The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Thaddeus’ POV

It was my turn to be extra grumpy today as now / was missing my date day with my Friday. I wondered if her heat would last three days or four days. Most heats lasted three days but I had a feeling Friday’s would be four. I was started to go stir-crazy in this tiny cottage but I could not risk going for a run in the woods in my wolf-form. It would not be a good idea to turn off the rational human part of my brain right now when my wolf was obsessed with his mate’s heat. Last night Maze and I had ended up finishing three bottles of wine, one red and two white. I could not help but wonder if he had been just really drunk or serious about his proposition,

Flashback (Last Night)

Maze downed his ninth or tenth glass of wine. He hiccoughed. He put the glass down and slumped against the wall, his long dark hair falling in his face.

“Thaddeus,” Maze murmured. “What?” I said, I was on my eleventh and I was having trouble pouring the next glass. “Um, let’s pretend we’re twins,” said Maze giggling conspiratorially. “What?” I said, laughing. He was not making any sense.

“Pretend I’m your twin,” whispered Maze. He put a finger to his lips. He slid down the wall and onto the ground.

I focused on pouring my next glass. I did it!

“Twins,” I mused. “You want to dress alike? You wanna bleach your hair or should I dye mine darker?” I asked him.

He snorted with laughter from the floor and then hiccoughed again. “No!” He moaned. “Twins have one mate like us.” “So what?” I asked.

He looked at me like I was being dim. I looked at him like he was being odd. Understanding slowly crept up on me. The dream we had shared where we were both all over Friday flashed into my mind. I remembered dream Friday’s expression of pure ecstasy. My stomach clenched. My skin felt hot.

“Twins?” Maze asked trying to high five me but missing.

I shook his hand instead but this was after the eleventh glass and perhaps halfway into the twelfth so it was not legally binding.

“Maze, I daresay high-fiving is barbaric. Aristocracy thrives on hand-shakes, Maze!” I said in my snobby Marigold voice.

Maze chuckled. He was falling asleep. “Don’t fall…” I said, slurring my words a little. “…in love?” Maze asked. I laughed. “Asleep!” / corrected him.

“Oh, good,” Maze said, “cause it’s too late for the first one. I’m already in love. I miss Friday. Do you think she likes wine? Red or white?”

“Um,” said, my vision blurry. “Pink!”I answered confidently. Friday was girly.

“I don’t think so,” / said. “Yeah, I know all about wine. My Dad owns an orchard!” Maze said angrily. “You mean a vineyard?” I asked. “I do?” Maze asked. “Exactly!”, said, pouring a thirteenth glass but the third bottle was done. I sighed and slumped over. End of flashback

It had not been the most fruitful of conversations but it touched on a very important topic. Was Friday meant to have two mates? I had never considered it before, assuming I was her second chance mate because Maze had rejected her, but that did not actually make sense. The bond between Maze and Friday had clearly not been severed since Friday had never accepted the rejection and yet when Friday and I met, we became mates. How could she get a second chance mate before severing the first-chance bond? Also,

Friday and I had an incredible connection, if I did say so myself, beyond what was typical of a second-chance mate which was usually a little less dramatic than first chance mates. I was able to feel Friday’s emotions precisely through our mate bond. I looked over at a peacefully sleeping Maze. He looked so innocent in his sleep. I decided to douse him with cold water.

Maze’s POV

I was dreaming about Friday. There was literally nothing else worth dreaming about, to be honest. She and I had gone to the beach. I spotted Thaddeus surfing in the distance, showing off as usual. A huge wave came out of nowhere. I was in its shadow and then…

I was freezing! I was wet! Why was

the fridge and took out some a huge chunk of ice from the freezer. I put it down

f**k! Maze!” He growled

not want to endanger my little Luna. Ugh, I was sounding like Thaddeus but she was little and she would definitely be a

Tresurfaced, spluttering.

“Thaddeus,” I snarled.

away from their perches. I laughed in spite of myself. It reminded me of when Slogan and I had talked about Friday in the forest. Thaddeus and I darted back to the cottage. He tossed me a huge towel and took one for himself. I was one hundred percent sober now and I was not hungover either. The freezing cold river

Friday’s POV

not ripping each other to shreds. I missed them so much it was like a physical pain in my chest separate from the griping pain of the heat. I wished I could be cuddled up

you long enough! She scolded. You actually need Fang to tell you who I was. I chuckled to myself and then I smiled. Fang cared about me, at least, a little. He loves us, said my wolf. But the boy has demons! What did she

brother but still don’t trust

was really trying to be a brother to me now. I had to give him credit for that.

she said simply. That’s impossible. They were so far away and how could our three wolves be communicating with each other

to call to Thaddeus’ and Maze’s wolves and they don’t need the permission of your mates to respond. They’re alpha wolves and alphas wolves cannot be commanded, said my wolf. Her voice sounded like the most serene, mature and confident version of my own voice. It was fascinating to listen to. I felt like she was

with the territory of being the

she said sadly. Why? You must figure that out

advice. My wolf was laughing at me. She had a tinkling laugh.

knock on the door made me

in. “Day eleven of the challenge and day three of your heat,” he announced

handling the

on a red apple he

with

day and then the

going on. I squealed. I was so excited. I had never left my town. Thaddeus had promised me I could

Katrina’s POV

I downed it quickly. My blood-lust was through the roof this morning. I was stressed out. My love was conflicted. He no longer wanted to hand his sister over to us but I’d already promised my step-father. My step-father would not halt those plans for anyone. I buried my face in my hands.

are you doing differently? Drinking from crack

boy,” he spat. “I know you’re thirstier than a

“I need your help ok, brother,” I whimpered, my eyes brimming

up in Fang’s arms right now. I knew he was married but I

a mate, sister, don’t be daft, ok,” he said gently. “I know…I just want to help him…” “Help him what?” Snarled Ezra. “Kidnap his little sister?! How would you feel if I betrayed you?” I flinched.

that if Ezra had not been a vampire,

you mean?” He

he could go through with handing her over,” I mumbled, swiping Ezra’s

Exclaimed Ezra.“We have to help them!”

hot coffee. “What?” I asked incredulously. “You’re