The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

79

August leaned over, towards Ariel. She tucked her hair back behind her ear as he approached. Almost as though she knew he wanted to share something quietly with her. "Bryan lost his father when he was young, The pre meal prayer was one of his father's traditions." August had seen the moment Ariel's body went stiff during the prayer. She had not relaxed since.

"We're not much for the public prayers." Alex's voice rumbled low from Ariel's other side. Both trying to do what they could to try and bring her back now that Binh had highlighted that she had been lost in her own thoughts.

Goddess what Alex and August would do if they could just know more of her past and history, know what they could do or say to help her. To make things better for Ariel. It was so hard to already love someone so deeply, so completely while being constantly held back at arm's length.

Hannah watched her sons and Ariel carefully from the adjacent table, Aspen by her side. Ariel looked between her mates. She smiled as she realised they were both worried about her, she tried to reassure them that she was truly okay. The meal with the pack had been going well so far. All things considered. She had just been feeling a lot emotions in a small amount of time.

Had been what Hannah was telling herself. Lying to herself in her heart that Golden Green had changed since her first night. Hannah was not so lucky as her belly premonition became realty. The whispers had started quiet in the dining hall. August and Alex did not exactly have a squeaky clean reputation on the pack. More than one father on the pack had to come to terms with the fact that their baby girl was a woman grown and free to experiment sexually after daughters were caught in compromising positions with Alex, or August, or both.

Reputations which were not helped by the years long on and off road trip life style where all in the pack assumed they had been fucking up and down the highway systems nightly as they travelled. It had started with quiet whispered shared around the room as plates we served, and cutlery started to ting together as bites were arranged on forks, and knives clinked against porcelain plates.

The sound of people eating in a crowded space meant to absorb the words and hide them from being overheard by the seed of the gossip. Hannah had learned to have sharp ears, and Aspen was deeply in tune of the emotions in those around him.

Caught them both with my daughter graduation night.

Heard they had an orgy in the woods the night they shifted.

She's awful frail looking.

No one has heard anything about her family.

I thought she was supposed to have magic.

Looks weak.

Took my daughter just after her first shift. Both of them!

Every succubus that pranced through that damn resort had a fortnight with them.

The whispers had grown. Empowered by so many who were willing to add a negative story about Alex and August to the gossip song as it swirled and moved around the pack dinning hall. Louder and louder. Bryan was about to intervene, when a voice from the crowd called out, "Try not to break her between you two, Alex and August," The crowd laughed.

Another faceless voice from the crowd. "She smells pretty human; they break more easily." Ariel dropped her fork. Her body feeling frozen in place and more and more crude and lewd things were called out to her, regarding her supposed already active sex life with both Alex and August.

"I can't." She heard herself say. Pushing her chair back from the table, and running back out the doors she had willingly walked through with her mates, their family, and all the members of Golden Green sharing table tonight.

Ariel ran. Hard and fast. Running away from the main pack house. Down the path that led to the Greenrivers home. Flying past the beautiful mansion, deeper into the woods to the tree August had shown her. Where the Elk had met her. The holy grounds called to her, the air around the tree felt safe. Ariel just wanted to feel safe right now.

She wanted to be with her mates. She wanted to know how it felt when they touched her. She wanted to touch them. Every single of of those thoughts, filled her with fear. She remembered feeling this way about Galen. He had made her want him. Made her feel like she was loved, and would be taken care of.

Then he had hurt her. Given her to his cackle to use as breeder. Given her to Gisella to drain and use her magic. Hurt her over and over again. The whole time she had with them Ariel knew, there was no one who would ever come looking for her. She was not missed. There wouldn't ever be a rescue

Except. Alex and August, they had been looking for her almost the whole time according to their stories. Trying to find her all over the continent while she had been captive. Until they had finally found her. They had learned to give her space, to be patient. Ariel heard a guttural, wild sound in the woods. Echoing off the trees. She had no idea it was a sound that started in her own throat.

Ariel threw herself into the hollow of the tree. Face against a thick carpet of green moss that was soft against her skin. The lush greenery absorbing her tears and helping to quiet her sobs in the forest. The gnarled tree roots felt like they were holding her tight and safe. She had a faint flash of a deep memory. Her mother holding her tight, on her chest as she lay on the couch. Ariel's head over her mothers chest, faces turned to watch the screen. Listening to her mother's heartbeat in one ear, her other ear listening to her mother sing along with a Disney movie.

Ariel sobbed harder. Letting the verdant moss absorb her tears. The babbling brook nearby covering the sounds of her anguish as she let it loose. Let out so many memories and feelings from experiences she wanted to forget. Gave them all over to the forest. Needing to let them out.

Ariel thought she was alone, until she heard a snap of dry branch breaking. "Ariel?" a voice called out softly. Just loud enough to be heard over the running water. "It's Aspen, may I?" Ariel looked up as the voice hesitated. "The trees talk, and I think I can help?" Ariel heard. Sitting more upright from the hollow she had curled herself into. Not quite understanding. Wiping away the tears from her face. Face red from tears and shame.

Aspen was just as stunning as all the other Greenrivers. Beautiful glowing auburn hair, green eyes as bright as lush leaves of the forest. Delicate features in a frame that wasn't much taller than Ariel. "Trees, they are all connected and they have long memories." Aspen said as he joined Ariel. Taking his own hollow nook in the ancient tree's roots.

Aspen had followed Ariel into the woods as she fled from the dinner. He felt he was uniquely able to understand his son's mate and her tragic past. Could almost read the pain hidden behind her eyes. "There is a therapist, already on pack land who is an expert for trauma and in um, sexual relationships." Aspen and Ariel both practically turning the same shade of crimson now. "I think talking with them might help you, and my son's." Ariel accepted a business card from Aspen. It was simple, plain white, delicate lettering, Sexual Wellness Therapist. Licensed, discrete and experienced. Along with a name and contact information.

"The trees will listen, you might not hear them respond, but they will hear all you need to share as well." Aspen told Ariel. Getting up from his comfortable place in the roots of the aged oak tree. "Stay as long as you need. I will let Alex and August know where you are." Ariel nodded. Glad that the safe refuge she had run too, truly did welcome her. That it wasn't in her head.

Aspen left Ariel alone. Only the trees, brook and song birds left to keep company with. Ariel looked at the card, there was an email address. A low risk option. Ariel used her time alone to send a short email to the therapist. Asking for an appointment. Truly surprised when a reply came only minutes later. A time and location specified for a first session tomorrow morning to help Ariel face her mental blocks and trauma. Feeling hopeful, and full of resolution Ariel left the quiet safe forest glen and headed to her new accommodations to rejoin with Binh, Alex and August.