Page 66 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

We sit down on the floor on my fluffy carpet while Dalila goes through the stuff in her bag. She clearly wasn’t prepared to be stranded here for the night and possibly every following night, too. She only brought her notebook, some technical devices, and…

“Oh, here it is.” She facepalms. “I was searching for it in my motel.”

“What is this?” I ask curiously.

“It’s stupid,” she mutters.

“I’m sure it’s not,” I encourage her.

She sighs. “My grandma believed in all kinds of things.” A smile curls her lips. “She kept reading me this book. It’s a handwritten manuscript.” Angling for something in her bag, she is soon back and shows me a very old book with a leather cover. I notice it instantly. It’s one of the very rare historical papers we have from a time when knowledge was passed down via written word to make sure we wouldn’t lose it. Dalila opens the book, skimming through a few pages. “She believed that some people could shift into animals. Weird, huh?”

My mouth drops open, and I’m desperately trying to find my voice. This would be a good moment to tell her. I know we just met each other for a few hours, but Dad is right. It’s risky to keep her in the dark. Plus, her grandma clearly knew about our world!

It’s not completely foreign to Dalila. She just isn’t fully aware of it yet.

Dalila tosses me a curious gaze, opening her mouth as if to urge me to say something.

Unfortunately, a knock at the door interrupts us. I can pick up their scent easily. “Come on in.”

Elodie and Elise open the door, peeking inside my room. “Sorry to disturb you.” Elise smiles, turning her attention to Dalila. “I’m Elise, and this is my sister Elodie. She is Henry’s ma… girlfriend. He told us you would need some clothes.”

“That would be so awesome.” Dalila beams.

“Come with us for a moment.” Elise waves at her. When Dalila jumps up, she grabs my shoulder, squeezing it a bit. She might not even notice these gestures herself, but the bond is already pushing her towards me more than she is aware.

Mate,Lysander whispers.

It’s the first time in weeks that I hear his voice. I wait for the girls to have left before turning my full attention to my lycan.Are you fucking serious?I huff.

I can see Lys in my mind again for the first time in weeks. He hangs his head down, his ears down too.I…he mutters.I couldn’t…

Now you finally talk to me again,I yell,after weeks of abandoning me. Do you know how it feels to be shunned and left by the other part of your soul? You left me with all the guilt and sorrow and went into hibernation while I had to live my fucking pathetic life. I hate you!

Lys whimpers.Anthony,he mutters.I…

His voice trails off, and I put the blockade up again. I’m so done with this, really!

Another knock at the door startles me, and I jump to my feet. I know it isn’t Dalila. I would have easily felt it through the bond if she were so close. But it’s another bond I feel, and one I need right now.

“Hey, man.” Henry steps into my room once I open the door, smiling brightly. “I’m so happy for you! I knew you would—”

I don’t think further, just hug him, unable to hold it together anymore. “Tony,” Henry stutters, alarmed. He pats my head gently. “Fuck,” he mutters while I feel sorrow and anxiety overwhelming me. “Nothing will happen,” he says. “I will make sure you won’t get hurt.”

I’m so happy to have found Dalila, yet guilt keeps eating away at me. I shouldn’t feel happy, yet I do. And I’m so scared I will lose Dalila, too.

24

Bullies

*HENRY*

Ibrushthroughmyhair, feeling more than a little desperate when I make it back to my place. I was barely able to console Tony. It’s been ages since he last cried, and it breaks my heart not to know what hurt him like that.

Elodie, Dalila, and Elise returned half an hour ago, and Tony disappeared to his bathroom, probably to hide that he was crying. Dalila seemed to be a bit distraught as if she was able to feel his emotions through the bond. She probably didn’t know what to make of it, but to me, it’s a sign that she feels the mate bond more intense than humans are normally supposed to feel it, or rather sooner and faster than they usually feel it. I’ve seen how Tony carried her through the rain, and she was clinging to him.

I don’t know a lot about how humans feel when they are mates of a werewolf, but I’ve heard that it’s normally a bit of a slower process that gives the bond time to grow. Uncle Elden once said it’s probably a safety measure from the Goddess not to overstrain the human mate.

“Is everything alright?” Elodie asks me when I join her in bed.

---