Page 17 of Alpha’s Twins (Alpha Kings Island #3)

Callum’s southern beach is a riot of color and movement, and for a second, I think about turning around and leaving.

Callum’s pack has set up a hell of a training area, the sand divided into sections, flags marking spaces for combat drills, and the air echoes with the sound of shouting and laughter.

I can see some of Tristen’s pack sparring with Callum’s, their bodies a blur of speed and strength.

Some of the younger wolves are already paired off, rolling in the sand, and I feel a sharp pang of nostalgia for the days when I didn’t have to organize these things myself.

The good old days—before the pressure of being an alpha and the threat of Malik.

Jace elbows me, a mock grin plastered across his face. “Looks like they’re having fun without us.”

“Not for long,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

We head down the beach, a few of my other betas trailing behind, and I catch sight of Callum near the water’s edge, talking to a group of his pack members, clearly organizing the day.

Being the oldest, he just loves to take charge of any situation.

He looks up, sees me, and raises a hand. “Aiden!” he calls, his voice easygoing, like nothing’s changed.

I nod, raising a hand in return, but there’s an awkwardness to the motion, a hesitance I can’t quite shake.

I see Tristen a little further down the beach, and he looks up at the same time, seemingly catching Callum’s eye as they nod at each other.

I groan. The last thing I need is either of my big brothers going in on me today. I’m in no mood for their bullshit.

Jace claps me on the shoulder, and I think he can sense my reluctance. “Want me to run interference?” he asks, his voice suddenly more sincere, and I remember he’s known me long enough to know the score.

“Nah,” I say, but the thought is tempting. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Jace heads toward a group of Callum’s betas, and I make my way to the water’s edge, where my brothers are waiting together, a united front that’s hard to miss.

The sand is warm underfoot, and I can smell the salt and sweat in the air, the mix of it reminding me how different things are down here, away from my mountains.

“Aiden,” Callum says again, grinning like I haven’t spent the last week trying to ignore him. “You made it.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Figured I’d better show up before you think I can’t handle a simple training day.”

Tristen laughs, a short burst of sound. “We never said that, little brother.”

“Sure,” I reply, letting the sarcasm bleed through.

Callum scratches his head, a gesture that’s almost sheepish. “Look, I know we’ve been on your case lately,” he says. “We’re just worried about you. You’ve had a lot on your plate.”

“Yeah,” Tristen adds, his expression more serious. “We’re sorry if it seemed like we were trying to run your pack or take over the search for Malik on your land. We know you can handle it.”

I look at them, trying to gauge their sincerity, trying to swallow the irritation that’s been clawing at me since I got here. “All right,” I say, the words like pebbles in my mouth. “Apology accepted.”

Callum’s grin is relieved, and Tristen claps me on the shoulder. “We just want to help, Aiden. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” I shift my weight, uncomfortable with the sudden change in tone. “Thanks.”

Their sincerity makes me more uncomfortable than their advice ever did. I’m not used to them backing down like this. “How’s it all going?” I ask, trying to change the subject and escape the sudden closeness. “Looks like you’ve got quite the setup sorted here.”

“Yeah,” Callum says, glancing over the beach. “We’ve got combat drills, endurance runs, and some strategy sessions in the afternoon. Trying to keep the focus, you know?”

“Good luck with that,” I say, watching as a couple of the younger shifters break away and start sprinting toward the water.

Tristen smirks. “I’ll keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t get too distracted.”

I nod, unsure what else to say, unsure how to bridge the gap that seems to have grown between us. “And Serena?” Callum asks, his tone more careful. “How’s that going?”

“Fine,” I say quickly, but I can tell they’re not buying it. I can tell they’ve already sensed the doubt that literally clings to me whenever I consider the situation with Serena.

“Just fine?” Tristen presses, and there’s a knowing edge to his voice after Emily has been at the house.

I shrug, the gesture more defensive than I intend. “She’s still getting used to the pack. And adjusting to everything.”

“You’re still getting used to it, too,” Callum says, his voice low enough that the others don’t hear. “We get it.”

I want to snap, to tell them they don’t get it, but I know they do. I know they’ve been there, and that’s the most annoying thing of all. “I’m figuring it out,” I say, and it’s the closest thing to an honest admission I’ve made in weeks.

Callum nods, accepting it for what it is. “If you need anything,” he starts, but I cut him off.

“I’ll let you know,” I say, and there’s a hint of a smile on my lips.

Tristen shakes his head, a grin on his face. “Stubborn as ever,” he says.

“Just like you,” I reply, and watch as his grin widens.

Callum looks between us, and I can see him trying to decide if he should push further or leave it alone. “We’re glad you’re here,” he says, finally. “It’s important.”

And just like that, I feel the shift back to today’s real purpose.

With all that happened with Malik, training the younger betas fell by the wayside.

Now, even with the threat of his return lingering with the recent fires, it feels like the right time to begin training the younger shifters again.

Nothing worse than a younger shifter who’s untrained but whose wolf is driven to combat.

If anyone should know that, it’s my brothers and me.

Our wolves have always required purpose and direction to function effectively.

Looking out over the beach at the young shifters, I suspect these young men and women are no different.

“Then let’s get started,” I say, and we walk back up the beach together. Although they don’t say any more about our recent disagreements, their presence continues to feel like an itch I can’t quite reach as the day wears on.

Callum’s pack is already forming groups, and I notice Jace organizing some of my younger wolves, his voice clear and loud above the din. I join him, and we begin directing the drills, the air buzzing with focus and energy—a welcome reprieve from thinking about everything else.

The sun climbs higher, and the beach becomes a blur of movement, the packs merging into a sea of young shifters pushing their limits.

I throw myself into it, shouting commands, demonstrating moves, letting the raw physicality drown out everything else.

The sand becomes hotter underfoot as the afternoon progresses, and I feel a fierce satisfaction as I see the younger wolves respond, their bodies quick and fluid, their wolves eager for the challenge.

Tristen leads a group through combat exercises, and I catch Callum’s eye as he sets up strategy games further down the beach.

He nods at me, a silent understanding passing between us, and I feel the tension ease, just slightly.

Working with my brothers like this for the first time in a while reminds me of how things were when we were younger.

We always had each other’s backs when it came to Ralph, and it shouldn’t be any different now with Malik as our common enemy.

It seems strange to think of Ralph in the same sort of terms, but that’s just who he was. He could be an evil bastard at times.

It’s late afternoon when I find myself against Tristen in the sparring circle, the others forming a wide ring around us. His eyes are sharp with challenge, and I know he’s been waiting for this, waiting for me.

“Think you can handle me?” I ask, my voice low and taunting.

He grins, a flash of teeth. “Always could,” he replies, and the crowd around us cheers as we circle each other, the sand shifting beneath our feet.

“Let’s see,” I say, and I lunge, my body moving before the words are out.

He’s fast, but I’m faster, my wolf lending me speed as I come at him hard. I feel the force of his block up my arm, but I push through, using the momentum to spin and strike again. The crowd shouts, the noise blending with the rush of blood in my ears.

We grapple, our bodies twisting, and I let my frustration fuel me, give me a focus I’ve been lacking. I can see the effort in his eyes as he tries to match me, the surprise as I push him back, relentless, my wolf demanding the upper hand.

The beach is a cacophony of howls and cheers, but all I hear is the sound of our growls, the clash of our bodies, the primal intensity of two wolves fighting for dominance. My wolf is wild, relentless, the frustration of everything—Serena, Malik, my brothers—fueling every bite and lunge.

We’re evenly matched, a blur of fur and teeth, and I feel the edge of my anger begin to tip into something dangerous—my fire beginning to brim under the surface. But just as it feels like I’m about to snap, Tristen pulls back, breaking the momentum.

I pause, breathing hard, feeling the heat of the fight in my chest, and I know he’s right to stop.

We shift back, the transition leaving us both panting, and I see the question in his eyes, the unspoken challenge.

My wolf is still raging, but I force it down, the need to prove myself warring with the sharp sting of reality.

Tristen’s breathing is heavy, his body tense, but there’s a wary respect in his gaze. “You been holding out on me?” he says, his voice edged with surprise.

I shrug, trying to play it off, but I know he can see through me. “Maybe I wanted to see if you were up to it.”

He laughs, a short bark of sound. “Looks like someone’s got a lot of pent-up energy.”

Isn’t that the truth, I think. I reach out my hand and pull him up as the crowd cheers and moves on to the next fight. The energy in my muscles still thrums, but I force it down, knowing better than to take it out on the wrong person. My brothers may annoy me, but we’re family.

But he’s right, I do have a lot of pent-up energy, and there’s only one person my wolf is thinking about right now.

Excusing myself, I say brief goodbyes and get a few knowing looks from my brothers and Jace as I leave them to the evening bonfire and head back to my truck.

Driving back toward town, I feel some of the tension in my body ease as I hit the mountain roads.

The house is quiet when I walk in, and my footsteps echo in the stillness.

I follow the soft sound of running water toward the kitchen, my pulse racing.

Serena stands at the sink, her back to me, and I can’t stop myself.

I walk up behind her, the need to have her overwhelming, and she turns just as my hands find her waist.

“You’re home,” she says, a statement rather than a question.

I don’t even reply, I just kiss her, hard and hungry. Her lips part, and she leans into me, her body soft and warm against mine. My wolf howls with satisfaction, and I feel the last of the day’s tension melt from my skin. She’s breathless when I finally pull back, her eyes wide and searching.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, and there’s a tremor in her voice that drives me wild.

I sink to my knees, pulling her skirt up around her full hips. “What I’ve wanted to do all fucking day.”

She gasps as I grip her thighs, pulling her closer. Her scent surrounds me, intoxicating, and I bury my face between her legs. She’s getting wetter by the second, and I groan as she moans and clutches the counter for balance.

Her hips buck as my tongue flicks against her, and I can feel the tremors in her legs as I continue to flick her sensitive clit, relentless and hungry.

She tangles her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, and I hear the breath hitch in her throat.

The small, desperate noises she makes only drive me more insane.

I feel her tense, her body tightening, and I move faster, feeling her pulse under my tongue as I slide one finger into her tight channel before adding another.

“Please,” she cries, and it’s a plea, a command, everything I want to hear. Her whole body shudders, and she screams, a raw, beautiful sound that echoes through the kitchen.

Her body goes limp, but I hold her through it, freeing my cock and standing in one fluid motion.

I lift her onto the counter, her eyes wild and wanting as I slide into her, hard and fast. She gasps, her legs wrapping around me, pulling me deeper.

The heat of her is overwhelming, and I thrust into her, my wolf howling with the raw, primal need to claim her, possess her.

“Fuck,” I groan, feeling her squeeze around me, hot and slick and perfect. She lifts her face, meeting my gaze, and I see the same wild need reflected back at me.

“Aiden,” she says, her voice breaking, and I know she’s going to come again. I can feel it, feel her body tightening around me, pulling me over the edge with her.

“Serena,” I growl, and I explode, my release crashing into hers, raw and consuming. My wolf howls, fierce and triumphant, and I bury my face in her neck, feeling every pulse and shudder of her body as we ride it out together.

Our breaths are ragged, and I hold her against me, feeling the last of my tension melt away, the heat of her skin, and the wild beat of her heart.

My wolf whispers, she’s mine.