Chapter 3: The Big Bad Wolf

My body starts to ache from the shift. I never thought I would be able to hear my bones crack, but that sound was repeatedly playing in my mind.

“Does it hurt for you?” I ask, rubbing my arms and legs.

“No, it gets easier the more you do it,” He slightly glances at me as he drives.

It wasn’t just my body that was taking a toll on me; it was my mind as well. I never imagined something like this happening to someone like me—a woman who lived everyday life with good parents and friends. I even loved what I did for a living, which was hard to come by for most people.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I ask myself, but Thane replies, “You can’t go back, at least not yet.”

“If I’m not there, they’ll suspect me.”

“I’m not taking you back, Evette,” his voice sounded more serious, “ They’ll lock you up for a crime you never committed.”

Damn it, he was right, but that didn’t make me feel any better. On the contrary, I felt utterly helpless now; I looked out the window watching the trees go by when I caught a glimpse of something rushing through the trees.

“Hey, Thane? I think there’s something else out here-” but before I can finish my sentence, another giant wolf rushes into the ghostly streets, and Thane stomps on the brakes, throwing out his arm to stop me from slamming my head. But the seatbelt squeezed the life out of me.

I stared at the new wolf, who blocked our way forward. His eyes glowed a vivid green, and his fur was so dark it had the faintest hint of blue from the moonlight. I see Thane grip his steering wheel, turning his knuckles white, “ Stay in the car,” he growls as he gets out. I watch as he walks out into the foggy street. 

Who was this other wolf? The more I look at him, the more curious I get, and I end up getting out of the car. Thane sees me, and his jaw clenches, “I told you to stay inside, Evette!”

“Yeah, yeah,” I wave him dismissively as I approach the new wolf, whose eyes were locked on me. Suddenly, the wolf shifts to human form, revealing thick hair, the color of his fur, and eyes that held a cold heart.

Thane grabs my arm, “You know your unwelcome Atticus,” he says, and I could hear the venom in his voice.

Atticus looks at me, and I feel a sudden jolt through my body, “She’s mine as well,” his voice honeyed, as if he was talking to a lover, but I could hear resentment behind it; I finally shook my head at what he said.

“Wait, what?” I turned to Thane, “Didn’t you say you were my mate?”

He sighs, “Yes, but-” Atticus interrupts him.

“Did he not tell you we are twins and our prophecy say we  share the same mate?” Atticus wears a smug look as he looks at his brother.

Thane takes a deep inhale, “Unfortunately, no, I didn’t get to that quick enough.”

I stare at Thane then to Atticus, “Wait a minute, so your telling me, your both are supposed to be my soul-mates?” 

‘What the ever-living fuck!?’ I think to myself. It was hard enough knowing I had one mate but now two?

 “Good lord, “ I look up at the sky,” You wanna through something else into this too?!” I ask an unjust god.

“We don’t have time for this, move Atticus; I’m taking her back with me,” Thane demands. I felt like a mouse caught in between two cats. These two seemed to not be on good terms.

“Why should I? When I know you're going to try and keep her from me.” I could see a flash of hurt in Atticus’ eyes, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. My heart suddenly felt heavy.

‘Was it me, who was feeling this or-’ I cut myself short in my thoughts. If they were both my mates, could I sense things from them too? Maybe this feeling, I couldn’t pinpoint, was Atticus.

As the two clashed, I finally decided to raise my voice, “Hey! Look, I’ve been a werewolf for a short time, and I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I decide to go with whoever I choose, not you.”

The two brothers give each other a leering look; I finally make my decision, “I’m going with Thane, only because I’m acquainted with him and not you. I’m sorry.” For some reason, cutting Atticus off felt like a harsh blow to me, but I didn’t know him that well and I needed a place I felt reasonably safe at.

I see Thane smirk at his brother, I elbow him in the ribs, and he groans.

 “It could have easily been switched, don’t be an ass.”

As I look at Atticus, I see his fists clench, but something told me it wasn’t from anger….

He shifts and leaves without saying another word.

I grab my arm, feeling a slight sting in my heart. Why in the world was I feeling so bad? I barely knew the guy.

“I’m sorry, I should have told you sooner,” Thane says, rubbing his neck, “Atticus would have shown up sooner or later. It’s inevitable.”

I turn back to the car, “I think I’ve had enough surprises today. Can we get to where we're going?” I ask, he nods, and we get in the car again; then I hear a slight whimper in my thoughts. It was my so-called wolf.

“How do you get your wolf to stop trying to talk to you?” I ask, annoyed.

“Are you not liking what she’s saying?”

“I honestly don’t want to talk to her….”

Thane is quiet for a moment, “There’s a lot you don’t know about us, but you can quickly learn. I’ll help you,“ The warmth in Thane’s voice brings some comfort to me. My mind just wasn’t in the suitable space; all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and fade into the dark.

“I’m not letting you do that,” Thane suddenly says.

“Excuse me?” I ask, surprised.

“I heard you, you want to fade into darkness, but that is not happening.-”

“Wha-” I sit up, now alert, “You can read my mind?! That’s not fair!”

He scoffs, “What? Wanna read mine?”

I cross my arms on my chest and fall back into my seat, “Well, it should be equal.”

“It is, but you are not ready for that, so I’m not letting you in my mind yet.”

Ding, Ding, he just awoke my challenging side. 

“Bull, I’m a grown woman; try me, so-called Alpha-AH!”

Thane slams on the breaks but doesn’t let my head hit the dash. My heart nearly flings into my throat, and as I look over at him, he’s smirking, “Oops,” he says with a tainted smile. 

“Son of a-” I take a breath in and decide to play nice. I lean back into my seat and cross my legs. 

Thane chuckles, “You done?”

“Don’t push it,” I say through tight lips. Something I got from my mother was her feistiness. She used to call me Miss Bratty when I was younger. My heart suddenly aches, knowing I’d never heard her voice again or my father's. I was quiet on the rest of the drive, thinking of all the little things I missed about my family.

“We're here,” Thane says; I had barely noticed we had driven into what looked like a mansion.

“What the-” I pause, “This is your place?”

“It's the Redwood Pack’s Mansion, and yes, we all live together as one.”

My eyes were glued to the sizeable columned house; there was a fountain with what looked like a Goddess holding up a moon and flowing water coming out of it. Then I see a couple of kids come out of the house.

“Thane’s back, Thane’s back!!” They all cheered; I watched as he happily greeted them. Then, I smiled meekly until one of the children gently pulled on my sweater.

“Hi, my name is Kiara, your pretty. Are you Thane’s mate?” Her big blue eyes look me over, but before I can say anything, an alarm goes off, blaring through the night. Thane’s body goes ridge; he starts to shoo the kids into the house, “Get in the house, go.”

“Thane? What is that? What’s happening?” I ask.

He only says one word, “Rogues.”