Chapter 4

THIRD PERSON

One month later

Clint groans as he slams down his phone. His new office in the packhouse is large but disorganized. So much is happening, and it is too much too fast. Grief still clings to Riverstone and himself. But along with the grief, Riverstone is also drenched in the need for revenge. Every single wolf is training daily. The protective shifting outfits are being shipped out to all wolves everywhere, and Riverstone wolves are wearing them constantly.

Scott is busy rebuilding all the structures that were lost in the attack, including Emmett's home. Scott and Clint know that when the boys return, that is where they will want to stay. Scott and his restoration crew are salvaging as much as possible, but it will still be a new build. Several other homes were also destroyed, but Twin Construction hasn't missed a beat.

Vampire attacks are happening all over the world on a large scale, and Clint fears the werewolf population doesn't have three years. In three years, there could be nothing left for the twins to rule. Two southern packs were already wiped completely out.

Clint groans. At least he was able to choose three loyal omegas for the boys and Ethan. Cinthia's older sister, Sarah, will be their cook. Sarah is a rejected wolf, so no mate to worry about. Also, Cinthia's cousin Mark and his mate Martha will do the other chores. All four of them have sworn a blood oath, less potent than a life bond, but if their oath is broken, they die instantly. All four were honored to be let in on the truth—especially Cinthia, who hit Clint in the head for making her grieve unnecessarily.

Clint turns on his computer. He needs to send a mass email out to all the Alphas. War with the Vampires has begun. Wolves everywhere need to train accordingly.

The pack's medical supply order has been upped, as well as the food order. Tonight is Alpha training for the boys, so Clint prints out the new orders so the boys can review them. Finally, after hours of phone calls and emails, Clint locks up and heads to the Princes' hideaway.

JACKSON POV

Ethan throws a punch to my stomach, which I absorb. Sparing with anyone but Jason is hilarious. Ethan, our Uncle Lance's best student, can't even draw blood from us anymore. The sense of power and strength leaks from our pores in waves now. In one month, we both have added 20 pounds of muscle and have grown two inches. It's remarkable, to say the least. I am not sure if our pack would even recognize us now. But we must stay hidden. Hidden from the vampire's clutches.

"I know you are stronger but block dammit," Ethan growls, looking pissed at me.

"What's the point? No wolf can hurt us," I say, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from my neck.

"Vampires grow stronger with age, Jackson. You won't be fighting wolves but thousand-year-old vampires with a grudge," Ethan explains in an exasperated tone.

He watches my face like a hawk trying to see if I get it. I slowly nod, to which he just sighs.

"I know you are only 15, and you just received one of two lycans ever in existence, but this is serious. I know you feel invincible, but you aren't. You are going against the very beings that beat your Lycans the first time. And their humans were much more experienced than Jason, and you are," Ethan says with pleading eyes, and my pride drops a few levels.

He is right. Jason and I have never fought a battle. We have no clue how to fight a weak newborn vampire, let alone an Elder. And these leeches won the last time around. The only reason there was peace was because of my father's wolf spirit, Alpha. He had been one of the first werewolves ever bred by the Lycan brothers, and he had massacred hundreds of vampires. Effectively ending the war for hundreds of years. He used true cunning and strength. And here I was, making a joke out of my training.

"Look, I am sorry, Ethan. I get it; I do. It's just an adjustment," I say, letting some sincerity into my voice.

He bobs his head in acknowledgment, and we continue. I practice fighting while holding back, and he goes all out as much as possible.

JASON POV

I strain my new muscles as I lift more than I ever have. Eros and I haven't really spoken much. I am honestly too angry to connect with him, and he is sulking.

It's weird. He might be thousands of years old but learning that he most likely won't experience true love in this lifetime has him bent out of shape. He fits his name correctly. Eros, the god of love destined to a life of loneliness.

Eros growls softly at my demeaning thoughts. But I brush him off. I glance over at Jackson, watching my brother dance around Ethan with unbelievable quickness.

Ethan is a fluid and efficient warrior but compared to us; he now looks like a novice. The Lycans have changed every single aspect of our physiques. Our muscles have begun to bulge, and we have grown taller. We had to send Mark, our new omega, to the store to get us a whole new wardrobe. Luckily for us, Uncle Scott has set our yearly allowance at $200,000 apiece. Which we won't come close to using.

Most of the new clothes are shorts and t-shirts since we won't be leaving the house anytime soon. So the new wardrobes weren't much. Our mom taught us to shop smart, not extravagant. And with an accountant for an Uncle, you learn to budget early. Uncle Scott had made investments for us at an early age, so apparently, at 15, we already had very sizeable accounts.

I move to the thigh area of the gym and set to work. I love all of our new equipment. It reminds me of mom and dad so much. The smells scream family. Metal, rubber, and sweat. Pure bliss if you ask me.

Eros- maybe our mate would have smelled like a gym

Eros's grumpy mumble made me sigh. His attitude was making mine worse.

Jason- don't. Just stop. It doesn't help us.

Eros- no running. No freedom. No mate. This new life sucks!!

Eros suddenly roars, and I grab my head with both hands in pain. Ethan is by my side in an instant.

"Jason, what's wrong? Talk to me," he says as I lower myself to the ground breathing hard.

Jason- what the hell, man!!!

Eros- I refuse to sit back and live like this.

Jason- we must!

Eros- let us out. We will kill the leeches. They tricked us last time.

Jason- just wait, okay. Jackson and I aren't ready!! You know this. We are 15!!

Eros- ( sighs ) fine. Train human. Train hard. Because I promise when we are released back into the world, those bloodsuckers are going to pay.

"Jason. Please answer me. Are you okay," Ethan's pleading voice echoes in my ears once more.

"Yeah, yeah, I am fine. It's just my Lycan. He hates being cooped up. He roared in our head unexpectedly," I explain, wincing at the lingering ring.

"Okay. Well, that's enough for today. You two go shower Clint will be here soon," Ethan says, pulling me to my feet.

Jackson stands in front of me, searching my face before relaxing.

"Helios has been mopey too. Maybe on our birthday or something, we could convince Clint to let us have a night run," Jackson says lowly as we take the elevator up.

Eros- our brother is smart. Yes!! Convince the stand in Alpha. We will be good.

Jason- we will see. No more yelling tho.

Eros- grrr. Fine

TWO YEARS AND 10 MONTHS LATER THE TWINS 18TH BIRTHDAY

THIRD POV

Lenny blows a strand of hair off her forehead as she inspects her handy work. The entire gym has been transformed into a birthday wonderland. The Twins will be free tomorrow because, at 11:38 and 11:40 pm tonight, they will be 18.

Sarah and Mark carry the three teir birthday cake to the middle table, and Lenny claps her hands in wonder.

"That looks amazing, Sarah," Lenny squeals loudly.

Sarah blushes and smiles. She worked hard on the boys' cake. Harder than she ever has. She watched multiple how-to videos, and she felt that she had done a decent job copying the experts.

Finally, the rest of the family piles in minus Ethan and the boys. Mike and Tray put their presents with the rest. It's been a while since the younger cousins have seen the twins, and Clara is curious. Being the youngest has had its disadvantages. Her family felt that she was safest away from the Lycan twins. Especially Scott, who still remembers the chokehold greeting he received the first time they met.

Moira dims the lights, and everyone finds a hiding place. Hiding from wolves is almost impossible and hiding from Lycans is even harder, but it's the thought that counts. Lenny knows her cousins will just be happy for the company.

The last six months have felt like decades, according to the boys, and seeing everyone will definitely make life better. Finally, the elevator dings and everyone holds their breaths.

Mike peeks around a weight rack with pure curiosity. According to his sister, the twins are like hulks. As the twins enter the dark and quiet workout space, they inhale, smiling. Their family is here.

Lenny breaks first, followed by the rest. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" is shouted from different directions in the room. As the lights are clicked back on, and the twins beam. The family rotates hugs all around, enjoying the closeness.

"So what's first cake or presents," Simone asks with an excited voice. Jason shrugs his broad shoulders before Jackson can answer.

"Whichever Auntie Moira wants. She is normally the boss," Jackson says with a teasing glint.

Moira smiles with pride. "Got that right. I say cake, and then while everyone is eating, the boys can open," she says, formulating a plan instantly. Scott kisses her temple and grins at his little slave driver.

Ethan whips out the camera and takes multiple pictures of Sarah's masterpiece before Moira sets to work dishing out plates of sliced cake.

Tray and Mike's jaws remain hanging. They can't believe their cousins' sizes. Each boy is 6'6" with huge frames. They probably weigh 250-260 but are pure muscle. Mike glances at Tray, and they both shrug.

"What size pieces would the birthday boys want," Moira asks in a sing-along voice.

"Huge," they answer in unison, and Ethan laughs.

"Moira, they eat like bears, not wolves," Ethan explains between chuckles. Scott and Clint both exam the boys' physiques.

"They look like grizzly bears," Scott says with a pride-filled smile, and Clint nods.

Jackson chuckles before diving into his piece of cake.

"This is amazing, Sarah," Jason says with a frosted covered mouth.

Sarah blushes hard at pleasing her princes. "Thank you," she says softly.

🎂🎂🎂🎂🍰🍰

The rest of the evening is filled with happy exchanges and love. The boys received many heartfelt gifts that they will cherish for decades to come. The next morning is all business as Clint unloads years of stress and war onto the Twins.

Vampires have managed to take out 30% of the werewolf population. The vast majority of the slaughters being she-wolves. Riverstone has not been targeted, but small packs all around the world have. They have begun to combine for protection. Human hunters have also started to target vampires, but they have had little success.

Alpha Lance / Uncle Lance has combined the three northern packs and is training as many wolves as he can, but he is aging. The experimented scentless wolves have a slowed aging process and have become a huge asset, though.

By the end of the meeting, Jason, Jackson, Helios, and Eros are bloodthirsty. Rage pulses through them as they all leave the twins' hideout. Vengeance reigns through them throughout the entire crowning ceremony. The Pack is filled with joy, surprise, and hope, but the Twins feel nothing but rage.