Ryan pushed himself off the wall and took a step towards Jane. She gulped visibly, not understanding why they were there. Hadn’t they gone with their father for that family walk? Reid glanced at Ryan and also took a step towards her.
Ryan’s demeanour changed as he looked at Jane. “Why didn’t you tell our father that we are acquainted? Why lie, little pup?”
Little pup, the nickname given to Jane by the twins, irked her the most. They never called her by her name. She hated the name “Little pup”.
Why was he calling her on that lie? Did their father know what bullies they were? She doubted that he’d approve of their behaviour. She’d seen enough of Kyle Heiden to know that he, at least, was a good man, not like his evil twin demons.
Jane shook her head, not wanting to get into an argument with them and pushed past Ryan. She still needed to get her phone from the dining room. Reid blocked her way and Ryan half turned so that she was trapped.
Reid reached for a lock of her hair but she pulled back. “Why do you need an extra lock on your door?”
“You were eavesdropping on my conversation with my mother?” Jane looked at them but yet again they were smirking at her.
“We have good hearing.”
“It’s none of your business, let me pass!” Jane replied, but the twins didn’t move an inch. They seemed intent on not letting her go so easily.
Jane felt anger rise in her. “Are you scared that I’ll tell your father what bullies you are?”
“Scared?” Ryan smirked and moved right up against her, forcing her back against the wall. He was so close now that Jane could feel his breath on her cheek and she hated that his closeness was making her heart flutter a little.
“This is my father’s pack. We can do anything to you, just like before. I guess you kind of like the attention, don’t you?” His whisper was harsh and the words were threatening.
Ryan had always been the more violent and outspoken one of the twins. Now he was clearly irritated by Jane’s provocation. She closed her eyes suddenly, breathing deeply as she tried to calm herself down, her fists clenching by her sides.
She gritted her teeth, already wondering what would happen if she were to slap his handsome face right that instant. The next moment though, Reid’s hand landed on Ryan’s shoulder. “Give it a rest, Ryan.”
Ryan’s glare landed on her again. “Don’t be late, little pup, we leave for school at eight am.”
They finally left her alone in the hallway and opened the door to their bedroom. Ryan closed it a bit more forcefully than was necessary, but she still got the point. Even though they had now turned into her stepsiblings, they were still giant Alphaholes and she knew they wouldn’t stop bullying her.
The next morning Jane woke up with a groan. She hadn’t really slept much the previous night. Her dreams had been plagued with the twins playing pranks on her, leaving confetti in her locker and one particular nightmare had her waking up in a cold sweat, her lips still tingling.
Had she really been dreaming of kissing Reid? She scrunched her nose in disgust and lay back on the sheets of the bed. It was a nice bed, no doubts about that, but sleep had still eluded her, especially after that dream. At six am she had finally had enough and threw the covers off her.
The shower was heaven. Warm water cascaded over her bare shoulders, down her back and she lifted her face into the spray. She got dressed with less enthusiasm since it would be her first day in a new school, a school most probably ruled by the twins.
She was surprised to find her mother in the kitchen downstairs and sat at the kitchen island. Her mother put a plate of chocolate chip pancakes down in front of her with a smile. She poured syrup over her pancakes as her mother sat across from her drinking coffee and literally glowing.
“You made pancakes.” Jane smiled despite the terrible night she’d had.
“Of course, chocolate’s your favourite.”
“Mom, can I add an extra lock on my door, please?”
Sarah looked at her daughter with slight confusion marring her eyes. “Why? Isn’t one lock enough?” She chuckled a bit as Jane turned her head towards the stairs. The sounds of pounding shoes reached her and she sighed.
“I hear the twins. Have a good day at school sweetie.”
“Thanks Mom.”
Jane got to the foyer just as Reid opened the front door. He didn’t even glance back at her and she felt silly in that moment. Reid had always been slightly nicer than Ryan but right now she was certain that the label “Alphahole” suited him.
She felt awkward to look at Reid’s face, remembering her “bad” dream of kissing Reid. To be honest, she didn’t hate Reid that much because most of the time he had just watched Ryan play pranks on her and be mean to her.
Ryan shouldered past her on the porch steps as he joined Reid and walked to a large parked SUV and climbed in. She shrugged and steeled her resolve as she climbed in the back. The seats were a soft, gray leather and smelled brand new.
The twins talked to each other and didn’t care to include her so Jane sat quietly in the back. They talked about football, upcoming parties and she learned that they had turned eighteen during the summer holidays.
Ryan turned around as the light ahead turned red and looked at Jane. “You haven’t found your mate yet, have you, little pup?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m not eighteen yet and stop calling me little pup.”
“I bet he’ll reject you the moment he lays eyes on you … little pup.”
Being rejected was almost the worst thing that could happen to a werewolf. It meant that you weren’t good enough and it tainted your reputation. Nobody would dare take you as a chosen mate because rejection meant you weren’t adequate.
As they parked the SUV a throng of people started milling around the car. The twins were popular and Jane tried to get out of the car without being noticed. She got a few glances of curiosity and a few glares from girls.
“That’s the main building of the school, you should go to the office first,” Reid said.
Ryan sniggered as he turned to look at her. “We don’t have time to hold your hand on your first day so don’t go cry to Mommy if we don’t play with you during break time, little pup.”
Jane made her way to the registration office where a girl her age turned to look at her and smiled.
“Hi, you must be Jane. Welcome to the Los Avalos High School. I’m Freya and your designated tour guide. Whatever you need, gossip, a shoulder to cry on, a lunch date, I’m your girl.”
“Hi.” Jane looked at the girl in front of her, clearly another nerd but bubbly, outgoing and really pretty. She immediately liked Freya and got her roster and locker combination.
Freya hooked her arm into Jane’s and led her to the lockers. She leaned against one row as Jane opened her new locker and deposited her bag inside. “So … rumor has it that you drove to school with Reid and Ryan Heiden. Are you their girlfriend? You know they’re both future Alpha’s, duh, I mean of course you know that, they’re twins. Have you seen them naked? What are they like in real life?”
Jane had started to smile when Freya had started talking but now she was full out laughing. Real life? “Uhm, they’re just people and no, I definitely don’t want to see either of them naked.”
“So what’s the deal there?”
“My mom’s marrying their dad, I guess …”
“Wow! You are so lucky! You get to see them every day at school and then at home too!” Freya had a dreamy look on her face and Jane petted her arm. Poor girl. If only she knew what douchebags they really were, she’d change her mind about them.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur. People were mostly curious about her, gossiping about her arriving with the twins, who studiously ignored her. She preferred being ignored, it was better than being made fun of.
Freya was a hoot and a delightful new friend. Jane could see them becoming besties. She was full of life, charming and really funny. She spoke without thinking and sometimes said things out loud that she was thinking, which made for lots of laughter.
During lunch she sat with Freya and studied the students around them. Reid and Ryan, as she had thought, were the kings of the school. Jocks surrounded them and every single girl batted her eyelashes at them and pulled their shirts down.
“Who are they?” Jane asked as two girls walked into the cafeteria like they owned the place.
“That’s Clarissa and Roxanne. Their fathers are the Beta and Gamma of the pack and if you ask them they’re Midnight Pack royalty. They think the school revolves around them and of course it doesn’t help that they’re popular and beautiful.” Freya’s tone showed her disgust as they walked them walk past their table.
“Let me guess, they’re also bitches.”
Freya laughed and then covered her mouth. “The worst kind, Jane. Rumour has it that they’ve been giving it up for Reid and Ryan in the hopes that they’ll be mates.”
Jane glanced over her shoulder again as the two queen bees sat down at the table smiling at the twins and pushing their chests out. Ugh, they were so obvious it was almost sickening to watch.
“Maybe they deserve each other.” Jane’s sly smile said it all and Freya grinned.
“Don’t joke like that Jane! If either one of them becomes our next Luna, I’m becoming a lone wolf, I swear.”
“Why only one of them? I thought they were both future Alpha’s.”
Freya made a face like Jane was stupid. “Oh, bless you sweetheart. It’s common knowledge that twins always bond with the same mate.”
Jane coughed as she choked on her Pepsi. “What? Are you saying that they’ll share the same girl?”
Jane made a duh face at her. “They’re essentially the same person so it’s just how it is, they’ll bond with one woman and she’ll have two mates. How lucky is she! Just imagine it, Jane. Two men to cater to all your whims and wants.”
Jane laughed then as she looked over at the twins again. “I feel sorry for her, they’re assholes.”
“They might be assholes but damn they’re pretty assholes.” Freya had a dreamy look on her face and she rested her chin on her hand.
“Looks aren’t always that important, Freya. Wouldn’t you rather want a mate that treats you like a queen? A man that genuinely loves you and understands you and doesn’t just look pretty in the corner.”
Freya sat lost in thought for a few moments as she mulled Jane’s words over. “Maybe, but why can’t he be pretty and nice? And why is he in the corner, Jane? This isn’t Dirty Dancing you know.”
Jane laughed and shook her head as the bell rang and they deposited their trays on the stack near the door. They parted ways in the hallway and Jane headed to Mathematics, a subject she loved. She was good with numbers and liked the order in the chaos that was Maths.
The last bell rang and students pushed their way out of the classroom. Jane had been busy writing and she packed up her supplies. The door slammed closed and she looked up with a start. The class was empty now and eerily quiet.
She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder as she walked towards the door. She gripped the handle and pulled but nothing happened.
Seriously? She pulled on the handle again but the door didn’t budge. She was locked inside! Jane kicked the door in frustration and swore under her breath as her toes hurt. The door hadn’t budged, not that she’d thought it actually would.
“Hello! Is anyone there?”
She pressed her ear to the door but she couldn’t hear anything. The lights went off and she shrieked at the sudden darkness. She hammered her fists on the door and screamed for help. She sank down against the door and rested her head on her knees.
‘Those evil spawn twins did this!’ she decided. They had to be playing a prank on her and here she’d thought that her first day had gone well. She balled her fists as she plotted and swore revenge against those two.
The sky had darkened considerably as Jane looked through the windows of the classroom. Her phone was in her locker and she couldn’t even call for help. Was her mother wondering where she was? Blinding, hot tears gathered in her eyes when the door suddenly opened and she fell backwards, her head hitting the floor with a thud.“Whoa … are you okay?”Jane’s eyes opened and she looked up into a smiling face. “Uh … yeah, I somehow got locked inside.”The boy smiled and held out a hand to help her to her feet. “Lucky for you I came back for the notebook I forgot on my desk. Mr Pathnil will skin me alive if I don’t complete my homework.”Jane smiled too as she nodded her head. Their teacher was a drill sergeant. “I’m Jane. Jane Winters.”“Sebastian Howell.”He was quite handsome in the whole sand, surf and sun kind of way with his sun-kissed blond hair that was a bit too long and his deep, blue eyes that felt like it could see right through her. He pulled his hand from hers, the one she hadn
Jane woke up and looked at the gray sky. She had forgotten to close her curtains the previous night and she shivered slightly as she looked at the thick clouds. The day looked bleak and the dark clouds matched Jane’s mood.She was quiet during breakfast and she was glad that her mother didn’t push her for conversation. She had probably spoken to her father the previous night. Jane didn’t want to think about it anymore and she was actually relieved when she heard the twins in the foyer.Autumn was upon them and Jane could see the change in the leaves on the trees lining the streets. Gold and rust coloured leaves blew in the wind and Jane remained huddled in the backseat of the SUV as she drove to school with Reid and Ryan.Reid kept glancing in the rearview mirror as he drove and Jane could feel his gaze burning into her. She wouldn’t acknowledge him by looking up and she pretended not to notice. Ryan was looking out of his window and for once the two brothers didn’t talk up a storm.R
Jane stretched her body and turned onto her pillow with her eyes still closed. The wet spot on her pillow had her eyes snap open. She wiped a hand over her cheek and scrunched her face up in disgust. Had she been drooling in her sleep?Her dream came back to her in vivid flashes. Her eyes widened as realization set in that she’d dreamt about Reid again and this time Ryan too! She clenched her eyes shut as she remembered kissing Reid and then kissing Ryan.Her hands had been beneath Ryan’s shirt! ‘Please kill me now,’ she thought and sat upright in her bed.What the hell was going on? Chocolate and lavender, apple pie and cinnamon, the scents twirled around her and she closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply. The scent was faint, barely there but so delectable that she was sure she was imagining it.‘Happy birthday to me,’ she thought as she got out of bed and got ready for the day.Jane stood in the bathroom after getting dressed and looked at her reflection. She looked just a tiny bit
Jane stood transfixed, their scents mingling around her. She felt compelled to walk towards them but she shook her head fiercely and thought, hell no! Reid stood with his eyes closed as he sniffed the air and Ryan’s eyes were darkening.Jane took a step backwards, forgetting that the first step was right behind her. Before she could land on her ass though, Ryan had a grip on her arm and steadied her. He blinked and his eyes returned to their normal sea green.“It’s you.” Jane had never before seen that smile on his face. “The dreams all make sense now.”Dreams? Had they been dreaming about her like she’d been dreaming about them? Was it so bad that they had intensified their meanness towards her? Jane couldn’t wrap her mind around that. How were the two of them her mates?“No. This isn’t happening to me.”Reid’s hand touched her other arm and she felt the most delicious sensation go through her. “We should probably talk.”Jane could only nod her head. They did need to talk but their c
The door opened slowly as Jane stood transfixed next to her bed. Reid and Ryan slipped inside, closing the door behind them softly. Jane swallowed nervously as their scents engulfed her. Reid had a t-shirt on over his pajama bottoms but Ryan was bare chested and Jane couldn’t look away.“Jane.”She blinked and they were both standing right in front of her. How had that happened?” She looked up at Reid, who was smiling at her, and she moved backwards. The backs of her knees touched the bed behind her and she promptly sat down.She closed her eyes as Reid reached out towards her and tucked some stray hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, comforting and her heart beat accelerated. That vivid dream of kissing him flashed before her eyes and she snapped them open.She felt movement on the other side and turned her head. Ryan was now sitting next to her on her bed. Their scents were toying with her, calming her but she shook her head and slapped Reid’s hand away.“Don’t touch me.” Her wh
Jane was surprised when she looked in the mirror that morning. Her normal blue eyes were now a shade lighter, looking like clear pools of water. Her skin looked amazing and her hair had a luster to it that she hadn’t really noticed before.She got dressed in skinny jeans and noticed that the jeans now hugged her and she turned in the mirror. She looked good, really good. She matched the jeans with boots and a tight shirt and her favourite jacket over that.She applied mascara and lip gloss and pouted in the mirror. She shook her head and smiled at her own silliness. She grabbed her backpack and opened her bedroom door. Their scents reached out to her and her breath hitched in her throat.Reid and Ryan stood by their door, obviously waiting for her. Their eyes roamed over her and Ryan grinned. Reid moved first and kissed her cheek, his mouth hovering next to her ear. “You look almost too good to be let out of the house.”Jane looked at them and realized that they too looked really good
Jane finally made her way to the parking lot. Reid and Ryan sat on the steps as they waited for her. Sebastian’s car wasn’t in the lot anymore and they both stood up as she pushed the doors open.“You’ve been crying.” Jane rolled her eyes at Reid’s observation.“I’m fine.”They followed her down the steps and Reid pushed the button on the keys and the doors unlocked. Jane pulled the rear door open and slid into the SUV. Ryan stood by the door and looked at her before closing it and climbing into the front.“What’s wrong, Jane?”“Why did you break up with your girlfriends?”Ryan turned in his seat and looked at her. His eyes were open and honest as he answered her. “You’re our mate, Jane. Why would we want them?”Jane didn’t answer him because she didn’t know why they wanted her, if in fact they wanted her at all or if it was just some sick joke. She leaned against the doorframe and looked out of the window.“Jane …”She sighed with irritation and glared at Ryan. “You growled at Sebast
To Jane’s surprise, Ryan and Reid walked out of the grocery store with everything she’d picked packed in bags. They loaded the groceries in her car and climbed inside. Ryan had the pizzas on his lap in the backseat and Reid was grinning at her.“I really don’t mind buying your tampons, you know.”Jane shook her head as she started her car and started driving home. Ryan and Reid discussed the difference between heavy and normal flow as Jane’s cheeks burned with embarrassment and they laughed when she turned up the volume of the radio to drown out their voices.At the house, the twins carried her bags to the kitchen and helped her to pack everything away. She felt so awkward that she escaped halfway through and ran to her room. A few minutes later, someone knocked and her door opened.“You forgot this.” Reid placed the box of tampons on her nightstand and she lowered her head.“Thanks.”Reid laughed then and she glared at him. “Come on, the pizza’s getting cold and we’ll even let you ch