Is It You

Adira POV 2

I walked into the living room with my parents behind, fawning over me and checking my temperature. I’d been released two days later, currently in the afternoon, and I decided to lounge around the living room. I was still slumped in depression because Adair no longer was around. I didn’t want to go anywhere and the only people I could be around was my parents.

Mom settled next to me on the couch and held my hand.

“We’re so happy that you’re safe Adira,” She expressed with a smile.

My dad sat down on my other side and hugged us to his chest.

“Adair will be missed. Alpha Hendrix has arranged for her funeral three months from now. He needs time to extend the burial plot and coordinate the ceremony. Your mother and I are to give a commemorative speech so you can sit this one out”

I leaned my head into my father’s chest.

“She didn’t know she was going to meet her mate, was she?” I asked.

My parents released me from their warmth and shook their heads in unison.

“The Oracle hadn’t clarified who’s mate it was” Laura stated, “You know she couldn’t tell you and Adair apart”

Her father chuckled. “That old bat barely recognizes her own Alpha”

Adira nodded but soon felt odd. “It has to be Adair’s mate. I have no wolf”

My mom sighed. “Actually, Alpha Carson has named you to be his mate.”

They had hoped they could keep this from me for a little while but the issue was still mightily pending. Alpha Carson had taken temporary residence in the Guest Alpha Quarters with his Beta and explained to them that he didn’t plan on leaving without me.

“How can I be his mate mom? That’s not possible”

I looked to my dad who seemed as confused as I was. My sister and I only shared a familial bond, nothing more. I didn’t even have a scent. It made me invisible to other shifters or rogues and it was a gift I appreciated..

“Somehow, he’s convinced you’re his mate. Maybe due to the fact you are a twin, Adair’s scent could have been imprinted on you,” Mom clarified. “We have to do more research but for the time being, he’s asked that you return to his pack with him.

My eyes widened in fury.

“No!”

“Adira,” Dad warned.

“No! How can you sit there and encourage me to trick my sister’s mate!”

My parents frowned at me. They didn’t want me to trick anyone. They wanted to come clean about the whole ordeal but they also wanted me out of the house so I could heal. I was struggling with my sister’s death, my self esteem and pain. Adair and I had always been close but our relationship became strained when we turned 30. By this time, her anger towards her mate had started to develop and for the past 15 years, we’d been toe to toe.

“I can’t take her mate,” I disagreed. “She’s waited so long for him. I’d roll over in my grave before that happened”

My father silenced me with a hard look on his face.

“You are willing to deny a request by an Alpha? One who is convinced you’re his mate nonetheless?” He argued. “Let’s see where that gets you”

I folded my arms across my chest and huffed. This wasn’t what I wanted to wake up to today.

“Just go with him Adira,” Mom urged. “You can tell him the truth if you must but we can’t disobey a direct order”

I thought about it over and over in my head but it didn’t seem right. Adair had waited for this opportunity just as long I did and taking it from her was...painful. Even if she was dead! At the same time, I didn’t want my parents in trouble. They were already reeling from our loss. The worst thing I could do now was make things harder.

“The Alpha seemed to smell her scent on you strongly but faintly on her wolf” Ramos stated. “He had asked me if I had two daughters but I didn’t specify that you were twins.”

I nodded with understanding. He wasn't sure what to do.

“Alpha Hendrix wants you to choose the right moment to let Alpha Carson know that you two may not be Fated after all but do it with caution” Mom elaborated. “The man appeared to be quite taken with you. He carried you to the infirmary and introduced himself to us. His Beta assisted us with Adair as well”

I was happy that my parents liked him but I had already steeled my heart into iron. My feelings were only mine and I’d shoot him down the first chance I got. I didn’t want a mate that wasn’t mine. I couldn’t handle a man either so it was better to have none than one.

“Fine,” I conceded.

They smiled and hugged me again. I was enjoying the last few comforting moments I would have when a knock sounded at our door. Dad went to get it and in a few moments he had came back with the tall man I’d seen on stage two days before.

“Adira, this is Alpha Carson”

My father smiled at me coyly before shooing my mother out of the room.

“Feel free to speak as long as you wish”

My father gave me an encouraging fist bump then exited.

Alpha Carson was a six foot towering figure of a man above my five feet. I trailed from his face first. He had jet back hair that elegantly framed his face with soft tendrils behind his ears and a few at his collar. He had a hard set nose and thin lips that seemed to be sculpted by the Moon Goddess herself. To say he was just handsome would be an insult. He was dressed in a pair of blue jeans that encased strong thighs and a firm ass. The expanse of his broad chest was covered with a green T-shirt and he had Nikes on his feet.

My sister’s mate was a real looker.

I swallowed. This mountain of a man thought I was his mate? He had to be crazy. I paled in comparison to Adair’s younger look (even if we were twins) and strength. There was no way he’d entertain me long enough for me to tell him the truth.

“My name is Malachi,” He smiled. “No need for pleasantries”

I nodded mutely at him. There was nothing I could say. I didn’t trust my mouth to say the right thing.

“I hope you’ve already discussed with your parents,” He continued, from my lack of response, “I want to return to my pack as soon as you’re comfortable with leaving. I hope you can... accept me”

The nervousness I felt was reflected in his eyes. He was worried about being rejected....by me?

This was really beginning to get crazy!