The Alpha Twins Can't Have Me

Chapter 5: Insanity

Juniper POV

I was sulking. Naturally, my mother had been excited about the mate bond and what it meant for our pack. She'd been so excited by the prospect of me leaving that she had personally packed my bags instead of an omega.

It was insulting.

I'd almost been shoved through the front door after a simple goodbye. Caelen had hugged me tightly, but even he thought this pairing would be good for me.

Traitors.

"Juniper, I promise you when we reach the pack, you're going to love it there," Malakai's voice was optimistic.

"I thought you said I would be heavily guarded," I shot back, "so it's more a gilded cage than anything."

"Can you promise not to try and leave?" Malakai asked solemnly, "because if you swear it, then we'll happily come to a compromise with you."

"I'll leave the second I find a weakness in your security," I told him sweetly, "and trust me, I will find one."

"I told you she wouldn't be so agreeable. I'm going to keep her under lock and key," Draven growled.

"It won't be enough to stop me."

He scowled at me.

"Look, you guys forced me to come with you. I told you before, I'm not interested in being your mate. I won't let my future be dictated by a mate bond. I choose my own destiny," I huffed, staring out the window and contemplating shoving them both through the door of the car.

"Look, maybe we've been a bit overboard, but we honestly want you as our mate, Juniper. I swear, we aren't bad guys. Maybe our reputation has preceded us," Malakai allowed, "but I'm hoping once you get to know us, you'll change your mind."

"I doubt it. Draven here looks like he's sucking on a sour lemon," I muttered, "and you remind me of an injured puppy, which isn't exactly a compliment," I added, looking at an offended Malakai.

"Why you little...." Draven hissed.

I grinned at him.

"If you find me so irritating, feel free to take me back."

"Your mother made us promise not to," Malakai sighed, "and you are a part of the negotiation with the alliance we offered your old pack."

"That sounds like more of a you problem."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and didn't answer.

I looked up at the sunroof of the limousine and promptly opened it. Before they could stop me, I stood up and poked my head out, watching the scenery pass by in a blur.

The wind rushed through my hair. I gave a holler.

"Get down! What are you doing?" Draven snarled and tugged at me roughly, trying to force me back down.

"Live a little! It's beautiful out here. The wind is rushing through my hair," I shouted back.

"It's also dangerous," Malakai growled.

I rolled my eyes and then climbed out, sitting on top of the limousine, my body relaxed as I crossed my legs.

"s**t, are you crazy?" Draven snapped, poking his head out and glaring at me. "Get back in the car now," he demanded.

"Make me."

His jaw dropped open.

"Are you kidding me right now? If you lose your balance, you could hurt yourself or die!" his voice was dark.

"I won't lose my balance. Here, look," I stood up and put my arms out, swaying with the movement of the limousine.

Malakai poked his head out, looking panicked.

"Juniper, get back inside. You're going to topple off," he said, his voice rising higher and more shrill.

I winked at him and then twirled, humming lightly under my breath.

"Oh my god," Malakai's voice was choked.

"She's crazy!" Draven snarled. "I swear to god, Juniper, if you don't get back here right now, I'll...." he threatened.

"You'll what? If you're going to threaten me, then at least follow through," I said sincerely. "An empty threat is pointless."

"I'll spank you," Draven said with narrowed eyes.

I tilted my head at him.

"I might like that. How about we try once we reach the pack house?"

He looked at me like I was insane.

"You try, Malakai," he muttered to his brother.

Malakai cleared his throat.

"Juniper," he began, "if you come back down, I'll show you the new litter of puppies in our kennel."

Puppies?

I brightened for a second.

"What kind of puppies?"

He better not be lying to me.

"Hellhounds," Draven said succinctly, "not exactly a popular breed."

Hellhounds.

They were infamous for being aggressive, overly protective, and difficult to train. They were dark as midnight with strong canines, and grew even larger than a Rottweiler.

Their eyes were also dark with a rim of red around them, which only made them look more menacing.

"Hmmm, can I keep one?"

"Are you insane? They can't be kept indoors," Draven barked, "they are strictly outside pets. They take up way too much room, and they're dangerous around people."

"Then no deal."

I twirled around on the limousine again as the twins inhaled sharply.

"You can have another pet. A cute kitten or something," Malakai blurted out. "Anything you want."

"I want a hellhound."

"What if it hurts you?" Malakai countered back, "Their teeth are as strong as a wolf's. A kitten would be much safer."

"I don't want safe. I want a challenge. I want a dog who can tear my enemies limb from limb and who will sleep on my bed and cuddle."

Malakai made a strangled sound.

Draven went to climb out and then promptly fell backwards when the limousine turned a corner, cursing under his breath.

I lay down and stared up at the sky, my hands underneath my head.

I was comfortable.

Better yet, I was making the twins irritated.

It was a win-win.

I was going to make them regret forcing me to come with them.

Also, it was nice out here while it was stuffy inside the limo.

"Okay, okay," Malakai held his hands out in surrender, speaking to me softly while Draven righted himself and glared at me. "If you're so determined to have a hellhound, then so be it. We'll let you have one."

I pulled out my phone.

"Say it again. I want it on record so you can't take it back."

He sighed.

I hit the record button.

"You can have a hellhound."

I hit the stop button and then smugly put the phone back in my pocket.

"Okay, I'll come back inside, but the sunroof stays open. It's hot inside the limo."

"We'll keep it open," Malakai said agreeably.

I stood up and then walked towards the sunroof. As I reached it, Malakai's arms shot out, and he gripped me around the waist as I bent down.

He dragged me inside, breathing heavily.

I frowned.

I wasn't that heavy, was I?

Maybe I needed to lay off the desserts a little.

Screw that. Desserts were the only thing that made life worth living. I was not about to give up chocolate cake or lemon meringue pies. I could give anything else up but those.

I would happily give up broccoli, for instance.

I sat down on the seat as the twins slumped back on their chairs.

"Juniper, you scared us half to death," Malakai breathed. "Don't ever do something so reckless ever again."

"Really? That was nothing compared to balancing on tree branches. I was perfectly safe, not my fault you panicked like a stripper without any tips."

"How imaginative," Malakai said faintly, "maybe refrain from words like strippers while you're in the packhouse."

"Oh, is your packhouse full of prudes?" I asked innocently.

"No, it's full of respectable people," Draven snarled, "and perfectly sane ones."

He acted as though I had just escaped from a mental hospital or something. I frowned at him.

"Boring," I announced, pursing my lips, "sounds like nobody knows how to live a little. I'm going to be so lonely," I wailed, putting a hand to my forehead and acting dramatic.

"I think you'll survive," Malakai said dryly.

"Are we there yet?"

"Not yet," Malakai answered patiently.

"Are we there yet?" I pressed.

"Not yet."

"Are we there yet?"

"Shut up and go to sleep," Draven groaned. "If I hear you ask if we're there one more time, I'm going to lose it," he threatened.

Grumpy bum. There was nothing else to do. Maybe they should have packed some colouring books and crayons or something.

"How much longer?"

Needless to say, by the time we reached the Blackthorn Pack, both men looked as though they wanted to kiss the ground and never step foot inside a car with me again.

Their loss.