The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

67

For years Ariel had only traveled in a car while tied up in the trunk or with a blackened hood over her head. Being able to look around while driving, and contained in the car felt too jarring to her senses. "Focus on your plant, and then something near outside and then far in the distance." Binh had coached Ariel through her motion sickness as he drove the car away from the restaurant they had all just finished having lunch together in.

Alex leading the convoy, then the car with Binh and Ariel, trailed by August right now. She had thought that she had been feeling so sick before lunch because she was hungry. Now Ariel was well fed and once again feeling nauseated and dizzy. She nodded her head, then had to blink her eyes hard to steady herself before trying to do as Binh had coached as their small convoy worked its way towards New York State and Golden Green.

Ariel was an actual wreck by the time they stopped at a small road side motel that Binh had picked for their overnight. As soon as they had come to a stop, Alex and August attempted to protest his choice of accommodations. Ariel had moved to hide around the side of the building, spending time with her familiar after spending the entire day apart while travelling. She looked almost green so while Alex had wanted to chase after her, August had decided that if Binh was satisfied that she was safe, he too would give her some privacy.

Binh and the front desk clerk completely ignored Alex and August, until Binh had paid for their rooms, and handed the twins a key. Ariel joined them at just that moment. Still looking a little sick from a day of travelling. Binh lead the group to their rooms. Alex and August were holding their complaints now. Not wanting Ariel to think they were rude or spoiled whiny brats.

The hallway was dim, and looked dirty to Alex's eye. He might be holding his tongue but he had never been particular good at hiding his feelings from showing on his face. Ariel looked up and giggled as she walked beside Binh. "Some times things aren't as they appear." Catching Alex off guard with her light teasing. Her smile enough to chase away his bad mood.

Then she had winked. Alex was a gonner, tripping over his own feet looking at her while his brother and the demon now joined Ariel in laughing at his expense. The rooms were across the hall from each other, Binh and Ariel watched in silence as Alex fit the key into the lock and swung open the door.

From what they had seen so far, Alex and August were expecting to enter a dingy room, that was certain to have questionable stains on every soft surface or fabric. Except they instead walked into a bright, modern oasis. The door had hidden a suite, sleek furniture expertly arranged in the lounge, a large window revealing an unobscured view of the surrounding countryside and forests. A black marble washroom with a walk in shower stall large enough to accommodate a dozen people to the left of the entrance. Moving father into the room revealed that there were two attached bedrooms to either side of the lounge, a king size bed in each room.

Alex and August were left tongue tied and feeling stupid. Of course Binh would have chosen a hidden, secret gem for their overnight. Somewhere private and safe. To save each of them from trying to find words to apologise with, Binh told them, "Ariel and I will be across the hall, we will head to dinner in thirty minutes." Ariel bid them bye for now. Leaving them alone in the opulent suite to gawk and clean some of the road from their persons.

Binh let Ariel into their room, setting her overnight bag down on the luggage rack. Watching her take in the hidden luxury he had arranged for their overnight stay. "It's even better than you described." Ariel told Binh. Their suite nearly identical to the one the twins would be staying in. Ariel looked at the positively sinfully opulent shower, desperate to try and wash her carsick feeling away.

As always, as though Binh could read her mind, "Take a shower, take as long as you need, Dinner waits for you." Ariel nodded, picking up her light overnight bag, and went into the washroom to do just that. Hot water could wash away so many problems.

Binh waited until he heard the water running, was certain Ariel was under the half dozen shower heads. Binh silently snuck out of the hotel, knocking on the door across the hall. August opened it immediately. Optimistically hoping perhaps Ariel had come to hang out with him and Alex.

Instead he was met by the demon, who made his way into the twin's suite before being invited in. "She has been carsick all day long. She wont complain, but she is miserable. She's never been on a bike, figure out who gets to offer her a ride first tomorrow before she decides she can't travel any father in the car." Knowing Ariel had already pushed herself to travel and put her trust in others to get this far. Which was only far enough to be at a nameless, safe waypoint motel in the middle of nowhere.

Ariel was no quitter, but Binh knew she had already pushed herself past her limits. "Figure it out and offer her the chance to ride over dinner." Making eye contact with both twins one at a time, before making an exit to be back in the room when Ariel finished her shower.

Leaving Alex and August mouths open absorbing what they had just been told. "She really didn't look well when we stopped tonight." August said aloud in the quiet room. Alex nodded. Even he had noticed she looked like she was about to throw up when she went to try and subtly spend time with her raven around the side of the hotel.

"We should let her pick. Offer her the chance to ride and she can pick the bike." Alex suggested. Skirting around specifically saying that their mate would have to definitely choose only one of them to be the first to ride with her. There was no way to share or split the moment.

August nodded. He had no argument against that. Alex and August made eye contact. Both expecting to be met with anger, or frustration or some kind of fight. Except there was none. Both brothers had accepted that they were set to share, and while they had talked at length and hoped they would be fair, they couldn't know how they would emotionally react to the first challenge, until it presented itself. The brother's smiled, relieved. Whoever Ariel picked to ride with first, just got the first ride. There would hopefully be plenty more in their future together.

However, now that Binh had planted the idea in their head, both Alex and August were stuck feeling anxious waiting for dinner while thoughts of having Ariel's small body pressed up against them on the bike, her arms around their body ran on repeat through their minds.