19 Years old
Juy

I was nervous. No matter what Veris said to me I was going to be nervous. He could tell me that everything would be fine and that he would love me but I would still be nervous and he couldn't understand that.

Veris and I were getting pretty serious. So serious that I was meeting his family and by family I meant his brother, his twin brother. I was nervous because it was a lot of pressure and Veris hadn't given me a lot to go by. He had just said you'll like him and that was it.

This male expected me to be calm when I was meeting the most important person in his life, he was crazy. I wasn't him, I didn't have all that much confidence in my ability to wow people. I was scared and instead of comforting me like any smart male would, Veris down played my fears.

I was annoyed with him and that only added to my nervousness, I kept pulling at the skirt of my green dress and rubbing the back of my neck where hair had long grown back. It felt weird not feeling the fine pricks of my cropped hair but I guess I was over that stage now. My hair was growing and the more I got the more I saw my mother in me. I liked it.

"Stop fiddling, you're making me nervous" he grumbled and I couldn't help but kiss my teeth at him.

"Well at least we can both be nervous together" I snarked.

"It will be fine trust me, he will love you! I think you might actually replace me with Nerro," he looked put out with that thought, his bottom lip pouring in that adorable look of his. My laugh belted out into the garden earning me a large grin by the big kid beside me.

"That's what I love to see, all smiles from my favourite girl" his lips quickly pecked at mine before he continued walking off.

"I better be your only girl," I shouted running up to him and grabbing his arm, a squeal left my lips as he spun around and threw me over his shoulder and began jogging away. I was squeaking and laughing in joy as I thumped on his back, putting up a fight that I wasn't really feeling because I love this playful side to Veris.

"You will never know" he growled playfully, swatting my behind before he dropped me back down onto my feet. I climbed on the tips of my toes and pecked his lips, my hands sinking into his inky hair as the kiss deepened.

We were both panting for breath by the time we pulled apart. He threw his arm around my shoulder and gripped me tightly to his body "lets go, love."

"Are you ready?" He questioned as he pushed open the door to their small house. I wasn't ready but it wasn't like he was giving me much choice, he wanted me to meet his brother and since he had met Khan -accidentally and Neema intentionally- I couldn't really deny his request.

"Brother" screamed an excited voice the moment we stepped over the threshold, Veris rolled his eyes heavenwards as his twin bolted from nowhere and jumped into arms that were already opened for him.

"Hey, nerd" chuckled Veris squeezing the much smaller man in his big arms. "How are you doing" he laughed while placing his brother back onto the floor.

"Gods I haven't seen you in centuries Veris, what a crap brother you have been!" He moaned, face scrunched up as his arms folded over his chest

"And all because you have a new female" he grumbled, nose wrinkling in my direction as he pouted heavily.

"Behave Nerro, I saw you last week"

"Well I bet you see Vanya more than twice a week," his feet stomping on the ground as his brows knotted deeply into a frown.

"Yes I do but she's my woman and you are just my annoying little brother" he grumbled playfully, patting Nerro on the head earning him a huff and a slap from the smaller male. They were so cute together, it made me wish I had been gifted a sister or brother.

"And you my meathead brother are extremely rude, introduce me to your lady," his big green eyes widening as he spun to face me, glee spread across his face as he waited for the formal introductions.

Veris patted Nerro's long hair again which seemed to annoy the male a lot, before finally introducing me, "Vanya, this highhanded premadonna is my younger brother Nerro."

"And by younger he means smaller brother because I was actually born 10 minutes before you, kid," Nerro grouched, swiping his hand at his younger big brother before turning to greet me.

"Welcome to my home, Vanya. I'm the better twin!" He chuckled, linking his arm around mine and pulling me further into the house, leading me down a corridor and into a lounge room. He ushered me to take a seat and because he was so pushy I couldn't deny him. He was nice enough to offer me a cup of tea but before I could specify which type he was off pouring me some camomile concoction, all the while he had that gleeful smile on his face.

I wanted to laugh so bad because Nerro looked psychotic but I wouldn't dare, not when he was so excited to finally see me.

"Nerro, stop trying to steal my female," complained Veris, his big shoulders propping him up as he leaned against the entryway to the room.

Nerro snorted out loud, waving his brother away like an annoying fly "Pfft brother, you know she's not my type."

"I'm not?" I grimaced deeply at the words that slipped from my mouth, skin burning as I turned a deep shade of red as the two brothers burst into laughter at some private joke. Veris stomping into the room and flinging himself down into a chair opposite us, his eyes glistening with tears.

"No offence to you love but I like mine a lot hairier if you know what I mean," I didn't know what he meant, not at all.

"Fucks sake Nerro, can you top trying to scare her away" I wasn't sure how Nerro's preferences would scare me away not until he scoffed at Veris and nearly startled me out of my skin with his next words.

"What it's true, unless she can grow a beard like that Alpha of ours I'm not interested."

My mouth fell open in shock, "You have a thing for Khan?" I couldn't believe it, Nerro liked males! I had never met a male that liked males, I knew the wolves were sexually free and generally didn't mind who they partnered with but I had never met a male that only liked males. Human or not.

I was in shock but I tried not to show it.

"Yes! That man is fine. All that brown skin just gets me every time. Of course his mate is pretty too if you like that sort of thing."

"And by that sort of thing he means women," I couldn't, they were speaking so fast and I just couldn't wrap my mind around this fast enough.

"Yes, I don't like those creatures" Nerro scowled at the thought of a female and I couldn't help but laugh, gods this was such a bizarre situation.

"Nerro feels the need to tell everybody he meets that he doesn't like females," deadpanned Veris, giving me his most serious look even though I could see he wanted to join in on my laughter.

"Well why not? I might as well get it out of the way so they can stop staring at me like I'm some rotten fruit." He flicked his shoulder length hair and I just couldn't deal. The male had better hair than me.

Veris' rolled his eyes as he heaved a deep sigh "They don't look at you like that Nerro"

"Not when you're around," he interjected, arms folding as he frowned at his brother.

"I don't think anyone would bother you with a man the size of Veris" I replied softly, leaning back in my seat when matching green eyes both landed on me. It was unnerving to see two Veris'.

Though Veris was much bigger and more rugged they were extremely similar looking, almost identical in features. They both had extremely strong jaw lines but Nerro seemed softer because of his full pouty lips and slender body. Their noses were strong and straight and their green eyes framed by long sooty lashes.

"Cringe, I don't need to know the size of my brother," he chuckled, pretending to be sick. I felt my cheeks heating up in embarrassment at his words.

"Nerro" shouted Veris in reproach, frowning deeply at his brother but Nerro only stuck his tongue out in such a childish and endearing manner.

"Oh gods. You are nothing like I thought you would be!"

"I bet you thought I was some big muscle baboon like my brother here. Well you'll be glad to see all this smooth elegance," he grinned pointing up and down at his slender face and body, eyebrows wiggling like little worms.

"I think I love you" I blurted, quickly covering my mouth in surprise, wow this male brought out the ballsy side of me.

"Sorry sweetie, I don't swing that way but if I ever change you'll be the first on my list" he winked obscenely causing me to snort on my cup of tea and nearly die.

I placed the tea cup down on the table as I clasped my chest trying to clear my airwaves. My head bobbing forwards and making me feel queasy as Veris slapped me on the back with his heavy hands.

"Careful chunky, you'll break her in half if you keep pounding her like that"

"Not likely" Veris mumbled under his breath, which only made me splutter and flounder around even further. I was going to die of embarrassment any moment now. I was literally self expiring, these two brothers had no shame with their sexual innuendos.

"So how did you two meet?" Nerro questioned while slurping on his tea.

"Well your brother turned up uninvited to my birthday party and wooed me whilst he stuck to the walls like a shadow." I croaked, gripping at my tea and gulping down the slightly cooler liquid to soothe my burning throat.

Veris' head tilted back as a full howling laugh left his mouth "Actually I was invited. Samyuri invited me," his finger wagging in the air as if his point was any better.

"Well that was nice of him considering I didn't invite him either." I scoffed, flicking my short hair over my shoulder and shaking my head.

"You didn't invite anyone love, it was a surprise." He replied nuzzling his face into my neck before he turned his attention back to his grinning twin.

"You see Samyuri is Vanya's best friends mate." When Nerro only looked on in confusion I quickly rushed in to explain the situation and then added my final piece.

"But Veris shouldn't speak too soon because she hasn't taken him back"

"-Yet, I think she will once she's done torturing him, with your help of course" he interjected hastily, flipping my hair as he reprimanded me for helping my friend.

"Of course" I replied flippantly.

It's not like I was actually doing anything particularly bad. I had helped reconnect the two and when Eliza had finally returned, she had given me hell for it and so now I was dedicated to helping her seek her revenge. I tried to warn her that he wouldn't wait around forever but she argued she only needed him to suffer for a year like she had and so I helped her.

Gone were her scruffy and comfortable trousers and in was a new much more glamorous Eliza. I didn't particularly like the look but it served its purpose because the males were lining up outside her father's house for her.

They took her out on dates, during the day and late at night. She was rubbing her single status in Samyuri's face and the male was so besotted he hadn't even tried to see any other females. He was learning his lesson and I was hoping that sometime soon my friend duties of helping her pick an outfit would be over.

"You are my kind of woman Vanya! I'm sure that Samyuri deserves all that he's getting!"

Damn right he was. He was getting everything he deserved multiplied by 100. They did say there was no fury like a woman scorned and Sam had scorned Eliza badly. She had spent a whole year trying to adjust to the fact that her mate had rejected her to only find out he had "changed his mind". She had been livid but now she was just being plain mean. I had told her that but she didn't want to hear it and I wasn't going to keep repeating myself just for the sake of saying it.

She would do as she pleased, she always did.

...

Time flew by quickly when I was at Nerro's small house, we chatted about everything. Laughed deeply and shared some of our stories, by the time I had to leave I was genuinely happy that I had met him. He was like no male I had ever met and though I wasn't sure where his future would take him I knew it would be great because Nerro was amazing. Such a happy and funny man, I really liked him and I couldn't stop telling Veris that as we made our way back to the main compound building.

He kissed me deeply on the lips before whispering a cheeky I told you so, swatting my bum and then jogging off to his studies for council duty. I was sad to see him go but it was just as well because I had to meet Manal. She had been incognito for the past few months, hiding around the compound like some sort of criminal in her attempt to avoid her mate. We both knew it wouldn't last for long but for now it had.

I met her out by the tree that I had planted what felt like a lifetime ago. It had grown drastically in my neglect, showing that someone had cared for the beautiful tree even when I had not.

She was sitting crossed leg on the floor, her eyes closed as she breathed deeply, chanting under her breath as she rubbed the 3 toned blue stone attached to a rope around her neck. As I approached her, her eyelids shot open to reveal her glowing amber eyes. Speckles of silver moonlight dancing in the centre of her orbs before they dulled back to their original orangey colour.

Her words hit me like a punch to my heart, "I will be leaving soon but before I do I have to give you something."

"Going?" I inhaled my mouth gaping in disbelief, "Where are you going?"

"The gods have sent me a message about kings of old and kings of new, I have to heal and won't be back for a while." She was speaking in riddles as per-usual but this time I desperately tried to understand what she was saying because I needed to know what it was that was taking her away from me.

"This is for you," she murmured pulling out a small leather pouch and placed it on my lap. Opening the small leather pouch. I felt so humbled that my hands shook in gratitude.

Manal had given me two crystals, one of them I was familiar with because it was one of her favourites.

The silvery quartz was a rare crystal, one that I knew was regarded as one of the most spiritual crystals. It provided spiritual protection by creating a positive sphere of light around the user and rejected all negative energy. Manal often used this stone when she was meditating or praying to the gods because it helped to concentrate her thoughts and remove negativity. It was beautiful and sleek within my hands, silky like the strands of her black and silver hair.

"That one is Aquamarine," she pointed to the aqua coloured crystal in my hand, the rough stone like texture was completely different to the smooth Tibetan Quartz.

"It is for clarity and purification, it helps bring closure to unresolved situations and encourages self-belief."

Her finger covered over my lips when I tried to interject that I had no unresolved issues in my life. Me and Carson were done and dusted and there were no bad feelings between me and Cobalt, in fact we were still close friends. Not as close as we had been because his mate was in his life but we were still extremely close.

"I know you feel that things are done with your mate... but the gods have a way of surprising us." Her eyes narrowing at her own personal surprise they had thrown upon her.

"Promise me that you will meditate with this stone. If not all the time then at least once a week," I nodded my head in agreement even though I didn't like what the crystal meant for me.

I was sure that I was done with that part of my life but if Manal was right and she often was, maybe I wasn't and that thought scared me more than anything else.