CHAPTER 7 : ABOUT THE RITUALS

Bryan felt the guilt eating him out as he saw how red Kira's cheek was from his slap. He sighed inwardly and wanted to reach out to her cheek, he thought it would be best if he didn't but he just…he just wanted her here with them. If only she would just accept them, then maybe it would help a lot.

Kira could feel Bryan's gaze on her and slowly looked away. But still, she could still feel his heavy gaze, and it was causing her to be a bit worried because he was not saying anything, just staring at her.

Bryan on the other hand, reached out to her, softly, his jaw clenching at the mark on her face caused by him. Aiden noticing what was happening just chuckled inwardly and also sighed tiredly.

Kira flinched slightly and, still feeling his gaze on her and now his touch, she looked up, her eyes meeting his. She tried to read him but could not, she had no idea what he was feeling or thinking, and she hated it, she wanted to see.

Bryan brushed his fingers against her cheeks, his touch gentle, soothing and warm. They could both feel the spark of electricity as his hand came in contact with his cheek.

She was upset but could feel her skin warming under his touch, her heart rate slowing as she unconsciously leans into his hand and purrs a little. It seemed like his touch had calmed her down and soothed her from the pain she was feeling earlier, even though it still stung, but it was not as much as before.

When she finally came back to her senses, her eyes shot wide open, and she quickly sat up straight, while Bryan's hand just hung in the air, with one of his brows raised in a questioning way. Aiden could not help but chuckle loudly, making it more embarrassing for Kira.

"Seems like she enjoys being touched, brother," Aiden said teasingly while Bryan laughed softly.

Kira blinked a few times while facing him, her eyes dropping slowly to his lips as she felt her breath caught in her chest. It seemed the connection was getting stronger.

"What is wrong with you?", she scolded herself in her mind, "What are you doing? He literally just slapped you, and you are enjoying…oh moon goddess, what is wrong with me?", she yelled at herself. 

It was like she was betraying her emotions, and she did not like it, she wanted nothing more than to hate the Alpha twins and leave this pack. She did not want to falter, and she definitely will not fall for their trap.

"I hate them, I hate them", Kira kept muttering to herself, "They hurt me, they treat me like trash, they see me as just an Omega, I hate them. Why are they cold and next thing they are sweet, I can not", she closed her eyes, still muttering inwardly to herself how much she hates them and would never accept them as her mate.

"They are just toying with you", She muttered to herself and nodded, "That is the only explanation to all these."

Bryan watched Kira closely before calling out to her, "Kira?"

"Hm?", she answered while still being in her head but shook her head as if to keep the thoughts at bay as she properly answered, "Yes Alpha?"

"Before we talk to you about what we wanted to talk to you about, I would like to apologize," He said, surprisingly to Kira.

She had to steal a short glance at Aiden, and looked around to be certain she indeed heard right.

"I know it is difficult to believe, but I apologize for hitting you," Bryan continued despite seeing her very well surprised and shocked reaction, "I know I should not have lost control like that and hit you. But…"

"Here we go," Kira said in her mind, "Of course there would be a but, there always has to be a justification."

"But you need to understand, you are mine. You are our Omega, you belong with us, and we won't let anyone or anything take you away from us, not even yourself."

Kira forced herself not to say anything, she could only say how she truly felt in her mind, "What about me? What about my happiness? What about what I want?", that was everything she wished to say out loud but could not.

"And if you leave, it will destroy us, and we won't be able to protect you", Aiden spoke from behind her.

"I need protection from the both of you. The only protection I will need would be one from you and your brother," Kira said inwardly.

"You are safest with us, this is where you belong Kira, and we will do whatever it takes to keep you by our side, you just need to accept it", Aiden pressed on.

Kira was not even sure if this was an apology anymore. Who apologizes like this?

Kira had no choice but to pretend like everything was okay, "I understand", she muttered softly and let out a short breath.

She sat there waiting for them to say something, mostly because she remembered they mentioned they wanted to talk to her about something and the sooner they did, the sooner she could get some time alone to think.

Since it was taking like forever for them to talk, she decided to start the conversation herself, "So? Umm, you said you wanted to talk about something."

"Yes", Bryan remembered, his gaze drifting to her eyes as he pulled himself out of his trance, her voice was so soft and sweet, "this Omega is going to be serious trouble for me", Bryan thought, "but in a good way."

"Aiden, can you?", Bryan asked his brother and Aiden nodded and seated upright, "Of course."

"We want to talk to you about the bonding and mating ritual," Aiden informed her, "We need to finish those as soon as possible, and you also need to be announced as our Luna."

"But i- please don't make me, I don't want to complete them, I am not ready, I have not even agreed to accept the bond we share," Kira said and quickly stopped herself before she would say something that would upset them.

"You do not have a choice Kira, we do not want to force this on you but if you fail to comply, then we…", Bryan paused before he could finish up his sentence, a peculiar scent tickling his nose.

He looked up at his brother and asked, "Do you perceive that?"