Chapter 18

Accepting My Twin Mates Chapter 18 Chapter 18 – Can We Talk?

Badru Finley scrambled to his feet on shaky legs and out of the door before he could be told twice. I didn’t care where he went as long as it was out of our sights. We would need to speak with our parents and Beta Kate tomorrow about all of this. I would’ve been happy to have the asshat booted out of his title based on his personality alone. After this? I was tempted to throw him from the pack, but decisions like that were still firmly in my father’s control.

“It’s Lucy, right?” Astennu turned to the red-haired young woman.

She nodded, “thank you,” she whispered, her eyes glistening and a deep frown on her face.

I had never witnessed a rejection before. Few ever chose to walk away from their mate. We had always been taught they were a traumatic affair and I didn’t think they would all go as simply as this. But considering the circumstances, this was no regular rejection… and it made me all the more determined to never get to this stage with Evie. I would spend my life atoning for my wrongdoings if that’s what I had to do.

“Are you ok?” I asked. “We can walk you back to your room if you want?”

“No, I’m fine. Better than fine,” a genuine smile began to spread on her face. “I’m not letting that man dictate any more of my life and, no offence, but I worked too hard on the catering to this damn party to walk away now.”

We helped her pick up the ice, which she had apparently thrown in Finley’s face when he burst in looking for some. I wondered if that was Evie’s handy work and if it was why he was stumbling away from her. I knew from personal experience how hard she could kick and I was so f*****g proud of my nour el-ain (light of my eyes). But what had he done to warrant her wrath? And should I have done more than punch him? This would be another thing to hash out when the three of us sat down to talk.

“I think Evie really needs the both of you,” Lucy suddenly spoke when we finished picking up the ice cubes.

“She told you?” I almost dropped the last cube in my hand… how much exactly did this woman know?

“Evie told me everything,” she looked between us. “She wants to give you a chance, but you need to show her you care. Just relying on words won’t get you anywhere. She doesn’t let people in easily because she’s been abandoned too many times, as it is.”

Upon hearing that, the slicing guilt returned. Times when Astennu and I could have stood by her… we turned our backs… thinking only of our guilt and how we felt…

“How do we get close to her?” My brother frowned, a deep crease forming between his brows as his emotions mirrored my own, only more openly. “It feels like there’s this huge wall.”

“That’s because there is. She’s a walking contradiction,” Lucy explained. “Everything is a defence mechanism with her.”

“What do you mean?” I was a little confused. Evie had been incredibly outspoken with us so far, saying exactly what she meant. There had been little contradiction in what she felt for us, and so far the only thing she had felt towards us had been hostility.

Lucy let out a long exhale, “even though she seems cold and aloof, she’s not. She comes across as cynical, but she’s a complete hopeless romantic. She’s crass and blunt, and acts like nothing bothers her, but in reality, she’s incredibly sensitive. You actually have to be careful with your words around Evie. Things you say to her, they cut deep.”

I knew what I had said to her four years ago was hurtful, but now I realised how much they must have stung. No wonder she ran, thinking we were about to reject her…

If I could go back in time and punch my younger self I would; hard and repeatedly. The one time, before the mate bond even kicked in, I could have told her how much she meant to me and I threw it away.

When she denied me, I acted like a spoiled toddler who was told he couldn’t have something and I threw it in her face. She had every right to deny me. Every right. And I had to go be a spiteful bastard and hurt her. Why would she ever forgive me? I would reject me… and instead, Evie was giving me a chance to prove myself to her. I didn’t deserve her chance, but I would not squander it either.

The electric excitement buzzed through me and a symphony of vanilla notes exploded in my senses.

The door burst open, almost bowling me over, with Evie looking worried.

She looked between the three of us, her eyes narrowed… s**t, I hoped she didn’t think we were doing anything with her friend!

“You better not be trying to bribe Lucy onto your side,” she glared at Astennu and me.

“Cool your jets before you beat them up again,” the little she-wolf smirked at us. f**k, she knew we had our asses handed to us?

“They actually helped me. They made Finley accept the rejection and knocked his ego in check too,”

Lucy smiled up at us.

“You did?” And the softest expression overtook Evie’s whole face, one which I would fight the world to keep the shine in her beautiful eyes.

‘If that makes her happy, we should punch Fin again!’ Baniti wagged happily, completely enthralled by our mate’s sudden warmth.

“We’d never stand by and let anyone abuse the mate bond like that,” Astennu said quietly, never taking his eyes off of her. “Plus, Badru’s been dying to punch his lights out for some time.”

Evie gave me a measured look with a raised eyebrow, “is that how you generally solve your issues with your pals?”

‘Pal? With that douche canoe? You better straighten that out right now!’ My wolf panicked, not wanting our mate thinking we in any way got along with the man that had caused her friend so much anguish.

“There is no way, on this earth, is he a friend!” I rushed out.

“Yeah… I got that,” she said slowly, in the same tone Astennu used when I didn’t grasp his dumb jokes.

The two of them glanced at each other… were they making fun of me over mind-link? I didn’t need the two of them ganging up on me.

Evie ‘I don’t think this nugget understands sarcasm,’ I muttered to my wolf, seeing the blank look on Badru’s face.

Evva snorted instantly, ‘dude’s gonna be f****d around you.’

‘That single brain cell of his struggles to process sarcasm. So use it sparingly around him,’ Astennu mind-linked me and I struggled to keep my face straight.

“We’ll leave you two to talk. Our mother’s gonna start getting suspicious if we stay disappeared for much longer,” he said, moving towards the door. “Don’t worry about Finley, he’ll be dealt with tomorrow.”

“If mom thinks she’s doing the cake thing, I’m running from the party,” Badru grumbled.

“I wouldn’t worry. She never asked for a big cake or anything, so I think you’re safe,” Lucy laughed at his protests.

‘He hates everyone singing happy birthday to him because he doesn’t know what to do with himself,’

Astennu grinned at me, conspiratorially.

‘Filing that one away,’ Evva howled in laughter.

The twins left, giving me one last longing glance which churned that heat in my stomach once more.

Goddess, the big blue puppy eyes those two could switch on were dangerous.

“Lucy, I’m so sorry! I swear I was looking out for that fuck-nuts all evening! I just slipped out into the hallway for two minutes trying to escape those damn twins and their damn stares…” I started rambling.

“Evie, chill. Honestly, it’s fine and I’m kinda glad it happened. Fine, the timing was shitty, but that’s life,”

she released a giant breath. “Lobelia and I feel amazing. It’s like having a huge weight off of us. I barely even felt the rejection after everything. I can kiss those meds goodbye, I don’t have to worry about when I’ll feel that stabbing in my chest again… him coming in here for ice was the best thing that could have happened.”

“Ice?”… Oh… that was because of me… “That may have been my fault. He tried to make a pass at me when I wanted to eat, so I kneed him. Nut-shots seem to be my thing today.”

“So don’t come between you and a meal, is the moral of the story?” She laughed.

“That, and expect pain if you mess with a friend,” I grinned. “But seriously… he didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No. He grabbed my arm was all, after I threw the ice in his face and that’s when the cavalry came.”

I heaved a sigh of relief. When I came back into the hall and found Finley was nowhere to be seen, I almost had a heart attack. If anything had happened to Lucy in the brief minutes I wasn’t looking out for her… I would have never forgiven myself.

I stayed by her side, not wanting to leave her alone again and helped her clear things away in the back.

My heels were long forgotten and swapped for my flats I had stashed. As the party wound down and the guests started to leave, the huge clean-up effort began. The Luna had already thanked us for a job well done, another rare instance of receiving praise from her. I wondered whether on some level I craved her approval because the bond knew what her sons were to me; whether I would ever receive her true approval was a separate matter. Most of the staff had gone, leaving me and Lucy alone to enjoy a small scotch nightcap and the last of the apple custard slice while the last load of dishes finished their cycle.

A warm twinge spread throughout my body, growing and making me sit upright. My eyes were on the kitchen door, well before they strode through it. Heavens above, how did they look more devilishly attractive? Both had rid themselves of their jackets and waistcoats, rolling their dress shirt sleeves up to their elbows. Their shirts were a little more open, revealing more of the chest.

‘What if I just plucked a few more buttons with my claw?’ Evva shivered.

‘Would you please pick a goddess-damn mood!’

‘They’re pretty and I’m horny, that’s my mood,’ she argued.

“I’m gonna leave you guys to talk,” Lucy stood, turning to flash me a knowing grin. ‘If you stare any harder, you’re gonna be dry humping them.’

‘I am not staring!’ I lied. I was completely checking them out alongside my wolf.

‘Whenever you lie about Astennu and Badru, you blush, hard,’ she raised an eyebrow, wiggling her fingers at me, and walked out of the door.

Looking back at the twins had me biting my bottom lip in a deep frown, wanting them to stop with their smiles. Astennu’s was soft and tender, his eyes sweeping over my features. Badru’s smirk made me want to punch it off of his face, or lick it off… goddess, I was as bad as Evva.

“…Do you… want some?” I indicated the last of the dessert in the pan.

“Sure, it’s our favourite. I’m not gonna pass it up,” Badru was the first to take up Lucy’s seat and dive in with his own fork.

“Thanks, I guess. It’s one I make from time to time,” I felt my cheeks grow warm again.

“I thought so. It kinda smells just like you,” Astennu took a purposely slow mouthful, not dropping my gaze.

How could he make something so innocuous, so erotic? That damn heat flared through me again and I willed my breathing to stay level.

“So… what did you want?”

“Do we need a reason just to be around you?” Badru gave me a boyish grin, looking all cute again with his dumb face.

“Can we talk tomorrow, in the morning? We need to confront our parents over Finley’s place now in the pack, because there’s no way in hell he is being our Beta after what he did,” Astennu almost snarled at the memory. “But you’re our first priority.”

“Ok,” I whispered, not looking forward to this conversation. “Just come to my room when you’re ready.”

“But what if we’re seen? How do we explain that?” Badru questioned.

‘Maybe we can bring them breakfast to their room? It wouldn’t look too odd,’ Evva pondered.

‘I am not waiting on them!’ I snapped.

‘I’m not suggesting that. Just take it up as a cover. They can serve it themselves and wait on us.’

It wasn’t a terrible idea…

“What if I brought breakfast up to one of your rooms?”

“Won’t that look suspicious too?” Badru poked another hole in my plan.

“Well, I don’t f*****g know! Stop shitting on my ideas,” I felt my patience slipping.

“I’m not!” He exclaimed, trying to defend himself. “You’re the one wanting to keep this secret. I’m just-”

“I actually have a cover for you,” Astennu interjected. “I’ll discuss it tomorrow, after… the other stuff.

Badru looked at him confused, “later,” was all Astennu said to his younger brother.

The dishwasher beeped, signalling its cycle was over. I was about to start unloading but the twins insisted on doing it, ushering me to go to bed instead. I lingered at the doorway, gazing back over my shoulder.

“…Goodnight,” my voice came out a little huskier than I meant it to be.

Their chests heaved a little and I could have sworn their eyes flashed in a faint blue pulse before swirling briefly in black.

“Thanks, by the way, for looking after Heru. I never knew it was you that took such good care of him,”

Astennu said a little sheepishly.

“Hmph,” Badru sulked. “That horse has a real attitude problem.”

“No, you just don’t know what you’re doing. There’s a difference,” Astennu arched a brow at him.

‘Heru bit him once,’ Astennu mind-linked me in secret. ‘Horses aren’t his thing. He’s the artistic one.’

Badru was artistic? Interesting.

‘Did you want to be the Rose to his Jack?’ Evva snorted.

‘Very funny.’

“Thank you, for what you did for Lucy. I haven’t seen her so happy for a while,” I couldn’t stop the smile across my lips.

“No problem. She seems like a really good friend to you,” Badru lifted his pile of dishes into the cupboard.

I nodded, “she’s the best.”

Back in my room, I was glad to finally be out of my dress. It wasn’t that it was uncomfortable, but its tight fit left me feeling like a sausage all evening and it was a relief to let everything hang out again in a baggy t-shirt and some cotton shorts.

‘Luce, you awake still?’

‘Yeah,’ her tired voice responded. ‘You wanna sleep in here?’

I went straight across the hall and opened her door, “what do you think?”

“You want to snuggle with me, instead of being sandwiched between two huge and soft Alphas? I am honoured,” she put her phone down on the bedside table she had been flipping through.

“I don’t think I’ll be letting them sandwich me any time soon,” I flopped on her bed and pulled the blanket up over me. “Have you been crying?”

I noticed the red tint that rimmed her eyes and the few tissues, but her face looked completely at ease.

“A little, yeah,” she turned to lay facing me. “I’m just sad how it turned out… a part of me really wanted it to work… wanted him to see the light, I guess, and change. He had every chance and he still chose to be an ass. I think it’s the potential of what I could have had that I’m sad to have lost, not Finley.”

“For what it’s worth, those guys are crazy about you. I just know they’d do anything for you,” she sniffled with a hint of a tiny grin.

“Whose side are you on, here?” I playfully hit her shoulder.

“Yours all the way. I’ve seen the damage those knees of yours can do.”

She shut the light off and we both snuggled down to sleep.

‘She’s right,’ Evva uttered quietly. ‘They would do anything for us, which is fortunate because I’m making a list.’

‘Oh?’

‘I think a house. I want them to build us our own home, just for us, that we share with no one else,’ she sighed.

‘I was thinking of starting with something a little smaller and simpler,’ although her idea did sound wonderful.

‘And that’s exactly why you make great decisions, like walking into a closet.’

f**k this wolf!