Chapter Five

Jane stretched her body and turned onto her pillow with her eyes still closed. The wet spot on her pillow had her eyes snap open. She wiped a hand over her cheek and scrunched her face up in disgust. Had she been drooling in her sleep?

Her dream came back to her in vivid flashes. Her eyes widened as realization set in that she’d dreamt about Reid again and this time Ryan too! She clenched her eyes shut as she remembered kissing Reid and then kissing Ryan.

Her hands had been beneath Ryan’s shirt! ‘Please kill me now,’ she thought and sat upright in her bed.

What the hell was going on? Chocolate and lavender, apple pie and cinnamon, the scents twirled around her and she closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply. The scent was faint, barely there but so delectable that she was sure she was imagining it.

‘Happy birthday to me,’ she thought as she got out of bed and got ready for the day.

Jane stood in the bathroom after getting dressed and looked at her reflection. She looked just a tiny bit different and turned off the light. She turned back and switched the light on again, wiping mascara over her lashes.

‘Don’t be an idiot, Jane, it’s not like you’ll really meet your mate today,’ she thought and laughed at herself for putting mascara on.

By the time Jane walked out of her room the enticing scents from earlier had diminished and she’d completely forgotten about it. She could smell chocolate as she got closer to the kitchen. Her mother stood there with another favourite, chocolate muffins!

“Happy birthday, sweetheart!” Sarah was beaming and Jane couldn’t help but smile.

“You made my favourite!”

Jane blew out the one candle stuck in the muffin and pulled it out before devouring it. Her mother laughed in delight as Jane moaned. The chocolate chips melted in her mouth and she knew for a fact that she’d never get tired of chocolate.

“So … are you excited about meeting your mate at school?”

“He might not go to my school Mom.”

Sarah scoffed and drained the last of her coffee. “You could at least be a little excited at the possibility!”

Jane laughed. “Okay, maybe I’m just a little bit excited.”

Sarah smiled and Jane could see the excitement in her eyes. “That’s my girl.”

Jane looked towards the kitchen door, finding it odd that she hadn’t heard the twins yet. It was basically eight am and there was still no sign of them. Jane grabbed another muffin and stuffed it into her mouth as her mother gathered her car keys.

“I’ll drive you to school today. The twins went to go see their mother last night but they’ll be back tonight to celebrate your birthday with you.”

Jane’s face fell but she composed herself just in time as her mother turned towards her. “They don’t have to hurry back on my account.”

“Nonsense, Jane. We’re all family now.”

Right. Family. Jane finished her second muffin and her mother drove her to school. She felt oddly out of place as she walked across the lot to the school building. She also felt lighthearted knowing that neither Reid nor Ryan would be there to spoil her day.

“Happy Birthday!” Freya’s voice was loud as she stood next to Jane’s locker. A locker that was now decorated with ribbons and balloons.

“Oh, wow, Freya.”

Freya hugged Jane tightly and handed her a gift wrapped parcel. Jane looked at the gift like it was something horrible and Freya laughed loudly. “Fine … it’s a dress and you’re going to love it. You can wear it tonight!”

“Thank you, Freya.” Jane had tears in her eyes. It was the first time in her life that a friend had cared enough to give her a present.

Jane couldn’t stop smiling the whole day and when lunch time rolled around Freya unpacked a pink and glittering cupcake for her. She ate the cupcake with relish as Sebastian joined them at their table and looked around for the twins.

“Happy birthday Jane.”

Jane turned towards him as his arms wrapped around her and he picked her up off her feet. She laughed as he put her down, still holding on to both her hands. His eyes changed colour and Jane couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

“Thank you, Sebastian.”

There was something magnetic about him and she could feel his wolf reaching out to hers. It was still a new feeling, to feel someone else in your mind. It wasn’t a voice that spoke to you in words; it was more of a feeling of what your wolf wanted.

Sebastian sighed as his eyes returned to their normal, deep blue colour. He shifted in his seat and Jane looked down suddenly. What was that feeling? Did her wolf like Sebastian’s wolf? Was that the mate bond?

“It looks like we’re not mates after all.” Sebastian lifted his soda can and held it towards hers. “Here’s to both of us finding our mate soon.”

“Sorry. But at least we can still be friends, right?” Jane looked at Sebastian. She felt silly now to think that what she’d been feeling was the mate bond. Everyone said that you’d know immediately, no but’s or if’s about it.

“Of course. I guess we’re a trio now.”

Freya laughed then and shook her head. “You two are so weird.”

Jane laughed as Sebastian looked offended. “You’re the weird one Freya, but I still love you.”

“Right … I love you so much that tonight I’m going to ask the Goddess to make Clarissa or Roxanne your mate.”

Sebastian looked horrified at that idea. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I could never mate with one of their soppy seconds. I’d rather lick a rogue’s ass clean.”

Freya made a face and pushed her tray away. “They’re both gorgeous and popular and if there’s a mate bond, you’ll love them no matter who tapped them senseless.”

Jane also made a face. The idea of either Reid or Ryan tapping them senseless disgusted her. She had no idea why she felt like that because she certainly didn’t like them, even if her dreams did. Sebastian made a gagging sound and Freya laughed.

“What’s the story with you and the twins anyway. You said it was a story for another time. Now’s another time Sebastian.” Jane was curious because neither of the three seemed to like the other, not even a little bit.

Sebastian shook his head as Freya looked down. "Let’s just say we have conflicting interests. They’re assholes and I’m not.”

Jane wasn’t put off so easily. “I know you’re not an asshole, Sebastian, but something must have happened between the three of you.”

Sebastian shrugged then and shifted in his seat. “We just don’t like each other. They like talking shit about other people because they’ve never had to work for anything.”

“I’m sorry Sebastian … I didn’t mean to pry.”

Sebastian smiled at her. “It’s okay and it’s not important. I don’t want to spend my lunch hour discussing the Heiden twins, that’s all.”

After lunch Jane and Freya had a free period and they settled in the back of the library. Freya assured her nobody ever went there and they’d have a peaceful period. Jane looked at Freya through narrowed eyes.

“Spill.”

Freya looked up at Jane. “Spill what?”

“Whatever Sebastian didn’t tell me at lunch.”

“Oh that. Well, you know the twins are the future Alphas of the Midnight Pack but Sebastian’s also a future Alpha.”

Jane straightened her legs out in front of her on the carpeted floor. “Okay …” She motioned with her hand for Freya to continue.

“Sebastian’s father, Alpha Lewis, leads the Moonstone Pack. They basically share the Los Avalos territory. Well, not share exactly. This is seen as no man’s land, neutral ground, the school and the town that is. The Midnight Pack controls the territory to the north and eastern side and the Moonstone Pack controls the south and western side.”

“That doesn’t explain the blatant hatred they have towards each other, Freya.”

“Fine!” Freya lifted her hands in exasperation. “Rumours are that Alpha Kyle and the twin’s mom got divorced because of Alpha Lewis. Apparently the two had a very hot affair that also ended Alpha Lewis’s marriage. Reid and Ryan blame Sebastian’s dad and Sebastian blames their mother.”

“Really?” Jane’s eyes were wide now because she had no idea why Kyle had divorced his wife.

“That’s not all. After the divorces they became public enemies and all hell broke loose. Some say that Sebastian slept with both of the twins then girlfriends to get back at them and others say that the twins slept with Sebastian’s girlfriend. Nobody really knows the true story. There have been fist fights and stuff like that, but basically they don’t cross borders except on neutral ground.”

“Oh.”

“Oh’s right. Future Alphas and their ego’s but if any of that is true I wouldn’t like the other guy either, so now you know.”

“Why didn’t Sebastian just tell me that?”

“Uh, hello. Would you be broadcasting that your father screwed some other woman’s brains out and your mother shot yourself after the divorce?”

Jane gasped and looked at Freya in horror. “Sebastian’s mother killed herself?”

“Right … I shouldn’t have said that. Sebastian doesn’t talk about it, like ever.”

“Right and I’m in the middle of it. Sebastian’s my friend and the twins are my stepbrothers.”

Freya looked at Jane and rubbed her arm. “I guess at some point you’ll have to choose a side. I wouldn’t want to be you, except when Reid or Ryan or both take their shirts off.”

Jane laughed then as Freya fanned herself. The rest of the day passed too quickly and Jane knew that she would have to suffer through a special birthday dinner with the twins. She wasn’t particularly looking forward to it, not after what she’d learned about them.

In the car on the drive to her house, Sebastian kept the conversation light and lively. Jane laughed until her stomach hurt and Sebastian looked pleased. He stopped in front of the fountain and turned towards Jane.

“I wanted to ask if you wanted to go swimming with me this weekend. It’s a special spot and the water’s nice and warm, especially now that it’s Autumn.”

“It sounds great, thanks Sebastian.”

“Great! I’ll pick you up on Saturday afternoon then, say noon?”

“Noon’s perfect.”

“Enjoy your birthday dinner and I’ll have your present ready on Saturday.”

Jane smiled as she got out of the car and watched Sebastian drive away. She turned towards the front door as another car drove up the driveway. She assumed it was Kyle and headed towards the stairs of the porch.

Jane froze in her spot as the same intense, delicious chocolate and lavender, apple pie and cinnamon smells bombarded her. The smell was so enticing that she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as car doors slammed shut.

“Mate.” She heard the first deep voice.

“Mine.” A second voice chorused and Jane turned around abruptly.

Her mouth opened and closed as she stood looking at Reid and Ryan. Her mates.