Alpha's Twins Chapter 165

Max was staring at me like he'd seen a ghost, his eyes wide with shock.

"It's been forever. Where the hell have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you," he slurred.

I blinked, caught completely off guard. "You were looking for me?"

I pinched myself hard, just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

"Ow!" I hissed when the pain hit. This was real—he was actually standing right in front of me!

My eyes started to well up as hope flooded through me. I'd been searching for my brother for so long, and now here he was, showing up at my doorstep like some kind of miracle.

I couldn't help but grin.

He started walking toward me, but immediately stumbled when his leg caught the edge of a chair.

I yanked off my apron and rushed over to him.

"Max, you okay?" I grabbed his arm to steady him.

The second he looked at me, I could tell—he was completely wasted.

"Max, sit down. Please."

I pulled out a chair, and thank God he actually sat.

"What happened to you? Why are you so drunk?"

The smell of alcohol was rolling off him in waves. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy.

When he didn't answer, I tried again. "Hey, are you okay?"

He stared at me for a long moment, then closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, rubbing his temples.

"Natalia?" he mumbled, like he wasn't sure I was real.

"Yeah, it's me," I said, pulling up a chair next to him.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I work here. At the coffee shop."

He let out a heavy sigh and looked at me with those cloudy, unfocused eyes. He looked exhausted. What the hell had happened to bring him here like this?

"I'm pretty drunk right now. Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it, Max."

His head dropped onto the table like he'd just run out of steam.

I couldn't help wondering what could have upset this healer so much that he'd turned to drinking.

And what did he mean when he said he'd been looking for me?

"You said you were looking for me? Is there something I can help you with?"

Silence. I watched him, noticing how soft his hair looked.

I figured he'd passed out, so I didn't want to bother him.

Then I spotted something—a red mark on the back of his neck.

I frowned, leaning closer to get a better look.

As I moved in, I could see it more clearly—a small red dagger-shaped mark.

I'd never seen anything like it before. I was so focused on studying the mark that I didn't notice when he lifted his head.

I gasped as he turned toward me, bringing his face way too close to mine.

His slightly unfocused eyes locked onto mine.

"What are you staring at?" he asked.

"T-that mark on your neck," I stammered.

I cursed myself for stuttering, but I was surprised when he actually answered.

"Only healers have this mark."