IMPOSSIBLE
For a moment, Aria thought she had heard wrong.
“You are my mate too.”
The words echoed in her head.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“What?”
Rowan blinked rapidly.
“Hold on—”
Darius rubbed his temple.
“That… shouldn’t be possible.”
Kael stared at the Alpha King like he had just grown another head.
Lucian, however, had stopped smiling completely.
His icy blue eyes locked onto the Alpha King.
The air between the two Alphas grew heavy with tension.
Aria finally found her voice.
“You’re joking.”
The Alpha King didn’t even look at her when he answered.
“No.”
Her heart started racing again.
Her wolf stirred in confusion.
Two mates?
“That’s not how it works,” Aria said quickly.
Her voice sounded slightly panicked now.
“Everyone knows wolves only have one mate.”
Rowan nodded immediately.
“Exactly.”
Lucian crossed his arms slowly.
“And yet here we are.”
Aria looked between them.
“This makes no sense.”
The Alpha King’s golden eyes finally turned toward her.
His voice was calm, but firm.
“I felt the bond the moment you woke your power.”
Aria’s stomach twisted.
“You never said anything.”
“There was no reason to.”
Lucian let out a dry laugh.
“Oh, I’m sure there wasn’t.”
The Alpha King ignored him.
Rowan scratched the back of his head.
“Okay… wait.”
He pointed between the two men.
“You’re both saying you’re her mate?”
“Yes,” Lucian answered easily.
The Alpha King simply nodded.
Rowan looked at Aria.
“Congratulations.”
She glared at him.
“Not helping.”
Darius was watching the situation with clear interest now.
“A dual mate bond…”
His voice carried curiosity.
“That’s extremely rare.”
Kael scoffed.
“Rare?”
He pointed at Aria.
“This has never happened.”
Lucian shrugged.
“Shadow Bloodline.”
Everyone looked at him.
“What does that mean?” Aria demanded.
Lucian tilted his head slightly.
“Your bloodline is older than the Alpha system itself.”
The Alpha King’s jaw tightened slightly.
Lucian continued.
“Old bloodlines sometimes break modern rules.”
Aria frowned.
“That’s not comforting.”
Her wolf was restless inside her mind.
They both feel right.
“I hate that you’re saying that,” Aria muttered internally.
The Alpha King stepped slightly closer to her.
Lucian immediately noticed.
His blue eyes darkened.
“Careful.”
The Alpha King didn’t look at him.
“She’s standing in my fortress.”
Lucian smirked faintly.
“And?”
Rowan quickly stepped between them again.
“Okay! Nobody fight.”
Neither Alpha moved.
The tension between them was thick enough to suffocate the courtyard.
Aria rubbed her forehead.
“This night is getting ridiculous.”
Lucian suddenly looked at her again.
“Does the bond feel stronger near him?”
Aria blinked.
“What?”
He nodded toward the Alpha King.
“Do you feel the pull?”
She hesitated.
Because the answer was yes.
But she didn’t want to admit it.
Lucian smiled slightly.
“Thought so.”
Then he added casually—
“It’ll get worse.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“Worse?”
Lucian nodded.
“Mate bonds grow stronger over time.”
Rowan groaned.
“Oh that’s fantastic.”
Darius rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“So if the bond continues strengthening…”
He looked at Aria.
“You won’t be able to ignore either of them.”
Aria stared at him.
“You’re saying I’m stuck with both of them?”
Lucian smiled.
“More or less.”
The Alpha King didn’t smile.
His gaze was still locked on Lucian.
Lucian noticed.
“Problem?”
The Alpha King’s voice was quiet.
“Yes.”
Lucian’s eyebrow lifted.
“What?”
The Alpha King’s eyes darkened.
“You.”
Lucian laughed again.
“Get used to it.”
The courtyard filled with tense silence again.
But suddenly—
Aria felt that burning sensation in her chest again.
Stronger this time.
Her wolf growled anxiously.
Something’s wrong.
Aria grabbed her chest.
“Wait…”
Rowan looked at her.
“What now?”
The burning spread through her body again like fire under her skin.
Her eyes widened.
“This feeling again—”
The Alpha King stepped closer instantly.
“What do you feel?”
Aria looked toward the forest again.
But this time—
Her voice trembled.
“It’s not just one…”
Everyone stiffened.
“What do you mean?” Rowan asked.
Aria’s heart began pounding violently.
She could feel it now.
Multiple presences.
Moving.
Fast.
Her wolf panicked.
More are coming.
Rowan slowly turned toward the dark forest.
“…how many?”
Aria swallowed hard.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“A lot.”