The Twin
The Pack Doctor entered a few moments later, she informed me that I was completely fine. Nothing was broken or anything. My emotions were just so all over the place that my healing was just slacking. Which was true I guess. Especially now that I was worried about Isaiah. Is he okay? Did he make it out before my Pack mates arrived?
And that wolf Alex killed. Who was she? Was she one of the Creatures? Will they hate me now because of her death? It wasn't my fault though. They both came out of nowhere and attacked me. What was I supposed to do? Let them?
It wasn't my fault that Alex killed her either. I didn't even know he was there.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" He touched the crease between my eyes.
"The wolf... you killed."
He sighed, "It had to be done."
"Alex..." How can he show no remorse whatsoever?
A part of me was slightly sparkling with happiness though, he was protecting me and he didn't even have to take a moment to think about jumping to my aid.
"Liah, I don't understand. It was going to kill you. What did you want me to do? Sit idly by while it rips you apart?"
I'm not sure where he picked up this 'Liah' nickname but it sure did play on my heartstrings. The way it rolled off his tongue made me want to melt like ice-cream on a hot summer's day in Durban.
"No... But you could've bitten it somewhere else. It wasn't necessary to kill her."
"Oh, Goddess. You're so naïve. That wasn't some cute and cuddly wolf. She was there to kill you."
Feeling myself growing tired of this back and forth, I changed the topic of conversation. I was no longer on his territory nor are we linked so how did he know I was in danger? What was he even doing on my territory?
"What were you even doing there?"
"You wanted your boyfriend to save you?" I roll my eyes at his childish question, knowing he was referring to Nathaniel.
I repeat my question, "What were you doing there?"
"I was looking after you. Someone has to do it."
Does he actually expect me to believe that? We are one-on-one why doesn't he tell the truth, none of his wolves are around to see that he actually cares about his mate.
"Actually no one does. I can take care of myself." I scoff.
"Is that so? Because before I appeared I'm pretty sure you were in a little predicament."
It's so easy for us to fall back to our arguments it made me a little sad. I was enjoying having a decent conversation with him.
"Little predicament, yeah. I was handling it." I was now a foot away from him.
He dramatically rolls his eyes, "This pride you have is pointless. It will get you nowhere."
"Screw you! You're one to speak! You have a terrible temper and this I-am-the-king-of-the-world mentality. You think that'll get you anywhere?"
I mentally sigh, here we go again.
"Honey. Look around, it has gotten me the largest, strongest Pack on the continent." He chuckles darkly.
"Yeah, but at what cost?" We were face-to-face â really face to chest â now.
I saw something flash in his eyes but before I could decipher it, the door opened stealing away Alexander's eyes from mine. We both turned our heads to get a glance at the intruder.
"Elijah!" Axel beamed rewarding me with a dazzling smile, "I thought I'd never see you again."
Alex grits out, "What do you want, Axel?"
"Who cares now? I'm here for Elijah." He swung a hand across my shoulders, bringing me into his chest. He was still smiling.
I smiled weakly at him. To be honest, I was still the slightest bit scared of him and our current position made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"Oh, thank you. Someone who makes me feel wanted." I mutter, regardless of my weariness.
Taking a step back to admire me, Axel all about exclaims, "Honey, if you were my mate. I would -"
"Get out. Get out. Just get the fuck out of here." Alex yells, not letting his brother complete his, I would imagine, graphic sentence.
Axel laughs, "Oh little brother you need to lighten up." He says before exiting through the same door he had entered in just minutes ago.
His words bring a crease in my brows as I turn to Alexander, my face clearly displaying my confusion.
"What?"
I voice my confusion, "Little brother?"
"Yeah." He replies, nonchalantly.
"How are you Alpha then?"
The eldest son is always Alpha and since Nate is only a half-brother he cannot be counted. So I knew as soon as I met him why he wasn't Alpha of The Howlers but this doesn't make much sense.
To be fair, Axel doesn't look like a 'little brother' anyway.
"That is none of your damn business."
Oh goody, we're back to this Alexander. I almost want to roll my eyes, I was getting fed up with his damn rollercoaster emotions.
"Whatever," I roll my eyes feeling dumb for even expecting an answer, "I'm going home then." I seem to be saying that a lot.
"I'll take you â"
Not being interested in a car ride with stick-in-my-ass Alexander, I don't let him finish his sentence.
"Is Abel here?"
I see him visually calm himself down from being interrupted, he shuts his eyes for a moment and exhales heavily before looking at me calmly.
His brows knit together, "Yeah, he is. Why?"
"I'll have him take me."
I begin my walk to the door but I don't do anything but half turn before I'm stopped by his words.
"You know you can't have any secret conversations with him, right?"
"I wasn't planning to," I give him a fake smile, "I'd just rather have him take me over you."
He strokes his beard, "Why not Axel?"
"Do you trust him with me in a confined space?" I raised a brow, trying to act nonchalant.
When I was feeling anything but. I didn't want to be in a car with Axel. I didn't want to be anywhere alone with him. But I knew Alex didn't want him around me much more.
"No." He growls lowly, "Abel's on his way."
Just as I thought.
"Thank you."
I make my way to the door silently cursing myself for being so polite. I mean, I'm meant to be angry. That is why I said I was leaving, this whole exchange ruined my dramatic exit.
"Where do you think you're going?" He stops me.
"Outside," I say in a duh tone.
He points towards the sliding door, "Not that way."
"Are you freaking kidding me? What are you afraid of? Your family finding out your mate's right here?"
I couldn't believe him, he was the one that brought me here. What did he think was going to happen after the Doctor had seen me? I was magically going to disappear from here and appear in my home?
"You are on my territory, Liah. Don't you forget it."
"I hate you, Alex. Don't you forget that." I begrudgingly make my way out using the stupid sliding door.
What a lazy ass. His room is on the first floor. What does he even need a sliding door for, it's not like it leads to a balcony? Genuinely, just lazy.
I walk around the corner and I'm met by Abel sitting on the bonnet. He seemed to be playing a game on his phone, he was very seriously dedicated because he didn't hear me approaching.
"Hey, Abel." I give him a friendly smile once he looks up upon hearing my voice.
"Hi, Elijah." He returns it.
Abel genuinely doesn't speak much and when he does his voice sounds timid. It was messing with my mind. I mean, he looked exactly like Alexander but he couldn't be further from that. He was nothing like any of the other Russo brothers â apart from Nathaniel.
During the car ride home, I learnt he was an hour younger than Alex. Which explains why he isn't Alpha. He briefly explained that Axel isn't Alpha because he didn't want to be. Abel himself doesn't really want to be either. It's out of his character he says. He isn't even Beta nor Gemma.
Instead, he's a Warrior, like me. Axel also doesn't live with his family. He travels a lot, that's why he wanted to meet me because he possibly couldn't be around much longer. Abel also mentioned that Axel and Alexander are much closer than himself and Alexander. Abel is the loner of the four. Alexander is still close to Abel and Nate though, just not as much as he is with Axel.
Abel says he actually gets annoyed when they're all together. Fifteen percent of the time because of Axel and Nate's bickering while the remaining eighty-five is because of the amount of noise they make. I learnt a lot about Abel in this ride. More than what I know about Alexander.
"Aren't you afraid his enemies will come after you thinking it's him?"
He stiffened, "It has happened quite a few times. Although, just because I'm a lot quieter doesn't mean I'm not as dangerous."
My eyes bulged and my head slowly turned to look at him, I didn't feel frightened but I would be lying if I didn't say I was caught off guard.
"That is not something you want to tell a girl who is trapped in a car with you." I joke.
He laughs, "I was kidding. I did say I'm a warrior, so, I always make it out."
"I was expecting you to say, 'they normally see how much quieter I am and release me immediately.'" I try to mimic his voice, this gets him laughing.
"I wish."
I smiled and welcomed the silence that followed. I could tell this was the most he had ever said in a long while, if ever. So going forward, I didn't bother starting another conversation nor asking another question. He had obviously got permission from Nate because glancing outside I realise we passed through his territory a while back as we were fast approaching my house.
So many cars have passed through this border and I haven't seen a single wolf paroling. I mean, I know we basically live on the outskirts but wow Jay needed to do something about this. It's no wonder Isaiah and those other wolves went undetected.
"Alex says to tell you not to go running for a while."
I looked him dead in the eyes, smiled and pulled a zap sign. I then rolled my eyes and got out of the car, knowing Alexander got the message.
Once I have exited the car, I lean forward resting my arms on the rolled down window and spoke,
"Thank you, Abel." And blew him a kiss knowing that would probably work on Alexander's nerves. Abel obviously understood and laughed.
He half yelled, "Thanks for getting me into shit!"
"That's my speciality." I laughed waving goodbye.
My father's voice comes from behind me, "Is that Alexander Russo?"
Turning to face him I froze, not expecting him to be out here this late into the night. What time is it? It was dark out, shouldn't he be asleep?
A skeptical laugh escapes me, "What?" I look back to where the car was, "No, Pa."
"Who was that?"
I shrug, "A friend."
My word, just let it go, father. I really don't have the perfect words or any words at all to explain this or anything that has happened to me since my birthday.
He gave me a questioning look, "Who happens to look like Alexander Russo?"
"Dad. It's dark out, are you sure you're seeing properly?"
I stand beside him and squint my eyes at him, cocking my head to the side.
"I have wolf senses, Elijah." He fires back.
"Well," I clap, "They're definitely lacking." I pat his shoulder sympathetically.
"Get inside the house." He grumbles.
I can't help but thank the moon that worked as I march inside the house, throwing a 'yes sir,' over my shoulder.