The Alpha Twins Can't Have Me

Chapter 12: Crashing

Draven POV

"There's nothing here." I slammed the folder shut, frowning in frustration, my tone so enraged it made Malakai flinch.

"Her history is filled with medical reports, genealogy, and the history of her family line, and there's nothing to explain her sudden gift of healing?" Malakai sounded incredulous.

"Nothing. Just amusing little anecdotes from her hospital records, such as, 'fell into a beehive while climbing a tree and was promptly stung over fifty times. Or broke an ankle while trying to perform a backflip off a tightrope several metres above the ground."

"Those were when she was younger and couldn't heal herself," Malakai realized and then leaned back in the chair, expression thoughtful.

"What do you think brought on her gift then? If it was her bloodline, then shouldn't her mother have the same gift?"

"She doesn't. But a lot is missing from her family tree. It's not as far back as one would usually expect to find."

"Hmmm." Malakai frowned again.

"I'll get one of my men on it," I exhaled, "but in the meantime, we're going to have to keep Juniper in line. Stop indulging her all the time and allowing her to be so reckless. It's not becoming of our mate," I advised him, "you're only going to set her up for failure if you don't."

Malakai opened his mouth to answer, probably to reject my statement, when we both heard the sound of screams.

"What the f**k?" I said sharply, opening the door to the study and storming out.

The source of the noise was coming from Liana, who promptly threw herself into my arms the moment we stepped outside.

"Draven," she shrieked as I fought the urge to fling her away, "save me, she's gone insane!"

She pointed at Juniper.

I almost dropped Liana in shock.

Juniper looked wild. Wilder than usual. Her hair was dishevelled, her clothes wrinkled, and her smile so wide it creeped me out just to look at it.

It's what she was holding that made me question if I was losing my sanity.

"Is that a.....?"

"Juniper," Malakai glanced at our mate, who slowly swung her gaze to him. "Why do you have a whole basket filled with apples that are covered in paint?"

"I'm bored," Juniper said solemnly.

I almost fell over. Liana stood back up and straightened her clothes, clothes that I saw were covered in small circular patches of bright coloured paint.

"She's been using me for target practice!" she screeched, "throwing apples at me and laughing every time one hits. She thinks it's hilarious. I would have shifted and hurt her if I didn't know it would get me in trouble!"

Juniper's laugh was so evil that I almost crossed myself.

"It is funny. Do you want to try?" she asked Malakai with sudden delight. "It's not as easy as it looks. Liana moves fast; I'll give her that."

"See, she admits it," Liana howled.

Juniper was blinking madly.

"Malakai, how much cake and dessert did you give her?" I snarled, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Not enough," Juniper trilled, beginning to skip, basket swaying back and forth in her hand.

"I think I might have given her too much," Malakai confessed. "She said she needed a lot of energy to recover," he protested when I shot him a glare.

"Recover from what?" Liana butted in.

"Nothing," Malakai snapped.

She looked hurt.

I sighed.

"Liana, go back; we'll deal with this."

She opened her mouth, and then an apple hit her square in the chest, covering her in bright pink paint.

"You crazy b***h," Liana screamed, storming off.

Juniper waved and then threw another apple, hitting a spitting mad Liana on the back of her head.

"You have to admit her aim is exceptional," Malakai said, impressed.

God help me, I am surrounded by idiots, and my brother is the biggest i***t of all.

I looked at the apples again.

Glow-in-the-dark paint. How did she even get her hands on something like this?

Never mind.

Juniper sighed and put the basket down.

"She's gone," she pouted and then shrugged, beginning to run around, eyes sparkling, hair billowing behind her.

"Juniper, I think it might be time for bed. To rest. What do you say?" Malakai tried to approach her.

"Bed?" Juniper stopped, her eyes narrowing. "But I'm not sleepy!"

She picked up several apples from the basket and began to juggle them with expert precision.

"Juniper," Malakai reached out to grab her hand, and she reacted, pulling away instinctively, the apples falling to the floor.

"I know, let's play tag," she giggled, darting forward to smack a frozen Malakai in the chest and then darting off. "Tag, you're it," she called over her shoulder.

"Juniper, I'm not chasing you," Malakai growled, hands clenched into fists. "This is ridiculous. Come back here and let's go get you some sleep."

Juniper halted.

I felt a deep sense of relief. I sure as hell wasn't going to chase her. Malakai had managed to get her to see sense.

That's what I thought.

She tilted her head and then shrugged, ripping off her dress and exposing her lacy underwear as our mouths went dry.

"Put your dress back on," I roared, storming forward.

Nobody was going to stare at my mate like that, not if I could help it.

She picked the dress up and then tore it right in front of us.

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Malakai, you stupid bastard, this is your fault. She's on a f*****g sugar high because of you!" I shouted.

"How was I meant to know? She said she could handle it," he defended, his voice rising in protest.

I pointed at a giggling Juniper.

"Does that look like she's handling it? She's like a goddamn leprechaun on crack."

Juniper skipped backwards, her eyes twinkling like bright stars.

"If you don't want anybody to see me like this, then I guess you better come catch me," she trilled.

"Juniper, so help me god," I growled, "do as I tell you."

She poked her tongue out, rendering me silent.

It was disrespectful and infuriating.

"That's it. When I get my hands on you, I'm teaching you a lesson," I thundered.

She blew me a kiss and then turned her back, beginning to run across the grounds.

My c**k turned hard.

She was magnificent to behold. Pert breasts encased in a red lacy bra, a little curvy ass with matching panties and skin like delicate porcelain.

Malakai looked just as entranced.

Then we saw where she was headed.

The training ring.

The one our warrior frequented, even during nighttime.

Where other men would lay eyes on her and her practically naked body.

It brought a fresh wave of panic.

I looked at Malakai and saw he had the same thoughts as well.

As if reading our minds, Juniper began to run even faster.

I shifted, my clothes tearing to shreds, my wolf coming to the surface. Malakai did the same. Our wolves were possessive, ready to herd our mate back to the pack house.

We took off, paws thudding heavily on the ground, ears pricked back, body propelling forward.

Giggles filled the air as Juniper began to dodge and weave.

We cut her off, eyes glaring at her as she stopped in her tracks.

We growled.

She eyed us carefully.

I stepped forward, intending to intimidate her.

She immediately reached up and then patted my cheek, her eyes filled with awe.

"Pretty," she breathed.

She did the same to Malakai.

Our wolves purred. They weren't offended at all. They liked our mate touching us and admiring us.

She nuzzled her face against mine and closed her eyes.

She swayed on her feet.

Malakai shifted, just in time to catch her as she started to fall. He scooped her up in his arms, an indulgent expression on his face.

I shifted and stared down at her.

She was asleep. Completely out of it. She'd crashed, finally.

"Like a damn toddler who's had too many pieces of candy," I scowled.

She put a gentle hand on Malakai's bare chest and stroked it as he stiffened.

"Warm."

Jealousy swept through me.

Why was she so gentle and soft with Malakai and so reserved with me? Why didn't she touch me like that? Did she prefer my brother?

"Get her to bed," my voice was abrupt. "And check on where Reaper is. The last thing I need is a hellhound running around unsupervised."

"Why don't you take her, Draven?" Malakai offered, but I shook my head.

"She's comfortable with you. I need to go have a drink," I muttered and then left before he could hear the hurt in my voice.

I wanted to be the one Juniper turned to, the one she trusted so much. I wanted to be the one who held her and the one who got to kiss those soft lips of hers.

Why couldn't I be more like Malakai?