The Alpha Twins; My Mates

Dinner.

Manon stood a few feet away from us, her eyes locked onto Jay, her lips and body trembling slightly. I glanced at Jay, was focused on Manon. It seemed he recognized her. He abruptly stood up, signaled for his friend to do the same, and turned on his heel, exiting the café through a different door. Manon looked like she might break down at any moment. I quickly rushed over to her and gently held her arm.

"Manon, is Jay your mate?" I asked. She drew her attention back to me and nodded slowly.

"That's his name?"

"Yes, Jason."

I was confused. How did Jay know she was his mate? He had been avoiding her for the past week. Human mates were extremely rare, so we didn't know much about how it worked. I guided Manon to our booth, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed silently.

"He doesn't want me, does he?" her voice barely above a whisper.

Beth and I exchanged glances, unsure how to comfort her. In that moment, we could only hug her.

"I want to see him," she said.

I pulled out my Blackberry and dialed Jay's number, but he didn't answer. I watched Manon's spirit break a little more. Damn, today has been a rough day for so many people.

We tried everything we could think of to cheer Manon up, but nothing seemed to work. She only longed for her mate and asked me to tell her everything I knew about him. After sharing what I could, I suggested we go back to her place to play video games since she had always loved them. I chuckled, realizing that Jay did too.

We headed straight to Manon's game room. "I'm obsessed with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," she said. Her spirits began to lift.

"I like Star Wars: Commando," I murmured, mentioning the game I played well. Tate and I used to play it when we were younger.

"That's so five years ago," she chuckled lightly.

We played three games, and I lost in less than ten minutes. I was terrible at them. I gave up and let Beth take over.

I approached the shimmering stage adorned with a polished stripper pole across the room. The moment my foot landed on the dais, vibrant LED lights erupted in a dazzling display of blue and red, casting an almost theatrical glow around me. A song, dancing like a stripper, started playing softly through the speaker.

I grasped the pole as I began to sway my hips, feeling the music pulse through my entire being. Each movement flowed naturally as I immersed myself in the persona of a stripper. Ria was cheering me on. I gracefully lifted one leg and wrapped it around the pole, tilting my upper body skyward while my head dipped down.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted two familiar figures standing in the entrance, their gazes fixed intently on me. A shock of panic surged through me, and in an instant, my balance wavered. I lost my grip on the pole and crashed awkwardly onto the stage floor. The flush of embarrassment crept up my cheeks, realizing my mates had witnessed me dancing, and crash to the floor. Their amused expressions only intensified my embarrassment.

"Don't stop on our account, please," Zylon smirked, stepping inside and walking toward me.

"We were enjoying the show very much," Hayes added. I groaned and lay on my back, trying to ignore them, but I couldn't. Zylon offered me his hand and, despite my annoyance, I took it. His hand was warm, and soft... so nice.

"What are you doing here?" I grumbled when I stood up.

"We came home for dinner when we caught your scent. It was impossible not to follow it. Imagine our joy at seeing you twice in one day—today is a good day," Hayes mused.

I rolled my eyes and stepped off the dais, making my way back to where Beth and Manon were engrossed in their game. Hayes grabbed my arm, and sparks tingled through my skin.

"Have dinner with us. Our mother insists," he said. I contemplated it, but I couldn't say no to Luna Cynthia, so I nodded.

"They'll join us when they finish," Before I could protest, he and Zylon led me from the game room to the dining area. Luna Cynthia had just finished preparing the table. She beamed at me and rushed kiss my cheeks.

"Rue, it's always so lovely to see you."

"You too, Luna," I replied politely.

"I'm not Luna anymore, dear. You are," she said. Zylon pulled out a chair for me to sit in. I glanced at the twins, who were watching me with smiles on their faces. My heart fluttered.

The alphas usually claimed the heads of the table, but today was different. They chose to sit beside me. Luna Cynthia settled into a seat at the head of the table with a warm smile. "I was absolutely thrilled when the servants informed me you were here, Rue." Her eyes sparkled with delight.

As a servant uncovered the lavish platters of food, the delicious aroma wafted through the air. My stomach rumbled. I felt my cheeks flush crimson, and Luna chuckled softly. Before me lay a veritable feast—succulent steaks, fluffy mashed potatoes, vibrant green vegetables, and freshly baked goodies, enough to satisfy more than ten hungry guests.

The twins synchronized perfectly, eagerly piling food onto my plate. Their mother and I watched, amused at how coordinated they worked together. The best duo indeed.

Zylon flashed me a smile and gestured for me to eat. They piled food onto their plates as well, far too much for anyone. It was as if they hadn't eaten in days! Their mother looked at me. "I swear I feed them at least four times a day."

"I believe you," I chuckled.

"We use too much energy throughout the day," Hayes shrugged.

"And we didn't eat breakfast," Zylon nodded confidently. I raised my eyebrows at that; they had eaten lunch. How does that work? Still, a smile twitched at the corner of my lips.

"Boys, you ate breakfast. I was there."

"That was a snack, Mom," Zylon replied.

The three of them bickered lightly as we ate. Ria purred in my head. She was satisfied and loved everything about this. If I'm being honest, I did too. The Luna suddenly leaned forward, her eyes alight.

"So, Ruby, when do you think you can step into your role as Luna of the pack? I can start planning the ceremony," I froze at the mention of my role as Luna. I still hadn't decided for or against it. Unsure of what to say, I managed an awkward smile.

"Mom, no," Zylon admonished gently. The Luna gave me an apologetic look.

"We are walking before we run," Hayes said. I met his gaze and shuddered at the intensity in his dark eyes.

The Luna was about to say something when we heard a feminine voice speaking to a servant. I felt Zylon stiffen beside me, and when I turned to look at him, I noticed that every drop of color had vanished from his face, leaving his skin pale. The twins' emotions surged around me with an unexpected ferocity, engulfing me like a tidal wave. From Hayes, an overwhelming rage pulsed through the air.

Then, a tall woman with cascading, light-brown hair stepped gracefully through the doorway. The soft strands framed her sharp features. With a gentle smile, her eyes settled on everyone. "Good evening," she greeted, her voice smooth.