Mated to the Alpha Twins

Read Mated to the Alpha Twins [by Jane Doe] Chapter 41 - Aurora’s P.o.v

| wiped the napkin across my damp forehead, grimacing at the ridiculous amount of flour | had managed to get

on my clothes.

The uniform looked much like the inside of the bakery; pink and white. Even Jake had to wear one, sporting a

pink and white apron as though it were the next fashion statement. Of all the things Jake complained about, the

uniform wasn’t one of them.

A white shirt with the words ‘Beth’s Bakery’ stitched into it with golden thread, followed by a pair of jeans and a

pink and white apron. As | walked small puffs of flour filled the air, originating from my messy uniform.

Within the first three hours | was coated in a thin layer of sweat. The hot ovens and constant running about did

nothing to help. Despite the sweat, | was having the tof my life.

I didn’t have to trudge hto Melissa and Frank, nor did | have to endure the presence of Garrett. For those

few hours | worked, | had almost forgotten what | was-a werewolf.

My limbs cried out with exhaustion as | shadowed Beth from station to station. Chocolate eclairs, bear claws,

extravagant cupcakes, and cannoli sat on silver prep trays.

Beth had taughtthe basics, and somehow, | managed to retain the information. She showedhow to make

the dough for most pastries, how to make custards, creams, and chocolate ganache. | was sure after one day the

scent of pastries would cling tolike an aromatic perfume, but | had no complaints.

Jake manned the register, a task he refused to give up. While most of the day was quite hectic with heavy flows

of customers filing in and out, | had fun the entire time.

Jake seemed to enjoy watching every mistake | made, laughing with gusto each time. His laughter managed to

coax a couple smiles from a stressed-out Beth. For once, | was thankful for my werewolf genes. It seemed there

weren't any clumsy werewolves walking around as the enhanced reflexes made it near impossible to be clumsy.

It was amusing how often Beth and Jake would bicker. If they weren't siblings, and nearly identical in every way, |

would have assumed they were a couple.

By closing time, my heart was a jackhammer in my chest. Beth toldshe would letknow if I had the job

cclosing time. Despite my mistakes, | thought | did a decent job for someone who had never baked a day in

their life.

“Amber?”

My head snapped up; my attention sucked from my task. | had been wiping down the tables and booths when

Beth started speaking. | hadn't recognized she was talking to me, but quickly remembered what n| had

given her.

“Yeah, Beth?” My eyes snapped up to meet her own.

Somehow Beth managed to look gorgeous even covered in flour and dried bits of dough. Her sandy-blonde hair

held a hint of gold, sun kissed by the bright Missouri rays. Her eyes resembled the color of a midwinter sky, light

and bemused as they fell on my startled face. Jake was nearly identical to Beth in the looks department. They

both looked as though they belonged on a runway in Hollywood, not in a small bakery in Missouri.

“So-about that position.” Beth breathed; her simple gaze locked on my face.

Her words promptedto stop what | was doing. Anxiety knotted itself in my gut as | clenched the d***y rag

between my palms.

“You did good today.” Beth nodded, her seafoam eyes conveying true approval. “But | expect better tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” My eyes widened, my jaw going slack as | registered the amusement in her words.

“Don’t be late either.” Beth shook her head, casting Jake a sideways glare. “It's bad enough one of us can never

con time.”

“You know I'm not a morning person. We could've just opened a nightclub; I'd cto work early every day. This

astonishingly boring town could use a little night-texcitement.” Jake shouted, his attention on the money in

the register. Beth scoffed and left Jake to count the till, stacking the chairs on top of the pink tables.

| shuddered against the cool breeze as Beth locked the bakery doors behind us. The streets were empty apart

from the occasional drifter wandering down the wide sidewalks. This entire town had such a different feel when

the sun went down. During the day it was bright and flavorful, the aromas of different foods wafting in every

direction. At night the town was vacant, houses darkened, front porch lights flickered off.

“Need a ride, Amber?” Beth asked, her eyes bemused yet thoughtful.

I pulled my jacket tighter around my torso, giving a half-hearted shrug. “Not really, the motel is on the corner.”

“Oh-well, goodnight Amber!” Beth called out, her voice gentle as it was lifted and carried by the wind. | gave her

a kind smile and began walking to the motel.

“Hey, Amber!” Beth called out, and | turned in response. “Why don’t you stay the night at my place?”

While | was elated that she askedto spend the night, the kindness had caughtoff guard. | wasn’t used to

people going out of their way to help me. Why would she wantto stay the night? We weren't friends, and |

wasn’t sure we would ever be.

From looks alone, Beth was the type of girl to have a large friend group. From her athletic and toned body to her

golden hair and blue eyes, Beth had never been an outcast before.

“Are-are you sure?” | asked, nearly flinching at how tired my voice had sounded. It wasn’t a physical sense of

exhaustion, but a mental one.

“Well duh.” Beth chuckled; her eyes eager yet sleepy. “I wouldn't have asked if | didn’t want you to!”

Jake gave the two of us a sluggish wave and got into his car. Beth was nice enough to stop by the motel so |

could grab a couple things.

| after one night without toiletries, | had given in and spent the thirty dollars to get what | needed. Beth's face

contorted in distain as she looked at my crappy motel room. Torn c****¥*s with a hideous seventies pattern,

followed by the stained carpet that had a couple bald patches, and that summed up my extravagant quarters.

“This is where you're staying?” Beth grimaced her eyes trailing over the lumpy mattress | had been sleeping on.

Blood rushed to my face, followed by the swift entrance of embarrassment. The comforter | had been covering

up with was littered with holes and a red stain that looked suspiciously like blood.

“It's forty bucks a night.” | shrugged, turning my face so she couldn't see the embarrassment burning in my

eyes.

| gathered sof my toiletries and something to wear the next day. Within three minutes | was finished and

looked at Beth questioningly. Her seafoam eyes were uncertain yet thoughtful as she looked around the room.

With a long sigh, her eyes hardened.

“Grab the rest of your stuff.” Beth huffed; her lips pursed as she glared at the poor state of my motel room.

“What?” My mind went blank, and for a second | thought she was playing scruel practical joke.

“Grab your stuff, you're not staying in this shithole.” Beth let out another sigh, one that madefeel guilty.

“You don’t have letstay with you.” | shook my head. The last thing | wanted was to be a burden, | had been

that enough in my short lifetime. “I'm just grateful | got the job. Seriously, don’t worry about it.”

Beth didn’t reply, and instead the room collapsed into silence. After a few moments | shifted uncomfortably, my

eyes anywhere other than Beth.

“What's your real name?”

Before | could compose myself, shock bled through my features. Beth's lips turned up in a sardonic smile. She

knew she hadcaught.

“Aurora.”

“Aurora?” Beth scoffed, shaking out her sand-colored hair. “Strange name, but | believe you.”

“Thanks, | think.” | murmured, unable to do much else.

| could feel the little safe haven | discovered collapse around me. Why would Beth want to hire someone who

lied? | couldn't even tell her my name, let alone the reason forbeing here. What kind of person would want

an employee like that? Who would want a friend like that?

“Why'd you lie?” Beth's features were a mask of indifference, but she couldn't hide the curiosity burning in her

eyes.

“It's a long story.” | gulped, the motel room feeling much too crowded at the moment.

“I'd like to hear it sometime.” Beth nodded; her eyes surpassingly calm. “Are you coming or not?”

“I'll stay here.” | shook my head, my stomach heavy as though it were weighed down with lead. “I don’t want to

be a burden.”

“I won't offer again, so if you need a place to stay, I'd suggest you letknow.” Beth frowned, her eyes

distastefully roaming the motel room.

Burden....

The word echoed in my mind, bouncing around my head as though it were made of elastic. That's what | was,

wasn’t I? | was a burden to Melissa, to Frank, to Grace. | was even a burden to Garrett; one he had abandoned for

over ten years.

“Thank you-for the offer.” | nodded, forcing a kind smile to my face. “I won't be late tomorrow.”

“I'll see you then.” Beth grunted, heading for the door. Just as she crossed the threshold, she called out over her

shoulder. “By the way, the next tsomeone asks for your name, don’t spend the next minute thinking it over.”

“Wait-if you knew, why’d you hire me?” | sputtered, looking on at the sporty blonde girl before me.

“Jake can’t bake for s**t and-well, | really needed the help.” Beth shrugged, “See you tomorrow.”

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