My Twin Mates

Ripped Hearts

After exchanging confused glances, they all shifted their eyes housing questions back to Niklaus, waiting for him to elaborate. It didn't make any sense to them but they could tell it was worse than they anticipated. "What do you mean Niklaus?" Alpha Damien asked, his eyes fixed on him.

"I have gathered as much information as I can find on the two groups, Kemuri and Red Lotus....but, I also found out that they aren't our only threat, or maybe they aren't acting alone" He replied.

"So what did you find?" Tessa inquired with a worried look.

"Firstly, the two groups have significant differences physically. While the Red Lotus are a member of three main players for now, the Kemuri on the other hand are a member of five, for now also. It seems both groups are still trying to build their numbers. As you well know, all the members of Kemuri are Direwolves, but as far as I know only three have the Alpha eyes, but they are dangerous all the same. But then we have the Red Lotus, I know the members of the group are not Direwolves, except their leader. I don't know which clan he is from. He's really good at hiding himself. But even though the Red Lotus are not all Direwolves, that doesn't make them less dangerous, as their leader is specifically picking out the powerful and unhinged wolves to add to his group" Niklaus explained as best as he could. Gathering all that information had taken years away from him.

"That is a lot of good details. For the first time we now have a good idea of both groups" Alpha Damien pointed out.

"But how do we tell which from which and not mix up the group" Maryanne inquired with furrowed brows.

"Oh yeah I forgot...Just like the Black Lotus group before, it seems these two groups adopted a dress code too. The Red Lotus have a signature outfit they put on. A hoodless black robe with a red outline all around it and a slit made from the middle waist down. And then the Kemuri have a unique outfit also. A dark red robe with a white outline along the zipper from the middle of the neckline down to the bottom"

"Yeah, that was what Scar was putting on when he broke into my house" Tessa confirmed.

"So you have seen the leader of Kemuri?" Niklaus questioned with a fascinated look.

"Yeah"

"Did you see his face?" He pried on

"Not really. He had a clothe mask on that covered from his nose down. But he has a distinctive scar on his left eye, just like my brother, Silas'" She shifted her attention to Damien, knowing Damien could picture it since he saw Silas.

"What is it with this villains and masks?! Kane of the Red Lotus also puts on a full mask. It seems like no one has ever seen the face behind those mask" Niklaus stated.

"Alright. Now we know how to identify whichever of them we run into, if we ever do. So tell us about the others. You mentioned Derek Maynard and Dread doctor..."

"Yeah. Alpha Derek Maynard, the one and only. The one whose father was your adoptive father's right hand Beta, Tessa...." He said that and Tessa's heart immediately skipped a beat.

Alpha Damien glanced at her and saw the emotions on her face. After all she'd lived through, he couldn't blame her for feeling that way. Tessa on the other couldn't believe what was just dug up from her past. She had gone more than a decade without hearing that name being called out loud or the memories being dug up. She never thought he would ever be part of her life again, but here they were, his name being called and being listed as an enemy once again. "Wha....what about him?" She asked, trying to not show how affected she was by his name alone.

Niklaus who had observed and picked up all she was trying to hide, carried on. "I heard a rumor that he's looking for payback. A rumor that he's trying to do to Direwolves what was done to him"

"After all these years? Why now? And most especially, what can he do with just an eye and one arm? Last I remembered, Tessa's mate, Kieran took one of his eyes and arms in the last war" Alpha Damien pointed out

"I don't know what he's planning. That's all I know"

"Kieran should have just finished him off during the war. And now he's coming to haunt us" The Alpha stated, glancing at Tessa who has now retreated into silence.

"And what about the Dread doctor?" Maryanne questioned

"That's one of the biggest mysteries. All that's known of him or her is the name. No one has seen it. Just a rising popularity in the name" He explained

"That's not enough to go about"

"Or maybe it's just a fairytale" Niklaus shrugged

"Well, whatever it is, we have to be on our guard now more than ever. Anyone of our many enemies could attack at any time" Tessa finally broke her silence.

"And what about the premonition about the twins?" Maryanne inquired with a curious look.

"I and Tessa will handle that" The Alpha replied.

***

Kieran walked into the kitchen and went straight to where Raven was standing by the kitchen sink. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and buried his face into the crook of her neck. "What are you doing? Kreed is upstairs" She whispered to him, sounding afraid but at the same time feeling great with what Kieran was doing.

"Yeah I know" He whispered into her ear before turning her to face him. Her eyes met his and they both simultaneously began smiling and blushing. "Your eyes are gonna be my downfall Raven" He whispered before picking her up and putting her on the counter. She immediately wrapped her arms and legs around him, pressing her lips on his.

After a few seconds, she broke the kiss with a smile. "Same, Kieran" She cupped his face and then slid her fingers into his hair.

"I want you" Kieran stated

"Yeah I do too, but Kreed is here right now so...."

"No" He cut her off, his smile fading. "I mean I want you want you....I want you all to myself, I want you to myself, as my mate and mine alone" He said with all seriousness.

Ravens smile faded immediately also. She cleared her throat and climbed down from the counter. "I don't think you should be wanting that Kieran. I can't give you that"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm in love with your brother. I love Kreed and we are mates" She explained.

"So are we. What about me? You don't love me? You couldn't reject me remember? Doesn't that mean you love me too?" He questioned with a curious and worried look.

"Maybe it's just the mate thing. I'm sorry Kieran. I can't give you what you want. I love Kreed...." She paused and shifted her eyes to the floor. "I love him more than you" She added, avoiding his eyes even more when she heard his heart skipped a beat.

"What?" Was all he could muster

"I should go back home before he starts suspecting and besides Isabella will be home soon and you guys would leave. So I should spend a little more time with him" She blurted out and hurried off before he could say anything else, leaving him there to ponder on what she just said.

Kieran stood still like a statue, playing her words over and over again like a broken record in his head. Everytime he thought about it, it stinged like the first time she said it. He lost track of how long he had been standing there. Being lost in his head also made him oblivious of Ace who had heard everything where he stood outside the house close to the kitchen wall. He wanted to go in but decided against it and left, not wanting to let Kieran know he heard all that transpired between him and his brother's mate.

***Two Hours Later***

Looking up at the sky, Isabella smiled when she saw the moon was almost full. It'll probably be fully formed in the next one week. She shut her eyes, taking the night air in and letting the moon bathe her. Those type of nights were her favorite and she wished it was something they could enjoy in peace in that town and in their pack but the current dangers prevents that.

The thought of danger brought her back to reality as she thought of her niece, Raven. She realized she needed to start heading home. It was late already and she was done with picking the herbs she went into the woods for. Now she needed to go home and protect her only remaining family whose life is now in danger. She closed the basket she was holding that was full of herbs of different kinds and turned to leave.

Immediately she took her first step, she felt a little cut at the back of her neck like a little paper cut and immediately, she felt her heart almost stop beating and this fear took over her body. She felt stuck to the ground as she couldn't move. "Hey" This cold menencing voice said right behind her, sending chills down her spine. Her heart began beating faster, she tried to move but couldn't and it made her fear increase.

The mystery person walked gently past her and came to stand in front of her and that's when she got a good look at him. Her eyes widened with fear and shock. "I'm afraid you've come to the end of your destination. But don't worry, your death isn't random, it's gonna serve a purpose" As soon as Kane's cold voice said that, she felt like her wolf was being controlled and she was being forced to turn. Her bones began breaking. Kane ignored her painful cries and moves closer to her. He rolled up the right sleeve of his robe, exposing his arm up to his elbow and without warning, he punched right into her chest and ripped out her heart.

Isabella coughed out blood and dropped to her side on the ground as soon as Kane withdrew his hand with her heart in his grip. He stared at her lifeless body on the floor, watching a single streamline of tears run down her eye. He dropped her heart on her lifeless body and then looked up at the moon as he had saw her doing earlier. He stared at it for a while but couldn't see the same thing she saw that made her smile. He sighed, adjusted his mask and robe sleeve, and walked away