As one, the enforcers turned to leave the clearing. Pausing by Alex, Liam said, “Tell your mate no more dragon battles in the sky. It was in a remote enough location, but it still carried risks we should not be taking.”
Alex looked at him, eyebrows high. “You knew about that?”
“We were there. And before you ask why we didn’t step in, we were about to when she broke free and your crew arrived. We’d had our eye on Ivan for a long time, and his kidnapping Cammie gave us an excuse to take him in. But your mate took care of that for us. When you warn her of no more battles, give her our thanks, as well. Her taking care of it meant less paperwork for us,” he said with a smile, turning and following the others from the clearing.
Karis nodded, gesturing for one of the other tigers to shift. Once he did, they both picked Vynn up, carrying him with them. Silence once again descended on the clearing, and Jax cleared his throat. “We never did ask who called the tigers in to begin with.”
“It was me,” Zane replied stiffly. “And no, I didn’t do it to cause problems. But after Farrah shot the arrow, and it struck Kian, I knew I was in over my head. She stayed a step ahead of me the entire time, and if her aim had been a little truer, she could have killed him. I called Vynn and told him someone was trying to kill Kian, so they would send in reinforcements, or at the very least, someone to watch his back. It didn’t occur to me that they would assume the Rocky River fighters were trying to kill him.”
“We all appreciate you looking after him,” Ian said after no one else spoke.
“I didn’t do it for you, or any of your fighters,” Zane replied with disdain. “I was looking out for my prince. I do not require thanks from you.”
Typical Zane. Ian guessed some things never changed, and it was a nice realization. Other things changed drastically, like a person’s whole worldview, from thinking he had no family at all, to being told he had a brother.
“Zane—tell me what you mean by saying Ian is my half-brother,” Kian said, his thoughts obviously on the same wavelength as Ian’s.
“Just that, Kian. You share a father.”
“I’m going to need more than that,” Kian replied with a scowl. “And if you were talking to my father about it, then you know the details.”
Exhaling, Zane rubbed a hand over his head. “Alpha was tricked by Ian’s mother. You know your father values purity of line, of nationality. Lydia passed herself off as full Indian, a tiger shifter come from the homeland. And she looked the part, but it was a lie. He did not find this out until later, however. He wanted to begin his dynasty, and it did not matter that she wasn’t his mate. And he was happy when she got pregnant. They decided to name the baby Kian, because that was Alpha’s father’s name, and what he wanted to name his first born son.
“But when the baby was born, it was clear he wasn’t full Indian. His skin and hair were too light, his eyes blue. Alpha confronted Lydia, and she admitted that her father was American. So as soon as she was back on her feet, he told her to take the baby and leave. He never wanted to see Ian again. And he didn’t, until Ian showed up eight years ago.”
Mind blank, Ian stared at Zane, trying to process what he was saying. He couldn’t believe he had a brother, and that it was Kian. And he hadn’t even realized it.
“Lydia tried to get in to see Alpha a few times, but he wouldn’t be budged. She tried everything, even naming their son Ian,” Zane continued. “She wasn’t bold enough to name him Kian after everything that happened, but she got as close as she could. Nothing she did worked, but she never gave up. And then she died and Ian was put into foster care when he was two. Alpha was relieved, because he wouldn’t have to deal with her any longer, and Ian would have been too young to remember if Lydia told him of his heritage. And you were born by then, Kian, only seven months after Ian. He didn’t want you touched by this.”
“What the fuck,” he heard Seth say from behind him. “He sounds like a major asshole jerk, and you were better off without him in your life, Ian.”
Face darkening, Zane started to step forward, but Kian held up a hand, stopping him. “He is only telling the truth. He not only sounds like one, he is one. I just never realized the depths it went to before. What was he talking to you about when you first went home?”
“He wanted to know if you and Ian had figured it out, and he wanted me to come back here and do what I had to do to force you to leave. I didn’t know before, Kian,” Zane said, a look of remorse crossing his features. “I didn’t know you had a brother, or about any of this. Alpha only told me when I got home because of what he wanted to know. I wouldn’t have kept something like that from you.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” Kian said. “And perhaps I shouldn’t have sent you away. I am glad you are back, my friend.”
Zane’s face hardened like stone. “I’m not back. In fact, think it’s best if I leave the tribe.”
“What?” Kian asked, shock in his voice.
“You believed the worst in me, Kian. The other stuff was bad enough, but you believed I was trying to kill you. Yes, that was my arrow, but you should have known better than to believe I was the one who shot it. I need some time away. Away from you, from tribe politics… just away. Take care of yourself, my prince.”
They all watched as Zane strode away. Eyes troubled, Kian said, “I’m going to go now, too.”
“Kian—”
“I’ll be all right,” he said, cutting off Ian’s protest. “I need some time to digest. But I’ll be back. I would like to get to know you as my brother.” Giving them a strained smile, he turned and walked in the opposite direction Zane did.
“Well,” Sam said, clearing his throat. “I’m glad we didn’t have to fight the War Cats, but that was a major shitstorm of drama that just went down.”
“It really was.” Alex loo
ked at Ian closely, shaking his head. “Cammie really was on point when she said you and Kian shared the same features, but who could have guessed you were brothers?”
“I know I didn’t.” Ian was still in shock. In a matter of days, he’d found his mate and learned he had a brother. Looking to the Red Moon and Bear Claw shifters, he said, “Thank you all again for showing up today. It meant everything to me, and I know it did to my fighters, as well. But I think we’re all ready to get our mates and go home.”
Everyone murmured in agreement, and they all set off through the woods. Ian moved quickly, eager to hold Holly and Shelby in his arms. His world, his beliefs, had been rocked today, and knocked off its axis, but he knew holding his family would make everything better.