Falling For You [ Ryan Rees - Twin Paranormal ]

43

Author's note - Dear readers,

Thank you so much for your support, for reading and voting on this story. I'm truly sorry for the long delay in updates. I hit a bit of writer's block and ran out of ideas for a while. Over the past few months, I've been focusing on other stories, but I'm happy to say that I've finally come up with some new ideas for the next chapters. I hope you'll enjoy what's to come, and I appreciate your patience and understanding!

~

The tires crunched against the gravel as their car pulled into the driveway of Bracken Fern Manor. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the imposing structure, giving it a foreboding air that made it the perfect location for their next investigation. River killed the engine, and the sudden silence was heavy, broken only by the distant sound of the wind rustling through the trees.

Winter sat in the back with Ryan, staring up at the manor's towering presence. His newly developed wings twitched instinctively, a constant reminder of the nightmare he'd endured at the hands of his ex, Daniel. The wings, though large were folded neatly against his back, hidden beneath a custom jacket Ryan had gotten him, something that concealed his new reality from the rest of the world. The antler bone headdress fused to his skull was less easy to hide, but at least it looked almost natural—if "natural" could describe the result of Daniel's cruel experiment.

"Are you ready for this?" Wyatt asked from the front seat, glancing back at his twin brother.

Winter gave a tight nod, his fingers running through his auburn red hair—another strange side effect from the serum Daniel had injected him with. "Yeah, I think so. It'll be my first time back since... everything," he admitted softly. His voice still carried the weight of his transformation, and of raising their daughter, Clarity June, who was back at Ryan and River's mother's house for the night. She was his light, the one thing that grounded him after the chaos his life had become.

"You don't have to push yourself," Ryan said, turning in his seat to face Winter. His voice was always calm around Winter now, softer since the baby had been born, more patient, especially after all Winter had been through.

"I want to do this," Winter reassured him, his pale eyes meeting Ryan's. "It's time. I've been out of the game too long."

River leaned over from the driver's seat and grinned. "Hell yeah. It's not the same without you. Besides, Wyatt's jokes are getting old. We need someone else to roast."

"Hey!" Wyatt protested, smirking despite himself.

The group burst into laughter, the tension breaking for a moment, the camaraderie returning as easily as it always did. It was what made them work so well together, this sense of family. Winter felt that bond more than ever now, especially with CJ in the picture.

They climbed out of the car, pulling out their camera gear, and equipment. The air was cool, and the scent of pine trees lingered in the breeze as they made their way to the front door of the manor. Every step closer, Winter could feel something... off. The energy was heavy here, like a storm brewing in the distance.