Chapter 81

Conrad’s POV

If my brothers intend to keep something from me, they should do a better job at discretion. I feel like, every time I walk into a room now, they immediately quiet.

It’s so obvious and suspicious as hell. Also, it’s infuriating.

We are quadruplets, and I’m the oldest besides. We never keep secrets from each other, least of all from me.

Hugh can be a flake, and Wes has too soft of a hard. Both of them would give me the run around under the right circumstances. Hugh, if he feels like it. Wes, if he thinks he was protecting someone or something.

Declan is my best chance at getting a straight answer. Right now, though, with his arms to the elbows buried in the engine of the old car he’s working on rebuilding, he seems set on avoiding answering any of my questions.

“Declan,” I say. “I demand to know the truth.”

“You are being paranoid,” Declan says.

“Look me in the eye and tell me that,” I reply.

With a long breath, he stands up straight. There’s oil on his hands as he turns to look at me. He holds my gaze for a long moment. Not one to be intimidated, I just stare straight back with the same cool look he’s giving me.

For a while, it feels like we are at a standoff, neither of us willing to succumb to the other’s dominance.

After a moment, Declan looks away. “Let it go, Conrad.”

Even though I won the staring contest, he’s still not giving me the answers I need.

“It must be some secret, then,” I probe. “For all of you to keep it from me.”

Declan doesn’t reply. Returning all of his attention to the car, he seems set on ignoring me totally.

I hate being ignored, even by my brothers. It’s a bit of a different feeling. Even before I became one of the Alphas, my presence commanded a room. Now, I turn heads no matter where I am.

Only Declan could get away with giving me the cold shoulder like this.

Frustrated, I turn away from him.

I hate being left out of the loop. There’s clearly something going on around here, and to not be allowed in on it feels alien and uncomfortable.

What could be happening that they wouldn’t want to include me on?

My feet lead me to the outdoors, and before I really know what I’m doing, I shift into a wolf and go for a run.

I must be really bent up to feel the call of the wild like this.

For a time, I allow the wolf to take over, letting it lead wherever it wants to go. I rush along through the forest, along the mountainsides. Eventually I reach where the forest becomes denser, and I know I’m in the park.

There, I catch a stray scent near one of the parking lots.

It’s subtle, a scent from earlier in the day, a person long gone now, but it’s distinct. I’d know this scent anywhere, because it smells like simultaneous comfort, excitement and home.

This is the scent of my mate.

She had left through the parking lot, but where did the scent trail lead into the forest?

Curiosity overwhelms me. I want to know as much about my mate as possible. She left us so abruptly before. Having any trail to follow now, even if she’s no longer at the end of it, feels like a blessing.

With that in mind, I turn and rush into the forest, following her delicious scent through the trees. She moves in a zig-zag up the mountain, like she is trying to keep anyone from following her as I am doing. If she thinks such actions would work against an Alpha’s nose, she is severely misguided.

The trail eventually leads to a small cabin in the woods. The lights are out, and my wolf detects no one present. The door is unlocked. I tug it open with my paws then pad my way inside.

My mate’s scent is stronger in here, so much that it nearly brings me to my knees.

I can smell her pleasure.

She’s found release in this cabin, many times.

And she hasn’t been alone.

A growl rumbles low in my throat.

The secret my brothers have been keeping from me…

…is our mate?!

Ollie’s POV

I may have been able to sneak out to meet Wes without being stopped by the gate guard, but wearing my uniform and trying to go to work gets me stopped.

“Sorry, Ollie,” the gate guard says. “The Alphas specifically said to keep an eye out for you in the mornings, and to not let you go anywhere dressed like that.”

I look down at my ice cream outfit. I still don’t understand how or why this is so scandalous to the brothers.

With a sigh, I turn around. “I understand,” I tell him before heading back to the house. It’s not the gate guard’s fault that the brothers can be so overbearing.

This is frustrating. I guess I got too relaxed when I was able to sneak out to see Wes. I didn’t think I’d actually have to quit my job.

When I get back to my room, I throw my visor down onto the desk and flop onto my bed.

Just when I thought I might have a modicum of freedom, I can now feel the cage pressing down around me again.

I like my job, and Nancy has become a good friend.

With that thought, I realize I better call her and let her know I can’t come in case she needs to replace me today.

Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I call her.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I won’t be able to make it in today.”

“The Alphas?” she asks. Ever since seeing Declan that first time, she’s been somewhat intuitive about my relationship with the brothers.

“Yeah. I can’t leave the estate without an escort, and none of them are here.” I already checked, just in case, before I even tried the gate.

“Are you quitting?” she asks me.

“I don’t want to,” I say. “But I just don’t know.”

“Well,” she says, “This is the second day you are missing. If you remember, after the 3(rd) missed day, I have to fire you. It’s not personal, it’s just company policy.”

“I know,” I tell her. “I understand.” Because she’s my friend, I also say, “This sucks.”

“It does,” Nancy says, her voice as put out as mine. “For how they demean you, those guys really like keeping you under lock and key.”

“They think I’m an embarrassment,” I tell her.

“Is that true?” Nancy asks. “I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she replies quickly. “Forget I said anything. I don’t want to find out I’m wrong.”

That’s odd, but I let her out of it. We only talk for another few seconds before she says, “I have to go. If I can’t find anyone to cover your shift, I’ve got to do it myself.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell her honestly.

“I know it’s not your fault,” she replies.

We hang up and I stare at the phone. I hate letting her down like this. I accepted the job, it’s my responsibility now. To miss work for no reason just feels so wrong.

I bury my head in my pillow. Gods, what am I supposed to do?

How could things get any worse?

Just then, the burner phone in my nightstand buzzes with a text message. Reaching for it, I check.

It’s a message from Hugh.

Conrad knows.