Chapter Two

Ryan pushed himself off the wall and took a step towards Jane. She gulped visibly, not understanding why they were there. Hadn’t they gone with their father for that family walk? Reid glanced at Ryan and also took a step towards her.

Ryan’s demeanour changed as he looked at Jane. “Why didn’t you tell our father that we are acquainted? Why lie, little pup?”

Little pup, the nickname given to Jane by the twins, irked her the most. They never called her by her name. She hated the name “Little pup”.

Why was he calling her on that lie? Did their father know what bullies they were? She doubted that he’d approve of their behaviour. She’d seen enough of Kyle Heiden to know that he, at least, was a good man, not like his evil twin demons.

Jane shook her head, not wanting to get into an argument with them and pushed past Ryan. She still needed to get her phone from the dining room. Reid blocked her way and Ryan half turned so that she was trapped.

Reid reached for a lock of her hair but she pulled back. “Why do you need an extra lock on your door?”

“You were eavesdropping on my conversation with my mother?” Jane looked at them but yet again they were smirking at her.

“We have good hearing.”

“It’s none of your business, let me pass!” Jane replied, but the twins didn’t move an inch. They seemed intent on not letting her go so easily.

Jane felt anger rise in her. “Are you scared that I’ll tell your father what bullies you are?”

“Scared?” Ryan smirked and moved right up against her, forcing her back against the wall. He was so close now that Jane could feel his breath on her cheek and she hated that his closeness was making her heart flutter a little.

“This is my father’s pack. We can do anything to you, just like before. I guess you kind of like the attention, don’t you?” His whisper was harsh and the words were threatening.

Ryan had always been the more violent and outspoken one of the twins. Now he was clearly irritated by Jane’s provocation. She closed her eyes suddenly, breathing deeply as she tried to calm herself down, her fists clenching by her sides.

She gritted her teeth, already wondering what would happen if she were to slap his handsome face right that instant. The next moment though, Reid’s hand landed on Ryan’s shoulder. “Give it a rest, Ryan.”

Ryan’s glare landed on her again. “Don’t be late, little pup, we leave for school at eight am.”

They finally left her alone in the hallway and opened the door to their bedroom. Ryan closed it a bit more forcefully than was necessary, but she still got the point. Even though they had now turned into her stepsiblings, they were still giant Alphaholes and she knew they wouldn’t stop bullying her.

The next morning Jane woke up with a groan. She hadn’t really slept much the previous night. Her dreams had been plagued with the twins playing pranks on her, leaving confetti in her locker and one particular nightmare had her waking up in a cold sweat, her lips still tingling.

Had she really been dreaming of kissing Reid? She scrunched her nose in disgust and lay back on the sheets of the bed. It was a nice bed, no doubts about that, but sleep had still eluded her, especially after that dream. At six am she had finally had enough and threw the covers off her.

The shower was heaven. Warm water cascaded over her bare shoulders, down her back and she lifted her face into the spray. She got dressed with less enthusiasm since it would be her first day in a new school, a school most probably ruled by the twins.

She was surprised to find her mother in the kitchen downstairs and sat at the kitchen island. Her mother put a plate of chocolate chip pancakes down in front of her with a smile. She poured syrup over her pancakes as her mother sat across from her drinking coffee and literally glowing.

“You made pancakes.” Jane smiled despite the terrible night she’d had.

“Of course, chocolate’s your favourite.”

“Mom, can I add an extra lock on my door, please?”

Sarah looked at her daughter with slight confusion marring her eyes. “Why? Isn’t one lock enough?” She chuckled a bit as Jane turned her head towards the stairs. The sounds of pounding shoes reached her and she sighed.

“I hear the twins. Have a good day at school sweetie.”

“Thanks Mom.”

Jane got to the foyer just as Reid opened the front door. He didn’t even glance back at her and she felt silly in that moment. Reid had always been slightly nicer than Ryan but right now she was certain that the label “Alphahole” suited him.

She felt awkward to look at Reid’s face, remembering her “bad” dream of kissing Reid. To be honest, she didn’t hate Reid that much because most of the time he had just watched Ryan play pranks on her and be mean to her.

Ryan shouldered past her on the porch steps as he joined Reid and walked to a large parked SUV and climbed in. She shrugged and steeled her resolve as she climbed in the back. The seats were a soft, gray leather and smelled brand new.

The twins talked to each other and didn’t care to include her so Jane sat quietly in the back. They talked about football, upcoming parties and she learned that they had turned eighteen during the summer holidays.

Ryan turned around as the light ahead turned red and looked at Jane. “You haven’t found your mate yet, have you, little pup?”

Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m not eighteen yet and stop calling me little pup.”

“I bet he’ll reject you the moment he lays eyes on you … little pup.”

Being rejected was almost the worst thing that could happen to a werewolf. It meant that you weren’t good enough and it tainted your reputation. Nobody would dare take you as a chosen mate because rejection meant you weren’t adequate.

As they parked the SUV a throng of people started milling around the car. The twins were popular and Jane tried to get out of the car without being noticed. She got a few glances of curiosity and a few glares from girls.

“That’s the main building of the school, you should go to the office first,” Reid said.

Ryan sniggered as he turned to look at her. “We don’t have time to hold your hand on your first day so don’t go cry to Mommy if we don’t play with you during break time, little pup.”

Jane made her way to the registration office where a girl her age turned to look at her and smiled. 

“Hi, you must be Jane. Welcome to the Los Avalos High School. I’m Freya and your designated tour guide. Whatever you need, gossip, a shoulder to cry on, a lunch date, I’m your girl.”

“Hi.” Jane looked at the girl in front of her, clearly another nerd but bubbly, outgoing and really pretty. She immediately liked Freya and got her roster and locker combination.

Freya hooked her arm into Jane’s and led her to the lockers. She leaned against one row as Jane opened her new locker and deposited her bag inside. “So … rumor has it that you drove to school with Reid and Ryan Heiden. Are you their girlfriend? You know they’re both future Alpha’s, duh, I mean of course you know that, they’re twins. Have you seen them naked? What are they like in real life?”

Jane had started to smile when Freya had started talking but now she was full out laughing. Real life? “Uhm, they’re just people and no, I definitely don’t want to see either of them naked.”

“So what’s the deal there?”

“My mom’s marrying their dad, I guess …”

“Wow! You are so lucky! You get to see them every day at school and then at home too!” Freya had a dreamy look on her face and Jane petted her arm. Poor girl. If only she knew what douchebags they really were, she’d change her mind about them.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. People were mostly curious about her, gossiping about her arriving with the twins, who studiously ignored her. She preferred being ignored, it was better than being made fun of.

Freya was a hoot and a delightful new friend. Jane could see them becoming besties. She was full of life, charming and really funny. She spoke without thinking and sometimes said things out loud that she was thinking, which made for lots of laughter.

During lunch she sat with Freya and studied the students around them. Reid and Ryan, as she had thought, were the kings of the school. Jocks surrounded them and every single girl batted her eyelashes at them and pulled their shirts down.

“Who are they?” Jane asked as two girls walked into the cafeteria like they owned the place.

“That’s Clarissa and Roxanne. Their fathers are the Beta and Gamma of the pack and if you ask them they’re Midnight Pack royalty. They think the school revolves around them and of course it doesn’t help that they’re popular and beautiful.” Freya’s tone showed her disgust as they walked them walk past their table.

“Let me guess, they’re also bitches.”

Freya laughed and then covered her mouth. “The worst kind, Jane. Rumour has it that they’ve been giving it up for Reid and Ryan in the hopes that they’ll be mates.”

Jane glanced over her shoulder again as the two queen bees sat down at the table smiling at the twins and pushing their chests out. Ugh, they were so obvious it was almost sickening to watch.

“Maybe they deserve each other.” Jane’s sly smile said it all and Freya grinned.

“Don’t joke like that Jane! If either one of them becomes our next Luna, I’m becoming a lone wolf, I swear.”

“Why only one of them? I thought they were both future Alpha’s.”

Freya made a face like Jane was stupid. “Oh, bless you sweetheart. It’s common knowledge that twins always bond with the same mate.”

Jane coughed as she choked on her Pepsi. “What? Are you saying that they’ll share the same girl?”

Jane made a duh face at her. “They’re essentially the same person so it’s just how it is, they’ll bond with one woman and she’ll have two mates. How lucky is she! Just imagine it, Jane. Two men to cater to all your whims and wants.”

Jane laughed then as she looked over at the twins again. “I feel sorry for her, they’re assholes.”

“They might be assholes but damn they’re pretty assholes.” Freya had a dreamy look on her face and she rested her chin on her hand.

“Looks aren’t always that important, Freya. Wouldn’t you rather want a mate that treats you like a queen? A man that genuinely loves you and understands you and doesn’t just look pretty in the corner.”

Freya sat lost in thought for a few moments as she mulled Jane’s words over. “Maybe, but why can’t he be pretty and nice? And why is he in the corner, Jane? This isn’t Dirty Dancing you know.”

Jane laughed and shook her head as the bell rang and they deposited their trays on the stack near the door. They parted ways in the hallway and Jane headed to Mathematics, a subject she loved. She was good with numbers and liked the order in the chaos that was Maths.

The last bell rang and students pushed their way out of the classroom. Jane had been busy writing and she packed up her supplies. The door slammed closed and she looked up with a start. The class was empty now and eerily quiet.

She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder as she walked towards the door. She gripped the handle and pulled but nothing happened. 

Seriously? She pulled on the handle again but the door didn’t budge. She was locked inside! Jane kicked the door in frustration and swore under her breath as her toes hurt. The door hadn’t budged, not that she’d thought it actually would.

“Hello! Is anyone there?”

She pressed her ear to the door but she couldn’t hear anything. The lights went off and she shrieked at the sudden darkness. She hammered her fists on the door and screamed for help. She sank down against the door and rested her head on her knees.

‘Those evil spawn twins did this!’ she decided. They had to be playing a prank on her and here she’d thought that her first day had gone well. She balled her fists as she plotted and swore revenge against those two.