Bullied By My Alpha Twins

Please don't

NADIA

Double whammy!

Since it was the weekend the next day, Jasmine had asked me to come help her with the house chores. “I’ll pay for your services,” she said playfully over the phone, her tone light as if it were a casual conversation about the weather. I chuckled even though I had said nothing about being paid. The truth was, I desperately needed the money to keep up with my college expenses, but I wasn’t entirely convinced about going over to her house. The thought of seeing her husband, Hardin, made my stomach turn.

Hardin was known for his over the hills temper, and the last time I saw him, his mood had been anything but friendly. He seemed to take special pleasure in making everyone he felt he could control, including Jasmine and me, feel uncomfortable when he was around. “I’m sorry,” I said to her, cutting the conversation short and hanging up the phone before I could dwell on it too much.

After pacing around my small apartment for a few minutes, the guilt began to creep in. I knew Jasmine had been feeling sick and overwhelmed with the chores. I bit my lip, weighed my options, and finally picked up my phone again, dialing her number. “I’ll do it,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Oh, thank you so much, Nadia!” she replied, relief evident in her voice. “You have no idea how much this helps me. See you soon!” She hung up, and I felt a mixture of warmth and anxiety wash over me as I prepared for the visit.

When I arrived at Jasmine’s house, I felt a slight rush of relief when I discovered that Hardin wasn’t around. “He just went out without telling me where he was headed,” Jasmine said casually as we settled into her cozy living room. It was as if his absence was a norm that we were both comfortable with. Well, I reminded myself, that was none of my business. I was just here to do a job, get paid, and head back home as soon as I could manage.

I quickly set about cleaning the living room, dusting off shelves and vacuuming while Jasmine sat nearby, sipping on a cup of tea. We settled into a comfortable rhythm, trading light banter about our lives, catching up on each other’s stories. Once the chores were done, I plopped down in one of her plush armchairs, my body grateful for the rest.

“So, tell me, what have you been up to in college?” Jasmine asked, a curious gleam in her eye. “The big guys must surely have eyes on you,” she teased me further as if she already didn't know the drill.

I took a deep breath before responding, suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of everything I had been keeping inside. “It’s been tough,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “There’s this whole situation with Alex and Sandro... they’ve been bullying me, making my life a living hell. I thought High School was tough with them, but I was wrong. They make everyday hell in a cell for me”

“Oh no, Nadia! What do you mean?” Jasmine leaned forward, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern.

I could see her worry deepening as I continued. “I can barely keep my emotions in check. It feels like I’ve lost everyone I called a friend because they’re all too scared of Alex and Sandro. They don’t want anyone but them coming close to me. I can't even get out of their shells!”

As I spoke, I felt tears welling up, threatening to spill over. The pain of my isolation hit hard, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. The tears flowed freely down my cheeks, and for a moment, I allowed myself to be vulnerable. It felt like I had been waiting for this one moment to pour out my vulnerability before my friend, even though I knew she couldn't help me.

Jasmine didn’t hesitate; she quickly moved over to me and wrapped her arms around me in a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry, Nadia. I wish I could offer you more than this embrace. You shouldn’t have to deal with those ruthless wolves alone,” she murmured softly, her own pain almost palpable in her gentle voice.

“I just wish it would stop, you know?” I sniffled against her shoulder, my heart aching as I let her support me. “It feels like I can’t breathe sometimes. I’m scared of what might happen next. It always feels like their shadows follow me everywhere.”

Jasmine pulled back, looking deep into my eyes. “You’re strong, you’ll get through this. We’ll figure it out together, okay?”

Before I could respond, the door slowly creaked open. My heart jumped, and I instinctively pushed back into my seat as Hardin stepped in. His expression was impossible to read, a mask of indifference and underlying fury that made me uneasy.

“Hello, Hardin,” I said, forcing out a polite greeting despite the knot tightening in my stomach.

He simply sneered in my direction before walking away, not even bothering to acknowledge my presence. My heart raced at the dismissive way he treated me, panic settling into my bones. I glanced toward Jasmine, who looked visibly shaken by her husband’s demeanor.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.

“Whenever Hardin comes home looking like that… I just get worried,” she replied, her voice quiet with unease. “You never know what kind of mood he’s in, and it could turn bad really fast.”

Before I could respond, we both heard Hardin’s voice rising from another room, nearly resembling a scream as he called Jasmine’s name. The sound echoed off the walls, striking fear in my heart. Jasmine’s face paled, and she quickly stood upright, looking jittery. “I need to go see what he wants,” she said, her voice shaky as she headed toward the stairs.

“Wait! Maybe I should—” I started, but she shook her head.

“No, it’s okay. Just stay here,” she replied, rushing upstairs.

I listened intently as Hardin raised his voice at her, the words muffled but full of anger. I felt my heart thud heavily in my chest as I realized he was undoubtedly addressing me. Jasmine’s pleading tone reached my ears, and I could tell she was trying to explain herself. “I was sick, that’s why I couldn’t do the chores myself!” she was saying.

Angry, I wanted to storm upstairs, to yell back at him for treating her that way, but as I took the first step, a wave of cold realization swept over me. My feet felt glued to the floor, and I hesitated, my resolve faltering.

As if on cue, Hardin emerged from the hallway, his expression still unreadable, but his anger palpable. Jasmine followed closely, her eyes wide with fear. “You’re never to bring anyone into this house again,” Hardin warned, his voice low and menacing.

“What? Hardin, please don’t! Nadia was just helping me!” Jasmine pleaded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

But he was unfazed, shaking his head dismissively. “I don’t care. Get her out of here. If I see her here again, I’ll deal with both of you the only way I know how to.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a cold chill spread through me. It didn’t matter if I stood frozen in shock; Hardin’s words thundered in my mind. He was threatening us. Jasmine looked terrified, and in that moment, I couldn’t fight the desire to protect her.

“I’m sorry, I should go,” I mumbled, my voice hardly above a whisper as I backed away.

Jasmine looked at me, a mixture of fear and desperation flickering across her face. “Nadia, don’t... please!” she begged, but I shook my head, knowing she needed to keep herself safe.

The moment was suffocating. I felt like I was suffocating in a cloud of anxiety, trapped between wanting to defend Jasmine and fearing what Hardin might do next. As I slipped out the door, my heart aching, I heard Jasmine’s voice rise, trembling with defiance as she continued to argue with Hardin.

“Nadia didn’t do anything wrong!”

The door clicked shut behind me, and I found myself in the cool air outside, aching to release everything pent-up inside me. Walking away from Jasmine's home, I felt as if I were leaving a part of myself behind, knowing I couldn’t put her in harm’s way any longer.

The threat looming over us felt so real and heavy—whether from Alex and Sandro at school or Hardin at home. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. I had to find a way to be stronger, to fight back against the darkness that surrounded us. Planning to return to that home felt impossible now, but I couldn’t shake the loss of the weekends filled with laughter and warmth Jasmine brought into my life.

All I could do was hope she stayed safe, and that in some way, I could help her find the freedom she needed from Hardin…

Not that I didn't need one myself!