The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

76

While August and Ariel had explored the pack lands in peace outside of any outside influence, the rest of the pack had come to life today. The cat was out of the bag. There had been suspicions that one or more of the Greenriver's siblings was coming home with a mate in tow. What had been thought to be gossip and nothing more, turned out to be a fresh scandal worthy of Hurricane Hannah.

That both the wolf brothers were apparently sharing a mate, and there was a demon travelling with the girl as well. She was a frail looking thing, most of the aged gossips agreed. Human too. Shame about that, poor girl just wasn't built to be mate to one wolf let alone two.

Word spread all over the pack. When Ariel and August returned to the Greenriver's family home, Alex was at the ready at the BBQ. "I have a flat bread pizza baking, you are just in time." Thanks to August making sure to give Alex the go ahead on food. "Mom and dads went to the dining hall, try and manage the pack a little bit." Mindlinking to his brother that he needed to go and speak with Papa C and Aspen ASAP after lunch.

Alex kept his hands busy when Ariel was near. Pulling together and rearranging everything he needed to serve the pizza. "Your pack lands are beautiful." Ariel said when she made her way onto the ground level deck that served as a perfect outdoor kitchen and lounge.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your walk with August." Alex said, raising the lid on the perfectly cooked brie and chicken flatbread pizza. Raising the pizza on a paddle to transfer it to a cutting board. Alex grabbed the silver pizza cutter and quickly had the large pizza cut into triangles. Without missing a beat Alex took the nicest two slices and moved them to a plate for Ariel. Drizzling balsamic glaze over both slices in a pretty zigzag pattern across the plate.

August burst into Alex's mind. She had escaped. Someone was holding her captive shortly before we first saw her! August pressed into his brother's mind. The message that he needed to find Caspian and Aspen making August nervous for what his fathers needed to tell him. Alex reassured his brother, saying he knew, making August realise what his fathers wanted to talk about.

As Ariel sat at the stone table on the built in bench seating of the private deck. Her raven came to land on the table beside her as August joined her. Ariel fed the bird a chunk of chicken from her pizza. Alex shut off the propane for the BBQ and his own plate and joined his brother and their mate at the table. Pouring everyone a glass of the fresh made lemonade Hannah had left for them. Along with a plate of profiteroles if anyone needed a sweet end to the meal.

They had the entire house to themselves. The area around them quiet and secluded from the main pack village. Alex and August had been thrilled as Ariel ate one small cream filled puff pastry after another after easily finishing three slices of the flatbread. Both wolves had needed to readjust themselves on the benches at the stone table as Ariel licked a sticky drop of the balsamic glaze from her fingertip before diving into the profiteroles.

Everyday Ariel was looking more and more healthy. A few days living near Hannah and the endless supply of tarts and pastries their mom always liked to have around would only be good for Ariel as she continued to gain strength.

Pizza, pastries and lemonade all gone, Alex softly offered, "Ready to try and beat me in some games?" More than eager for his chance to have one on one time with his mate. She was braver now, able to be in their presence without shrinking. Plus now that Alex had spoken with Caspian and Aspen, he had more knowledge of his mate. More understanding. He was going to be the man she needed.

Alex wished he could hear more details of her life, her likes, and dislikes directly from her own lips. "I used to like Mario Kart, the double dash one?" Ariel said answering his unsaid wish as Alex led her through the home. She had one foster family who had an ancient gamecube in their basement. Ariel had loved the bright, colorful game. Loved that pairing different characters together resulted in different item options.

Alex and August grinned at each other. "Our first match will be on a double dash track." Alex turned to grin at Ariel. "I'll go easy for the first round." Ariel liked the playful competitive energy in the air between herself and Alex. Ariel had been good at the video game, she remembered playing it without sound in the middle of the night at the foster home so she wouldn't be caught and punished for playing with the game system that belonged to the real kids in the family.

Alex walked side by side with Ariel into the house and to the overwhelming games room his fathers had started to set up with the sisters had been young and their parents noticed how Lumi loved the games, lights and music. Then with four brothers following after their sisters, the games room had always been popular.

Taking Ariel by her hand, forgetting for a moment that she was hesitant to touch him. Alex went to release her hand, but instead found Ariel was holding on to him, and his heart soared as they sat down on the comfortable couch in front of the tv that was connected to all the retro gaming systems. Alex bid Ariel to have a seat as he handed her the best of the wavebird controllers, taking second best for himself. Switching out the games in the Gamecube, loading in Double Dash.

It had been a few years since he had last played this title. The comforting jingle as the Gamecube logo did its little dance for the first loading screen was a burst of nostalgia in Alex's and Ariel's brains. "I didn't play with the sound on very much, I like the music." Ariel admitted. A wide grin bloomed on her face as she held the controller a little awkwardly in her hands as the bright cheerful opening music boomed over the excellent sound system. A benefit of having Lumi as a sister, was that anything electrical always ran its best.

The two settled into the couch, working their way through the player set ups, before falling into a healthy level of competitive play. Alex had chosen the baffling combination of a koopa paratrooper and King Boo. Ariel had chosen the safer Toad and Toadette pairing.

The first race Ariel had an abysmal performance. Spinning out on corners, hitting banana peels on the track. Ariel was however, a fast learner. Adjust quickly. Winning the third race. And every subsequent race. A wide, manically happy grin on her face the entire time. "I love the music!" She practically roared with enthusiasm after a particularly ear wormy soundtrack.

Alex wouldn't admit that he was perhaps sandbagging himself just a little bit to see this new side of his mate. She was concentrating on playing her hardest. She was competitive. While grooving along with the songs for each track. Looking as radiant as a damn sun everytime she crossed the finish line first to win the race.

Losing was a low price to pay to see Ariel so animated, so alive. She was relaxed in his presence and just enjoying herself. When Ariel had finally won the championship cup, they had switched to trying the vintage Addams Family Pinball table, and other more classic arcade style games.

Alex was thrilled with how competitive Ariel was as she had fun with him. Standing close to him as she tried her hardest to get the higher scores. As she finally mastered a first person shooter game, she had even leaned her head against his shoulder. "This is really nice." She said aloud. Not quite meaning to say it out loud, but not upset that she had.

Alex was doing his best to remain respectful of Ariel's need for slow. Every incidental touch, every smile, every laugh from her lips made it harder to hold himself back when all he wanted to do was wrap her up in his arms and promise her he would keep her safe forever while stealing kisses from her lips. Tasting her skin. Touching her. Mapping the curve and shape of her body under her clothes.

Instead Alex refocused his attention to his father's warning. Ariel had been abused. Badly. The only consent in their relationship was going to be obvious affirmative consent. Anything less was a no. Alex desperately wanted more, but he was going to be the kind of man Ariel needed him to be. Alex would be satisfied with just being beside her joy as they played games together.

Until a knock at the door to the games room interrupted everything. Breaking their comfortable bubble of isolation.  Alex hated how Ariel immediately went from being relaxed to hyper vigilant. He could see the tension return to her body, her eyes wide as she looked towards the sound.