Chapter 58: Chapter 58

My mind was swirling with the information Stacy had given me. She hadn’t said it outright, but there was no need. Somehow, Axel had planned for Lia, Dub, and me to move here. Anger consumed me, and I wanted to storm downstairs and demand answers. I stopped just in time, knowing that Axel would only blame Stacy. I needed to be smart about this. If I confronted Axel angrily, he would undoubtedly shut me out. I grimaced as I descended the stairs, my canvas bag slung over my shoulder.

If I could get a read on Axel’s emotions, I might know if he was lying or not. As it stood, the only emotions I could sense were Liam’s and Ethan’s. Both twins stopped looking at Axel to meet my eyes as I descended the stairs. My stomach churned as I met their dark, captivating gaze. I couldn’t remember why I had left them in the first place, and I knew I would never make that mistake again.

As I entered the foyer, someone new stood beside Axel. He had Axel’s height and body type, but that was the only similarity between the two. Where Axel and I had brown hair, the man had tousled wheat-colored hair. His eyes were a deep shade of green, mixed with dark tones of brown and gold. They were close enough to each other to know that they knew each other. I met the man’s eyes and watched as he smiled at me, showing a set of perfect teeth.

“I apologize for coming in unannounced,” the man laughed, ignoring Axel’s annoyed look. He walked towards me and extended a large, calloused hand. “I’m Alpha Thomas, I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Sussan.”

“Oh, really?” I asked cautiously, shaking Alpha Thomas’s hand with mine. The man had a strange scent. I realized he was a werewolf, but his scent also had a sharp edge to it.

“You gave these boys quite the run-around,” Alpha Thomas laughed, and for a moment, his face lit up like the sun. “It’s good to see you back in one piece.”

“Yes. Well, I learned my lesson,” I inwardly cringed, sending Liam and Ethan an apologetic glance.

“Good to hear that,” Alpha Thomas nodded understandingly. “Losing your mate must be terrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you, Sussan, but it looks like your companions are ready to go. I’m sure we’ll meet again!”

“Ready to go, darling?” Liam asked, ignoring the bitter look on Axel’s face.

Ethan had a similar look of irritation as he looked from Axel to Alpha Thomas.

“Not quite yet,” I shook my head. I knew I would regret this, but I had to take the risk. Reading Liam’s and Ethan’s emotions had to be the start of my abilities, and I needed to try to use them to get answers. I turned to Axel, seeing the flicker of surprise in his eyes as I spoke in an even tone. “There are still some things I’d like to ask you about. We got off on the wrong foot, and I’m still far from trusting you, but you still have a place in my life. Could we go out for dinner sometime this week?”

Liam and Ethan’s surprise felt like barbed wire, pricking my skin as it whipped against me. Neither of them was happy with my words, but neither spoke up. I had the sneaking suspicion that they trusted me and showed respect by not questioning me in public. I made sure to mention that ‘we’ would be going to dinner, as I knew Liam and Ethan wouldn’t let me step foot in this house alone. Axel’s mouth opened, then closed before he finally found the words to say.

“I would very much like that, Sussan,” Axel nodded. “Does tomorrow afternoon sound acceptable?”

“Sounds good to me,” I nodded, turning to Thomas. “It was a pleasure to meet you too, and you’re welcome to join us for dinner. If Axel doesn’t mind, that is.” As I kept my face blank, I noticed the deeply ingrained expression of irritation on Axel’s face when I invited Alpha Thomas to dinner.

I wasn’t sure how the four of them knew each other, but I was determined to find out if Thomas agreed to come to dinner. The identical expressions on Axel, Liam, and Ethan confirmed my thoughts; none of them liked each other. This dinner could be a show of s**t, but I was determined to get some answers.

“You’re more than welcome to come over, Thomas,” Axel nodded firmly, one that Thomas noticed.

“Awesome! See you tomorrow, Sussan,” Thomas smiled at Axel and winked at me quickly before walking further into the house.

“See you tomorrow,” I exclaimed, giving Axel a brief nod before leaving the house with Liam and Ethan looking very tense.

“Darling, what the hell was that?” Ethan asked the second we got into the car. I could feel the anger bubbling inside him, but his words didn’t contain irritation.

“Trust me. Having dinner with Axel is the last thing I want,” I replied. “Stacy told me something interesting when I went to get my things. She said that Axel likes control and that Lia and I moved here for a reason. I thought the reason was a new job offer, but Stacy made it pretty clear that a new job offer wasn’t the reason for our move.”

“Do you think Axel brought you here?” Liam asked incredulously, shaking his head as he glared at the house.

“I don’t know what to think, but I’m not putting anything past him,” I admitted. “If I can read both of your emotions, why couldn’t it extend to someone else? Wouldn’t it make sense that my abilities come from something specific?”

“Do you think it can work that way?” Liam asked slowly. “Is that why you invited yourself to dinner? To try and read Axel’s emotions?”

“That’s right,” I smiled shyly. “There’s no guarantee it’ll work, but I have to try.”

“You should practice beforehand,” Ethan frowned, pushing his dark hair away from his face. “You won’t have much time to practice tomorrow, so it’s better to start today.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” I nodded.

“It looks like we’ll be going to Axel’s for dinner tomorrow,” Liam grinned, leaning back in his seat. Liam gave me a playful look. “You know we’ll come with you, right?”

“I figured,” I smiled at both of them.

“How did you figure that out, gorgeous?” Liam laughed, leaning his chest against the back of my seat.

“I knew you both would come with me because I would do the same for you,” I laughed. The soft looks I received from Liam and Ethan told me all their emotions without needing my strange ability.

The three of us thought the best place to practice would be in the city. Ethan drove us to the park in the city center, a place I had only admired during the short ride to his house. The park consisted of a large field with some benches, flower bushes, and lampposts. Children ran around the field, laughing, some with bubble wands in their hands. Liam, Ethan, and I sat on one of the empty benches facing the street. I scanned my eyes over the countless shops and noticed there was no bakery.

“This city could really use a bakery,” I smiled, watching a small group of people wandering from shop to shop.

“Do you think so?” Liam chuckled under his breath. “Like the one you worked at?” Ethan asked, raising a dark eyebrow in my direction.

“Exactly like that one,” I nodded, pausing for a moment before adding, “but with less pink. I still can’t understand how Sara could stand so much pink.”

“Say the word, and we’ll open a bakery in the city,” Ethan nodded, directing his gaze towards the row of shops lining the main street.

My heart raced in my chest at the idea of having my own bakery and how quickly Liam and Ethan offered to make my new dream come true. I had never had anyone care about what I wanted, let alone listen to my personal desires. Every minute I spent with the twins did nothing to prepare me for what my future would hold. I still couldn’t grasp how I ended up being involved with these two caring and protective men.

The conversation shifted from the potential bakery to how I could use my budding abilities. Neither of them had any idea where to start, as I hadn’t given them enough time to properly investigate the white wolves. In retrospect, I probably should have scheduled dinner for another day of the week.

“Is there anything specific you do to pick up on Liam’s and my emotions?” Ethan asked.

“No, it just happens,” I shrugged. “It’s almost instantaneous. If you feel angry, I sense it the moment the emotion forms.”

“It might be easier for you to connect with us since we are your mates,” Liam nodded thoughtfully, his unruly hair swaying in the gentle breeze. “You might have to work harder to read someone else.”

“Maybe we’re the default setting,” Ethan laughed, and Liam rolled his eyes.

Ignoring the twins’ bantering in the background, I identified a specific person walking from shop to shop. A man around Axel’s age, dressed in a dark t-shirt and grease-stained pants. It seemed like he was a mechanic. I tried to reach out with my senses to try and pick up his emotions. I found nothing. The results were the same every time. No matter how much I tried to force it, the only emotions I picked up belonged to Liam and Ethan. Frustration, l**t, affection, and more l**t.

“Maybe we should take a break,” Liam suggested when I pinched the bridge of my nose for the tenth time.

A headache was beginning to form, as if I was straining too much even though nothing happened. I let out a long sigh, releasing the pent-up frustration I felt.

“Not yet,” I huffed. “I’m going to try something else.”

Instead of listening to what they had to say, I closed my eyes. Birds were singing, children were laughing, and I could even hear the faint whistle of the wind through the grass. Rather than forcing other people’s emotions, I opened up and let them come voluntarily. At first, nothing happened. Just as I was about to open my eyes, a surge of energy rushed over me, followed by a rage that sent shivers down my spine. The anger hit me like a tidal wave, and I struggled to breathe. It felt like I had inhaled a spoonful of cayenne pepper. The emotion caught me completely off guard as I jumped up from the bench and turned around, facing the source of the blinding emotion.

An angry girl was coming our way. Aly’s face was contorted with surprise and anger as she rushed towards us.