003

Storm lay on the bed in Tasha's room, staring up at the ornate ceiling above her. The intricate plasterwork was like nothing she had ever seen before, and she found herself mesmerized by the details. The soft blankets and plush pillows enveloped her in comfort, and she felt like she was floating on a cloud.

The room itself was like something out of a fairy tale. The richly paneled walls were adorned with paintings and tapestries, each one more beautiful than the last. The grand fireplace at the far end of the room was carved with intricate designs, and the flames flickered and danced in the hearth.

The windows were draped in luxurious silk curtains, which billowed gently in the soft breeze that drifted in from outside. Storm could hear the distant sounds of the city, a comforting hum that reminded her that she was not alone.

As she gazed around the room, she felt a sense of awe wash over her. This was a world that she had never known, a world of beauty and extravagance that was beyond her wildest dreams. 

She did not know if she should count herself lucky for actually finding Tasha.

If it was a blessing or just something that would backfire.

But she felt calm. She felt very peaceful here.

And she decided to just focus on this good thing that was happening, to take her mind off her present ordeal, no matter how hard it may be.

And it was indeed hard.

Anytime she closed her eyes all she heard was her alpha’s cold face as he laid accusations on her, huge accusations. His cold eyes as he banished her from the pack she always knew as home, for nothing, just to protect his pride and reputation.

How she wished she had never gone into his chambers in the first place.

But all she wanted to do was help. A decision that was stupid on her part.

Men don’t deserve your kindness. Her mother would always say.

At least mist men don’t.

Storm sat up from the bed and reached for a photo frame on the bedside table.

 It was a picture of Tasha and a man, a man who looked slightly like Tasha.

She stared at the two, Tasha’s laugh and the way her arms were clung tightly round the man’s waist, 

The man in the picture caught her attention.

He was tall and muscular, with sharp, chiseled features and a strong jawline. His hair was dark and tousled, and his eyes were a piercing shade of blue. 

He had a rugged, dangerous look about him that was both thrilling and intimidating.

Storm felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she looked at the photo.

 She had never paid attention to any man back at the pack. Of course, there were attractive werewolves but she never found herself interested in any of them.

But there was something about the man in the photo that called to her.

 A tenderness, a warmth, that she had not expected. He was holding Tasha close, and there was an intimacy in the way they were touching that made Storm feel like an intruder.

She felt a twinge of envy as she looked at Tasha. She knew that she and the man in the photo were close, that they shared a bond that was beyond Storm's understanding.

 But even as she felt a pang of jealousy, she instantly scolded herself.

She had no business getting jealous of Tasha over a stranger. No business at all.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Tasha walked in with a grin.

Storm walked up to her but stopped mid step when two more men walked inside the room too behind her, with blank expressions.

For a moment, her heart skipped and hairs rose automatically, but she calmed herself down as the three walked further into the room.

It was...the men, two of them were the man in the picture, but Storm could not figure out which one was in the picture because these two men standing beside Tasha looked exactly alike. No single difference…

Well there are some differences. One looked leaner and his hair was styled in a bun, but aside that…she was practically staring at clones.

And the one with the bun was staring at her with a very weird expression which had Tasha raising a brow.

They did not say a word as he took a step towards her, his face squeezed in a mix of emotions, and his eyes were shining…. from unshed tears?

Storm’s heart broke at the anguish on this man’s face.

He looked like he knew her from somewhere but that was highly unlikely.

“Oh my God….” He whispered brokenly, his shaking hand coming up to cover his mouth.

Now Storm was just confused., although deep down she was drawn to this stranger, she felt her soul reaching out to him.

“Uhmmm,” She muttered looking now at Tasha who was also staring at the man with tears streaking down her cheeks, “Can anyone tell me what is going on here?”

Tasha faced her with red eyes and smiled sadly, then laughed wiping her tears, “It is a long story Storm. One which would really interest you,”

Storm frowned, backing up as the man took a few more steps closer to her.

“I don’t understand,” 

“Well of course you don’t, you have been deprived of a lot of things Storm” The other twin said, his face still hard as stone as he stared first at his twin brother then at her with a burning gaze.

“Deprived? No one deprived me of anything.”

“Just sit down,” Tasha said and guided her to the bed. A gesture she appreciated because suddenly her knees were too weak to hold her up.

She did not like whatever was about to happen. She suspected that they were about to say something huge to her that could make lots of differences in her life, and Storm was not sure if she was ready for whatever it was.

She thought she could at least put complications behind her even for just today, but here these three are, looking at her like some lost treasure.

But what if….

“It is really all complicated Storm, but…this is my brother Blue,” Tasha said pointing at the second twin who just grunted and stride towards her with his hand outstretched,

“It is pleased I am to meet you Storm” He said, although his face looked anything but pleased.

Storm took his hand in a handshake and….

“Mother fucker!!!,” The man shouted, snapping his palm away from Storm’s hold eyes wide.

Mother fucker indeed.

She stared at her palm, still tingling from the painful zap she had felt from Blue’s touch and suddenly she was propelled down memory lane, just about twenty-four hours ago when she had felt this same thing.

In the Alpha’s room, while he was sitting bare-chested staring up at her with cold eyes as she explained how her herbs could heal his wounds instantly.

And then the moment she had laid his hand on him, the electrifying shock they both felt had her pulling away and gasping for breath, even as her wolf did a little of joy.

A shock which had indicated that she and the alpha were mates.

But the Alpha had been upset at the idea of having an Omega as a mate, he had bitten her neck before she could recover from the shock and rejected her as his mate that instant. Moments before she called the council and accused her wrongly before the whole pack

No….

Storm shook her head as the memories she had tried all day to block away came flying back. This could not be happening again.

There was no way she could actually have two mates in just twenty-four hours.

That just does not happen.

Distantly she heard Tasha saying something, and Blue replying in his deep baritone voice, Tasha responding again, then calling her name, but she was too distracted to hear a word they were saying.

“This is all the more reason she needs to stay. We cannot lose her Blue,’ Blue snapped loudly, bringing Storm back to her senses.

Lose her? What did she mean lose her?

“I am afraid Tasha is right, Storm. You are my mate; you are meant to stay here”

Blue said

What the hell were they talking about?

‘And besides that,” Tasha leaned in and sat beside her with a smile, “Your power is something very rare. I can tell from your eyes, Storm. You have very very rare powers, which I am sure no one has really explained to you. Yu staying here is the best option for you”

“Oh…” Storm whispered when it all came clicking in, ‘So all these, the kindness, was just for my powers huh? You figured I would be a nice asset to your pack, right?”

“No of course….”

“And it is really convenient that I ended up mating with one of your brothers, right? So, I could not have a reason to refuse huh?”

‘One of my brothers?” Tasha frowned, “Oh, Sir Raven over there is not my brother. Not even related”

Not related? How on earth was he…

“I don’t care,” Storm snapped standing up from the bed, “I am not going to let anyone dictate my life, tie me down or take advantage of me and whatever my powers are. Not now, not ever”

Then she turned to Blue who was staring at her with her arms crossed over his chest…” Mate or not” She spat.

“Storm,” She turned around to face the other mana, Raven whose eyes were now red although he was smiling with a very tender expression on his face,”

“You don’t understand my dear. It is not just about your powers, or the mating, it's way more than that. You have a very good reason to stay”

He said, and Storm felt her anger slowly dissipating as she listened to him.

“Really?” She said, “Then tell me what possible reason do you guys have for wanting me to stay?” 

“Because Storm,” Tasha whispered, “Raven is your father.”