Chapter 33
Was? Henri’s mind was so fixated on what his passenger had revealed he didn’t notice the truck was once again moving.
It was only the sound of a horn blasting behind him that snapped him from his trance.
Needing answers, he pulled off to the side of the road and, after turning off the engine, sat still, staring straight ahead.
His mind was a jumbled mess of questions, none of which made any sense except one—the one that had swallowed more than thirty years of his life.
Closing his eyes, it all came down to this moment and Henri wasn’t sure he was ready to hear the answer.
Hesitating at first, he then asked, tentatively, “Alex, do you know where Jean-Luc is?”
The question hung in the air between them.
Alex heard the desperation and fear in his grandfather’s voice, tempering his joy at discovering another living relative; the urge to offer comfort in the face of such pain took over.
Reaching between the two front seats, Alex rested his hand on Henri’s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before answering.
“He died in an accident when I was very young.”
A moment of silence ensued. Then, unable to hold back his anguish, Henri let out a deep, soul-wrenching sob before burying his face in his hands.
Tears fell and sorrow consumed him as he finally acknowledged his deepest fear: Jean-Luc was dead…
and it was his uncompromising anger that caused it.
Now there would never be a chance to ask for forgiveness for what he’d done.
His wife eventually calmed him down, but it was too late; Jean-Luc had already acted on his orders and left home, never to be seen again.
My son…oh my gods…Jean-Luc…I am so sorry.
Alex felt the shaking shoulder under his hand and his omega nature surged forth.
Wrapping his arms the best he could around his grandfather, he held him tight, whispering words of comfort.
He wasn’t sure why Henri didn’t know about him or what happened to Jean-Luc, but knew his grief was real. His questions would have to wait.
Sitting in a car with not enough leg room made it almost impossible to sleep, but Sawyer managed it until pain finally woke him up.
Blinking several times to clear the sleep from his eyes, he tilted his head from side to side, trying to get rid of a crick in his neck.
It was at that moment several things registered in his mind simultaneously.
Ignoring the lack of car movement, Sawyer zeroed in on the sound of someone crying.
Turning to his left, he found his mate hugging Henri.
Unable to make sense of the scene in front of him, he lifted his finger, running it softly down the side of Alex’s face in an effort to draw his attention.
Turning his head towards Sawyer, Alex kissed his mate’s finger before returning to comforting Henri. Using their mind link, he explained what happened, and asked if his wolf mate had any suggestions regarding his grandfather’s grief.
“Henri is your grandfather?” whispered Sawyer, his face showing shock at the revelation.
“My grandfather’s name is Henri, right?” asked Alex, softly.
Nodding, Sawyer whispered, “That’s what he told us when we met him at the airport…does anyone else know?”
“I don’t think so…he didn’t even know about me.”
“How can that be?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Alex whispered back.
“Does Oracle know?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Alex glanced back at his grandfather. “Something bad happened…and he blames himself.”
“Did he tell you this?” Sawyer whispered.
“No…but I just know. I remember my omega father crying too, but I was too young to ask why.”
“And you think your father’s tears had something to do with…” Sawyer asked, waving his hand at Henri.
“Yeah…I do,” Alex murmured. Then, forced to let go of Henri when the muscles in his arms and back got tired, he began to rub his grandfather’s shoulder instead.
Looking at the two of them, Sawyer could see the similarity and snorted quietly at himself for missing it when Henri introduced himself.
And if Alex also resembled Henri’s son, then that could explain the man’s reaction, especially if “something bad” happened in the past, as his mate suspected.
What a fucking clusterfuck…it would’ve been nice if Oracle gave us a heads up…
at least I could’ve told Hunt…oh shit…Fionn… this is not good.
Debating whether he should call Hunt, Sawyer unbuckled his seat belt, knowing time was ticking.
He wasn’t sure how close they were to the winery but his brother would begin to worry if they were delayed too long.
Deciding to wait for now, he got out and walked around the SUV until he reached the door Glenn was leaning against. It was time tiger mate was made aware of their mate’s new relative.
Opening the door, Sawyer quickly reached in and grabbed Glenn’s arm, to keep him from falling out onto the ground.
“What the fuck?” Glenn growled, his eyes latching onto his mate’s as he got out of the vehicle.
“There’s been an unexpected development,” Sawyer replied, pointing into the car at Alex and Henri. “It appears he’s our mate’s grandfather.”
“No fucking way,” Glenn growled. “This just seems too…”
“Strange? Weird? Bizarre? Eerie? Take your pick,” Sawyer replied, grinning. “What are the odds that our driver turns out to be our mate’s long-lost grandfather.”
“Too big for my comfort,” Glenn muttered, turning over in his mind what he knew so far, which wasn’t much. “Hey, how can we be sure he is?”
“Really? That’s the best you have?” Sawyer shook his head. “I thought the same thing but…look at them…what do you see?”
Glancing over his shoulder, Glenn’s eyes immediately zeroed in on the faces of the two men, astonished at what he saw. Turning back to Sawyer, he growled, “Holy shit…now what?”
Ignoring his mates, Alex concentrated on soothing his grandfather, relieved when Henri lowered his hands, even though his face was still wet from crying.
Swiping his remaining tears away, Henri turned to the grandson he never knew existed. “I…I didn’t know Jean-Luc had a child.”
“That’s okay because I didn’t know I had a grandfather,” Alex said softly. “But it’s the best news ever…well it’s at least even with finding out I have a brother.”
Reaching up, Henri ran his hand down the side of Alex’s face. Then, with a bittersweet smile, he said, “You are the spitting image of your father.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it because my memories of my father are rather fuzzy.”
“W-w-what…what happened?”
“To my father?” Alex asked.
“Yes…I’ve been searching for him for many years,” Henri murmured.
“A guy lost control of his truck and hit my father. He was killed instantly…or so I’ve been told. I was very young…” Alex said softly, his voice trailing off when a flash of pain crossed his grandfather’s face.
Rubbing the spot over his heart, Henri concentrated on the thought that his son was now with his wife and, in a strange way, he realized he’d kept his promise to her.
Bring him home Henri, he belongs here. Even now, he could still hear her voice, begging him to find and protect Jean-Luc.
The knowledge they were now together should have brought him peace and, while it did in one way, it fell short because he’d never get the chance to right the wrong he caused… to either of them.
“Hey, you okay?” asked Alex, softly patting his grandfather’s shoulder.
Taking a big gulp of air, Henri nodded, before quietly exhaling.
His search was over and though it wasn’t the outcome he’d prayed for, there was something he could do to close the circle; bring his son’s body home and bury him next to his mother.
Turning in his seat, he searched Alex’s face, seeing his son there.
Swallowing back another sob, he asked, “Where’s his grave? ”
“I…I…d-d-don’t know,” Alex replied quietly. “We were living in New York City when it happened…so maybe there?”
“Maybe…” Henri murmured, thinking Edna might be able to find it, although if there was no death certificate…
“I could ask Oracle…she might know,” Alex said, trying to be helpful.
“Thank you,” Henri replied, noting his grandson was more like Jean-Luc other than his looks.
Alex’s gentle, kind, and loving nature clearly came from his son, making him wonder what traits he’d gotten from his other father.
Other father! “There is so much I don’t know about my son’s life… after he left our house.”
“I can’t really help you with that,” Alex said, sadly. “I just found out who my parents were a few weeks ago.”
Frowning, Henri asked, “How come? What about your other father? Didn’t you live with him?”
Biting his lower lip, Alex wasn’t sure if Fionn would be okay with him telling Henri about Artur being Jean-Luc’s Fated Mate. I’d best tread carefully here about revealing to much until I know Fionn better. “Grandfather…may I call you that?”
Bringing a small smile to his face, Henri said, “Please.”
“Grandfather…I like the sound of that,” Alex said, grinning.
“So do I, grandson,” Henri replied with a smile. Now since the shock of learning about his son’s death had faded, he felt the pain in his chest lessen as the reality of who Alex was began to take over.
“You asked about my other father,” Alex said. “I never met my other father…well, I did when I was an infant…but the memories I have are only of my Omega father…your son…and even those have faded. However, certain things still trigger them…like your scent and the song you were humming.”
“I used to sing it to your father when he was a little boy,” Henri said, “every night as I tucked him in…he wouldn’t fall asleep until he heard it.”
“He sang it to me when I was little,” Alex said. “I remember he would always wear a certain shirt that smelled like you when he sang it. That’s what triggered my memory…your scent.”
“Was it a blue, plaid, flannel shirt?” asked Henri.