Accepting My Twin Mates by Unwise Owl

Accepting My Twin Mates Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32 – HAPPY MEMORIES?

Evie

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I bit my lip nervously at the prospect of sharing an evening, alone, with my mates, and they were cooking for me too. This sweet and gentle side of them was nothing I had been prepared for. In a way, I wished they had been as I pictured them to be; cocky and egotistic. My decisions would have been far less complicated. They were kind and caring… loving, even. All the things I had always wanted and never received. And now I had those things… I didn’t know what to do with them.

‘Here’s a notion, muffin head. f*****g enjoy it,’ Evva muttered.

‘I would, except you’re forgetting nothing in our life comes without a but,’ and that ‘but’ was steadily worrying me. Would they truly defy their parents, the Alpha and Luna, and their pack… just for me?

“You ok? You’re staring into space,” Lucy’s voice cut through my rather irrational anxieties. “You’re not rethinking your date are you?”

“It’s not a date,” I repeated for the umpteenth time. “I’m just going to dinner, and they happen to be there.”

“That’s literally the definition of a date,” Lucy deadpanned. “And your t**s in that sweater dress say it’s a date too.”

“I’m straight as an arrow and even I’m attracted to you,” Catalina added, eating one of the churro cookies she and Lucy had been making in the pack kitchen when I came home. They had squealed like teen girls when I told them Astennu and I had kissed, heatedly.

“Do you mind?” I turned from the mirror to where she sat on the bed. “You’re getting crumbs everywhere on my bed.”

She chuckled, filled with confidence, and raised a perfectly arched brow, “why? We all know where you’re sleeping tonight… and it isn’t here.”

I huffed, “whatever,” muttering away and turned back to second guess my choice in attire with red cheeks.

Maybe I should change. I didn’t want either twin to get the wrong impression. I thought my choice was cute and casual, a simple silvery-blue woollen sweater dress with slightly balloon sleeves. I had already kissed one and now I was fretting over whether the other would be expecting me to ‘give it up’ for him because I had for his brother. It felt like a foolish thought. For someone who came out with dirty sentiments, Badru was rather innocent and adorable. But he had the tendency to say dumb things without thinking. Perhaps he would surprise me?

“Evie, stop overthinking. You look great, and you’re eating into your nondate-but-it’s-definitely-a-date date. Here, put these boots on,” Catalina shoved a pair of brown flat ankle boots at me to put over my thick tights and opened the door. “They’ll be perfect for sneaking into a boy’s room like a naughty 16 year old. Trust me, I speak from experience.”

“Goddess, you’re pushy,” I said as she physically pushed me out of my own door. I barely had five minutes to appreciate the new heavenly warmth from my fixed heating.

“And don’t worry about your breakfast treat!” Lucy called out from behind Catalina, just out of sight. “I’m in the kitchen in the morning, so I’ll make sure it remains undiscovered.”

It was how I had found them in the pack kitchen. I wanted to make a little surprise for breakfast in the morning, a food I knew both twins loved because they had stolen it out of the kitchen enough times to the point I quit making it.

“Generally, it’s polite to leave the host’s room that you’re shoving said host out of,” I balanced, putting my boots on in the hallway.

“I’m sure it is,” Catalina pouted teasingly. “But I don’t think Lucy is ready to share a bed with me just yet. Your’s looks pretty comfy to say it’s just a mattress on the floor.”

“Why the f**k are you sleeping in my room?!” There was brazen and then there was Catalina. She was in a whole league of her own.

‘To make sure she’s safe and that a particular pinche pendejo doesn’t come making a rather stupid choice in the middle of the night,’ she said in mind-link while saying, “because I want to,” aloud.

“Ok,” I gave her a grateful smile, thankful that she was looking out for my friend on instinct.

Without thinking twice, I reached out and pulled her into a hug, surprising her. ‘Thank you,’ I told her in secret.

‘I’m willing to admit that I’m glad we didn’t snatch her hair out,’ Evva huffed, though I could feel genuine respect oozing out of her.

‘Don’t go snooping through my things,’ I frowned, feeling the heat creep into my face yet again. My secret drawer was growing less secret by the day.

A knowing smirk formed on her annoyingly perfect ruby lips. Balls, she was definitely going to go snooping now I had said something.

I walked away before I could embarrass myself any further and headed out of the pack house through the closest door. The temperatures outside were bitter, so I hurried around to the Alpha wing, to where I remembered climbing up the trellis; well, where I had clung to a naked Badru as he climbed up the trellis. I mind-linked them both as I approached and no sooner had I reached the bottom, that the light from above switched on and the window was pulled up to reveal Badru’s perfect face. His hair formed a curtain around his features, only serving to highlight those sparkling midnight jewels of his.

standing there? Get climbing, it’s freezing,’ he mind-linked, snapping me

I had fantasised, on occasion, of sneaking

With ease, he grasped hold

behind my ear. The same boyish grin plastered on his lips

boys made my

Evva howled at

and your coochie, need to zip it!’ I

Astennu

my parents just leaving for their evening alone on their own date; I believe tonight was the theatre and dinner, followed by a run. More often than not, it ended with them grabbing a hotel room for the

farmers’ meeting. Our dad had asked more and he was itching to leave with our mother. I knew he had felt it when Evie and I had kissed and I knew

ignoring me with this weird silent treatment?” I sighed at

“And I can feel you calling me a

the food processor into the bowl, “that’s never happening, ever. And you’re avoiding the

am. I’ve always been used

we’re not in a race against each other,” I sliced up some of the bread in front of me. “If today was your day and something happened, do you think I would be sulking like a child or do you think I’d be happy for

gonna, straight up, resort to emotional blackmail?”

“Is it working?”

we each received a mind-link from our mate. Any trace of foul mood in

called out behind his

spinning mood

Badru

there. Can one of

second!’ I replied, not sparing

gazing upwards, not that I minded the time to appreciate her every curve and angle. My arms were open for her as she reached the top, ready to engulf and hold her for as long as possible. I placed an arm around her mid-back and thighs to

strand of her hair back and out of her face, so I could see her

rather than stormy grey. The dress she wore was pretty, complementing everything about her and almost the same colour as my room. The tingles from such a light touch against her cheek surged up my arm and her hot vanilla scent captured every

my own. Quit trying to

couldn’t come quick enough. I would have all

Evie

up in a second. Make yourself comfy,’ Badru smiled, reluctantly

was the second time for me to be in his room, but I hadn’t taken in any of the features on the last occasion. The colour was a mix of blue and grey, somewhat similar to my dress… and my eyes. If I remembered correctly, Astennu’s was a dark gold, like

it over in front of the fire burning away and grabbed a few cushions to sit on. Some of the artwork caught my eye for their peculiarity. Thin pieces of wood with pictures that appeared to have been burnt onto their surface; images of wildlife and natural scenes. Astennu had mentioned his

and an array of aromas that had

was just looking around,”

only a

to be. I wonder whether they’re something naughty,’ my wolf barked in laughter at the final glare Badru

his tray down and came over to pull the pad from my fingers, replacing it with his hand to lead me over to the seating I arranged. “We’ve made a few dishes for you to try. You might recognise

dukkah, a mix of ground nuts and spices. You dipped bread in olive oil and dipped that in the dukkah, a simple but tasty appetiser. Astennu and Badru took it in turns adding to my plate and explaining what each was. Lamb koftas with saffron, which were delicious and cooked to perfection. Tamiya with baba ganoush, a falafel-like pattie and a dip to go along with them. Koshari, a hearty dish I had eaten before, consisting of rice, brown lentils and macaroni. A thick lamb stew made with prunes, and mahshi, baked tomatoes stuffed with rice. And, as his brother told me, one of Astennu’s favourites, fatayers. These I had had several times with a variety of fillings.

been so full, and to top it off, the comforting scents of my mates swirling around were making me sleepy too. I downed the rest of my beer and flopped back onto the plush carpet. Obviously, this wouldn’t cut it for the twins. Badru pulled my torso

pictures on the wood, you did them?” I lifted my hand

my hand softly, encasing it within his thick roughened fingers, and kissed my open palm. Both Evva and I melted a little at the action. “It’s pyrography. I use that soldering iron thing on the

of the stag was his first one,” Astennu indicated. “He’s

any?”

at it, just

prefer animals that smell and like

I hang out with you,” the other

him in the chest. “If you’re gonna start, I’m moving, so make your

possessively, making his decision clear. It was good to know my nugget could

where to stick it… what was it like for you, growing up?” Astennu moved to lie on his stomach alongside me,