“Since you don’t know, it might help you both understand each other better and why things work and don’t work for you. It starts with being twins born on either side of the stroke of midnight. This has a telltale sign of your wolves and your features as humans. One dark, one light. One represents the night sky and stars, while the other represents the moon. Got that? Here’s the issue. You aren’t fraternal twins. There’s a term dissimilar identical twin. You’re identical, but not. Now this is where things get complicated. You are two halves of one person. One develops only part of the life skills they need and the other learns the rest of the life skills. You are effectively only a fully functioning person if you are together. Living, working, and, well… loving. You’re meant to have one mate between the two of you.”
 
It didn’t take Helena to return to the packhouse with the twins following her. Dr. Merton insisted on one final examination of them before he took his leave. “Thank the goddess. They aren’t killing each other.” Jillian came into the study and saw the twins lounging on the sofas. “You know we’re going to need to refurnish this place if what you say has to happen does. We need more desks, and these sofas will need to be smaller too. What do you think Chris, a couple of desks tucked in here by the other bay window? Thank you, Jill. I’m glad you missed us. We missed your sparkling conversation, too.” He gave her a lopsided grin, so she knew he wasn’t being cut with his words.&nbs
“Fine. I agree. Party time is over and if Helena is correct. If we want to survive and be successful, we need to continue like this together. But for that, you want us to be clear on who’s in charge of all the aspects of our life or lives. I’m not sure of how to define this. But you want to cover aspects including heaven forbid one of us is out of commission. That’s what I’m hearing. Is that correct?” Chris didn’t hedge around anything. He, like his brother, got to the core by cutting through the emotional baggage. Helena felt her relief rise that they were sitting down and talking rather than yelling at each other. “Exactly. If we can do that, I feel we can go forward with this. But I will state upfront I feel you often give me busy work to get me out of the way for whatever is going
“When we’re ready for that. There’s a lot more that needs to happen before we can even think of that. So, would you both please just finish this up? It’s dragged on long enough. You’re just being foolish about all of this.” Helena just wanted to change the subject and get on with more pressing needs. “Yeah, just give it to us the paper and we’ll sign it.” Chris took the page and pen from Jillian. Signed his name before he passed it to Brian to sign. Which he then signed. “I guess it’s up to both of you to sign this and then this should be a legally binding document. You good with that, Chris?” Brian held out the paper and pen to Helena again, as he waited for his brother to respond. “Yeah, it feel
“Oh, yes, I have some news to report. Our investigator has entered the territory of the Blue Mountain Pack as a rogue seeking a new pack. He has confirmed that Nathan is there with a female. Also, that non-attack was a scouting mission to see what our defences look like. Basically, they believe we won’t change up our defences if they attack us later. They are gunning for this territory for two reasons. They want the land itself, and they believe this pack has too much influence with others and they don’t want the packs rallying behind a leader. A leaderless pack is a pack they can take over. They don’t know about the Twins of Midnight theory, so they want to sow as much confusion as possible. To keep you in competition and prevent one of you from taking on the mantle of alpha.” “Well, there’
Helena felt like she was drowning in the feel of their touch. Hands roamed her flesh, played in her heated depths, egging on her need for these two men. Held there by Chris, she panted as she struggled to hold on to her sanity. “Please… one of you…” Her words became lost and forgotten when Brian’s fingers replaced Chris’ and Chris found another place for his sex slick fingers to delve. Her needs skyrocketed to new heights as these men provided her with an experience that she couldn’t express. She’d never felt so full, but hungry, not needy before. It did not sate her, because these men were driving her needs to depths she didn’t know existed. Chris nibbled at her neck, holding her instinctively in place with not only his hands but his teeth, too. Brian now stroked his length al
Helena stood there holding her clothes, looking at the two men. One with a key dangling from his fingers and a sly grin on his face and the other sitting there happily watching. Stomping over, she went to grab the key, but he pulled it away before she could. “Nope. We’re settling this and straightening any crossed wires we have right now about this mating. It’s complicated enough without you going into heat. Now? Now we need you to understand we’re here and not going away. This mating will happen when you’re ready. But from now on, you will never be alone for your heat cycle again. We like our sanity thank you and chasing you down does not help us keep it. Are we clear? You’re ours and we’ll make it permanent at one of two times. The best is when you’re ready, but if it comes down to y
Chris stood on the wooded border of their territory and watched eyes gleam back at him from the bushes up over the head. Everyone currently stepped forward appeared in their wolf form. No humans with weapons, or in their battle form. Which was a form that crossed or blended between human and wolf. That could change with a simple howl and others sitting further back inside their territory could move up and even the odds if needed. Night fell quite some time ago, and they didn’t plan on doing any real stealth. This was an intimidation tactic only. If they picked up any information while they were at it, all the better. Wolves padded slowly through the brush all around him
Chris sat with Brian and Helena after dinner. He’d been back for several hours now, and they’d gone over everything. With the little information, they’d gathered earlier today. The bigger picture came a little more into focus, though they were a long way away from having a crisp view of the big picture. “There’s no question he’s up to something. We need to know what his goals are.” Brian pondered this aloud while he caressed Helena’s arm as she leaned against him. “We all can see he’s not doing anything by the rules. In fact, he may break several, which means this region may end up being investigated. I’ll start poking about on our end and make sure he’s not left us with some nasty surprises. We can’t be too careful with the fact Nathan could have sa
Life settled down for them after that, and a routine formed. Their pack understood their unique relationship. It helped when Alfred could come up with some documentation he’d found while doing his own study on their unique bond. It and Bethany fascinated the man became a friend to Helena and Jillian. Nathan and Asia eventually settled on a date to be formally accepted by their pack and to acknowledge their mating. It was something their pack needed to. Life for them soon became full of creating and building. Several of the lone wolves filtered in and requested a place within Nathan’s pack. Davis helped greatly with that because he could identify these lone wolves and vet their stories. By winter, there were enough homes to keep the Blue Mountain Pack safe from the elements. Money appeared out of the rambling and incomplete financial status. Helena didn’t look too closely, but she suspected several packs contributed funds and investments so that they could start agai
Asia now understood how much she didn’t know about wolf shifters and their society. The mating ceremony wasn’t elaborate, but there were meanings behind everything. Luck and good fortune were part of the reason everything was being done. Prosperity and abundance. She was told so many stories and traditions that her head spun from all of them. It was so different from what she’d learned in her time underground with them. The other women were afraid to speak of these things while Clarence was alive. Afterward, there were other things to think about. Now they were looking forward to the Alpha Acceptance Ceremony and their Mating Recognition Ceremony. It was so busy that most nights everyone went to bed exhausted to start again the next day. They could get the new packhouse built and several outbuildings so that they could winter with a roof over all their heads. They planned a school for the new year for all the packs in the area to send their pups, too. So the
The pack came alive with the discovery of the celebration. These were things they lived for. Births, matings, and all the little cornerstones of member lives. They were a close knit family and community. This was something they could sink their proverbial teeth into. Presents weren’t necessary, but someone would always find something to bring.They planned a nighttime ceremony as tradition dictated and that gave most of the day to prepare the simple things for the ceremony.Dusk was falling and Helena cornered Jillian in her apartment to get ready. Davis took an hour and greeted those attending. Jillian fluttered about in a distracted and nervous state. Helena couldn’t figure out what would calm her down. But she started out with some logic.“First off. Here’s the dress. Let’s get you dressed. Honestly, you’d think Davis wasn’t yours already. At least, your instincts were smart enough to catch him. Everything is already recorded and technically, this is just to get your sister to leav
The work lunch was going well, but as the meeting came to an end, Chris noticed Jillian again adjusting the collar of her top. With a frown, he watched her for a little longer. “Is that a bite on your neck, Jillian?” Her response was to put her hand over the mark and blush. “It is! Well, I guess congratulations are in order for both of you. When are you planning to have your mating recognition ceremony?” “We’ll see. We’ve not set a date yet. There’s no hurry after all this stuff happening.” Jillian tried to take the pressure off of the subject, because she hoped they would drop it. “We’re going to have one as soon as it’s possible. No time to waste pretending things might change.” Davis interrupted Jillian’s uncomfortably nervous rambling to state the opposite of his mate’s words. “Davis! What are you talking about? We can’t do that. It’s too soon after all the deaths.” Jillian looked askance at Davis, unable to believe he’d said none of this to her
Nathan all but dragged himself back to the camp. He’d not fought all that much. It’d just been a long night. Too long if you asked him. But he represented the Blue Mountain Pack until the end. The witches would not all him to sit in and watch the trial. But he knew that witch and golem were now no longer a threat to the Blue Mountain. Now what would he do since the pack chose him to be their leader? Did he dare think of himself as the perfect candidate? He’d done a right fine job of being a roadblock to the current leadership there. Would he bring that blindness to this pack? Or could he be confident that he’d learned his lesson? If only he could see into the future and everything it held. Asia would see him as the stuff Alpha’s were made of. But he knew she’d read far too many romance novels involving werewolves, and they were far from correct in most things about wolf shifters. The camp was moving today, which meant he wouldn’t get much sleep, nor would the few peo
Jillian watched Davis make sure that her sister and mother, with her mother’s latest side piece, were settled in their cabin. Gods, the guy wasn’t much older than her sister. He’d be better suited to her sister. What did these men see in her mother? She had two adult daughters. She didn’t care if her mother found someone. Actually, Jillian would love her mother to find someone she had something in common with. This guy wouldn’t be able to keep up with her in a conversation and she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him in pretty much any physical activity. Jillian could see this becoming another crash and burn. She bet he’d not met his fated mate and when he did, he’d have a devil of a time removing her clinging mother from him. Or Jillian would have to deal with the high drama. At least, right now, Davis showed no interest in her sister’s advances. He’d spoken to her once already, and her sister acted like he must be mistaken. Now Jillian wasn’t sure if she m
“If we are going to return to some form of normal, we need to finish preparing the Alpha apartments for us. You know. Get all our ducks in a row.” Chris mentioned as they ate breakfast in their apartment. This was the first day of the rest of their lives together in his estimation, and he was becoming impatient at how must mess it left and the sheer number of strings that weren’t tied down. This wasn’t something he wanted to have happened again. “As long as those ducks don’t turn into raccoons or squirrels, I’ll be happy. I thought we setup for them to be renovated by now?” Helena pushed her plate away from her. How this would play out, she didn’t know, but she had to get it going or she’d get bogged down in her grief. “We did, but half of the work crew was called up to hunt. Which put the schedule back and I’ve not been given a revised schedule.” Brian added, and he clearly felt horrible about that. They didn’t need so many people to hunt down the golem or
Alfred walked from the room they used for their courts and formal audiences. It wasn’t used much these days, but it was never pleasant. The council agreed to punish Veronica with imprisonment and being stripped of her abilities. Not a simple thing to do. She’d never live a normal life if she finished her imprisonment. Veronica would have to stay hidden from the mortal world because of the knowledge she could spread. Basically, she’d just trade one prison for another and the identity she knew once would always be a faint memory. In the old day, they’d have just killed her, and Alfred believed that was a far more merciful thing to do. None of this gives her hope and then lets someone else deal with the fallout. Though he could wash his hands of her. She’d go with the elders of the council back to their homeland, which was secreted away. That’s where the sentence would occur. Their coven didn’t have the resources or place to keep her during her punishment. This was the end of th
Veronica didn’t know how long she’d been there. The light turned off and on several times. She could have been there for hours or days. She didn’t know. Finally, someone gave her food. Once she ate, it didn’t take long for a small group of people to come along and haul her out of the prison, she found herself in. She was prepared to celebrate her freedom until she found herself locked in a chair in another dark room. Veronica could hear the movement of people in robes on the edges of the large empty room. She wasn’t sure what to expect from these people. Veronica schooled herself not to give into the fear. She couldn’t quite achieve that, so she sat there attempting not to admit to anything incriminating or to give up on her very life. Finally, the lights came up enough within the room, that left little to the imagination of what they used this room for. It was a courtroom, and she was on trial. They dared to force their views and rules on her. That, alone burst her