The following week was a grueling symphony of sore muscles, lingering headaches, endless sweat, and those horrid protein shakes Kat insisted on making. If I had to drink another one of those disgusting concoctions, I might explode. Still, Kat was right; they were good for my body, no matter how much my taste buds protested.
A week of intense training hadn’t turned me into a warrior, but I could at least somewhat defend myself. While I might hesitate when facing another werewolf, I was confident I could handle a regular human with ease. Shifting had sped up my body’s natural processes, giving me faster results than a human would normally see. While I wasn’t covered in thick bands of muscle, my thin frame had filled out. My stomach had hardened, hinting at muscles beneath my pasty skin. My once feather-thin legs were now firm.
Ethan and Kieran seemed especially enamored with the changes in my legs and bottom, taking every spare moment to appreciate them. While I feigned annoyance at the constant smacks and pinches, I secretly cherished those moments.
The only consolation was the precious time I managed to snag with the twins, providing a reprieve from the strenuous training and constant aching muscles. Sebastian had received word from his friends at the High Table, most of whom were interested in meeting me. I wouldn’t fool myself into thinking it meant anything good. I felt like a spectacle, a wild animal to be judged fit to coexist in society or else be put down. The thought infuriated both Silver and me, who insisted she was more graceful beast than wild animal.
Sebastian hadn’t found anything more about the ’emotional leech’ topic. His friends at the High Table, whom I began to doubt were friends at all, wanted to meet me before searching their archives for information. If my abilities were as deadly as they seemed, I had a strong inkling many of the Alphas would vote against my life. It was almost funny in a sad, sadistic way-a group of middle-aged men deciding my fate.
Despite the growing anxiety, I trusted Ethan and Kieran implicitly. They insisted that killing an Alpha’s mate was forbidden, though they doubted the High Table Alphas would be deterred by that. Regardless, we had three packs fighting for me. That comforted me when I wasn’t worrying about the lives lost in my name.
As the weekend approached, the anxiety grew. This weekend would be the last of the life I had grown accustomed to. Come Monday, everything would change. Either I would earn my life, or there would be war. It was a far cry from where I had been months ago, living under Lauren and Darren’s thumb. I had wanted nothing more than to escape, to forge my own connections and build a life of my own. Now, I had everything I ever wanted-and then some.
We were all set to leave Monday. Where? I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Sebastian, Williams, Ethan, Kieran, the twins’ parents, and even Kat were coming. We were bringing a number of warriors, and I wondered how we’d transport everyone. I couldn’t imagine us all boarding a flight like normal people.
While I was nervous about Monday, it wasn’t the only thing on my plate. This Sunday, the twins were holding a ceremony to officially name me Luna of their pack. I was frightened by the responsibility, but their words of encouragement helped still that fear. I wasn’t sure I was Luna material, but I would face my fear this time. Running was no longer an option; it was a cowardly escape.
As I slipped into my workout outfit Friday morning, Ethan and Kieran stepped into the bedroom. They had been leaving early to get everything set for Monday. I had expected to see Kat, who insisted on arriving at the crack of dawn. The two of them looked incredible, wearing clothes that somewhat matched but also showcased their individual personalities.
Kieran wore a dark leather jacket, a white t-shirt, and torn jeans. He frequently wore thick combat boots, looking exactly like a jacked motorcyclist. Ethan dressed more professionally, wearing a button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows. Both had gotten their hair trimmed a week ago in a near-identical style, shaved short on the sides and longer on top. Kieran’s hair seemed to grow like a weed, now tickling just above his eyebrow.
“Are you two joining me for training today?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at them. I crossed my arms over my chest, ignoring how my breasts lifted in the sports bra. I felt particularly catty and smirked at the two jaw-dropping twins standing in the bedroom. “I could show you what I’ve learned. If I beat you both, does that mean I get the title of Alpha?”
My bait worked, though not as intended. Ethan and Kieran locked eyes for the briefest moment. Kieran snickered and flashed me a sinful grin, while Ethan tutted and shook his head.
My reflexes had gotten faster since training with Kat, and I managed to react as Ethan lunged for me. I darted to the side, clipping into the dresser as he tumbled onto the bed. I let out an embarrassing cackle as he rolled across the bed and onto the floor, taking a few pillows with him. My laugh turned into a throaty yelp as Kieran wrapped his arms around my torso and flipped me over his shoulder. I was thrown onto the bed like a sack of flour. Before I could think of my next move, Ethan leaped on top of me. His knees were on either side of my hips, and he pinned my hands above my head with an amused grin.
I thrashed in his grip when he leaned forward, letting the longer strands of his hair tickle my nose. My heart thundered, and the sparks that danced along my skin felt very much like an adrenaline rush.
“Someone’s feisty this morning,” Ethan cooed, his head tilting to the side. “Perhaps our little mate doesn’t deserve her gift. What do you think, brother?”
“Speak for yourself. I like them feisty,” Kieran murmured, arms crossed over his broad chest. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach as he gave me a quick wink, running his lower lip between his teeth.
“I think Ethan likes them feisty too,” I cooed back, moving my hips in a way that grazed against the hardness between his legs.
“That’s because of you, doll,” Ethan smirked, leaning close. I could smell the remnants of toothpaste on his breath, cold and minty, making my mouth water without cause. My tongue darted over my dry lips, and Ethan tracked the movement with darkened eyes. “If you don’t stop that, you certainly won’t get your gift.”
“Does my gift include the two of you?” I asked boldly, even though my face flushed an irritating shade of red.
Kieran’s deep chuckle sent tingles down my spine, spreading to my legs and beyond. I had no complaints about skipping my workout with Kat for a different sort of workout with the twins.
“So insatiable,” Ethan purred, looking toward his brother, whose heavy gaze was set on the rapid rise and fall of my chest.
“Been eager to get the two of us alone, sweetheart?” Kieran remarked, his eyes flashing with what I hoped was dark excitement. “Are you sure you can handle us both?”
All the air rushed from my lungs when Ethan’s hand drifted lower, slipping into the waistband of my leggings. My legs trembled as his knuckle brushed against my thin underwear before moving them aside. His finger grazed my core before slipping from my pants entirely, leaving a painful throb between my legs and a bitter mix of temptation and disappointment.
“She’s more than excited to try,” Ethan mused, eyeing the wetness on his fingers before popping one into his mouth. His eyes closed, and a low growl escaped his lips as he licked the wetness from his fingers. The reaction from my body was instant, and I swore I had never seen anything hotter. Ethan leaned forward, his lips inches from mine, before smirking softly. “As much as we’d love to spend the day ravaging you, if we don’t leave now, we won’t make it until late tonight.”
That grabbed my attention, pulling some of the burning lust from my eyes and replacing it with confusion.
“What? Are we going somewhere?” I asked, my eyes darting between Ethan and Kieran.
I had to hand it to them; neither gave anything away. They both looked at me blankly, though their lips twitched into identical smiles that made my heart race.
“You didn’t think your gift was here, did you?” Ethan chuckled, releasing his hold on me and standing from the bed.
I took his outstretched hand and sighed blissfully as I was swept into his embrace. His lips found mine feverishly, his tongue delving in to stroke my own. He tasted of mint and fresh water, his scent purely male and equally intoxicating. My head swam as his teeth grazed over the plumpness of my lower lip. I was still somewhat dazed when Kieran took his turn, wrapping those thick arms around my body tightly. I was enveloped in his warmth and devoured by his plush lips. Where Ethan met my nibbles and licks, Kieran took complete control, battling my tongue for dominance and winning every time. Kissing them was like drowning, though I had never been this happy to drown in my life.
“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time to devour you once we get there,” Kieran hummed against my lips, giving my waist a rough squeeze.
I was still in a partial lust-induced haze as I followed Ethan and Kieran to one of the many cars in their driveway. I smiled softly as Ethan held open the passenger door for me and swatted my hands away as he buckled my seatbelt. I was beginning to notice little things about the twins, how they enjoyed doing the simplest tasks for me. They would bring me dinner before themselves, draw baths for me, and even gather my dirty clothes for the wash. They noticed the small things too, like how I loved the feeling of fresh sheets beneath my skin. There hadn’t been a single night where the sheets weren’t freshly cleaned. Even if it were their housekeepers doing the washing, it was at Ethan and Kieran’s request.
I thought about the two of them the entire drive and lost count of how long we had been on the road. We stopped a few times for bathroom breaks, and I couldn’t help but laugh when Ethan came out of the gas station with a few bags full of random snacks. I was near shaking with excitement when Ethan whipped out a blindfold and tied it behind my head. They had promised we were nearly there but didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
I could hear the heavy crunch of loose gravel beneath the tires of the sedan and nearly toppled over as I leaped from the car.
“Slow down, doll,” Ethan laughed, steadying me with his rough hands.
The sound was intoxicating, echoing around us. It was a laugh free of the weight we had all been experiencing this past week. As my sight was blocked by the scratchy fabric of the blindfold, my other senses worked overtime. I could smell damp earth and fresh water, the sweet sap from the trees in town. Birds chattering rang out through the air, and I knew we were in a forest of sorts.
“Where are we?” I gasped as Kieran pulled the blindfold from my head.
We stood in front of a huge cabin. The wood on the outside was somewhat red, and large floor-to-ceiling windows gave me a glimpse of the luxurious inside. A large wrap-around porch clung to the house, overlooking a long dock and a crystal-clear lake. Trees surrounded us and the cabin, filling the air with the sweet scent of sap and pine.
My eyes devoured the sights, taking in every detail around me. The twins remained silent, letting me absorb everything. When I turned to face them, their cheeks were stained pink, and their faces held identical looks of nervousness and hope.
“It’s only until Monday, but we figured you could use a break,” Ethan broke the silence, his hand toying with the hair on the back of his neck. The sheepish expression on his face made my heart clench.
I charged at the twins and threw myself into their arms, smiling so hard that my face ached.
“It’s perfect. I absolutely love it,” I laughed, and both looked relieved and elated at my joy. The smile on my face faltered for a moment. “I don’t have any clothes with me, though.”
“Not to worry, sweetheart,” Kieran grinned, an expression I knew meant trouble.
“We took the liberty of packing your clothes for you,” Ethan chimed in, his eyes darting over to Kieran’s as a smirk formed on his face.