TWO ALPHAS
Silence crushed the courtyard.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Aria’s heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
Mate.
Her wolf repeated the word again, softer this time.
But the Alpha King’s growl shattered the moment.
Low.
Deadly.
His massive black wolf stood between Aria and the silver-haired man, fur raised and eyes blazing like molten gold.
The silver-haired man didn’t look intimidated.
If anything, he looked entertained.
“Well,” he said calmly, glancing at the Alpha King.
“That’s not exactly the welcome I expected.”
The Alpha King’s growl deepened.
Rowan stepped forward quickly, clearly trying to stop the situation from exploding.
“Alright,” Rowan said cautiously.
“Let’s all relax for a second.”
Kael scoffed.
“Relax?”
His eyes were fixed on the newcomer with open hostility.
“An unknown Alpha walks into our territory and claims our Luna is his mate.”
Darius crossed his arms, studying the stranger carefully.
“That’s definitely not normal.”
The silver-haired man looked around at the gathered Alphas.
“So many Alpha egos in one place,” he muttered.
Then his gaze returned to Aria.
And the moment their eyes met—
The strange warmth in her chest surged again.
Her wolf stirred restlessly.
It’s him.
Aria swallowed.
She hated that feeling.
Hated how her body reacted to him without asking permission.
“Who are you?” she asked finally.
The man smiled slightly.
“I was wondering when you’d ask.”
He placed a hand casually against his chest.
“My name is Lucian.”
Rowan frowned.
“Lucian… what?”
Lucian shrugged.
“Lucian is enough.”
The Alpha King suddenly stepped forward.
His wolf form towered over Lucian, radiating pure dominance.
“You came into my territory,” the King growled.
Lucian’s blue eyes flicked toward him.
“And?”
The temperature in the courtyard seemed to drop.
The Alpha King’s voice was dangerously calm.
“Explain yourself.”
Lucian sighed.
“You’re really making this more dramatic than it needs to be.”
He gestured toward Aria.
“I came for my mate.”
Kael barked out a harsh laugh.
“That’s funny.”
Lucian glanced at him.
“You’re not part of this conversation.”
Kael’s eyes flashed with anger.
But Aria stepped forward before the situation could explode further.
“Stop.”
Everyone looked at her.
She crossed her arms.
“I don’t know you.”
Lucian nodded.
“That’s true.”
“And I definitely didn’t agree to be your mate.”
Lucian’s smile softened slightly.
“You didn’t need to.”
Aria frowned.
“That’s not how this works.”
Lucian tilted his head.
“Isn’t it?”
Her wolf stirred again.
He smells right.
Aria ignored it.
The Alpha King suddenly shifted back into human form.
His tall frame still stood between Aria and Lucian.
His golden eyes were cold.
“The mate bond doesn’t work that way.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
The Alpha King’s voice sharpened.
“A wolf has one mate.”
Lucian’s gaze flicked briefly toward Aria again.
“And?”
The Alpha King’s expression darkened.
“And she already has one.”
The words fell into the courtyard like a bomb.
Aria froze.
Rowan blinked.
“Wait…”
Darius slowly looked between them.
Lucian’s amused expression disappeared.
For the first time since arriving—
He looked surprised.
“What?”
The Alpha King’s voice was low.
“She’s mine.”
Aria’s breath caught.
Her wolf stirred violently.
Lucian stared at the Alpha King for several seconds.
Then he slowly began to laugh.
Not loudly.
But the sound carried through the silent courtyard.
“You’re serious.”
The Alpha King didn’t respond.
Lucian’s blue eyes sharpened.
“Well…”
His voice turned colder.
“That’s a problem.”
Rowan groaned quietly.
“Oh great.”
Aria looked between the two men.
“Wait—what do you mean she already has one?”
The Alpha King finally looked at her.
His golden eyes held something intense.
Something she couldn’t quite understand.
Then he said the words that made her entire world stop.
“You are my mate too.”