Page 14 of Alpha's Twins
Movement from inside catches my attention, and I look through the glass to see Serena walking around the kitchen, seemingly setting the table for breakfast. It’s such a simple act, but with the early morning sunlight filtering through into the room, she looks almost angelic. Instead of going in, I find myself leaning against the solid wood frame and watching her.
She moves to the stove, stirring something in a pan, and the sight of her barefoot, her hair loosely tied, lost in the quiet focus of what she’s doing pulls at something deep inside me. Her face is soft and open, without the walls that creep in sometimes, no matter how hard I try to keep things light between us. She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It’s such a tiny movement, but it makes my chest tighten.
My wolf urges me to go to her, wrap my arms around her, and whisper that she’s not alone. But I don’t. I stay where I am, letting the moment stretch out, savoring the calm before the day forces its way in. Today isn’t just about me and Serena. My brothers will arrive soon, bringing their packs and their friends, and the house will be full of people. I’m already dreading the conversations with my brothers about Malik. It’s time they listen to me and take the fight back into the mountains to finish him off.
Looking back at Serena, I push aside thoughts about potential disagreements with Callum and Tristen and focus on her. I know she’s nervous about seeing Emily and Ava, havingonly met them briefly, and I curse myself for not realizing sooner how overwhelming this all must be for her. A new life, a new family, and now this meeting. Her powers. No wolf. The more I discover about Nolan’s pack, the more I realize my initial thoughts about him were spot on.
I watch as she sets plates on the table, her movements efficient but not hurried. The scent of bacon drifts through the open door, and I breathe it in as my stomach rumbles. I take a final look at the scene in front of me before I push open the door and break the spell. The fact that she’s made breakfast for me touches something deep inside me. The way she’s thought about me makes me realize I want more of that. I never pretended to be perfect, but the more I get to know Serena, the more I don’t see why we couldn’t be happy together. She’s wrong—I do want her. I’m still not sure I’d be faithful forever; I’m Ralph’s son, after all. But it doesn’t mean we couldn’t have fun. I want more of this.
I just wish she could see that.
“Hey,” I say, stepping into the kitchen. Serena glances up, startled, her eyes lingering on my bare chest. Her gaze flits away too quickly, and I feel a smile tug at my lips.
“Hi,” she replies, her voice a little too bright. A blush creeping from her cheeks to her ears as she focuses intently on adjusting the plates she’s already set out.
I move closer, casually, and reach past her to grab a mug from the counter. “Smells good,” I say, letting my arm brush against hers. Her breath hitches, and she takes a step back, her face even redder.
“It’s just eggs and bacon,” she says, her words rushed, her fingers nervously fiddling. “I saw you head out for a run, but I didn’t know what you’d want.”
“Anything you make will be perfect.” I lean back against the counter, enjoying the show. I see her looking anywhere but at me, tucking her hair behind her ear again, her hands slightly trembling. She’s completely innocent, and it makes me want her even more.
“I, um, I thought I’d set up the tables outside after breakfast,” she says, obviously trying to make conversation. “Sarah mentioned the bakery is going to bring some food over, and I thought you might want to set up the grill.”
I can see how nervous the thought of everyone coming here makes her, and I reach out to take her hand. She freezes at the contact, and so do I. It’s like a thousand tiny sparks dance along my fingertips, causing my heart to race.
“Serena,” I say, my voice low. “We’ll figure this out together. Okay?”
She swallows, her eyes darting to mine, then away again. I’m sure she can feel how much I want her. She pulls her hand back, and I let it slip away, watching her as her mouth opens and closes.
“Okay,” she finally whispers, but it sounds more like a question than an answer.
“Good,” I say, pushing off the counter and starting to plate up our breakfast. “Now, eat. And then I’ll get to that grill, okay?”
She nods, and we sit in a relatively comfortable silence. I demolish the breakfast long before her and then realize I’m still sitting there with only a pair of shorts on. The little glances she keeps giving my bare chest tell me she’s noticed that, too.
“I should probably put a shirt on if everyone’s coming over,” I say, ducking my head to get a better look at her expression. “Unless you prefer I leave it off?”
I’m only joking, of course, but her fork clatters onto her plate and she laughs nervously. “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I should tell her I’m only joking, but she’s already on her feet and taking her plate to the sink. I cringe slightly, but the way she blushes really turns me on, and I can’t help wanting more of it.
“Let me wash up,” I say, walking toward her, but she spins around and takes my plate.
“No, you need to get ready,” she says breezily, and I know she’s trying to get rid of me.
I bite back a grin and nod. “Okay, I’ll cook and wash up next time.”
I want to say more, but the moment seems lost, and when I come back downstairs, showered and dressed, she’s nowhere to be seen. I step out onto the back porch and spot her by the side of the house tending to some flower displays. What was once a bare patch of land is now a stunning oasis of flowers and plants, the petals larger than any I’ve ever seen and all reaching for the sky in a burst of color. The fact that she doesn’t recognize how impressive her magic is blows my mind.
Even with the early hour, it’s already warming up, the sun soaking into the wood of the porch. I’m about to call out to Serena when I hear the crunch of tires on gravel. I take a breath, letting the anticipation settle around me, and head toward the front of the house just as the first car pulls up.
Callum steps out, a grin spreading across his face. Ava follows, Harper bouncing at her heels, and cradled in Ava’s arms is their baby son, who’s growing more each day. Tristen and Emily arrive right behind them, and I watch as they maneuver their baby boy out of his car seat. A flood of voices and laughter fills the air, and I can’t help but lean into an unfamiliar tug in my chest as I watch my brothers with their mates and children. It’s not something I ever cared for myself, but with Serena here and mornings like today, something is beginning to shift within me. I’m not sure if it’s welcome or not.
Harper breaks free and runs forward for me to lift her into a hug. She’s a great kid, and with her powers emerging stronger than ever, she reminds me a lot of my brothers and myself when we were young. I put her down and greet Ava and Emily as they come forward, clearly looking over my shoulder for Serena.
“She’s in the yard finishing up,” I laugh. “Go on back if you want, I’ll help the guys bring through all the stuff.”
“Do you realize how much baby stuff we’ve brought for one afternoon?” Emily laughs as they head up the steps.
