Promised To The Alpha Twins
Chapter 36

Chloe had let me leave the classroom without any problem. Her murderous and slightly disturbed behavior faded as soon as I told her the truth. She even had the audacity to talk to me, asking about my plans once I was gone. What scared me, more than her bold threat against Aly, was how she changed with the flick of a switch. I gave a hasty and hastily drafted response to get out of the classroom.

I had just enough time to mask the fear and disgust on my face before Aly found me in the hallways. She had already taken what she needed from her locker and was now looking for me. Confusion twisted her face when she saw the heat fill my cheeks. Understanding shone in her eyes as they traveled down my neck. No doubt, she was thinking about Liam and Ethan. I sat quietly as Aly led us both to the restaurant.

The two of us rushed in and grabbed our checks from the shift manager.

“I’m still waiting for that explanation, you know.” Aly raised an eyebrow as she gave me a stern look. My stomach churned, and a shiver ran through my skin. I had promised Aly explanations for many things, explanations that I couldn’t give. I had planned to leave her a note, explaining what Chloe had done to me. Chloe’s threat against Aly made me question whether that was the right decision or not. While Aly could fend for herself, Chloe was unable to think clearly. It was just one more thing I would have to think about. Although I didn’t want anything to happen to Aly, it was eating me alive that Chloe was getting away with it. I would explain everything, warning her extensively about what Chloe was capable of. I could only hope she kept the information to herself, keeping her safe from Chloe.

“I’ll give it to you.” I coughed uncomfortably. “I’ll call you tonight.”

I wasn’t sure if I could tell Aly what happened over the phone. My voice cracked and weakened every time I tried to talk about it. Bile rose in my throat when I thought about my swollen and broken face.

Aly’s lips were tightly pressed together.

“I’ll call you around eight, Mom has a dinner with our neighbors.”

“That sounds fun.” I forced a crooked smile on my face, ignoring the pricks of guilt that settled beneath my skin.

“You’re more than welcome to join.” Aly chuckled, giving me a playful look. “I swear that dinner is going to be more fun than whatever you have planned for tonight.”

“You’re right about that,” I laughed.

“You’re going to hurt people when you leave, Sussan,” Gea murmured in my mind. “Aly is one of those people.”

“People have only hurt me,” I grimaced. “I deserve more than this, more than living in fear with people I barely know.”

“You’ll go back to them, Sussan,” Gea whispered, her voice growing fainter. “I know you will.”

I knew exactly who “they” were. The faces of Liam and Ethan flashed in my mind, their presence still lingering on my skin.

Aly and I stopped at one of the city benches. We both cashed our checks. I tucked my bundle of money deep into my backpack, eager to add it to what I had saved. Accepting Chloe’s money had been an unexpected offer, but one I had no qualms about rejecting. Accepting any form of help from Chloe filled me with a sickening sense of disgust.

Aly dropped me off at Axel’s house before heading to her own. She gave me one last stern look, worry flickering in her eyes. I gathered my strength and gave her a bright smile. Aly hadn’t asked about our shift at work tomorrow, and I hadn’t mentioned whether I would be there.

Axel was there as soon as I entered the house. His impeccable suit annoyed me, as did his dark hair slicked back. His aura of composure and superiority grated on my nerves. If only everyone knew the madness that lurked beneath his glamorous facade.

“I would like you to attend dinner with us,” Axel cleared his throat, his eyes seeming to scrutinize me rather than just observe.

“Dinner.” I wasn’t asking a question, but the word slipped from my lips nonetheless. The last thing I wanted to do was have dinner with his family. His wife and daughter clearly despised me. As if reading the disdain in my eyes, Axel made a comment about it. “They will learn to accept you, Sussan, but you must make an effort.”

“Do I need to make an effort?” I scoffed. I hadn’t tried because of the clear aversion his wife and daughter had toward me. How could I make an effort when both of them refused to even acknowledge my existence?

“I understand they can be difficult, but this is as new for them as it is for you.” Axel frowned, compassion filling his eyes as he spoke of his wife. “After dinner, there’s something I’d like to show you.”

I furrowed my brow, hoping it wasn’t another fairy tale. Axel clearly noticed the reluctance on my face but chose not to comment on it. I had no choice but to go along with it. By the end of the night, I would have left.

Axel told me to come down to the dining room in an hour and that dinner would be ready shortly after. I ran to my room, wasting no time as I closed the door behind me. I grabbed a medium-sized canvas bag from the closet and started packing some clothes. I rolled them tightly, saving as much space as possible. Besides the clothes, one or two paintings, and all my money, there was nothing else to pack. I wanted to bring toiletries, but I decided they would take up too much space. I stuffed a couple of granola bars and water bottles into the bag. It was a last-minute decision to raid the main kitchen to find some snacks to take with me. I wasn’t sure when I would eat again. I had thought of almost everything when it came to my escape. I wore something I rarely used, which made it harder for me to be identified on the cameras. I would keep my hat and hood up, covering parts of my face. The phone Aly had given me would have to be left behind, but I could manage without a phone for a while. I emptied my bank account, planning to use cash for everything I needed. I didn’t bother changing for dinner. If someone reported my disappearance, they would remember the dress I had worn that day.

I went downstairs. Axel had already taken his place at the table, Annabeth by his side. Katy sat next to her mom, a permanent frown on her thin face. All eyes were on me as I entered the dining room. My face grew warm under the stares. I couldn’t help but feel like I had interrupted something. Axel’s face showed anger as he looked at his wife. It was clear they were having a heated conversation about something. I could only guess what that something was: me.

“I’m glad you joined us, Sussan,” Axel smiled. While the excitement seemed genuine, I couldn’t ignore the irritated looks from Stacy and Annabeth. I felt like I was intruding on their family dinner, barging into something I had nothing to do with.

Axel controlled the conversation, including me at every opportunity. He asked me about my childhood, classes, and interests. I gave the necessary answers, not once looking into Stacy’s or Annabeth’s sharp eyes. Axel seemed genuinely interested in my past. His eyes filled with guilt as I spoke about my grandmother, the woman who had raised me. I could hear the love and gratitude dripping from my voice as I talked about her, along with the contempt I felt when speaking about Lia.

I finished my dinner hastily, ready to retreat and return to my room. My stomach dropped when Axel stood up from the table and signaled for me to follow him. Maggie gave me a wide smile as she began to clear the empty plates. I had forgotten that Axel wanted to show me something.

I followed Axel silently as he led me through the back door. The garden in his backyard was beautiful, overflowing with brightly colored flowers. As we entered the patio, I could smell their sweet aroma.

“Stacy did all of this,” Axel smiled proudly at the flowers. His whole demeanor seemed to change when he spoke about his family. The thought sent a small wave of pain, flooding me, one that I pushed aside and ignored.

“Really?” I scoffed incredulously. I couldn’t imagine prim and proper Stacy getting down on her knees in the garden. The image didn’t fit well in my mind. Wouldn’t she be afraid of breaking a nail? Axel did something unexpected: he laughed. His entire face lit up as his chest rumbled.

“It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?” Axel chuckled under his breath, one of his hands smoothing the fabric of his suit.

I shook my head, not knowing what to make of this whole situation.

“Why are we here? It can’t be to talk about gardening.”

Axel’s smile faded, replaced by a serious expression on his face. I regretted the words as soon as they left my lips.

“It’s not.” Axel shook his head. “I understand that I might have chosen the wrong time to explain your heritage. Instead of telling you, I should have shown you.”

The notion of even considering what he had told me the night before made anger reverberate through my veins. Axel could see the reluctant frustration forming on my face and sprang into action. Before I could turn away, a loud snap echoed in the backyard.

My eyes were wide, my mouth agape as I looked at Axel. It sounded as if his spine were being snapped in half. His eyes were wide as he looked at me, a patch of hair starting to form on his neck.

“Watch, Sussan,” Gea whispered, urging me to keep my eyes on Axel. I wasn’t sure I could look away if I tried. The whole process was fast, but my body had gone into shock a long time ago. I could only stand there and watch as my… Axel turned into a large silver wolf.

The wolf was larger than any other wolf I had ever seen, easily the size of a full-grown bear. The look in the animal’s eyes was Axel’s, I recognized it. Anger, frustration, disbelief, horror, and fear ricocheted through me like an aggressive hurricane. My dinner sat heavily in my stomach, my b***d turned to ice at the sight.

The wolf advanced slowly, sitting on its haunches when it was only a few meters away. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that. It could have been hours, for all I knew. My eyes were fixed on him the whole time, those six conflicting emotions swirling inside me. Something else began to take shape within me: acceptance. A part of me, however small, knew that Axel was telling the truth. It was as if I had been missing a part of myself, and now I was finally complete.

The thought should have filled me with joy, right?

It didn’t. I was terrified. Terrified of Axel, terrified of myself. The truth shook my head, and understanding formed in my mind. I refused to address those thoughts, knowing what they meant. Gaia wasn’t just a voice inside my head; she had been there all along. There was something else bubbling in my mind, something I had tried to forget. I had encountered two wolves before, both eerily similar to Axel.

Two wolves, identical in color and size.