Accepting My Twin Mates
Chapter 77

Badru

Me and my big mouth.

Since my group of potential witnesses was the smallest compared to my father's and Astennu's, I blasted through fairly quickly. Not wanting to sit still, I stopped by the hospital a short drive away to see my mother. Sitting still led to thinking, thinking led to a pair of smouldering stormy blue eyes, and those eyes led to my pit of despair. So, like my brother, I kept moving.

By a stroke of good fortune, Kate was sitting with my mother while my father continued his work. Away from her Luna, I had asked the Beta, in no uncertain terms, to either give me Finley's key to raid his place, or we would break his damn door down. I may have been a little forceful in my request, but whatever. I didn't have the luxury of civility given my situation. And while I was in the hospital, I thought it was only right to let Lucy know what Astennu and I were up to. As the words “we're breaking into Finley's place’ escaped my mouth, Catalina slammed open the door shouting road trip and that she was coming too. Damn an Alpha she-wolf's ability to hold their aura longer than a wolf male. With the added benefit of being able to hold their scent in short bursts, to top it off; a natural defence mechanism among incredibly strong she-wolves that males didn't possess. I would have thought my own Gamma would have had my back.

Wrong again.

Tamlyn had magnanimously taken over to sit with Lucy, not an ounce of remorse on her face. Had I wronged her in a past life?

“Walking faster doesn't mean I'll quit," a shrill voice followed after me, grating on my last nerve and making me wish the ground would spontaneously swallow her up.

Catalina was quick on my heels as I left the small conference room Astennu had been working in, reminding me to never voice my intentions out loud again and to stick to mind-linking for all future conversations when she was around.

“Don't you dare ignore me Rolfe clone. I will shift and run after your car. Evie is my friend. 'm doing whatever I can to bring her back, just like you,” a harsh thud collided between my shoulder blades.

I stopped, dead, whirling around to see a silver sparkly flat on the carpet behind me.

“Did you just throw a shoe at me?” I picked it up, riled, waving it in her face.

“Calm down,” she snatched it from my hand and hopped on one foot to put it back on. The urge to be a five year old and push her over was strong indeed. “It's a ballet flat, not a stiletto."

“Word to the wise, never ever throw a shoe at an Egyptian. That's how street fights start”

“Why?” She rushed to catch up with me as I strode away. “It's just a shoe.”

“In Egyptian culture, it's a huge insult. The shoe is considered dirty, so it's like you're literally flinging shit."

So what does it mean if I hit you over the head with my ballet flat?"

I didn't need to look at her to know she was smirking.

“You should have pushed her over; Baniti grumbled, disliking the she-wolf so near. “That was your escape’

Pressing the button on my fob for our private garage attached to the Alpha wing, I leaned against my twin's Jeep, waiting for him and Thiago to catch up. A vibration rattled against the metal door from my back pocket pressed to its surface. Elan’s name flashed on the screen along with his picture, one Astennu and I had taken at his wedding which was on the blurry end of my memory of the night.

"Hey!" I answered on the second ring, trying to turn away from Catalina so she couldn't listen in. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Hey" he replied in a declining tone that signalled disappointment. “Well, a bunch of volunteers from the Family and the vakama Nation stopped as many cars as we could, but, nothing. They could well have passed through our land before we organised ourselves. My Elder and the tribal council pass on their apologies.”

“Don’t worry about it, Elan,” I sighed, dejected. “It was a long shot anyway, but thanks for all you did. Your people put themselves in harm's way for us."

“You two doing ok?" He said after a few seconds of silence. “Stupid question, I know."

Astennu, on the surface, looked focused and in control. Within, was a whole different story. He was a mess of guilt and denial. My mess was a little more obvious, transcending to the outside. My tension was at its cusp, teetering and threatening to fall and with Catalina around, I was fit for exploding. I'd rather muck out Heru’s stable with the beast in it, than be locked in a confined space with her.

“We're functioning, is about the best way I can put it. I'd function better if certain people would f**k off" I snarled in Catalina’s direction as she tried to listen in.

“Is that code for you wanting me to go?” Elan chuckled, unsure.

“No, not you" I pressed the phone back to my ear. “The pest I've been saddled with."

“If you don’t mind, I'm trying to hear if he's hot,” said pest folded her arms, giving me far too much attitude.

“He's married, so wave your lady parts elsewhere!”

“Do I need to tell my Hazel I have a she-wolf after me?"

I gave Catalina a warning glare, “I'm pretty sure you're safe. I'l talk to you later; and I hung up.

With impeccable timing, Thiago and Astennu finally caught up. Insisting he drove, Thiago got behind the wheel, programming his GPS on his phone, and Catalina called shotgun, leaving my twin and me with the back seat to ourselves. The trees and landscape blurred past as I gulped down my quickly cooling coffee, the caffeine somewhat stimulating me.

“You wanna shift and stick your head out the window?’ Astennu suddenly nudged my side, jolting me out of my directionless musing.

“No! She's here; I hissed back.

“she can drive. You and Thiago can go for broke; he half-smiled, which slipped away the instant he returned to staring out of the window.

Thiago's wolf, Tajo, was almost as big of a dope as Baniti. Aside from my brother and Evie, he was the only other that saw that particular side of my wolf.

“The only person missing from this car is my brother's favourite person in the whole world,” I didn't see why I had to be the only one dealing with their personal pain in the a*s.

His scowl was immediate, knowing exactly who I meant. And he said I had no grasp of sarcasm.

“Ha, Adrian would have made this interesting, ay Astennu?” The devil spawn smirked at him through the rearview mirror. “You fighting with my guy, Aste?” Thiago chuckled from the driver's seat. “You know, he's gonna be my head warrior when I take over from my father, so play nice. You'll be seeing a whole lot of him."

“Alsakhif rayiea (f****g fantastic)" my brother muttered quietly.

“Ym assuming that was Arabic for “can’t wait. But if you must know, he couldn't come help because his mate also went into heat, three days ago. So, I doubt his priorities are anywhere else,” Thiago paused in thought. “Whatcha got beef with Adrian for anyway?"

“No reason,” my brother replied, flatly.

A sly smirk swept onto Catalina's lips as she sneakily side-eyed her brother. f**k, she knew and she was mind-linking him “Oh,” he whispered, without realising and expertly changed the subject. “Uh, I know you guys are high on caffeine but why don't you try and catch some sleep? You're no good to your Luna's search if you're exhausted.”

I balled up my jacket to rest against the window, folding my arms across my chest and settling against it. My eyelids slowly fell heavy with the rhythmic hum of the engine and steady music playing from the radio. Maybe I could catch a few minutes, but without my nour el-ain’s supple skin nestled to my cheek, I doubted sleep would even come...

Something soft yet firm encapsulated my face, the most perfect pillows to exist. My eyes fluttered open to ample and full breasts cushioning my cheek, rising and falling peacefully in sleepy breaths.

My Evie.

She was back.

Thank goddess. It was all a nightmare.

I crept up her body, taking my time to admire her timeless beauty and the way her long dark golden hair spilt onto her pillow. The double marks on her slender neck shone a silvery pink on either side, as pretty as I had dreamed. Funny though, I didn't remember putting it there?

The sounds of the morning outside drifted through the open french doors, a warm breeze billowing the sheer white drapes and dancing pale shadows over my mate's naked body. The birds chirped, the green leaves rustled and the gentle sound of the water lapped against the lake's edge. Evie truly had picked the perfect spot for our home, so quiet and tranquil, our idyllic little bubble all our own.

A sweet and tiny tired groan pulled my attention back to my pretty stormy blue irises, sparkling in the low morning sun. My fingers slid along her neck, cupping her jaw as my thumb traced over the plumpness of her cherry lips. She gripped my wrist, turning the soft underside to her teeth. My heart rate rose with excitement as she licked the pulse point of my wrist, nicking the flesh with the edge of her canine. I loved it when she played rough with me, beginning gently and dominating my Alpha wolf into submission.

Pulling me down on top of her, she flipped our positions, straddling my waist to pin me beneath her. I was always her willing captive, eager for more of her fire and sharp tongue.

Her teasing smirk pulled on the corners of her wonderful lips, telling me I was about to pay for something. What? I hadn't a clue. But if it meant I was reprimanded by my nour el-ain, I'd have to commit the “crime’ again.

“..Badru?” She said, her lips wrapping around my name.

Except, the voice that rang through those pouty red rubies wasn't hers... what was going on?

“Badru"...

~“Badru! Wake up, we're there," Astennu jostled me to consciousness.

I caught myself in a startle, the balled-up fabric my head rested on slapping me in the face with my motion.

“What?” My head shot around, trying to make sense of where I was and why Evie wasn't here.

It was a dream, Baniti whimpered as reality, coldly, set back in. “And a cruel one at that.

“Sorry. It's not as though I have any control over it!

“You finished making out with your coat?” Catalina arched a questioning brow at me.

“Kol khara (shut up),” I muttered a quiet curse, not sparing her a glance.

“You kinda were; my brother offered me a sympathetic glance. “I dreamt of her too, that I was about to mark her. I woke just as my canines extended!

Alama (damn), and this was just a day without her. What would longer be like?

“So, this is where f**k-nuts has been hold up?” I said a little loudly, shifting the focus away from my mortification that Catalina kindly pointed out.

I flicked my jacket behind me, slipping my arms through the sleeves, and hooked my thumbs in the pockets as I took in the gated apartment building nestled in the quiet Seattle suburbs. Many of the homes in the area held the same air of affluence; high manicured hedges, tall gates and clean painted walls, hardly the regular environment you'd expect to find a disgraced rogue.

“Looks like the only way in is to climb" Thiago shook the gates. “I doubt these humans are gonna buzz in four wolves.” Technically, we were well within our rights as the nearest representatives of a pack and as Finley's former Alphas to enter the premises to investigate. The human inhabitants would know they couldn't stop us. It didn't mean they were about to let us breeze on in either.

“Climb?” Catalina exclaimed indignantly. “I'll ruin my shoes”

I rolled my eyes. For the love of goddess...

“You should have worn function over fashion, idiota (i***t);" Thiago flicked her nose and in two strides up the footholds of the gate, he leapt over the top.

“If you're so concerned over ruining your footwear, then stay out here and keep out of the way while we do the real work and find what this fucker did with our mate and her father,” I snapped, a growl from my last nerve shattering and edging my words. “I'm sure there's a coffee house around here somewhere that's more your scene.”

Before I put a hand on the gate to climb, she shoved me away hard in the chest, threw her shoes over and was shimming up the wrought iron frame. At the top, she swept her legs over and dropped to the snowy ground with ease. Catalina turned, threw me the double middle fingers and snatched her shoes from the ground.

“I know she looks like a bratty spoiled princess and she is a bratty spoiled princess; Thiago mind-linked me through the gates, smirking at his little sister hopping about to brush the dirt off of her feet. “But she’s actually incredibly skilled and pretty lethal. It's best not to underestimate her!

“Fine, I climbed up after the Rivera siblings. “I'll admit devil spawn is more than she looks!

“I still don't like her though; Baniti groused my own unspoken feelings.

“All you have to do is put up with her for a few hours, Astennu landed next to me, striding off ahead to lead the way. “if you want, you can break a few things in the apartment.

Now that last bit sounded satisfying.

For how few floors the apartment building had, it didn't lack for size. I followed behind my brother, up the outer staircase to the second floor and along the balcony walkway to the first door.

“I think we should split up,” Catalina looked down the line of apartments.

“You go skulk around the pendejo’s (a*****e’s) place and, you know, do all the real work," she jibbed in a tone I recognised as sarcasm. “And we'll go have coffee with the neighbours and ask what they know, since, that's my “scene’ and all”

With the scowl on her face and her arms crossed, I knew I must have hit a tender insecurity.

“Oh, for f**k's sake, fine! I'm sorry,” I hissed.

she huffed and dragged her brother away with her, stomping down to the far side of the balcony walkway.

“And here I thought I irritated her the most; Thiago poked her in the side, making her squeal and drop his wrist.

She was ticklish too? Finally, some ammunition to use when the time was right.

ignoring the annoying she-wolf, I slotted in the key I had and turned. As soon as we entered, an alarm began to beep, a panel flashing to my left. With a swift and strong punch, I shattered it into the wall, leaving behind a fist-shaped hole.

“Better?” Astennu quirked a brow.

“A little. Just wish it was his face.”

Finley's pad of exile was large and luxurious, but empty and impersonal, cold and devoid of any life. The furniture and generic prints on the wall all looked as though they came with the place, coordinating in black to go with the modern grey interior. His scent was the sole one present, no one else's mingled around. It was faded, as though he hadn't been here in a few days, in keeping with his cover. Astennu took the back of the apartment, while I searched the front, not as though there was much to search. Everything was open-planned, gleaming tiles, no nooks or hidden spaces and no cliché loose ceiling panels.

There was nothing; no electronics, most likely on him and in his possession, no scraps or papers that indicated any guilt. All I found was a piece of paper on the glass coffee table with rough notes of flight times out to New York and random hotel names, as though they were written as he was browsing.

How could there be nothing?

So little present and none of it seemed out of place.

What were we missing? Or were we so far off base, we were looking in the wrong place?

I had half a mind to fly to New York myself and wring his neck for answers. But if I found him in New York, it would mean he had nothing to do with any of Evie's kidnapping.

f**k, a pressure headache was building, and the throbbing pull in my chest was twisting in an excruciating manner.

“You feel it, too?” My twin appeared at the side of me, catching my arms as I swayed a little.

His brow was beading in sweat and being this close, I could hear his heart thundering.

“What does it mean?” I took several deep breaths.

“Maybe wherever Evie is, she’s waking up?”

I shut my eyes, my wolf focusing with all his might on a direction...

“..I can't sense her... she’s too far” I grunted an exhale, a vein about to pop on my temple.

“Everything ok?” Thiago's voice abruptly sounded behind us, my head whipping up in his direction.

“Fine,” Astennu answered curtly. “We found nothing, so we're done here."

“Alright?” Our friend didn't seem the least bit convinced, but kept his debate to himself. “A neighbour downstairs confirmed they haven't seen Finley for three days. They saw him leave with a small bag and drive away with a woman and man, who I'm guessing were his parents, Kate and Lance!”

“Pretty much all the people here said that he keeps quiet Catalina eyed the smashed-up alarm panel. “They haven't had issues with him, apart from being a little on edge that a wolf showed up to live around them.”

I had never felt so dispirited or crestfallen. I was crushed. I was so sure we would find something, have that eureka breakthrough that I could take home, shove in my father's face and say “told you’.

But, no.

I got to go home with my tail between my legs and have to admit we had gone on a wild goose chase and come back with less than nothing, worse than nothing. What little we found corroborated Finley being nowhere near here to have had a hand in any of it

The drive back was filled with a sickening silence, the twisting in my chest pulsating every now and again. With it came another tug, a sensation minutely stronger, one I was terrified to acknowledge or put a name to.

Vesterday, when our bond demanded, more than ever, to be close to Evie on the morning we went our separate ways, there was the tiniest of tugs I felt as we regrettably turned away from our mate. It was faint but present. A tiny bond reaching out to me that I had been too stupid to work out at the time.

This new unknown tether connected me and Astennu to Evie, across the distance to wherever she was held. A beautiful tether.

Aste..?’

I know what you're gonna ask... I feel it too!

I wasn't sure whether he would. We felt each others bonds as though they were our own. I didn't know whether it would apply to this bond I was feeling. I couldn't sense whether it was truly mine, or whether I was sensing it vicariously through my brother. Either way, I didn't care. And ever since Astennu told me what our mother had said, the thought had been circulating, wanting it to be true... and wishing it wasn't.

Wherever our mate was... she was pregnant with our pup.

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