Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Wolf’s Secret Twins Chapter 15

Slater

Hot one minute, cold the next-some things just didn't change. (Except maybe when they did.) With Virginia, she was usually something of a flirtatious vixen. She had a fiery attitude, though it was typically matched by sweetness. Given her latest encounter with a shitty parent at the school, an attitude was a logical byproduct.

I just hated that I couldn't help her inside her brain. Because that was where my presence was needed most. My mate was uncomfortable, suffering in silence, and there was nothing I could do except stand by and hope that she reached out for me. Instead, she had lashed out. She probably would have scratched my eyes out if she'd gotten the chance. I had run off before she could do such a thing, understanding that space was often needed for her to process the rough stuff. Hell, space was good for me too. That was what I kept telling myself after I ran home.

And even though I had missed sleeping in my bed, I found myself tossing and turning the rest of the night. Who was watching the house? Who was keeping Virginia safe? Blake and Troy had Bentley under the watchful eyes of a grumpy bear security guard, so I didn't doubt their capabilities there.

But what if the guy got out? What if he had gone over there and camped in her backyard? She didn't have neighbors to the right of the house, Mrs. Pots was old, and the other neighbors had made their feelings very clear whenever Virginia had taken one of her morning walks. It was hard to ignore the whispers of disdain as she marched past them with her head up.

Fucking pricks, all of them. They really thought they were better than her just because they came from families that didn't have any beef inside the pack walls. They would be in for such a rude awakening if I ever got to rifling through their closets. My nose was talented. I could smell a rotten skeleton from three miles away.

As I marched into the sunny morning with a paper bag full of breakfast goodies, I thought about how much it had hurt to have Virginia snap at me like that. She wasn't telling me the whole story. I could tell by how she tried to hide things. But feelings weren't easily hidden. I had access to them because of the bite. If we weren't true mates, then I wouldn't feel her emotions like that.

It was all very much textbook, besides the sneaking around. Love like this didn't wait for anybody. It was something that demanded attention, that begged to be indulged. It proceeded without care, worry, or consideration. And often, love like this got people into trouble.

I licked my lips. Love. When had that word come to mind? It had just popped right up like I'd been thinking about it for ages. I was about to run off with a woman who I dared to call my mate when my alphas didn't even approve of the union. Wasn't that love by definition?

Hard to say while I dug through a million thoughts at a time. I had to get in touch with that dude named F.E. and I had to set the car up so it wouldn't overheat while it was sitting at the edge of the Bravecrest property. I also had to make sure nobody happened upon it. Surely nothing good would come from a discovery like that.

Troy and Blake were already the paranoid sort. If they came across an abandoned car near the property, they would probably send out some people to investigate. While the car was purchased off the books with fake tags, it had been done through shifter means, which meant it could lead right back to me.

That wouldn't bode well for anybody.

And that was just the thing. I didn't want our plans to get ruined. Agitated or not, she wasn't going to get rid of me that easily, and that was why I was walking my happy ass over there with breakfast burritos I had gotten up early to make. The twins would be thrilled. Virginia would be pissed, but she'd eat the burrito. I knew just how to get to her stomach and back into her good graces.

Since daylight had already arrived, I tried to act like I was heading to the Bravecrest side. I took my usual route, said hello to everyone I could, and then cut through the back of the neighborhood behind the tree line so I could get to Virginia's house. I walked in a gigantic circle, stepped in a muddy puddle that was sweatier than a farm worker's pits, and cursed my way up to the back door.

It flung open before I could knock. Anthony sniffed the air and then gasped loudly. "BURRITOS!"

Adhara joined him at once and shouted the same. Before I could say a dang word, the two snatched the bag from me and darted back into the house without so much as a hi or a hello.

They must have been starving.

I cackled while trailing into the kitchen. Virginia shot me a dirty look from the couch where she sat with her hair in a towel and her legs crossed. She tilted her chin toward the television. If I listened closely enough, I could hear her making that disappointed huffing sound she always made when she was mad.

She didn't realize how well I knew her.

Anthony went to the counter and grabbed plates while Adhara gathered some napkins. She snatched up a bottle of Sriracha from the fridge and set everything up on the table. When I went to the counter to get my coffee, she waved me off. "No, you brought the food, we'll serve the goods," she insisted. She kept waving until I backed away to the table with my hands raised like she was holding a gun on me.

Might as well have been the case. She had the strength of her mother and the toughness of-well, I didn't know her father. But if any of the time we'd spent together had rubbed off, I'd throw in my vote for me influencing her toughness. She poured me a piping hot cup of coffee and brought it to the table with cream and sugar.

I smiled. "Let me see that shiner, kiddo."

Her eyes rolled.

That would be her mother's attitude.

I laughed while nodding. "Alright, you don't have to show me."

She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I keep telling Mama that it's fine, but she won't listen to me."

"I bet she won't." I dared to glance in the living room where Virginia was watching us. She turned her head away real fast when I caught her. I chuckled and turned back to Adhara. "You look like you're doing just fine. But don't forget that it's okay to need help, alright?"

She saluted me and marched around to the other side of the table. Anthony served her a burrito and she dug in, tearing the thing apart in mere seconds while Anthony did the same. Growing shifters had hefty appetites. While Blake kept the pack well-fed, I had to guess that these kids didn't go to the center to eat very often. They probably chose to eat at home-and I couldn't blame them for that.

But with what their mama had on the shelves, it wasn't enough for growing bellies like these pups.

I grabbed a burrito, set it on a plate, and whistled at Virginia. She cast a long glare in my direction that didn't break until she spotted the foil-wrapped burrito. She licked her lips. None of the anger left her features, but she was definitely hungry. I could probably coax her over if I teased her enough about it.

"There's plenty to choose from," I said loudly. "Bacon and eggs, cheesy eggs, and oh...this one should have some of that honey ham your mama likes so much."

Virginia stood up from the couch. "Honey ham?"

"Yep, the same cured stuff that my father used to make all the time."

My heart sank. Everything was set up for us to leave-except for that. I wasn't sure how to feel about that.

So, I shoved it down.

I cleared my throat while rifling through the bag. "Yep, the good stuff. I keep a bunch of it in the freezer for special occasions. This one had to thaw out all night in the sink just so I could slice it."

The closer Virginia drew, the less agitation sat in her expression. Eventually, she took a seat next to me at the table, tugging her robe tightly across her chest and making a point to scoot an inch or two away from me. Whatever made her feel better was fine by me. I was just worried about her getting some food in her system.

"Go on," I teased while sliding the plate over to her. "You know you want a bite."

She growled under her breath and lifted the burrito. "This doesn't solve last night."

Through a mouthful of food, Anthony asked, "What happened last night?"

While Virginia blushed, I waved off the question. "Your mama was just worried about you two getting along with Archie and the others."

"Archie is my best friend," Anthony announced proudly. "He said he's never going to let those kids be mean to us again. And he's already putting together something for Alpha Troy to read."

I arched my right eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yeah, he said it's not fair we get treated differently just because of our mama," Adhara explained. "I couldn't agree more. This kind of violence never solves a thing."

I nodded in agreement and then looked at Virginia who looked so damn proud to have those twins as her kids. Even when she looked at me, she kept up that expression, affection pouring out from her like water from a broken dam. Yep, the anger had shriveled up with a few bites of a good burrito.

Worked like a charm every time.

After breakfast, the twins yanked me into the living room. They insisted that I do a round of games with them using the new controller I'd gotten them. I hesitated to use it, feeling a bit scared that I was going to break it again. But once I got into the first-person shooter that Anthony raved about, I felt myself open up.

We were hooting and hollering up a storm in the living room. It was like the night that Virginia had me watch them while she was at work. To feel that happiness and rush again made it feel like this family wasn't just becoming mine, it had been mine all along. And looking at Virginia in that moment confirmed it.

The smile she wore-gods, that was a smile for Hollywood. She seemed like she was beaming in the spotlight, sparkling in the sunlight spilling in through the windows, glittering like she'd been given an Oscar. That was the smile I wanted to see on her lips for the rest of our lives.

And just like that, I felt like I was heading in the right direction.

***

Weekends didn't involve much labor on Bravecrest land, so I didn't worry about how long I was at Virginia's house until my phone buzzed with a text. It was getting late in the afternoon. Mom was asking where I had been all day. Once again, I told her a partial truth, saying I'd gone out for a morning walk with some food and gotten lost in the solitude of the woods.

See, that was the key to lying. Sliding a true statement in there every so often helped with the guilt. Having a backup plan was a good idea too. But Gertie was gone for the weekend on a trip, and I didn't want to bother her. That woman had covered my ass more times than I could count. My IOU list was piling up. At this rate, I ought to just get her a bike or something.

On my way home, I took the long route, making sure to retrace my steps so the same people would see me again. With such an airtight alibi, I wouldn't have to worry about lying a little bit more. We were half a week away from ditching this place. While I had mixed feelings about leaving my parents behind, I knew their stance on Virginia. Keeping that in mind helped sway some of the guilt.

But all that came to a crashing halt when I walked into my living room and found it full of people. Mom, Dad, Gertie, Troy, and Blake sat in a circle around the coffee table. Quite a few mugs sat on the table with various liquids, mostly coffee and tea. I squinted at my father. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say this was an intervention."

Blake sighed while standing up. I didn't like the way he looked at me. He gestured wide. "In a way, it's just like that, Slater."

"I don't understand."

Every nerve in my body was vibrating. My fight-or-flight was telling me to sprint in the opposition direction. Something didn't feel right here.

Gertie twiddled her thumbs, keeping her crimson eyes focused on her pasty hands. Sweat dotted her hairline and her temples. She looked like she had been threatened with the death penalty.

Troy stood next to Blake with a concerned expression. "It was brought to our attention that you've gone against our advice."

"Which is?" I didn't mean to sound like an ass, but shit, he needed to spill it out directly because I wasn't about to admit to a damn thing. "I still don't understand."

"We know you've been seeing that harlot," Mom spat. "Sara Walsh-you've been seeing her behind our backs!"

I glowered at my mother. "You will not refer to my mate as a harlot."

The room exploded at once with voices. Gertie seemed to be apologizing while Blake tried to keep my parents from ripping my ears off. My mother and father were furious. Troy just looked plain tired. I couldn't blame the Bravecrest alpha because I could imagine that my parents had caused his ears to bleed with their complaints. Undoubtedly, every one of them was probably about Virginia.

Blake held up his hands and whistled loudly. Everyone in the room cringed, Troy included. I ducked into a chair and leaned my elbows on my knees, ready to shift and run back to Virginia if this got too out of hand. But the way Blake had just whistled told me I had to sit down and listen.

I was willing to listen.

Blake stood in the middle of the room, or as close to the middle as he could get without standing on top of the coffee table. "I understand your concerns, but you shouldn't jump at his throat just yet." He turned to face me. "Why did you go against our orders, Slater?"

"Because I love her." There it was. The phrase just slid right off my lips like an ice cube on a wet luge. I licked my lips to taste its salty sweetness lingering in my mouth. "I love her, and I want to be with her. She's my mate."

My mother pretended to faint. My father tended to her. Gertie covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Troy shot her a harsh look which led to Blake wiping his face like he was getting exhausted by the whole situation. Gods, did my parents have to be so dramatic about everything?

"Everyone should leave," Blake stated firmly. "Right now."

Such a command from the Beaufort Creek alpha cleared the room in seconds. Where there used to be irritation and tension, there was now a strange hollow feeling that I couldn't shake even though my alpha stood right in front of me. He grabbed the closest plastic chair and scooted it over so he could sit in front of me.

He sighed as he dropped into the chair. "Slater, I understand being attracted to someone who is bad for you."

I gripped my knees. "She's not bad for me, Alpha. She's my mate. I've already marked her."

Surprise, shock, and then defeat passed through his face one after the other. "I wish you hadn't told me that, Slater."

"I don't want to lie anymore. I don't want to hide. We were going to petition you, but-"

"So, why didn't you? That would have given me a lot more wiggle room here. You're putting me in a delicate position."

I looked away. "I don't care what anyone thinks. I love Virginia and I want to be with her. She's my mate."

A beat of silence passed and not even the ticking of the kitchen clock came through. I clung to the plan I had in mind, remembering that everything was pretty much set up. I could grab Virginia right now, pack her with the twins into that car, and take off. No more waiting. Just leave.

Blake took a sharp breath. "Do you know why Virginia came here with her children?"

I glared at him. "I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Her parents rejected her after her grandfather died. Do you know why they rejected her?"

"That's not my concern."

He sighed heavily. "She was engaged to the alpha of the Silent Pride."

My eyes went wide. Silence reigned since my tongue had dried up.

What the hell did he just say?

"I'm sorry to tell you like this. It was her responsibility to alert you of that..." He closed his eyes. "...that situation."

"Is she still engaged?"

He shook his head. "No, she broke it off. But he became belligerent, and she had to run. Now she's with us, but..."

"But?"

"My protection can only extend so far, Slater. The deal was that she would stay away from you. She's broken that deal. I can't protect her anymore."

I growled. "But you can protect her. She's been suffering because of that stupid meeting. If you'd just let me mate with her and work things out, then the people around her-your pack members-wouldn't be attacking her."

"I can assure you we've done everything we can to-"

"You haven't done shit," I growled while standing up. "Some kid beat up Adhara at school and Virginia was forced to take her kids out. Nobody else has protected them except me."

He stared up at me for a while, seeming like he wanted to say something. I hated that I could feel it as strongly as I did with Virginia. That was what made packs bond so well-they tied us together so we knew what the other was feeling, and that would encourage us to do something about it.

My alpha had more to say. It was my duty to hear him out.

"I don't care what your parents bitch about," he said, "but I can't ignore the concerns of the pack at large. And Virginia should have told you while you were sneaking around."

"Should have told me what?"

He stood up and faced me at his full height. "She should have told you that the twins are yours."

Good thing the chair was behind me. I plopped down into it, staring at my knees, trying to figure out whether I wanted to fight or scream. Everyone was outside right now-and that meant everyone out there would hear what I was doing in here. But right now, all I was doing was staring.

Blake touched my shoulder. "She told me after my father died. She approached me with Dr. Windsor to tell me about the twins just in case anything happened to her."

"She lied."

"I'm sorry, Slater. It should be her telling you this news, not me."

I gripped my knees again, digging my partially shifted claws into my flesh and drawing blood. "She lied."

"I don't believe my father knew at all. I think he just wanted to make sure there wasn't an inter-pack war." He sighed while drifting back. "I'll give you time to think about what you want to do next. But whatever you do, Slater, I'll support you. As long as it doesn't ruin my pack."

That said, he left the room. A striking silence remained as I withdrew my claws and focused on my breath, trying to get my wolf under control. All he wanted to do was tear the whole room apart. But all I wanted to do was yell at Virginia. She had cost me everything- my family, my job, my pack.

Again.

Heartbreak like this wouldn't let me survive. I had to shut off my emotions and decide without any influence from my feelings what to do next. She'd made her choice-and now I would make mine. But first, I had to tell her the escape was off.