IN THE MORNING
MICHAEL
I woke up to warmth. Heavy, unrelenting warmth. At first, I thought I was dreaming, because there was no way an alpha's chest could be this solid, no way his arms could be wrapped so securely around me that even shifting made me realize how caged I was. Then I felt it, the steady thrum of a heartbeat pressed against my back, the low rumble vibrating in his chest. Zavier.
His silver eyes weren't open yet, but I knew. I knew by the grip of his hand splayed across my ribs, by the way my wolf purred at the weight of his arm like it was the most natural thing in the world. A flush crawled up my cheeks. My neck stung faintly, bond mark still raw and pulsing in time with my heartbeat. I should've shoved him off. I should've panicked. But instead, I just lay there for a second, breathing him in. Of course, that peace didn't last. The door slammed open.
"Michael." Adrian's voice, sharp, commanding, shaking the walls.
His amber gold eyes landed on me immediately, on us, and narrowed. Terrence and Xavier stepped in behind him, their expressions a mix of fury and disbelief.
"What the hell is this?" Terrence snarled, his storm gray eyes flashing as his fists clenched.
"Get your hands off him, Zavier." Xavier said, voice like ice, though his jaw ticked in something uglier than calm.
Zavier didn't even twitch. His arm tightened around me instead, dragging me further against his chest, his chin dropping protectively to my shoulder. A low growl rumbled from his throat, warning, primal, enough to silence even Adrian for a beat. I blinked at them all, heart hammering. They looked at me like I was some kind of traitor, like I'd willingly let this happen. I sat up as much as Zavier would allow, which wasn't much at all and snapped.
"Don't you dare look at me like that. You left me."I said angrily.
That shut them up. I met each of their gazes, my voice sharper than I expected.
"During my heat, you all walked out. You left Zavier here alone. And he-" I swallowed, heat rushing to my cheeks. "He did what an alpha was supposed to do. He stayed. He claimed me. You want to be angry? Be angry at yourselves."
The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by Zavier's wolf's low growl vibrating through me. Selene's laugh broke it first. Low. Mocking. She leaned against the wall like she'd been waiting for this moment.
"Well, isn't that poetic? The saint that was never meant to be theirs… already marked." Selene said.
Adrian's fists clenched. Terrence cursed under his breath. Xavier's calm mask cracked, eyes burning dark. Zavier finally lifted his head then, silver eyes gleaming with triumph. He pressed his mouth against my temple, his voice low, smug, claiming.
"They can rage all they want, Michael. But you're mine. And I'm not letting go."Zavier grinned.
My wolf purred at that, loud and unashamed, vibrating through the whole nest.
AT THE SAME TIME
SELENE
The room vibrated with the sound of it. That purr. That soft, instinctive noise rolling out of Michael's chest, undeniable, unashamed, like his wolf had already decided the truth his stubborn mind refused to say out loud. And oh, the look on the others' faces. Adrian's amber-gold eyes widened before narrowing with betrayal. Terrence's jaw locked so tight I swore I heard teeth grind. Xavier's mask of icy restraint cracked, stormy anger leaking through. All of them alphas, all of them furious, and none of them the one pressed into Michael's side. It was delicious. The Moon Goddess's voice coiled through my skull, velvet and amused.
"Do you hear it, Selene? His wolf sings for the silver eyed one. Instinct has chosen. Even you cannot deny that sound."She said.
I tilted my head, lips curling as I leaned against the wall, letting their misery paint me a prettier picture than any mirror could.
"I hear it." I whispered back. "And so do they. That sound alone will haunt them more than the bond mark."
"Mmm." The goddess purred. "You schemed for balance. You dreamed of four alphas, one saint. But look at him. One bond, and already his body folds perfectly into the cage Zavier makes. His wolf delights in it."
My eyes flicked to Michael then. His cheeks were flushed, his dark hair tangled across his face, but he didn't look ashamed. Annoyed, defensive yes, but not ashamed. His wolf purred louder as Zavier's hand slid possessively along his ribs, staking silent claim with every touch. The goddess chuckled, her voice laced with wicked glee.
"Perhaps you should thank me. It was my hand that nudged fate toward silver fur. Why else would his heat break only for Zavier? Tell me, Selene does he not look more perfect than your original choice?"Moon Godness asked.
I stiffened at that, lips parting.
"…You meddled?"I asked.
Her laughter rang like bells in my head.
"Of course. Did you think I would waste my saint on Charlie alone? No. Michael was always meant to be caught. Fragile in body, defiant in spirit, his wolf craving chains he would never admit aloud. And Zavier… oh, Zavier smelled it first. That boy is mine as much as he is yours."Moon Godness smirked.
I narrowed my eyes, but my pulse betrayed me, skipping with delight.
"You mean to say… Michael is stronger than Charlie?"I whispered.
The goddess's smile pressed sharp against my mind.
"Stronger. Rarer. He blushes like prey, yet already his wolf has chosen. Do you see? When he bears an heir, an heir born of silver storm and sainted blood, it will surpass even the one you lost."She grinned.
I let my gaze wander back to the nest. Zavier's silver eyes glittered with a predator's triumph, his lips brushing the bond mark like a brand he'd carve deeper if anyone dared challenge him. Michael pressed tight against him, cheeks pink and jaw clenched in defiance, but his wolf ah, his wolf betrayed him with every happy, protective rumble. And the others? Adrian, Terrence, Xavier… all standing on the edge of rage, yet too late. Too slow. A laugh slipped past my lips, low and delighted.
"Oh, my goddess you're right. This game just became so much more entertaining."I said.
The Moon Goddess purred, pleased.
"Let them rage. Let them fight. It will not change what is already written in his wolf. Michael belongs to silver wolf."She grinned.