Page 47 of The Wolf King's Demand

Tyler, read my mind if you can. You need to avenge your parents’ deaths and rescue Cassia and me. With all your force and might, free us from this mighty ruin and let our family finally be free.

TWENTY-EIGHT

TYLER

Panic and fury surged through him with a force he didn’t even know was possible. His mate was missing. And more than likely taken by the same people who put the bounty on her head.

She wasn’t dead. Of that much, he was certain. But that didn’t mean any number of horrible other things weren’t happening to her right now.

Tyler snarled and frantically reached out to feel the bond again, desperately trying to sense where Addison could be.

Letitia. She had done this. Just like she’d taken Cassia.

But she couldn’t be working alone. And why?

He barged his way through one door that led to a wide-open room. There were large shelves lining the walls, but the center was bare.

“A perfect place to get caught,” he muttered.

Carefully, he crept his way along the walls, trying to stick closer to the shelves. The others had spread out, searching the rest of the large factory building for any trace of Addison. He was all alone for the moment when his eye caught a camera, its blinking red light staring right at him.

“Shit.”

Someone definitely knew he was here now. No point in trying to hide.

He stepped out of the shadows and squared his shoulders. “Whoever you are, you took the wrong woman and child. I will find them, and then I will tear you limb from limb!”

Tyler didn’t expect a response, but he did hear the distinct sound of footsteps. They were coming toward the door on the other end of the room.

Apparently, he was going to get a direct answer after all. Fine by him.

The door swung open, and a familiar scent hit his nose. He couldn’t quite place it, however. The figure was partially hidden in the shadows, but his silhouette was distinctly male.

Tyler knew without a doubt that this was the man who had placed the bounty on Addison.

He snarled at the man. “You face me, and yet you still hide yourself in the shadows? Come out from there and stand in the open. Let’s finish this.”

The man chuckled, which Tyler was sure was meant to sound menacing, but it sounded too strained. “I was hoping you’d recognize me. Though I suppose it has been a long time.”

And with that, the man finally did step out of the shadows. Tyler gasped.

The man looked like his father. There were some obvious differences, of course. He wasn’t as big as his father, and his face was longer and more weather-beaten.

But in so many other ways, they looked so much alike. Even their body language.

Now Tyler understood who this was. He’d only remembered him from pictures and faint childhood memories. But there was no doubt that it was him.

“Uncle Maximilian,” Tyler growled. “How is this possible? You died years ago.”

Maximilian grinned widely. “You sound so disappointed, boy. Not even so much as a hello? I am one of your last living relatives, after all.”

Tyler let out a snarl, his wolf fighting to come out. “You kidnapped my child and put a bounty on my mate. I wouldn’t care who you are. You are fortunate I’m not currently ripping out your throat.”

His uncle sneered. “No, boy, you are fortunate I have not acted openly until now. You might be younger, but I’m the more experienced one of the two of us. Both in politics and in a fight.”

“What is all this? What’s the point? You obviously have it out for me in some way, so why attack Addison and not me?” Tyler demanded.

Maximilian’s grin returned. “My brother was never worthy of his crown, and you are even less worthy. And so I arranged to have him and his temptress disposed of. You were so young, and it should have been easy to get rid of you also.”

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