Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

When I enter the kitchen again, the kids are sitting at the counter.

The girl bounces in her seat. “I’m Jacelyn.”

She’s like a mini Mia. Eyes so big and sweet, joy radiating from her little body. And that name. It brings

tears to my eyes.

Mia named my niece after me. I knew that from the information Jacob told me, but somehow seeing

this little girl makes it suddenly real.

“Hello sweetheart,” I tell her. I lean down.

It’s awkward. I want to hug her.

But I’m a stranger.

I start to lean back, rethinking the impulse then her little arms sling around my neck and she squeezes

tightly.

I breathe her scent. Committing it to memory. She is my family. And I will protect her until I take my last

breath.

I hate that I missed her early years. Holding her as a baby. Seeing her take her first steps.

I position her on my hip and turn back to Aaron. He watches without saying much. But I can tell he’s

assessing everything.

I don’t look at Morgan.

I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t dare.

Now that my wolf has made his intentions known, it’s all I can think about. The…awareness of her is

like a jolt of energy lingering in the air.

Of all the women in this world… a witch? Really.

And what would happen when we inevitably got into a fight? Her magic could smote my ass.

“Where is my mother?” Aaron asks.

Jacelyn rests her head on my shoulder.

“She’s gone back to our pack. I’d like for you both to come and see her. To meet your whole family.”

Aaron doesn’t say anything. He’s weighing my words, debating.

“Why should we come now?” he asks.

Morgan makes a sound, and my attention is drawn to her. I’m not sure what I see in her expression.

Does she feel the tug between us too?

Maybe witches are immune to wolf magic or the concept of a true mating.

I focus on my nephew.

Aaron stares at me, his expression neutral, waiting.

Am I supposed to lie? I don’t know how much Mia has told them, and maybe it’d have been better to

have discussed things with her–before knocking her unconscious with enough ketamine for an

elephant.

I rake my one hand through my hair.

All three sets of eyes stare at me expectantly.

“Well, kids, the truth is….your dad–my brother–is sick. And he misses your mom so much. And he

really wants to meet both of you.”

“He’s the Alpha,” Aaron says. It’s a statement more than a question.

“That’s right.”

“Then it’s important that he gets better.”

“Yes.”

“Because a pack without an alpha is vulnerable.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Maybe Mia is bringing them up with the intent of them one day belonging in our world.

If she isn’t, I’m going to set her straight on that.

It’s one thing to go it alone. But it isn’t fair to force the life of a rogue on innocent children.

And I know that’s all kinds of fucked up and unfair, especially given her circumstances, but still.

The kids belong with their pack.

Looking at these beautiful children… Holding my little niece and her clinging to me like she’s trying to

make up for all the years she missed, I feel something big and warm start to unfurl in my chest.

I’d die for them.

It’s like a whole other kind of love, and it reminds me that there is nothing more important than pack–

than family.

“Jace,” Morgan says quietly. She knows my name.

When I meet her gaze, my wolf turns circles.

Damn it all.

She is the one.

“You’re nothing like I expected,” she whispers.

I’ve always been told I have an expressive face. I can’t play poker for shit, and no doubt, holding my

niece and chatting with my nephew, I probably have the goofiest grin stuck on my face.

“Think you can refrain from trying to kill me again, little witch?”

Her lips twitch a bit at that. She might be petite compared to me, but her magic…she’s packing big.

“What would you give for my aid?” she asks.

My answer is immediate. “Anything.”

She purses her lip. “I’ll hold you to it.”

I think I just made a deal with the devil. A beautiful devil, to be sure, but a woman with power the likes

of which I’ve never seen.

The kids start to fidget. They’re picking up my adrenaline, I realize, on the tension.

“We’re going to go home now,” I tell them. “All of us.”

My eyes are on Morgan when I say it.

She’s either going to help me–or kill me.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MIA

“How dare you!?”

The words are spoken low and they vibrate with the force of my wolf.

I’m furious. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

If I wasn’t 30,000 feet in the air, I’d tear into them and to hell with the consequences.

“Maybe,” Tyler says quietly, “You should see that we are doing this for you–not to you.” he sighs. “You

need to come home, Mia. It’s not the same without you.”

The words are kind but they’re too little too late, and from Mikhail’s and Liam’s expressions they

acknowledge that too.

“I appreciate the sentiment.” See? I can play nice. “But I was forced out once, and given no choice.

Now, you’re dragging me back–against my will. What makes you think I want any part of this pack?

Why should I be abused like this?”

The guys shift uncomfortably. Yeah, well, I’m not pulling any punches.

“My children are alone. Unprotected. In a place where we know that your Luna’s pack is currently

attacking. And you think by kidnapping me, I’m just going to merrily come home with my tail between

my legs? Back to that same luna who attacked me–and my whole pack who rejected me?”

I can hardly wrap my head around the arrogance and the misogyny.

“You’re not well,” Liam says.

There’s that.

My heart breaks as I think of my kids, alone. I’m all they’ve ever known. If I die…who will love them and

care for them. Who will keep them safe?

Do I trust anyone to care for them the same as me?

Cameron, my wolf tells me.

No.

Cameron, she insists,

He’s sick too–that’s why we’re going back.

It’s the only reason.

“Look guys,” I say. I make myself stand up, although I have to hang onto the seats on the plane. I’m

dizzy and whether it’s the affliction or whatever they shot me up with, I’m weak. “We all know I’m

coming back for a reason. This isn’t some happy reunion. This isn’t me coming to stay. I’ll do what I can

to help your Alpha, and then I’m leaving.”

And my kids are coming with me.

I don’t say this because it will literally start a war and that’s not what anybody needs–at least not while

on this private jet.

“Hey Mia!” Christian yells from the pilot’s seat. He’s happy and genuine. And deep down I know he

missed me–they all did.

I sigh. “Hi Chris.”

But their loyalty wasn’t to me. Maybe I could forgive, over time. But I would never forget.

This was still my ‘pack’ but they were no longer my ‘family.”

The radio makes a noise and Christian answers it.

“Damn it!’ Christian mumbles and all heads swing to the front of the plane.

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s Cameron. They’re losing him!”