Instead of feeling excited and happy about finding my fated mates, like my wolf does, I feel anxious.
Maybe it's because there are two of them, and I don't know how to handle that. Or maybe it's because of the messy situation we're in right now.
But the worst part is the whispers among the crowd, especially from the elders that "Having two fated mates at the same time isn't only extremely uncommon, it means that bad omens are coming."
If I were to guess, those omens are the possible tension between Alpha Torrin and Damian, and their looming conflict with the Dunebourne Pack if they fail to send me back to them.
I wanna escape now. But with everyone's eyes glued to me, escape remains impossible. Aside from that, my wolf growls inside me, demanding that I don't waste the bond given by the Moon Goddess.
Suddenly,...
Lance grabs my wrist and yanks me away from the crowd. "We're going home. Now!"
"I don't have a home!" I protest, pulling back.
Alpha Torrin steps in, grabbing Lance's wrist and forces him to release me. Then he stands protectively in front of me to face Lance head on.
"You and your pack will regret this if you claim what's mine," Lance threatens.
"She's not yours. You've already been rejected. And you're not fated to her," Alpha Torrin counters with an eerie calmness.
Lance's jaw tightens as his eyes dart around the hall, judging his chances if he decides to wolf-out.
Obviously, he won't win here.
With frustration twisting his face, he turns to me. "You have until dawn to decide. If you don't come with me, there will be war."
Alpha Torrin gives me a reassuring smile. "I'm not like this man. I won't force you to stay. I'll respect whatever choice you make."
I glance at Damian, who's been watching quietly. He nods slightly, agreeing with Alpha Torrin's words.
That's a relief.
But,...
Chief Beta Atticus, Damian's father, appears. "The decision shouldn't be hers. It should be yours, since you're our Alpha. If she makes the wrong choice, our entire pack will pay the price."
"Her decision is mine to respect," Alpha Torrin answers firmly.
The two men lock eyes as the tension thickens.
Beta Atticus scoffs. "I knew you'd ruin this pack someday. I just didn't think it would be this soon, and because of a woman you barely know."
Lance sniggers. "Shame. I wonder what your dead father would say about your inept leadership."
Alpha Torrin's fists clench. But, he forces himself to calm down and faces the crowd with his usual warm smile.
"I apologize for the interruption. Please, continue to enjoy the feast. My council and I have urgent matters to discuss. Excuse us."
He takes my hand and leads me back toward the mansion. Behind us, the council members follow, including Beta Atticus and Damian, while the murmurs of the crowd fade into the night.
Inside the study room, everyone takes a seat facing Alpha Torrin and me, who sit behind the large mahogany desk.
My hands tremble on my lap, and I can barely lift my gaze out of shame. I never meant to bring trouble to this pack. All I ever wanted is freedom and peace.
Their discussion starts calmly, filled with formal tones and measured words. But it doesn't take long before tempers begin to rise, opinions clash and voices grow louder.
Beta Atticus slams his palm on the table and growls, "If she stays, I'll convince our packmates to help me take the Alpha title from you."
That's a clear declaration of coup! Shouldn't Alpha Torrin arrest him right now?!
"You already tried and failed, didn't you?" Alpha Torrin says, his tone edged with warning.
Beta Atticus smirks bitterly. "That's true. That's because the pack wanted to obey the law and give you a chance to lead. But now that there are whispers of bad omens, because of that girl you're so eager to protect, do you still think they'll stand with you?"
His words stab me like knives.
"I'll just leave!" I blurt out, standing up.
"Oh, no, you can't!" a female Beta interrupts sharply. "We must surrender you to the Dunebourne Pack."
Roars of agreement fill the room.
I fall to my knees as tears blur my vision. "Please. You don't know what they're planning to do to me. If you hand me over, it won't just hurt me, but possibly all of us. That's why they want me so badly."
"Explain how," another member of the council demands.
But I can't.
Soon, the noise dies down.
Everyone looks to Alpha Torrin, waiting for him to speak. But he says nothing. His gaze drifts toward the window, and his jaw tense.
Damian helps me up gently. "I don't think she's needed here, since nobody wanna listen to her. I'll bring her back to her room. I'll be back soon."
As we walk through the long corridor, my mind drifts.
Until,...
Damian's voice pulls me back. "Do you really mean to go?"
"If I stay, you and Alpha Torrin will face worse trouble," I answer, then hesitantly ask, "About your father… Does he really mean to steal the Alpha's title?"
Damian sighs sharply. "He was once an Alpha, before Alpha Orion married Luna Beatrice and had Alpha Torrin as their son. The law stripped him of his title, and he was demoted to a Beta position. And he never accepted it."
"When Alpha Orion died protecting the borders from rogues, my father became obsessed with taking back what he thought was his. He tried to sabotage Alpha Torrin's inauguration. Luckily, I managed to convince him to stop. But, this time, I don't think he'll listen, especially with these possible conflicts ahead."
Damian pauses, as if hesitating.
"But I'd rather face all of those conflicts than lose you," he finally says, his voice softer than usual.
My heart stops for a moment, then races wildly.
He'd risk his loyalty and his relationship with his father and Alpha Torrin for me? Which means… I really must go!
When we reach the guest room's door, he suddenly holds my hand, while his eyes search mine.
"How about we both leave?" he asks.
He'd go that far for me?
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
My wolf howls inside me, torn between joy and fear.
Finally, I manage to whisper, "Let me… think about it. I don't wanna make a rash decision out of desperation."
He nods with a tinge of disappointment. "Understood."
He turns and walks away.
I lock the door and sit on the bed. I pull out my phone, open a browser and type, two fated mates.
The results make my stomach twist.
Aside from the mentions of bad omens, there's also the impossibility of choosing only one of the fated mates, and the agony of being separated from either or both of them.
It also says that if my wolf fails to bear the pain of separation or rejection, I could die.
I drop the phone on the mattress, my shoulders slouching in defeat.
Maybe dying isn't such a terrible fate? I mean… compared to what I'm facing now.
Suddenly,...
My phone buzzes with a new email notification from the Dunebourne Pack Council.
My thumb trembles as I tap the message open. Then dread curls in my blood as I play the video attached to it.
They found Harper!
Her terrified face fills the screen. She's tied to a chair, bruised and her hair is a tangled mess.
"Help me, Harleigh!" she cries.
Then,..
The camera angles towards Alpha Philip's sneering face. "If you don't come back, your sister will become Lance's bride once she turns eighteen instead of you."
"You're sick!" I growl, my voice shaking with rage and disgust.
I can't let Harper take my place! I can't let her suffer the same pain I did!
I wipe my tears with the back of my arm and force myself to stand. My legs feel weak, but I keep moving until I reach the study room again where the Frostveil council is still deep in argument.
Iheir chatter ceases instantly while attention turns toward me.
"I'm going back to the Dunebourne Pack. Tell Lance to prepare to leave with me tonight," I declare.
Alpha Torrin's and Damian's eyes widen in disbelief, while pain clouding their handsome faces. They're silently begging me to take back what I said.
But I can't! And I won't!