---
Aiden:
"Y… y… you guys had these all this time?" I stammered, still not believing my eyes.
"Well, yeah," Dad said, shrugging.
"How did we never see you using them?" Abigail asked, staring at them without blinking.
"We never used them in front of you, and honestly, we never needed to," Mom said, looking at Dad.
"I know this is a lot to take in, so we can talk tomorrow," Dad said cautiously.
"No! We want to know everything. Now," I replied.
"Ok, but first, relax. There's a little more to tell. Remember, you're safe and loved," Mom said, reaching out to take our hands and squeezing them gently.
Both Abigail and I nodded, squeezing back.
"Now, as you already know, you both will inherit our red and blue flame powers," Dad continued, pausing to make sure we were listening. Seeing our nods, he went on. "Both your mom and I also believe that you might receive the special powers we told you about—and that maybe Abigail's nightmares are connected to these powers."
"By the GODDESS… how can this be?!" I exclaimed, stunned.
I looked at Abigail. She was frozen in place, as if the ground might be pulled from beneath her.
"My whole world feels upside down. You mean to say the nightmares—the creatures that have haunted me for weeks—are connected to my powers… meaning they are my POWERS?" Abigail asked, shaking her head on the verge of tears.
"No… no, sweetheart. They're not your powers, they're just connected," Mom leaned closer to Abigail and hugged her.
"How do you know that?" Abigail asked, crying now.
"Because this happens to some people before they receive their powers," Mom said, trying to comfort her.
I hadn't even noticed Dad sit beside me until he hugged me.
"But I didn't have any nightmares," I said.
"Well, dear, you're both alpha-born. Abigail, being the older twin, feels the powers mentally, while you experience them physically—like shivers when someone's watching you, or sudden exhaustion even after walking. As an alpha, you mostly feel these sensations physically. Mentally, it's different, even for an alpha-born," Dad explained, rubbing my back.
I hugged him back, then stood and hugged Abigail as well. Somehow, just holding her calmed her down. I guided her to the couch and sat beside her.
---
Abigail:
I was hugging Mom, crying, when I suddenly felt a presence nudge my mind. Opening it, I heard Aiden's voice:
"Hey! Relax, well… you?" he said as I felt him hug me and start rubbing my back.
We stayed like that for a few minutes. I don't know why, but it helped me calm down—maybe it had to do with us being twins, I thought.
"Good! Now take deep breaths. In… out…" Aiden said through the mind link. I followed his advice, and my mind finally cleared.
"Ok! So… tell us, why are you so scared?" Aiden asked, speaking normally now.
"How can I not be scared? What if the nightmares are real?" I replied, sniffing but no longer crying.
Aiden looked at Mom and Dad, who began mind-linking with each other.
"Well, dear, this is another reason we wanted you to know everything," Mom said hesitantly.
"Yes… they can be true," Dad finished for her.
Both Aiden and I went extremely still.
"W..w.. what? No! You're saying the creatures I saw could be real?" I asked, horrified, while Dad nodded.
"I think I can breathe. Calm down, Abigail. Now is not the time to panic," I felt Aiden say through our twin bond.
"S… s… so… now what do we do?" Aiden stuttered.
"We've already informed our families to alert the King about this, and also that you two will receive the special powers," Mom said.
My heart felt like it would burst. I didn't know what to do except stare at my parents in shock.
"This is everything, right?" Aiden asked, horrified.
"Unfortunately, there's one more thing you should know about the powers you'll gain," Mom replied cautiously.
"What now??" I asked, imagining the worst.
"Calm down, well… you both…" Dad said.
"We are calm, Dad. You can't expect us to just sit and take everything you told us while being calm," Aiden replied, frustrated.
"Ok, ok! But you need to calm down," Dad said, sighing.
We both took deep breaths and nodded for him to continue.
"We might also know what powers you'll get from your nightmares, Abigail," Dad said, watching our reactions closely.
"Goddess… now my heart really stopped," Aiden said dramatically, trying to lighten the mood, though I could still see his hands shaking.
"Ho… how do you know this?" I asked, looking at Dad instead of the floor.
"Our elders told us that the nightmares you've been having were experienced by others in our families too," Mom said.
"Who??" I asked, curious.
"My great-grandmother," Mom replied.
"They aren't nightmares—they're visions. That's why they can be real. You can see visions about the future, Abigail. But since you haven't gotten your wolf yet, you can only dream them," Dad said anxiously.
I felt frozen, my brain not working. Mom sat beside me.
"What…?? This can't be…" I tried to say but failed.
"We know this is a lot, but you're not alone," Mom said, concerned.
"So… they are Abigail's powers?" Aiden asked, finally finding his voice.
"Yes! She'll be able to see visions of the future anytime she wants once she gets her wolf," Dad said, a little proudly.
"Wow… this is SO COOL!" Aiden practically jumped, making everyone laugh.
"There, there. Relax, you haven't even heard about your powers yet," Dad said, laughing.
"Ohh! Right, I forgot," Aiden replied, grinning.
"Well, Aiden, our elders say…" Dad started, but I interrupted.
"I have a question," I said, finally able to breathe.
"Yes! What is it, dear?" Dad asked.
"Just because your great-grandmother had these visions, how does that tell you what powers we'll get?" I asked. Aiden looked equally fired up.
"This is a good question. Well, my great-grandmother's story is unique: she had these visions, then gained her powers, and she also had a twin brother. This is why we think you two will get their powers," Mom replied, smiling.
"Ohh… wow, this is a lot," I said, finally smiling too.
"Ok, ok! Now, what is my power?" Aiden asked, jumping for joy.
"You'll be able to control people's minds, Aiden," Dad said, grinning.
"I… WHAT??" Aiden asked, mouth wide open.
"You heard me, son," Dad replied, grinning.
"I know, but ho… how?!" Aiden exclaimed.
"Ok! Relax. You need to breathe," I said, helping him sit after he accidentally knocked the chair over.
"I'm relaxed," Aiden replied.
"Then sit down," I said, laughing.