AaronI quickly rushed to my step mother’s side before my father could get to her. Shock was evident on her face. I gently led her to a seat, soon Lucas was giving her a glass of water. When had he arrived the scene? I raised my head to see Zach and Trenton walk in too. They formed a group behind me.“Baron what are you doing here?”“You’re hurting me dad.”“Don’t go there. Don’t play that card, Baron.”Dad shunned my twin brother.“What card am I playing, dad?”“What is wrong with you? Why did you come?”“You don’t want me? I’m now an outcast?”“You made yourself an outcast, young wolf!”I could see dad was getting angry. This was Baron’s lifestyle. Because he was miserable, he wanted everyone around him to be miserable too. No one was the cause of his misfortune. No one was responsible but he decided I was and now had this crazy plan to carry a revenge and get his own pound of flesh. Baron was deranged!“Was it by choice?!”He yelled.Anger surged through me. My wolf was furious, bu
KatharinaI was standing at the vanity mirror in my room. My eyes were puffy, my hair was a tangled mess. My nose was red from all the crying. I just stood at the mirror, eyeing my depressed, forlorn reflection. Maybe I should run away from here? Anytime I thought of school, I felt myself curl up in shame and panic. The stigmatizing agony I was going to be put through. I could already hear students laughing and mocking. I could hear the hushed tones of them calling me a thief. The accusing fingers wherever I went. The boys had been my source of confidence. When I was with them, I could take anything. From Lucas’ bubbly nature to Zach’s crazy behavior to Aaron’s calm, encouraging smiles. Even Trenton’s cold, aloof attitude was oddly supportive. I was used to hanging out with them, but I guess all that was gone. I was alone again. Or maybe I should try one more time.Maybe they would listen. I needed them. I would not be able to survive school without them. They called me a Salvatore, I
“That is no way to treat a lady.”Another voice said from behind me, I turned to see it was the strange Aaron’s identical twin, Baron. I had totally forgotten about his presence here in the house. After I had quietly left the boys to their issues, I had climbed up my room and remained there until this moment. Up close, I could really see every feature of his face. They were so identical you could almost never know who was who until they introduced themselves.“And what would you know about treating a lady?”Aaron asked. Anger was heavy in his words.“It might not be much but at least I know you never raise your voice at a woman. Never make her cry.”“I have told you, mind your business.” Aaron seethed.“And let you keep bullying her? No.”“I am not bullying her.”“Then what have you been doing since I walked into the house?”“It’s none of your business.”“That’s what you say to defend your oppression.”“What is your problem?”“I have none. Except one though, you.”“Stay o
The mug, now empty, was placed back on the tray. “I thought you don’t drink hot chocolate, you know being manly.” I teased him. I had been unable to finish the drink, he had offered to empty the mug for me.“I offered to help you out, that’s a manly act.” He replied.“Yeah right.” I eyed him, teasing him with my smile.“You’re so ungrateful. You should be thanking me.” He went back to making himself comfortable on the bed, it suddenly reminded me of Lucas and how he also assumed that position whenever he came into my room. My eyes stung and I blinked them back. Baron was here to comfort me and I should appreciate him, not thinking of things that would only bring me more painful memories.Plastering a smile on my face, willing to play along and let Baron fulfill his reason for coming with me to my room. “You’re just mad I’m questioning your manliness.”“No one can question my manly abilities.” Edging closer, he said in a low voice. “They’re top-notch.”That erupted more laughte
I wiped tears from my eyes, feeling hope rear its head but I couldn’t let it come out completely, just in case. “Are you sure? You’re willing to help me?”His smile was so like Aaron's and it made my heart skip a beat. I had to remind myself he was not Aaron, he was the twin. The long lost twin brother who was meeting me for the second time that day yet was willing to help me. Life was quite the irony, wasn’t it? The one that I had noticed was considered to be the black sheep of the family was the only one here with me. I didn’t know if I should be grateful or feel betrayed.“Hey, you’re a Salvatore right?” I looked at his face, then nodded. “Yes.” A sniffle. “Yes, I am.”“Good. You’re in safe hands, we’ll find out who did it and why, okay?” His gaze was gentle and reassuring.“Thank you.” My gratitude could only come out in a whisper. The tears would not stop falling. I felt the humiliation of today in school sting so bad. I was going to be known as the school thief. The first stude
“What was that for? Why did you lie to her?” I rounded on him as soon as the door clicked close behind my mother.“You’re welcome.” He touched the tip of nose.I wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off of his face. “I am not grateful for what you did.”“You’re still welcome.”I groaned in frustration and annoyance. “You clawed my back, why?”“Why not? To make our story believable.” Was his careless reply.“First off, it was your story not ours. Secondly, was that necessary? How were you able to grow claws in a matter of seconds?” I studied his nails, they were neatly trimmed. So how come?“Alright, I agree it was my story but it just saved you. Secondly, I’m a werewolf. An Alpha werewolf for that matter, so I can let out my wolf without transmuting.”“So you just let out your wolf’s claws?” That sounded ludicrous to me. Unbelievable even.“I let out any part of my wolf I want. Don’t look so surprised. I’m unique, I get it.” He winked.I frowned. “You wish.” I told him, then winced. “You
“Don’t crucify me, Katherina. I told you that was a necessary lie.”“Tell me how necessary it was. Explain. You promised to.”“Let’s finish eating.”After that was silence. The only sound heard were forks or knives hitting plates. Soon, I was filled and could not stomach any more. My tray still harbored food. Baron’s tray was empty, he pulled mine closer to him and ate whatever was left of it too. I gawked, my eyes shooting out of their sockets in pure astonishment. Did he just finish a whole tray of food and some of mine too? Why the hell? And he did not look overfed neither was he struggling to breath. He was perfectly normal. “You are a certified glutton Baron.”“I’ll take that as a compliment.”My gaze reflexively wandered to his stomach, it was still flat. Not a single evidence that he swallowed that huge amount of food. “Does your stomach hurt?”“Why should it hurt? What did I eat? Knives or rocks?” “You ate that much food Baron. Your stomach should hurt in the very least.”“W
“You’re strange too.” I told him.“You know, I was not expecting a new family when I was coming home. I obviously expected a lot of things but not an additional family”“Me too.” I agreed with him. “When my mother came home to tell me she had found a mate and on the night we were instructed to leave our pack, I was surprised at the crazy turn of events. I mean, we were some hours away from going rogue and your dad comes into the picture like a messiah. Saving my mom and I from further humiliation and suffering.”“Why were you instructed to leave your pack and go rogue?”My hand subconsciously went to fiddle with my bracelet. “Let’s just say the story is quite complicated. They did not like us. I was bullied in school then banned from going to school. My mother was not allowed to buy from or sell to anyone in the pack.” My eyes grew misty as memories swamped me. “We were just struggling to survive. Imagine living in a pack that spits at you, mocks you and taunts you anytime you step ou