The Bearington Brothers & Their Fated Mate (My Love; My Mate; My Shifter - Chronicles - Book One)
Chapter Twenty: Riddle Me This

They tracked Riddle to a cheap hotel.

Laila took a deep breath as she looked at the hotel from the car window.

“You ready for this?” Vectore asked.

Laila nodded, “let’s go meet my brother.”

They got out of the car and walked up to the front door of the hotel. Park held the door open for them and looked around to make sure there were no surprises.

“Which room?” Laila whispered to Vectore.

“Second floor, room 212,” Vectore said as he pointed to the stairs.

The four of them climbed the stairs and found room 212. Laila took a deep breath as she lifted her hand to knock, and Paxton stopped her.

“Park and I should go first so we can disarm him.”

Laila nodded, “good idea.”

Paxton knocked on the door as Park pulled her behind them, so Riddle didn’t see her right away.

“Who are you?” Riddle asked as he opened the door.

“You tried to kill our mate earlier today,” Paxton said as he folded his arms over his chest.

“Don’t provoke him,” Vectore hissed.

Riddle squinted at the two large men. “I did what?”

“Let’s go inside,” Vectore said as he pushed past the twins.

“Hey!” Riddle hissed as he turned to watch the man as he surveyed the dingy hotel room.

“Make sure he’s unarmed,” Vectore said as he looked at the twins.

Park and Paxton pushed Riddle into the room and searched him for any weapons.

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Riddle said, staring at them.

“He’s clean,” Park said.

“Meet our mate,” Paxton said as he stepped aside so Riddle could see Laila.

Laila stared at the man who is her twin. He had the same eyes as her and the same hair color, and he looked so much like her that she cried.

“Hi,”she said.

It’s her, kill her, kill them all!

Riddle stared at the woman before him. She’s the pregnant woman from the grocery store. He was supposed to kill her- had he missed?

Kill her! Kill her now before she kills you!

Riddle jumped onto the bed and grabbed his gun from under the pillow then turned to fire at the woman. Loud growls echoed in the room as the two identical large men jumped at him and pulled his arms above his head before he could fire.

The woman cried as she begged the men not to hurt him. Why would she care if they hurt him? He has tried to kill her twice now. He heard the two men growl as they pulled the gun from his hand and yanked him to his feet.

Riddle stared at the two large men. He’s strong and can defend himself, he learned plenty of moves in the military, but these two men were too strong for him to pull away from. So, he used all the strength he had and kicked the man to his right, but all he got from him was a groan then a loud growl as his hand tightened on Riddle’s arm.

Damn, that usually worked. He had put a lot of force into that kick.

“Don’t fight them,”the woman said.

He stared at her. Who is she, and why do these voices want him to kill her? What has she done?

“Riddle,”she whispered as she moved closer to him.

Kill her! Kill her! KILL HER!

“Stop!” Riddle shouted. “Leave me alone!”

“They’re in his head,”the third man said as he watched.

She’s your enemy! End her!

Riddle growled as he kicked out towards the woman. “Stay away from me!” He bellowed. “And tell your goons to let me go!”

“Riddle,”she said with a cry.

“You’re my enemy! I must kill you!” Riddle hollered.

Yes! Kill her!

“Shut up!” Riddle growled.

“Don’t listen to them,”the woman said, “they’re lying. They are the enemy. They’re using you against me!” She cried out.

She lies! Kill her!

“I must kill you!” Riddle shouted as he tried to free himself from the twins.

“But you don’t,”she cried, “please, I’m not your enemy.”

He glared at her. “And why should I believe you?”

“Because I’m your sister,”she said.

She lies! Kill her! Kill her now before she puts her spell over you! She’s a witch!

“Get back, Witch!” Riddle yelled as he kicked out at her. “You’re lying!”

She paused as she studied his face. “I’m not lying, Riddle. And I’m not a Witch.”

“Get back!” Riddle hollered as he tried to break free of the two large men again without success. What kind of steroids are these two on?

“Please,”the woman cried.

Kill her! Kill our enemy!

“Shut up!” Riddle screamed. “Everyone just shut up you’re all confusing me! Just everyone, SHUT UP!”

The woman paused, then reached out and touched his cheek. “Riddle,”she said, “look into my eyes.”

No! She’ll put her spell on you!

Riddle closed his eyes.

“Riddle,” she said, “they’re trying to keep us apart. I’m your sister. Please look at me.”

Riddle heard the plea in her voice, and somehow, he trusted her. No, it’s a trick... But he couldn’t fight it anymore; he had to look at her. He opened his eyes and looked into her seafoam green eyes that were identical to his own. He stared into those beautiful eyes then looked at the rest of her face. It was like looking into a mirror and seeing himself as a woman.

“How-how is this possible?” He asked, staring at her.

She smiled, and his body shook with emotions.

NO! Don’t believe her, she’s a witch!

“I don’t know,”she said with a cry, “I just found out about you. I was adopted my-my parents only took me. Ohmigod, Riddle, I’m so sorry...”

“Wait,” Riddle said as he stared at her. “How old are you?”

She smiled, “twenty-five.”

He sucked in a breath.

It’s a trick! Don’t listen to her!

“We’re twins, Riddle,”she said as she gently touched his cheek, “I’m your twin sister. They can’t control you anymore.”

KILL HER!

“Shut up!” Riddle yelled with a growl.

Laila flung her arms around his waist and held him tight. “I’m here, Brother. We’ll never be apart again.”

“Let him go, boys,” Vectore said.

The twins let go of Riddle, and the man paused, then wrapped his arms around the woman.

“A sister,”he said, tears blurring his vision. “I have a sister,” he choked.

She’s lying! Kill her!

“You have no control over me anymore. You can’t make me kill my twin,” Riddle said as he held his sister tight.

We own you! You can’t...

The other man waved his hands a few times and said a couple of words, and the voices were gone.

Riddle looked at the man. “Are you a Wizard too?”

Vectore snorted, “not even.”

“Vectore is a Shaman,”one of the large men said.

“So, one of the good guys,” Riddle said as he looked around at them.

The other twin snorted. “Yeah, we’re the good guys.”

“My sister,” Riddle said as he closed his eyes and kissed her on the forehead.

“My brother,” she said as she held him tighter.

“Oh God, I shot you earlier,” he said, stepping back.

She nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Yes. But my best friend healed me.”

“The one who was with you?” He asked as he furrowed his eyebrows.

She nodded, “yeah. The bullet meant for her missed.”

“Thank God,” he said as he pulled her into his arms again.

She sniffled as she held onto him again.

He pulled back to arm’s length. “You know my name. What’s yours?”

She chuckled, “Laila.”

He grinned, “beautiful name.”

“We should get out of here before the Dark Wizards come looking for you,” one of the twins said.

“Right,” Laila said with a nod as she looked at the twin then back at Riddle. “Riddle this is Park and Paxton,”she said, her voice so sweet and full of love.

Riddle really looked at the twins for the first time. They were handsome men if he was into that. They were identical except for a slight difference in the hair color. He wondered if they dyed their hair so people could tell them apart. The one she had said was Park, had lighter hair than his brother Paxton. They had said that his sister is their mate... They’ll need to explain that...

“All in time,” Vectore said as he watched Riddle.

Riddle looked at the Shaman with a shocked look.

Laila giggled, “Vectore can hear our thoughts.”

Riddle grumbled.

“We really should get out of here,”the Shaman said.

Riddle nodded, then went to his bag and packed it with the few items he had taken out, then went to the bathroom and packed his razor and shaving cream. When he returned to the room, his sister was in the arms of one of the large men.

Sister, he actually has a sister. And not just any sister, a twin. She said she was adopted- they both have a story to tell.

~🐾~

Park drove them back to the house while Paxton took Riddle’s rental car back. Vectore sat in the front seat so Laila could sit in the back with her brother. They didn’t say anything, just stared at each other.

“So,” Riddle finally said as he cleared his throat. “What do you do for a living?”

She smiled, “I’m a veterinarian.”

He stared at her. “Uh- you’re..." He blinked. “We took the same path only in different directions.”

She stared at him, confused, and he chuckled.

“We’re both vets; only I went military, and you went animals.”

She burst into laughter, and Park smiled at her through the rearview mirror.

“I’m really sorry I shot you, Laila. I didn’t want to.”

She smiled at him. “It’s okay. I’m just glad Vectore was able to replace you.”

Riddle nodded, “I owe you all a debt of gratitude.”

“Just wait until you see what you’ve gotten yourself into,” Laila said with a grin. “Then you’ll really think I’m a Witch.”

Riddle smiled, “wouldn’t make a difference if you were a Witch or a werewolf. You’re my sister.”

Laila grinned, “boy are you in for a surprise then.”

~🐾~

They walked into the house, and Riley stared at the strange man. Mark walked inside from the back porch and moved to stand next to his mate.

“Who’s this?” Riley asked as she looked from the newcomer to her best friend.

Laila smiled at Riddle then walked over to Riley and whispered into her ear.

Riley growled as she leaped for Riddle’s throat. Park moved to stand between Riley and Riddle.

“She didn’t let me finish,” Laila said as she watched Park hold her back from Riddle.

“What more is there to say?!” Riley screamed. “This creep shot you! I’m going to kill him!”

Mark stared at the man behind Park then looked at Park. “You’re protecting the scumbag?”

“He’s..." Park started, but Mark cut him off with a feral growl as he tried to move around Park to get to the shooter.

“Stop!” Laila screamed.

The room went eerily still.

Riddle stared at his sister. How does she have such utter command here? She’s like a General...

“Actually, the queen,” Vectore said with a grin as he walked around them.

“Now you two will back off so I can tell you everything,” Laila said as she folded her arms over her chest.

Riddle smiled. His sister has spunk.

“Why are you protecting him? He shot you,”the woman said as she stared at Laila.

“Because he’s my brother,” Laila said.

“Wait, he-he’s your brother?” Riley asked with wide eyes.

“Yes,” Laila said with a nod, “look at him.”

Riley walked up to Park and folded her arms over her chest. “Move, Bear.”

Park grinned as he stepped aside.

Riley walked up to the shooter and stared into his foam green eyes and sucked in her breath. She looked at his face and hair, and her hand flew to her mouth.

“He’s your twin,”she said with a gasp.

Laila nodded, “yes, he is.”

“Damn, the similarity is uncanny,” Riley said as she continued to stare at the man. “What’s his name?”

The man cleared his throat. “His name is Riddle. Nice to meet you, and you are?”

Riley snorted. “You mean the Dark Wizards didn’t tell you who you were shooting at?”

Riddle shook his head. “Nope. Sorry about that.”

She sighed, “my name is Riley. I’m your sister’s best friend.”

Riddle grinned, “it’s nice to meet you, Riley,” he said as he held his hand out to her.

She looked at his hand then shook it. “Nice to meet you too.”

Mark cleared his throat, and Riley turned to him.

“Oh, and this is my mate, Mark.”

Riddle nodded to the large man who looked like the incredible hulk without the green skin.

Damn, and he’d thought the twins were big.