Alisha's POV
As their father ushered them in, Alisha could see where Markian and Mitchell get their looks from. Alisha grew self-conscious when she realised that she was staring at three of the most handsome men she had seen in her short life. They looked so much alike that Alisha knew this was how Markian and Mitchell were going to look like in another 20 odd years.
Mitchell came up from behind them and hugged his father."Hi dad! Heard you got strong-armed to come here. Is it flowers or vegetables this time? Anyway, where is mum?" he asked.
Mitchell knew that his mother would be close by as his mum never left his dad's side for too long. They had been just like this since the day the got married. She even went with him to the"Nobel Gathering of Alphas" in the country that was held every two years. It was after his mother's insistence, that the other Alphas started bringing their Lunas with them. Since then, the Nobel Gathering had become a 3-day gathering with games and dinner function where Alphas, their Luna's and sometimes their Betas would come to talk business and have fun. Many treaties were signed after being vetoed in both the Luna meetings and the Alpha meetings. It was at Luna Melody's insistence that the Lunas played a more serious role in the administration of the pack business that many more packs began to prosper financially.
Markian and Mitchell had always prayed for mates who could stand by their side through all decisions that concerned the pack just like their mother had done with their father.
"Alisha... this young smart-looking man here is the reason for both of us being born" patting his father on his back. Mitchell looked towards his father in obvious admiration. Alisha could see the look of pride in Mitchell's and Markian's father's eyes. He seemed like he was about to say something to Mitchell when he was interrupted by a very pretty woman behind him
"Does that mean that I have no responsibility on your existence?" grumbled the woman walking out of the kitchen while wiping her hands on a tea towel.
"Why didn't anyone tell me that when I was pushing your melon head out of my lime hole? And to think, I had to push your brother out too with only a 6-minute reprieve between the two of you" she continued sounding a little miffed as she walked towards the man, the twin Alpha's had called their father. The woman growled and flicked the tea towel at both Markian and Mitchell to show her displeasure. She tried her hardest to maintain an affronted demeanour but failed after a few seconds later when Markian rushed to her side and lifted her up bride-style and started twirling her about."Put me down, you goofball" the woman cried out as she started laughing uncontrollably
"Aww, Mum!! You know we love you. We owe everything to you! Our lives! Our hair!! Our big feet!!" laughed Markian as he placed her back on her feet. He sounded like, this was not the first time they had gone through this argument and it wouldn't be the last either.
Alisha grinned at the camaraderie between the parents and their sons. She tried not to shed the tears that welled up into her eyes as she remembered the relationship that she had shared with her father and mother before they had passed away.
"Oh no!! Now, don't you go blaming me for those Ronald Mcdonald feet of yours? Have you seen your father's feet lately.....I agree with you...You. Are. All. His." laughed the woman pointing at the man standing beside her." "Now, why would you say that...You love my feet, don't you?" complained the father, looking morosely at his children and wife. Alisha nearly missed the mischievous glint in his eye and the smiled that tugged on his lips.
" Did I hurt your feelings, my darling husband? Well, that is payback for not helping me pluck the tomatoes, just now"her laugh coming out tinkling like a little bell. Her husband guffawed loudly at her response and gave her a quick kiss on her mouth. She hissed at him for putting her in such a comprising position in front of their guests. Alisha marvelled at the relationship between the older couple. She realised that Mitchell's and Markian's were very much like her own and she was comforted a little by it.
Alisha turned to look at her more closely. She was an attractive woman with mahogany coloured hair which was tied up in a ponytail. Her moss green eyes were twinkling with enjoyment so Alisha was assured that they had played this game of who was responsible for her mates existence many, many times before. She did wonder though about who the ultimate winner of this argument would be if they actually played it out to the very end.
"Well...whoever was responsible for bringing them into existence...You have my eternal gratitude" said Alisha without thinking. Alisha looked up into the woman's eyes in astonishment as she realised that she had voiced her thanks, out loud."Oh, my goddess! Did I say that out loud? What is wrong with me?!" thought Alisha as she blushed again. This was not going according to her plan. She already had been caught staring at her mate's father and now she just thanked their mother for giving birth to them.
Of all the things that she could imagine going wrong, what she was doing now, pretty much lead the list. She had never been so forward with anyone before but she had this feeling at the pit of her stomach that she liked this couple already and was very comfortable with them.
It was Mitchell who lost the battle with himself first and burst out laughing. Markian held on for two seconds longer than he too fell forward on his knees laughing.
"Well! I think that settles that argument then. Mum.....this is Alisha, our mate....and she thinks we are just great" preened Mitchell while holding onto Alisha to prevent falling forward the way Markian did.
"Actually Mitchell, I didn't say that" corrected Alisha looking determinedly at him."What I said was, that I am eternally grateful to whosoever responsible for giving birth to my mates so that I could have a partner in my life. I didn't mention anything about how great you are supposed to be"smiling shyly at Mitchell and Markian while looking back at their parents abashedly
"Oooh! Mate, u say...I like you already, my dear girl. You have a spine on you, haven't you?!! That's just what the two of them need..don't you think so, Melody?... So introduce us, why don't you??" said Markian and Mitchell's father smiling widely as he ushered them into the living room. They followed him and settled down on the sofa there. Markian and Mitchell sat on either side of Alisha whilst their parents sat opposite them
"Ok !! Here goes nothing...Mum, dad... Meet Alisha, and Alisha meet mum and dad" said Mitchell in triumph as he managed to introduce their mate to the Alpha and the Luna of Starfall before his brother could do so. Mitchell looked smugly at Markian trying to play the "one-up - game" with him. His eyes shined with glee being able to introduce Alisha without faltering.
"Oh god!! That's not an introduction, you doofus...This is an introduction...Alisha, I am pleased to introduce my father, Xander Lytte and his wife, and my mother Melody Lytte of the Starfall pack" said Markian flicking Mitchell off and smiling adoringly at his parents. Alisha leaned forward to shake hands with the older wolves.
"Hello! I am Alisha. It's a pleasure to meet both of you Mr and Mrs Lytte. I am sorry for the way we look. You see, Markian and Mitchell found us swimming in the lake and refused to allow us to go home and change" said Alisha apologising for the way the three of them looked.
"These two cubs are Alex and Alia who are twins, of Gamma Nicholas, of the Moongazer pack. I am in charge of all the nursery going cubs in Moongazer but this two....well! These two are special" Alisha said taking control of the introduction as she realised that that was the maximum introduction she was going to get from her mates. She smiled as the cubs also held out their hands to shake Mr and Mrs Xander's hands. Alex even stood up and bowed formally in front of Melody.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Alisha. I have been waiting so long to have another woman here as these lug-heads have outnumbered me for so long. I am so glad not to have these two scampering around and finally ready to settle down and be responsible. It must have come as a shock to you having both of them calling you mate" said Melody extending her hands in welcome. She then bent down on one knee and opened her arms wide to hug Alia and Alex. The little cubs ran into her arms with no hesitation. After hugging Mrs Lytte tightly, the two cubs turned towards Mr Lytte looking at him shyly
Xander shook hands with both Alia and Alex and hoisted both on them on his shoulder with one mighty tug for each of them. The children whooped in delight as Xander held on to them tightly and ran around the living room hollering out their welcome
"Yes...yes it was. I didn't know that we, wolves that is, could actually have two mates. I thought I had to choose one of them and reject the other" said Alisha shaking Melody's hand while helping her up. Alisha turned around as Melody gasped at Alisha possible options
"No! Your not!" whined both Markian and Mitchell."You are not going to choose one and reject the other ...are you?? You can't! We won't have that. We are going to share you. We promised you already Alisha. Just trust us sweetheart" continued Markian pulling her away from his mother and hugging her tightly while ignoring the fact that Alisha was blushing at being called sweetheart in front of her future in-laws.
"Of course she isnt....are you, Alisha? Markian and Mitchell, being twins have always been able to share what they have between them. It's imperative that they have that relationship with you so that you will be able to lead a strong pack in the future" said Xander looking anxiously at the beautiful girl who was the mate of both his sons. Markian and Mitchell nodded their heads vigorously in agreement.
"I don't know Sir. I have never heard of a wolf with two mates. I didn't know it could happen this way. Anyway, my wolf refuses to choose. Heera wants both of them. It seems that she has already talked to Damon and Apollo and the three of them have decided that, this is the way it shall be. I do have to admit that my heart felt like it's going to tear out of my chest when I thought I needed to choose" said Alisha as a single tear tracked down her cheek. She wiped it away ( not wanting to show any weakness at her first meeting with Markian's and Mitchell's parents)
"But can I, can I decide to have two mates?? Can I decide not to choose? From where I come from, I haven't heard about anyone sharing a mate. I had never heard of anyone having two mates before unless it was their second chance mate that's it.... but can I, I mean, can I accept two mates as my own....at the same time?" She asked Xander and Melody while wringing her hands in confusion and worry.
Alisha knew that this was the question that has been playing in her mind since the first time she had heard the word "mate" being utter by both the male wolves. She was worried that the Goddess had made a mistake and she would have to choose which one was going to be her mate, and which one she was going to reject soon.
"My darling child....trust your instincts. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes like this. She has a plan for you. She doesn't give many people this option, you know. It takes a strong woman to be able to handle not only one but two men...two alpha men to be exact. You must be very special in her eyes and I am so glad you were chosen to be my sons' mate." said Melody coming forward and hugging Alisha tightly.
Alisha was surprised with the affection showed to her by Markian and Mitchell's mother, Melody. She revelled in the genuine hug she received from her mates' mum. It had been a long time that she had felt a motherly hug and she enjoyed it. She was enjoying her hug but couldn't help having this niggling feeling of worry. She tried to remember everything of what Melody had said just now but she couldn't. It felt like she had missed something important but she couldn't put a finger on it.
"Thank you! I feel so much better knowing that you both are okay with this situation. I was worried that you may not accept me ." sighed Alisha in relief. She didn't realise that since Mr Xander opened the door, she had practically been walking on eggshells hoping that they would actually like her.
She didn't understand why she wanted their approval so badly. It may have stemmed from the fact that she wanted to be in a family again and her mates had given her the best opportunity to have one again. Alisha had felt so nervous before but on seeing Xander and Melody, she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. She was able to breathe easier now knowing that she was liked by her mate's parents and also had their blessing to become the mate to Markian and Mitchell.
In all her happiness, she still had a small gnawing feeling that she was missing something. Her eyes clouded in worry again as Heera growled with impatience."Stop waiting for the other shoe to fall Alisha! Our mates are wonderful. You have to meet Damon and Apollo. They are the sweetest wolves I have ever met and so are Markian and Mitchell. Did you see Mr Xander? He is one HOT father wolf, isn't he?? I also really like their mother..she is nice!"Heera scolded Alisha
"Come into the kitchen everyone. I will make some lemonade and we can talk more"Melody chirped happily as she realised that her "babies" were men in their own rights and she was going to gain a daughter she had always wanted. She linked her hands through the elbows of Alia and Alex marching them determinedly into the kitchen
"Come on boys! Your mother's lemonade is not to be missed"Xander laughed linking his arm with Alisha and escorting her into the kitchen
"Alisha my dear....you are in for a treat. Melody's lemonade is the best in this universe. If I wasn't her mate before, on just tasting that lemonade, I would have traversed hell and high water to get the Moon Goddess to make her mine" he said with a laugh and a wink toward his blushing wìfè who was setting the table with the ice-cool jug of lemonade and six tall glasses
"Ooh yes...I love lemonade as well and I can't wait to taste yours, Melody" Alisha said looking back at her mates who were trailing behind her smiling widely