The Stone Twins

Chapter 11: Cassandra

I peek through the curtains of where I was hidden. After Jeremiah left yesterday Josiah had been chasing me around the house with a mischievous smirk on his face. Lily had informed me that Jeremiah had been teasing Josiah through the mindlink for the last week, which meant Josiah knew what I was capable of in bed.

"Oh, MATE!" Josiah sang as he stalked through the house. His voice dripped with amusement as he continued talking.

"I will find you. Do not think that rubbing my sister's scent on you was enough to get me off of your trail." He threatened playfully, his voice becoming closer to my hiding place. Sinking back I try to push myself further into the wall hoping and praying that it'll swallow me up.

"Found you!" Josiah grinned as he ripped back the curtains. I looked up at him in amusement, I had no clue what he was planning on doing to me but by the look on his face it couldn't be good.

"Come." He coaxed holding out his hand with a soft smile. Hesitatingly I looked at his hand then back to him, he had a hopeful look on his face, one that screamed for me to touch him. Taking his hand he helps me up, my skin tingling at his touch stronger than what I was used to. It must have been the mate pull, while I did have sparks with Jeremiah, it always felt as though something was missing. Pulling me through the house we come to his office, which I had only just realized was connected to Jeremiah's. My face heated at the thought of him hearing us a couple days ago.

"Whatever you are thinking, yes, I did hear you two." Josiah confirms making my face heat even further. Josiah walks through his office with a cool expression, he looks more relaxed than when I first met him. Taking a seat in his desk chair he places me on top of his desk. After a minute of staring at each other in silence Josiah finally spoke up.

"Are you mute?" He asked jokingly. I frowned, being mute isn't something to joke about. Josiah sighed taking my hand in his intertwining our fingers.

"I'm sorry." He started, his gaze never leaving mine.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry that I've done nothing but prove that I am a terrible mate. But after watching you and Jeremiah I started to get jealous. I wanted to be by your sides, smiling, holding your hand, touching you...oh Goddess you don't know how much I want to touch you." Josiah moaned shifting in his seat.

"But the point is, I am sorry. I was wrong on so many levels. Jeremiah scolded me and forbade me from being around you. But your little stunt today, kitten, that was the sexiest thing I've ever seen." Josiah whispered against my lips. I do not know what came over me, all I knew was that I did not want that she wolf on my mate, THEY are MINE.

The next couple of hours Josiah and I spent talking, he told me about his childhood and how much different it was compared to Lilies and Jeremiah's.

"Our father wanted me to become the next Alpha, He trained me separately from my siblings, he wanted me focused. I was his pride and joy since I was showing dominant traits quicker than Jeremiah was." he explained, drifting off into his memories.

"I had heard bits and pieces about him. They often called him the killer alpha. Was he really as murderous as wolves described him?" I asked as I played with his fingers, enjoying the sparks that littered my skin.

"Yes. He was ruthless, the pack was miserable. While some feared him and chose to obey, others did their best to avoid him or chose to become rogues." I nodded sadly.

"One night when we were sixteen, he killed our mother. They had gotten into an argument, it was something about the way he was treating her. I saw, he never treated her like a mate, he treated her as a slave. He would force himself on her, beat her, whip her, and lock her in the cells for weeks at a time. It was unbearable watching her going through so much pain." Josiah's voice became tight with emotion, but he pushed past it and continued.

"After she died the pack became increasingly afraid, everyone was on edge and did not know who they could trust, some would sacrifice others in a heartbeat. There was no Luna, no beta or gamma, the previous beta and gamma stepped down and became rogue. They said 'I'd rather be rogue than work under the Killer alpha.'" Bitterness filled his tone and he furrowed his brows.

"After our mother's death I had begun to train Jeremiah secretly and teach him our father's weaknesses. Lily had gone to live with Elaine, she was too afraid to live with our father anymore." Josiah stopped taking a few deep breaths before continuing.

"On the night of our seventeenth birthday, we killed him. Jeremiah and I had enough power combined to take down our father."

"Pack laws state that whoever killed the previous alpha becomes the new alpha of that pack." I finished for him. Josiah gave me a sad smile as he nodded.

" It had to be done, he was terrorizing the pack and others around us. We couldn't just sit back and watch." Josiah pleaded his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I know, and I am proud of you." I whispered as I pulled his head to my chest. I wrapped my arms around him running my fingers through his wild hair. His large hands wrapped around my waist pulling me onto his lap, pressing us as close as he could get us. We sat like that for a while, arms wrapped around each other in silence listening to each other's heartbeats. A knock came to the door and I whipped around staring at the closed door. Josiah grumbled a come in from the crook of his neck refusing to remove his head. A tall Asian man walked into the office, he had to be a good 6'3, his eyes a sparking gold with brown flecks and slick black hair that was pulled back into a bun. His facial features were hard and sharp. His eyes came up to meet mine, a glimmer of amusement swam through his sharp eyes, it was as if he was smiling at me through his eyes even though his face remained neutral.

"Good evening, Alpha, Luna." He greeted me with a bow. Josiah finally lifted his head up a smirk coming to his face.

"Gamma Aoife. Did you need something?" He asked as he absentmindedly played with my hair. Josiah twirled a curl around his index finger, his face softening.

"I wanted to report to you that Alpha Jeremiah called. He wanted to inform you of a new pack member he will be bringing back with him." Josiah's eyebrow lifted in surprise.

"A new pack member? Explain." He sighed leaning back in his chair.

"I was informed that our lack of an oracle had been going on for some time. He stated that he found an oracle that was desperate to leave her pack, and was itching to come back with him. The pack that he has been visiting is in utter chaos, the Alpha lost his mate the previous month and has been torturing his female wolves. It is reported that he has no heir to take over the pack. Alpha Jeremiah plans to battle him for the title of alpha of their pack, the battle is tomorrow at noon, and Alpha Jeremiah plans to return the following day after settling pack affairs." Aoife reported, he spoke so fluidly it was like his words drifted easily into your head.

"Thank you, Aoife. Your Luna and I will be present for his return. In the meantime, I want to set up a cabin for the new Oracle, ensure that she will have everything she needs to do her work properly." Josiah commanded his alpha tone slipping through. Aoife nodded in understanding.

"Excuse me." He finished turning and leaving the room, the door shutting softly behind him.

"We don't have an Oracle?" I asked, turning my attention to Josiah.

"We do now, little mate." He smirked, placing a soft kiss onto my lips.

"I'm sure she'll be of use to us. I'm more concerned about this Alpha. How has been going on for this long without his pack members reporting him to the elder council?" Josiah had a dazed look as he thought about it. It was odd, there was obviously something going on that was preventing his pack members from speaking up, I'm finding it hard to understand how the females haven't spoken up, not to mention the males.