Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)
Chapter 51 - Brothers

Violet

There was nothing better than waking up in the morning showered by kisses. She moaned scooting over closer to the source of them. No matter how many times they mated, and no matter the wonderful way Landon managed to make her feel, she knew he was avoiding them. He was procrastinating so that he wouldn’t see them before they left.

Violet rested her head on his left biceps, her left hand toying with his fingers as they were taking a moment to catch their breath.

“It’s 7.30,” Violet sighed as she lifted his hand to see his watch. He never took the darn thing off even in bed. Weirdly, she found it beyond sexy.

“So be it,” Landon shrugged uninterested.

Violet rolled on her belly, propping a hand and her chin over his chest.

“Are you hiding?” Violet challenged, only for Landon to sigh.

“Never,” Landon replied, his left hand tracing patterns over her lower back, teasingly continuing over her tush.

“It’s me,” Violet reminded him only for Landon to smile at the invitation to talk.

“It’s you. It’s always been you. You know, I am not eager to see them,” Landon confessed. “Besides, my priority as a mated wolf is making you happy.”

“And happy I am,” Violet smiled at the Yoda way she responded. “But we also need some food.”

“We can order from that bakery,” Landon replied reaching for his phone, only for Violet to stop him.

“Lan, go make me an omelet,” Violet told him.

“Please?” Landon prompted her to add the magic word.

“You know I’ll make it worth your while,” Violet bend over his frame, straddling him before kissing him and getting off the bed. “I’ll shower and come downstairs.”

“Fine, I’ll shower after breakfast.”

“Yum, I love it when you smell of food,” Violet teased tossing him her shirt before running in the bathroom.

Landon’s amused laughter followed her.

“Go talk to your brother,” she sent through the mindlink cutting his laughter short.

Landon

“Go talk to your brother.”

Landon glared at the closed door, conveying his resistance. While Violet showered, he was tasked with providing food. On any other day, he would have enjoyed making her breakfast, even adding a plate or two for Jacob and Ryan. Today, he was reluctant to even get out of the room.

Violet was right. Avoiding his family would not make them leave any sooner. There was a small chance they left with the sunrise, but knowing stubborn practically equaled a Wesley, he knew he would not be that lucky.

He quickly dressed and headed down the empty hallway and down the stairs. He made it halfway to the kitchen when a voice he knew too well stopped him.

“Morning,” Aidan’s voice was hoarse. The dark circles around his eyes showed he probably didn’t sleep well.

“Hey,” Landon replied, taking things out of the fridge.

Onion, pepper, eggs, milk, bacon and bread – the list quickly materialized on the kitchen island.

“We can order,” Aidan proposed in an attempt to offset the tension the silence between the brought.

“You can,” Landon shrugged, “but I am still cooking for Vi.”

“What can I do to help?”

Aidan’s question was unexpected. It was an olive branch. Landon sighed. Violet was just this darn good, making him cook for her only to spend time with his brother.

“Turn on the Keurig, then chop these veggies,” Landon directed, then cringed at his own words sounding like a barked order. He was not going to apologize but compromised in filling the silence with words. “I’ll break the eggs and remove the eyes of the egg.”

“A what now?”

“The chalazae,” Landon pointed out as at the lost expression on his twin’s face he explained. “It’s the part anchoring the egg yolk to the egg white. Violet is convinced they make the omelets bitter.”

Landon personally didn’t know any of that before he met her, but for her he was willing to put in the extra work making breakfast.

“You love her,” Aidan concluded.

“I do love her crazy, her sane and sexy,” Landon chuckled naming the many sides Violet had. “She puts up with me so,” he shrugged and didn’t finish his sentence as it was self-explanatory.

For once, the silence between them was comfortable. They worked on preparing the breakfast. It wasn’t until the eggs, sausage and bacon were well on their way that Aidan spoke again.

“We’re more alike than you know.”

“I know when I am not wanted,” Landon quickly snapped, surprising both of them, how true his statement sounded. It wasn’t just for the intrusive stay his family pressed on him. It was also correct for the past when he felt unwelcome in his own home.

“For the record, I never asked you to leave,” Aidan gave him an apologetic smile.

“But you did little to make me stay,” Landon countered.

Aidan beat the waffle mixture, taking his frustration on the poor batter.

“I didn’t want you to stay for me,” Aidan replied then looked up at Landon. “I wanted you to want to stay for yourself.”

“To stay for what exactly? You claimed my Fated,” Landon made his point.

“I felt the darn pull and the sparks every time we touched. What was I supposed to do? The were-twins we know are few and they are in threesomes,” Aidan explained his point.

While Landon could see the logic, his heart didn’t allow him to take it at face value.

“When I begged you to stay away, you thought I was selfish wanting her all to myself. I always wondered, were you that much in love or did you not want to give up the sex?” Landon questioned.

“Landon,” Aidan cautioned. “What good knowing would do?”

“It will give me closure.”

“It drove me bonkers when you talked about taking her away. You know how mated life is,” Aidan replied.

Landon nodded. He understood the mating pull all too well.

“Is that the reason why you’ve been nothing but argumentative since we arrived?” Aidan questioned.

Landon folded his hands in front of his chest, raising an eyebrow.

“You sure know how to arrive unannounced,” Landon countered.

“That,” Aidan smiled pointing at Landon with a spoon, “was on mom. She is still fuming you never called us for your ascension.”

“I can’t escape the drama no matter what I do,” Landon replied.

“We are still family,” Aidan responded. “It’s a shame we don’t have the bond twins usually do.”

“And whose fault is that?”

“Even before Erika, we have always had this sibling rivalry,” Aidan shook his head. “Did my title come between us?”

Landon laughed drily, “You honestly didn’t see it, did you? I never wanted your title. Yet everybody looked at me as if I am damaged goods because of some one hundred and eighty seconds.”

“I am sorry if I made you feel that way,” Aidan replied.

“If,” Landon repeated. Aidan was still not willing to take responsibility for his actions.

“I am trying to apologize, Landon. We never really talked before,” Aidan continued. “Then I took your mate.”

“She played us. I’ve since upgraded,” Landon replied thinking about how lucky he was to have Violet. “How’s my nephew?”

“Sammy is growing up,” Aidan replied, his voice cracking.

“Have you decided?”

Aidan shook his head, “Either way, I am screwed.”

Landon agreed with that assessment. Erika had made their complicated relationship extend to innocents such as Sammy. Whether or not Alyssa could be added to the tally, he wasn’t quite sure.

“The more I try to be a role model for Sam, the more I fail. I can either teach him the importance of Fated mates by breaking our family or that I am a man of my word and hold together a family that was never meant to be.” Aidan replied.

Landon busied himself with the rest of the breakfast preparations. He wasn’t Violet to come up with something nice to say and agreeing with Aidan would put only more salt in his wound. It surprised him that his twin’s distress didn’t bring him the satisfaction he once thought it would.

“I’m proud of you,” Violet’s thought invaded his mind making him smile.

“Could you maybe talk with him?” Landon wondered.

He didn’t have to wait long for her response.

“Smells heavenly,” Violet announced her presence, making a beeline for the bacon. Biting into a piece she closed her eyes, savoring its sweetness then remembered she was not alone. “Sorry. Where are my manners? Hi, Aidan,” she then looked at Landon, “you want some?”

Landon smiled at the offering. Of course, he wanted some.

“Shh,” she scolded him but the smile on her face showed his implication was welcomed.

He bid into the offered piece of bacon then took the whole strip out of her fingers.

“Just so you know, I was offering a bite, not the whole piece,” Violet mumbled at Landon’s grin. “Thanks for cooking. Both of you.”

Aidan nodded, trying to look less conspicuous about his staring at them. Landon could only guess the questions he wanted to ask both of them.

“Since you cooked, I’ll make coffee,” Violet told them wiping her hand on a napkin. “How do you take yours, Aidan?”

“Black,” his short answer came abruptly.

“Okay,” Violet acknowledged him, opening the drawer with gourmet K-cups. “These are the good ones,” she explained while fetching mugs, opening another cupboard and taking out cream and sugar.

“You look at home,” Aidan commented.

“She is,” Landon protectively intervened only for Violet to roll her eyes at him.

“Jacob took me in after my rejection,” Violet explained handing Landon a cup, and proceeding to fill the next one. “I’ve lived here longer than Landon. Are the rest of the family coming down for breakfast?”

Violet handed Aidan a cup of black coffee.

“Do you want them here?” Aidan asked.

Violet shrugged.

She was being nice although the first and second impressions his side of the family left, were not pleasant.

“If their noses don’t function, then they can reheat things,” Landon replied, taking a plate.

“Blame it on me,” Violet winked at Aidan. “I’m already in the naughty list.”

“You and me both,” Landon replied, only for Violet to take a sip of her drink, her fingers tracing the back of his neck.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving,” Violet announced, a smile appearing on Landon’s face. She squeezed the back of his neck just enough to caution him not to say something too inappropriate. Then she made a plate for herself and sat down, Landon quickly joining her side. Aidan sat opposing them, his eyes wondering to them as Landon kept on stealing food from Violet’s plate, only for her to give him stern looks, or swat at his fingers.

“So what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Violet asked nobody in particular then stood up making another cup of coffee.

“It’s Monday,” Landon looked at her expectedly then added, “I’m sure Jacob would have plans.”

“He’s on shift,” Violet replied, pouring the coffee in a travel mug and making a new plate.

“You’ll be in charge,” Jacob came through the door and as always joined the conversation without any delay. He took the travel mug from Violet and nodded his thanks.

“Landon and Aidan made breakfast for us. Would you like to join us?” Violet explained.

“I’ll eat with the guys at the station,” Jacob replied then looked at Landon mindlinking with him.

Violet looked at Aidan who was obviously uncomfortable with the Alpha’s presence.

“Jacob is a Captain at the local fire station,” Violet explained for Aidan’s benefit. “So for the next two days, I will be in charge.”

“That you are,” Landon smiled at her confidence. Jacob looked between the Beta pair and shook his head.

“Don’t burn down the house,” Jacob sighed before wrapping an arm around Violet’s shoulders and heading for the front door.

Landon suspected Jacob left him in charge only to make him resolve the past. What a better way to do it than to face your demons?

“So,” Landon uncomfortably started, “Alyssa?”

Aidan’s eyes immediately sparkled with interest as he looked to Landon, then his eyes drifted to Violet who was still having breakfast.

“What about Alyssa?” Aidan protectively stated.

“Alyssa and Beta Lazulli will be traveling north, too,” Landon started, allowing Aidan time to take in the information. “Since it is on your way, would make sure they go home safely?”

“Isn’t he,” Aidan started his eyes flickering to Violet, who continued eating unaffected.

“You can ask. Isn’t he my Fated? He is,” Violet casually supplied, her demeanor showing how little effect his name meant to her. The calm reply stirred more curiosity in Aidan. Landon knew another question was coming up.

“How did you know Landon was the one for you?” Aidan asked, only for Violet to take a moment to answer, her eyes lovingly looking at Landon.

“There wasn’t just one moment,” Violet started then looked at Landon. “He was the challenge and excitement I needed.”

“Oh, there was lots of excitement,” Landon chuckled, only for Violet to playfully swat at his biceps.

“You make us sound cheap and horny,” Violet sternly told him.

“Cheap, definitely not. Horny?” Landon paused, teasing her. Violet looked at him sternly. “In my defense, the sight of you in that black dress raised more than just an eyebrow,” Violet rolled her eyes at him. “But,” Landon quickly added before she could swat at him, “it was your mind which made me appreciate you too the point of begging to be your bodyguard.”

“Now that’s better,” Violet encouraged him then looked at Aidan, taking her turn at answering his question. “I loved his persistence. He was everywhere I turned. The more I spent time with him, the more I realized that while I could live my life without him in it, I didn’t want to.”

“Oh,” Landon had a hand over his heart, a small smile playing over his lips.

“You have what humans call love,” his mother walked in the kitchen, followed by Erika. “Look at what that brought to your brother.”

Landon glared at his mother, as she begun fixing a plate. Aidan apologetically smiled at Landon.

“They,” Landon started, “thought they were fated. We,” Landon looked at Violet, “chose each other.”

“Because you couldn’t keep it in your pants,” Erika argued.

“You are the one to speak,” Landon drily laughed. “Or have you forgotten I kept it in my pants long enough for you to reject me.”

“You ran away,” Erika accused him.

“Why would I stay? How did it play out in your head? I would idly watch you raise my nephew, or maybe change my mind and join you guys for a threesome?” Landon quickly snapped back.

Erika recoiled as if his words burned her.

“Where was the persistence she talked about?” Erika questioned him.

“It washed away with the repeated cheating,” Landon casually answered.

“Is that why you never visited? Why you cut ties with your own mother?” His mother finally accused him.

“I was angry at the world. You didn’t exactly help by sending me to prison,” Landon replied.

“Please, Pack Order is hardly a prison. Besides their discipline prevented you from turning berserk,” his mother argued.

That was one sick logic. While Landon would never define his experience after raiding Jack’s office a motherly love, he couldn’t deny Pack Order exhausted his body and mind preventing him from reflecting on his situation. Even if saving him was his mother’s main objective, she could have reached out. The sad truth was she never did. Not until he became the Howler’s Beta.

“What is your excuse for staying away? It wouldn’t be hard. Jack disappears people just as often as he replaces them. So why come here only after my ceremony?” Landon stood up, pressing his palms against the kitchen island.

“I gave you the space you needed. Your ascension was important and yet you didn’t reach out. Had I not come, you wouldn’t have called,” his mother argued.

He wouldn’t have called her. Who in their right mind would willingly invite drama into their lives? No, surely not Landon. But it sucked when he could so easily agree with her instead of screaming his truth in her face, showing her the pain she inflicted on him.

“I wouldn’t,” Landon admitted through gritted teeth omitting the fact his own phone call was the source of the information his father shared with her. He retained an expressionless mask, which only cracked when Violet placed her palm over his knuckles.

“Thank you,” his mother exclaimed, taking his confession as a win.

Landon sat down and continued eating his breakfast. He was not going to run away from them in his own home. His silence gave confidence to his mother, who continued looking at Violet.

“Now, I have to help you clean up your mess.”

Her words shattered whatever respect she had gained in his eyes. There was no doubt Lesley Wesley was here expecting a reset. Once again she was interfering in other’s mating, trying to pair off Landon with Erika, thus giving Aidan his Fated.

“Right. It’s only fair you clean the dishes after we cooked,” Landon casually replied, causing her to gasp at his words. Violet’s lips curved in a smile and Landon knew she not only agreed, but liked his creative way to defend their love. His mother was about to say something, but Landon interrupted with even more instructions. “Eat now. Gamma Ryan will escort you off the pack lands when you’re done.”

Landon knew he would have to make it up to Ryan for volunteering him for the task, but there were boundaries he needed to set with his mother.

Conner rushed through the door with Valencia hot on his wheels.

“Conner,” Valencia tried to rein in her son but he would not have any of it.

“Bro’, I need three Alphas to collect some blood debt.”