs of Shane arriving.
He wasn’t coming.

Why wasn’t he coming? Was he mad because I’d ignored him and gotten upset with him? Was he really leaving me alone there, with my uncle whom I had just met, and all those Men In Black look-alike guys.

I bit my lip then my cheek, and then I just looked at my uncle, defeated. He was quiet beside me, also looking down the dark empty road.

“Where is he?” I asked, frustrated. “You said he was following us.”

“He was,” Eric reassured me, and then he motioned toward the last car behind us to get the attention of the driver. “David, do you know what happened to Shane?”

The driver, one of his bodyguards who was also dressed in an MIB suit, came out and gave a respectful bow before replying, “He was following us, but then, when we were near the palace, he turned around with the emergency lights on and drove back to town. I heard them calling him on the police radio. Some kids were having a fight with another group of unknown people. It’s probably just some pack rivalry, your majesty.”

I sighed in frustration.
Wouldn’t the confusion end that night? And couldn’t Shane send someone else to fix that problem?
I knew he was the sheriff, but I needed him right now. I would feel a lot more secure with him by my side.
I should reach him on our mind link.