Page 9 of Alpha’s Twins (Alpha Kings Island #3)

“So,” Tristen begins with his brows already raised. “How’s mated life treating you?”

I don’t even get a chance to answer because Jace lets out a dramatic low whistle from behind me. I roll my eyes.

“It’s fine,” I reply, hoping they’ll all just move on and get to discussing why we’re holding this alpha meeting: Malik.

“You sure about that?” Tristen presses, his voice amused and prodding. “The way I hear it, she didn’t leave the room for two days straight.”

I tense. “Who told you that?” I ask, but I already know because I’d asked Emily for advice. I should have known she’d blab.

“I don’t know what the issue is.” Jace reaches for a beer. “She’s hot. You should be proud.”

I grunt, trying to ignore the flicker of possessiveness. “The alliance is solid. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter how she is.”

“Wow,” Tristen replies, throwing his hands up. “Do not say that around Emily or Ava. They’ll have your balls.”

I groan, knowing I sound like a complete asshole, and that’s not how I want to come across.

The truth is, I’m just frustrated. She is hot.

Not in a traditional shifter way, but she’s undeniably cute because she’s shorter, and her face is angelic and makes me want to protect her with a force of passion I’ve never felt before, but her curves are anything but sweet.

They’re deadly and are currently driving me insane every time I set eyes on her.

The rare times I hear her laugh, it speaks to my soul in a way nothing has before, and the way she has brought the garden to life with her magic intrigues the hell out of me. She intrigues the hell out of me.

And she doesn’t feel the same in the slightest. In fact, she physically rejected me.

If it weren’t so gutting, I’d probably feel more humiliated, but overall, I just feel disappointed.

Truth be told, I’m not used to women pushing me away.

I genuinely thought she was being jealous about Cate, and my wolf was celebrating, thinking we’d finally made a breakthrough…

but no. It was wrong. I shouldn’t have kissed her or touched her.

I’m trying to give her space to warm up to me, not completely freak her out.

I busy myself grabbing another beer from the bar area while trying to ignore Jace and Tristen, who thankfully seem to have moved on, at least for now, and are greeting Callum and his beta, Griffen.

I can only hope they don’t use it as an opportunity to bring them into the conversation about my love life—or lack thereof.

I’m still thinking about how badly things are going with Serena, my wolf’s frustration only matching my own, as I head back through the bar to the meeting room at the back.

Originally, we’d planned to meet on one of the trails to light a fire and kick back, but with a storm rolling in, no one minded switching to the bar.

I haven’t been in here since the night before the ceremony.

I spot some of the local witches sitting by the fire and nod in acknowledgment as they giggle.

For a moment, I pause. A nagging voice in the back of my mind says, why not just have some fun with another female? You don’t need Serena to want you anyway.

It seems so obvious, and judging by the smile the brunette witch is giving me, it shouldn’t be too hard, either. Hell, maybe she needs some fun, too.

“Aiden? You coming?” Callum calls through the door just as my wolf begins to niggle at me, clearly less on board with the plan, which surprises me.

I turn, raising my beer to him in acknowledgment and head back to the meeting.

I’ve been dreading this, but if I’m honest, it’s just more of the same.

As everyone else begins to relax about Malik with no sightings, it just pisses me off.

Now would be the perfect time for him to make his move.

He’ll wait until everyone’s guard is down.

As expected, the meeting discussed the latest patrols and how trade has increased, but my brothers aren’t keen to increase the numbers they put on their own borders.

They want to concentrate on their own packs and put the business with Malik behind them—which only works if Malik is actually gone.

My wolf is convinced he’s still in the mountains.

His rogue army may have been defeated, but I can feel he’s still out there somewhere, I’m sure of it.

I try pointing out that Ralph obviously failed to take him out after Emily’s father weakened him.

Malik waited until our packs were in a state of transition after Ralph’s death to make his move—what makes them think he’s not just waiting for the right moment again?

My brothers listen, and I know they’re not completely at ease either, but they want to refocus on their own packs and put this behind us.

They’re clearly not going to listen to the youngest brother on this.

I try to stuff down my rising frustration and focus on the meeting, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore as my wolf feels like snapping every time Tristen or Callum try to change the subject.

Eventually, I sit back and try to gather my thoughts, almost zoning out in an attempt to keep my cool.

Suddenly, I hear someone mention Serena’s name and see red. “Will you stop pushing me about Serena?” I growl.

All the faces at the table turn to me in surprise. “What are you going on about, Aiden?” Callum snaps. “I said Serena’s here.”

What the fuck?

I knew Sarah and some of the other women were meeting Serena for dinner earlier. I was relieved she agreed, as it would do her good. Even if she didn’t want to talk to me, she should integrate with the pack. But I didn’t know they’d bring her to the bar.

I turn, and there she is. Serena.

She stands out like a star in the dim light of the bar, impossibly small for a shifter, but with the kind of presence that demands attention.

Her hair falls in glossy waves, catching the light as she tosses it over her shoulder, and her curves, more pronounced than I remember, are accentuated by the figure-hugging jeans and pretty low-cut blouse she’s wearing.

I can’t tear my eyes away from her full breasts, the dip of her waist, the way she moves like she’s made of something ethereal and untouchable.

Her lips are a perfect pink, and her eyes, so bright and aware, scan the room and meet mine for the briefest second.

It’s enough to make my heart still in my chest. She smiles, but it’s uncertain, as if she doesn’t know if we’re supposed to even bother greeting each other.

“Looks like she’s doing just fine,” Tristen chuckles from his seat next to me.

Sarah and Cate flank Serena, their laughter loud above the music.

I watch as they make a beeline for a group of men standing by the bar.

Sarah heads toward a tall shifter with a beard that I recognize as her mate, but I barely notice because my eyes are glued to Serena.

She’s smiling, and I can see the other men nearby noticing her, turning to take her in, one by one.

I can feel their eyes on her, and my wolf begins to seethe even more.

I realize I’m probably glaring when Serena looks away awkwardly and Cate says something to her, sparking more laughter. I hate this. I hate how I can feel her presence in the room like it’s a tangible thing, a force pulling me toward her.

“Earth to Aiden,” Callum waves a hand in front of me, laughing at my expense. “You’re staring.”

I grunt and force myself to look away, even though every cell in my body and wolf is protesting.

“Let’s just finish this up,” I mutter, and the guys exchange smirks, but for once, they let it go as we wrap up the meeting, and I head back toward the bar with Jace.

I’m relieved my brothers haven’t followed us, because I need time to cool off.

By the time we reach the bar, Jace is already eyeing a redhead who’s pouring drinks on the other side.

“Okay, spill. What’s up with you?” he says, but I ignore him and flag down the barmaid.

She’s pretty, with red hair spilling over her shoulders, and eyes that draw you in.

She’s a regular here and never fails to make an impression.

She saunters over, leaning on the bar with a smile that’s all invitation.

“What can I get for you, Alpha?” she asks, her voice low and playful.

“Two beers,” I reply, trying to sound casual, but my wolf is distracted, still stuck on my brothers and Malik. But mostly Serena.

The barmaid pouts, her lips full and tempting. “Are you sure you don’t want to try the witches’ brew again? Just made a fresh batch.” She leans in closer, her scent sweet and intoxicating. “I’ll give you a taste.”

Jace nudges me, grinning. “We’ll take it,” he says, and the barmaid’s eyes light up.

“Coming right up,” she winks, turning to pour the drinks. I roll my eyes at Jace, and he shrugs.

“I don’t have a mate,” he laughs, his eyes fixed on the barmaid.

He’s right, obviously. Besides, I always told myself I could still have fun with or without a mate.

The thought lingers, tempting but almost uncomfortable as the barmaid places the drinks in front of us, her fingers lingering on the glasses.

They’re filled with the witches’ brew, a dark, swirling liquid that smells like spice and something more dangerous.

“On the house,” she says, focusing her attention on me.

“That so?” I smirk, feeling Jace’s satisfaction radiating off him.

“Think of it as a welcome back gift,” she replies, her voice teasing. “Haven’t seen you since the night before your…” she trails off, her eyes flicking to the table where my brothers are still sitting. “New arrangement.”

I glance at the drinks, then back at her. “I see,” I reply, suddenly wishing I hadn’t even accepted the drink.

“Enjoy.” She winks again, and Jace laughs, reaching for his glass.

“Bottoms up,” he says, and it’s as I’m about to down mine that I hear Sarah’s voice behind me.

“Aiden. Jace,” she says quietly. The barmaid seems to catch Sarah’s eye and disappear rapidly.

I turn, nearly choking on the drink, and see that Serena is with her, holding some drinks. I didn’t even notice them come over.

Serena’s eyes are wide, and her expression is unreadable.

Suddenly uncomfortable with how this might look, I reach over and make a point of kissing Serena’s cheek.

She bristles, and I hear Sarah scoff lightly.

I notice Serena’s hands are trembling, and she turns to Sarah.

“I shouldn’t be here,” she says. “Thank you for inviting me, but I’m going to head back now.

” She sets the drinks down and spins around to leave. I reach out a hand to stop her.

“Wait,” I say, “You don’t have to go.”

She freezes, and her eyes finally meet mine, a storm of confusion and sadness. “It’s fine,” she says, her tone lighter than her expression. “I don’t want to make things awkward for you. Or your friend.” Her voice quivers on the last word, and she glances back at the barmaid, who’s now with Jace.

“That’s not—” I start to say, but she’s already moving.

My wolf feels like it’s being shredded, which is ridiculous.

I move quickly and grab hold of her arm to stop her.

That’s when she spins around, and suddenly all the centerpiece flowers on the tables burst into life, growing rapidly and mutating with spiked leaves and sharp needles.

There are screams as shifters and witches alike leap out of their seats, and I notice Tristen and Aiden rush through into the main bar to see what is going on.

Serena gasps; she’s clearly shocked herself, and instinctively takes a step forward to avoid one of the spikes, so I pull her into my arms. She’s hesitant at first, but then allows me to maneuver her toward the door.

I catch Jace’s eye, and he nods, “Go. We’ll sort this out.”

I nod at my brothers, who look equally surprised and impressed all at once, before pulling Serena through the bar doors and into the cool night air. Turning to look at her, I notice she’s as white as a sheet. Something tells me that she wasn’t expecting that to happen, either.

The storm has just started to break, the first few drops of rain spotting the pavement around us, and I have to resist the urge to pull her close. She’s trembling, but I can’t tell if it’s from the shock of what just happened or something else.

“Serena,” I start to say, but she cuts me off.

“Can we just get out of here?” she asks shakily, and I nod, leading her over to the truck.

It’s only a short ride to the house, and we drive in silence as I try to think of the right thing to say.

I should have gone over as soon as she arrived.

She’s my mate; I made us both look bad. I internally groan at how it must have looked when the barmaid was flirting… even if I wasn’t going to do anything.

But the flowers…that’s certainly different.

As we get out of the truck, the street is quiet, and I can tell she’s feeling calmer. “Are you okay?” I ask, concern, and regret lacing my words.

She nods, but her eyes betray her, and I can tell she’s shaken. Her lips tremble as she opens her mouth to speak.

“I’m sorry,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t mean to—it just happened. I’m sorry.”

“Serena,” I say, reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It’s softer than I imagined, and her eyes widen at the contact. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel—”

“Stupid?” she says, and the accusation cuts deep. I try to speak, but she cuts me off. “It’s okay. I am stupid for getting upset about it. You don’t owe me anything; this was a deal between our packs. I know it’s not a real mating, and I know you don’t want me.”

“Of course I want you,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop myself. Why would she think I wouldn’t want her?

Her eyes meet mine instantly, and for just a moment, I see a flicker of interest reflected back, but it’s gone in a flash as she instantly brushes it off. “You don’t have to say that; it just makes it worse. I don’t need you to make fun of me, okay?”

She turns, and I see her hand tremble as she opens the door, her shoulders tense and rigid. I don’t want her to go. Not like this.

Taking a deep breath, I follow her up the steps. “Serena, I’m not making fun of you. I’ve never…” I pause, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I know, " she says, an attempt at a smile on her face. I want to say more, but I don’t know how to handle the situation.

Before I can do anything else, she slips inside and leaves me standing on the porch feeling completely out of my depth, my wolf pacing over the night's events like he could rip straight through me out of pure frustration.

How am I going to put this right or get through to her?