T H I R T Y - T H R E E

NOVA

"Don't get mad at him" A very familiar voice rang out "He was just doing what I asked of him."

"Of course it's you" I glared over my shoulder "What do you want?"

My eyes drifted automatically to the two unfamiliar men behind Atlas, their dark auburn hair a stark contrast against their olive skin complexion.

The closer I looked at them, the more I realized that they were twins.

I nodded towards them "Who are they?"

"Don't look at them" he said dismissively "Focus on me."

I glanced at Jade and Charlie and found them both gaping at the twins with equal looks of shock and amazement.

"The Canela Twins" Jade whispered, blushing as the one of the right turned towards her with a critical gaze.

Zero emotion on his face as he glanced at her from head to toe, his gaze darkening as his hazel eyes locked on hers.

I heard Jade's sharp intake of breath as she clutched my arm.

"The one on the left is Nícolas" she whispered "And the one of the right is Máteo."

"The Butchers of Lupine Bay" Charlie whispered, amazement in his tone "The sons of Alessandro 'The Bear' Canela, Beta to Heir Lupine and the most fearsome warrior in all of Shifter History."

My head snapped back towards Atlas and the twins, my gaze narrowing as I took in the two men in a new light.

Máteo's lips twitched at my friend's whispers, his gaze turning inquisitive as he took me in from head to toe too.

"Why are they with Atlas?"

"Because they're part of my Pack" Atlas answered smoothly "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" I asked, still rooted to the seat "And what are you even doing here? Don't you have class?"

"I'm flattered you have my scheduled memorized little Star" His lips twitched "Now let's go. We're going to be late."

"Late for what?"

He took a step forward, crowding me just enough that I was forced to either lean back and away from him or stay where I was.

I chose the latter, not wanting to back down from his challenge.

And it was a challenge considering the way his eyes lit up the closer his face came to mine.

"I'm not above throwing you over my shoulder" he whispered, his head tilting slightly as his lips grazed the corner of my mouth "In fact, I think I might enjoy it."

"You wouldn't dare" I growled "Not in front of all these people, and not when I'm wearing a skirt.  Especially since you threw such a hissy fit last time."

"I did not throw a hissy" He scowled as he backed away, giving me much needed space "The Penta has called an emergency meeting regarding some recent matter that has just arose. We better get going before we're punished for making them late."

I stood and followed him, sending my friends a look of goodbye.

When I turned back to the three men in front of me, it was the first time I noticed that the entire cafeteria was quietly gawking at us.

I caught up to Atlas's long strides.

"Always causing a scene" I murmured to him "And here I thought you were the mysterious one that liked to blend in when we first met."

"Blending in is for those ashamed of who they are or where they come from" He glanced down at me "I am not ashamed of either of those things."

He opened the door that led to the outside seating and strode ahead, leaving me staring at his retreating form.

I felt two hulking presences draw closer to me, making me feel both unnerved and...at ease?

"Riddle me this" I asked, keeping my gaze straight ahead and locked on the self-assured Heir "If your father was Beta to mine, then what the hell are you doing in Atlas' Pack?"

A moment of silence.

"It's hard to stay in a Pack that wants nothing to do with you" The gruff one, Nícolas (I think) said "They don't care how long your father dedicated his life to the Pack or what he gave up to protect them. They only cared about removing the two children they deemed misfits from their presence."

I didn't have to see them to know that they were communicating silently with each other.

"There were no more Lupine's to protect" Máteo added softly "Also another reason for us to not overstay our welcome."

I sucked in a sharp breath "But that was your Pack."

"That was our father's Pack" One of them said, correcting me politely "It was never ours."

I glanced over my shoulder at them, and while their faces held no emotion, I could tell by their words that they were deeply affected by what the Lupine Pack did to them.

"So you went to Atlas' Pack?"

"Our mother was originally from the Lobo Pack" Máteo sent a sad smile my way "And when she was widowed after our father died, with two small boys in a unfamiliar territory, Heir Lobo's Pack welcomed her back with open arms."

"Assholes" I muttered to myself, turning to face forward once again, shame staining my cheeks "Apparently I have a Pack full of Assholes. How exciting for me."

One of them chuckled while the other stated "People fear what they can't control. They couldn't control our father and they were scared that after he died, they wouldn't be able to control us either."

"They were right of course" Nícolas said, a smirk apparent in his voice "No one will ever control the Butchers of Lupine Bay."

"Níco," Máteo snapped at his twin "Don't sound so smug in front of an Heir."

"What?"

"Why the Butchers?" I asked, ignoring their little argument "Have you guys really killed that many people?"

"Uh..." Máteo stuttered a little "Our name doesn't come from our body count."

"What does that..." My eyes widened as I snapped my head to look at them once more "Holy shit. You're telling me you two really chop people up? For a living?"

Silence.

Twenty-five feet ahead, Atlas finally realized he was the only one walking towards the meeting.

He spun and barked at us "What the hell are you three doing over there?"

"Playing charades" I deadpanned "What do you think we're doing?"

"I know what you're not doing!" he yelled "And that's walking that fine ass over to me!"

The twins started forward but I stopped them with the back of my hands to each of their chests.

They looked down at me simultaneously, every bit the twins they were, and waited for what I was going to say.

I struggled for the right words, genuine words that I instinctually knew that these two killers at my side needed to hear.

"I know my words mean absolutely nothing to you right now, especially since you two don't know me or my character" I began softly "But know that I'll correct the wrongs that you have suffered at the hands of others. I may not have known Heir Lupine well, but I know that he wouldn't have wanted a Pack he cared for so much throw out two smart and talented wolves that probably meant a lot to him."

I glanced at each of them and was surprised to find them staring down at me with unknown emotions in their eyes.

"Why?" Nícolas coughed, clearing his throat once "Like you said, you don't know us and we don't know you. Why would you go through that trouble for something that happened twenty-something years ago?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I frowned "I might not have known Wolfe Lupine but I know that he wouldn't have stood for bullying or tyranny in his Pack. Especially when it came to children."

They just glanced at each other, once again using that twin telepathy that everyone knew twins shared, before glancing at me again.

This time, the expressions they wore were so fierce that I took a step back.

"What?" My gazed bounced from one twin to the other "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Even more silence.

I was about to snap at them, wondering what the hell they were looking at, when a hand slithered its way around my waist and pulled me into a strong chest.

"I'm not getting in trouble for you Starry" Atlas whispered in my ear, squeezing my hip once as he guided me forward one step at a time "I don't wanna hear Nixy bitch at me all day for being late."

"Nixy?"

"Phoenix," he cooed "Kass and I's nickname for our dear old grumpy ass."

"Nuh uh" My lips twitched "He does not let you call him that."

"He does" Atlas snickered "I'm pretty sure he won't mind if you called him that too."

"Hmm..." I chuckled "I just find it so ironic."

"Why's that?"

"My friends back home call me Nyxie" I smiled at him, thinking about Samara and Lili and the last time we saw each other "You know, because of my middle name."

"Nyxie" He repeated my nickname, the sound rolling around his tongue, and making it sound like it was the sexiest name in the world "I like it. It's fitting for you little starlight."

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to snark at him when I was suddenly thrown backwards.

Hard enough that I lost all breath in my lungs.

I landed on the twins with a oomph, watching as a blur of movement ran towards us at an alarming speed.

"What the fuck is that?!"