Kane POV

I look from Anton to Alice. Tears are streaming down her beautiful face, and her blue eyes are screaming at me in agony. My heart speeds up, and I want nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and comfort her. I want to tell her everything will be okay.

Instead, I turn my gaze to Axel and open our special mind link that only twins can share.

“Go to her,” I urge him.

Within seconds, he is by her side, holding her and whispering words of reassurance. My heart painfully cramps when I look at them. Axel and I have shared everything since we were babies. It is no surprise that we share a love for the same woman.

That was supposed to be our future. My brother, Alice, and I, against the world, raising our pups and the next Alpha of the Constantine Clan.

I look at our designated mate. What was her name again? Oh, yes, Elara. How can the elders assign her to us? Yes she is beautiful, I mean, that gorgeous cinnamon hair and the curvy body wrapped tightly in the dress... My wolf was pacing in my mind, going wild from the first moment I saw Elara, this foolish wolf almost dragged me to pounce!

Okay, I admit she's attractive, but no, we promised Alice she should have our protection.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get, and I turn to Anton, allowing my wolf to show its claws.

“You,” I point a finger at Anton. “You will undo this.”

“But …”

“Find a way,” I command, cutting off his protest.

Anton’s wolf flashes in his eyes, along with something else I cannot place. But before I can figure it out, he looks at the crowd and then backs down. If he were in wolf form, his tail would have been tucked between his legs.

“Please, Alpha,” Anton whispers urgently, and I can sense his fear. “Can we finish the mating ceremony and discuss this privately afterwards?”

My first instinct is to decline loudly, but I take a deep breath to calm myself. I am vaguely aware of the crowd murmuring about what is going to happen. But if I want my way, I will need the elders on my side.

“Finish the mating ceremony,” I hiss, my anger seething below the surface. “Now.”

Ignoring Anton and the crowd, I return to my seat. Axel and I make eye contact across the crowd, and I can see we are sharing the same internal struggle.

“Stay with her,” I mind link Axel, looking at Alice and not taking my eyes off her. “And I swear to the goddess, if he calls her to mate with someone, I’ll have his head.”

The fact that Alice was twenty-one and had not been mated yet was not lost on anyone. Alice had been treated horribly by many others in the pack for it, but I worked hard to sway the elders to put it off. Alice belongs to us, nobody else.

The crowd settles down as Elder Anton takes his place at the podium.

“Next up.” Anton cleared his throat, looking everywhere but at me and Axel. “Alice Fabine. Mated to Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler.”

What the fuck? Gregory and Lucas? The mate-killing monsters?

Axel POV

It is like a bomb explosion when Anton calls out Alice’s name. Kane is practically levitating in his chair, fighting his anger, and Alice is trembling in my arms, sobbing. That motherfucker! I will kill him.

There was no way in hell that I could stand there and watch as she walked over to Gregory and Lucas. Especially since it was Gregory and Lucas, they will tear her apart.

Alice would be their third mate in just over a year. Their first mate had been assigned to them the previous Fall, and she had mysteriously disappeared barely two months into their mating.

Knowing Gregory and Lucas since we were kids, we had our suspicions that her disappearance was not as mysterious as they claimed.

But the Elders ruled that there was no evidence of foul play and that Mary simply ran away. They never even bothered looking for her.

No foul play, my ass! Mary has been seen with bruises on her body by multiple people. The Elders were either lazy or did not want a scandal.

At the Spring ceremony, they had been assigned a she-wolf whose mate had just passed away in a car accident. Most thought it was too soon for her to mate someone else, but the Elders had thought it best for her to be mated right away, claiming that new love would help her heal.

She lasted three months before she was found dead in the woods behind Gregory and Lucas’s cabin. The Elders ruled it a suicide, blaming it on her depression and grief. When Kane and I visited the scene in the forest, we knew that was a lie. She was left-handed, yet the gun was in her right hand. I will never forget the smugness on Greg and Luke’s faces, shrugging when we asked them what happened.

A blind man could see that was not a suicide, but the Elders stuck to their story, because they did not want to admit they fucked up by giving those animals a mate. And now they are giving them another mate … again! What the fuck!

My entire body is vibrating with anger. I want to jump onto that stage and tear him limb from limb. Kane and I will declare that this whole mating process is done. That our pack will go our own way and do things the way we see fit. Fuck everyone else.

She does not deserve to endure this. I want to comfort her and assure her that everything will be okay.

“Don’t cry,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. It breaks my heart that she is so upset. “Kane and I will fix this. You heard Elder Anton, we’re going to talk about this once the ceremony is over.”

“Alice, you must go to your assigned mates.” Elder Anton’s voice is slimy, and my fangs drop. So, help me, goddess, I will tear this man apart. Elder or no elder.

“I can’t,” Alice sobs, clinging tighter to me.

“What in the fuck are we supposed to do?” I project to Kane.

“Just… Fuck.” He growls.

Kane and I look at each other, our anger growing with every second. The angrier we become, the more restless the crowd grows. Anton looks from Anton to me, concern in his eyes, and I take a deep breath. There is a reason why alphas must stay in constant control. Anything we feel will be sent out to the rest of the pack, and if they do not have a tight rein on their emotions, they will act upon it. Right now, every wolf from the Constantine Clan is seething with anger, all because of Kane and me.

“We must calm down, brother,” I warn him. “Before this ceremony turns into a bloodbath.”

“Wouldn’t it be fun if they ripped the elders apart?” Kane jokes, taking a deep, calming breath.

“Maybe,” I smirk. “But the aftermath is going to be a bitch to handle, and who has time for that?”

Kane nods, and we close our eyes. We concentrate on our breathing until our emotions calm down enough for the crowd to settle.

I open my eyes and look at Anton. His hands are shaking, but he smiles, relieved at me.

“Miss Montgomery, please join your mates so we can continue the ceremony.” Anton addresses Elara — this red-haired girl pouts, fiery-tempered yet seemingly kissable. I begin imagining that mouth moaning my name.

Damn, my penis almost immediately get hard.

Shit, I actually start imagining those lips screaming my name, those eyes crying because of my thrusts.

Elara POV

I stand around indecisively when Axel and Kane walk to Elder Anton at the end of the ceremony. I watch as the three whisper, but their body language screams anger.

What am I supposed to do now?

People are still glancing curiously at us. I can feel their eyes on me, and it is fucking humiliating to be openly discarded as second choice.

“We could trade her for Alice.” Axel’s words float towards me, and my stomach dives. I am not a cow to be traded for a handful of magic beans.

“Fuck no,” Kane hisses in disgust. “No one deserves to be with Greg and Lucas.”

“You’re right, I know,” Axel sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t want to place Elara in harm’s way. But we cannot let Alice go home with those monsters.”

Kane shifts his weight, looking at the pack members still standing around. Silently, I pray that whatever he decides to do will not upset the elders and make things more difficult.

The elders had been given ultimate power, saying that the Alphas' egos, heated tempers, and rash decisions led to the Great War. The idea was that the elders were older, wiser, and more even-tempered since they did not have Alpha blood flowing through their veins.

So, while Kane and Axel might be upset about today and the elders’ decision, they did not have any control over it and could not go against them. The only thing Kane and Axel had control over was the day-to-day leading of the pack.

“Elara,” Kane barks, and I jump in fright, staring at him wide-eyed. “Come with us.”

My heart beats like a drum as I slowly walk towards them. Honestly, if I had a choice, I would be running for the hills. I am petrified of the unknown.

Kane and Axel’s eyes roam over me, and I can swear they are mind-linking, because they look at each other, then at me, and then out into the distance.

What the hell?

I will not allow them to intimidate me, I decide determinately, pulling my shoulders back and staring at them.

Axel nods once, and Kane walks toward the people still in the town square. Axel follows, indicating with a jerk of his head that I should come, too.

“Members of Constantine.” Kane addresses the crowd, his voice booming. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards him. “Until a thorough investigation has been conducted, and we can conclusively determine that a new mate will be safe in their care, Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler are hereby forbidden from claiming a new mate.”

Kane POV

The crowd gawks at me as if I had lost my mind, but they are either too scared or too polite to say anything. Not that I give a rat’s ass - I must protect Alice at all costs, and this is my only recourse.

“This is absurd!” Greg bursts through the crowd, rage shining in his eyes as he meets my gaze. Luke is not far behind, his hand wrapped around Alice’s wrist, dragging her behind him.

The aggressive manner he handles her aggravates me, and I let loose a low growl.

“You have no right,” Luke protests, but immediately lets go of Alice.

“I’m well within my rights to protect a member of this pack from possible harm,” I cross my arms over my chest and widen my legs. “And I’m well within my right to open an investigation into members of the pack.”

“What are you going to do with our mate?” Greg spits the words. “The elders gave her to us. She’s ours.”

“She’ll be kept safe,” Axel cuts in. “With us.”

“No fucking way!” Luke yells. “You will not take our mate away from us. Especially since we all know your history with her.”

Alice stands on her tiptoes, peering around Luke’s shoulder, her eyes filled with gratitude. I will not let harm come to her, and I will figure out a way to make her ours.

“Alpha Kane,” Anton steps forward and stands in front of the crowd. “This is completely unacceptable.”

“Pack protection is not within the Elders’ power,” I smirk. “It’s at my discretion, and I’m simply doing what I must to protect a valuable member of our pack. Certainly, the elders will understand the need to protect one of our viable she-wolves.”

“This is not about that, and you know it,” Anton’s nostrils flare with anger. “You’re playing with fire, Alpha Kane.”

“Oh, really,” I raise my eyebrows. “Tell that to the two mates they already had. You’ve been handing out multiple mates this ceremony like candy, and now you want to squander a she-wolf on them. It doesn’t matter what you think this is about. Until you can find a law that negates my ruling, it stands. Gregory and Lucas will not be mated to anyone until our investigation is complete, and that’s final.”

Anton glares at me in silence, and I know he is trying to figure out his next move, but there is none. Not right now, anyway. I am sure he will find something, but it will not be today, and that is enough for now.

We do what an Alpha should—protect our pack members from being hurt. I glance at Alice; she looks relieved. But somehow, I’m more eager to see how Elara will respond.

Then I notice how upset she is, and it almost makes me want to hug her and comfort her.

But I restrain myself, forcing back that crazy, reckless urge.

Elara POV

No. Fucking. Way.

Rage, embarrassment, and denial rush through my veins. This cannot be happening. First, I catch that slut with Mason, and now she is coming home with us. Show me one person who would be happy with this arrangement. Other than Alice. She is smitten like a kitten, holding Kane’s hand.

A hand brushes across my arm, and I look over to see Mindy standing beside me.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispers, smiling at me. “I know this is wild, and I’m sure you’re confused, but it’s all going to be okay.”

“Mindy,” I throw my arms around her. Guilt consumes me when I realise I have not even noticed who she is mated to. “I’m so sorry, I’m so caught up in my own shit that I didn’t even consider what you’re going through.”

“It’s okay,” she smiles. “Your drama is way more than mine. Especially since it’s Alice.”

“Right,” I gasp, throwing my hands in the air. “At least you get it. I mean, look at her. All smiling and stuff while she knows I know she’s been cheating. She hasn’t had a single worry that I might tell, because they’re all like ‘we love you’ and stuff.”

I cut off my tirade and take a deep breath.

“But enough about me,” I smile. “Who’s your mate?”

“Not mate,” she smiles mischievously. “Mates. I also got two. Monroe Glade and Maxim Fulton.”

“That’s so great,” I exclaim, my heart leaping with joy. Monroe and Maxim were two of the High Guards for Kane and Axel. They live in the same house as the Alpha twins, in a different wing of the huge mansion. “You and I will see each other every day. Are you happy with your match?”

“They’re good, kind men,” she nods. “I’m a little nervous for tonight, but very pleased.”

“They’re sexy as hell,” she whispers mischievously. “I have to go now, but I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

We hold on to each other a minute longer before she steps back and walks to the two huge men standing behind her, staring at her with possessiveness and heat in their eyes.

I sigh sadly as I look at my mates. I wish they looked at me the way Mindy’s mates looked at her. However, my “mates” are currently cooing over Alice, comforting her and stroking her hair.

Fucking great.

I am doomed to share a life with two men who cannot spare me the time of day. Suddenly, my future seems lonely and miserable.

I bite back a growl of frustration. If only I could shift and run. Far away from here and this whole catastrophe.

Kane and Axel simultaneously lift their heads and look at me, and I meet their stares. There is so much coldness between us that I can practically feel the temperature drop.

“Nice,” my voice drips with sarcasm, and I cross my arms in front of my chest. “I see you finally realised that I’m still here.”

Kane’s nostrils flare, Axel grinds his teeth, and I sigh inwardly. Alice smirks at me, and it takes every inch of self-control not to shift and slice her open. As satisfying as it sounds, I am mated to the Alphas and will act accordingly. It is time for me to stop being some snivelling wisp of a girl and act like the woman I am.

“Your compassion for a fellow she-wolf is heartwarming,” I say sweetly, masking my discontent. “And while I appreciate your concern, might I ask what your plans are for your actual mate?”

Axel POV

I look at Kane, and I am pretty sure he is about to blow a gasket. Nobody speaks to him like that … well, except for me. But that is different. I am his brother, he is only five minutes older than I, and I have said worse.

I open my mouth to snap at her, but Elara’s scent wraps around me, and I lose my train of thought. I have never experienced a scent like this before, and my nose - and my wolf - do not know what to do with it. The scent hits me. Her red hair practically glows, just as fiery as her temper. Clearly, her seduction works.

By the look of confusion on Kane’s face, he is in the same boat. Alice tenses and wrinkles her nose. So, she smells it, too.

“She’s not coming with us, is she?” Alice looks up at Kane and bats her eyelashes. A move that melts him every time and has him bending to her every whim.

In the beginning, that move worked on me as well. But after a while, I saw it for the tactic it was. She does that every time she wants something from us. And one of us had to be immune to it to keep a clear head.

“I’m afraid there’s no other choice, love.” Kane sighs, shaking his head.

“But I’m going to be your mate,” she whines.

“I know,” Kane runs the back of his fingers down Alice’s cheek in a soothing gesture. “But we’ve rocked the boat enough today. Be patient with us.”

I look over at Elara, and the expression on her face is priceless. It is a mixture of what-the-fuck-am-I-looking-at and amusement, and I grin before I can stop myself.

I have to admit that she's adorable, and even those little freckles are quite special.

“Is there something amusing, Axel?” Kane asks.

“Something amusing?” I chuckle. “You mean other than this whole situation?”

“I don’t find any of this amusing at all,” Alice sniffs. She looks at Kane and turns her shoulder to me. “Can we go home?”

“She always lacked a sense of humour,” my wolf, Blade, huffs.

“Hush, Blade,” I reply. “She’s just upset.”

I sigh inwardly and shut him out. Lately, Alice annoys him with the tiniest thing. I tend to ignore him. Most people claim their wolves are insightful and know the deepest parts of them, but that is not the case with Blade. He is judgmental, never happy, and he hates practically everything and everyone other than Kane and his wolf, Gibson. Heaven knows what my life would have been like if I listened to Blade. I would be a virgin, for sure.

“Let’s get back to the house,” I suggest. “We can discuss everything there.”

“Agreed,” Kane pulls Alice against his side and leads the way.

“Seriously?” Elara plants her hands on her hips, gaping at Kane and Alice as they walk away.

Something inside me breaks a little. As much as I want Alice and not Elara, I cannot imagine being in her shoes right now. It strikes me how archaic and patriarchal the elders’ rules are.

But then I remember … it was the women who had started the Great War.

Many records of that war have become somewhat blurred. All I know is that now, at this moment, the aftermath of that war has pushed this auburn-haired girl towards me.

Her small mouth opened and closed, asking what plans we had for her. To be honest, I didn't really catch what she was saying. That little mouth seemed magical, rosy, and kissable.

Then I heard Kane said, "We have to sleep together tonight."