Page 47 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)
Chapter forty-seven
T he connection my wolf felt with Hunter the second I laid eyes on him still astounds me. That I could have a brother never even crossed my mind. The confusion over what was happening made both of us more growly than needed.
Now that we are shifted back to our human forms, I can’t stop staring at my brother. Fuck, I have a brother. I study him, comparing his looks to my own and my poisonous memories of my father.
We are far from twins, but the resemblance is there. I can see it in the shape of his eyes, the deep black hair we both got from our father, and our imposing size. Even though he’s younger than me, he’s the same height. Once he stops growing and fills out, we will look even more alike.
My emotions are overwhelming, and I try my best to push them away to stay focused. “How old are you, Hunter?”
The girl from the airport, the one that sparkled us directly here, is leaning into his side. Her fingers are toying with the ends of his hair as she leans in to kiss his temple.
Hunter takes her hand in his before looking back at me. “I just turned twenty.”
Twenty. That means there are eight years between us. Memories of my father threaten to overwhelm me and it’s all I can do to stay in the here and now instead of collapsing as I hear my mother and sister’s screams play on repeat through my head.
Shasta leans forward, drawing our attention to her. “I’m going to give you guys a cliff notes version of what I know, then leave you to get to know each other.”
Piper and Sage each take one of my hands, and I can feel the comforting presence of my brothers standing behind us. I’m so thankful they are here with me. The thought of going through this by myself is terrifying.
Shasta clears her throat. “I had a vision about the two of you a few months ago, but it wasn’t the right time to say anything yet. Maverick, given what I saw of your past, I’m sure there are a thousand different scenarios running through your head and none of them good. I want to help put some of them to bed. Hunter was adopted by Maggie, Finn, Shad, and Nox when he was eleven. He can tell you about the time before that if he wants, but your father was never in his life.”
I feel like my bones have melted. Hunter obviously went through some shit before he was adopted into the family but knowing that my father never had a chance to hurt him is one terror off my mind.
“Was he that bad?” Hunter’s quiet question makes me realize that my reaction wasn’t exactly subtle.
“Yes. I don’t know what happened to you, but you’re much better off never having met the man that fathered us.” A shudder rolls down my spine. If Hunter had been raised the way I was, there’s no telling how he would have turned out. Either running like I did or bending under the abuse and expectations.
On the heels of that thought is one that freezes the blood in my veins. Is this my fault? Did my father decide to start a new family because he lost his precious heir when I ran away?
One of the two women sitting to our right clears her throat. I’d been so focused on Hunter I hadn’t really paid much attention to the twins in the room. At least they would be twins if the one didn’t have two white streaks in her hair on either side of her face.
The one with the white hair leans forward, and her eyes feel like they are boring into my very soul. “Maverick, nothing you did caused this. Every person is responsible for their own destiny, their own choices. You leaving was fated long ago, as was Hunter’s conception. As Goddesses, we are powerful, but we can’t see everything and even if we do see it, we can’t always change it. What you both went through was necessary to make you into the amazing men you are today. You and your brothers are perfect for our girls and Hunter is a perfect mate for my precious granddaughter.”
“So, if you didn’t meet our father, who hurt you? How did you end up at the shelter?” I know it’s not really any of my business, but I find it hard to believe that he missed out on one abuser, only to land with another. Sometimes the universe is cruel.
“My mother and the man I thought was my father were abusive. It was shortly before I escaped I found out why. They were fated mates, but I wasn’t his son. When he found out, he took it out on her and then she took it out on me.” Hunter leans into Olive, lacing his fingers with hers. I’m thrilled that he’s found his mate, and they seem so close.
Shasta rubs her forehead. “Your father raped Hunter’s mother. She didn’t know she was pregnant when she got away. She was ashamed and scared to tell her mate the truth, so he believed you were his for a long time.”
Sage rubs the back of my hand. “Why don’t you and Hunter go for a walk so you can have some privacy?” We both nod in agreement. This has been one hell of a revelation, but I’m so happy to have found out that I have a brother.
Piper squeezes my other hand. “Before you two take off, we should probably introduce you to the Goddesses.”
Wait, what? “Goddesses, as in plural?” I look from Sage to the twins, then to Shasta and Hunter’s mate. What is going on?
The girl snuggling with Hunter is clearly the youngest, in both looks and mannerism. The way she hides her face against his shoulder and giggles has me grinning in return.
“Maverick, this is our Amma, otherwise known as Rhoda or the Moon Goddess.” Piper gestures to the twin without the white streaks in her hair. “Her apparent twin is actually her mother Hera, also known as Mother Universe.”
I feel like my eyes are about to pop out of my head. Who knew I would be meeting the rulers of the whole freaking universe?
“Shasta is Rhoda’s granddaughter. She’s both a powerful witch and a demi-Goddess. Last but not least is Olive, our little shadow Goddess, who is Hunter’s mate.”
There is so much information flying at me I feel overwhelmed. “Fuck me.”
“Why don’t we leave that to Sage and Piper?” Olive gets out between her giggles.
Hunter and I have been staring at each other for what feels like hours. Realistically, I know it’s probably only been fifteen minutes.
I shove my hand through my hair and give him a rueful grin. “I honestly don’t even know where to start or what to say. I thought when I lost my mom and sisters and then ran away, I would never have a family again. I’ve heard enough about my mates adopted family to know you are surrounded by good people, but are you happy? Is there anything you need?”
Hunter chuckles at my rapid-fire questions. “You know that butterfly dragons make gold when they sleep, right?” When I nod, he shrugs. “Well, between Nox and my mate being the Shadow Goddess there is nothing material that I could ever need. Finding this family was the best thing that ever happened to me. My parents are amazing, and Livvy is the bright light that brought me out of the darkness. Just knowing I have a brother and having the chance to get to know you would make me ecstatic.”
“I’m so sorry for everything you went through. If I’d known about you, I would have come for you in a heartbeat. Our father was a horrendous piece of shit. He murdered my mother and sisters in cold blood because he wanted a new mate. He thought daughters were a blight on his family tree and needed to be removed.”
Hunter pales as he listens to my story. “I’m sorry that I’ll never have the chance to know them, but I would love to hear about them sometime.”
I’m honestly touched. I didn’t know what to expect from suddenly having a little brother, but he’s proving himself to be a great man. Someone I’m proud to call family.
“Maybe you can introduce me to your mate-brothers? I’ve known the girls since they first came here and think of them as sisters. I’d love to get to know their mates.”
I jump up, slapping Hunter on the shoulder. “Let’s go, I’ll introduce you.”
We head for the backyard where the rest of the family is waiting for us. I’ve barely got the backdoor open before a tall blonde woman is squeezing the life out of me. “I’m so glad that you two found each other, and I hope you realize you are part of the family now. As Piper and Sage’s mate, you would have been anyway, but now as the brother to my baby, you have officially earned yourself another set of parents. Your mate brothers as well.”
“Geez mom, let him breathe.” Hunter laughs as he moves around us and down the back stairs.
Given the mom title I’m going to assume that this is Maggie.
I gently return her hug. My throat is so tight with emotion it’s all I can do to whisper. “Thank you for taking care of him, Maggie. I’m so happy his childhood was filled with love and laughter over more tears and scars.”
“Out of the way, Maggie! You can’t hog my son-in-law. He’s the only one of the bunch I haven’t gotten to squeeze yet!”
Maggie steps back, laughing as an older version of Sage latches onto me. “Maverick, I’m so happy to finally meet you. I already told your brothers, but I know how thick men’s heads are, so I’m going to repeat myself. We couldn’t be happier with you all being mated to our girls.” She stretches up on her toes as she yanks on my arm to get me to lean down. Once I’m bent nearly in two, she kisses my cheek. “Welcome to the family.”
I close my eyes and hug her back. There is something different about mom hugs and it’s been years since I had one. Now I’ve had two in a span of minutes. “Thank you, Mama Rose. It’s been a long time since my brothers and I knew love from outside our group.”
“Aarrgggg! Damnit! Why did you have to go and turn me into a sprinkler? Cobalt! There is wet stuff leaking from my eyes and you need to fix it. You know how much I hate it when this happens.” The loud voice from right behind my shoulder makes me jump. Ashley brushes past us, scrubbing furiously at her leaking eyes as she goes in search of Cobalt. Maggie is standing at the bottom of the stairs, also crying.
The way Maggie’s giant red headed mate is glaring at me makes me hope someone will explain before I get flattened for making all the women cry.
“I really don’t see the big deal about tears. I’m a woman of the night and I love a good cry. It always feels so refreshing to let all my emotions out.” A woman with long, curly red hair says casually as she walks past in the same direction that Ashley went.
“Did she just say she’s a prostitute?” I can’t help but give voice to my bewilderment. The way everyone around me immediately starts cracking up tells me this isn’t the first time the question has been asked.
I can’t wait until I know all the inside jokes that go along with being part of this family. There is no better feeling than belonging.