Bound to the Twin Wolves

A Normal Class

Callie’s POV

Going back to school not only shortened the time I had to wait before making my dream of leaving town and getting away from my mom come true, but classes also distracted me and gave me a valid excuse not to come home early.

“So you haven’t heard anything from your admirers?” Lila asked when we met again in the classroom.

“No, nothing. They were just tourists. Very timely tourists who saved me from that idiot.”

I glanced at Martin, who had now made his relationship with that slut Stefanny official. They were sitting together, holding hands.

“That bastard,” Lila agreed. “But hey. It’s all history now, right?”

I was about to agree with her when I felt the ground sink beneath me. My heart lodged in my throat, my chest tightening so much I could barely breathe.

They had just walked in.

The twins.

“What’s wro—?” Lila started to say before turning and seeing for herself those two perfect specimens of men—so flawless that apparently God hadn’t been satisfied with making just one.

They walked in barely looking at anyone, carrying that irreverent air so natural to them, their casually messy hair that somehow only worked on them, and that maddening indifference in their eyes. I noticed every girl in the room following them with their gaze, while the boys looked like they had just seen two new lions enter the pride. Martin was the one who glared at them with the most hatred, while Stefanny didn’t even bother pretending she wasn’t instantly impressed.

They made their way down the aisle between desks and tossed their backpacks onto the seats in the back row.

Professor Alan’s voice snapped me out of my stupor.

“We have two new students, coming from California. Boys, please introduce yourselves to the class.”

He was referring to the twins, who looked at him as if to say, Seriously?

My heart pounded in my throat as I waited for them to speak, but they didn’t, and Mister Alan let it slide.

“Alright, suit yourselves. Now, let’s split into groups of four for today’s activity.”

Lila and I immediately looked for another pair, but after a few minutes we realized the only available option was the twins—whom Stefanny would have recruited if Martin hadn’t shot her a deadly look when she hinted at it.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the girl from the restaurant,” said the twin who struck me as the rougher one.

“Don’t start, brother,” replied the other, who seemed more conciliatory, though his face told me he could be just as stubborn and mischievous. “Remember she doesn’t like being teased.”

“If we’re forming a group, you’d better not be a pain with Callie,” Lila said, defending me.

“And can’t Callie speak for herself?” the first twin shot back.

“Maybe she’s shy at school, because at the restaurant I can assure you she’s quite the little wildcat,” the second replied.

“That’s enough, both of you,” I said before they actually started believing I’d be impressed by their game. “Let’s get started. How good are Californians at chemistry?” I asked, mostly to get a little payback.

Their faces barely moved, total indifference, which made me assume that for all their good looks, they were probably terrible students. Lila and I exchanged a look—we had reached the same conclusion. We would have to carry the team.

What a disappointment.

At that moment, Lila nudged my elbow and pointed at the space where we needed to write our group members’ names. We were missing theirs.

“Asher,” said the one I saw as the rebel.

“Jonas,” introduced the more composed one.

“I’m Lila,” my friend said.

“And I—”

“Callie,” they both said at the same time. “Your friend just said it.”

“I was just testing whether you were paying attention,” I replied with a smirk, which made them smirk right back.

We got to work while I noticed they kept staring at me. Every time I looked up, they would look away, pretending they hadn’t been watching, only to glance back at me with a grin.

What game were they playing?

Then the comments started again.

“I wonder if they’re always this focused, or if they’re just trying to avoid us, brother. What do you think?” Asher said.

“I think we intimidate them,” Jonas replied.

Lila was about to respond, but I touched her elbow before she could, warning her not to fall into their trap.

“You should be helping us, don’t you think?” I said, clearly annoyed.

“But we see you’re doing great. Why interrupt?” Asher answered.

“Did you notice how her cheeks lit up, brother?” Jonas added.

They were becoming unbearable, yet something about them still drew me in—something that even made me want them to keep teasing me.

Then I noticed Jonas staring at my paper. When I looked up, he held my gaze so intensely it made me nervous.

“That formula won’t tell you how much gas the molecule is releasing,” he said, pointing at the page. “Which, by the way, can only be hydrogen.”

I looked at Lila, and she nodded. We reviewed the exercise and realized he was right.

“So you have been paying attention,” I said as I erased the answer.

“Surprised?” Jonas asked with a wide smile.

“May I?” Asher said, gesturing for the paper. “I know the answer to the problem you two have been avoiding.”

I couldn’t believe it. They were actually good at chemistry. Asher solved what Lila and I hadn’t managed to figure out. His brother nearly snatched the paper from him and, laughing, wrote down the answer to the last question. When he raised his hand to call the teacher, I realized we were the first group to finish.

Mister Alan walked over, reviewed the sheet, and nodded.

“Well, no group has ever finished this fast—and with every answer correct. I see they taught you well in California.”

“It was teamwork, sir,” Jonas said. “The locals are very good too.”

When he said that, I noticed the way he devoured me with his gaze, and I knew his last sentence could be interpreted in more than one way.

Mister Alan handed our sheet back with a big A+, exactly the grade I needed to be exempt from the exam. Lila congratulated me, and I realized that without the twins’ last two answers, we probably wouldn’t have earned the highest mark.

“Thank you,” I said, a little shyly.

“No, thank you. I really had fun. Didn’t you, brother?” Jonas said.

Asher just smiled. And when he noticed Lila wasn’t looking, he ran his tongue over his lips while holding my gaze.

I had to stand up before he could see how flushed I had become, but before they left, and taking advantage of the fact that Lila had stepped out of the classroom first, I walked over to them, determined to confront them, because something had been on my mind ever since Christmas night.

“Earlier you called me mate,” I said in a low voice, making sure only they could hear me. “Are you going to explain what that means, or are you just going to keep playing?”

They smiled, but their expressions shifted for a brief second, as if I had touched a sensitive point.

“We’re not playing with you,” Jonas replied this time without mockery. “How about we talk about it at the end of the day?”

My confidence deflated instantly. Were they actually serious?

“I’m working this afternoon,” I answered. “I can’t.”

“Then we’ll come visit you,” Asher said casually. “And we’ll talk there.”

I didn’t know why that answer made me angry.

“You know what? Just forget it. I can see you’re only messing with me.”

I turned away before they could reply, but I hated myself for wanting them to.