Chapter 5 Annoying

MATED TO THE TWIN ALPHAS

Chapter 5

"I gave in too easily. I'm weak. Just like she always said."

Jackie woke to the smell of damp earth and pine needles, her body aching in ways she hadn't felt in years. The grass beneath her was cold and wet, the morning dew soaking through her clothes. She was alone. Completely and utterly alone.

She sat up slowly, her head spinning, her muscles protesting every movement. The memories of the night before came flooding back in fragments — Kealan's hands on her skin, his lips on her neck, the way he had made her feel things she had never felt before. The way she had let him.

Her stomach turned, and she doubled over, dry heaving into the grass. Not because of the sex. Because of the shame. She had given herself to a stranger. A man she didn't know, didn't trust, didn't even like. She had let him touch her, taste her, make her come again and again until she was trembling and begging.

What was wrong with her?

She pressed her hands to her face, her fingers cold against her flushed cheeks. Tony. She had betrayed Tony. He was her boyfriend, the man who had promised to make her his luna, the man who had been her only comfort in the years since Jeremy died. And she had spread her legs for a stranger like some kind of common whore.

The thought made her sick. She scrambled to her feet, her legs shaky, her head pounding. She needed to get home. She needed to pretend this night had never happened.

The walk back through the forest was a blur. Jackie kept her head down, her arms wrapped around herself, trying to make herself as small as possible. She took the secret path, the one she and Jeremy had discovered as children, the one that led past the patrol guards without being seen. She couldn't face anyone right now. She couldn't face their questions, their looks, their judgment.

When she finally reached the pack house, she climbed through her bedroom window, her hands trembling. Aurelia was waiting for her on the bed, her golden eyes narrow with disdain.

"I know," Jackie whispered, her voice cracking. "I know. I'm a mess."

Aurelia meowed and turned her back, flicking her tail. Jackie didn't blame her. She was disgusted with herself too.

She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower, scrubbing her skin until it was red. She wanted to wash away the memories, the sensations, the feeling of Kealan's hands on her body. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, she couldn't wash away the guilt.

She was a terrible person.

When she finally emerged from the shower, there was a knock on her door. Jackie froze, her heart pounding. Was it her mother? Had someone seen her sneak back in?

"Jackie?" Tony's voice was soft, concerned. "Can I come in?"

Jackie's stomach dropped. Tony. Of course it was Tony. She quickly pulled on some clothes, her hands shaking. "Yeah," she called, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just a second."

She opened the door to find Tony standing in the hallway, his dirty-blond hair still wet from the morning dew, his soft eyes filled with worry. He was handsome in a familiar way, the kind of handsome she had grown up with. But when she looked at him now, all she could see was Kealan's face.

"Hey," Tony said, stepping into the room. "I came by last night, but you weren't here. Your mother said you were sleeping, but I checked, and your bed was empty."

Jackie's heart raced. "I… I went for a walk."

"A walk?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "In the middle of the night? In the pouring rain?"

Jackie looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "I couldn't sleep. I needed some air."

Tony was quiet for a long moment. Then he crossed the room and took her hands in his. "Jackie, what's going on? You've been distant for weeks. You barely talk to me anymore. You're always training or reading or staring off into space. I feel like I'm losing you."

Jackie's throat tightened. She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to confess everything — the stranger at the lake, the mate bond, the shame that was eating her alive. But she couldn't. The words wouldn't come.

"I'm just stressed," she lied. "With the alpha thing, and my mom, and… everything."

Tony studied her face, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

It was a gentle kiss, soft and familiar. Jackie should have felt something — warmth, comfort, love. Instead, all she felt was cold. Kealan's kiss had been fire. Tony's kiss felt like ash.

She pulled away, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry. I'm just tired."

Tony nodded, though his eyes remained worried. "Okay. Get some rest. I'll see you later."

When he left, Jackie sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. She had lied to him. She had cheated on him. She had betrayed the one person who had always been there for her. And the worst part was, she couldn't stop thinking about Kealan. The way he had touched her. The way he had looked at her. The way he had made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.

She hated herself for it.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Jackie went through the motions — training, eating, pretending everything was normal. But inside, she was falling apart. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kealan's face. Every time she touched her neck, she felt the ghost of his lips.

That evening, her mother called a pack meeting. Jackie sat in the back, hoping to go unnoticed. But her mother's eyes found her, sharp and suspicious.

"Alpha Kealan of the Ironfang Pack has been spotted near our borders," her mother announced, her voice cold. "He has been raiding packs across the region, searching for something. We believe he will attack soon."

The pack erupted into murmurs, fear and anger mixing in the air. Jackie's heart pounded. Kealan. He was here.

"We will defend our territory," her mother continued. "We will not be intimidated by a monster who kills for sport. Every able-bodied wolf will fight."

Jackie felt her mother's gaze on her, heavy and judgmental. She knew what her mother was thinking. She was thinking that Jackie couldn't fight. That Jackie was useless.

That night, Jackie lay in bed, listening to the sounds of the pack preparing for battle. She couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing, her heart torn. She knew what she should do — she should tell her mother about Kealan, about the mate bond, about everything. But she couldn't. She was too afraid. Too ashamed.

At dawn, the attack came.

The howls woke Jackie from a fitful sleep. She scrambled out of bed, pulling on clothes, her heart pounding. Through the window, she could see wolves fighting — her pack members, and strangers with white fur and glowing eyes.

And then she saw him. Kealan. In his wolf form, massive and terrifying, his golden eyes scanning the chaos. He was looking for her.

Jackie ran outside, her silver knife clutched in her hand. She didn't know what she was going to do. Fight? Flee? Surrender?

Kealan spotted her, and his eyes locked on hers. He shifted into his human form, naked and bloody, his white hair a wild mess. He strode toward her, ignoring the battle raging around them.

"Where is she?" Kealan demanded, his voice cold. "Where is Jackie?"

Jackie's mother stepped forward, her face twisted with rage. "You will not touch my daughter."

"I'm not asking," Kealan growled.

He lunged at Jackie, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward him. Jackie struggled, but his grip was iron.

"You said you wouldn't hurt anyone in my pack if I went with you," she hissed.

"I also said I was going to have to take care of Tony, didn't I?" Kealan's voice was low, dangerous. "I gave him a chance. If he hadn't come into your room, touched you, flirted with you, maybe I wouldn't have."

Jackie's blood ran cold. "What did you do to Tony?"

Kealan's eyes flashed. "Nothing. Yet."

Her mother stepped forward, her voice shaking with fury. "Let her go."

Kealan turned to face her, his expression cold. "I came here for one thing. Jackie. I take her, and I leave. Everyone lives. I don't take her, and I kill everyone. Your choice."

Jackie watched her mother's face. She saw the fear, the anger, the resignation.

"Fine," her mother said.

Jackie's heart shattered. Her mother was giving her away. Just like that. Like she was nothing.

"You're a monster," Jackie whispered to Kealan, her voice cracking.

"And you're mine, Kitten," Kealan said, his voice soft. "All mine."

He pulled her toward the car, his grip tight on her wrist. Jackie didn't resist. What was the point? She was trapped. She had been trapped from the moment she met him at the lake. From the moment she gave in to him. From the moment she let him touch her.

She was his. And she hated herself for it.

The drive to the Ironfang Pack was long and silent. Jackie sat in the passenger seat, her eyes fixed on the window, her mind numb. She could feel Kealan's eyes on her, but she refused to look at him.

"You're angry," he said finally.

Jackie didn't respond.

"I understand," Kealan said. "You have every right to be. But I did what I had to do."

"You destroyed my life," Jackie whispered. "You took me from my home, from my family, from Tony."

"Tony didn't deserve you," Kealan said, his voice hard. "He was weak. He couldn't protect you."

"And you can?" Jackie turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "You, who kills without thought, who destroys packs for power? You think you can protect me?"

Kealan's jaw tightened. "I don't expect you to understand. But everything I do, I do for my pack. For my family. For my sister, who is dying because I couldn't find the one thing that could save her."

Jackie was silent for a moment. Then she said, "What does that have to do with me?"

Kealan's eyes flicked to her. "Everything. You are the key to everything, Jackie. And whether you like it or not, you're going to help me save her."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Jackie's mind was reeling. She had thought Kealan was a monster, pure and simple. But there was something in his voice when he talked about his sister — something desperate, something human. She didn't want to feel sympathy for him. But she couldn't help it.

When they arrived at the Ironfang Pack, Jackie was overwhelmed by the size of it. The pack house was a massive structure, all dark wood and modern design, set against the backdrop of a lush forest. Wolves moved about — some training, others chatting, all of them looking strong, confident.

But when Jackie stepped out of the car, they all stopped and stared. Some of them eyed her with curiosity, others with disdain.

"She's the one?" a voice said. Jackie turned to see a young man with silver hair and blue eyes, smirking at her. "She doesn't look like much."

Kealan snarled, a low, dangerous sound. "Marcus, if you value your life, you'll shut your mouth."

Marcus raised his hands in surrender, but his smirk didn't fade. "Just saying, Alpha. She's supposed to be some great alpha, but I've seen stronger pups."

Jackie wanted to punch him, but she was too tired, too overwhelmed. Instead, she followed Kealan into the pack house, her head held high, determined not to let them see her weakness.

But deep inside, she was terrified. She was in a strange place, surrounded by strangers, with no one to turn to. And the one person who was supposed to protect her — her mate — was the one who had taken everything from her.

She had never felt so alone.