Page 12 of Half Wolf Mate

He lifted an eyebrow. “Sort of?”

“It’s complicated.”

His gaze swept over me, making my breathing escalate. “Stalker ex?”

Was there a jealous bite to his tone, or did I imagine it? I huffed. “Why does everyone keep assuming that?” That was one of Macy’s guesses, too.

He shrugged. “I get a lot of those cases. Who’s everyone?”

Those maddening eyes of his were fixed on me, making me squirm. “Never mind. I came here because I thought you or someone here might help me find who I’m looking for.”

“Go on.”

“Actually, it has more to do with the name of your company, why I came here.” I stared at Cole. He made me feel way too comfortable sharing, and I blurted, “Your company’s name is the same as the group of people my aunt told me to look for. The Moon Guardian Pack, I mean group.”

Cole went stock still. “Violet told me Macy Dupart pointed you in my direction.”

“Well, she did.”

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“Nebraska, but I came here to find my family. My mother’s family, rather. Look, I know this sounds crazy, but my aunt brought me from New Orleans to Nebraska when I was two years old after my mother died. She recently told me to find my mother’s people. The Moon Guardians. I was convinced it was a big coincidence that your company has the same name, but now, I don’t think so.” I stopped my rapid-fire rant to pull in a breath. “I feel…”

“A connection.”

My gaze returned to his face because he didn’t ask a question. He knew. “Yes. To you.”

He sat back in his chair, his expression softening. “What do you know about the Moon Guardian…people?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Just that my mom was a part of the group years ago. I’m nineteen now, so I guess that was over seventeen years ago.”

He frowned. “You’re young.”

Was he disappointed by my age? And why did I care?

“Who is your aunt?” he asked.

“Lydia Sullivan. She died recently.” A lump clogged my throat, and I swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry,” Cole said.

I only nodded, fearing I’d lose it and break down in front of him.

“The name doesn’t ring a bell,” he murmured. “What about your mother’s name?”

I eyed him with curiosity. Why did he sound like he knew about the Moon Guardian Pack? “So, it’s not a coincidence that your firm has the same name as my mother’s group?”

His expression was unreadable. “I didn’t say that. I’m just curious about you, Sydney.”

My name rolling off his tongue touched me in places it really shouldn’t. Clearing my throat, I told him, “My mother is Sophia Elliot. She and my aunt weren’t really sisters, just great friends, I guess.”

Cole’s neutral expression turned into a dark mask. “Sophia Elliot? What did she look like?”

I frowned. “Blonde, medium height. Really pretty. Wait, you know—”

He rose from his chair, his shoulders practically touching his ears. The tension he suddenly radiated made me stand too.

“You know who I’m looking for, then?”