To @ajr8115 Thank you so much for reading and voting 💕

That would, unfortunately, explain a lot. Sibling rivalry suddenly became a whole lot more dangerous. From what I've heard, one - generally the younger one - often feels as if they live in the shadow of their twin.

"He's older than you, isn't he?" I asked to confirm my suspicions.

"Clever little bird", he replied, mockingly.

I remember doing a case study about Narcissistic Sociopaths. People under this category often felt a strong lack of empathy and a sense of entitlement and privilege. Other common traits were a lack of a guilty conscious, belittling, exploiting and the constant need for control. Mikhail was slowly but surely ticking all those boxes.

So, why had he sent Malik to an institution when clearly he was the mentally deranged one? And, even if he wanted Malik out of the way, why an institution?

Again, I had hit a roadblock in my investigation and judging by his bored face, he was tired of my questions. Well, I had one more to ask whilst I still could.

"Are the people here... the same as what you are? Whatever you call yourselves?"

"Ah, I was wondering when you would ask. Yes, all of us. All apart from you. We call ourselves a pack but a term was given by humans a while back. What was it? A werewolf?" he said, closely observing my facial reactions.

A werewolf?

Just hearing the term for it made me scared as it if sealing the fact that this was all real and not some crazy delusion. I squashed the rising panic before it could make an appearance. He was like a bull and I the matador. The moment I showed my red flag, he would come charging ruthlessly at my weaknesses.

"Gosh", he laughed hysterically. "He didn't even tell you? What a fool".

He took another look at my panicked face and cracked up again.

"Let me guess", he laughed mockingly. "He wanted to keep you safe? He wanted to protect you? Hide you from me? Nothing he has is safe from me".

"Is that all I am then?" I asked, furiously. "An asset? Another way for you to get leverage over him?"

"Do you even know why he wants you?" He questioned, ignoring me. "You don't, do you? Did you just think that you both just coincidentally liked each other?"

He laughed uncontrollably at my expense whilst I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. There was a reason why I inexplicably liked Malik? I needed to know but I wasn't sure if he was going to tell me. He was clearly enjoying my ignorance too much. I felt as if I was going crazy. "There's a reason?" I murmured to myself. I hated this, hated it so much. I hated how little I knew. He ignored me and continued to talk.

"We, can transform into other beings, specifically wolves. Our physical traits are enhanced such as healing, speed, and animalistic senses", he said, baring his canines at me, dragging his tongue languidly across his teeth. "We are physically superior to you humans in every way desirable".

"How is this even possible?" I whispered, quietly.

"That's for you to figure out if you like. And much like you humans, we have an order, a hierarchy. Everyone here obeys my command without fail".

"That sounds more like a dictatorship", I retorted.

"Well, in a way it is", he said, shrugging. "If they have a problem, they issue a challenge. But, who could possibly overpower me?"

But did the people here really have no choice despite how tyrannical their 'Alpha' could be? Was it all about strength? I gripped the side of my head, massaging my temples. He grinned at me, relishing in my suffering.

"I love how worried you look right now", he chuckled as he leaned forward across the desk. "I want to bother you, even more. Make you feel more hot and bothered".

I sank back into my chair as he leaned closer towards me.

"Come closer", he purred. "I won't bite". He stared at my eyes. "That is, unless you want me too..."

"No, thank you", I growled. "Please, keep some distance between us".

"But, why should I listen to you?" He replied, mockingly. Before I could even blink, his arm reached out and grabbed mine, tugging it towards himself. He lowered his head, keeping his eyes on mine as he slowly kissed the back of my struggling hand.

"Please, stop", I shouted, trying to pull my hand back, shuddering under his unwanted assault.

He giggled and let his lips trail back up to my fingertips. I involuntarily cried out as he bit down roughly, causing the skin to break and blood to well up. He kissed the wound softly, wickedly licking the blood of his lips before releasing my hand. I recoiled away from him, cradling my hands to my chest.

"Oops, I did say I wouldn't bite", he purred. "Come here and I'll make it up to you".

Oh, gosh. I really was going to have a breakdown at this rate.

"Little bird, you never learn", he said, leering at me. "The more you run, the more I chase".

"I will not let you just do whatever you feel like doing to me!" I exclaimed angrily. "Am I supposed to sit there like a doll while you use me as you see fit?"

"That would be nice wouldn't it?" He hummed. "I don't care how it's done, as long as I have you".

"What is your end goal?" I asked, exasperated. "Do I have to just go along with your plans forever? How far are you going to take this revenge? Why does he specifically want me anyway?"

"You're becoming quite frustrating now. Stop talking about him", he snarled. "Do not even mention his name again, do you understand me?"

I moved away from him, taken aback by his sudden outburst. He glared at me in anger, his eyes smouldering a darker brownish-gold.

"Do you understand me?" He growled.

"Yes", I whispered. Great, he must be bipolar as well.

"Listen to what I say, and you will be treated well. Now get out".

I glared at him in annoyance, abruptly stood and strode out of the room. That same guard grunted as he saw me and ordered me to follow him. His strides were fast, I had to increase my pace to keep up. I had noticed that anyone I saw was noticeably bigger than your average human. Their physique was more defined too.

He pushed me into a large kitchen where the same old woman sat, watching the pot on the cooker. Grunting to get her attention, he stormed off, probably waiting outside till I was done. Looks like my overuse of the floral scent worked too well.

The lady ushered me to the table kindly and gestured for me to sit. I eyed her warily. Although she was kinder than most, I still did not trust her completely.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous", she cried. "Sit". Using a strength that I had not anticipated, she pushed me into a seat and tucked the chair in.

She must be a werewolf then. It was not possible for someone of her age to have that kind of strength. I discreetly shuffled away from her.

She rustled around in the kitchen before placing down a large plate of food in front of me. It was some sort of rice dish with meat heaped on top.

"I would rather not", I responded, brusquely. Even though the aromatic smell of the fragrant spices wafted through the air and made my stomach rumble quietly, I wouldn't just eat anything they placed in front of me.

She watched me with narrowed eyes and then chuckled as she realised why I didn't want to eat. "Oh, don't be ridiculous! The food is perfectly fine, you need to eat if you want your strength". I gazed at her, then back at the food sceptically. She was right, I did need my strength. I was being irrational. Plus, they already have me here, so they would get nothing out of harming me more.

I sighed reluctantly and tucked in, taken aback by how delicious the food was. She sat opposite me, smiling at how obviously I enjoyed her food.

"You sit and eat and I'll answer any questions you might have", she said, kindly. "Your type always has questions".

Well, she was definitely a 'werewolf' then.

"How is this even possible?" I asked, quickly swallowing down the food I had in my mouth.

"That is a question that even we can't answer. My mother used to tell me when I was young that we were cursed by a heartbroken witch to search endlessly for only 'the one' and turn into a beast by the moon", she said, thoughtfully. "But, honestly, we do not know".

"What do you mean by 'search endlessly for the one'?"

"Ah, I see he has not told you yet", she said, laughing. "Every wolf has a destined partner. A person who is perfectly compatible for them. When they meet, they mate for life".

I shuddered. Is that was Mikhail was going to do to me? I didn't exactly feel compatible with him.

"Wh-"

"Eat a little more", she interrupted. "Then I'll answer your questions. For now, listen".

I obeyed and quietly tucked into the food watching her with wide eyes.

"We, as a whole, are called a pack. Every person here is one of us. Every wolf has a duty and position in this pack. We don't mingle with humans unless we find our mate amongst them. Our existence is kept a secret and there are multiple packs all over the world. We... shift into our wolf form on demand, but once a month, there is an uncontrollable shift".

I pushed the empty plate in front of me and stared at her in shock. In that video that Caleb took, there was a full moon that night. That would explain why there was some sort of massive beast caught in that video.

That beast was Malik. He had 'shifted' into this creature.

She glanced at my empty plate and smiled. "You may ask any questions now, but be quick, the Alpha may disapprove".

"Why do you call him your 'Alpha'?"

"Alpha means leader and he rules over us all".

"Why him?" I asked. "He mentioned how he was stronger than everyone else, why is that?"

"Leadership is hereditary. Having the 'Alpha's blood' means your physical prowess is much greater".

"Wait", I gasped in realisation. "Malik is his twin, and isn't it the eldest that inherits, generally speaking?"

"Ooh, be careful with what you say", the lady warned. "I would advise you not to use his name if possible. It has become a taboo. And the only way to become alpha is by beating the current Alpha in a physical challenge to submission".

So, Malik must have been the Alpha or he might have become one if his brother hadn't defeated him. That idea - of Malik being the Alpha - made me oddly excited for some strange reason. I looked at the woman who smiled coyly at me seeming to know what I was thinking.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I asked politely, genuinely curious as to why this lady was being nice to me.

"Sorry, dear", she said sighing. "I forgot. Must be old age. Call me Amara, I'm the housekeeper here. Yes, I know your name is Arya".

"Can you tell me more about this destined partner?"

"We call them our mate, much like a soulmate. It's an inexplicable pull to another wolf".

As soon as she said inexplicable, my heart started to rise, my pulse pounding in my ears. The word 'inexplicable' was all too familiar to me. It was a word I had used a lot to describe the attraction I felt towards Malik.

"- and we recognise our mates by the irresistible bond. The mating ceremony is performed which is just an official marking ritual and then the mind link is forged".

"What are the symptoms of a mating bond?" I breathed out, hiding my trembling hands under the table.

"Symptoms?" She asked, laughing. "Dear me, this is not some sort of medical condition. It's very much a blessing. The signs are simply an alluring attraction towards them, much like they've filled an empty hole inside you". She gazed at me. "And maybe it's because they have. They carry the other half of your soul".

This wasn't right. These signs hit too close to home. How many times had I racked my brains about why I liked him so much? Why I had wanted to be with a complete stranger?

"You can also recognise them by their scent. Their scent is very unique and you can smell it more so than others".

"How-" I started, my voice cracking. "How strong is your sense of smell?"

"Hmm, we can smell our mates from about several miles away", she said, giving me a concerned look. "Are you alright, dear?"

Oh gosh. I had wondered why Malik had escaped that night just to see me when he had never known me before. Did he 'smell me' as soon as I came in? Did I only get accepted in the institution because he 'smelt me' when I came into the interview? The day that I resigned when he pulled me into his lap, he told me that 'I smelt so good' but I couldn't smell anything on myself.

"What do I smell like to you?" I asked, a tad hysterically.

"A very strong floral body wash", she said, her nose wrinkling. "I can also smell the undertones of Jasmine and is that cat fur?"

"If a human were to mate with a wolf, how would they recognise their mate?" I asked, ignoring her question.

"Well the scent isn't as strong due to your limited senses. But you will feel the attraction".

"This... mate bond, is it only to one person?"

"Of course", she said in annoyance. "To one only, forever".

"Forever?" I squeaked.

"Yes, that is what I said", she said, frowning. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"No", I gasped. "I am not okay".

Not only had I discovered a whole other hidden species existed but I also had to come to terms with the fact that Malik possibly 'held the other part of my soul'. This bond was permanent and to one only. No wonder why he was so obsessed with me. He had also said that night that he had been waiting for me for a very, very long time. Had he been searching for me specifically?

"Please, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead", she said curiously.

"Is Mali- he", I whispered, my heart shaking. "My mate?"

Welp.

Does anyone here like Mikhail? (BE HONEST)

and, yes, Malik is still around and he is still relevant.

Question for today:

Hot or cold?

Sorry, this is a little late. Even though I had written the chapter there was this section that was bugging me and I didn't want to publish it until it was fixed.

I shall be releasing another chapter maybe tomorrow.

Let's make a deal people. (yes, I am being a little shameless here). Can we get at least 50 votes on the following few chapters and I'll do a chapter from Maliks POV. (Please 🥺)

Also, warning: I'm editing the previous chapters, nothing major only grammatical mistakes.

Thank you for reading, voting and commenting. It really means the world to me.

Xx

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