TAKEN BY TWIN ALPHAS

Meeting my Mate

I had made it to the woods with ten minutes to spare, taking my clothes and heels off as I draped them over a branch on a nearby tree. It felt so weird standing naked in the woods, but once it struck midnight this odd behavior would all make sense. I closed my eyes, relishing in the light of the moon, wondering what my parents were doing at that moment - were they anticipating my first shift like I was? Did they even remember that they had a daughter, or were they happy to be rid of me so they wouldn't be burdened by me anymore? I thought so little of myself, but it was hard to see my worth after being dropped in the woods by my own parents.

I felt myself getting warmer, my breathing becoming more shallow with each second that brought me closer to midnight, my nerves getting the best of me as I dropped to my knees cradling myself on the ground. I tried to steady my breathing but I was so scared, and then it happened - it felt like my body was snapping right in half. The sounds of bones cracking filled the air, though my cries of pain drowned most of them out, my bones mending and healing as my wolf formed - and what a magnificent creature she was after the pain had subsided and I was able to see my reflection in a stream.

I felt tears getting lost in fur as I cried, both from the pain I had just experienced but also having to be alone during such a monumental life moment. I missed my parents, which seemed ridiculous because I didn't even know them, but soon I could hear a soothing tune being hummed by my wolf to calm me down. Of course she knew it would work. She has been with me throughout my entire life, and now that I am of age she can show herself and truly make us one. When I could feel myself beginning to calm down, my wolf took over, wanting to stretch and really see what our body could do, and so she took off running, not bothering to warm us up as our wolf form raced through the woods, darting around trees effortlessly.

We ran for hours, both her and I exhausted as we made our way back to my dress, and although this shift hurt just as badly as the initial one - I just didn't have the energy to scream or carry on like I had before. My bones cracked, breaking and shifting so they could return me to my human form, and once I found the energy to pick myself up off the ground (tears once more streaming down my face from the pain), I threw my dress back on - though refused to slip back into the heels, feeling much more comfortable walking back to the main house barefoot.

We need food. My inner wolf spoke to me as I let out a soft whimper given the stomach pain that came with starving. You'll need to eat more protein now that you're able to shift. You need to keep your energy up if you intend to keep me at my strongest. I would do whatever it took to make sure I took care of myself and my inner wolf. Go to the kitchen - I am sure everyone is sleeping by now, so you won't be caught scrounging for leftovers. I would never have been so bold as to rummage around the kitchen before, but to satisfy my wolf, I listened and, after sneaking to my room to drop my heels off, I crept through the first story into the kitchen.

I was thankful to be alone as I immediately opened the fridge and began rummaging through the contents - most being leftovers from the party that the staff must have put away so they wouldn't spoil. As my head was deep in the fridge I caught the scent of the most delicious smell - fresh baked cinnamon rolls dripping with icing, so sweet and already my mouth was watering to take a bite. My wolf stirred within, my temperature beginning to rise once more. Please tell me you're not about to shift inside. I shouldn't make a mess, the Luna would kill me. Do we need to go back outside? I tried to warn my wolf who seemed to be stirring like crazy inside of me. I pulled myself out of the fridge, the darkness encompassing me as the scent grew stronger, a soft whimper escaping me as I wanted to know where it was coming from.

A low husky growl sent my wolf into a frenzy as I was soon pinned to the counter, a strange hand on my side as a nose nuzzled against my neck. "Mate," the voice was so deep it caused me to go weak in the knees - my wolf purring at the touch from this mysterious man, and as I leaned in to take in his scent I realized HE was where the delicious aroma was coming from. I had heard about mates being attached to strong smells meant to entice, but I had always thought of that as a ridiculous myth until this very moment.

I needed to know who this mysterious man was, and so I reached behind me to turn on the small light above the sink, flicking the switch on as my eyes immediately settled on Alexander. My heart fell out of my chest as I shook my head, his lust-filled eyes growing to the size of silver dollars as he looked at me, and before I could think, I shoved him away from me. "No, this can't be," Bring him back to us, pull him in, I want him. My wolf obviously didn't understand the distress I was in right now, "anyone but you."

Alexander, still in disbelief that I was his mate, scoffed at my remark as he took a step back. "Fuck."

"No, no, no," I kept telling myself, my wolf arguing with me to bring him back in, trying to silence my distress by filling my mind with thoughts of his hands on me. No, he is not the one, he can't be, choose someone else. I knew that was not how it worked though, "reject me." I gave him permission, knowing he was probably thinking about it anyway - why wouldn't he be after the look of disgust that washed over him after I came into view? I had never expected to have a mate, especially not anyone like Alexander Sturgess. What was the Moon Goddess trying to do to me? Was this some sick, cruel joke? Alexander was better than me in every way - having looked down on me for so long - certainly he wouldn't want someone as worthless as me to be his mate.

"Wh-"

I didn't let him finish, as I stepped towards him and snapped, "just reject me and get it over with, Alexander."

I must have looked like a complete mess right now given all the crying and shifting I had done tonight. My makeup must have been an absolute mess and I was dirty from running outside for so long. I must have looked like actual trash standing before Alexander like this - at least my dress still looked good, but that's about the only thing I had going for me at the moment.

"Wh-"

He tried to speak again but I was quick to shut him down once more, "you don't even know who I am! You introduced yourself to me tonight like we haven't been living under the same roof for over fifteen years!"

His eyes, still as wide as ever, darkened as he let out a slow growl to let me know I was done talking - my wolf immediately purring at the sign of dominance, my mouth clamping shut as I watched him step closer to me. My breath hitched in my throat as he reached forward and took my arm, pulling me back into him, holding me close to him so I could not shove him back again - my wolf had taken over at this point and there wasn't a chance in hell I could muster the strength to not remain in his masculine embrace. My wolf was putty in his hands, a soft purr as he brought his lips to my neck and began to kiss my skin. "Mine," the demanding tone in his voice was unlike anything I had heard before, "my mate."

I sighed into his chest, closing my eyes as I was losing touch of reality, though my final word I managed to speak was simple, "Willow." I gave him my name, at least he should know who I was if he was going to have his hands all over me.