by V. Vaughn
Most of my childhood, Luke was the golden twin. He was the star athlete, the better student, and the one my parents bragged about. But lately my parents are more proud of what I’m doing to help the De Rozier clan, and Luke has fallen out of grace. Although if he’s skipping out on work at our father’s law firm to drink at a bar, I can see why. I ask, “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
Luke waves his hand as Serge comes to stand next to me and wrap an arm around my waist. “I had a business lunch, and on my way out I ran into Collin.”
I glance at his frat brother, who gives me a lecherous smile that makes me want to cover my breasts with my arms. Serge pulls me closer and reveals his highly polished teeth with a low growl to stake his claim. I ignore Collin and say, “Serge, this is my twin, Luke.”
Serge reaches out a beefy hand to Luke. “Nice to meet you.”
Luke frowns at me and asks, “I thought you had a true mate?” His words are slightly slurred.
I shrug out of Serge’s hold and say, “Apparently I have two.”
Collin says, “Sweet.” His glass thumps hard on the bar as his gaze falls to Serge’s crotch as if he’s sizing up the equipment. Collin asks, “Menage?”
My jaw drops. Why do these things happen to me? “No! God, I swear that’s all anyone thinks about.”
Luke chuckles and says, “Join us.”
I’m about to say no when Serge calls out, “Bartender! Three Yukons neat and a white wine.”
I sigh. Drinking with the boys is so not what I had in mind.
Chapter 3
Annie
I’m not sure who was more nervous when we went to sign the girls up for kindergarten, Echo or me. Although it was for two totally different reasons. Ever since Tristan said he needed to tell me something, my imagination has taken me to all sorts of horrible places. Earlier I recalled a conversation that I walked in on. It was between Sven and Tristan after Sven had just arrived. I know that Sven is Tristan’s right-hand man, and I’m not sure what they were talking about, but Tristan gave the alpha order, “No,” as I entered the kitchen. Sven glanced at me with confusion on his face. Something about his expression stuck with me, and I still wonder what they’d been talking about.
Remembering that incident led me to rethinking other occasions when something was a bit off about Tristan’s reaction to things. I chalked up his curt responses to his reserve, but maybe it was something else…
The door clicks shut when the nanny and the triplets leave for a trip to the lake, and I turn to Tristan as he wipes his hands on a tea towel. He cleaned the kitchen while I got the girls ready for the beach. I ask, “Should we sit for this?”
He nods, and my chair is hard under my butt when I seat myself across from him. Tristan reaches for my hands and wraps them in his warmth as he says, “Annie, Isabelle and I didn’t come here with good intentions.”
I frown at him, because when Tristan and his sister came last December it was to figure out if the Le Roux could give them a new home for their clan, since their arctic ice and homeland had practically disappeared. I ask, “You mean you didn’t really need a new place to live?”
Tristan closes his eyes for a moment, and when he opens them something odd flashes. Regret? Pain? “We did need a new home, but we came for more than your hospitality. We planned on taking over the entire kingdom.”
I try to pull my hands away and sit back. “What? How did—”
Tristan’s paler than usual as he says, “Before I knew you were my true mate, I planned on tricking you into marriage.”
“Marrying me wouldn’t have made you the leader!”
“It would,” says Tristan. “If you didn’t have an alpha.”
Oh god. My stomach clenches, and the vision of Tristan dressed in black as he prepared to go get Helga comes to mind. I recall how cold and fearsome he appeared. Like a cold-blooded killer. It wasn’t an act. Tristan’s grip is tight as I tug my hands again, but he still doesn’t let go.
Ice runs through my veins, because if Brady and Carly were dead, I would lead the clan until one of their children was old enough to take over. I flash back to when Sven first arrived and stand quickly. My chair crashes to the floor as I yank my hands back with enough strength to release his hold. I ask, “What about me, Tristan? Did you plan on killing me too?”
His voice is almost a whisper as he says, “Yes.”
A low growl comes from the back of my throat before I say, “You came here to kill Brady, Carly, and me, but as luck would have it our true mate attraction foiled your plan.” I suppose I should be afraid right now, but my growing rage makes me stomp to the other side of the kitchen. I turn back to spit out, “How fortunate for me.” He and Isabelle probably wear black to match their hearts.
I remember the way Tristan and I completed our bond in the laundry room at Brady’s house while people in the kitchen heard us. Isabelle threw the mother of all temper tantrums as a result. Tristan is standing now too, and he walks toward me. I hold up my hand as I shake my head. “So that’s why Isabelle was so angry when you bit me.”
“Yes. That’s when she realized I was no longer in on the plan.”
I stare at the man I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with. The true mate bond means that no matter how much I hate him, I’ll still be attracted to him over anyone else. And that our love will remain intact. I ask, “So exactly when did you decide my life should be spared?” My claws are out, and my skin prickles as fur tries to escape. I take a deep breath to keep from shifting and ask, “Was it our first kiss? Or the first time you fucked me?”
My whole body is trembling as Tristan says, “Annie. I can’t begin to convey how sorry I am.”
“Right.” I yank at the hem of my shirt to remove it before I shift and tear my clothes. “I can’t begin to convey how much I hate you right now, so I’m going for a run.” I barely make it through the door before I become a bear.
The earth shudders under my feet as I gallop at full speed. When Isabelle had her temper tantrum she ravaged her way through our woods, and the trail she left behind is handy for me as I race toward the river. I don’t even know how to process what I’ve just been told, so I let physical exertion deal with my emotions instead. When I reach the cliff that drops off to the river, I don’t bother to slow down, and I launch myself over the edge.
My dive is swift, and I go deep. Cool water seeps into my fur as I swim as far as I can before I have to come up for air. I almost push myself too far, and my lungs are burning when I finally break the surface and sputter to take a breath. I move slowly over to a large rock where I can rest.
The sunbaked stone is warm under my back as I gaze up into the sky. I’m mated to a man who came here to kill me. A shiver runs through me, and I wonder how Tristan planned to do it. Would he have poisoned me? Would he have shifted into a bear and torn me apart?
Isabelle. I spilled tears and mourned a woman who intended to murder me. I suppose that explains why she tried so hard to keep me out. It was more than me threatening her relationship with Tristan. She hated me.
My stomach rolls as bile rises to my throat. On top of my rage, I’m humiliated. I was duped into welcoming the leaders of the De Rozier clan with open arms and giving them whatever they needed, when they intended to take all they could get without a care for those of us they planned to eliminate in the process.
My breathing gets shallow as a sense of loss takes over. The man I love unconditionally isn’t who I thought he was. I’m mated to an impostor. While I do know that polar bears are the cruelest of our kind, I guess I’ve been ignoring the truth. Tristan is capable of cold-blooded murder. And so are all the other bears I’ve let move in next door.
I roll over to vomit up my lunch. I thought Helga was horrible, but the whole time I was sleeping with the real enemy. I pound my paw down hard on the rock, and pain radiates through my limb. I thought I was given a gift when I found another true mate. Instead I’ve been given a new version of hell.
&nbs
p; Water rushes by me, and the vision of the three little girls splashing in the lake comes to mind. They’ve stolen my heart. While forcing Tristan and the De Roziers to leave could be arranged, I can’t imagine leaving Echo, Ellie, and Eva to the evils that might happen if I’m not around to take care of them. The evils someone like my true mate would have no trouble dishing out.
Was his newfound love for his daughters all part of the act too? I shake my head. All the signs were right in front of my face, but I’d been too stupid to see them. I believed my true mate was what I wanted him to be.
Damn it! I roll off the rock and into the strong current. I let the strength of it pull me down the river. No matter what fate has given me, I’m not one to dwell on things I can’t change. But those I can? I fight back.
With strong, sure strokes I make my way to the bank. I climb out and set myself on the course back home. I have no idea what I’m going to do with Tristan’s confession, but his little girls will not suffer for the man their father is. I’ll make sure of it.
Chapter 4
Lucy
Serge and I ended up staying at the Jefferson Manor bar to eat burgers with Luke when his friend Collin left. Serge gets a slash in the pro column for his social skills, because he and my brother get along like they’ve known each other forever. I must admit that I had fun for a while too, until my brother got drunk enough to slur his words.
Luke raises his hand to order another drink, and I reach over to touch his thigh under the table. “Hey. How are you getting home?”
“How ‘bout I give you my keesh.” Luke tries to stand up but stumbles, and glasses crash on the table as he catches himself by grabbing the edge.
Laughter erupts from him, and I glance at Serge to say, “I think it’s time to go.”
“Sure.”
The waitress has come over to clean up our spilled drinks, and I ask for the check.
Serge says to me, “I never did take you for that ice cream. Want me to follow you and then we can finish our date?”
I glance at my brother as he downs what remains of his drink. While he’s always been a partier, he usually stops before getting this drunk, and I wonder if he might need to talk. “I’m going to pass. I’ll see you at Annie and Tristan’s tomorrow.” Serge scowls at me, and I know he’s not satisfied with the answer, so I add in a quiet voice, “Serge, I think Luke needs me.”
He sighs and stands up. “Fine, baby. It’s not like we could end this with more than a kiss anyway.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you better make up your goddamn mind soon, or I’m going to have to start trolling human bars or something.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I snap back, “Yeah, you do that.” That remark deserves more than one slash in his con column, because Sven would never say something like that to me. Of course, he does have a wife waiting for him. That thought settles like a lump in my stomach.
Serge leans in to kiss me goodbye, and I pull away as I growl at him. As he walks off I mutter, “Thanks for buying me dinner, Lucy. You’re welcome, Serge.”
Luke tilts his head at me in confusion. “Sssorry, Luce. I can taake cab.”
I sigh. “No.” I paste on a smile. “If he can’t let me be with my brother, then he’s not the right one. You did me a favor.” I stand up and wrap my arm around Luke’s waist in case he needs my support. “Come on. Let’s go to your place. I’ll make us some coffee, and we can catch up. It’s been a while.”
When we get out the door a car peels out on the street, and I glance over to notice it’s Serge. I’m still not sure if I’m supposed to get a sign as to which true mate is my destiny, but right now I’m taking squealing wheels as an indicator. I don’t think I can spend my life with a petulant child.
Luke says, “Geesh, hesh anassh, Luce.”
“Yup.” My thigh muscles flex as Luke leans on me to get down the stairs. When we get to my car I pour my brother into the passenger seat, and the buckle clicks when I strap him in.
He says, “It hurtssso bad.” A tear streams down his face.
“Oh, Luke. I bet it does.” My heart aches for him. “You really loved Isabelle, didn’t you?”
He nods before I shut the door and make my way over to my side. Once the engine is running Luke says, “Itsall ruined now.”
“No. Don’t say that, Luke.” Asphalt hums under the tires as I speed up on the main road. “Your true mate will come along, I know it.”
“No.” He mumbles something I don’t quite understand, but the word Victor is clear.
Luke and Victor had an interesting relationship. The man was in his early thirties when he befriended an eighteen-year old Luke, and you’d never know there was an age difference when they were together. I think he might have been Luke’s best friend, and I imagine Isabelle’s death brings back the memories of Victor’s passing. I reach over to take my brother’s hand and glance to see his eyelids droop. I squeeze his fingers and say, “I’m here for you.”
My brother snores softly as I drive. I glance up at the sky full of stars. The concept of true mates is that they’re paired to complement each other. I wish I could force Luke’s destiny to happen, because right now he seems lost.
When we get to his apartment, I go inside and get the doorman to help me get my brother upstairs and into his bedroom. Once I’m alone with Luke I get him settled and go to the kitchen to get water for his bedside table. A few days’ worth of dishes are in the sink. My brother is a very orderly person, and this sort of thing makes him crazy. It speaks of how troubled Luke is right now, so I decide to clean up for him.
When I’m done with the kitchen I move on to the laundry that I noticed overflowing in the hamper he keeps in his bedroom, and I start a load of wash, fold the mountain of clean clothes, and tidy up the clutter in his living room before I crash on his couch for the night.
Bright sunlight wakes me in the morning, and I go check on my brother to find he needs more water. He stirs and opens his eyes when the refilled cup thuds softly on his nightstand.
Luke’s voice is groggy but coherent when he says, “Hey.”
The mattress sinks as I sit next to him on the bed. His hair is in his face, and a lock of it is silky in my fingers as I brush it out of his eyes. I say, “You should get some more sleep.”
He gazes up at me. “I feel pretty sober now.” He sits up and grabs the water. “Thanks.” After he drinks the contents of the glass he says, “How do you feel about food? I’ll make you chocolate chip pancakes.” He winces, and I guess it’s because of the state of his head.
“That sounds great. And lucky for you, I cleaned your kitchen.”
Luke grabs my hand. “Thank you, Luce. I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”
I stand, and he releases me as I say, “Don’t be. You’ve suffered two great losses in the last year. I would be too.”
“Yeah.” Luke gets out of the bed and says, “C’mon. I vaguely recall something about you making me coffee.”
When we get to the kitchen, I pull pods out of the dispenser for our drinks as pans clatter while Luke searches for the one he wants. Luke says, “Tell me more about this ‘two true mates’ thing you’re dealing with.”
The coffee machine gurgles when I push the on button. “It’s bizarre. I have twin brothers who are both my true mate, and they couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. I’m not allowed to do anything more than kiss either one until I determine which one is my destiny.”
“Whoa. So how does Sven feel about that?” Luke met him briefly a while back, but other than pleasantries, they didn’t spend much time together.
“He hates it,” I say. “But since he’s got a wife, he’s not exactly in a position to say much.”
Luke chuckles, and bacon sizzles as he drops a slice on a hot skillet.
“What?”
“Your love life is like a soap opera.”
“Thanks, that’s real helpful.” I hand him a cup of coffee and turn back to make
mine.
“Sorry. I liked Serge. He’s fun and a guy’s guy, but he was kind of a jerk to you when it was time to leave.”
“He was. He’s quite protective of our time together.”
“Uh-oh. There’s a red flag if I’ve ever seen one.” A whisk brushes against a metal bowl as he mixes pancake batter.
“Yeah. I’m not about clingy.”
“No. You’re not. What’s Sven like?”
A stool scrapes as I pull it out to sit with my coffee and watch Luke cook. “He’s a bit socially awkward, but you met him. What do you think?”
Luke says, “He was a little cold, but I think how he treats you is more important.”
I recall how Sven was willing to conform to the ways of our werebear and date me. And then I remember how adorable he was with Tristan’s children. I imagine Sven in tonight’s situation with my drunken brother. He would have insisted he help me get Luke home safely and probably would have helped me clean up too. “He’s pretty wonderful. But that might be because I’m in love with him.”
“And can you imagine being in love with Serge?”
While there is definitely a physical attraction to Serge, last night’s reaction to a difficult situation showed me how selfish the man is. Since I’m a bit of a princess trying to change my ways, I don’t think he’d be very good for me. I take a sip of my coffee as I realize I know my answer. “No. I don’t think so.” After I swallow, I smile at Luke. “I miss talking to you like this. Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
“So what about you, Luke? There’s more weighing on your mind than Isabelle’s death, isn’t there.”
“Yes.” A cabinet clicks open, and he grabs two dishes. “I feel as if everything I ever wanted is wrong, and I’m not sure what to do now.”
“Even your decision to be a lawyer?”
He nods as he hands me my plate of pancakes. “Even that. Sometimes I think I need to just get out of here and find myself.”
