I don't know if what I said was enough to assuage his fears but Ciaran immediately calmed down after I assured him that nobody could make me leave if I didn't want to. After he got his bearings back we wasted no time and headed back to face what's waiting for us in the pack house.

The atmosphere in the house was dire and quiet. It felt like someone died or was about to. I don't know what the pack had been told about our visitors but each member we passed by on our way to the council room was eyeing us worriedly. Some even appeared desperate.

"What does the pack know?" I whispered to Ciaran.

"Nothing for now. But some of them saw your brother enter the house and word spreads fast around here, you know that." He whispered back. "Lorcan linked with me earlier and told me to be prepared for anything. He couldn't say much, apparently one of your brother's escorts is gifted and could tap into the conversation."

Any form of mind link between werewolves is basically telepathy. But there is a restriction and you need to fulfill certain conditions in order to tap from one mind to another. Like being members of the same pack or being mated to each other. But there are others, rare type of wolves, who has the natural ability for telepathy. The conditions and restrictions does not apply to them.

I've heard of stories about them but I've never seen or met one in person.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means your family is employs high ranking wolves." Ciaran answered. "Werewolves who has natural talents like that only serve one master, the royals."

"Royals." I repeated dumbly and he just nodded.

Shit! This is getting ridiculous and more insane by the second.

Ciaran stopped a few feet away from the council room and held both my hands in his.

"We could still delay this meeting." He said. "They barged in our territory without notice, I could send them away and arrange this for another day if you're not ready."

I stood on my toes and connected my lips to his before touching a lock of his hair.

I look at Ciaran and see everything I've always wanted in my life and so much more I know I don't deserve.

He means well but there's no point in running away. Yes, we could hide but they'd be back and who knows how many they'd be when they do or what kind of method they'd use next time they decide to come for me.

This is the most favorable set up for us. We're on our own territory, surrounded by our own pack. Even if the people waiting inside the council room are, in fact, royals they wouldn't do anything to disrespect or displease the alpha and the pack the they're visiting. It's bad form. It's true they breached the usual protocol but they wouldn't do anything drastic other than that. I hope...

"I'm as ready as I'd ever be," I told him, breathing in deeply to keep myself calm.

Ciaran nodded. He let go of my hands but I snatched his left hand back.

"Stay beside me?" I asked.

He smiled gently and kissed me lightly in the lips, "Always."

Ciaran knocked twice on the door before we entered the room. I know Lorcan warned us to be ready for anything but nothing could have prepared us for what was waiting inside.

Standing by the huge windows, looking out the backyard, is a man who I could safely assume to be my brother.

I felt Ciaran's hand tightened around mine and tension emanated from him in huge waves. I can't blame him for suddenly feeling confused and bewildered. I would be too if I were him. Personally, I'm beyond shocked because the man looking back at us is a mirror image of myself.

Oh sure, his chestnut brown hair is not streaked with light copper and blonde strands like mine but the shade is the same. His eyes are not mismatched green and blue but their gunmetal blue color with gold rings in the middle is the same shade of my left eye. I'm an inch or maybe two taller than he is but aside from those slight differences we are, without a doubt, almost identical. And there could be no suspicion or uncertainty that this man is indeed my brother.  My twin brother.

"Brother," he greeted in a familiar voice but with an unfamiliar accent. It was weird, really. "I was wondering when they're going to bring you. I was afraid they'd deny your presence and continue to hide you away."

It was a rude insinuation. Something I didn't anticipate to come from them. After all royals are known for their strict conduct. I felt Ciaran's ire immediately rise at the supposition. The man was insulting him and his pack with no just cause. He tried to step forward but I quietly held him back.

The man, who I should call my brother, is purposely trying to bait him. I could tell. I don't know why but I could sense his feelings and his intentions like I could sense Ciaran's. Maybe it's because we have the same type of blood coursing through our veins but I could easily see through him. Riling up Ciaran is what he's aiming for. I don't know his purpose wanting to do so but it'd be bad if I allow him the luxury to do whatever he damned well pleases.

"Forgive us for the delay. We did not know you were coming." I said. "We were out for some pack business when you arrived. But I heard Lorcan have been keeping you company during our absence."

I don't know if I imagined it or not but I saw my brother slightly flinch at the mention of Lorcan's name. He quickly recovered and assumed his air of boredom and superiority. In short, after his lapse he returned to be being a douche.

"Yes, he's been very... accommodating." He answered in a vague tone, too vague it's almost suspicious.

I eyed him closely before turning to look at Lorcan. But as always I couldn't read him properly. He's impassive and apathetic. He just stared back at me blankly but I could see the line of tension in his shoulders and strained self-control in his stance. To a normal person, who doesn't know him very well, they'd think he's acting as usual. But to me he looks like he's holding himself back from pouncing at something, or rather someone.

I raised a questioning brow at him. At first he tried to ignore my unvoiced question but when I didn't relent, Lorcan slightly inclined his head in response.

Oh shit! What are the odds of this?

I turned to see if Ciaran caught on the situation but he was too focused on my brother and his escorts to notice anything else.

"I suppose introductions are in order," my brother said taking a step forward and Ciaran mimicked his movement by stepping closer to my side.

My brother noticed the action but didn't comment on it.

"My name is Kevan Ulfric." He continued. "This is Sorell Radnor," he motioned towards the guy on his right before pointing at the other. "And Harkin Gilroy."

His companions bowed their heads towards my and Ciaran's direction. If my guess is correct Harkin is the telepath.

"Ruari Lyall," I said. "This is my mate and alpha of Moonscape pack, Ciaran Blackburn. I believe you've already met the pack beta, Lorcan..."

"Ulfric," Kevan said before I could finish my introduction.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked.

"Your name," he said taking another step forward making Ciaran tense beside me. "It's Ruari Ulfric not Lyall. Trust me, I know. You are my brother after all." He smiled and I guess that's how I'd look like if I was smiling like a wicked demon spawn.

What's his deal? Why is he purposely annoying everyone?

There was another hidden message in his simple statement and it's something I don't like. If I have to be completely honest, I think my twin brother is a natural born asshole. But then again, two could play this game.

"Of course," I answered mimicking his callous tone and behavior. "But you have to understand I've been using my name for 21 years. Forgive me if I'm not so... keen about the sudden change."

Kevan's lips turned up to one side as he and I stared at each other. I guess we've come to an impasse and this is now a stand off. But after some time, for some unknown reason, Kevan suddenly burst out laughing.

I frowned, a bit perplexed at his sudden change of mood, and waited patiently for him to stop. I turned to Ciaran but he was as bewildered as I was.

"Leave us." Kevan waved his hand, like so, and immediately his escorts, Sorell and Harkin, obeyed his command without a backward glance or word of protest whatsoever.

Once they were gone he looked questioningly at Ciaran, who was still standing beside me, and  ultimately refused to acknowledge Lorcan's presence in the room.

"Alpha, if you please?" He asked politely. Too politely it almost borders sarcasm.

"No, I'd stay thank you." Ciaran answered tightly before looking at me. "Unless Ruari asks me to go."

I squeezed his hand gently and gave him a reassuring smile before turning my attention back to my brother. "I keep no secrets from my mate."

Ciaran stiffened beside me before choking down a laugh as an image of Jean flashed from my mind to his.

From now on,  I added silently as an afterthought and Ciaran's hand tightened slightly over mine.

I promise not keep secrets from you too. He answered through our mind link and I just smiled.

Kevan coughed discreetly and motioned towards Lorcan's general direction, still refusing to look at him. I turned to Lorcan and caught him eyeing my brother passionately. Whether that passion is positively or negatively charged is beyond me, for now. But it'd be shame to send him away from the room when he clearly wants to stay.

"I keep no secrets from my pack either." I answered simply.

Kevan's jaws tightened but he didn't push.

"Very well," he sighed. "It's not like anything I have to tell you is a well kept secret. If anything, it's been the favorite topic for gossip within the court up to this day. Shall we take a seat?"

I nodded and we moved to sit around the council table. Ciaran and I chose to sit beside each other, across us sat Kevan and on the far end of the table is Lorcan.

"Could you tell me about what you know about our family?" Kevan asked once we're all settled.

"Nothing," I answered honestly. "I grew up thinking I was an orphan. They told me my parents died in a  raid and I don't have other relatives. I'm alone, that's all I know."

"And you never questioned what they told you, what they made you believe?"

"No." Where is he going with this?

"Do you know the name of your supposed parents? Do you remember their faces?"

I scowled at him. I don't like this...

I do have a name but I can't remember the face that goes with it. I've never been able to. I was too young when my mother died and everything about that time of my life is a bit hazy in my mind. I have very few memories of my mother and I've never really tried to think about her for too long.

"Why don't you just get to point and tell us the reason why you're here?" I gritted out.

I don't see why I have to scratch my old wounds for him. Why do I to tell him the sad and empty story that was my life? Yes, we're brothers but that doesn't give him the right to scrutinize how I lived for the past 21 years.

He doesn't know me and I don't know him. As far as I'm concerned, we're no more than strangers to each other. It just happens that we share the same blood. He probably knows more about my life than I do.

"Humor me for now," he said leaning on the table and resting his chin on his left hand. "Please?"

Damn him! He's not going to stop unless I give him what he wants.

"My mother's name, Cassandra Lyall." I bit out. "I don't know who my father is. Mother died when I was very young and I barely remember her. Actually, I don't remember her face at all."

"And no one bothered to tell you anything other than what you already know?"

What does he want me to say? That the pack didn't care enough to tell me anything else? That no one paid enough attention to care?

Mirabelle was the only person within Moonscape who treated me like I mattered and I couldn't bring myself to ask her. I don't know why but it felt wrong. And back then, approaching the alpha about anything terrified me.

"Look, I don't know what your aim is or what this interrogation is for. But let me tell you, in all honesty, it never crossed my mind to search or find out more about my family history. A lot of things happened and finding people, who I didn't even know existed until an hour ago, wasn't exactly on my list of priorities."

Kevan eyed me closely, tapping a finger by his chin before shifting in his seat.

"Yes, I heard about your past and I have to say some of the things you had to go through deeply upset me. But we'd get to that later." He said eyeing Ciaran who suddenly froze beside me. "For now, let tell you that Cassandra Lyall is not your mother. Cassandra is in fact our aunt. Our mother, Alessandra, died shortly after we were born. And after her death our aunt stole you away to spite our father."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because you and I, my dear brother," he said. His piercing blue eyes locking with my mismatched ones. "Are the bastard sons of the alpha king..."