Twin Shift

by Amara A. Minx

Gideon eyed her suspiciously. “You brought a weapon.”

  “I am the weapon.”

  Gideon laughed. “You think a little thing like you can overpower me.”

  “You were powerful but you allowed someone to take it from you. You let him take your family from you. Now the only way to save Gabriel is to kill you.”

  “You're fucking crazy.” He dashed to the kitchen, grabbing a large knife from the block. He grinned. Hatred and disgust the only emotion she could sense.

  She reached for her wolf, shifting as a flutter of awareness tickled her consciousness. She stood on all fours, attempting to figure out what was trying to connect with her.

  Gideon looked at her with terror. “That's not possible. You’re a monster!” he raised the knife.

  The consciousness sent emotions. Images she didn't understand. She saw the moment it touched Gideon.

  He dropped the knife, falling to his knees, screaming as he clutched his head.

  Emily went completely stiff. Was the curse attacking him? The flutter had felt warm and welcoming. Not evil.

  Gabe's consciousness shimmered to her mind. Emily, where are you?

  Had she been in human form she would have cried in relief. Having Gabe back in her head made her feel stronger. I'm in the penthouse. Gideon is screaming. I felt something but it didn't hurt me. I think it's attacking him.

  It isn't attacking him. His false reality is breaking down. I can connect with him but he doesn't know what is real and what isn't.

  What’s causing it? Emily asked.

  It is coming from you. I thought you would know.

  No, I don't. She felt Gabe connect with the other awareness. He was sending images of him Gideon and her. She felt his pride. His love. The new awareness was a wolf.

  The tiny flutter continued to communicate with Gabe as Gideon fell to the floor.

  She messaged Gabe. Who is doing this to him?

  Gabe’s voice was laced with emotion. That, my sweet Emily is our daughter.

  Chapter 8

  Gideon's head felt like it was splitting in two. He saw overlapped images of two versions of his life. The one where he met Sandra after Gabriel’s death and was engaged to be married. Then the new version where he was a wolf shifter, his twin alive and his mate standing before him. The tiny flutters in his mind, broke through the derision in his mind, attempting to connect.

  He didn't know what they were but they filtered through the pain, offering freedom. Truth. Love. He felt Gabe trying to connect with him. He wanted to believe his twin was alive. That he hadn't caused his brothers’ death, knowing that it meant that he had betrayed his twin. His Mate. Himself. His mind attempted to shy away from that reality. An unseen force pulled him back. The tiny flutter was unaffected by the chaos around it, continuing its singular objective of Gideon's acknowledgment.

  Gideon didn't know what was real. As the pain in his head increased, memories from both realities pulsed in his skull. He reached for the flutter.

  The chaos came to an abrupt halt. The pain of his betrayal seared his heart as his wolf resurfaced to connect with the tiny consciousness. His wolf was ecstatic. Proud. It took Gideon a few moments to understand why his wolf could be so happy in these circumstances. It recognized its cub.

  He sat back on his knees as the first year of his adult life ran down his cheek, facing the magnificent wolf before him. She stood on all fours, surrounded by her clothing. Her eyes held determination, not sympathy. He recognized death when he saw it. Her wolf would remove the threat to her child. He was the threat. It was a death he deserved. He attempted to connect with her. Her wolf blocked him. He messaged his brother an apology. He wouldn't make his mate slaughter a man. He reached for his wolf, reveling in the pain of the shift, sensing his wolf’s anger.

  He saw her shock. As she took a step back he realized she felt threatened. Her wolf unsure whether he would attack her or not. His mate’s doubt crushed his soul. He raised his muzzle in the air, exposing his throat. He wouldn't fight his death.

  His wolf sent him images of being trapped in Gabe. Gabe’s determination. His closeness to death. His animal wasn't trying to make him feel bad for almost killing his twin it wanted him to know why his mate was forced to kill him. He scrunched his eyes, praying she would make it quick. His wolf knew his female would not forgive his betrayal.

  As her sweet scent came close to him. He forced the connection. His last words wrenched from his soul. I am fully to blame for this. Take care of Gabriel. I love you. He raised his snout further in the air as her jaws opened.

  I love you. The words bloomed in her soul, shining a light on the darkness consuming it. Her wolf perceived him as a threat to her safety. Her child. Blinded by the emotional hurt that had been inflicted, continued to reach for Gideon's throat.

  Emily needed to feel whole. She needed her mates. Both of them. She wrestled control from her angry wolf, shifting as her teeth brushed Gideon's neck. Her arms coiled around his head, crushing his fur to her. Her wolf retreated reluctantly. It hadn’t forgiven him. She lay her head against Gideon’s, stroking his fur. Gideon.

  His familiar signature formed in her consciousness. I betrayed you. No excuses. No preamble. That was Gideon.

  It wasn't your fault, she replied.

  Gideon shook under her hand. There is no excuse for what I’ve done. Your wolf will never forgive such a transgression.

  As much as she wanted to reassure him it was impossible to lie. Give her time Gideon.

  You deserve better than me.

  Emily clutched his fur. This wasn't you. You were tricked.

  Gideon looked at her with such hopelessness she yearned to alleviate his pain. The door opened. Gabriel walked in.

  He had obviously just shifted as he stood completely naked. The condition of his body made Emily gasp. She stood up, running over to him.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he said hugging her.

  “Your ribs are sticking out. I didn't realize you’d lost so much weight.”

  “Twin wolves share the same genetic material. Some believe the same soul. They are not meant to share the same body. It was exhausting holding Gideon's wolf in tow,” he sighed, looking at his shaking twin.

  Gideon howled as tears ran down his fur.

  Gabe released Emily to kneel beside his brother, placing his hand on Gideon's back. “It's okay. I’ll eat two tons of food and be my old annoying self in no time,” he smirked.

  Emily huffed. Trust Gabe to turn his near-death experience into a joke. Still, she was thankful.

  She ran a finger over his prominent ribs. Even with the thick fur for cover, she should have realized how bad the deterioration was. “You need to eat. Let me make you something.”

  “Beth already fed me.”

  “In wolf form?”

  “I lost control when the spell broke. I inadvertently startled her when I shifted with my head on her lap.”

  Emily brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh dear.”

  “I was too weak to move so she got me a blanket and fed me three sandwiches before I was able to get myself mobile.”

  “Why are you naked then?” Emily asked.

  “I wanted to come back here immediately. Donovan agreed to bring me with his super-speed but insisted if he was going to carry me I had to be in wolf form.” He stretched. “I am looking forward to being human for a while,” he said nuzzling her. “I missed my mate.”

  “I should have shifted more often. I just...lost the urge.”

  “It's the pregnancy. It takes a lot of energy to shift and that resource is now being utilized for the baby,” he said smiling.

  “I won't shift until the baby's born?” she asked.

  “You will occasionally if your wolf needs to stretch her legs or if she feels you’re in danger,” Gabe said.

  Gideon growled. I won't let anything touch you. I failed you as a mate. I won't fail to protect your child.

  Gabe leaned down to Gideon's ear. “I know you're pissed. I
also know what it feels like to fail the only person in your life that matters. To fail them so badly they never truly recover from your failure but you are stronger than me. You can overcome this.”

  Emily had always wondered which of the brothers had been more traumatized during Gideon's abduction - the one being physically abused or the one mentally connected but unable to find and save his young twin.

  Gideon shimmered in their minds. What happened to me was my fault, not yours. I was too physically weak. Now I’m too mentally weak. His disgust with himself was evident.

  Emily wrung her hands in her lap. “Do you think I am weak?”

  No! They said in her mind.

  “My mind was altered as well, Gideon.”

  It was done to protect you, Gideon messaged.

  “Yes, but I forgot all the horrible things Gregory did to Beth. She had to live with it and tell no one. Does that make me a weak or a horrible person?”

  Emily saw Gabe's lip twitch before Gideon’s molting form distracted her.

  He reached for her before his human body was fully formed. “How will you ever forgive me?”

  She ran a hand down his cheek. “I already have.”

  He shook his head. “Your wolf never will,” he said sadly.

  “Give her time, Gideon. Prove to her you will put your family first. She’ll come around.” She prayed it was true.

  “She is protecting her young. That is her priority and rightfully so.” He ran his hand down her hair. “I am truly sorry. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make this up to you and her.”

  She felt Gabe move in behind her, his head nuzzling the back of her hair. “No way Gabe, you are too weak.” She tried to force authority in her voice, knowing her body had already betrayed her.

  “We’ve all been apart for too long. We need this and so do our wolves. Don't deny us, baby,” he whispered.

  She felt her inner muscles tighten. Gabe was right. She needed this as much as they did. She pulled Gideon's mouth towards her.

  She kissed him. Her tongue sweeping between his lips tasting a male in his prime. It didn't take her long to realize they were waiting for her to tell them what she wanted. They had always been the aggressors in the bedroom. This time was different. They responded to her but didn't initiate new contact until she did. It was the first time she had been in control. She planned to take full advantage of it. She felt like a princess commanding her princes to please her.

  She pushed Gideon onto his back and started to lick the shaft of his thick cock while raising her ass in the air to give Gabe easy access to her pussy.

  He didn't disappoint. As she sucked Gideon deep, reveling in the fullness in her mouth, Gabe inserted three fingers into her dripping channel, licking her ass as his fingers worked her deeper and deeper. When she was panting, struggling to maintain her suction on Gideon's cock, Gabe replaced his fingers with his fully engorged shaft. He entered her with one long hard stroke that put her over the edge, moaning as Gideon pushed further into her mouth.

  Gideon trembled, struggling to stay still as she gripped his cock in her hand, working it in tandem with her mouth.

  Gabe worked two fingers into her ass, pushing deep, giving her the fullness she craved. Still, it wasn't enough. “Harder,” she commanded.

  Gabe pushed his fingers deeper, lengthening the depth of his strokes as she sucked Gideon further into her mouth. She wanted more. She moaned in frustration.

  Gabe pulled out of her.

  Gideon pulled her up onto him, angling her so he could pull her down quickly on his cock. She moaned in pleasure as he bumped her cervix.

  Gabe pushed slowly into her ass. Once seated he picked up a long hard tempo that his brother matched. The harder they hammered her, the more she wanted. Her juices ran freely down her legs. The smell of sex and lust, laced the air. This is what she needed to erase the misery of the previous weeks.

  She felt her inner muscles begin to clamp down on Gideon's cock. The tender muscles in her ass did the same on Gabe's. She felt the tsunami building, swirling in her core, threatening to consume anything in its path.

  The tightening of every muscle in her body prepared her for the momentous orgasm that ripped through her body. She screamed out as she clamped down on both her men setting them off. She could feel the hard jets of their orgasms coating the inside of her body. It set off a series of mini orgasms that had her quivering in a limp mess on Gideon's chest.

  Gabe pulled out of her slowly. “I'll grab a towel.”

  Gideon ran his fingers up and down her back. She let the happiness bloom in her heart.

  The phone rang as Gabe walked back into the room. He answered. After listening for a moment, he held a hand over the mouthpiece. “Who the fuck is Sandra?”

  Chapter 9

  Emily’s wolf growled. The pain of Gideon's words to her in the park squeezed her heart. She stepped away from him, needing the distance. Her vision wavered as her wolf rose up to protect her.

  Gabe looked between Gideon and Emily. “Sandra, I have a situation here. I will call you back in a few minutes,” he hung up the phone. “Why does that woman think she is your fiancé?”

  Emily squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm her angry wolf.

  Gideon rubbed his eyes. “Because in my alternate reality, she is.”

  Gabe held up a finger. “There is no way you could have fucked another woman. Your wolf would never let...” he trailed off, realizing the folly of his words.

  “I never touched her,” Gideon said.

  Emily's eyes snapped open. She heard the truth in his words. “How is that possible?” She wanted this to be true more than anything.

  Gabe cocked his head to the side. “I have an idea.”

  “And?” Emily knew she sounded desperate. She didn't care.

  “Sandra said she has no idea why she walked out on her wife to move in with Gideon. She can't explain it. She said she has no feelings for him and has no idea why she did what she did. She says she has ruined her marriage and hopes she didn't hurt you. She was apologizing through her tears.”

  “Her wife?” Emily felt guilty. She had assumed Sandra to be a willing participant in Gregory's game. She should have known better. “Why would the Bokor choose her if she preferred women?”

  Gideon looked at Gabe before Emily. “I believe Gregory did some research on me.”

  “In what way?” Emily asked.

  “I use to hire women for work...functions. Never the same one twice but they had a certain look.”

  Emily crossed her arms. “Tall, blonde and legs for miles?” sarcasm evident in her tone.

  Gabe rubbed his face. “Mother fuck. Listen Emily. Gideon was careful to hire professionals because he didn't want any woman thinking they had a chance with him.”

  With her wolf so close to the surface, Emily wasn't feeling very forgiving. “Yeah, and what did you do?”

  Gabe looked straight at her. “It appears some things never change. I was in wolf form most of the time. I didn't exist. I still don't.”

  She and Gideon sucked in a breath in unison. They both picked up the undertone in Gabe's voice. Gabriel hadn't just followed Gideon's lead to pursue Julius. He had given up his entire existence to do it. Even though Julius was dead as far as the world was concerned, Gabriel didn't exist.

  Emily felt the tension in the air. She felt bad about Gabe’s situation but they had other things that had to be sorted out first. “Gideon you are going to call Sandra and tell her this was a hypnotist’s prank gone wrong. Tell her we will meet with her and her wife to confirm the story.” The phone rang again.

  Gideon walked over and picked up. He listened for a moment before ending the call. “Madeline is on her way up. I suggest we get dressed.”

  The knock at the door had Emily tucking in her shirt as she ran for the door.

  George escorted Madeline into the Penthouse.

  Gabe had a suspicious look on his face. “George?”

  George gave Gabe a q
uick hug. “It's nice to see you in human form son.” He winked at Gabe. “I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'm partial to your wolf form though.”

  Gabe raised his eyebrows. “You knew I was a shifter the whole time?”

  “My Madeline doesn't keep secrets from her husband,” George said.

  Emily raised her hand. “Wait. Donovan said Madeline's husband was working in a hotel. Working his way to the top.”

  Madeline shrugged her shoulders. “This is the penthouse, ain’t it.”

  Emily looked at her mates then back to Madeline. “You didn't arrange to have George get a job at this hotel, right? I mean, he’s been here for years...”

  “Don't trouble yourself, child. Just know that George and I take care of our own,” Madeline said.

  Gideon crossed his arms. “You’re not wolves.”

  Gabe put his arm over Georges' shoulder. “Let's not get caught up on technicalities. You haven't tried Madeline’s cooking.”

  Emily covered her smile at Gideon's face. Gabe was the epitome of innocence.

  “Gabriel,” Gideon growled.

  “Hey, I vote we adopt them,” Gabe said unabashed.

  Madeline chuckled. “Such a charmer that one.”

  Gabe winked at Emily. She felt lighter as she turned to Madeline. “You’ve been protecting us since Beth came to you. Why not reveal yourself sooner?”

  Madeline sighed. “Most people have multiple paths. Outcomes are based on the choices made. A seer can steer you toward the desired path. She cannot influence your decisions.” She rubbed her hands. “Beth had only one path.”

  Emily went cold. “She was destined to die.”

  “Yes. Her path lies in her new life,” she said solemnly.

  “Okay but you still could have...”

  Gabe stepped toward her. “No Emily, she couldn't. If she was associated with Beth in any way Donovan would never have turned her.”

  Madeline nodded sadly.

  Emily's lips pursed. “You stayed watching us from afar so Beth would become a vampire?”

  “So, she would have a chance. That decision was solely Donovan's.”