Page 25 of Alpha's Twins
“No,” I say, too quickly, and then I hesitate. “I mean, I didn’t mind.”
His expression softens, a slow smile that sends my heart racing. “Okay,” he says, “I’m glad.”
I nod, feeling the precarious balance between us. “Me too,” I admit, and suddenly the air feels charged, full of things neither of us knows how to say. I shift the mugs in my hands, breaking the tension. “I should get these out to them.”
He nods, stepping back, and I can feel the reluctance in his movement. “I’ll be in my office,” he says, turning to walk away.
“Okay,” I say, the word feeling too small for the moment, and he turns, leaving me with my heart pounding in my chest. I watch him go, the space he leaves behind almost tangible. Isteady myself, taking a breath, and walk back to the garden. Emily and Marian look up as I approach, questions written all over their faces.
“Refill,” I announce casually, setting the mugs down.
Emily smirks. “And how’s the big bad alpha?”
“Terrified,” I say, and Marian cackles in delight.
“Smart wolf,” she says, sipping her coffee.
Emily nudges my knee with hers. “And how are you doing with him?” Her voice is soft, but there’s a knowing edge.
I hesitate, wrapping my hands around my mug, feeling the warmth seep into my skin. “I don’t know,” I admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I don’t know if I can be what he wants. What any of them want. I’m not exactly a typical shifter.”
Emily frowns, a look of concern crossing her face. “What do you mean?”
I swallow, the words catching in my throat. “I mean, look at me,” I say, gesturing to myself. “I’m not thin or tall or…a wolf.” I try to laugh it off, but even I can hear the pain in my voice. I swallow it down with more coffee, but it tastes bitter.
Emily sighs, “You’ve got it all wrong,” she says. “Aiden can’t take his eyes off you. You’re exactly what he wants. And more importantly, what he needs.”
I feel my face flush, thinking of the way he looked at me in the kitchen, the way he slipped into my bed last night. “I don’t know,” I say again, unsure if I believe her, unsure if I dare to.
“Trust me,” Emily insists, “he wouldn’t be acting so crazy if he didn’t want you. You should have seen Tristen before we were properly together. He was a nightmare.”
Marian cackles again. “Was he, now?”
Emily rolls her eyes at her fellow witch. “You know what I mean,” she says, looking back at me, seriousness creeping into her eyes. “I’m not a shifter at all, and we’re fine. You don’t need to fit into a picture-perfect vision of what your old pack thought you should be. You are free to be yourself. You’re beautiful, and probably more powerful than any of them.”
I study her for a moment, trying to work out whether she’s just teasing me, but I see nothing but honesty reflected back. Suddenly, I get a tingle of awareness creeping across my neck, accompanied by a gentle feeling of warmth from behind me. I turn slightly, the sun catching my eye as I look up at the house and see Aiden’s silhouette in his office window, the sun shifts, and my gaze finds his.
I feel the color rise in my cheeks, and the thought of him watching me sends a thrill of something dangerously close to happiness through my chest.
“See what I mean?” Emily says, a laugh in her voice.
I nod, holding onto her words like a lifeline, hoping they’re true. Hoping I can believe her.
“Come on,” Marian says, setting her mug down. “Let’s have another look at this magic. Let’s see what you can do.”
I take a breath, letting it fill my lungs and calm my mind. They watch me as I reach toward the plant again, the same nervous twist in my stomach, but this time, I don’t pull back. I close my eyes and let the energy rush over me, into me, the warmth and the light, and I feel it bloom, wild and beautiful, and this time, I don’t stop it.
Chapter 14 - Aiden
Callum’s southern beach is a riot of color and movement, and for a second, I think about turning around and leaving. Callum’s pack has set up a hell of a training area, the sand divided into sections, flags marking spaces for combat drills, and the air echoes with the sound of shouting and laughter. I can see some of Tristen’s pack sparring with Callum’s, their bodies a blur of speed and strength. Some of the younger wolves are already paired off, rolling in the sand, and I feel a sharp pang of nostalgia for the days when I didn’t have to organize these things myself.
The good old days—before the pressure of being an alpha and the threat of Malik.
Jace elbows me, a mock grin plastered across his face. “Looks like they’re having fun without us.”
“Not for long,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. We head down the beach, a few of my other betas trailing behind, and I catch sight of Callum near the water’s edge, talking to a group of his pack members, clearly organizing the day. Being the oldest, he just loves to take charge of any situation.
He looks up, sees me, and raises a hand. “Aiden!” he calls, his voice easygoing, like nothing’s changed.
