Dark Moon Alpha Twins

Broken Promise 

Chapter 16

Aiden POV

As I moved through the crowd of the convention, lost in my thoughts, a hand stopped me, pulling me out of my reverie. I narrowed my eyes at the woman in front of me; she looked familiar.

"Aric, what are you doing here?" she asked, looking around us nervously.

Ah, she thinks I'm my brother. I had promised Aric not to do this, but she obviously wasn't attending as a guest. My eyes raked down her body, taking in her waitress outfit. She blushed under my scrutiny but gave me a look, expecting an answer.

I decided to play along. "I'm just trying to blend in," I said, mimicking Aric's voice and mannerisms. "But you seem to be doing the same. What's your name again?"

She hesitated for a moment, looking slightly confused. "Aric, you know me. It's Sophia."

Sophia. I filed the name away, keeping my expression neutral. "Right, Sophia. It's been a hectic day. How have you been?"

Sophia relaxed a bit, though she still seemed uneasy. "I've been alright. Just took an odd job to help out with my bills."

She took my hand and led me into a supply closet, closing the door behind us. "You told me that I wouldn't see you until after your birthday."

I bet Aric was planning to see if she was his mate, but knowing she is human, I played along. "You didn't mention taking a job for an event."

She sighed, looking frustrated. "I needed the money, Aric. And besides, I figured it would be safe here. I didn't expect to run into you."

"Well, here I am," I said, trying to sound understanding. "Look, Sophia, I'm glad to see you, but this isn't the best place to talk. There are too many eyes and ears."

She nodded, biting her lip. "I know, but I've been wanting to talk to you about us. I feel this connection, and I can't shake it. I thought you felt it too."

I took a deep breath, trying to navigate the situation carefully. "Sophia, I..."

But before I could finish, Sophia stood on her toes and pressed her lips against mine. Her kiss was soft, and for a moment, I found myself kissing her back. But then, the reality of the situation hit me, and I immediately regretted my mistake.

I pulled back, my mind racing. "Sophia, wait. This isn't right."

She looked up at me, confusion and hurt in her eyes. "Aric, what's wrong?"

Taking another deep breath, I gently held her shoulders to create some distance. "Sophia, I'm not Aric. I'm Aiden, his twin brother."

Her eyes widened in shock, and she stepped back, covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize..."

"It's okay," I said, trying to reassure her. "But you need to know the truth. Aric and I, we're here for the convention, and he didn't expect to see you until after our birthday."

She looked down, clearly embarrassed and upset. "I feel so stupid. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. He told me this happens, and I couldn't even tell y'all apart."

"You didn't know," I replied, my tone gentle. "But this is why we need to be careful. There's a lot going on right now, and we have to stay focused."

Sophia nodded, her eyes still filled with regret. "I understand. Please don't tell Aric about this. I don't want to make things awkward between us."

"I won't," I promised, though I knew I'd have to talk to Aric about it eventually.

As she left the supply closet, I took a moment to compose myself before heading back into the crowd. I grabbed two champagne glasses off the tray of a waiter walking by and chugged both of them. The bubbles did little to settle my nerves, but I knew I needed to focus on the task at hand and live up to my part of the challenge Dad had set for us.