Page 10 of Alpha’s Twins (Alpha Kings Island #3)

“Two nights in a row?” Aiden snaps. “Tell me that’s a coincidence.”

He paces the kitchen with his brothers on speakerphone, and I’m not sure whether I should go and give him some privacy. I move to stand, but he motions for me to stay, so I slide back into my seat and pretend to make myself busy drinking my tea.

I hear Callum let out a long breath down the line, and I can tell he’s feeling the strain, too.

Only a week after the meeting at the bar where the other alphas decided to pull back from patrolling the mountain borders, they’re back due to magic-driven fires springing up in all three packs.

I can tell Aiden disagreed with that decision and probably wants to say I told you so, but I think he’s trying to hold back.

I don’t know his relationship with his brothers, but they all seem like strong alphas.

“I know what you’re thinking, Aiden,” Tristen’s voice comes over the line, sounding as weary. “But we don’t know it’s Malik, yet. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

I see Aiden roll his eyes, and for a minute, I think he’s going to snap. Instead, he runs his hand through his hair in frustration and listens as Callum and Tristan go back and forth about the fires and whether there are any suspects other than Malik.

"All I know," Aiden finally cuts in, "is that if it is him, he’s testing us. And we’re just chasing our tails waiting for him to strike again."

Tristen sighs. “The witches have developed stronger defenses. If it is Malik, he’s fighting alone now, and we’ll finish him. But we don’t know it is him. Could be anyone just causing trouble. It’s only a few fires.”

The conversation rumbles on, but I can tell Aiden’s not happy with his brothers’ take on things.

He’s the youngest, and I’m not sure he feels they respect his opinion, which must grate when his pack obviously thinks he’s a great alpha, and he clearly suspects Malik is hiding in the mountains, which scares me senseless.

Maybe it’s easier for his brothers to hope these fires are not Malik when they’re not happening on their doorsteps.

I watch Aiden as he turns his back to me and looks out over the back yard and across to the mountains in the distance.

His shoulders are tight, and I can feel the tension coming off him in waves.

I want to do something to help, to say something that makes him feel better, but I don’t know what.

I’m not like him or his brothers or anyone else here.

I’m just Serena, stuck somewhere between being a shifter and being completely useless.

Ever since the bar last week, I’ve been keeping a low profile.

Aiden tried to talk about it, but I just can’t. I’m so mortified.

“Listen, we’ve got to—” Aiden starts, but Callum cuts him off.

“Chill, Aiden. We’re doing all we can.”

“Right,” he says, voice clipped. “Keep me posted.” He taps the phone, ending the call, and stands there staring out at the trees, shivering green in the wind.

I see his reflection in the glass, his jaw clenched.

Despite his cold stance, I can’t help but notice how handsome he looks.

I still feel embarrassingly attracted to him, and it kills me that everyone must know that after my reaction at the bar.

It was only made worse when he pretended to fancy me, too. While I appreciated that he would even attempt to make me feel better in the moment, lying to my face only made me feel worse in the long run.

He turns, catching me watching him, and I look away, pretending to be interested in the steam rising from my mug.

“Sorry,” he says, crossing the kitchen to sit beside me. “You shouldn’t have to listen to that. I just don’t understand why they can’t see that we need to act now before he escalates.”

“You really think it’s Malik?” I ask.

He looks at me, and the sincerity in his eyes is obvious as he nods. “I do. And I think he’s not as strong as he was.”

“How do you mean?” I ask, confused.

Aiden walks toward me and pushes one of the bar stools back to sit down next to me.

I’m not sure he’s aware of how intimidating his size is as his knee brushes mine, causing my body to immediately tense with desire.

I try to concentrate as he begins explaining about Malik’s last attack and how Emily’s magic almost destroyed him.

He escaped, but they’d hoped he was mortally injured.

Emily’s father nearly killed him too instead of allowing him to take over the island because he was in love with Emily’s mother, but he recovered enough to build the army of rogues, and, who's but he recovered enough to build the army of rogues to say he won’t do it again?

“She sounds incredible,” I say, and he nods.

“She really is something. I should get her to visit, she could talk to you about the plants?”

I shake my head, blushing. “Oh no, she sounds like an absolute badass, she won’t want to talk about me making flower decorations.”

I try to laugh his suggestion away, but he looks serious. “What I saw in the bar wasn’t just some pretty flowers—that’s real power, Serena.” At the mention of the bar, I blush even more, but he continues. “What about your wolf? Is there any difference there?”

I know I have to tell him. He deserved to know before now, but it’s considered so shameful not to be able to shift in our communities. I take a deep breath and try to find the words.

“My wolf is different,” I begin slowly, and he looks up, surprised. “She’s silent. There, but silent. I-I can’t shift. It’s just not the same as it is for others.”

I wait, anticipating the familiar look of disgust entering his features, but instead, he tops up his coffee and nods. “Ava had something similar, Callum’s mate. She actually did shift when her daughter was in danger, but I don’t think she does much.”

He shrugs as he says it, which only makes me more confused. “And Callum doesn’t mind?”

“Of course not. I mean, it would be nice, I guess, if they could go on pack runs together. But it’s not like Emily can go with Tristan, because she’s a witch.” He laughs as if it’s the most obvious thing of all.

I look down at my now-empty drink. “It’s a bit different on the mainland,” I say quietly, and an awkward silence falls between us.

Suddenly, his large hand covers mine, and the shock of the contact makes me look up, his eyes boring into mine. “I always thought Nolan was a bit of an ass.” His tone is so completely deadpan that it makes me laugh, and he grins, too. “I really like that sound, you have a beautiful laugh.”

His voice, the way he looks at me, makes my heart start to beat faster.

I wonder if I should look away, but I can’t seem to make myself.

It feels like he’s pulling me in, and I wonder if he’s about to kiss me.

I can feel my skin tingling with something electric and impossible, like there’s nothing else in the world except him.

Then a loud knock on the door makes us both jump. We spring apart, and the heat between us vanishes into the air. My face is on fire, and I don’t know whether I’m more relieved or disappointed.

“Jace,” Aiden mutters, standing up with a sigh. He strides over to the door, and I hear him greet his friend.

“You ready to head out?” Jace’s voice booms through the house. “Think we can find anything in daylight?”

I remember Aiden saying he and his betas were going to drive out to the site of the fire last night to see if they could find anything that would explain how they’re starting.

Jace gives me a wave. “I saw Sarah earlier at the pack hall. She and some others are setting up a food and supply drive for the houses lost in the fires. She mentioned coming by to see if you wanted to help.”

I haven’t seen Sarah since the night at the bar, but I know I can’t hide forever. Aiden gives me an encouraging nod, and I smile. “Of course, that sounds good.”

“Why don’t we drop you off at the hall?” Aiden suggests, leaving me no option but to nod back.

Aiden drives me to the hall, and I watch the trees blur by, my mind spinning with the morning’s revelations, with Aiden’s touch, with the way he looked at me.

I’m still doubting his sincerity, wondering if his kindness is just pity, but I can’t deny the tug I feel towards him.

It’s overwhelming and terrifying, and I don’t know how to handle it.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, fumbling with the door handle.

He reaches over, his hand brushing mine. “Serena,” he begins, and I wait, my heart pounding. “I’ll come by later, okay?”

“Sure,” I reply, my voice catching as I stumble out of the truck. I stand there, feeling oddly exposed, as he drives away.

The hall is bustling with women carrying boxes and voices overlapping in a chorus of urgency. I spot Sarah among them, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she waves me over with a smile that loosens the knot of anxiety in my chest.

“There you are!” she exclaims, handing me a roll of tape. “I was going to stop by, but I’m so glad you’ve come.”

Her greeting feels sincere, and I feel my shoulders drop with relief.

A few other women wave, and thankfully, no one mentions what happened at the bar.

I begin helping to unpack some donations and set up some sorting boxes in case more come in.

To be honest, I’m glad for the physical work as a distraction from everything that happened this morning.

Whenever I get a moment to think, my thoughts inevitably return to Aiden and the way his hand felt on mine.

If just his hand touching mine feels that good, I can only imagine what it would feel like to actually kiss him.

“Where should I put these?” a voice calls from behind me, snapping me back to reality. I turn to see the barmaid from the other night that I suspected Aiden was flirting with, struggling with a large box. I hurry over to help her.

“Just over there,” I say, taking one side of the box. She smiles at me, and I notice a smudge of dirt on her cheek that makes her look human and real and not stunningly perfect as I remembered.

“Thanks,” she says, sounding genuinely grateful. “It’s good to see you again. I’m glad you came. Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot the other night, I meant nothing by it.”

I nod, feeling slightly awkward, but also a bit braver. “I’m glad I came, too. And don’t worry about it, you did nothing at all.”

She nods, and I still feel incredibly awkward, but glad to have cleared the air. She asks about my plant magic, and I tell her all I know, which isn’t much. But it’s nice to talk about my store again, even if it makes me realize how much I miss it.

We find a rhythm working together, and she starts chatting about the fires and how devastating they’ve been for the families who lost their homes. There’s no mention of Aiden, no hint of tension, and I begin to relax.

“We’re planning a pack barbecue for tomorrow night to raise money,” she says, wiping her brow. “Do you cook?”

“I can make a salad,” I joke, and she laughs.

“Great. We’ll need all hands on deck.”

The more we talk, the more I realize how much I’ve been worrying about things that don’t seem to matter to anyone but me.

I’ve been so scared of this pack, but they all seem quite nice.

Far nicer than most in Nolan’s pack. I almost wish Hannah could see how different it is here.

I feel lighter as the afternoon passes, and before I know it, Sarah’s calling out to everyone.

“Okay, everyone,” she shouts, waving a hand in the air. “The bakery dropped off some cakes for us. Let’s take a break, we’ve earned it.”

There’s a cheer, and people begin gathering around the table she’s set up.

I’m helping to pass around some plates when I hear the door open and see Aiden walking in.

His eyes sweep the room with purpose, searching, until they lock onto mine.

The intensity makes my heart jolt, and I feel the world narrowing down to just us, like there’s a spotlight on this moment.

His presence is magnetic, drawing me in with a force I can’t resist, and the power of his stare sends a shockwave through me.

My breath catches in my throat, and I’m frozen where I stand, completely caught in the electricity of his gaze.

It’s like everyone else around us vanishes, the sounds and voices disappearing into the background, leaving only the two of us in a suspended, unbreakable space.

I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.

The connection feels unreal, and I’m overwhelmed by its strength, by how right it feels to be the sole focus of his attention.

I have never experienced anything like this before, and the intensity almost frightens me.

I feel like I’m falling, consumed by an impossible pull between us.

I think I must be dreaming until a familiar voice breaks the spell.

“I knew you’d show up for the food!” Sarah walks toward her mate and throws her arms around him in a display of affection that makes my heart clench with an unknown sense of longing.

That’s when I glance up and see Aiden is still staring at me, and it’s as if he can read my mind. For once, I find myself not wanting to look away, either.