Stuck Between Twin Alphas

Chapter 5

Aurora

If this was how my year was going to go in Alchemia, what then was the point of it all? Was coming here a mistake?

For some reason, the chair I sat in felt unnaturally hot. Like a literal ‘hot seat’.

“This is the second report I'm getting from you people, and it's just barely a week into resumption. I need you to give me a proper explanation or I'm going to have to forward this case to the Dean.”

At the mention of the dean, my heart started racing in my chest. She would be so disappointed if she got any bad reports about me so early. I had barely even thanked her enough for making it possible for me to attend Alchemia so late.

Since Stella had also been at the center of the fight, she was present in the office as well for questioning. But I doubted she even understood what had actually happened because she kept giving me pointed glances.

The woman who'd ended the fight turned out to be Miss Beckinsale who Derek had used to tease Mr. Brown. Indeed, she was beautiful, with curly hair that she left to sit undisturbed, and dimples that showed themselves even while she spoke. Her voice was soft, and her disposition appeared to be calm, but she commanded respect. She was also the Sub-Dean, which meant that whatever she said or did, couldn't be ignored.

In the brightly lit office, I could almost pretend like it wasn't night. I tried to form words, but nothing tangible kept coming to mind. What could I even say? That the most popular twins at school were fighting over me because they thought I was their mate? Who would even believe such a thing?

I ignored Stella's eye-signals. I didn't need distractions at that point. Maybe later, if I felt up to it, I would explain everything, but now I had to find a way to protect my studentship.

“I'm still waiting for an answer, Aurora,” the woman said, watching me closely from across her desk. “I can't help you if you don't help me.”

I swallowed, it tasted bitter. “Well . . . I—”

“You're a f*****g liar, you know that?” It was Ross, glaring directly at Francis. The place where he had been punched by Francis didn't even have a scratch. “Why don't you explain why you and your brother have been harrassing Aurora like she's your property, hmm?”

Oh no. Oh no, no no. Not again. I wanted to curse at the heavens.

Someone scoffed harshly. “Just admit that you're upset that a girl isn't chasing after you like a dog.” It was the first time I'd heard Grayson speak.

They were speaking as though they weren't even in the office with Miss Beckinsale. Bold and reckless.

Ross’ smirk was devilish. “You guys act all high and mighty, but we really know what you're compensating for.”

There was clearly a hidden message in what he said, but I couldn't read it.

Tensions were rising again, and another wave of anxiety rushed through me. I couldn't take another punishment because of these guys.

“The truth stands that she's our mate, not yours, so stop lying and following her around,” said Ross. “Or are you so pressed for a mate that you're out here trying to snatch ours?”

“You're the liar here, Ross,” this was Francis. I could already sense another fight bubbling beneath the surface.

“Enough!” The Sub-Dean’s voice rang through the room as she rose from her chair. Again, the room immediately fell silent. She turned to Ross and Grayson. “Do you intend to be in detention till you graduate?”

“No ma'am.” They shook their heads quickly. No one uttered another word after that, but there was still clear tension in the air. On the bright side, they had taken the attention off me.

The poor woman sighed and turned to Stella and I. “You know what, it's pretty late, and I'm very tired. I think it's best you two leave here for now. Expect a call from me soon.”

I wanted to object. It couldn't really be true that they were mated to me, but if they were lying about it, was it really worth all the punishments they were getting because of it? If they were so popular and respected by their peers, wouldn't it have been a stain on their status for them to openly declare that a weak wolf like me was their mate?

As Stella and I left, I couldn't help but hear some of the conversation between the twins and the Sub-Dean.

“Now, I don't know what sort of fight for dominance is going on here, but you four better get your wolf hormones in check. That's a person, not some toy!”

—

Stella and I returned to our room, and immediately my roommate slid underneath her covers and switched off her lamp, marking the end of whatever conversation we were supposed to have.

I felt that she was a little angry with me for holding out on telling her what had really happened, so I just let her be. For me, sleep didn't come until about an hour later, and even then, I couldn't escape the two sets of twins who were on my case.

In order to let things die down, I didn't go to class the following day. I didn't want to cross paths with those twins, both of them. But I knew I couldn’t avoid them forever.

Stella offered to stay with me when I told her why I didn't want to go and just like that, the gap between us was fixed.

It was noon when a knock came to the door. Given my previous experience, I didn't want to answer the door, but Stella went ahead of me and opened the door, stepping outside. A gasp came from her moments after. “Aurora, come and see this!”

I went to meet her, already a little anxious. “What is it?” I asked, getting to the doorway.

“Look!” She pointed at the boxes stacked beside our door outside.

They were gifts. Actual gifts. I bent down and picked the card attached to one of them, quickly reading it.

“Some choices are hard to make, but we have chosen you. Please, choose us back,” it read. There was only one inscription at the end of the letter: the letter F. Francis.

They wanted me to make a choice.