Page 53 of The Feral Alpha

Olson knew the moment Varrick saw Rex, because he froze.

Varrick blinked several times, staring at the man behind Olson. “What the fuck?”

“What’s wrong?” Emmy frowned. “Is that Rex? Did you shave off his beard?”

Olson swallowed. “Remember the alpha I told you about?” he said to Varrick. “The—The one you had Nate look up.”

Varrick stared at Rex some more. Rex hooked his chin over Olson’s shoulder, hugging him possessively.

“Why the hell does he look like—George?” Varrick finally found his voice.

“Who’s George?” Emmy asked, studying Olson’s face. “Wait. Is that the alpha you lost?”

Varrick sighed. “Olson lost his alpha a long time ago. This man looks exactly like him.” To Olson, he said, “Do you think he could be George’s relative?”

Could he? George could have an aunt or uncle who looked remarkably like him. But... “It doesn’t add up. Rex—Rex bit me when he was maybe six years old. Remember that kid at Fast Fries? I’d never even seen him before. Then he came back recently and bit me again. Bonding marks. Both times.” Olson’s breath hitched.

Varrick exchanged a look with him. “How long ago did George die?”

“Twenty-one years.”

“And Rex is—”

“Twenty-one.” Olson’s heart pounded. “It’s not possible.”

Emmy’s eyes grew wide. “He reincarnated.”

Varrick frowned. “If you’re right—”

“I am!” Emmy puffed out his chest.

“It’s not possible,” Olson said again.

Emmy shook his finger at Olson. “Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it’s a lie.”

Olson swallowed hard, wrapping his hand around Rex’s forearm. It was too wild to be true.

Except Rex nuzzled him, not letting go at all.

“Say we assume that he was reincarnated,” Olson said haltingly, barely breathing. “It... It would explain a lot. He’s... obsessed with me.”

Varrick snorted. “Again, huh?”

“He picked up George’s camera this morning. And he—he saw the photo.” Olson touched his locket. “For being that obsessed, he wasn’t jealous of any of George’s bonding marks.”

Mine, Rex had said when he’d touched them.

Olson swallowed hard, glancing sideways at Rex. “Were you aware? That these bonding marks might... might all be yours?”

Rex tilted his head, shrugging. He rubbed his thumb over the pair on Olson’s wrist. “Right.”

“What’s right? The markings are yours? Or they feel right?”

Rex nodded. “Feel right.” He closed his fist around Olson’s locket. “Right.”

Olson bit his lip, his heart pounding. “We went out for ice cream, you know. Rex wanted to go. And he picked George’s favorite without any prompting.”

“Mint chip,” Rex said.

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