Two

Ari

My mom seemed oblivious to my shock, still smiling and chatting. Yet I couldn't focus anymore as I felt the car stop.  What was going on?

"Mom, are we making a pitstop or something?" I asked cautiously, cutting her off in the process as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing.

Turning back to face her, I found hints of confusion on her face.

"No, sweetie, we're home.” She said and I blinked in surprise.

"Home?" I repeated. "But...but this is Alpha Jason's house."

"Yes, it is.” her smile faltered for a moment before she nodded.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

Alpha Jason had been the Alpha of the Silver Reed pack for as long as I could remember. Even before I'd left, there was one concrete fact.

He was a widower ever since his wife died years ago and since then, he had never remarried. The only family he had were his twin sons…

A chill ran through me. There was no way my mom could have married him…right?

No way. I shook the thoughts away. I was thinking too much. It was completely impossible for that to happen.

Maybe my mom had married someone  who worked here, hence why he was staying here. That made more sense.

It didn't stop my apprehension as we left the car.

As we stepped into the house, I was struck by the minimalist luxury of the suburban mansion. Throughout most of my life we had lived in a cupboard apartment with little to get us by, and even when things got better when I went to college, it was nothing compared to what this place held.

She led me around, showing off the different rooms in the house so casually it made disbelief rise in me. Eventually however as we spoke, catching up on everything that happened since I left, the subjects changed and soon we were joking about the things we weren't through in the past.

Reminiscing over those times, warmth spread through me. Then we had nothing but despite the pain we were always together.

"I always wanted to give you the best Ari. Something like this.”

I turned at the sound of her voice to find her standing in place. I didn't even realize when we had stopped walking. My heart clenched as she turned to me, eyes shining with tears.

“It's a decade too late, but I'm so glad I can finally do that.” She smiled.

Her words hit me like a punch and suddenly I felt like crying too. Instead I moved towards her and embraced her, taking in her familiar scent.

Giving me the best? She was the best.

She had no idea how much I treasured her. When my deadbeat father had left us years ago, everything fell apart and we were the ones who had to deal with the fallout, fending for ourselves. Through all of that, she was the one who had been there to shoulder the burden. She’d worked day and night to keep me happy. Sacrificing so much for me.

It was partly because of that that I had never told her about the torment I'd endured in high school, no matter how bad it got. Not when she would be heartbroken by hearing it.

Now she was visibly glowing, no strain on her features like the past, and I couldn't be happier.

“I'm so proud of you, Mom,” I whispered against her

"I'm proud of you too, Ari. And I know you're going to love your new family." She replied.

Taking a deep breath,  determination settled in my gut. I couldn't deny it. A part of me was hesitant at first to meet a literal stranger who had stolen my mother's heart. Seeing her happy now, I was sure I was ready to meet them.

We separated and I smiled as she wiped her eyes away.

"I think it's time I met my new family, don't you?" I joked casually in the silence. A chuckle left her lips.

“Of course, darling.” She smiled, taking my hand and leading me forward.

The next place we entered happened to look like a living area. I saw a middle-aged man standing by the window and gasped.

It was Alpha Jason. Despite his older age he was handsome, with piercing blue eyes and a strong jawline. As he turned towards us however his face seemed to soften.

The same unease that had disappeared moments ago was back in full force as she led me to him.

"Jason," my mom said, her voice filled with excitement. "I'd like you to meet my daughter, Ari. Ari? Jason."

“Greetings Alpha Jason,” I tried to hide my nervousness.

“Ari. I've heard so much about you,” he smiled, but my mind wasn't on him.

Maybe this was just a formal meeting. It was only polite that we saw him before leaving. That had to be why my mother left me here, right?

I was ready to ask her where we were going next when suddenly her hand slipped away from mine and she moved towards him, linking their arms together.

"Well…surprise," my mother beamed, a hint of nervousness in her gaze.

My gut clenched in shock as I remained fixated on their locked arms and nervous looks. Then it  finally sank in.

It wasn't my imagination. My thoughts were correct. Alpha Jason was my stepfather.

If he was my stepfather, then that meant...

A wave of dread washed over me as I realized the implications.

The sound of footsteps approaching brought me out of my reverie. My mom's eyes lit up with excitement.

"They're here, just in time!" she exclaimed, excitement on her face as she turned to me.

"Ari, it's time to meet your new step brothers."

I spun around immediately and my heart sank as I spotted them.

They hadn't changed much, their identical forms coming into view.

Zayn and Zachary. The twin sons of Alpha Jason. My new step brothers.

And the bullies who had made my life in high school a living hell.

As I made eye contact with both of them, something strange happened. I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body, and my wolf whispered a single word in my mind:

"Mate."

I was frozen in shock.

These two, the ones who had tormented me for years, were my mates?

No, this couldn't be.

I could have sworn I heard my mother call out my name, but I couldn't bother. Everything that happened here was too much for me to handle.

“E- excuse me,” I stammered before doing the first thing in my instincts and ran.