Promised To The Alpha Twins
Chapter 49

My heart skipped in my chest when I realized Bruma had wanted the three of us to share a room. Even after accepting Liam and Ethan as my mates, the idea of sharing a bed with them made me terribly nervous.

It took a couple of deep breaths to realize that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to sleep alone. I could feel the relief from the twins when they realized the same thing as I did, and I knew they felt the same.

My week away from the twins had felt like years for the three of us, although they seemed to have suffered worse than me. I wondered if I would ever forgive myself for leaving them, even if they managed to forgive me first.

The room filled with an uncomfortable silence as Liam and Ethan’s dark eyes landed on my face. The air was thick with tension as they looked at me, filled with longing and marred by pain. I opened my mouth and then closed it, realizing that nothing I said would excuse my actions.

A large bed was pressed against the wall, a burgundy duvet covering the top. I was grateful for the size of the bed, as sleeping with two large males would have proved difficult for anyone. There was a fireplace built into the wall, although it seemed unused.

The room itself was spacious but had few furnishings. The walls matched the tone of the quilt, and the carpet felt soft under my feet. Two armchairs and a coffee table were at the other end of the room, followed by a bookshelf.

I had forcibly pushed Liam and Ethan out of my mind, as if it was the only way I could force myself to leave. I had spent my life not trusting a soul, only to be given two soulmates. It took Bruma’s wise words for me to finally realize that I could trust Liam and Ethan above anyone else.

“Except for me,” Gea interjected. “You can always trust me. Even if you were mean to me at first.”

“Can you blame me?” I laughed. “I spent my life thinking I was human, only to discover that the voice in my head is a wolf.”

“I don’t blame you,” Gea shrugged. “However, you could have made it easier for all of us.”

Feeling panic growing in my gut, Gea sent a wave of comfort and courage through me. She helped calm the turmoil in my stomach, helped me find the words to say to Liam and Ethan. When I finally managed to turn my thoughts into words, I opened my mouth to speak.

“I don’t know if the two of you will ever be able to forgive me, but I had my reasons for leaving,” I grimaced, hating the sound of my fragile voice.

Liam looked at his brother, and I could feel the tension between them. They both relied on my words. It seemed like they were both worried that I would change my mind, demand to be returned to my life without them.

“We know, sweetheart,” Liam spoke softly, despite the roughness in his voice. Both pairs of dark eyes were gentle as they looked at me, filled to the brim with understanding and pain. “We know why you left, we just wish you had trusted us.”

“I didn’t want to trust anyone,” I confessed, feeling the knot inside my stomach slowly unravel with the confession. “I didn’t want this life, this responsibility. Pushing you two away meant I didn’t have to deal with it all. I had planned to leave once I graduated, but things changed.”

My voice faltered as I remembered the person who was directly responsible for the hastening of my plans. Chloe had been a big motivating factor in making me flee the city, she had even offered me money to help. While I felt pure, unadulterated anger coursing through the twins, I knew Aly had told them after all.

“We know, Aly told us,” Ethan’s voice was lower than Liam’s, and it was hard with fury. I resisted the urge to shudder and felt a twinge of fleeting sympathy for Chloe. “She has been taken care of; she won’t hurt you again. No one will.”

I wanted to press, to ask what had become of Chloe, but the murderous look on Ethan’s face stopped me in my tracks. I knew, without asking, that no punishment would be enough to satisfy his rage towards Chloe, that neither of them would be content until she was erased from the earth.

“I’m glad you came for me,” I spoke softly, searching both pairs of eyes. A brown so dark it appeared black, beautiful and filled with depth. “I know I can trust the two of you, and I don’t want to have to leave again.”

I took a step towards Ethan, wrapping my arms around his rigid form. His anger burned at the tip of my tongue, but I savored the taste. His body radiated warmth, and there was no hesitation as his arms wrapped around my torso.

“Don’t leave us again, sweetheart,” he murmured, his lips pressed against my head. I could hear him inhale deeply, memorizing my scent as if I could slip away in the night.

“I won’t,” I promised, marveling at how easily the words rolled off my lips. I had been made for both Liam and Ethan, just as they had been made for me. My instincts told me to stay with them, to cherish them and grow with them. Leaving had been an act of sheer effort and will, but staying, that was all too easy.

I stepped out of Ethan’s embrace as his anger had nearly dissipated, seeking the embrace of Liam with equal fervor. Liam did the same as his brother, planting a k**s on the top of my head. Sparks licked my skin, and I devoured every caress.

“I know we started out rough, but we couldn’t resist. We tried, but that only lasted for a while,” Liam murmured against my hair.

I could feel the peace my touch had brought them, and I wondered if they could feel the emotions that ignited within me. I wasn’t in love with the twins yet, as I had never experienced that particular emotion before, but I knew how easy it would be to fall in love with them. After all, I was destined to love them.

At that moment, I had thought they were aggressive, and yet, my body responded to every touch, every bite, lick, and caress. Somehow, my body knew what they were to me, even if I refused to accept it.

“You set the pace,” Liam continued, a wry smile on his face. “We’ll try to contain ourselves.”

“Speak for yourself, brother,” Ethan teased, raising a dark eyebrow at Liam. “Self-control is not my strong suit.”

Things were far from over, and I knew that the underlying tension from my departure still lingered. The wounds that had formed within Liam and Ethan wouldn’t heal instantly, but I was determined to be the balm that soothed their souls. I knew little about the twins, and yet, I felt like I had known them all my life.

Ethan was more serious than his brother, his anger greater and uncontrollable. Liam was the more level-headed brother, thinking things through rather than acting on blind emotion. They were opposite sides of a coin, and both belonged to me.

The three of us descended the stairs for dinner, the smell of roasted chicken, carrots, and mashed potatoes filled the air. Dinner at Bruma’s house was anything but formal.

Bruma sat in her usual armchair, a plate of food resting on her lap as she smiled at the three of us. Steve sat at a small dining table in the kitchen, his eyes on the three of us as we descended the narrow staircase.

Liam and Ethan headed to the kitchen before me, leaving me alone with Bruma. A gentle smile formed on her face as she looked at me. How a woman could endure so much pain and still manage to smile was beyond me, but I cherished every moment I had spent with her. I knew how lucky Miles was to have her, and I knew she had given him every ounce of love she contained.

For a long time, I had been jealous of that, of missing that with my own family. Now I knew that what my family lacked, Liam and Ethan would give me. They would give me a home, comfort, security, and perhaps someday, a family of my own. In that moment of tranquility, with the crackling fire and warmth rolling in gentle waves, I vowed to stay with Liam and Ethan, to face the approaching storm together.

“I’m glad you came for me,” I spoke softly, searching both pairs of eyes. A brown so dark it appeared black, beautiful and filled with depth. “I know I can trust the two of you, and I don’t want to have to leave again.”

Ethan handed me a plate of food as Liam followed him from the kitchen. My eyes widened at the mound of chicken, vegetables, and mashed potatoes on the plate. The food on my plate could feed a family of four, but my stomach happily growled at the sight.

Noticing the surprise on my face, Ethan smiled. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and my blush deepened as I saw the muscles in his arm move as he handed me the plate.

“You need to eat more, now that you’ve changed,” Ethan’s voice held amusement, but also a tender affection that made my fingers curl.

With a natural skepticism on my face, I sank into the couch and began eating. Liam and Ethan sat on each side of me, taking up most of the couch with their imposing presence. Even with the limited space, I enjoyed the closeness.

To my surprise, I had finished almost the entire plate and watched with interest as Liam and Ethan went for seconds.

We stayed downstairs with Bruma for about an hour, and I listened attentively as Liam and Ethan talked about their dad, the man Bruma had saved. They told her what a good father he was and the good he had done for his pack. Bruma seemed to relish every word, proud to have saved the man who fathered my mates.

With my head resting on Liam’s shoulder, my eyes grew heavy. My stomach was full, and my body was warm. The sense of safety and protection I felt lulled me to sleep. I was vaguely aware of the feeling of a solid chest against my cheek, and the delightful scent of Liam filling my nose. His thumb moved in idle circles as he carried me upstairs, and over Liam’s shoulder, I caught Ethan’s gaze.

“Sleepyhead,” Ethan purred, the corner of his lips lifting with the hint of a smile.

I stuck my tongue out and caressed Liam’s shoulder more deeply, feeling the amazement run through me like a gentle caress. When I opened my eyes, I was lying in the middle of the bed, the sheets piled around me. I observed with renewed interest as Ethan took off his shirt and threw it onto one of the armchairs. Liam slid into bed behind me, making me jump at the sudden touch.

“Do you see anything interesting, darling?” Liam asked, causing Ethan to turn and look into my eyes. A wicked heat returned to my cheeks, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Ethan.

Some scars remained on Ethan’s chest, but they only added to his wild beauty. I was captivated by his creamy skin and rippling muscles, and I wondered how I had been so lucky. Instead of one, I had been gifted with two companions, both identical yet completely unique.

As Liam settled into bed, his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his body. The heat radiating from him penetrated through the thin nightgown I was wearing. Even with my lack of experience, it took very little for me to dissolve under his touch.

Ethan slid into bed shortly after, turning to look at me. His eyes were dark, devoid of emotion, and yet I could feel the comfort emanating from both of them. This was the best either of them had felt in a week, and neither wanted it to end.

“By the way, lovely nightgown, sweetheart,” Ethan smiled, tugging at a piece of the sheer white fabric.

The nightgown was old-fashioned and reached down to my ankles, but I was grateful for the set of clothes. I grimaced at Ethan’s obvious amusement, choosing to bury my face in the hollow of his neck. A sigh escaped his lips, one he had been holding since I left.

Their arms surrounded me, both holding me close as we all fought against sleep. None of us wanted this to end, to return to a world of dangers and deceit. They could feel the peace that Mist brought, and none of us wanted to let go of it.

Slowly, as their breathing evened out and I leaned into their embrace, the cold that had enveloped their hearts began to thaw.