~Landon~
Lincoln and I rush back to pack lands after the phone call we received. The call itself was
vague, but it seems there was something serious going on at home, and we are needed. It
made us even more nervous when we factored in how it wasn’t our parents who called.
They must be really busy or unable to reach out.
We head through the gate, and everything looks quiet. Lincoln and I decide to do a
perimeter check before going to the house. We may not be able to see any issues from
here, but that doesn’t mean all is well. I hastily park the car, and we both jump out.
Lincoln and I shift into our wolves, and we take off in opposite directions, having agreed to
meet back at the car.
I’m not sure how much time has passed, maybe an hour or more, when we finally meet
back at the car. Lincoln throws me a pair of shorts, and I get behind the wheel. “I didn’t
see anything wrong, L. I spoke to warriors that were on duty, and they had nothing to
report.”
“Exactly the same for me. There was no disturbance, and everyone said that things have
been fine. Maybe there wasn’t an attack on the pack. Maybe the issue is with our parents.
Let’s go, so what’s going on.” I start the car, and we hurry down the road and skid to a
stop in front of the pack house. Lincoln is out of the car before I can completely stop. I hop
out right behind him, and we rush into the packhouse. Nothing seems out of place, and
there doesn’t seem to be any disruptions.
We rush up to our father’s office and bust in the door. Dad is sitting at his desk, and he
looks up with surprise all over his face. It doesn’t seem that he was expecting us, or
anyone for that matter. “What are you two doing here? Is everything okay? Did you bring
Portia back?” Lincoln and I look at each other, but before we could respond, mom walks in.
“Ah, my boys are back. I’m so glad to see you two. I was just about to call you.” She walks
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtto us and grabs each of us by the hand. “Come with me; let’s have lunch.” Mom starts to
pull us toward the door. I’m dragging my feet, trying to get away.
“Kim, maybe they don’t have time for that. Let’s see what brought them here.” Mom
shoots dad an exasperated look but continues to pull us with her. It really doesn’t seem as
if there was even a problem here at all. If that’s the case, who called and lied to us and for
what reason?
L, what do you think all of this is about? I was expecting….well, I don’t know what I was
expecting, but this definitely isn’t it.
Agreed, Linc. I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to get to the bottom of it.
Mom pulls us outside of the packhouse and into the garden. Lincoln and I grab shirts on
our way. We always have clothes stashed all over the pack and woods because we shift at
any given time. We walk to the center of the garden, where there are tables and chairs set
up. We choose a table, and mom sends an Omega to get us food. I’m not really hungry. I
really just want to find out what’s going on.
We all sit at the table in awkward silence. Lincoln and I would love nothing more than to
go back to our mate. Whatever is going on here doesn’t need our help. I smell the food as
it gets closer to the table. I look up, and my face drops. Carrying a tray of food is Adela,
and she has a sly smile on her face. Behind her, carrying a tray of drinks, is Aida.
Lincoln jumps out of his seat at the sight of them. “What the f**k is going on here?” A
small smile appears on my mom’s face.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Adela puts the tray on the table and starts to walk toward
me, and Aida is doing the same to Lincoln.
“I missed you baby, even though you had only been gone one day.” Adela attempts to sit
on my lap, but I quickly stand up. She puts a pout on her face, but her eyes are flashing
anger. I turn to my mom.
“Last time I will ask….what is going on here?”
“We are just enjoying lunch.” Mom directs her attention to the twins. “Please have a seat.”
So many questions are swirling around in my head, but I can’t focus on them all. Adela sits
in a seat next to the one I was sitting in, and Aida sits in the seat next to Lincoln’s.
“Cut the crap, mom. What are they doing here? Why were we called here as if something
was wrong?” Mom tried to put an innocent look on her face, and the twins are avoiding
eye contact.
“Answer him mom! What the hell is all of this?”
“I’m not aware of any phone calls.” She looks down at her plate when she says this, so I
know she’s lying. “I just wanted to enjoy a meal with the future leaders of this pack. Is that
such a crime?” I scoff. She can’t be f**king serious!
“Future leaders of this pack?! That would be Linc and I so what the hell are the twins doing
here?”
“F**k you, Landon! Up until a few days ago, my sister and I were to be the Lunas of this
pack. You told me that you chose me to stand next to you. My slut sister comes to town,
and now you are pushing us aside?!” Adela is furious, and Aida is trying to grab hold of
Lincoln, tears starting to fall down her face.
“Oh, give it a rest. We told you that we found our fated mate. We wanted our fated mate;
that’s why we went away to find her.” Adela snorts, and a smirk appears on her face.
“You, both, wanted your fated mate? That is crap and you know it. Lincoln here never
wanted your fated mate. He always wanted a chosen, and he had chosen Aida. So explain
to me how you convinced him to let my sister go?” Adela sits back and crosses her arms
across her chest. She looks between Lincoln and me, waiting.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I never told you-” Adela interrupts Lincoln.
“You may not have told me that, but you told my sister that you only wanted to take a
chosen mate. Do you deny saying that?” Lincoln looks away, the guilt coming through our
bond. Aida stands up and grabs Lincoln’s arm.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“I know you love me. You love me just as much as I love you. You planned to make me
your chosen mate. We can still have that. I forgive you and I accept you.” Lincoln pulls his
arm out of Aida’s grasp.
“Aida, you are a wonderful person, but……but I never told you that I loved you. Yes, I was
going to take a chosen, but I have always wanted my fated mate. I was just….scared. I
was scared that I couldn’t be what I needed to be. I’m sorry Aida. I’m so sorry all this has
happened, but I know what I want.” Aida sits back in her chair and starts to weep. Adela
growls at her sister’s pain and moves to console her.
I shake my head and look at the table. “Like I said, you knew we always wanted our fated
mate. It just so happens to be your sister. We didn’t plan it that way, but it is what it is. At
some point, you three will have to get over it. The future Luna of this pack will be Portia.”
“Over my dead body! That girl will not run this pack! She will not take my place as the
Luna here!” Mom stands up and places her hands flat on the table. “You two had better
get your heads out of your asses and fast. Adela and Aida have been training as warriors
and Lunas. You will find no one better equipped to fill that role. The sooner you accept
that, the better off this pack will be.”
I clench my fists, again and again, trying to get Goliath under control. He wants out and
wants to rain hellfire all over this garden, this being my mom be damned. I close my eyes
and take a few deep breaths. My mom sits down and straightens out her clothes. “Be a
dear and have a seat. Lincoln, you too. Let’s enjoy this meal, shall we?” I hope my eyes
and look at my brother. Nothing needs to be said; the bond is speaking for us both. We
step away from the table and start to walk toward the packhouse. I can hear the three
calling for us, but I refuse to turn around. There is no way in hell I will allow my mom to
manipulate me into giving up my fated mate. I will not settle for less when I can have the
one I was blessed with.
Dad is waiting for us at the back door. “What’s going on? Why are you two here?”
“We will talk later dad. We need to get back to Tia.” Dad nods in understanding and walks
us around the side of the packhouse to the car.
“Be careful going back.” Lincoln hops in the driver’s seat, and I get in the passengers. I’m
already exhausted, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around my mate.