CHAPTER 17 : MOONLIGHT RUN

A sharp, piercing ringing echoed through their ears, like a knife scraping against their skulls. They winced in unison, the pain brief but intense.

Bryan and Aiden looked at each other as soon as the painful ringing sound in their head disappeared, their jaws clenched.

Aiden inquired, his voice calm and firm, "I choose to believe you heard it too, brother." He exhaled slowly, his eyes boring into Bryan's, seeking confirmation.

Bryan paused, collecting his thoughts, "I did." 

"I need to go for a run," Aiden told Bryan, releasing a pent-up breath.

Bryan nodded in assent, "Me too."

At the same time, Kira was feeling better than before. She hesitated a bit but found herself heading towards the dining room.

There Bryan's and Aiden's parents, Elara and Orion, were already seated; however, they had not started eating yet.

"Sorry for being late", Kira uttered quietly.

"It is alright, sit," Orion said to her.

Kira nodded and sat down.

"Where are Bryan and Aiden? They should be here by now?", Elara asked around.

"Yes, Ma. I informed them about dinner", One of the maids quickly answered.

"They stepped out for a bit, I think. I saw them leave," Kira informed Elara.

"Oh, did they say where they were going too? Especially when we are about to have dinner?", Elara asked.

Kira just shook her head.

Elara let out a soft, "hmm."

"Well that is okay", Orion intervened, "Let us eat. Maybe, whatever it was, is important."

"Sure," Elara agreed with her mate, while giving Kira a warm smile, "You can go ahead and eat, I bet you are starving, we all are." 

Kira forced out a small smile and began taking some food.

As Kira dined on her meal, she kept thinking about what had happened earlier with Bryan and Aiden while she was on the stairs.

She just could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Their whole body movement and all. 

"Yes, I was going through a little panic but they just…something was just off.”, Kira thought, still munching, but then she shrugged off the thought, "Well good thing they left, I was getting tired of seeing their face every single place I am."

As Kira wrapped up with her thoughts, Elara's voice caught through the silence, "Kira, Kira, can you hear me?"

Elara's tone grew louder and more insistent.

"I-I-I'm sorry, I did not hear you calling me," Kira said, flustered, looking up from her plate as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Elara looked a bit worried, and she tried to read Kira's facial expression, "Are you alright though?"

Kira nodded quickly, "Yes I am, thank you."

"Umm…did you need me for something?", Kira asked, since she was calling her earlier.

"Not exactly," Elara answered, "I just wanted to ask a few questions, but you seemed to be pressed on about something."

"It is nothing, Ma", Kira brushed it off, "What did you want to ask?"

Elara's expression turned thoughtful, as if collecting her thoughts, "Just wanted to know if you are feeling better."

Kira understood what Elara meant without delay, "Yes, I am. Thank you."

"I'm glad", Elara smiled, satisfied. She really wanted things to work out between Kira and her sons. 

And, if she was being honest, she longed for Kira to call her something more affectionate. Something like Mum, Aunt, even her name, anything but "Ma", which seemed too formal.

But Elara pushed the thought aside; now was not the time, and she doubted Kira would ever feel comfortable with that anyway. Their family had caused her so much pain, and she deeply regretted it. Hopefully, it can be fixed.

On the other hand, Bryan and Aiden had forgotten about food and just needed to clear their heads. A lot had seemed to be happening, and they noticed it increased a lot more, especially with Kira with them now. Just in how many days, strange things had happened. It was not this intense before.

The first time the curse was detected in their body by the witch. She had said something about it being some kind of curse that prevents happiness or finding a true mate, something related to that, but even the witch was not sure on how to explain it.

The witch herself was unsure of the curse's origin or how to break it, only that it was powerful and deeply ingrained. And up until now, they have been searching for answers but found none.

Years of searching for answers had yielded nothing, but now, with Kira's arrival and stay with them, the curse seemed to be stirring, reacting to her presence like a dormant beast that's awakening. It was too coincidental to ignore, and Bryan and Aiden could not shake the feeling that Kira was somehow linked to their fate.

"A race?", Bryan asked his brother while smirking, "We can do with a break from so much thinking."

"You bet!", Aiden, took the challenge.

In no time, they started transforming into their wolf form. Muscles tensing, their spine arching as a ripple of power surges through them.

Bryan and Aiden's hands clenched into fists, nails elongating into razor-sharp claws, while their bones began to crack and reshape, the sound echoing in the night air.

They both gritted their teeth as the pain hit, sharp and sudden, but they were already used to it. Changing into their wolf form is excruciatingly painful, having all two hundred and six bones crack and resharpen was a pain but as time goes on, one could get used to the pain.

Their bones snapped and realigned. Soon they had completed their transformation, standing strongly on all four paws. 

Bryan's wolf stood massive, it was gigantic. His fur color was white and eyes black. 

Aiden's wolf was equally just as massive and gigantic, but his fur color was black and eyes were also black.

The Alpha twins, in their wolf form, got ready for their race. They already knew the rules, where to stop and so on and in due time, they started racing.

Their paws pounded the earth in unison, and the ground trembled beneath their feet, leaves, and wigs scattering with each impact.

It was an astonishing feeling for them, just running in the woods, being in the midst of nature, the scent, the feel.

They were getting close to the strong, tall tree, which served as a finish line for their race. 

Only one person would win, or would they reach the finish line together?