The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

75

Ariel left Alex behind at his family home. After another painfully awkward handshake goodbye. While Ariel's cheeks burned crimson and her mind decided this very moment was the time to give her a flashback to one of the more scandalous of her dreams last night that had included herself, Alex and August all together. Naked. At once. All together.

Ariel hoped she had managed to get herself under control before any pheromone or scent from her emotions gave away where her mind had gone. Ariel was still deeply struggling to make sense of how she felt. At every turn, and terrible awkward handshake Alex and August were putting up with her, when she knew she was not conforming. She was flawed and strange and still, neither twin rushed her. They were not pestering her. They did not seek to touch her in any way without asking or explaining why the touch was needed. Always waiting for her to consent.

Both twins had narrated every step of the process and every movement they had made on the trip here when Ariel had ridden on the back of their bikes. They were letting her set the pace, and she did not know what to do with such power. Ariel didn't think she had ever had choice or real agency. Did not know how to handle Alex and August when they were waiting for her to make choices.

Ariel turned her attention back to August. "There's a tree, it's connected to my father, Aspen. I'm really glad Alex let me be the one to share it with you." August had always loved to come to this tree when his mind was troubled. Find the set of knobbled roots that seemed to hold him exactly right to feel comfortable and protected and let his troubles go by whispering them to the tree.

Alex had always gone to mom first when he had a problem. They had already talked it out. Alex, mom and Ariel would have tea as soon as Hannah's schedule allowed. In exchange the oak was for August to share with their mate.

Ariel walked with confidence in her new boots that Binh just happened to have packed for her. August remained annoyed that a demon had been doing so much to take care of his mate. But at the end of every single day August reminded himself that Binh had been the one to facilitate them meeting at all. Had been working to help bring Alex and himself closer to her. Had begun to help the twins even after they had caused Ariel's car accident.

August tried to take a page from papa Aspen's book, and be grateful that Binh cared enough about Ariel to have made certain she had everything she could possibly need. August practiced choosing gratitude and was just glad someone was making sure Ariel was taken care of before August and Alex could provide for her themselves.

Ariel felt a sizzle of magic touch at her own. Head turning all around looking for the source of what she felt. "Do you feel something?" She asked August when it became impossible to ignore that something with great power was making its way toward them.

Ariel immediately went into fear mode. She was not the same child Gisella had taken once. She would never go without a fight again. She could protect herself and August. Ariel held a tight coil of her magic between both her hands. A snake like ribbon of molten fire dancing in a tight sphere waiting to be unleashed. Ariel moved to stand in front of August. To shield him from Gisella and whatever evil she had come to do.

Ariel moved on steady, smooth feet. She was in control. She had power now. Except Ariel's power fizzled out when she turned around a solid rock face revealing a massive, ancient oak tree hidden in a glen with a music brook babbling in the background. A large, wizened elk, drinking from the water in the shade of the oak tree.

"Ariel, wait. Stop." August was whisper screaming as he watched his mate walk toward the ungulate that weighed several hundred more pounds than his mate. Elk were large but still prey, it could spook at any moment and kill Ariel with a swing of its enormous head or a kick from the powerful legs holding the large creature up.

Ariel did not heed his warning and approached the beast. "It's you?" August heard her question. Watching in shock as the elk nodded its enormous head. August came to an abrupt halt. Realizing, he was out of his depth and something bigger than him was happening as his wolf commanded his body into a sharp halt. His mate somehow knew the elk that by his estimation should not be in these particular forests. Having never seen or heard of one on the pack land before.

Watching Ariel as she reached her hand towards the elk. Watching the massive animal, lean his face into her touch. August saw her body react when her skin met the fur of the elk. "I don't, I can't?" August heard Ariel say uncertainty.

Three Hours Past Midnight burst from the forest canopy. Cawing loudly. "Right. I mean. Um. Thank you. I will try and always be worthy of your trust?" Ariel said. Sounding half confident until the end.

August heard a voice in his head. Deep and rasping, as though breathing itself was a challenge for the owner of the voice. "You are already worthy FireBright." The elk turned away from Ariel to look directly at August. "Love her well child of Selene. I will be watching." With that warning, the elk left the glen of the ancient oak, heading deeper into the forests of Golden Green.

"Friend of yours?" August asked, walking slowly towards Ariel, watching the elk vanish in the shadows of the thick forest of Golden Green's undeveloped lands. He had no idea what had just happened. An Elk had spoken in his mind.

Ariel went towards the giant oak. Laying her hands on the bulbous ancient trunk. Closing her eyes as she connected with the tree. Finding a hollow in the roots, that was just next to where August liked to hide himself when he came here to think. August immediately went to join her.

Ariel leaned her head against August's shoulder as the tree held them safe. "I have seen him before. He helped me when I was escaping." Ariel started to tell her story but didn't feel right telling him too much without his brother also with them. Skipping past what she was escaping, "The elk had been part of the help that had led me to the city where you and Alex found me." Ariel's voice was even. Calm and controlled as she spoke her truth to August. Finally letting him see more of her. August was scared to breathe in case he disturbed Ariel in any way that would make her stop speaking.

"I had escaped. I was deep in wilderness, The elk had a tree stuck in its antler. Weighing him down. Making him loud as he walked through the forest. I helped get the log unstuck and there was a hatchet embedded in the wood. It had saved me. Gave me the ability to cut wood that kept me warm, allowed me to cook the potatoes I had to eat." Ariel explained. Finally being open and honest with August. Which only invited a million and more questions in his mind. Ones he held in check. Everything at her speed, she went quiet, and both had a lot of think about. He was glad she only shared a little bit with him now. It would be easier if she only had to tell her story once to both him and his brother.

Ariel snuggled her face against August's shoulder. Like a cat scent marking her territory. Ariel looked at the sun in the sky and knew more time than she thought had already passed. "We should get back for lunch, Alex is waiting on us." August reluctantly agreed, Ariel was right about the time, and she needed to have a lunch before trying to compete against Alex in the games room. Alex was not one to hold himself back during any competition. August hoped the afternoon with Alex went as well as he felt his own time with their mate had gone.