The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

69

After another plate of delicious food arrived, halting conversation as everyone but Binh enjoyed the food. No longer feeling the need to feign he was anything but what he was. In between bites, Alex, August, and Ariel all tried to speak over each other. Then another round of speaking over each other and trying offer that someone else speak first. "You go, please." Ariel finally offered, Alex looked at August and August looked at Alex.

August started to try and speak in the silent space made available, "We were each, just wondering," Swearing under his breath as he ran a hand through his shaggy hair. He was a man grown and was stumbling over his words like a puppy love sick kid. "You see, we wondered if you maybe might want to try riding on one of our bikes? With us? With one of us? Obviously one..." August had started mostly strong, but his confidence wavered by the end of his question.

"If you wanted. We just thought you might want to try riding on the bikes." Alex added, shifting in his seat. Managing to not say she looked like she was going to barf after the long car ride. Both Alex and August missed that Ariel was smiling. Listening as they both rushed to offer her exactly what she had been planing to ask of them. "Whoever you want to ride with first, you can decide tomorrow." Alex added. Trying to do anything to just have Ariel agree to try.

At that moment, Cory returned, to deliver another small plate for their multi-course meal. Giving a brief distraction from the proposition that had been presented. There was a moment of chatter, to thank Cory, to marvel over the latest offering. "I was going to ask if I could try and ride with one of you tomorrow morning, I'm having a hard time in the car." Ariel admitted, without admitting the reason that it was hard for her. She liked how they both smiled back at her. Smiles and good feelings reaching all the way to their eyes. Ariel didn't think anyone had ever looked at her like they were right now. It made her stomach all weird and fluttery feeling again.

"I don't want to decide now? But would it be okay if I wanted to try and ride with one of you?" Ariel paused, she was asking for a lot. "Only if its ok, I don't know if having a passenger would be weird, I just." Ariel felt awkward, licking her lips. "I just thought it might be easier, than the car? for me." Why weren't they answering her? They needed to say something.

Binh instead, interrupted. "I already brought a helmet and a safety suit for her." Ariel looked at Binh, she had no idea he had already prepared for her to ride as safely as possible on a motorcycle. She didn't think anyone had ever paid as much attention or planned for her in her entire life.

August was the first one to shake off the stupor. "Alex and I would each love to have you ride with one of us. Whatever or whoever makes it easier for you." August had finally managed to stammer out. Alex nodding dumbly that he agreed with the words and message. Tomorrow either he or his brother might have her pressed against their back. A big step forward in their relationship.

The next morning found Ariel full of anxious excited energy. Ariel practically bounced towards their door across the hall of the hotel, knocking loudly on their door to join her to enjoy the version of continental breakfast Binh's friend had offered to them before hitting the road.

After a light breakfast where everyone except Binh was full of anxious and excited energy, Ariel, Binh and the Twins returned to their rooms, grabbing their packed bags. Ariel put on her safety suit that was made of fire and burn retardant fabric. Picking up the helmet after lacing up the new boots on her feet. Ready to try and be a passenger on a motorcycle but still not sure which brother she would ride with.

She secretly had hoped they would have decided one was more worthy of taking her on her first ride and that they wouldn't leave it up to her. She wanted both of them, equally. She loved the softness August offered her and the sharp awareness Alex carried in himself in equal measure. They looked so alike, and so different from each other at the same time.

Binh took her luggage down to the car, while Ariel knocked on the door to the twins room. She had a plan for how to decide which twin she would try to ride with. No one came to the door right away, Ariel put her hand on the handle, and found it to be unlocked. Ariel let herself in, calling out a hello.

She heard one of the twins call from farther in the room. Ariel took a few steps in, looking around to see where they could be. Ariel saw the first bedroom, the bed had either been remade perfectly, or it had not been slept in. Ariel continued in and saw the Twins in the same room, finishing packing their saddle bags for their bikes. Both turned to look at her through the doorway.

August's face burst into a happy smile as he took in Ariel in her race suit and boots, hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. Alex took Ariel from her toes to the top of her head, studying her like she was a work of art shaped by a master. Ariel knew they were looking at her. Knew they wanted her, for the first time, such knowledge was not filling her with fear and worry. She liked that they were looking at her, making her feel wanted. "I um just wanted to let you know Binh and I are packed and heading down to the parking lot now." Her cheeks felt warm. They made her feel so strange and unlike herself.

"We're all set now too, we can go together?" August suggested, slinging his bag over his shoulder as Alex did the same. They moved like mirror images of each other sometimes. Ariel nodded. She looked at them, both packing in the same room, this bed had clearly been slept in, both sides had crumpled pillows and the bedsheets had been thrown back on both sides.

As they made their way to the parking lot, Alex got bold and asked Ariel if she had decided who she was going to ride with yet? She was dressed so perfectly. Looking like a bikers wet dream in the suit that was tailored perfectly for her. Ariel blushed hard. Looking towards her toes as she walked. "You said it's fate that brought you to me right?" She asked both of them.

Alex and August both full hearted agreed that yes, that was the case, talking over each other how the mate bond worked, how sure they were. When Ariel fished a hand into her pocket and took out a shining silver quarter. "Then, I want to let fate choose? Heads or tails?" Moving the quarter so she could try and flip it in the air without embarrassing herself.

Alex and August grinned at each other making eye contact over her head. It was a perfect compromise. A perfectly fair way to decide without anyone having hurt feelings over not being chosen. "Tails!" Alex called first. August nodded. Agreeing heads would be his. Ariel took a deep breath and held it as she flipped the coin in the air, praying that she would catch it.

Ariel managed to catch the flipping coin in her hand and without dropping or fumbling reveal the coin, heads side up on the back of her opposite hand. Ariel made eye contact with August. "You won." She told him. Alex offered a high five to his brother. Fair was fair and fate had chosen. Alex would spend the morning watching her on August's bike. Waiting for his chance to hopefully come in the afternoon.

**Evening friends. I hope we all are enjoying Ariel's adventure of self discovery. Just a couple questions as I get this story sorted for the moment.

1) Does anyone want a Pandora and her mate Tom Love scene? Currently considering one further along in the story, but it would just be for fun and not for plot. . . Let me know if ANYONE wants this written.

2) We approach a critical moment. Do we want one lone book, or a cliff hanger end to story part 1?

Please let me know if you have feelings on these options. Decision on how this all goes will be made swiftly.**