Free Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 by Bryce Evans Page B

We have plenty of room here,” Kayden offered.
    “I’m here to help,” Ransom said.
    Everyone turned toward the door when someone knocked. Knox watched as the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen walked into the room, carrying some drinks on a tray. Immediately, he stood up. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. His panther jumped inside of him, eager to get out.
    “I brought in the tea,” the beautiful woman said, before their eyes locked. They watched as she dropped the tray she was carrying onto the floor. Her hands went to her mouth as she gasped.
    Zoey ran over to her. “Rose, this is Knox, Thorn’s twin brother. Remember, I told you he had a twin.”
    Rose was her name. She continued to stare at him, and he had no intentions of looking away. He was drawn to her as the beast inside of him demanded to be let loose and near her. “Hey.”
    “Hey.” Rose muttered.
    “You thought I was Thorn?”
    Rose nodded.
    “Did you know my brother well?” Knox asked. What a stupid question to ask, you moron. Of course she did. Look how she’s reacting to you.
    Rose nodded again.
    “Rose, this is Ransom Spencer, who will also be staying here for a while,” Zoey calmly told her. “He’s Knox’s friend.”
    He could see Ransom move to shake her hand, and before he could think of why he was doing it, he held his hand up, blocking his friend from getting closer to her. That grabbed everyone’s attention.
    Ransom cleared his throat. Putting his hands behind his back, he bowed to her and replied, “It’s nice meeting you, ma’am.”
    Rose glanced back and forth, then nodded. “Excuse me.”
    Rose rushed from the room. He knew she was the reason his brother was so happy. He had found his mate, and unfortunately for him she was most likely his too. This was not what he needed right now.

Chapter Eleven
    J udd and Maggie were sitting down at the table to eat when Kayden walked in. “Holy shit.” The words slipped out of Judd’s mouth before he could stop them. Everyone froze as they all stared at Thorn’s brother.
    “Okay, everyone! This is Knox, and yes, they are identical twins,” Kayden announced.
    The room was silent until Ransom walked in. “This is Ransom Spencer, part of the Seal teams. He’s here to help us out until we get Jamal and Claudia.”
    Judd stood up, walked over to Knox and held his hand out. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your brother was a great guy and a good friend.”
    “Thank you.” Knox replied, shaking his hand.
    Everyone came up to him and introduced themselves to him and Ransom. It was strange how much he and Thorn looked alike. Knox even sat at the table like Thorn, but looks could be deceiving. Knox watched everyone, almost like he was analyzing them, which he was. From what Kayden said, his brother was in a specialized unit in the Seals. He hoped his training would help them out. They sure needed it.

    S tory after story was told about Thorn. Judd was still laughing at the ones Kayden had told the large crowd who’d gathered for Thorn Russell. Thorn’s last statement was read aloud by Kayden. It was something that all shifters did: they wrote a last letter stating everything they were grateful for. Thorn Russell was a classy guy; he wrote about the dynamics of Alpha City and what made the city so special. Once the funeral was over, the last will and testament would be brought to Kayden’s house for Knox.
    His brother and Ransom stood at the back of the clearing. Per Thorn’s wishes, his ashes were gathered and given to his brother. Knox never showed any emotion, which was totally different from Thorn, who always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell.
    The man looked ice cold, except when he looked at Rose. His features seemed to soften as he continued to steal glances at her.
    After the funeral, they were all going over to the jail to see if Me-Len could get more information out of Morris. He only had one chance, and if he didn’t comply, he’d be executed. No more