ANISHA
Kallum strode toward us. His eyes were drinking me in. I couldn't help but feel like I was under a microscope. I felt myself blush.
Craning my neck to see his face, he stopped in front of me and leaned down, his face mere inches away.
"You have been sampled. I wondered if he had a taste." He said, his voice low and smooth. His breath was fanning my face, minty and fresh. I couldn't help but think he smelt good. I shook my head internally.
"Kallum," Kazimir breathed. There was a warning in his tone.
"Don't use that tone on me, brother. I've been controlling myself and yesterday was not an exemption but you," he spat exasperatedly, "not even an hour, yet you already had your scent all over her." He said accusingly.
Shaking my head, confused, I stepped in. "Uhm, Kallum, he...he just greeted me with a hug," I said, feeling guilty remembering that it wasn't just a hug. It was more intimate. But his eyes said it all. I shuddered. Was he jealous? Was this a thing in this pack? I wondered. "Do you want a hug also?" I asked with a shrug of my shoulders. Why did I sound as though I wanted to appease a kid?
I glanced at Kazimir, whose face did not give away any emotions.
"I want a proper greeting," said Kallum.
I studied his face for a few seconds to see if he was kidding, but he wasn't.
"Sure," I said and tiptoed to kiss my cheek on his cheek. I felt him take a deep breath. "It's nice to see you again, Kallum," I added and smiled at him. He looked awestruck.
When, suddenly, Kazimir laughed. His laughter echoed through the walls of the room, baffling me even more, but despite my confusion, his laugh was pure poetry, it was good to listen, so carefree and heartfelt.
I was suppressing my smile as I watched Kallum's reaction. He too had his laugh toying in the corners of his mouth but still watching me. When he chuckled loudly, a giggle finally came out of my mouth. I couldn't understand why it felt so lovely to see them laugh that way. I didn't know how to think about it or how to respond. How could the mood around them change so fast? I had no idea.
Riri gave me a set of pajamas to wear. It was around nine in the evening. A week had passed since I'd last seen the twins. Riri told me when I randomly asked her about them that they had to be somewhere important. It was a Pack responsibility. I remembered the look she gave me, mysterious and puzzling; eyes brimming with mischief. Shaking my head, I just shrugged my shoulders. That day in the showroom was very unusual for me. However, I tried to shake it off.
There were just the two of us in her home because her parents were also gone. They were on a business trip abroad for a month. Her father had a position in a big pharmaceutical company in the country and, as for her mother, she tagged along wherever her husband went. Lewis — his brother, on the other hand, who I met once back in school, was sent to another Pack for a peace talk between the other Packs to deter aggression against one another.
"Is your brother married?" I asked, getting ready to sleep.
"He hasn't found his mate yet, but it's fortunate that his job involves visiting other packs. This increases the probability of him encountering his mate," she replied while lying next to me. We were sharing a bed temporarily, and I insisted on it.
"How old is he?" I asked.
"Twenty-five,"
"Finding his mate in one of those packs will not be a guarantee because he won't stay long," I said as I lay on my side comfortably, facing her.
"That's also true. However, for a wolf, it doesn't take a minute or two to know you have found your mate. A small scent, a second, and that tingling touch, the mate bond, that's all we need." She sighed down and stared at the ceiling.
"You will recognize your mate from a distance?"I asked, my interest piquing. Perhaps she had mentioned that before. I just missed it.
She had a small smile on her lips.
"The scent, yes. But it's a deeply instinctual and emotional experience, An." She said, her eyes seeming to glow. "Our wolf's heightened senses and intuition enable us to recognize our mate through a variety of cues, including scent, voice, and physical presence. It's a crucial aspect of our wolf. They are our emotional and physical support. They strengthen our abilities and give us a sense of purpose."
"It sounds primal and almost mystical," I said. I knew I still had many things to learn to fully understand their nature.
She nodded her head. "You can say that, An. It's a bond that goes beyond physical attraction. The mate bond is powerful and it unites our souls forever."
I moved her hair away from her cheek and felt her skin on my palm. It was warm. "What would happen to your brother if he couldn't find his mate?" I asked her as softly as I could.
She sighed depressingly, "There are possible outcomes. He will feel a sense of loneliness and isolation or even madness. Sometimes uncontrollable aggression and prone to violence. Sometimes, it decreases our longevity. We can't live longer than a hundred years."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Ri. Don't you worry so much because you too have to find your mate, right? You said at 18, you could find your mate somewhere. Have you found him?"
"Uhhnmm," she trailed off, sharing a look of uneasiness.
My eyes widened, and I let out a silent gasp as the realization hit me. I was aware of how unappealingly large my mouth must have appeared. "You found him! You found him!" I exclaimed, consumed by excitement. I couldn't resist grabbing a pillow and hitting her with it. "You didn't tell me, Riahbel!" I hit her repeatedly, and she tried to defend herself, roaring with laughter.
"Stop," she begged, still laughing. "Alright. Alright! Hear me out, okay? You'll kill me before I can even tell you about him."
I snorted. "A pillow's attack. A very shallow end, Ri. Come on, spit it out." I urged with buzz. Sleep was no longer appealing, despite my exhaustion.
She rested her back on the headboard as I found my comfortable position.
"What's his name?" I asked with eagerness as I held her hands.
"Tanner," she said, as though the word held her lips in a beautiful dance. The twinkling in her eyes was glowing. But just as quickly as the twinkle flashed, the smile faded, and sadness replaced the emotion in her eyes.
"Riri," I pressed down my thumbs on the palms of her hands.
"He's in a different pack. The Highlander Pack —which the CreekPine Pack has a long-standing rivalry."
"Oh, that sounds bad. I thought your brother had done his part by highlighting solidarity between the Packs?"
"He does. But The Highlander Pack is different. More complicated." She sighed heavily. "I don't think we have forever." A sad chuckle slipped from her mouth.
"Don't say that, Ri. You just told me how important and strong the mate bond is to wolves." I said, trying to soothe her emotions.
"I haven't rejected him yet and he hasn't, either." She murmured softly.
She had mentioned it. Rejection is an incredibly painful experience for both parties involved. The mate bond is an intense and unbreakable connection that goes beyond physical attraction or even romantic love, and breaking it sometimes leads to death because of excruciating emotional and physical pain for both the rejected and the ejector.
"He won't reject you, Ri. He can never find someone like you." I strongly voiced. "He has to choose you over his pack."
"He's the Beta."
"I don't care!" I hissed. "He could be the Alpha for all I care. He's supposed to stay with you. You're 23, and I now understand why you've never dated or accepted a man's invitation before."
"I was never interested in any man."
"That's the point. You'll never be with anyone else because you don't have the same connection with anyone else like you have with him. You're punishing yourself," I huffed in frustration. The emotional burden she was carrying seemed to reflect on me. I loved her like my own sister and her happiness was more important to me than my own. "You have to tell them. They can help you," I said, referring to her Alphas.
"They don't know. I haven't told them. Besides, it's not their problem. I'm just an omega." She looked down at her hands.
I learned about Omega Werewolves. They are the lowest-ranked members of a werewolf pack and are often treated as outcasts by other members of the pack. They are typically weaker and less powerful than regular werewolves— an idea I am opposed to.
Riabhel was not weak. She was a lot stronger than that ranking of werewolves depicted.
"You're a strong Omega, Ri, and that Beta werewolf has to claim you as his mate." I insisted. "We will find a way," I told her, determination seeping into my tone. I vowed to help her. I had to.
It was past midnight, but I couldn't sleep. Riri next to me was dead to the world. She had always been a good sleeper. However, the speed at which she could fall asleep was matched by the speed at which she could wake up. It must be a wolf thing.
Giving up, I got up and went downstairs for a glass of milk.
My mind had been crowded with thoughts of ways to help Riri. I knew I wanted to do something for her. There were many solutions in my head. Some would be easy, others would not be. But first, I had to know the root of the rivalry. When did it begin? What led to it? How did the Packs create this history of conflict and animosity toward each other? I considered some potential ways to solve the problem—
"You'll break that glass if you keep holding it like that."
I jumped at the voice, causing me to almost drop the glass. "Why would you do that!" I whisper-yelled at him, aware of the fact that it was very silent and Riri was asleep. My heart rate was racing.
"You did not notice me. I waited but you did not leave the same spot." He said and I realized my back was still kissing the refrigerator's door.
"Ugh! You scared me." I told him, almost annoyed, because why didn't I notice him? The room wasn't that dark.
"My bad." He admitted with a small smile.
I examined him closely, paying attention to his hair, face, and body. Their resemblance was so strong that I had trouble telling which one I was talking to. But it didn't matter though. Both were so handsome it was scary.
"So, who's who?"
"Kallum,"
"Hi, Kallum. Would you like some water?" I offered. His eyes sparkled with humor.
"Am I seemingly so thirsty that you want to offer me your water? Because I really am now." The way he uttered those words conveyed a different implication in the atmosphere.
KALLUMI noticed her blush but quickly averted my gaze from her body. I recalled the water incident that happened a week ago, and I knew she remembered it too. Although, to me, nothing is sexier than seeing my mate blush.Going a week without seeing her was excruciatingly painful for both me and my wolf, as well as for my brother and his wolf. We were obliged to attend the Pack Union Conference (PUC), where Alphas and High Councils from the governing association were in attendance. However, we had to be very discreet during our stay, since matters concerning the woman in front of me had not yet been discussed." I want another thing, though," I said, trying to control myself from grabbing her and marking that smooth skin on her neck. I was like a newly released mental who needed his dose of maintenance. She wasn't doing anything yet, but I was ready to explode if I couldn't touch her."What is it? It's late." She said, putting the glass in the sink and facing me. She walked towards me
KAZIMIRI watched her sleep.The dim light illuminated her sleeping form, peaceful and angelic. She lay under the blanket, wearing one of my shirts after I had accidentally ruined her pajamas. I couldn't help but smirk. I remember how responsive she was, and I liked it that way.My brother and I were able to hold back ourselves and, instead, found pleasure in her pleasure. Getting a sample of her taste was enough for us...for now."Do you want to sleep next to her?" Kallum asked, strolling out of the bathroom."I don't think you're sleeping next to her either," I whispered softly, though I doubted she would wake up from exhaustion.I heard him groan in protest."I think I want to sleep on the bed with her," he said, starting to climb on the bed. But I quickly grabbed his shirt before he could put any weight on the bed and cause it to creak."Nay. Nay. Not tonight, brother." I said firmly. "Not happening.""Come on," he groaned in a hushed voice when I let go of his shirt, frustrated.
ANISHA"So," I said, pushing the plate away and wiping the corner of my mouth. I turned to the two good-looking Alphas who were watching me swallow every food like I was some sort of food entertainment. I internally shook my head, realizing that my hunger had overridden the discomfort their eyes gave me."Um, last night," I cleared my throat, feeling nervous despite my attempts to deny it. "I...actually, I couldn't explain it. Am I your mate?" I blurted the question out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.I heard them chuckle loudly. They both looked at each other as if they were communicating. Their eyes were glowing and flashing; they appeared to be focusing on something beyond our physical surroundings. And I remembered what Riri had told me about.I gave them the eye. "Hello, I'm right here, and I want to hear it too, you know," I said with an innocent smile. "I've heard that wolves can communicate through Mindlinking, but it's not appropriate to use it when I'm in front o
ANISHAThere they had it, putting their wolf thing in the open. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed when I saw them picking up on my arousal in the air. They could smell me? Why was I still surprised by their ability to detect it? Their predatory eyes intensified. I quickly crossed my legs as if to hide the scent that only they could smell. The truth was I had no idea what to think. They said it sensually like they liked the scent in the air. However, the pain and distressed expressions on their faces suggested otherwise."What should I do?" I asked, feeling vulnerable in their presence.Kallum's gaze met mine, his eyes now back to their clouded brownish-green eyes. He stood up slowly but did not move any closer. He seemed to gain a few more inches taller by the way he stood his ground. Kazimir's gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes never leaving mine and staying dark as coal, his breath heaving."Like last night, your scent can drive our wolves crazy. We want nothing more but to devo
ANISHAStanding in front of the house once again, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness creeping in. I had come here to speak with them. Earlier in the day, Riri and I had discussed the situation, but something was still persistently bugging me, and only they could provide answers.As I raised my hand to knock on the door, it swung open. A middle-aged woman, in her late forties, welcomed me. Her skin was tanned, which suggested that she may have spent time outdoors. I considered this woman a Were as well."What do we have here? Are you looking for the Alphas?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with a genuine smile."Are they home?" I asked with a timid smile.She shook her head lightly. "They're probably at the office downtown. Kallum must be at the construction site overseeing the building projects, while Kazimir might be at the office." Her forehead creased as she asked, "I didn't get your name, honey.""I'm Anisha," I replied."That's a beautiful name. It means 'eternal flame'
"What's happening?" I asked Riri as I watched people heading towards the Creekpine lair."In our pack, the Luna is introduced through a formal ritual conducted by the elders. As the former Alpha and his wife are no longer present, the Alphas will welcome you to the pack," she explained."I'm not ready for that, Riri. Why didn't you tell me?" I replied, feeling frustrated."Oh, didn't I?" she responded with feigned innocence, making me want to roll my eyes up to the ceiling. "It must have slipped my mind. Will you still forgive me?" She gave me doe eyes and asked the question in her humorous way."I so dislike you right now, Ri." I sighed, pretending to be annoyed, but the truth was my heart was heaving nervously. I would see them again."I love you too, you know." She winked and danced her eyebrows as she spoke. I narrowed my eyes, and she laughed. "Come on, An. The induction won't be that scary. Actually, the Alphas had planned to do the ceremony next week, but news of Luna's arrival
ANISHA"Easy, mate," Kazimir whispered against my ears as I panted, my chest heaving. I was clawing his shirt off of him. I wanted them naked, and to feel their skin against my skin. And I was rewarded soon. His body was exposed to me and I became feral, running my hands on his toned body."I need it, please..."My voice was pleading in a manner so unfamiliar, I could barely recognize it as my own. "Yes, yes, more..." I cried out as I felt Kallum behind me, snaking his hands to reach my chest, playing with my breást. I was completely naked, but they were still clothed, and I found that inappropriate.The memory of how we had made it to the room was hazy. Right after they marked me, the world spun around me. I shut my eyes, and the moment I opened them, I was thirsty for them, a blur of longing and passion overwhelmed me.I could feel the lingering sensation of their touch on my skin, their scent surrounding me like a warm embrace.I closed my eyes, letting myself be consumed by the sen
KAZIMIR "Why are you asking about it?" I asked her, meeting her determined gaze with a curious one of my own. Kallum strode confidently into the office, his damp hair combed back neatly. As he caught sight of Anisha sitting on the sofa across from me, his face lit up with a broad smile. He quickly crossed the room to scoop her up in his arms onto his lap, eliciting a gasp of surprise from her. Her innocent reaction stirred something in my groin. This woman had no idea how irresistible she was just by merely acting shy and timid. "Hmm, you smelled heaven," he growled, burying his face into her neck. I could see the tinting of red on her cheeks, but a sheepish and content smile didn't go unnoticed. "What's the concern early in the morning?" my brother asked, enjoying the smell of our mate. I felt like joining them on the sofa, but I knew we wouldn't just be sitting there if I did. It would involve her riding my face and my brother punishing her lips. "She wants to know why the Highla