The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

77

Hannah slowly opened the door. Seeing her son's terried mate looking at her as she entered the room with her too wide eyes in a too skinny face. Hannah had already been speaking with Caspian and Aspen, who had warned Hannah that Ariel had darker memories and history than anticipated.

Thanks to her bond with Aspen, Hannah was more in tune with emotions around her. Ariel had felt tight, and drawn and stiff the entire time Hannah had been nearby. It had been like a breath of fresh air to for that brief moment before Hannah had knocked and open the door to find Ariel light and relaxed as she played games with her sweet son Alex.

Hannah tried to keep her voice soft. Remembering how broken Aspen had been when they had first met. "Hi," she started, "Alex the cottage is all set, I thought you guys might want a snack before shifting homes?" At the mention of food, Ariel's stomach gave a rumble. She had indeed worked up an appetite competing with Alex in the games room.

Alex smirked and Hannah did her best to hide a small giggle. Grateful as the tension and fear left the room. "Come, let's have a snack, I've been looking forward to having a chance to talk to you Ariel." Alex took Ariel's hand, and she was happy to let herself be led through the quiet home that had memento's and windows into the large family who had all at one point called this place home.

"There is actually something I needed to let you know Alex." Ariel heard his mom say, there were so many pictures hung in the hallway, Ariel's eyes and mind were distracted. There was someone in many of the pictures. It must be one of the sister's Ariel hadn't met. She had striking ebony hair. Traces of Alex and August's similar features etched in her face.

Pictures of all four sisters were the most interesting. They were all so different looking, while still looking alike and like their fathers. Then pictures with all four brothers showed the range auburn hair could hold, and now that Ariel at met Hannah she could see that they all took after their mother. Ariel had never seen a family with the same parents this large outside of very boring European history books. It was captivating.

-"What do you mean Pandora is coming with her mate, and son and some stranger too?" Ariel's attention was drawn from her daydreams about the photos. Alex did not sound happy. Ariel tried to pay close attention. Figure out what she missed in the conversation between mother and son while she hadn't been paying attention. Anxiety rising. She had forgotten to pay close attention to her surroundings. Alex and August made her stupid. Made her behave recklessly.

"Alex!" Hannah whisper yelled at Alex, inflecting her head back towards Ariel. "Pandora is one of my daughters. Your sister, and we are glad to have a chance to see her and her family." Hannah's face looked relaxed and content. Ariel could read the masked stress in her eyes as she made eye contact with Ariel. 

"I haven't had a chance to meet sweet little Chuck outside the videos Tom has shared with the family and Tom is such a polite man.-" Hannah seemed to have her voice hitch in her throat for a moment before she continued. "All Family are always welcome at the table." Alex mumbled some kind of agreeable sounds. Ariel could feel that he was not thrilled by the news that his sister was on the way.

"What was that Alex?" Hannah asked as Alex mumbled something under his breath as Hannah set the kettle to boil, and began to arrange some pastries on a tray, then some meat and cheese with some grapes on another. Hannah deftly turned to move the kettle off the heat just as the whistle began to sound.

Alex cleared his throat. "At least we will be in our own space before she arrives."Hannah glared at her son. For only a moment.

"Ariel, there is a wide variety of tea, help yourself, Alex will help you, some of the labels are a little worn." Hannah finished arranging her little plates of snacks as Ariel selected a flowery tea, Alex quickie grabbed a mint chocolate green tea, and Hannah had already chosen a lemon ginger."Now inside or out for tea?" Hannah asked, looking directly at Ariel. Ariel froze under the attention. Ariel turned to Alex, expecting him to take control while Hannah poured the tea into the waiting mugs each with their respective tea choices waiting inside.