I never thought the truth will come out under such circumstances....

A few hours earlier...

After yesterday's revelations we decided that today we will go shopping. That's why right after dinner we agreed to go shopping and half an hour later we were driving to the nearest shopping mall. Kinga was driving, Hannah was in the passenger seat, so Em and I were left with the back seat. The boys don't necessarily know that we went anywhere, but we didn't care enough to tell them. They certainly wouldn't let us out, so we just let ourselves out. After nearly thirty minutes of driving, we arrived in front of a tall, purple building. Excitedly we set off on our hunt.

**********

After four hours of roaming, we still hadn't had enough. We were just entering God knows which store when suddenly someone grabbed my arm. I turned around to chase the intruder away, but I met black eyes. Well, we are screwed... I looked to the side and saw girls except for Hannah in the same situation - held by their mates. Because of my inattention, one moment I was standing and the next I was hanging over his shoulder, upside down.
- Hey, I'm not a sack of potatoes! Put me down on the ground! I can walk. - I started punching him in the loins.
- If you could, you'd come to me and tell me you were going somewhere. - he mumbled to me and I received a slap on my buttock. I squealed and collapsed in his embrace like a flower without water. He didn't say another word, just kept walking straight ahead. He threw me into the car and if it wasn't for my quick reflexes I would have lost my leg at the force with which he slammed the door. He walked around the car and sat behind the wheel.
- Can you help me understand what just happened?
- What do you mean, what? You wanted to go shopping while the madman who probably kidnapped Amelia and will probably continue to do so is on the loose? Did you even think about any of this? Did your brains just decided they wanted a new purse and were so focused on that that they didn't think through the dangers? Sometimes I wonder if there is something more to women than... - I got outraged and didn't let him finish. How could he?:
- Than what? You see in us only beauty and baby-making machines. Is there anything else you notice? If so, go ahead and answer. Yes, we went on that damn shopping trip because the girls were close to breaking down because of, all the things that had happened. I knew we could handle any unforeseen attack because they had me. They can also fight very well on their own, although they do it better in wolf form, because they don't have the necessary familiarity with human combat. Besides, there is telepathic contact. We were not so far away that it would break off. We wanted to rest and relax. Is that so hard to understand? If you were grounded, what would you do? Would you sit docile as a lamb waiting for orders or would you sneak out at the first opportunity? I think it would be the latter, so don't lecture me because you're not the right person to do that. - He clenched his jaw and the rest of the ride passed in silence and the buzzing air between us. I beg your pardon for treating me that way. If this is how this stupid relationship is supposed to work, then I'm out. I thought we were supposed to be equals, but apparently I was wrong. Neither of us spoke, causing me to start looking at the houses and trees we passed along the way. When we reached the mansion he stopped with a screech of tires, got out again slamming the door and walked into the woods. I snorted at his behavior of a small, offended child and crawled out of the car myself. I headed home angry as a wasp. I didn't want to see anyone, so I got in the elevator and rode to the roof. As I took my first step on the concrete, it thundered. I could see that the weather was matching my mood. And it seemed to be such a beautiful day... I sighed and leaned my elbows on the railing looking at the storm clouds that were rushing towards this direction at an alarming rate. Does he really think like that? "Screw the consequences, I want new shoes and I'll get them no matter what"? Maybe he said that for a reason? He probably didn't mean to hurt me with it or anything, but... I figured that maybe he was worried about us. He said all that because he was hurt that I didn't say anything, and then I looked like everything came down like water off a duck's back. On top of that I brought along his little sister. The only person who could answer me is black-eyed himself, but I don't think I'll be able to talk to him normally any time soon, because he's pissed off. What should I do now? Maybe I'll wait and try to explore the grounds later on today...
- Oh. What are you doing here my dear? - I turned my head and saw Maria. She came closer and leaned against the railing beside me. I smiled gently and answered her:
- I'm thinking about this and that.
- Does it have something to do with my son?
- Possibly. - We laughed.
- Will you tell me about it?
- Well... To make a long story short, the girls and I went shopping, but we didn't tell anyone. They found us and he carried me to the car like a caveman and said a few words, to which I replied not very nicely, and then pissed off he ran into the woods.
- Oh dear, so that' s the thing. - she muttered under her breath. - After you had been gone for a while, they began to worry that something had happened to you. Luckily, one couple saw you at the gallery, and since they had a case for Adrian, they came here and said that they had seen you. I don't know exactly what he told you, I won't go into that. He said what he said because he was probably pissed off that he didn't watch you, that he could have lost you without even knowing you a little bit. Let's not kid ourselves a little over a month is very little time to do that. You're also not bonded yet, so he's always worried when you're more than ten meters away. It's annoying, I know, I've experienced it myself, but it's going to be that way until you both mark each other properly. Don't hold it against him. Don't hold a grudge. - She said and smiled broadly at me then gave me a quick hug. - And now...
- I have to stop your chitchat. I've been looking for you, Rozalia. - out of nowhere the woman's husband appeared next to us. - The IT guys tracked down the transmission site. They were in an abandoned shack, and we captured several vampires. The council found your friend and another boy. The former is in a cell and the latter is in the living room. He said he would only talk to a short brunette, which I suspect might be you. I wouldn't tell you this at this point, but we're pinned down. We need to use you to get some information out. Can you do that for us? - my heart stopped and then started beating at a redoubled rhythm.
- Lead the way.

**********

We went all the way down, and I was suddenly nervous. He didn't give any specific description, so I didn't know who to expect. The couple walked in ahead of me, and I paused outside the door for a moment. I am a bundle of nerves. I took a few deep breaths and entered the room. I froze on the threshold. That familiar smell is etched into my brain. I looked around the room. There were several people standing there including Adrian, his beta, Rafael, Daniel and two pairs of ex alphas. There was another man with his back to me. He felt my presence and turned around and my knees softened.
- Kjartan? - I asked in a slightly trembling voice. He stood like a pillar of salt, but slowly nodded in confirmation. I threw myself into his arms and squeezed him tightly around the neck.
- My princess... I've missed you so much... - he said and pressed me tighter to him. My big brother. I couldn't believe it. My rock that was beside me no matter what. Compared to the relationship with my twin, the one with Kjartan was very calm. I always knew I could talk to him about anything, and he advised me like a real big brother. Sometimes we argued, but it passed quickly and we stood shoulder to shoulder. - I always knew we would see each other again someday. - I finally broke away from him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
- Could you explain to us what is going on here? - John asked. Well right, we were talking in our original language, which none of them could speak except Daniel. Moving on to more difficult topics... Kjartan looked at the man with reserve in his eyes, to which I immediately responded.
- You can rest assured. This is my family. I have found my mate. You don't have to worry, you can relax, okay? - I grabbed his hands and looked deep into his eyes to let him know I was telling the truth. He settled down and squeezed my hands, which meant he trusted me. I turned to face everyone and waited to see if he would say something, if he understood today's speech. I squeezed his hand lightly in a gesture of reassurance. He looked away from me and slowly began to speak:
- My name is Kjartan Rike. The one you have put in the cell is my younger brother Espen Rike. - When they heard that, they stopped breathing. The boy immediately stopped and looked back at me.
- They don't know. That's why yours are a different color. You didn't say anything. - He was talking about the changed eye color. Damn, he's good. He figured me out right away. But, why am I surprised? My eyes should be green too, but instead they're brown. Uno momento, back to why Espen is in the cell?
- No. For what reason, Espen is locked up?
- What don't we know about? - Adrian spoke up. Well, we were back to speaking today's language I realized after a moment. I saw a hint of jealousy in his eyes, but mostly it was... defeat. I didn't answer because I felt a wave of feelings. Something like anger mixed with frustration and tears. Only they weren't my feelings. It was like I was feeling the other person's emotions... Espen. Those are his impulses. With horrified eyes I looked at, Kjartan, who immediately guessed what I meant.
- What is happening with him? Why such mixed emotions?
- He... - my brother sighed. - He was out of control. The wolf has taken over. I don't know if there was anything left of his human half. He couldn't stand what they were doing to him, so he withdrew. I tried to bring him back, but to no avail. - my poor little brother.
- You can't be serious. - My laughter fell into the category of hysterical. When I saw his unsmiling face, a smile stuck in my throat. - What do we do now then? How do we get him back? You know that he is too important for me to lose him. - I said the last sentence in a helpless whisper. I felt a tug at the back of my mind. You can do this. But do what? You have to... The voice couldn't finish, because my wolf stood at top alert. HE BROKE OUT...HE'LL BE HERE IN A MINUTE. LET ME OUT. WE HAVE TO SAVE EVERYONE. YOU KNOW HIM BEST. The hallway was in chaos. I heard screams and stamping of feet. No one had even managed to run to the door when a black wolf appeared in the room with bared teeth and saliva dripping from its mouth. He growled and menacingly mirrored everyone with his eyes. Nobody dared to make a move. Unfortunately, Nadia looked him straight in the eye and the smell of fear rose in the room. He was looking for the weakest victim and he found it. Because she showed emotion. I won't let anything happen to anyone. Not on my watch. I retreated behind Kjartan and used him as a screen. I jumped out of my clothes and turned into a wolf. I stepped out from behind our older brother and growled warningly at my twin. I'm slightly bigger than him and definitely have more mass. His ribs were almost sticking out. The only thing he differed from me at the moment was that his front right paw is white. Why isn't he all black like me? From what I remember mom had all black fur too... Or maybe he has the colored part because dad didn't have a solid color? All eyes jumped over both of us and I mostly saw panic and uncertainty in them. That's what I wanted to avoid. I wanted to tell them about it calmly, without nerves, once they knew me well enough to... Suddenly Espen's gaze landed on me and without warning, he jumped. I dodged, but when he landed on all fours, he immediately attacked. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kjartan strip and within seconds, a black wolf with a white stripe stretching from his nose to the tip of his tail was standing next to me. Why do they have something white on them and I don't? Never mind, this is not the time for such trivialities. When Espen saw two wolves facing him he backed away slightly, but shook his head and returned to his previous position. This time he took aim at Kjartan. He knocked my twin to the ground. Espen picked himself up after a while and faced us again, but he started to get unsteady. He curled up his tail and bristled. I took a few steps forward and began to growl. I wanted him to give up. His whole body started to go limp and his growling turned into whimpering. Finally he laid down on the wooden floor and showed his neck and lower abdomen. He gave up. Just what am I supposed to do now? Try to talk to him. So I did. Espen? Espen, listen to me. I know you're out there. Come back to us. We need you. Turn back. I need you... His figure began to shake and suddenly I heard a faint voice in my head. Hey, old lady. What's going on? I... He didn't finish because his transformation into a human began. It took a moment, but eventually he was sitting on his knees and supported himself with his hands on the hardwood floor panting. I walked over to him and licked his nose, at which he sent me a trembling smile.
- T... - he wanted to say something, but he fainted. Kjartan transformed and walked over to him to scoop him up in his arms. Nikodem came from nowhere and started leading them, probably to the hospital. I walked over to my clothes and started to return to human form. Daniel came up to me and turned his back to me, shielding me from everyone so I would have time to get dressed. For werewolves, nudity is nothing new, but probably Adrian told him to. Black-eyed continues to be angry with me, but he cares.
- Preventing any questions. I'll start when Kjartan gets back. You can wait that long for the material to write a book about our colorful life. - I began with a dose of sarcasm.