92

Only when Kieran and Ethan stepped into the room did I realize the horrible mistake I had made. I had kept an image of them in my mind, committing it to memory so that I might never forget them. They looked different from that image-eyes dark and haunted. I could see the toll my leaving had taken on them, and felt horrifically guilty. Part of me wanted to run into their arms, while the other part wanted to cower and beg for their forgiveness.
Kieran’s hair was still the same, short on the sides and long on the top. Ethan’s hair had grown, almost grazing his shoulders. Apart from the pain in their eyes, they hadn’t changed. Their scent filtered into the house, relaxing some of my nerves as it registered with my senses.
Marcella stood behind them, nodding at me encouragingly, but I couldn’t force myself to move. I felt absolutely ridiculous standing there in a floor-length nightgown. If the twins noticed my attire, they didn’t show it. None of us moved, simply taking in the fact that they-we-were here, together.
“Oh, go on!” Marcella chuckled, and the light sound helped pull me from my stupor. Silver propelled me forward, making me stumble horribly as I practically leaped at Ethan and Kieran. Neither seemed to expect it, remaining stiff and unmoving as I barreled into them. I slammed into them roughly, my hands grasping at their shirts as I held them close.
Happiness so strong I wanted to sob coursed through me as I clung to the twins-my mates. A surge of relief washed over me, and I knew the emotion hadn’t come from myself. I could taste the twins’ fear on my tongue. I could taste Ethan’s gut-wrenching relief coupled with Kieran’s suppressed fear. Their emotions were a storm within me, and I savored each one as it crossed my senses.
‘I can feel their emotions,’ I murmured to Silver, unsure of what was happening.
‘You accepted them,’ Silver sang. ‘You accepted our mates.’
A sob escaped my lips as Ethan and Kieran wrapped their arms around me, tightening their grip as they heard the sound leave my lips. The coil that had been wound within me since moving in with Lauren had finally come undone. Even as we said nothing, their touch was all I needed. The warmth radiated from their bodies, and I hadn’t realized how cold I had been. Their heavy breaths felt like music to my ears, and for the moment, I forgot why I had ever left.
“I hate to intrude, dear, but we have some things to talk about,” Marcella’s gentle voice filled the room, reminding me we were in someone else’s house. For the moment, I had forgotten everything other than Ethan and Kieran.
I could feel Kieran’s irritation at having to pull away from me, as well as Ethan’s reluctance to let go. Giving them a watery smile, I pulled away and faced Marcella. Her eyes were soft but proud. I was sure she knew I had accepted them, had finally accepted what I was. Running was no longer an option, as I wouldn’t be able to pull myself away from Ethan or Kieran a second time.
“Sit with me?” I asked, leading the two of them over to the couch where Pedro had once placed me. The two of them let me lead, tugging at their hands so they’d follow. The urge to be near them was overwhelming, and I knew the feeling was mutual. I wondered how long it would be until they let me out of their sight, if they ever would. I sat smushed between Ethan and Kieran’s huge builds, but I hadn’t felt this happy and relaxed in-well, nearly my entire life.
While I was still horribly inexperienced with guys, and incredibly nervous around the twins, the close proximity between us felt right. I slipped my left hand into Ethan’s and my right into Kieran’s, enjoying the feel of their calloused skin against my own. Their surprise ran through me, reminding me of little iridescent bubbles. They hadn’t expected me to truly miss them, to be happy they came for me. They also hadn’t expected me to accept them, to allow them to touch me so freely. I knew without prying that they blamed themselves for my leaving, and would for quite some time. That fact made guilt spiral within me and pain pierce my insides.
I could feel my face heat as both of them had their eyes glued to me, but I refused to balk under the pressure. I knew if I met their eyes, I would crumble, so instead, I let my head fall against Kieran’s shoulder and smiled as his chest rumbled in approval.
Marcella watched the three of us with clouded eyes as she took a seat in the armchair. Pedro emerged from the darkened hallway and stood beside his mom, looming over her as though Ethan and Kieran were threats. Neither Ethan nor Kieran noticed Pedro’ presence, as they were both focused on me.
“Let’s start with what brought you to my house, child,” Marcella smiled softly, catching my eye. “Your mates need to know.”
I ignored the stiffening postures of Ethan and Kieran, but returned Marcella’s smile with one of my own. Even though I had just met the woman, I knew I could trust her. She had kept her own existence a secret for years, and I knew she’d extend the same courtesy to me.
“A couple of men tried to kidnap me. They were werewolves. When I shifted, I managed to get away. They injected me with wolfsbane, but I made it here before I passed out.” I frowned, remembering the disabling pain of the wolfsbane as it coursed through my body. I glanced at the worried faces of Ethan and Kieran. As their anger flowed through me, I could taste it on the tip of my tongue-cinnamon and clove, yet it singed my flesh as the emotion swirled within me. “When I shifted, they saw what color I was-they saw that my wolf was white.”
As I finished, Ethan and Kieran’s bodies stiffened, becoming hard as stone. Their emotions battered me senseless, giving me the start of a headache. Surprise, shock, anger, hate, acceptance. Each one had a unique taste, though it was hard to focus on just one.
“You’re a white wolf?” Ethan was the first to break the silence, his dark eyes burning into mine with fierce possessiveness. His voice echoed in my mind, deep and alluring. It had only been a week since I heard their voices, but it felt like years.
“As am I,” Marcella countered, meeting the twins’ eyes with a certain kind of authority. “I sensed something coming, so I stayed up late. If only I had known it was another white wolf, I might have been more prepared to counteract the wolfsbane.”
“You were the little girl from the Dark Moon Pack,” Kieran pointed out, surprise laced in his tone. His voice was a little deeper than his brother’s, but just as alluring and addictive.
This time the surprise rushing through me was my own. There was no way Ethan and Kieran knew Marcella personally, as she was double their age, and yet Marcella smiled softly, her eyes misting over as she remembered a time before hiding.
“Yes, I was the little girl from the Dark Moon Pack,” Marcella murmured. Pedro placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. His face was hard as his eyes flitted between the three of us.
“You saved our dad’s life,” Ethan said, his eyes widening as he looked at Marcella. “Alpha Ashford from the Blood Moon Pack.”
“That’s a name I haven’t heard in quite some time,” Marcella chuckled, a gentle smile on her face. Her eyes moved over the twins before settling on me. “Would you like to hear the story, child? It is not a happy one, though my action ensured the birth of your mates.”
“I would like to hear it,” I nodded, my voice soft. I remembered how Marcella told me of the death of her family, and the death of her mate. I knew Alpha Ashford’s story tied in with that of her family and mate. For a moment, I nearly refused. I could see the lingering pain in Marcella’s eyes, but I could also see the blazing strength.
“I was sixteen years old. My family had lived in the Dark Moon Pack for many generations. It was a small pack, but we were fiercely loyal to one another. The Dark Moon Pack was one of the oldest packs known to our kind. When I first shifted, I told my parents, who in turn told the Alpha. The entire pack kept my secret until their final breaths,” Marcella began, the fire beside her crackling and spewing embers. “Alpha Raven’s territory was vast, but he craved more. As you have seen, my abilities stem from the earth itself. Our land was thriving, and Alpha Raven grew jealous. He sent spies onto our land while gathering his army. I was young back then. I hadn’t known how coveted white wolves were. One of his spies saw me, watched me as I shifted with my mate. Little did he know, I too had seen the spy. I told our Alpha just in time, and he called on every ally he could manage. One of those allies was Alpha Ashford.”
“He told us the story, but never quite like this,” Ethan murmured, entranced by Marcella’s tale. “He had always said it was his duty to help your pack.”
“Even back then, Alpha Ashford was a good man. He was a young, untested Alpha. He raged onto the battlefield with his army, tearing down enemy after enemy. Our pack worked in sync with his; we saved each other that day. My mother and father told me to stay in the house, but my mate was on the battlefield as well. I left the house, but I hadn’t come in time.” Marcella’s voice turned low, and my heart ached as I felt the pain within her words. “My mother and father had already been killed, my mate too. Alpha Ashford was fighting against another wolf, but Alpha Raven wasn’t one to fight fair. He crept up behind Alpha Ashford, ready to land a killing blow. I felt something break within me that day. The earth opened, hearing the pain in my voice as I screamed and wept for my family. I directed that anger at Alpha Raven and watched as the earth swallowed him whole.”
I hadn’t realized tears had leaked from my eyes until Ethan turned and wiped them from my face. His eyes were soft, as were his hands as they grazed my skin. Those gentle sparks caressed my face, reminding me that my fate would be different from Marcella’s.
“It was a beautiful tragedy,” Marcella murmured. “Many lives were lost and gained that day. Alpha Ashford was spared, able to find his mate and produce children. Unbeknownst to my parents and mate, I found out I was pregnant shortly after the battle. Pedro is the last piece I have of Nathaniel, and I cherish every day with him.”
As I looked into Pedro’s eyes, I tried to imagine a boy around the age of sixteen. His eyes were soft as he looked down at his mom, at the woman who had given and lost so much, and yet somehow managed to remain kind.
“We’ll keep your secret, Marcella,” I smiled softly, meeting the eyes of the woman who spared my mate’s father. Without her, Ethan and Kieran wouldn’t exist. “No one will know about you or this place. You have our word.”
I spoke for Ethan and Kieran, but I knew I had their agreement. Marcella had suffered more than most and deserved whatever slice of heaven she could manage. If she wished to remain in hiding, we would do everything possible to help. Should the time come when she wanted to step from the shadows, she’d always have a home in their-our-pack.
“Thank you, Sophia. You are kinder than most. It seems us white wolves have painful lives; I do hope yours turns out differently.” Marcella murmured, her eyes soft as she looked at the three of us. “You’re welcome to stay here for the night. I’ll have dinner ready within a few hours, and there’s a spare bedroom upstairs.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Marcella,” Kieran murmured, giving her a nod. “We will leave in the morning.”
“Go on and get yourselves settled in. I’ll start dinner,” Marcella smiled, some of the light and joy returning to her eyes. Pedro seemed to relax a little bit. I wasn’t sure if he was beginning to trust us, but it felt better than having him growling all the time.