Loving His Twin’s Mate

Narrator

On a cold and dreary evening in the year 1873 after the great wolf was created by the Goddess, Nick Greyfoot’s life turned bleak. The only thing that saved it from going completely black was Noah. At the age of seven, older than Nick by only an hour, his twin had become the Alpha of Greystorm that night when their parents were killed in a horrific railway accident.

Days later, Noah held Nick’s hand as they sat dutifully in front of the caskets that contained whatever remained of their parents. During the evening of the day their parents were buried, Noah crept into Nick’s bed so neither of them would feel so lost and alone. While they traveled to the packhouse in the marshes, where they became the wards of the Alpha of the marshes, Noah unwittingly offered a distraction, providing a place for Nick to vent his anger and frustration over life’s unfairness. They constantly shoved and slapped at each other until the solicitor traveling with them separated the boys. After they were abandoned so far from home, left in the Alpha’s keeping, Noah assured Nick all would be well, that they began life together in the womb and, therefore, would always remain together. Noah had been his anchor, his solace, his one constant in all matters, all things.

And now she was stealing him away … ­with her silken black hair and her startling blue eyes and her sweet laughter and her gentle smile. A she-wolf by the name of Julia Ashes. Noah was blinded by her beauty, her grace, and her attentions, allowing her to take up far too much of his time with rides in the park, rowing on the river, theater, dinners, and … ­God forbid … ­poetry readings. She was pulling him away from those closest to him, causing him to put aside his love for drinking, whoring, gambling, and traveling. In six weeks Tom, the Alpha of Ashwoods, Zac, the future Alpha of the Marshes, and Nick were going on a trek through the Far East countries. As far as Nick was concerned Noah should be going with them. He had been planning to go with them until Miss Julia asked him not to leave. Without so much as the blink of an eye, Noah had adhered to her wishes and canceled his plans to travel with them.

She had managed to effectively wrap his brother around her littlest finger without much more than an occasional batting of her eyelashes and a fluttering of her fan. It was not to be tolerated. A she-wolf should not have so much influence and control over a man’s life.

Nick

I am not certain why I had followed her out of the festive ballroom and into the quiet shadows of the garden, why I had stopped to watch as she left the path and disappeared into the thicket of rose-­adorned frames and branches. I only know that I can’t lose Noah to her.

As I followed her into the thicket of rose-adorned branches, a voice in my head screamed at me to turn back. I had no right to be following her, no right to desire her the way I did.

I hesitate but a minute before darting into an area where the shadows are heavier, the glow from the gaslights lining the path is held at bay. Proceeding cautiously until my eyes adjust to the gloom, I finally see her leaning back against the brick wall. Her lips slowly curl up to reveal her beautiful smile. She looks so bloody glad to see me.

Despite the gray darkness, as I step nearer I can see the adoration in her eyes. No other woman has ever looked at me as though every breath she takes is for me and me alone, as though she exists only for me and my pleasures. It causes a tightening in my gut, a heady sensation of supremacy and purpose.

“I thought you would never get here,” She says in a whispered voice that belongs to angels.

Temptation such as I has never known tears through me, leaving me powerless against her siren’s call. I don’t understand it. In all of my twenty-­three years, I have never had a woman create such a maelstrom of confusing and uncomfortable emotions. I should leave now while I can, but she draws me in as though she has been created by the gods for me and no other.

I approached her cautiously, my heart pounding with anticipation. With one hand, I cradle her face, feeling the rapid thrum of her pulse against my fingers, and stroke my thumb along her smooth cheek. She releases a soft sigh; her eyes turning languid. When our lips met, I felt like I was drowning in her. Her taste, her scent, the way her body responded to mine -- it was all too much.

I know it is wrong, know I will regret it, but I seem incapable of rational thought or action. Leaning in, I take what I have no right to possess; I claim her mouth as though it belongs to me, always has, and always will belong to me. My wolf seems to explode in my head.

But even as I lost myself in the passion of the moment, a voice in my head nagged at me. What was I doing here? I knew it was wrong, knew I would regret it, but I couldn't help myself.

As we kissed, I was torn between the desire that consumed me and the guilt that ate away at me. It was like a battle inside my head, and I wasn't sure who would come out on top.

She sighs again, a softer, warmer mewl that travels through me, causing me to harden with such desire that I nearly double over. Drawing her in closer, I angle my head, take the kiss deeper, sweeping my tongue through her luscious mouth. She tastes of rich champagne with a hint of strawberries. Her slender arms come around my neck; her gloved fingers plow through my dark blond hair. Her sigh this time turns into a welcoming moan. The passage of time seems to come to a standstill like the clocks at a haunted house. No ticking, no movement of the hands, no tolling of the chimes.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still. I wanted to stay there forever, to explore every inch of her, to make every night about us and the passion that we shared. But at the same time, I knew that I couldn't keep going down this path.

Drawing back, I hold her languorous gaze. She touches her fingers to the wisps of hair at my temple, such a soft caress. It almost isn’t one at all. She smiles tenderly, “I love you so much, Noah.”

My brother’s name on her lips is a punch to the gut that nearly takes me to my knees. Her welcome hadn’t been for me. Her passion, her spark, her desire, hadn’t been for me. What a colossal fool I am to have imagined, even for a second, that they had been. Not that I am going to reveal to her exactly how she affects me, how badly I want her.

I force myself to grin devilishly, triumphantly, “If you really loved him, wouldn’t you be able to tell us apart?” Zac and Tom can. Even the mad old Alpha of the Marshes, who had served as our guardian, can distinguish us.

“Nick?” She rasps, looking as though her dinner will soon be making a second appearance.

Her obvious revulsion delivers a hard blow to my pride, but keeping my expression impassive, I offer an exaggerated bow, “At your service.”

“You beast,” Her gloved hand meets my cheek with such unexpected force that I stagger back.

I regain my footing, cock my head, “You enjoyed it, Julia.”

“It’s Miss Julia. When I marry Noah, it’ll be Luna of Greystorm. I shall insist you address me properly. And I most certainly did not enjoy it.”

“Liar.”

“Why would you do such a horrid thing, take such an advantage? How could you be so cruel and deceitful?” She cries out.

Because I have never been able to deny myself anything I want, and I had quite suddenly wanted her. Desperately.

“What’s going on here?” A deep voice asks.

I spin around to see Noah standing a few feet away, a quizzical look on his face. Not angry, but with an almost innocent expression, as though it would never occur to him that I would do something as dastardly as kiss his mate.

“I was waiting for you as we planned,” Julia says sweetly, moving in against Noah’s side, looking up at him with complete adoration that merely serves to grind salt into my wounded self-­esteem, “Nick happened along and began telling me more details about the journey to the Far East that he and the others have constantly been discussing. It sounds as though it’ll be the adventure of a lifetime. He would so like for you to go.”

I hate being grateful for the lies she spins, but I know that Noah would never forgive me if he learns how I had taken advantage of Julia. I wonder why she hadn’t confessed the truth, why she hadn’t taken the opportunity to create a chasm between us brothers that nothing on heaven or earth would have ever breached. But more, why is she now encouraging Noah to go with me?

“You’re adventure enough for me,” Noah shifts his gaze to me, “I’ve told you that I have no interest any longer in traveling. I don’t appreciate you going behind my back to use Julia to try to persuade me to change my mind. Now I would welcome you taking your leave so my little tryst in the garden with Julia can continue as intended.”

“Noah …­,”

“Be on your way, Nick.” He brushes me off.

The impatience mirrored in my twin’s voice warns me that if I continue on this course, I will gain nothing except distancing myself from my brother. After giving them a slight bow, I stride away from the couple, the roses, and the shadows.

I need a glass of scotch. A bottle would be better. I need to drink myself into oblivion until I can no longer remember the warmth of Julia in my arms or recall how glorious it had felt to have her mouth moving beneath mine. I need to forget that I had ever … ­for the briefest of moments … ­wanted her for myself … Thought she was my mate.