Mated to the Dragon Twins
Chapter Forty Five

For a moment, I convinced myself I was at home with my Grandma. Thesmell of soup filled the air, thick with garlic, thyme and oregano. Thetomato mixture invaded my senses and left me with the feeling ofcomfort and security. My Grandma's humming floated through thekitchen into the living room where I laid on the couch. The heatlingering in the California air warmed my skin, soothing my achingmuscles.

It was when I found the strength to open my eyes that I realized howwrong I was. I wasn't in California, and my Grandma was d**d. Thepeaceful humming was coming from an old woman, whose hair waswhite as snow. She stood in the kitchen, stirring something in a largeiron pot. The heat that danced along my skin was from the cracklingfire, just a few feet in front of me.

H****r flooded through me as I realized I had been naked when I wasfound, and that I now wore a long nightgown. A thick quilt was placedover my body, smelling of lavender and other herbs. I watched instunned silence as the old woman ladled the soup into a large bowl,her delicate humming filling the house.

I felt my body stiffen as the woman looked my way, a smile forming onher face as she approached me with the soup. Her eyes held the samekindness my Grandma's used to have, but that was the only similaritybetween the two. Grandma had been old and frail, her limbs thin andweak. This woman was old, but she was strong. She walked effortlessly;her posture straight yet relaxed. Her hair hung down her back in snow-colored waves.

“Eat this, dear. It'll make you feel better.” The woman murmured,setting the steaming bow! of soup in front of me. She sat herself in anarm chair, watching me with expectant eyes.

“Thalia?’ I called out, but was greeted by darkness.

“Your wolf will be back, child.” The woman nodded serenely,“Wolfsbane, nasty business. Try the soup, it's minestrone.”

As much as I wanted to resist, the kindness in her eyes and thegrowling of my stomach overwhelmed me. Tentatively, I spooned at thesoup. Carrots, celery and onion floated around in the bowl. As I broughtthe spoon to my lips, the old woman grinned happily.

“Is it good?” She asked with bright eyes, “My son always says it's toosalty. What's a good soup without a little salt?”

“It's good.” I nodded, surprised at how strong my voice sounded. “It'snot salty at all.”

“Well thank you, dear.” She grinned, turning her head towards the darkhallway and calling out. “See! She doesn't think it's too salty.”

“Trusting her already?” A deep voice scoffed

An older gentleman stepped into the light, around thirty years old. Hishair was dark, but had streaks of light grey. His eyes narrowed on mesuspiciously, and I resisted the urge to sink into the plush sofa. Hisbuild was large, but tention rippled from him in waves.

“Don't go frightening the girl, Miles.” The old woman spat, waving atthe man with a deep sigh. “Ignore my son, he’s spent too many yearsbattling his own paranoia. You can call me Sage.”

“I'm Aurora.” I replied, giving Miles one last glance before eatinganother spoonful of soup.

“Beautiful name.” Sage murmured appreciatively, “Now, why don't youtell us about your first shift. The first is always the worst.”

“My first shift?” I gulped, my eyes widening as I looked between themother and son. Understanding crossed Sage’s eyes as she read thepanic on my face.

“Ah, I see.” Sage nodded, casting a frown at her son who loomed in thehallway. “You haven't known about your heritage for long, have you? Ifyou did, you would've sniffed us out.”

“You're both werewolves?” I asked, surprise laced in my tone. “I haven'tknown for long. It came as a... surprise.”

“An unwelcome one at that, I assume.” Sage frowned, sympathyburning in her eyes. “It couldn't have been easy. Living your life as ahuman only to replace out you're the daughter of an Alpha, and a whitewolf at that.”

“A white wolf?” I frowned, “What does the color of my wolf have to dowith anything?”

"She's absolutely clueless.” Miles scoffed, shaking his head. “I give her aweek.”

“Quiet, you'll frighten the poor girl.” Sage snapped, then turned herattention to me. “White wolves are exceedingly rare, child. That's howyou found me. I'm the last white wolf in over five hundred years.”

“I found you because you're a white wolf?”

“Like calls to like, Aurora.” Sage nodded, “I've been in hiding for quitesome time. White wolves are coveted for their abilities. White wolvesappear when the world is in need of them. There is no telling when orwhere they will show up.”

“Abilities?” I sighed, exhaustion weighing my limbs down. “I thought Ihad enough to worry about. I never wanted to be a werewolf, let aloneone with abilities.”

“Power is often given to those who do not want it. It's best you learnwhat you're capable of.” Sage replied, her face quickly turning serious.“Just because you reject your heritage, does not mean those who covetyou will simply stop. Accept the life you've been given, Aurora. Learn todefend yourself.”

“I don't know where to start.” I scoffed, “I ran to get away from all ofthis. Now I'm back where I started.”

“I disagree.” Sage mused, “I think you've made an improvement. Youenjoyed shifting, yes? It was liberating, wasn't it?"

“It was incredible.” I confessed, feeling Thalia stir in my mind. “I've neverfelt so free, so strong.”

“You have more strength than you think, Aurora.” Sage smiled, standingfrom the arm chair. “Follow me."

With one last wary glance towards Miles, I followed Sage out the backdoor. I cringed against the harsh sunlight, wondering how long I hadbeen unconscious. As my eyes adjusted, I looked on in wonder atSage's backyard. I had thought the forest at night was beautiful, but itwas nothing compared to this.

Her back yard consisted of rolling hills, plush trees with droopingcanopies, and rows upon rows of wildflowers. Rose bushes grew inclusters, unlike anything I had ever seen. Sunflowers, daisies, gardenias,and flowers I had never seen before were sprawled out along the earth.The grass was a brilliant shade of emerald. A small stream cut throughthe earth, it's water clear and bright.

“It's beautiful.” I breathed, my eyes looking on in wonder.

My eyes grazed every vibrant petal, every crisp leaf, and every blade ofgrass. This small patch of earth was like a personal heaven, a privateglade for Sage and her brooding son.

“This, Aurora, is my ability.” Sage beamed at the small slice of heaven,pride shining in her eyes.

“Flowers are your ability?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away.

“Not flowers.” Sage chuckled, motioning for me to follow her.

We hopped over the thin stream and continued through the plushgrass. Sage held back some of the flowers for me, treading carefullythrough them. We approached a bushel of tulips, and I frowned as Irealized they had not yet bloomed. Everything else in this glade wasthriving, but the tulips seemed to be far behind.

“Watch.” Sage murmured, cupping the tulips with her withered hands.The air around Sage turned warm, a gentle breeze ruffling the nightgown I wore. I watched in silent amazement as the tulips bloomed, thefragile petals opening for her.

“My ability is nature itself.” Sage smiled proudly, looking on at theplants and tree's as though they were her children. “Tell me, child. Doyour mates know you're a white wolf?”

“How did you know?” I asked, flinching as I wondered what Alec andKade might think of my whereabouts.

Thalia had said they were close. Were they still looking for me? Wouldthey simply grow tired of this game of cat and mouse?

“They will never stop looking for us, Aurora.’ Thalia murmured, “They'llsearch the ends of the earth until they replace us.’

“I see your wolf is awake.” Sage chuckled, “And to answer yourquestion, white wolves have sharper instincts than your averagewerewolf. Sometimes we can tell who someone's mate is before theyturn of age. Other times we simply get small bits of information.”

“No, they don't know.” I frowned, “I ran away before they could replaceout.”

“Does anyone else know?” Sage asked, turning her full attention on me.I resisted the urge to squirm under her gaze, but I couldn't wipe thenervous frown that appeared on my lips.

"Yes, these men tried to kidnap me. I think they were wolves, but theysmelled...different.” I shook my head, unable to ignore the sinkingfeeling in my gut. “They watched me shift, they know what 1 am.”“Then you must proceed very carefully.” Sage murmured, “You arelucky, you have two mates to protect you. My mate died when I wasvery young, as did my parents. I was left to fend for myself.”

“I'm so sorry.” I replied, and I truly was. I wasn't sure I loved Alec andKade, but the thought of them d***g twisted my insides painfully.“Don't fight your mates, Aurora.” Sage smiled softly, gently patting herhand against my cheek. “They will choose you over anything—overanyone. That kind of bond is important, it could save your lifesomeday.”

My heart ached under her touch; under the motherly touch I had beendenied for so long. I couldn't help but wish my Mom was more likeSage, that she had loved me and cared for me when I needed it most.Instead, she left me alone, she left me to fend for myself and discoverthe world for what it truly was, cruel and cold.

“How could they ever forgive me?” I chuckled, though my laugh quicklyturned into a dry sob. “I ran away from them. They should hate me.”“I'm sure you had your reasons for leaving, no matter what they mightbe.” Sage replied, “Tell them your reasons, Aurora. They will forgive you;I promise.”

“I'll try.” I breathed, finally beginning to understand that I couldn't runfrom this. I couldn't run from who-what I was.

“Speaking of your mates, I suspect they will be arriving shortly.” Sagemurmured, her eyes roaming the forest along her house. “I sent Milesto cover up your scent, though I believe your mates have quicklyfigured out how to track you through the bond. Highly unusual youknow, having twins as mates.”

“Tell me about it.” I chuckled dryly, wrapping my arms around my torsoas my heartrate skyrocketed. Excitement danced along my skin, raisinggoosebumps and igniting a fire in my stomach. I hadn't let myselfaccept how much I truly missed the twins, and I still refused to think ofTori.

“I am sympathetic, men are difficult to deal with.” Sage grinned, lookinghalf her age. “Though it means more protection for you.”

“You could come with us...” I offered, desperately hoping she would sayyes. My stomach dropped as her eyes softened. “I don't have anyoneelse, not really anyway. Melissa-my Mom stopped caring a long timeago, and my Father only wants me so that I can take over his pack.”“Visit me as often as you can, child.” Sage smiled, but the expressiondidn’t meet her eyes. “But please, tell no one of this place or what I am.I have remained in hiding for so long, I'm afraid I have no place in thisworld anymore.”

“You'll always have a place in my pack, Sage.” I murmured, speaking thewords as Thalia whispered them in my mind. While the words feltforeign on my tongue, they also felt right.

“Thank you for that, Luna Aurora.” Sage beamed, and I couldn't helpbut return the gesture.

The two of us headed inside where I finished off the remainder of mysoup. I couldn’t remember a time where I felt this happy, this at easewith what and who I was. That feeling only lasted so long as I realized Iwouldn't be showing up at the bakery today. I wondered what Bethmight think, and hoped Alec and Kade would let me visit her one lasttime.

I grew more and more nervous as the minutes ticked by. As a hardknock sounded on the front door, I was on my feet in an instant. Theirscents hit my nose within seconds, nearly sending me to my knees.They're here.’ Thalia murmured joyously, “They're actually here.’

“She's here, Alpha’s.” Sage responded with a kind tone. “You may comeinside.”

Their footsteps echoed through the house, and for a moment, Iwondered if the soup I ate would make an appearance. Just as Icontemplated fleeing through the backdoor, Alec and Kade steppedinto the room.