The Denver twins

Wiping my face in frustration, I look at the scene in front of me, it's one I've been viewing for fifteen years. Women lined up, just for a chance they could be the one. Every female, hopes we will choose her as our Luna, fated mate or not.

I look over at my twin brother, his expression mirror's mine. Complete and utter boredom. He gives me a grimace, turning his attention to the she wolf chatting his ear off. I can feel his anxiety through our bond, he hates this. I know that feeling, because I hate it too.

Every fucking year, it's the same thing. The mating season starts, for a month my brother and I look for our mate. On the final day, there's a big fancy ball held. Our mum, bless her heart tries her hardest to help us find the one. We do this for her, meeting the daughters of Alpha's and betas, who parade their offspring, like prize cattle at market. When it's over, like the year before and the year before that, we return home, mate less and a little more defeated.

I sip my whiskey, looking down when someone tugs at my jacket. A little she wolf, is staring at me. Fuck, I completely forgot about her. Not that she's overly stimulating anyway. I paste a smile on my face. "Sorry beautiful, I got distracted. Would you excuse me, my mother is mind linking me" she opens her mouth to speak, but I'm already walking away from her. I can't do this anymore, maybe it's time to bite the bullet and take a chosen.

All I need is my brother on board, being twins means we will share a mate. It's a blessing and a curse. Maybe if we had our own destiny, one of us would be mated already.

I see the door ahead, just a bit further. I'm almost there, when a body steps in front of me. I stop abruptly, stifling a groan, when I see who it is. "Where are you off to in a hurry Alpha?" she purrs, running a skinny finger down my arm. I take a step back, trying to put distance between us. Isabelle may be my biggest mistake, in my thirty-five years of life.

After a drunken night a year ago, we hooked up. As you can see, she hasn't left me alone since. The next morning, I regretted it as soon as I sobered up. Unfortunately for me, she has got it in her head, we are now meant to be together. I've refused her so many times, I'm starting to sound like a broken fucking record.

My wolf growls, when she reaches out for me. He can't stand her, even if she's our betas sister and Laney's best friend. He wants what I want, looking around, I think we're going to be going home alone again this year. "Isabelle, what have I told you about touching me" I know I sound like a fucking asshole; I've tried being nice, it doesn't work.

"Lancey, why are you like this? Don't you realize, we're meant to be together. Alex is your beta; Laney is my best friend. It's written in the stars; you and I make a lot of sense. Please give me a chance, let me show you how good we can be". I stare at her flushed face, is she fucking delusional? "Don't call me that" I hiss. She ignores me, stepping closer. Irritation rises in my chest, how many times, do I need to say the same fucking thing. I'm not interested, not now or ever. Sure, she's a beauty, but I want more than physical attributes. I need someone that challenges me, not a yes girl, who will bend to whatever I want.

She smiles at me, obviously taking my silence for considering her plea. It drops quickly, when I grip her upper arm, dragging her outside. She whimpers, as I push her onto a bench roughly. I would never hurt her physically, but this has gone on long enough. It needs to end, once and for all.

She goes to stand, then sits back down, when I give her a stern look. "Don't move Isabelle, we need to get a few things straight". I take a big breath. Here we fucking go again.

"I'm sorry if I ever led you on, it was never my intention. We had one night; it shouldn't have happened. You need to move on Izzy, you're still young. Find him, find your mate. Go get your happiness, because it won't be with me".

My wolf grumbles in annoyance, he thinks I'm being too nice. I tell him, there's no need to be a prick about it. I remind him, as an Alpha, it's my job to look out for my pack. Even desperate little sluts, he adds.

Isabelle blinks a few times, like she's not sure she heard right. I'm waiting for the tears to come, but they don't. Instead, she squares her shoulders, rising to her feet. The look in her eyes frightens me a little, it's a cross between affection and determination.

"You may not see it now, but you will soon. When you do, I'll be right here waiting, count yourself lucky im a forgiving person". She smiles, then spins on her heel, walking back inside. Well, that went well, my wolf sniggers. I just watch her leave, in utter shock, not quite sure, what the fuck just happened. I'll tell you what, she's crazy, Cuckoo, totally loco. My wolf huffs, settling back in my mind. The guy's a silly bastard sometimes, but I'm beginning to think he may be right.

Footsteps approaching, have me turning, worried it's Izzy. Thankfully it's my brother, his eyes are red and bloodshot, an indication he's smashed. He comes to stand next to me, I wait while he pulls out a cigarette, lighting it up, he takes a long drag. He's not a big smoker, only when he's stressed, which lately is more often.

"What are we going to do brother?" He asks. I rub my temples, trying to ease the throbbing in my head. Between Isabelle and this stupid shin dig, I'm starting to get a pounding migraine.

"She's not here, I've smelt so many she wolves, my nose is clogged. I can't do it anymore Lance, the different women, trying to feel something. I've decided to go away for a while. Dad knows a pack in Australia, without an Alpha. I'm thinking of taking it on. Maybe I'll find her there". Panic rises in me, after he finishes talking. What the actual fuck. "You can't be serious" I sputter out. Jaxon takes a pull on his cigarette, then stubs it out. "I am bro, what's here for me, for us. Dad can step back in as Alpha, until Brody turns twenty-five. That's only a year away, I need to do this. You could always come with me".

I snap my head up, is he fucking high. There's no way, I would ever leave my pack. This is where I was born, it will be where I die. My sister and her mate, have no interest in leading the pack either.

"Think about it Lance, we've been Alpha's of this pack, for ten years. We've served our time, isn't it our privilege to take a step back and reevaluate. Look, I know it's a shock. I'm not going for another two weeks, think about it".

I only nod, as he heads back inside the lion's den. His words swirl in my brain. Could he be right? Maybe it's our time, to be a little selfish. I laugh at the thought; no, I can't let him influence me. If he wants to go, then it won't be with me.

I look around the area I'm standing in, my heart swells with pride. This place is a true beauty. It was started by my great grandfather, he came to America, from Russia. His mate was pregnant, with my grand pop. Her father had disowned her, when she refused to marry someone else. They fled, with nothing but a few dollars and the clothes on their backs.

My great grandfather was smart; he'd already booked two spots on a ship. It took weeks to get here, but they made it safe and sound. On the boat, they had befriended another couple. The two men bought this land, the rest as they say, is history.

That's the reason, I could never leave. This place holds so many memories. It's where my dad met mum. She was the daughter of a visiting Alpha. They fell in love at first sight. Within seven months, my brother and I were born, followed by our sister ten years later. Her and her mate Brody found each other here. This pack holds a special kind of magic, unfortunately not for me and Jaxon.

I go to head back, when my beta comes running towards me. The look on his face, tells me it's not good news. My brother is two steps behind him. "Alpha, border just alerted me, there's a group of rogues trying to pass through. They're hostile and rabid, our warriors are holding them off, for now. You're both needed there immediately".

I don't even hesitate, shifting into my enormous black wolf, not caring my expensive suit is ruined. My brother is by my side, also in his beast form. We take off running, mind linking as we go.

When we reach the border, it's fucking mayhem. There's a dozen rogues, all in battle stance, ready to fight to the death. I'm hoping it doesn't get to that, I'm really not in the mood for this shit. I shift back, putting on the sweats handed to me. I walk to a wolf in the front. He's a lot bigger than the rest, so I assume he's the leader. He looks me in the eye, a crazed frenzy in his gaze.

"What is your business here?" I ask him loudly. He snaps his jaws in response, well fuck me, looks like we're doing this the hard way. I shift again, lunging for him. He's caught by surprise, which allows me to pin him quickly. The bastard fights, trying to bite me. I manage to clamp on his throat, not fatally, just enough pressure to subdue him.

Shift back, my wolf roars to his. Our Alpha power has everyone bowing, even the rogues. He struggles to fight it, but it's no use. With a loud scream, he becomes human, the strain of shifting has weakened him. The filthy man is curled up, his thin body struggling to get air into his lungs.

"Why are you here?" Jaxon asks. He steps forward, crouching down low. "It's okay brother, you've done good". I shift back, standing naked, next to my twin.

Nudity for us, is second nature, we don't feel embarrassed or shame in our human forms. It's quite common, to see pack members walking around after shifting, complete bare. There's no sexual attraction, it's just natural.

"My daughter, she ran into your territory. She's disobeyed me, she will need to be punished. Just let me find her, I'll leave here, as soon as we have her". I look at Jaxon, a feeling passes through us. Something in his tone, tells me she needs to be found and protected. My wolf howls in my mind, we need to save her.

Jaxon grabs the man's throat, pulling him to his feet. I see a flicker of doubt in the rogue's eyes, he's not so confident now. "What has she done?" He asks. The other man looks at his companions, which pisses my brother off. The rogue screams, when Jaxon digs into his flesh. Thick blood, drips down onto the dirt.

"Answer me cunt, why does she need to be punished". The man sucks in a breath, "she's been chosen to be a breeder, we were camping nearby, when she attacked one of our wolves. We followed her here but lost her when she crossed the borders". A sense of something, resembling pride courses through me. So, she's tough, and brave. I really want to meet this she wolf.

First things first though, we need to deal with this matter. Using breeders was outlawed fifty years ago, it's clear, not everyone has followed the rules.

My brother pushes his face, right up to the other guy's. "So, not only have you attempted to trespass on my territory. You've broken the law; that's instant death for you. May the goddess have mercy on you" the guy starts crying, begging for his life. His cries are cut off, by a loud snap. Jaxon drops the dead body, standing to address the others.

"Leave my land now, if you ever return, you'll all be executed on the spot". He nods at one of our warriors, "Trevor, take two men with you, escort the scum to no man's land. In regard to the girl, she will be located and offered refuge in our pack".

He turns to me, gesturing to follow him. We walk in silence, until we reach our house. Jaxon unlocks the door, heading into the kitchen. "Beer?" He asks, grabbing two out of the fridge.

I nod, grabbing the bottle off him. We sit down, taking a long drink each. "What do you make of all this?" I ask him. He puts his beer down, fiddling with the label.

"I don't fucking know man; he could have been lying. If there was a stranger on the territory, how did she get in? The patrol would have discovered her". I contemplate what he's saying, then a thought comes to mind.

"Unless she was hidden" I say. Jaxon looking at me curiously, "what are you thinking?' he asks. I drain my beer, getting up to grab two more. I sit down, handing my brother one.

"We've had people coming and going all day, plus the food trucks. With all the activity, it's possible she snuck in". he nods, "it's plausible, that's why we haven't scented any new aromas".

My wolf sits up, suddenly interested in our conversation. We need to find her; I think she's the key. He says. The key to what? I ask. I look at my brother, he's talking to his wolf too.

I think she could be what we've been waiting for, lex says excitedly. My brother is smiling, nodding his head. Well, fuck me, looks like we're going hunting.