Chapter No 11 A bond
1172 Words
I was wandering around the massive Riverstone castle when a piercing scream caught my attention.
“I said it’s enough! If you’re not going to give it to me sooner, I swear, Kylan, I will burn your—”
I froze mid-step. Someone was running, shouting, and before I could react, I collided with a tall boy.
“What on earth—?” I muttered, only to have him tumble into me again as the girl chasing him fell on top of us.
“Ouch… f**k you!” the girl hissed, snatching a small package from his hands.
“Carmen, these are mine, and I’m not giving them back!” the boy grumbled, struggling under her weight.
“Who said they’re yours? Aunt Grace made them for me!” Carmen snapped, clearly not backing down.
I groaned, pinched under their bodies. Anger bubbled up. Pushing them aside, I glanced at the package. What could be so special?
“What’s in this ridiculous package?” I muttered, exasperated. I’d been living here for a few weeks, seen most of the pack’s members, and yet, this scene was… chaotic.
The boy and girl froze, staring at me, as though I had appeared from nowhere.
“Who are you?” the boy demanded, annoyance lacing his voice.
Crossing my arms, I straightened my back. “I’m Ember. I’m new here.”
“What do you mean, new? Hazel never told me anything about you,” Carmen huffed, clearly unimpressed.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, don’t mind her,” the boy said, extending his hand. “She’s overprotective of her family and pack. I’m Kylan.”
I took his hand, shaking it politely.
Carmen’s voice snapped at me again. “I still haven’t got my answer—who are you?”
From somewhere behind, a smooth, teasing voice interrupted. “Carmen, still so sassy?”
I turned and saw a tall, striking young man approaching, moving with the measured calm of a lion stalking prey. His eyes scanned the chaos, amused. One of the pack’s most handsome members, I guessed, trained and lethal—but with a mischievous streak.
“What do you want, Nicker-biker?” Carmen sneered, raising her eyebrow.
The man, Ryan, didn’t respond immediately. He simply walked forward, slow and deliberate, as though the world were his stage.
“Oh, okay, Char… I don’t think he’s—” Kylan muttered.
“Don’t call me that,” Carmen snapped.
“And don’t you dare call me that either,” Ryan said, snatching the package effortlessly from her.
“Ahhhhhh! Mooom!” Carmen screamed, hands on her head. Both Kylan and Ryan groaned in unison, pressing hands over their ears.
I leaned back, staring at these fully grown wolves behaving like children. They must be mid-thirties at least. What could possibly be inside that package?
“Carmen, do whatever you like, but these are mine. That’s final,” Kylan said firmly.
“Over my rich, hot, dead body,” Carmen spat, and lunged for the package again.
Ryan, without a second thought, grabbed it, and for once, no one dared challenge him.
He opened the package.
“Oh! I’m so excited, finally!” Kylan exclaimed.
Curiosity got the better of me. I stepped closer and peered inside. My disappointment was immediate.
A jar of cookies.
“What? Just cookies?” I muttered aloud.
From somewhere behind us, a calm, commanding voice interrupted. “Enough.”
I turned—and my breath caught.
A boy had appeared quietly, stepping forward with a presence that made the chaos around him seem absurd. He was tall, lean, and exactly like Ryan—the same sharp features, the same mischief in his grin—but this time, there was control, authority, and exasperation radiating from him. His golden eyes glimmered like sunlight on dark fawn hair.
Kai. Ryan’s identical twin.
He looked at Ryan, then at Carmen and Kylan, shaking his head. “Honestly… how old are you all acting? Five? Kindergarten fights over a jar?” His voice was calm, but every word carried a sharp undertone of disappointment. “Ryan… Carmen… Kylan… grow up!”
Ryan’s golden eyes twinkled with mischief, but Kai’s glare made him flinch slightly. Identical twins… yet so different. Ryan thrived in chaos; Kai commanded attention without effort.
Kai’s gaze swept the group again. “Kylan, the package is not yours. Carmen, you’re far too old for theatrics. And you,” he said, turning to Ryan, “as an already-mated wolf, I’m embarrassed for you.”
Ryan grinned sheepishly, knowing better than to argue.
"Free from romance with your mate?" Ryan said, and smirked.
He looked at Ryan and raised an eyebrow. “Honestly… still single, huh?” His tone was teasing, dripping with amusement.
Ryan leaned against a wall, arms crossed, smirking like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Yep. Single and loving it. Plenty of time for flings.”
Kai rolled his eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. “Flings? Really, Ryan? You’ve been chasing snacks and cookies more seriously than you’ve chased your mate.”
Ryan chuckled, shrugging. “Hey, as long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters. One day she’ll find me.”
“One day?” Kai’s voice was deadly calm, but there was no hiding the humour in it.
“Mate, you’re thirty! Some of us already have responsibilities. You’re still acting like a clueless pup.”
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. There was something hilarious about watching identical twins: one laid-back and cocky, the other sharp, teasing, and in total control.
Kai bent slightly, lifting the package with ease. No one dared challenge him. Ember’s curiosity flared.
Kai’s lips quirked in a small, amused smile. “You’ll see. But first, a word of advice—don’t mind my… family.”
Kai glanced at his siblings and cousin, clearly unimpressed. His eyes flicked to Kylan, shaking his head slightly. “Really? All this fuss over cookies? Grow up, all of you.”
I couldn’t help but smirk. Even in the chaos, there was something grounding about him. Calm. Strong. Protective without being overbearing.
He turned to me, softer now. “Forget my savage family. Tell me about you.”
I smiled, feeling a surprising sense of safety. Slowly, I told him everything I could.
“So… Hazel is the princess of this pack?” I asked, curious.
“Yes,” Kai said, nodding. “Daughter of Alpha Tyler and Alpha Althea. Luna of North-Pole Pack as
well.”
“Luna of North-Pole?” I asked, confused.
Kai explained calmly, and I listened, absorbing every detail. “And how’s the adjustment going?” he asked gently.
“A bit,” I admitted.
He smiled at me, eyes softening. “You’ll get used to it. And you have me to make sure my siblings don’t drive you crazy.”
For the first time since I arrived at Riverstone, I felt… maybe, just maybe, I could belong here.
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- Writer
