Accepting My Twin Mates by Unwise Owl

Accepting My Twin Mates Chapter 24

Chapter 24 – So, What Do You Say?

Evie

I never realised this had weighed so much on Badru’s mind for so long. Up until yesterday, I thought that night was just a footnote to him. Part of me hoped that it was guilt that made him avoid me or turn and run away whenever he saw me. However, a painful doubt always lingered in the back of my mind, wondering whether he was embarrassed in himself for almost kissing the rogue Omega.

There was one thing he said that instantly melted away any last lingering shreds of hostility, he had never thought about his actions till then. He truly was ashamed that he might have hurt someone, as he had hurt me, and not even know about it.

I was used to an Alpha only caring about reputation, and pressing that his word was law. In this moment, I saw the hope that both he and Astennu would be different from their father. Alpha Issac was a well-respected leader in our pack, he wasn’t cruel or domineering, but he was elitist, just like the Luna. Neither mistreated Omegas or pack house attendants; we weren’t treated like slaves or overworked. But we were looked down upon as lesser wolves, me more so for being rogue and shiftless; although the ‘shiftless’ issue may be rendered moot when my wolf finally decided on whatever was missing. The twins had accepted me for all I was, without question and, as it seemed, would have accepted me without Evva’s presence either.

‘Uh, just remember that it was my presence that finally kicked their asses into gear. I would like some credit too, human,’ Evva grouched.

‘You kicked their asses into gear at the worst possible moment. Come back and demand validation when you’ve worked on your timing some more,’ I mentally smirked to her in triumph as she slinked away back to linking with her wolf boys without a retort.

“Winter Solstice is only a month away. How about we take you away? Go up into the mountains?” Astennu asked.

“Yeah, just the three of us. No one else,” Badru tagged on and that very cute boyish grin reappeared on his face.

Was that why he had asked about why I worked each Solstice holiday? I had worked up in the pack ski resort many times; I had been planning on it this season too. It was work that I actually enjoyed, loving the landscape up there. But I had never actually stayed without working; ski equipment was expensive to buy and rent, so I hadn’t ever bothered.

It would be nice to just relax there, and in their own lodge too. I could just see it now. I hoped they had one of those retro conversation pits with a huge fireplace in the middle that looked out into the snow. I could curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and whipped cream. Astennu and Badru would be there on either side of me, one with his arm around my waist and the other with my legs laid across his lap. Would I have shifted by then? I wanted to let my wolf run loose with the twins’ wolves… I really needed to learn what their names were.

As nice as my little fantasy was, would I be ready for it to become a reality in just over a month’s time? I still had Astennu to hear out, though I knew already I could never reject them, regardless of what he said. But they were Alphas and accepting them as mates would never be simple. It came with a whole host of obligations. Accepting them meant accepting a role as their Luna, to a pack that held no fondness towards me, a pack that hated rogues.

“Evie?” Astennu, slid his fingers along my jaw when I had remained quiet for too long.

“It sounds wonderful and I will think about it… but can we get back on topic?” Now was not the time to be talking about going away for the weekend.

“Yeah,” he sighed, sounding deflated.

Astennu

I had planned what I wanted to say, long into the night. And now in front of Evie, that plan was unravelling quickly. Of course now wasn’t the time to be talking about taking her away for a vacation. She hadn’t even accepted us as her mates yet!

I hated thinking about that day, and even less talking about it. If I was ever going to win over Evie, I would need to face this old demon.

~~~~

9 years ago

This had been a horrendous day at school and the only highlight was that it was over. My concentration had been haywire all day and my mood had switched with little goading, from somewhat calm to raging over the slightest thing. As such, my after-school debate meet had completely tanked, only souring my mood further.

It was almost 5pm, my brother would be home soon with our dad and, hopefully, I could kiss this whole f*****g mood goodbye. The two had gone to our close ally, Opal Sun pack, early yesterday morning. I couldn’t go because of the debate match, which now I wish I had blown off. I had completely lost my cool, wrecked my entire argument I had been planning and lost my match. I was sure Badru was in a similar state presently, if not worse; he was the impulsive one. This was our twin bond at work. It was annoying at times that our separation had such an effect, but few werewolves would ever know the type of bond we shared.

As I sulked my way home, kicking the odd stone in my frustrations, I overheard some raised voices. I had taken the shortcut home that passed by the old wishing well of the pack, completely dried up from its use as an actual well decades ago. By the well were two kids, a boy holding onto a girl, who looked to be trying to fight her way out of his grasp.

The boy I sort of recognised, Damien…

~~~~

“Damien!” Evie suddenly exclaimed, interrupting me. “That’s his name! I couldn’t for the life of me remember it. It’s been bugging me for a while.”

“How did you forget it?” Badru questioned, confused.

“Uh, some of the details of that day are a little sketchy,” she muttered, uncomfortably squirming. “The doctor said it was normal with the sort of thing that happened.”

Great! If I didn’t feel enough of a jerk, as it was.

~~~~

… Damien. I only recognised him because he was in the same art club as Badru. He was a few years younger than us, 14 I think.

The girl I would recognise anywhere. Evie.

I knew she was a rogue-born and that rogues were bad people that had committed terrible crimes, according to my mom. But Evie didn’t seem terrible, she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen.

don’t care about that sort of thing,” I heard the boy say and, now in sight, I could see he was trying to lean

want any of it. She was trying to push him off. And he was ignoring her

quickly turned to rage.

at him, pushing Evie behind me and grabbing

I pulled him off his feet, snarling

out, startled. “Get off me,

on me and something collide with my elbow. As I sent a strong punch to Damien’s face, I heard

Had she run

oh no… that ‘something’ that collided

now replaced my

the edge. It was deep and dark but

out past the lump forming in

only solidified my panic and I began to shake; and not from the cold winter

didn’t mean to… it was an accident… what if

made

needed to

needed to

an hour ago because I had been on

mom as soon as I was through the door. There was no reply and our Alpha wing seemed empty. I hurtled upstairs to grab my charger and hurriedly pressed for the

make my stomach lurch and my head pound and spin. I just about made it to the bathroom to throw up, violently.

*

*

*

on my shoulder woke me,

“…Ru?” I croaked.

exhaled heavily. “I thought I was gonna have to drag your

groaned, confused and

didn’t think you had actually passed out. What happened?” He helped me sit upright. I felt cold and clammy from being on the hard tiles of my bathroom floor. “Mom heard about your

f**k how

him, trying to stand and regretting it instantly. He gripped my shoulders to keep

It’s just before 7pm. What the hell has you this

really bad…” my eyes started to sting and water as

looked a little nervous, but focused nonetheless. “We’re gonna go to dad, he’ll know what to do. She might just

to have to repeat all this to our dad. He was going to be so mad with me…

me, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ve

weak smile and let him lead me downstairs. I heard my parents’ soft laughter in the living room,

habibi (darling)…” my mother’s bright smile quickly vanished when her eyes landed on me. “Oh, habibi,

told them everything, expecting them to be angry with me, shout, tell me I was a disappointment. I expected my dad to chew me, to place me in the pack cells.

baby, I’m sorry. I thought you were just upset. I

prised me out of my mom’s arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll sort all of this out. It was just an accident,

the door open and

we ready

nodded and moved to

shoul-” but he silenced me with a

“Stay. Here,” he ordered.

turned, leaving with Kate, but we

to do this, just the two of us?” Kate

need to keep this contained. You’re the only one slender and strong enough to get down that hole.

me down to sit. I felt numb looking outside. It was pitch black out

her arm around me. “I’m proud of you. You stepped in when a young girl needed you to. I’m sure she’ll be just fine. She

feel better, but until I heard back

fact half an hour, the front door

and at the hospital now,” he sighed wearily.

My

Looked as though her leg may have been broken too and somewhat healed. She was lucky,” he looked down at his clothing. “I’m gonna go clean up. I’ll have to put a damn grid on that well so this never

out a breath that had been building in sheer relief. f**k, I felt like

let me make you something to eat. You’ll feel better,” my mother

right now,” I tried to

real akkawi. I already made them up. Just try to eat something,” she whirled away and I heard her rustling

middle eastern cheese pies and delicious, but I really couldn’t eat, not