Page 28 of Mortal Mate (Shadow Shifter)

Steele’s jaw ticked. “It is impossible for me to lie to you. You are an alpha. I did not disclose the alliance until it was complete, but I never lied about it.”

Colton stepped forward until he was nose to nose with Steele. “Killian is your brother.”

Steele hissed as he stepped back. “How did you find out? I thought I removed all evidence of Killian’s connection to me.”

“You admit you lied then,” Colton growled.

Dark waves rolled off Steele’s shoulders before he brought himself under control. “No. I didn’t lie to the clan members because they weren’t aware of my family. I was simply protecting them and anyone connected to Killian. He would’ve killed our descendants if he knew about them. I convinced Killian they were dead.”

Raine glanced at Colton. “He knows about the deception. They murdered Charles Raymond in his home. I’ve suggested to the lead investigator that his death is part of a terrorist attack, but Charles was killed by a reaper.”

Steele’s forehead creased with pain radiating in his eyes. “Does Killian know about all of them?”

“How many of them are there? How many did you save?” Raine asked.

Steele sat down on a tan suede couch. He placed his elbow on the arm and leaned into his hand, making him appear older. “Killian murdered my youngest son after he became a reaper. Jake was twenty then, so I arranged for my surviving family members to board a ship. It sank later that evening, but I had already moved my family to another. They weren’t supposed to return, but the latest generation has forgotten about the past. I have many descendants and several have returned to their homeland. If Killian is aware of them, he will destroy them.”

Dannika clutched the hem of Raine’s shirt. “Is it normal for a reaper to go after his former family?”

“Yes,” the men answered in unison.

“A blood relative gives a reaper a longer high. They covet their former family’s blood,” Raine said.

Steele looked up at Raine. “Is there any chance that killing Charles was a coincidence? That a reaper killed him, but they didn’t know about his connection to me?”

Raine glanced down. “Charles kept his house well lit. The reaper used that to leave us a light trap.”

Steele huffed. “Killian loved that prank. He used it when he was a shadow, now he does it just to prove he can hurt us.”

Colton’s lips thinned. “That means Killian was there. He wouldn’t have allowed another reaper to drain a member of his human family.”

Steele’s eyes remained on the ground. “If you sprung a light trap, then Killian was there.”

“How did you keep this quiet from all the clan members?” Colton asked. “From the other clans?”

Steele looked up at his son. “Not all the clans. Ryder knows. He helped me protect my family. We were both alpha apparent, not unlike you and Raine. We were young and idealistic, believing we could unite the clans. Maddock showed no interest in unification until now.”

Dannika moved to the couch opposite Steele. “As mad as Ryder is with you, he never said a word? He still kept your confidence?”

Steele’s smile was slight. “Ryder is a good man. He kept this secret and had many chances to remove me as clan leader. I am unworthy of his friendship, but my deal with Maddock ensures the death of the reaper clan. That my family will remain safe. This turn of events reinforces the need for unification against the reapers.”

Dannika’s eyes narrowed. “How will Maddock ensure the reapers fall?”

“I don’t know, but he wasn’t lying. He said that the reaper clan, as we know it, would fall. He is hiding something from his clan, but I don’t know what.”

Raine stepped forward. “How do you know he’s hiding something from the wolf clan?”

Steele’s sad eyes met Raine’s. “He said his own clan would be as surprised as mine when the truth was revealed. He’s more powerful than he lets on and he wants Dannika dead. I believe he’s threatened by her. The union between her and Colton was my idea. I felt the instinct to protect her as if she were one of my own.”

Colton glanced at Dannika. “I understand.”

Dannika folded her hands in her lap. “Tell me about Maddock. Are you sure he hates the reapers?”

Raine sat on the couch beside her. “Yes, more than any of us.”

“He has gone to great lengths to gain power so he can annihilate the reaper clan, and it seems personal,” Dannika said.

Raine nodded. “It is. The reapers killed his wife and unborn child.”

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