Tortured By My Twin Mates: Finding Love Again

By Liz Barnet

"So, I assume you were meant to be the next Luna of the Blackthorn pack? Mate to Alpha Maximus and Leonardo?" His question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected him to discern this so quickly.

 

"We received the invitation to the ritual as well," he answered my unspoken query. "I suppose there won't be a ceremony now that you're here." He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to me to wipe my tears. "Our pack isn't as prominent or large as the Blackthorn Pack, Maya. But I hope we can make you feel comfortable here."

 

Wait... what did that mean?

 

"You won't kill me?" I asked, my words trembling.

 

He chuckled softly at my question, shaking his head. "No, I won't. We don't take lives unless they try to take ours. We might not be the most exemplary leaders, but we value saving lives over ending them," he said with a gentle smile, his eyes sparkling under the moonlight, appearing... beautiful. "Welcome to the Moonstone Pack."

 

Life does indeed offer second chances, but it can just as swiftly snatch them away, can't it?

 

After escaping the clutches of the twins, Maya discovered a new lease on life in the form of Nathaniel—the alpha of the pack she had joined. A spark ignited between them, evolving into something deeper than mere friendship. Now, she had someone to lean on, a pack that embraced her without judgment, and friends willing to lay down their lives for her and her child. But life isn't a fairytale, is it? When you carry the weight of darker shadows from your past, what assurance is there that they won't cast a pall over the future you so desperately yearn for?

 

(Book 2 of the series)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024

Book preview

Liz Barnet

Tortured By My Twin Mates

Finding Love Again

Chapter 46: Looming Dangers

Maya

I had nowhere to go, no specific destination in mind, because I didn't even know where I was. All I could discern was the distant borders of the packs. Packs that might be benevolent or ruled by tyrants. I was lost, unsure of what to do next.

I knew that for the first month, I had to infiltrate any pack. Knowing Leonardo and Maximus, they wouldn't fucking stop until they had either captured or killed me. 

Should I sneak into one of the packs right now? Would that be the best choice?

Perhaps not.

Damn it. I had no clue what the hell I was supposed to do. This was way tougher than I'd anticipated.

I began to hesitate. I had no idea what awaited me if I sought refuge in any of these packs. I dreaded the prospect of landing in yet another hell, unwelcomed as an intruder.

I couldn’t go through it all over again, especially knowing I was pregnant. My baby's life hung on the edge of my decisions. A life of being trapped and constantly running away— that's not the kind of life I wanted to offer my child.

I inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly, my thoughts in a frenzy, No, I can't make any decisions in haste today, I murmured to myself, shaking my head as I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.

Realizing that finding a place to stay was a more prudent choice, I set off on a quest to locate a suitable accommodation for the night.

And…After a grueling journey, I stumbled upon a random motel for the night. The place felt eerie, with an unsettling atmosphere, but my options were limited. It seemed far safer than risking the streets, where I could easily become prey for drunken thugs or predators. The world was rife with monsters, and the last thing I wanted was to stumble into their domain.

I've dealt with enough monsters already. My own mates were the epitome of them. I don't need to face more, I muttered to myself.

This journey is going to be tough, Maya, spoke Olivia, my wolf. Do you think you're prepared for it?

Yes, I am, I asserted. I have no other option, Olivia. I have to endure it to survive. I refuse to return to that hell again.

I understand, she replied quietly. But what if they manage to find us?

They won't. I won't let them. I have to provide my child with the life it deserves. I'll fight anyone who tries to take that away from us. This life I've chosen, these are the initial steps. I know it's going to be tough, but I'll make it through. No matter what. 

You're pregnant, Maya. Your child's well-being is crucial, and taking care of yourself is just as important. While staying at this motel for the night might be a temporary solution, it's not sustainable. We're running low on cash. The best option might be to find a pack to stay with, Olivia reasoned, Have you thought about what you are going to do next?

I couldn’t blame her for having doubts, as I was plagued by countless uncertainties that incessantly nudged me.

I understand that's the logical choice, but I can't simply pick any pack, especially without knowing who rules it. Have you considered the risk? I can't reveal my identity because I know Maximus and Leonardo would do everything to track me down. I need a fake ID first, then we can proceed. It's a precarious situation, and every move needs to be carefully calculated. We can't forget we're dealing with the Sterling Twins—they're more cunning than they look. And their minds process as sharp as their words cut through. One misstep and they'd find us in no time, I let out, pinching the bridge of my nose, We can’t make any decision in a hurry and leave room for mistakes or else we are done for.

We can't live in fear, Maya. That’s not why you escaped. You wanted freedom and this is your chance. Today or tomorrow, you'll have to make a decision. I understand you need time, but the reality is, we might have to enter a pack without knowing its ruler or nature. That might be our only fate because we have no way to know about it now. So, if we do it before Maximus and Leonardo find us, it might be better.

She was right...

I needed to make a decision regardless. My life hung in the balance, teetering on the edge. I had to grasp at whatever chance I had before everything threatened to collapse.

Tomorrow, we'll join a pack. For tonight, let's try to find some ease, I sighed and with that, I  walked inside the motel, took the key from the reception, and as soon as I laid on the bed, from all the tiredness and emotional exhaustion and stinging pain from the severed mate bond, I already passed out within five minutes without knowing the next day I had the toughest of fates to face of all the time..

Chapter 47: Caught

Maya

As morning approached, my first order of business was acquiring a fake ID. Surprisingly, the process was expedited due to the prevalence of thugs and individuals engaged in illicit activities here—there was no shortage of such people over here. Acquiring the fake ID set me back two thousand dollars, exacerbating my already dire financial situation—I hadn't brought much in savings when I arrived. In fact, I hadn’t even thought of it that much

Night had fallen, and the prospect of survival with such limited funds loomed ominously—I didn’t have a single fucking idea of what was I supposed to do. However, the importance of the ID couldn't be overstated; it was a necessity. So, I didn't regret spending that sum of money, but I did regret not bringing more money with me.

As I made my way towards the borders of the pack, uncertain which pack lay in that vicinity, regret gnawed at me for ditching Maximus and Leonardo's car in the lake. That beast could've fetched me a few hundred thousand dollars, perhaps even a million if I'd sold it. Though a million seemed a distant dream considering the people around me; none had appeared capable of affording such an expensive car.

Forget it. There’s no point thinking about it anymore.

Actually, recollections of spending the night at the motel still sent shivers down my spine. Until I woke up and surveyed the surroundings, I hadn't realized it was a den of criminals. I still shuddered at the thought of the danger I'd unwittingly placed myself in. I could've been sold off or worse—my organs traded in some grotesque black market.

It was a narrow escape.

So far, luck was with me.

We should shift; it'll help us get there faster.

Why didn't you mention that earlier? I nearly groaned, the realization dawning upon me that I could indeed shift. Truthfully, the ability had slipped my mind entirely since that one fateful night—I hadn't had the chance to do so while trapped with Max and Leo. They made sure I felt worthless every time our paths crossed. Escaping their grip felt like a surreal relief, almost like a dream.

But...

Somewhere deep inside, a regret lingered. If only they had changed. Perhaps, just perhaps, I might have considered forgiving them and all the torment they put me through.

We could have lived together, couldn’t we?

Fuck it. Why am I thinking about them?

You seemed lost in your thoughts. I didn't want to interrupt, Olivia replied calmly.

How thoughtful, I chuckled, the sarcasm not lost in my tone. Now, let's shift.

Though I doubted any prying eyes lurked nearby, I sought cover behind a bush, setting my bag down and shedding my clothes, stowing them inside the bag. Then, we shifted—Olivia's white fur enveloping me as we darted off, the bag dangling between my canines.

And just like that, we reached the border. From the moment I stepped into that territory, an overwhelming sense of danger and peril engulfed me from all sides.

Well….

It wasn't just a feeling I had; it was palpable in the air, a looming presence of something haunting. Perhaps it was my own fear amplifying it or the gravity of the step I was about to take—one that could potentially cost me my life.

Will I be able to make it out alive or will I be killed tonight?

Standing before the border, my heart raced. Another boundary was visible in the distance to my right, and I hesitated to make my way over there because of the unmistakable scent of rogues. Maybe the boundary on my right wasn't for another pack, but a barrier against the rogues. However, the one directly ahead, right in front of me, I knew had to be the pack—the energy pulsated from it.

Setting the bag down, I hurriedly shifted back, slipping on my clothes. From my bag, I retrieved the tin snips I had brought along and the hacksaw. I didn't possess much expertise in cutting metals, but the border nets appeared sturdy enough. I had to rely on either one or both of these tools to breach the border fence.

Eyes darting around, I scoured for any signs of movement or sound and I found nothing.

With painstaking slowness, I began to snip at the border fence, creating a passageway for me to slip through undetected. Gradually, I succeeded. As I lifted the net and slid inside, the edge scraped against my hand, drawing blood. A soft groan escaped my lips, but I didn't have the luxury to dwell on it. Instead, I moved stealthily, suppressing any noise as I made my way inward.

As I ventured inside the pack's territory, I felt a