Ethan and Kieran accompanied me to Sebastian’s house the next day, ensuring I was never alone amidst the tense circumstances. With two remaining rogues aware of my unique status as a white wolf, caution was paramount. I spent the morning preparing myself mentally for whatever awaited me at Sebastian’s, including the inevitable conversation I would have to endure.
“How do you feel about meeting our Betas after we pick up your stuff?” Ethan’s voice came from the backseat, his posture leaning forward as he flashed me a dazzling smile.
“Betas?” I asked, already familiar with wolf hierarchy enough to know that Betas were second in command, though I was surprised Ethan and Kieran had two.
“Two Alphas, two Betas,” Kieran explained casually, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze as he drove us down the road.
Through the strange bond that allowed me to sense Ethan and Kieran’s emotions, I could feel Ethan’s excitement about the prospect of introducing me to their Betas. Perhaps it was because this step brought me closer to becoming their Luna, or maybe because I was finally embracing their world willingly.
“Oh, sure,” I nodded, a hint of curiosity piqued. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“They’ll eventually be your second in command too,” Ethan added with a smile, a loose strand of his dark hair falling across his forehead.
“When will that happen?” I inquired. “I mean-I’ve accepted you both as my mates, but when do I officially become Luna?”
“There will be a ceremony, nothing too extravagant, but Mom and Dad will make it special,” Ethan chuckled, a hint of amusement in his raspy voice sending a thrill through me.
“You’ll each cut your palms, and Kieran and I will do the same. Once our blood mixes, you’ll be officially welcomed into the pack-and experience the joy of the mind-link,” Ethan explained.
“Mind-link?” I asked, my gaze darting between them as I noted a trace of irritation in Ethan’s tone.
“Everyone in our pack has a direct line to our thoughts,” Kieran elaborated. “It’s like having a cell phone in your head that you can never silence.”
“Oh,” I murmured, a knot forming in my stomach at the thought of an entire pack linked to me.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Ethan reassured with a chuckle. “It can be annoying, but it’s a quick way to stay connected. Especially in emergencies. As our mate, you’ll have a direct line to both of us.”
“Ah, I see,” I nodded slowly, making a mental note of the new level of intimacy this entailed. “Sort of like how I can feel your emotions.”
Their responses were met with sudden silence, and I sensed unease and surprise rippling through them. Judging by their reactions, sensing each other’s emotions wasn’t typical even among mated werewolves. It took effort not to laugh at their reaction. Apparently, having a direct mental link was normal, but sharing emotions was not.
“You can feel our emotions?” Ethan’s voice broke the silence, curiosity coloring his tone. “Since when?”
“I think it started when I accepted both of you as my mates,” I frowned, uncertain now if this was a standard occurrence.
“Not for regular wolves,” Kieran confirmed, shaking his head.
“It could be because she’s a white wolf,” Ethan suggested thoughtfully, flashing me a mischievous grin that sent a rush of thoughts flooding my mind. His smile promised carnal desires so intense that it made my toes curl involuntarily. “So, you can feel all of our emotions?”
The wave of desire that washed over me was potent enough to make me flinch. My legs tightened instinctively, and I huffed as Ethan let out a deep, satisfied laugh.
“Yes,” I managed, clearing my throat as heat rushed to my cheeks. “I can feel them all.”
“It’ll make getting you worked up so much easier,” Kieran chuckled.
“She’s always been responsive,” Ethan smirked, his voice low with desire. “Even before she could feel our emotions.”
“Such a receptive mate,” Kieran winked, and I groaned under the collective surge of desire emanating from them both.
“If you two get me too worked up, I’m not going to Sebastian’s,” I grumbled half-heartedly, trying to keep my tone light.
“Don’t worry, Doll,” Ethan grinned wolfishly, his gaze intense. “We’ve got all day.”
“I’m starting to dislike this whole white wolf thing,” I sighed, though beneath my words I sensed their concern tinged with a hint of apprehension. It wasn’t clear if they were worried about me or afraid I might decide it was all too much and leave again. Either way, I offered them a reassuring smile.
“As much as I’d like to ease your worries, this is just the beginning,” Kieran sighed, shaking his head. “We don’t know much about white wolves, but what we do know is that whenever one appears, something significant is happening. They’re also incredibly powerful.”
“The keepers of magic,” Ethan added dryly when he noticed my confusion. “That’s what our Grandpa used to say-white wolves are the keepers of magic.”
I wanted to protest, to declare that I had never wanted to be a keeper of magic. But since leaving, I had changed. Complaining wouldn’t change my reality. Just as some people were born human, I was born a werewolf. There was no altering what and who I was. After accepting my mates and my role in this new world, I began to see how fitting this destiny was-to be their Luna, their guiding light. If embracing this significant destiny meant keeping Ethan and Kieran by my side, then I would embrace it with a smile.
“Do you think you two could find more information about white wolves?” I asked eagerly, unable to contain my excitement.
“We can try,” Ethan nodded solemnly. “But we’ll have to be careful. The last thing we need is to attract unwanted attention.”
“What am I supposed to do until then?” I frowned. “Silver’s been itching for another run.”
“We’ll figure that out,” Kieran assured me. “We’ll find a safe place for you to shift, and one of us will always be with you.”
Satisfied with our conversation, I watched the trees pass by as we approached Sebastian’s driveway. My stomach churned with a familiar ache as I gazed at the house that had briefly been my home. It lacked the warmth and familiarity of Ethan and Kieran’s home. Though people lived here, it didn’t feel like a family.
Kieran knocked on the front door while Ethan’s hand remained intertwined with mine. Sebastian answered, surprise flickering in his eyes before a stern glare settled on Ethan and Kieran.
“Come inside,” Sebastian nodded curtly. “Hello, Sophia.”
“Sebastian,” I mumbled, offering a small nod in return.
I stood awkwardly in the living room, observing the intense animosity between Sebastian, Ethan, and Kieran. The palpable tension and mutual dislike suggested there was more to their feud than just my existence. Sebastian had clearly offended them deeply in some way, and I promised myself I would ask about it soon.
“I’ll be right back,” I announced, placing a gentle hand on Kieran’s tense shoulder. He relaxed under my touch, offering me a small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. “I don’t have much stuff. Give me ten minutes.”
I trotted upstairs, acutely aware of three sets of eyes burning into my back. Finding my old bedroom, I noticed that everything seemed exactly as I had left it, except for the phone Kat had given me-it was nowhere to be found. I wondered if Ethan or Kieran had taken it.
I quickly packed a few clothes I had left behind into a duffel bag provided by the twins, gathering the small odds and ends I had left scattered around. Most of my important belongings had come with me when I left, but there were still a few things left behind.
“Sophia?” A soft voice called out, causing me to jump. Krystal stood in the doorway to the bedroom, her eyes flickering down the hall before settling on me. “Can we talk for a minute?”
I shifted uncomfortably but nodded. Krystal closed the door behind her, and I swallowed audibly as it clicked shut. Krystal had been instrumental in my departure, helping me evade detection once she realized my plans. Her eyes, usually blazing with fire, were soft now, her blonde hair pulled back into a bun. She seemed like a different person compared to when I first met her-her usual intensity had softened considerably.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked awkwardly, clearing my throat as I zipped up the duffel bag.
“You came back, for Ethan and Kieran, right?” Krystal’s voice was unusually soft, her expression serious.
“I did,” I nodded slowly, waiting for her next words. “I made a mistake leaving them.”
“Just like I made a mistake helping you leave,” Krystal said with a small, rueful smile. “I know I was awful to you from the start, but you have to understand where I was coming from. I’d been groomed my whole life to take over the pack, only to have Dad snatch it away once he found you.”
While it didn’t excuse her past behavior, I could empathize with her predicament. Like me, she had been raised with certain expectations, only to have them shattered. Deep down, I knew that being an Alpha or Luna was something intrinsic, not something that could be taught or taken.
“I understand,” I replied firmly, trying to infuse strength into my words. “It doesn’t justify how you or your mom treated me, but I understand.”
“My mom’s just a real piece of work,” Krystal chuckled, though there was pain in her eyes that resonated with me. I’d felt similarly whenever Lauren manipulated my longing for a mother figure against me. “Sebastian’s not much better, but I wouldn’t trust him either.”
“I don’t trust either of them,” I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. “I don’t appreciate being used, and so far, Sebastian has done nothing but manipulate me.”
“Dad thrives on control, total control,” Krystal explained, her tone serious. “In our world, an Alpha or Luna can only be displaced by death. If you were to die, the pack would pass to your mates and then to their children.”
“Sebastian can try, but I won’t let him control me,” I asserted, shaking my head as I slung the duffel bag over my shoulder.
“One more thing,” Krystal called out as I turned to leave the room. Her eyes held unspoken emotions, and for once, I wished I could sense them as clearly as Ethan and Kieran’s.
I paused, meeting her gaze as she lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I know you don’t trust me, but once you become Luna, I don’t plan to be on your bad side. Use this information wisely,” Krystal urged cryptically. “There’s a reason you moved to town, and it wasn’t just for your mom’s new job opportunity. Like I said, Sebastian likes control.”
I nodded slowly, absorbing her words before turning to leave, feeling a weight of new understanding settle in my chest.