Page 13 of Alpha's Twins
I remember Aiden saying he and his betas were going to drive out to the site of the fire last night to see if they could find anything that would explain how they’re starting.
Jace gives me a wave. “I saw Sarah earlier at the pack hall. She and some others are setting up a food and supply drive for the houses lost in the fires. She mentioned coming by to see if you wanted to help.”
I haven’t seen Sarah since the night at the bar, but I know I can’t hide forever. Aiden gives me an encouraging nod, and I smile. “Of course, that sounds good.”
“Why don’t we drop you off at the hall?” Aiden suggests, leaving me no option but to nod back.
Aiden drives me to the hall, and I watch the trees blur by, my mind spinning with the morning’s revelations, with Aiden’s touch, with the way he looked at me. I’m still doubting his sincerity, wondering if his kindness is just pity, but I can’t deny the tug I feel towards him. It’s overwhelming and terrifying, and I don’t know how to handle it.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say, fumbling with the door handle.
He reaches over, his hand brushing mine. “Serena,” he begins, and I wait, my heart pounding. “I’ll come by later, okay?”
“Sure,” I reply, my voice catching as I stumble out of the truck. I stand there, feeling oddly exposed, as he drives away.
The hall is bustling with women carrying boxes and voices overlapping in a chorus of urgency. I spot Sarah among them, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she waves me over with a smile that loosens the knot of anxiety in my chest.
“There you are!” she exclaims, handing me a roll of tape. “I was going to stop by, but I’m so glad you’ve come.”
Her greeting feels sincere, and I feel my shoulders drop with relief. A few other women wave, and thankfully, no one mentions what happened at the bar. I begin helping to unpack some donations and set up some sorting boxes in case more come in. To be honest, I’m glad for the physical work as a distraction from everything that happened this morning. Whenever I get a moment to think, my thoughts inevitably return to Aiden and the way his hand felt on mine.
If just his hand touching mine feels that good, I can only imagine what it would feel like to actually kiss him.
“Where should I put these?” a voice calls from behind me, snapping me back to reality. I turn to see the barmaid from the other night that I suspected Aiden was flirting with, struggling with a large box. I hurry over to help her.
“Just over there,” I say, taking one side of the box. She smiles at me, and I notice a smudge of dirt on her cheek that makes her look human and real and not stunningly perfect as I remembered.
“Thanks,” she says, sounding genuinely grateful. “It’s good to see you again. I’m glad you came. Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot the other night, I meant nothing by it.”
I nod, feeling slightly awkward, but also a bit braver. “I’m glad I came, too. And don’t worry about it, you did nothing at all.”
She nods, and I still feel incredibly awkward, but glad to have cleared the air. She asks about my plant magic, and I tell her all I know, which isn’t much. But it’s nice to talk about my store again, even if it makes me realize how much I miss it.
We find a rhythm working together, and she starts chatting about the fires and how devastating they’ve been for the families who lost their homes. There’s no mention of Aiden, no hint of tension, and I begin to relax.
“We’re planning a pack barbecue for tomorrow night to raise money,” she says, wiping her brow. “Do you cook?”
“I can make a salad,” I joke, and she laughs.
“Great. We’ll need all hands on deck.”
The more we talk, the more I realize how much I’ve been worrying about things that don’t seem to matter to anyone but me. I’ve been so scared of this pack, but they all seem quite nice. Far nicer than most in Nolan’s pack. I almost wish Hannah could see how different it is here. I feel lighter as the afternoon passes, and before I know it, Sarah’s calling out to everyone.
“Okay, everyone,” she shouts, waving a hand in the air. “The bakery dropped off some cakes for us. Let’s take a break, we’ve earned it.”
There’s a cheer, and people begin gathering around the table she’s set up. I’m helping to pass around some plates when I hear the door open and see Aiden walking in. His eyes sweepthe room with purpose, searching, until they lock onto mine. The intensity makes my heart jolt, and I feel the world narrowing down to just us, like there’s a spotlight on this moment. His presence is magnetic, drawing me in with a force I can’t resist, and the power of his stare sends a shockwave through me. My breath catches in my throat, and I’m frozen where I stand, completely caught in the electricity of his gaze.
It’s like everyone else around us vanishes, the sounds and voices disappearing into the background, leaving only the two of us in a suspended, unbreakable space. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. The connection feels unreal, and I’m overwhelmed by its strength, by how right it feels to be the sole focus of his attention. I have never experienced anything like this before, and the intensity almost frightens me. I feel like I’m falling, consumed by an impossible pull between us.
I think I must be dreaming until a familiar voice breaks the spell.
“I knew you’d show up for the food!” Sarah walks toward her mate and throws her arms around him in a display of affection that makes my heart clench with an unknown sense of longing.
That’s when I glance up and see Aiden is still staring at me, and it’s as if he can read my mind. For once, I find myself not wanting to look away, either.
Chapter 8 - Aiden
The air is still sharp with the bite of early morning as I shift back and begin the walk from the tree line, across my yard, and onto the back steps. I open the hamper and pull on a pair of shorts from the clean pile I always leave on the porch.
