Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Five

My tired eyes scan the wall, hoping for a way out of this hole, but I don’t see how I could escape. This is going to be impossible on my own. My only hope is that someone will come and let me out of here. But who would help me?

The metal trap digs into my fur mercilessly, and I feel an acrid trickle of blood running down my side. This contraption must have been meant to capture a large bear or something, as it’s far too dangerous to keep a wolf alive. My wounds are grave, and it’s taking every ounce of self–control not to cry out in pain, but I know that howling won’t

save me.

5)

Just then, I hear twigs snapping and muffled voices coming from above. Someone is here!

“Do you think we caught something?”

“Oh, I know we did. Can’t you smell it?”

“Smell what?”

“The scent of blood, boy! Don’t you love it?”

Are those poachers?

Probably.

I quickly try to make myself as small as possible as two silhouettes come into view. My hopes of being saved are immediately dashed as the two men appear to be poachers by how they’re dressed and the tools and weapons they carry.

“It’s a wolf!”

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Chapter 13

“Pretty one too!”

The two of them stop at the edge of the trap and look down at me, their faces twisted with evil grins. They must have set this trap for a bear, but they look just as happy with me.

“Its fur is going to look nice on my wall!”

One of them kneels down and peers right into my eyes, his face far away, yet I can smell! his cigarette breath–it smells like death. He laughs cruelly and tells his accomplice to get

me up from the hole. I try to fight, but they shoot me with this arrow, making me dizzy

“Nice job with the arrow.”

“Yeah, I figured drugging it would be the best way to keep us from getting injured.”

Ino

o longer know what is going on. I’m not in the hole but on the ground, and one of the poachers reaches out a hand to stroke my fur. I want to recoil from his touch but can’t move while on this strange drug. So I lay completely still in fear. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, threatening to burst out of my chest if I don’t escape quickly.

The other man pulls something out of his pocket–a knife! He is going to kill me! Or even worse, injure me to the point that I can’t flee from these men!

“Let’s take her back to the cabin and make a pelt out of her, nice and quick.”

The men finally break into a trot, dragging me with them as they go. I try to fight against their grip, but it’s no use. They have my legs tightly bound with rope so I can’t struggle. The forest passes me by in a blur of greens and browns until we reach their cabin nestled

in the mountainside.

My heart sinks as I realize what is about to happen next–they will skin me alive for my fent! Fear grips my soul as they drag me inside the cabin and start prepping a work table for their grizzly task. One of them grabs an old rusty knife and begins cutting off strips of my

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fur while the other starts heating up water in an old pot over the fire in the corner.

I feel like I’m going to faint from terror when suddenly, a loud banging sound echoes through the woods–someone is knocking at the door! The poachers freeze in place until one of them shrugs and quickly rushes towards the door. He opens it wide to reveal the

twins.

“Hello there,” Logan says. “I believe you have something that belongs to us–our pet wolf.”

Eric parks his large arms over his chest. “That’s right. So you can either hand her over peacefully, or we will call the cops on you. The choice is yours.”

The poachers‘ faces contort into a mix of fear and anger as they realize they’ve been caught. One of them sneers, holding up a bloody knife. “You want this wolf so bad, come and get her.”

Logan and Eric exchange a look before nodding in unison. Eric takes a step forward, his massive form towering over the poachers. “It’s your last chance to give her up without a

fight.”

The poacher with the knife lunges forward, aiming for Eric’s chest. But Eric is too quick for him, sidestepping the attack and delivering a swift punch to his gut. The poacher doubles over, dropping the knife and gasping for breath.

The other poacher charges at Logan, but Logan is equally as skilled in combat. He sidesteps the attack and delivers a powerful kick to the poacher’s knee. The poacher crumples to the ground, clutching his leg in pain.

The twins subdue the poachers and free me from my bindings in mere moments. I scramble to my feet, my heart still racing from the terror I’ve just experienced. Logan and Eric turn to leave with me in tow, but not before Logan pauses to deliver a warning.

“If you ever come near us or any other innocent creatures again, we will make sure you.

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suffer the consequences. Consider this your only warning.”

With that, the twins turn around to face me, pausing when they see my wolf form with their own eyes.

“So you finally awakened, huh?” Logan asks.

“About time,” Eric says. “I thought you would never be able to shape–shift into a wolf.”

I growl at them, still upset about the fact that Eric called me a piece of meat, but I pause once I realize there is a strange feeling in my chest as I look at them–a mate bond! No–no- no! Why is this happening to me? I didn’t want them!

Logan and Eric look at each other in confusion as my growling suddenly turns into a soft. whimper. They approach me slowly, their eyes curious and a little concerned.

“What’s wrong?” Eric asks, his voice extremely gentle, which is a bit odd seeing the idiot is the least sensitive person that I know. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head, still whimpering softly, as I step back from both men. I’m unwilling to shape–shift back into a human, scared it will strengthen the mate bond. Logan and Eric exchange another look, seeming to understand something I don’t.

“You’re feeling it, aren’t you?” Logan says, his voice hushed.

I look up at him, confused. Feeling what? What are they talking about?

“The mate bond,” Eric explains, his voice equally hushed. “You’re finally feeling the connection between us…we have felt it for a while but not wanted to accept it.”

Logan grimaces. “Yeah… you’re our mate, Five. You’re fated to be with the both of us.”

I’m fated to be with these assholes?!

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My eyes widen in surprise, and I take a step back from them. This can’t be happening. I know what a damn mate bond is, but I never thought I would experience one myself since I didn’t have a wolf, let alone two people.

“Five?” Logan asks. “Why don’t you shape–shift back into a human so we can talk?”

“That sounds like a good idea, Five,” Eric agrees. “All three of us need to talk.”

I do what they say and shape–shift back into a human, but I’m still unwilling to approach them. Their eyes look me up and down, and I cover my chest. I feel so small and vulnerable under their intense gazes.

“I–I don’t understand,” I stammer, my heart racing in my chest. “How is this possible? How can I have a mate bond with both of you?”

Logan and Eric share a look, and for a moment, I can see the uncertainty in their eyes. But then Logan steps forward, his hand reaching out to gently cup my cheek..

“It’s rare, but it happens sometimes with twins,” he says softly. “We don’t know how or why, but we both feel a connection with you.”

I don’t know what to say. My mind is reeling with the implications of what they are saying. Fuck, I can’t believe the moon goddess picked these two bullies as my mates. Is she out of her goddamn mind?! I mean, Logan has a few nice moments, but Eric? He is as mean as they come! The guy is pretty, but he doesn’t have a heart!

“Five?” Logan approaches me, but I push his hand away from my cheek when he tries to

touch me.

“I can’t do this,” I say, not afraid of meeting Logan’s eyes and glaring at him. “I can’t be with you two. I know who you are, Eric. You’ve made my life a living hell since elementary school. Worse, you’ve kept being mean to me since I moved in with you. And I was so stupid for thinking you would be respectful during our date. I thought you would be nice,

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but then you call me a piece of meat. And you, Logan, you haven’t exactly been kind to me either. Our date was night, but I bet you only see me as a means to get off.”

Logan and Eric stare at me as if they are shocked that I actually have a will and mind of my own. But they quickly recover, and Logan’s eyes darken. “I know we haven’t been the best to you, Five,” he says, his voice low. “But things can be different between us now. We can make things right and treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”

I laugh bitterly. “So now you want to treat me right because we are mates? And what about the fact that you’re twins? I can’t be with both of you.”

Eric steps forward now, a dangerous look in his eyes. “You don’t have a choice, Five,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “We are your mates, and you will accept us both. You can’t deny the bond between us.”

I take a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. These guys are crazy. I can’t be with them. I won’t. But as I look into their eyes, I can feel the mate bond pulling at me, urging me to give in. I shake my head, trying to push the feeling away, but it only gets stronger.

Logan steps forward again, his hand reaching out to take mine. “Please, Five,” he says. softly. “Give us a chance. We may not have been the best to you before, but we can make it right now. We can show you how much you mean to us.”

I look into Logan’s eyes, seeing the truth behind his words. Suddenly, I feel my resolve give way. I realize that I want this. I want Logan and Eric, no matter how messed up it is.

But that doesn’t mean that it will happen overnight. They will have to prove themselves to me! Show me that they are worthy of my forgiveness.

I take a step forward. “It’s going to take time,” I say in s strict tone, looking from one brother to the other. “We are all going to have to work together if this is going to work, and you’re going to have to show me that you’re willing to change. But,” I reach for their hands and pull them closer. “I am willing to give this a shot. But only because you are my

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Chapter 13

fated mates, not because I like you or anything.”

“Ah, Logan says. “Of course. It’s only because of the bond and not at all because you’re

attracted to us.

I blush,

“I never said I find you guys attractive!”

“You didn’t have to,” Eric says with a cheeky grin. “I can smell your desire from here.”

My face burns hotter, and as annoying as it is, I feel my pussy moisten. Eric might be kind of an ass, but he is right. I want these guys. Sue me for saying this, but they are hot.

“Well,” Logan says, his fingers trailing down my arm. “I think it’s time we went home and got to know our mate a little better, don’t you?”

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