My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate Chapter 279

Dahlia's POV

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the floodgates opened. My body trembled, wracked by the weight of grief that poured from me in waves. I lay there, unable to move, as hours seemed to slip away, allowing me to finally release all the sorrow I’d been holding back. The pain I thought I had buried long ago came rushing back with an overwhelming force, everything I had locked away deep inside now bubbling to the surface.

I wept for the woman I used to be, the one I could no longer recognize. When had I become so fragile, so consumed by insecurity? I had once been confident, sure of myself, even believed I deserved love and happiness. But now, I couldn't even believe that my mates could ever truly find me worthy.

I wept for the loss of my mother. After my conversation with Elder Keziah, I finally understood something I had been blind to for so long. The grief I had felt as a teenager hadn’t been my own—it had been my father’s, passed on to me through my "gift." The pain had consumed me for so long, and one day, I had just decided I couldn’t mourn any longer. I locked it all away, thinking it was gone, that I had dealt with it. But now, I knew that I had never truly processed my own loss.

So, I let myself feel it all—the hollow ache that had never really gone away. I cried for every moment I needed her and she wasn't there. For every time I longed for her comfort, her arms around me, her soft voice whispering that everything would be okay. She had always been my sanctuary, and without her, I had been left to find peace on my own.

But the truth was, I hadn’t really created peace. I had learned to numb myself, to shut down my emotions, thinking that I was healing. But in reality, I had buried the pain beneath layers, always lurking beneath the surface, reminding me to keep everyone, everything, at a distance.

And then there was Finnian. A problem I thought I had solved, a man I never imagined could hurt me. His departure had struck me like a thunderclap, and the pain, the anger, the overwhelming sense of betrayal, came crashing down. There was no time to prepare, no space to build the walls I had gotten so good at erecting. I grieved his loss, but I didn’t allow myself to fully feel it. Before the wound had a chance to heal, I buried it again, determined to move forward, to not let life defeat me.

I had convinced myself that moving on was brave, that it was strength to shut out the pain, to distance myself from the possibility of another heartbreak. But now, I realized that bravery might lie in facing the pain head-on, in allowing yourself to feel everything, even knowing that life could hurt you again. True strength, perhaps, was in enduring it all and still having the courage to keep going.

So, I cried once more, but this time, it wasn’t Finnian the man I mourned—it was the illusion of who I had made him out to be. I cried for the man I had placed on a pedestal, the one he had never been. Blue, my wolf, had been born just before my mother’s death, and though she hadn’t felt the loss as deeply as I had, she had been there through it all, especially through my relationship with Finnian.

Even when we realized he wasn’t our mate, she still loved him. Just like me, she had clung to the image of him, the idea of him, and when I closed myself off from everything, I denied her the chance to mourn him as well. So now, as I cried, she cried with me.

Together, we wept for the loss of the perfect man we had created in our minds. We cried for the failed attempt to hold on to something that was never truly ours. We cried for the anger and resentment we had directed at others when we, too, had played our part in the mess. And we cried for the life we had never fully lived because we had locked ourselves away, too scared to feel.

By the time the tears slowed and finally ceased, I was drained. But beneath the exhaustion, there was a strange sense of liberation. For the first time, I felt free from the weight of the past. I realized I no longer had to carry my mother’s death, my father’s grief, or Finnian’s abandonment with me. My future was mine, untainted by those old wounds. My wolf and I were free to move forward, only accountable to ourselves and our mates, if we so chose.

I knew it was time to move. The day had slipped away, and I couldn’t remain shut in any longer. I dragged myself to the bathroom, washed off the remnants of my tears, and dressed in simple clothes, tying my hair into a messy bun. I was done hiding away in that room, ready for the fresh air outside.

I needed to let my wolf run. When I had left the twins, she had been so quiet. She had respected my decision, supporting me in her own way, but she hadn’t pushed. She had understood that, despite her love for Fang and Ghost, the pain they had caused us was too much to ignore. But I knew she still held hope, a hope that we might find our way back to them someday.

Now, I was grateful for her restraint. I could feel her joy when we briefly reconciled with them, but still, she remained in the background, letting me experience everything through our mates. And when I pushed Liam away, she didn’t blame me. She didn’t lash out at me for the pain I had caused, either to her or to them. She simply shared in my grief, took it upon herself, and never once asked for escape.

It was time for her to take the lead. I owed her that.

I knew my way around Blood Moon now, even after just two weeks. The paths were familiar, the routes ingrained in me. I slipped into the kitchen, avoiding attention, and snuck out through the back door. The garden paths were empty, and I moved quickly through them, choosing the route that would bring me closest to the forest. Once there, I ran toward the tree line, stopping behind the nearest tree to undress.

After neatly folding my clothes, I let Blue take over. She surged forward, and I was lost in the sensation of her freedom. The forest blurred around me, the greens, yellows, and browns of the world becoming a haze as Blue sprinted with ease through the trees. I didn’t interrupt her thoughts; I allowed her the space to process everything we had just endured.

“Will we accept them?” Her question broke through the quiet. “Are we ready to try again?”

“I’m not sure, Blue,” I answered honestly.

“But we will decide soon,” she replied with certainty. “It’s not fair to them to drag this on.”

With a mental nod, she grew silent again, content to let us both sort through the emotions we had yet to untangle.

After an hour of running at full speed, Blue retreated to the back of my mind, allowing me to take over our shared wolf form. I walked back to where I had left my clothes, shifting back before dressing quickly. Once done, I headed towards the garden, a place that always made me feel closer to my mother. She had loved flowers, loved anything that grew, and spending time there almost made it feel like she was still with me, offering some sense of comfort. I longed for her guidance now more than ever.

I found a bench by a fountain, letting the soft sound of the water soothe me as I gazed at the vibrant roses that surrounded me, their colors like a living rainbow.

“Talk to me, Momma,” I thought silently. “I don’t know what to do.”

As if answering my silent plea, my phone rang, nearly making me jump out of my skin. I checked the caller ID and felt a smile spread across my face. Of course, Momma would send him to me.

“Daddy!” I answered, my voice bright with relief.

“I miss you!” he said, his voice warm and loving.

“I miss you too, Daddy!” I replied.

“How’ve you been?” he asked, concern threading his tone.

“I’m fine. Been busy, but I have news,” I said, my voice lifting with a hint of curiosity.

“Really? Please share! I could use some good news right now,” I admitted, my heart heavy.

“Why? What’s wrong?” His voice softened with worry.

“Nothing earth-shattering, Dad!” I laughed, trying to ease his concern. “You go first, then I promise I’ll tell you.”

He huffed impatiently but continued, “I finally connected with Aunt Calliope.” He paused for a moment, as if weighing his words. “She’d returned to Midnight Moon, staying with friends. It took forever to find her, but when I did, I told her that you wanted to meet her. She was surprised but excited.”

“I’d love to meet her too, but I’m not sure I’m ready for all of... you know.”

“I understand. I trust you to know when the time is right,” he said gently. “She’s willing whenever you are.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I murmured. “Now, tell me what’s on your mind, Dad.”

I didn’t need to say more. He listened intently as I shared everything that had happened over the last few days—the pain, the tears, the overwhelming weight of it all. He never interrupted, never judged. I knew how hard it must have been for him to hear me relive the moments of grief, but he didn’t let on. He stayed quiet, understanding that speaking might add to my distress.

When I told him about asking Momma for help, about how I believed she had prompted him to call, he let out a soft chuckle. But then, there was a pause. I could almost hear him gathering his thoughts before he spoke again, his voice steady and serious.

“Dahlia,” he began, his tone heavy, “you know how I feel about the mate bond. I’ve explained it before, and I won’t repeat myself. But I’ll tell you this: from my experience, and from many others I’ve known, no one will love you like your Goddess-given mates. No one can even come close. I want that kind of love for you. But you have to be at peace with the decision. If you’re not, I’ll stand by you through the rejection, but you must understand, none of you may get a second chance. That may be fine with you, but it won’t be for them. They’re Alphas, Dahlia, and eventually, they’ll need a Luna. Even if that means choosing a mate. So before you decide, think about not only what you’d be giving up but also what you’ll have to watch them do.”

His words struck me like a blow. The thought of them with anyone else—of them choosing someone else—sent a deep growl rumbling from my chest.

“Well, I think you’ve answered that question,” my dad said through his laughter. “Just remember, accepting the mate bond isn’t just about being vulnerable. It can also make you strong. A life without heartache isn’t guaranteed, with or without a mate. But if you take that risk, and if you build an unbreakable trust, there’s power in that. That power will carry you through any trial.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I’ll think about what you said. I promise.” My voice was quieter now, filled with resolve.

“Trust yourself, Lia. You’ll do the right thing. I’ll talk to you soon,” he said, before ending the call.

I sat in silence, his words turning over in my mind. The thought of the twins choosing another mate was unbearable, but I knew my reaction had been driven by instinct. I couldn’t base my decision on that fear alone. I had to make sure I was ready to accept everything that came with the bond—the love, the challenges, and the possibility of heartache.

I wanted them. That much was certain. But was I willing to risk the pain that might come with it? Was I ready to gamble on the chance that we could build something beautiful, despite the hurt?

I knew the answer, even if it scared me. I was willing to take the risk.

With a deep breath, I resolved to seek out the twins. Once I made a decision, I never hesitated. Blue, unified with me, lent me her strength, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me as I made my way through the halls. I spotted Bastian and Nikolai leaving the Alphas' office. At least one of them was inside.

I steeled myself and walked toward them. Bastian greeted me with a low “Luna,” while Nikolai gave me his signature smirk. I barely acknowledged them. My focus was solely on what I needed to do.

I stopped just outside their office, taking a deep breath, rehearsing my words. Then, before I lost my nerve, I pushed the door open without knocking and slammed it harder than I intended.

Two surprised faces looked up at me. The moment their hazel eyes locked with mine, I spoke the words that had been building up inside me.