Mated to the Alpha Twins

An hour was much too long to get ready.

I brushed my hair, and changed my clothes in ten minutes. That left me fifty minutes to contemplate what the h**l was going on. Fifty minutes to realize how horribly my fractured life had been upended.

Once hour passed, and Garrett knocked on my door. He didn’t wait for me to answer, he simply poked his head inside until his eyes locked on my own.

“Ready to go?” Garrett asked, his eyes shining brightly.

I nodded, grumbling something unintelligible and stood to my feet. While my face was somehow miraculously healed, my ankle was anything but. Occasionally dull pain would twitch up my ankle, making me wince.

Garrett and I walked downstairs, to where Melissa and Frank were sitting on the sofa. Frank was drunk, as usual. Melissa was desperately trying to keep her gaze off of Garrett. Her eyes kept flickering from the TV to his towering form. I resisted the urge to scoff, she’s more interested in Garrett than she’s been in me for three years. A blind man could see how taken Melissa was with Garrett, even seventeen years later.

“Try and have a good time, Aurora.” Melissa spoke gently.

Her hand lifted, reaching towards my face. Call it a instinct, but I stumbled back. I didn’t stumble back because I was afraid of her hitting me, I stumbled because not once had she ever touched me. This move was too intimate, too caring. It might’ve made sense for any other mother and daughter, but not for us. The action was unwarranted. I didn’t want her comfort or her false sympathy. She noticed my reaction and her face fell, her washed out eyes flickering to Garrett.

‘Watch closely.’ The voice murmured in my head, ‘Her concern isn’t for your benefit. It’s for his.’

For once, the voice was actually helpful. It was right. Melissa wasn’t taking on the roll of a caring mother because she somehow realized the error of her ways, she was doing it for Garrett’s benefit. She truly can’t stand for others to see her as the d**d-beat parent. Her mask was thin on her weathered face, and I could see through it clearly.

“I’ll be outside.” I mumbled, tripping on the chunky boot but somehow managing to make it to the front door unharmed.

I stood outside taking deep breaths of the crisp afternoon air. The breeze was picking up, chilling my skin in a way that brought me some semblance of comfort. Looking out into the woods was the most peaceful I had felt in days. Everything was so silent. The only sound was from birds and the quiet ‘whoosh’ of the wind against the tree’s. Some small part of me wanted to bound off into the woods, and not come back out.

Garrett came outside just a few minutes later. I glanced up at his face and snorted, he looked uncomfortable.

“Something funny?” Garrett raised his eyebrow at me, and I marveled at how similar we looked.

“You seem uncomfortable.” I noted, leaving him behind as I walked down the porch steps.

“Something you can relate to.” Garrett responded once he had caught up to me.

Of course he’d say that, and of course I could relate. This was all brought on by him, not by me. If

a ’95 Buick, practically falling apart at the seams. This car had all the flashing lights

only restaurant in town,

over to one of the many tables. Garrett excused himself to go to the bathroom, and I grunted in response. If I

is all better.” Cameron gave me a side-eyed

cover-up and ibuprofen.” I nodded

the h**l is that?” Cameron snorted, her eyes flickering towards the

I shrugged, picking

Cameron scrunched her nose, “I thought Frank was

didn’t phase me. This was a small town after all. I had heard my fair share of gossip and drama about the other townspeople, choosing to ignore it all. The

Dad.” I shook my head, “I have

was childish but I felt like I had that right. I had spent

like sperm-donor has some money.” Cameron shrugged, “Might as well get

I needed one now? The only person I wanted was my Grandma. She’d understand how I was feeling and take me away from all of this mess, as

from me, looking as awkward as I felt. The awkward silence was picking at

you have any other kids?” I blurted out, nearly cringing at the hostile

a daughter. She’s two years younger

to forget

you have a wife.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement.

throat, “Not that I didn’t love

hand up, “Yours and Melissa’s

gave me a painful smile, “The relationship

his relationship with Melissa was a mistake, what hurt was hearing how he called me a blessing. A blessing

them

“Ignoring you–That

saw us, her

me, her eyes wandering over to Garrett questioningly. “Do