There was a buzz of activity the next day around the property but I was too focussed on myself after my meltdown. I had never done that, ever. Maverick had seen the most vulnerable part of me and had held me for the longest time.

I still couldn’t explain why it had happened. Jackson had already come to apologize but I didn’t blame him. He had been doing his job, even if some of the things he had said had unravelled me. The truth was, some of the things he said had resonated with my insecurities and I hadn’t been able to keep those fears suppressed all at once.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to keep another meltdown at bay. I felt so fragile, like the slightest push would send me over the edge. Feeling like this was foreign and I hated it. I was a bundle of emotions and tears ready to explode.

Maverick was busy as usual and I had taken a break from training with Jackson to give myself time to recover. After holding me for most of the night, he had been up early.

I had just dragged myself out of bed and had a late breakfast. Even as I stood outside the sun felt far too bright as I looked over the property.

“You looking for Maverick?” Lark asked, suddenly appearing beside me.

“Yeah, where is he?” I hadn’t seen him at all today and he wasn’t in his study where I had just been.

“I think they found him,” Lark revealed.

“Found who?” I put my hand up to shade my eyes from the sun.

“The guy…the one who was following you.”

“Really?” I asked. “When did this happen?”

“Early this morning, I think.”

My nerves bundled into a knot in my stomach. A sense of dread mixed with excitement and fear made me hesitate. I would have gone straight to where they were holding the man but after yesterday I did not have the confidence to face anything about my past.

“Where is Maverick?” I asked, feeling slightly annoyed that he hadn’t come to tell me.

“I’ll show you,” Lark said before walking away.

Reluctantly, I followed after her until we reached a building. There was a guard outside who opened the door for us.

Inside was a hallway with doors on either side. Each door had a window so you could see into it.

We followed voices until we came to the last door. I peered through the window to see the stranger who had been following me sitting at a table and Sebastian sat on the other side. Maverick stood in the background behind Sebastian.

It’s him.

Maverick look up to see me. He isn’t talking. He told me in my mind.

I want to try talk to him. I said through my mind to his.

I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He looked less than thrilled with that request but I persisted.

Maverick. I need this.

He studied me for a long moment before he came to open the door and let me in. Lark followed me in.

My eyes stayed on the man, trying to read any reaction he would have to seeing me. There was a flicker of something before his features shuttered.

“I want to talk to him alone,” I stated to Maverick who was already shaking his head.

“I can’t do that.” Maverick folded his arms over his broad chest. I’m not leaving you unprotected in here. Those words were just for me.

Maverick nodded at Sebastian who got up and left, taking Lark with him.

It left Maverick and I alone with the stranger whose focus was solely on me.

I took the seat across from him and Maverick moved closer, ready to pounce at any sign of danger.

“Who are you?” I asked.

It felt like a scene out a movie, not real life.

“He is a rogue werewolf in our territory,” Maverick stated coldly.

The man’s gaze on me didn’t waver.

“I will only talk to her.” He broke his silence with that statement.

I looked over at my shoulder at Maverick who was already shaking his head.

Come on Maverick. This might be the only way to get to the truth of why he is here and it might be the key to figuring out where I come from. My mind said through our mind link.

Do you know how dangerous it would be to leave you in a room with him? He could kill you in seconds, quicker than I get in here if I’m outside. He replied in my thoughts.

Those are his terms Maverick. The lives of all the pack members hang in the balance and if we don’t get him to talk who knows how any werewolves will die. I hated to remind him of the dire situation we were all in but I had to make it clear that time wasn’t on our side.

“You touch a hair on her head and you’re dead.” Maverick laid out the threat with deadly intent before he left me alone with the stranger closing the door.

Anxiously he stood on the other side of the door watching.

“Who are you?” I asked, linking my hands on the table.

“I will not harm you Mary.” His words soft spoken.

I swallowed at the name I hated. “Please don’t call me that. My name is Victoria.”

“That is not your name,” he stated, taking me by surprise.

“Mary isn’t my name either.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“You know my name, my real one?” I was stunned.

He nodded slowly.

“What is it?” I held my breath.

“Your real name is Alexandria.”

I leaned back in my chair. Alexandria. Something felt like it was expanding in my chest. Alexandria. My name. I swallowed the rising emotion.

“My surname?” I whispered.

He paused.

“Your surname is Mason,” he answered.

Alexandria Mason. My name, given to me by parents, not strangers.

“Why? How?…” I couldn’t think straight.

The stranger in front of me looked to Maverick and I followed his gaze to see the stunned expression of my mate.

There was something else going on here and I had no idea what but it was clear the other two men knew.

Maverick opened the door and entered the room.

“You’re lying,” Maverick’s voice boomed, he curled his hands into fists.

“I’m not.” The man didn’t seemed to be affected by Maverick’s anger. “It’s the truth.”

“But.” Maverick looked to me. “Alexandria Mason is dead.”

I stood up and the chair clattered back onto the floor. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Could someone please explain?”

I felt like was in an alternate universe, knowing nothing of the obvious and trying to figure out where I fit in.

Maverick seemed to be at a loss for words so I moved my focus to the stranger who was still seated and calm.

“Alexandria Mason is the only child of Isabella and Pierce Mason.”

I frowned. “Am I supposed to know who they are?” I had never heard of them.

But Maverick seemed to know because he was still looking at me like I was a ghost.

“They are one of the biggest packs in the country,” my mate murmured.

That made no sense. If my family held so much power why would they give me away?

“I don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head.

The man stood and Maverick moved to intercept him before he could get closer to me.

“I was just going to pick up the chair so she could sit,” the man explained.

“I’ll do it. You sit back down,” he ordered the man followed his command and retook his seat.

Maverick picked up my chair and I sank down into it. My mind was still reeling. His answers had brought new questions?

I had always believed it was a young mother who had been too young for the responsibility of a baby who had left me on the steps of the church where I was found. Why on earth would both my parents who came from a well known pack give me up? It made no sense.

“Am I an only child?” I whispered my next question.

He shook his head. “You have two half brothers.”

Brothers.

“Their names a Marshall and Dominic.”

Siblings. My chest felt tight. For the longest time I had wished for a family and siblings. And to discover that I had missed out on all of that for a reason I still did not know brought only more heartache.