Episode Four

Mira's POV

“No,” he said, anger flashing in his eyes as if the mere mention of the name made his skin crawl. “I'm Alder. His twin brother.”

Twin brother?

Kade had a twin?

How is this possible?

How come no one mentioned it in the three months that I spent in the BlueMoon pack? Not even kade himself.

Right. He never even mentioned that he had a fiancée, so how would he talk about his brother?

I stared at him intensely. Leather jacket with blood stains at the collar. Inner dark singlet, chest covered in cobra tattoos with their tongues stuck out, sending chills down my spine. Leather pants with a cobra head belt and he reeked of gasoline, danger. Everything about him wasn't proper like Kade.

The waitress came to take our orders. Alder spoke to her but I did not even hear what they were saying; I couldn't concentrate. Not when I'm seeing the man that looked exactly like the one who broke me.

“Alright sir,” she said and walked away.

He folded his arms across his chest. “Are you done staring, Mira Valentini.”

I blinked severally, forcing myself to take my eyes off him. “Sorry— about—that,” I stammered. “You said you are Kade's twin brother?”

“Yes, I am.” He sat up, his stormy gray eyes stared deep into my soul. “I know you know my brother. I know he was your fated mate and that you were together for a while but that doesn't matter. I want to marry you, Mira.”

My mouth fell open. How did he know everything? Yet, I thought I had run away from him, but he was always there.

“Marry me?” I repeated, couldn't wrap my head around it all. “Why are you hell-bent on marrying me? Even after two years, you don't even care that I was with your brother, do you?”

“But why did you leave then?” His voice was laced with hurt. “You did not even give us the chance to meet before you left—even if it was just once.”

“I was young then, naive and I just wanted my father to stop controlling my life. So, I ran… not because of you exactly. But because of the man who cared about nothing more other than using me as a bargaining chip.”

He nodded, pressing his lips together. “That was understandable. But why the sudden change of mind now? I was actually surprised when your father called me back to inform me that you are now interested in getting married to me.”

“Nothing.” I couldn't tell him I had intended to marry him to forget his brother and annoy my sister, right? “I just thought maybe we are meant to be together after all, seeing how you are still interested in me after everything.”

He scoffed, clearly didn't believe my claims. “Why do I feel like you are doing this to get over my brother?”

How did he always know everything?

My breath caught in my throat and I let out a guttural cough. He quickly handed me a bottle of water, his eyes laced with deep concern; just the same way Kade used to look anytime I was hurt.

My fingers tightened around the bottle—an effort to push Kade out of my mind— as I gulped down the water and I felt better.

I wanted to hate Kade. After how he treated me, I wanted to hate him… but I couldn't. I could still feel him everywhere inside me.

“Why would you say that?” I asked like he wasn't right. “Your brother is my past and he remains there.”

“Of course, he does. I don't care what happened between both of you but you are MINE now.” The MINE was almost a growl—possessive and protective; unlike that bastard that was too ashamed to show me off.

His jaw tightened. “I will make sure to prove to him how much of a fool he is for letting you go.” He sounded like he hated his brother.

“Your brother…. Why did you hate him?” The words slipped past my lips before I could stop myself.

Alder threw his head to the side, his eyes darkened, pain flashed in them. “He ruined my life. He took everything that has ever belonged to me.” His voice was tight and I knew he didn't want to say more.

At that moment, I saw myself in him. The same way Alina took everything away from me.

I extended my hand. “Let's get married, Alder Thornhart. Let's prove to the one that hurt us that he made a big mistake.”

He smirked and shook my hand. “Actually I changed my name. The moment I left BlueMoon Pack six years ago, I renounced my place as a Thornhart. I have created a new legacy for myself. I'm a Deluca.”

Just how bad could the relationship with his family be that prompted a change of name?

Whatever it was, I love the fact that we share a common enemy. “Alright Alder Deluca.” I quickly withdrew from his touch because it kept sending jolts down my spine.

“Your orders are ready,” the waitress announced, dropping covered trays on the table. A bottle of wine and two glasses.

I smiled at the waitress. “Thank you.”

Alder opened the tray and there were a lot of delicious meals.

My eyes widened. “Lamb sauce?!” How did he know that was my favourite?

As if he could hear my thoughts again, he smirked. “I know everything about you, Mira. I might be a stranger to you. But to me, you were never.”

I’m sure that bastard Kade never even knew my favourite food.

Now, I regret not meeting Alder once before I ran off. Maybe I would have changed my mind.

Our gaze was fixed for a long moment, my cheeks burning.

“Let's eat,” I finally said and looked away.

I stared at the meal again and I intend to eat a lot since I did not eat much earlier because of Elara and Alina. But staring at the meals made my stomach knitted painfully and just like earlier a wave of nausea crashed down on me.

I sprang up to my feet. “I would like to use the restroom.”

“Alright.” He stood.

“What are you doing?”

“I wanted to come with you.”

Despite the fact that I felt sick, I burst into laughter that echoed through the restaurant, attracting the attention of other customers and I had to bow slightly to apologise.

“I'm not a kid that needs an escort, Alder. I will be fine.” He is so protective—an exact opposite of Kade.

He hesitated, but finally agreed. “Okay.”

As I took a step past him, my eyes went blurry, my head throbbed with pains, my legs buckled and the last thing I heard before darkness consumed me was Alder's desperate and worried calls.

“Mira!”