She nervously waited in line for her turn to enter. Spending a little of the money she had to buy a nicer shirt as all of her old ones were not nice looking. The twins would pay no mind to what she was wearing, but she still wanted to look nice. People had stared at her oddly when she had signed up, an omega most likely could not bear alphas just like betas due to their weaker wombs. Despite the stares, she persisted, waiting in line until it was her turn to go. Anyone could enter, just as long as they had presented and hadn't previously gone.
Her bones still ache slightly from the night before. Shifting in such a small room was enough to make her wolf anxious, adding to the fact that it had been so many years since she had last shifted it made it even worse. Most wolves shifted at least once a week, sometimes daily. It was dangerous for them not to. Anastasia hardly ever did , and when she did it was for brief moments in her room, too scared to spend more than an hour in her wolf form in case she was seen.It was the third and last day of the competition, and looking through the line of hundreds it must've come in the totalling days. It's a wonder how the alphas hadn't found their mate yet. She heard two omegas near her gossip about the alphas, how they had prepared so many gifts for their mate over the years and were ready to spoil them. One of them mentioned the rumor that the Sinclairs had built a whole house on their own for their mate.As she heard more about the twins, she felt more envious about this mate of theirs, they would be very lucky unlike her.she didn’t understand why her omega was guiding her here, to show herself to the Sinclairs when her wolf form was a more precious part of her than her hair. Would they maybe look at her, decide she wasn’t their mate but take an interest in her and that way he would find her mate?The hours she waited felt like minutes when her name was called out. A chaperone guided her through the entrance of the Sinclair compound and outside a room. As she moved closer , the scent of the alphas enveloped her nose, dark chocolate and sea salt. It reminded her of home and also her favorite snack. That didn't help ease the tension in her muscles. Shaking, she walked inside the building , being greeted by the twins for the first time. She knew they had prepared a speech in front of all the other potential suitors, but she had arrived too late to see them. Now standing in front of them, she wished she had been prepared.Both alphas were tall and muscular, at least 6’8 each. The one on the left, who he guessed was the warrior twin, had long curly hair that went past his chin, messily tied up with tendrils falling down. He had a scar adorning his cheek and stern expression that made Anastasia want to immediately submit. He was wearing a hunters outfit, the layers thick and heavy yet a good portion of his solid chest was exposed. The other alpha, the leader, had shorter hair, resting at cheekbone length. He was wearing lighter layers but still excluded unimaginable strength from his stance and scent alone. They had the exact same look but looked so different, it was fascinating but at the same time unnerving. The leader had a kinder expression, thankfully, his human side eased at that.The attraction was evident, a rope pulled her to come closer to the alphas, to bend over, to bare his neck. She controlled herself as much as she could, even though her omega was screaming at her to move. She didn't understand anything. What was going on? Why was her omega not saying anything?She never explained anything to her, always just pulled her in a direction.She felt faint. Their scent , their looks, their gazes. Everything was too much for her to handle. Their eyes were trained on her, not faltering for even a second as they shamelessly gaped at her. The warrior’s face seemed displeased for some reason, making Anastasia’s omega wail in rejection. They weren’t talking, clearly waiting for her to make the first move. She was already severely unprepared when she impulsively decided to join yesterday but standing here now felt like she was leaning forward off a cliff. Dangerous, except the only thing being threatened was her heart. Why was she feeling this way?The wolves were large, that was enough to make her scared. No alpha back home was anywhere near their height, yet she’d seen multiple wolves down on the streets at such impressive sizes. They could snap her neck easily, or chain her and sell her off. White fur was rare, a commodity.Her omega hushed her . The wolves didn't smell dangerous, just powerful. Yet still her lack of knowledge on their character was a huge problem in her plan. She should have made an effort to discuss the alpha with the omegas around her during all those hours. It was early evening now and she knew only the basic facts.Show your hair, her omega whispered, they can be trusted.Anastasia still trusted her omega, and because of that, she started unwrapping the scarf that covered her head. She swiftly unwrapped her hair in one go, the silver locks falling around her face messily. She couldn’t bear to look at them so she kept her eyes on the ground. Ruffling her hair as she tried to make it look kind of appealing. An audible gasp was heard, making her head snap to their direction. They looked at her like they were in wonder. Her hair was completely unique, no dye could color one's hair like this.When whe was younger, her hair was to be kept as short as possible without looking too bad, and dyed weekly with coloring herbs to disguise her true nature. She distinctly remembered how her brother would scold as he massaged the color into his hair after missing the top of her head when he had dyed it.She knew she was totally different, and in a way unforgettable. But that was the issue. She was easily identifiable, which isn't good when you are a runaway.The silence was thick and heavy, both parties unsure on how to proceed.“Shift,” the leader said calmly, even though his face betrayed the fact that he was struggling to contain his emotions. Anastasia looked back at the floor in humiliation, feeling embarrassed about her nudity. She forgot that she had to shift.“Please could you- could you turn around?” She said softly, eyes darting nervously between them. The leader furrowed his brows before turning around, the warrior kept staring at her before following his twin. Anastasia wasted no time in getting undressed, scared that they may peak at her bare skin. Her loose shirt and pants came off in one go.Not even waiting to step out of the clothes, she shifted, groaning a bit from the pain. The alphas let out a possessive snarl before they whipped around, sensing the omega. What they saw shocked them though. A pure white wolf. They were the rarest form of wolves, known to be the most beautiful. And one of them was standing in front of them, smelling like their mate. The pull to the omega became unbearable.Anastasia felt it too, and she finally understood.Two? She had two mates.“Shift back,” the warrior announced menacingly, he wanted his omega in his arms. This was their mate for god’s sake! The omega whimpered a bit, cowering down to cover herself. With an angry huff, he grabbed his twins around and turned him around, giving the omega privacy once again. The minute he sensed that the omega had turned, he twirled around again, marching to the omega quickly and dropping to his knees in front of her, eyes ablaze. Anastasia had only managed to grab her shirt to cover her front parts.The alpha watched her, analyzing her every detail, a hand reached up to touch her silver hair. The omega flinched. She felt the other twin sit next to her, wrapping his arms around her protectively and burying his face in her neck. Anastasia felt terrified but safe at the same time, so she bared her neck just like her omega instincts were telling her to do in front of the alphas. The warrior kept touching her, face looking angry as he trailed his hands over her face, never brea
“I don’t know your names,” Anastasia piped up, “I only know that you are the Sinclair twins. Nothing else.”They stopped sniffing her, “You don’t?” Their expressions were identical looking in confusion. Anastasia had to stifle the urge to laugh. How were they so similar yet so different?“Yeah.”“I am Lionel but call me Leo,” said the leader, “I am the elder, that is my brother Logan.”“Okay,” Anastasia breathed. “Leo and Logan .”She felt a soft kiss on her left cheek. “I love hearing my name on your tongue,” said Leo. Hands travelled further down near her buttocks. She was jolted out of the blissful dream“Are you claiming me tonight,” Anastasia said anxiously, suddenly realizing that she was in bed with two half-naked alphas. She was still very scared about that. “I have never taken a knot, let alone two. Will you bite me tonight? Will I get bred?” Her voice became higher pitched from worry, scent souring . She didn't want to be mounted, she ran away specifically because of that. I
She woke up in bed alone , the alphas scents still thick in the air. The scents were foreign yet it settled deep into her bones as if it was something her omega had been familiar with for years. Nothing had yet to make her scared, so she didn't bother panicking. The alphas claimed she was their mate, and treated her nicely, she just hoped that the treatment would continue.As she stretched her arms out she felt the warmth on the bed sheets, they had just gotten up. She couldn't remember a time when she slept so well, the alphas scents and presence had given her the ultimate beauty sleep. With bleary eyes, Anastasia saw Leo Sitting on the desk in the far corner of the room, eyeing some papers. He looked so soft in the plain green garment, tight around his figure but the material thin. For that moment, he didn't look like a strong leader but a normal alpha doing some work.At the sound of Anastasia's movements, his eyes snapped up and gifted the omega with a warm smile. Anastasia’s t
Leo Guided her into a large office after eating, gesturing for her to sit in the seat on the opposite side of the table. He started rifling through some sheets, trying to find something. Anastasia sank on the chair, the size of it engulfing her. Her feet didn't even touch the ground, it was clearly made for the alpha."What will I do in the pack exactly," she asked tentatively. She hadn't been told off for speaking first before so she felt brave. The alpha had come back now with a book, sitting down on the chair next to her and gesturing for the omega to sit on him instead. The omega weaved around the large desk and sat in Leo’s lap again, shuffling around to get comfortable. From the looks of it omegas got held and carried around everywhere in this pack, she liked it. Such care was never given to omegas back in her pack. "Will I just stay at home and care for our future pups?""No," Leo Said, placing soft kisses on her neck after he finished rifling through the sheets. They really l
Anastasia spent the rest of the day reading some books about the pack and how it runs. Whilst he was shuffling through the documents, tidying it up after reading everything, Logan walked in.“Time for dinner,” he grunted and lifted Her off the floor, not giving the omega enough time to not only see him come over with his intentions clear but also to be picked up. She didn't like this alpha all that much, he looked mean and barely spoke. But he was her other mate so she hoped she could get used to this alpha soon.She wanted to be fond of this alpha just like she was of Leo , both of their touches were not forceful and made her turn into putty immediately. Logan’s hold felt firmer, stronger, but less like he was trying to stop her from running away and more like he wanted to keep her safe. The alpha’s attitude still seemed gruff, just like all the ones that had wronged her in the past. But she hoped it wasn't true, he shared the same DNA as the sweetest alpha she’d met so that accou
“Can you fight?” was the first thing Logan said to her the next day. She had woken up alone again, but it seemed like she would be spending the day with this twin instead. Anastasia felt tense around the alpha after what he said yesterday, it still was settled uncomfortably in her stomach, troubling her. She didn't have the guts to ask about it though.Anastasia swallowed her food. “A little.” She already had a clue where this was going after waking up to only one twin. Yesterday was her doing Leo's activities, and today it was with Logan.“You're going to learn today, and throughout your life now. Everyone fights in this pack,” Logan declared.“Okay,” she agreed. She had always wanted to learn combat, her brother had taught her a bit in the past in order to protect herself .“If they are close to you then aim for their bits,” he used to say, “then run and find a weapon. The bigger the better. Scream loudly to scare them, alphas don't expect omegas to be aggressive.”“What do you kn
"Wow you are so pretty, and your hair, it's such a lovely color" a beta came into her bathing area, gawping at him. Logan had dropped her off to wash off, going somewhere to deal with orders. She had expected to spend the rest of the day alone, but clearly not.“Can I help you?” She asked nervously, confused as to why she was there. She looked like a maid, who Anastasia had only managed to get slight glimpses off through the few days. They had all been kept away from the omega, for what she could guess was privacy.“Oh sorry,” the beta snapped back, regaining her manners. Her smile was so wide and contagious, eyes closed in a happy grin.“I am Julia, your personal maid. I came to help you bathe.”Anastasia blushed, getting bathed by a maid wasn't as uncomfortable as by her alphas, but still uncomfortable. “That won't be necessary, I like bathing myself.”Julia pouted, looking disheartened “but that's my job.”“You could keep me company?” She suggested. Julia seemed so lovely and she re
The day when she would be officially introduced to the pack arrived, it would be two days before she would be marked in front of the pack. Anastasia shuffled around nervously in her room as Julia assisted her with clothing, it was a fancier outfit than normal and needed someone to tie the back for her. The twins had left to get everything ready so she was alone preparing herself for the big day.Julia gave her encouragement as they styled her still short hair a little, applying finishing touches as the time to go started looming over."Everyone is so excited, don't worry about it. You don't even have to say anything," Julia reassured as they walked down the halls to meet the alphas."I guess," Anastasia muttered, her hands shaking a little.Logan Was the one to greet her surprising her by pressing a soft kiss on her cheek as he placed a large hat with a veil on him, keeping her hidden until it was time for her to be revealed properly."Ready?" he asked lightly, grabbing her han
March 26th “These flowerbeds are going to look great this summer.”Eden leaned against Ian by the window of the large living room, above the flowerbeds that Johnson and his men, including young Trubshawe, were preparing, burying the flower bulbs.“Amara is growing, too. It's late March, spring is in the air.”Ian put his arm around his omega’s shoulders and drew her closer. It was still a shock for him to know she was his.“Do you think it's possible to be this happy?" asked Eden.“No, not usually," he replied, smiling. Then he leaned over to tickle Eden’s earlobe with his tongue, watching for her reaction. “But I know lots of ways to enhance the sensation.”“Oh, I know that.”Eden tried to react like a respectable viscountess and show a little reproach towards her rascal of a husband, but she hardly succeeded.“As it happens," Eden whispered to him in an engaging voice, "we have no obligations either this afternoon or this evening. I've kept us a few moments free, since we're packi
Ian made it his own, sensing that this was their real first time. The alpha forced himself to control his desire and keep an eye on Eden’s, which rose and rose, until the final conflagration, the simultaneous deflagration.“My love…”Ian gasped again. “Forever and ever. Forever and ever.” “My omega,” Ian whispered, stroking the back of her neck.Ian looked at his omega with such tenderness, as if he couldn't believe he had it all to himself.“You're mine, aren't you Eden?” The alpha asked, looking tall and majestic above her“All yours” Eden nodded vigorously, her breath catching as she felt Ian’s hands wrap around her ankles, caressing her calves before spreading them apart, making more room for between her thighs“Yes," Eeen murmured, "yes, all yours, mark me.”“Are you sure?”“Yes, I want to be yours, completely”Ian let out a tiger-like growl just before he bounced on his prey, before leaning in, his mouth hot and heavy as he rubbed his lips across Eden’s cheek, up to her chin,
“Sir”It was Philips' voice that brought Ian back to earth; he'd just lost the most important person in his life.“Sir." Philips insisted in the face of his master's silence. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we await your orders. It's getting dark, the current is preventing us from crossing and continuing our search, so I think it's best to go back inside, get warm, regain your strength and start again tomorrow. Also, you'll have to prepare for the worst, sir, with the low temperatures and the cold.”“Are you mad?” Ian asked, his voice full of fatigue but above all full of bitterness. “Excuse me, sir?”“My wife has just been carried off, I don't know where she is or what state she's in, and all you can tell me is to go home, get warm and prepare for the worst. So I repeat, ARE YOU CRAZY?”“I'm sorry, I…”“Enough... Send Jem to tell my Aunt and Alexis to take care of Amara. Then gather all the men near the clearing with the best hunting dogs you can find. I want everyone to get to work,
Ian first saw the shattered pillars of the bridge, then a wavering figure stepped out to meet him, a small dog barking frantically at his heels. Ian jumped down from his saddle and Toby leapt into his arms. A baby's cries could be clearly heard over the roar of the river.“Where's my omega, Philips?”“Still in the car, milord. With the maid and the baby. The footman's a little hurt, but he'll be alright. I sent him for help. It was the floodwater that caused the bridge pillars to collapse as we drove over...If we make any sudden movements, it'll cause the rest of the bridge to collapse.” Ian put the dog down and ran along the bank, the coachman on his heels. When he reached the carriage, Ian had to fight the urge to jump straight into the water to save his family.“We need ropes, horses and... Ah, thank God, there's Murrow!”The carpenter galloped down the hill, pulling his wagon team along. When he reached the bank, he braked with the reins. The men with him jumped down from th
We'll go down to the hotel, Mary," she announced to the maid, pulling from her bag the London guidebook she had taken from the library. Let's see which one is the most suitable..The horses slowed as they took the path that led to the bridge over the river. Eden glanced out the door at the fog-shrouded landscape, then back to her guide. “The Pulteney looks to be the most comfortable and central," she explained, trying to keep her tone light, "but it's certainly very expensive. Let's see.”The sedan lurched forward and, at the sound of hooves on logs, Jimin realized they had reached the bridge. There was a terrible creak. The coachman screamed and the sedan pitched sideways. Eden tried to grab hold of Amara, but her hands could only clasp Mary's dress as Icy water invaded the darkened cabin. They had fallen into the river.Ian waded to the edge of the torrent, the water almost completely submerging his high boots.“Too late," he announced. The dam's already broken. There's no way
Breakfast the next day was more tiring than Eden had imagined. Ian behaved with impeccable courtesy. He smiled at her, spoke to her politely, and when Eden sent the servants away so she could talk to him about what had happened the day before, Ian simply shook his head.“Let's not talk about it anymore, Eden. We've got to put it behind us. Your nerves were on edge after a few days at the reception.”Eden wanted to apologize, to explain why she had lost control of herself. If Ian pretended that nothing had happened, would she be obliged to leave for London and let this unspoken issue hang over them forever?There was a knock at the door, and Jackson entered. Behind him, several men in working clothes could be seen gathered in the corridor.“Lord and Milady will excuse me," he began, "the rains have caused the river to burst its banks. Turner sends word to the lord that he fears the mill dam may break.”“I'll be off then”Ian put down his napkin, stood up and walked into the corrido
What had happened? What had gone wrong? Ian contemplated in the deserted corridor, as stunned and shocked as if someone had just cut open his chest and ripped out his heart. He'd thought he'd made Eden happy and brought her security. But that had only been an illusion, which had now been shattered. He didn't know how he was going to make things right, or even if it was possible. No doubt Eden was in her room. Toby stood at the door, whimpering miserably. Ian knocked on the door, then turned the handle. To no avail. The bolt was pulled. Swearing muffledly, he tried to open the boudoir door. Locked too, as was the door to the baby's room. He knocked again.“Eden?”SilenceStriding to his own room, Ian tried to open the connecting door. It too was locked. Exasperated, he pounded his fist on the panel.“Eden, my angel, will you please open the door?”Through the wood paneling, he heard the child's startled cries, which put an end to his anger almost immediately. Amara must b
The day after the christening, it began to rain heavily, much to Eden’s dismay. With her brief experience as mistress of the house, she wondered what he was going to do with all her guests, on a rainy Saturday, after matins and lunch. But her worries proved futile. The bishop retired to his room to read his sermons, the older ladies took up their embroidery, telling each other the latest neighborhood gossip, while the younger ones obligingly kept the children occupied and did a thousand favors for Amara, as well as for Leon, Iris and Jasper’s baby. The alphas had disappeared. Some of them had withdrawn from the bishop's sight to play cards or billiards, while others had gone to visit the stables. As for Eden, she sat quietly, sometimes making sure the babies weren't too tired, sometimes simply enjoying the rain drumming on the windows and the crackling fire in the hearth. Jasper entered the room, his hair soaking wet, and leaned over to whisper something in Iris’s ear. She loo
——6th of January——— “Your Grace”Eden gave a deep curtsy like Alexis had taught her to do. Immediately her hands were grabbed, and one of the most handsome young men she had ever seen helped her to her feet.“Please, call me Alastor, " replied the Duke of Avery, kissing her on both cheeks. “Ian,” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “where did you find such a pretty omega?” “Just looking at her to know you don't deserve it.”“You can let go of her now, Alastor,” Ian said quietly, smiling. The look on his face, however, indicated that he was ready to slay any man who got too close to Eden, whether he was a duke or a prince.Eden felt overcome with excitement. She was a little apprehensive about this baptism reception, but, for the moment, everything was going wonderfully. The only downside in recent weeks was that Ian avoided sharing her bed, probably to let her rest a little after giving birth. Since Amara’s birth, however, the alpha seemed more distant than Eden would have liked. W