Torn Between Two Alpha Brothers

5

SERENA'S POV

Emma glared at me from across the hall, her eyes sharp with malice. She sized me up, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

"Look at you," she said slowly, her voice dripping with contempt. "You look like a madwoman."

I wanted to snap at her, to scream back but I knew better. Saying the wrong thing would only make her angrier. And Lucia... she was always watching, waiting for a reason to punish me.

I lowered my gaze and stayed silent.

Emma's voice rose again, harsh and commanding. "Listen! You will stay behind me at all times. Do exactly as I say. Do you understand?"

I bowed my head, my voice barely audible. "Yes, ma'am."

Lucia stepped forward, her face twisting with authority. "And you," she added, "don't do anything that will embarrass my daughter. You will obey me as well."

I nodded again. Fear and exhaustion weighed on me, but a strange part of me felt... relieved. At least I would see where my mate lived.

Though, honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to think of him as my mate anymore. Alpha Kane... he had rejected me, and I wasn't ready to be claimed or fight over someone I didn't fully understand.

We got into the car. Emma and I were both there, though I was told to sit in the boot, the rear compartment.

Yes. The boot.

According to her, she couldn't bear to be in the same space as me. I didn't care. I had long ago stopped caring what she thought.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived. The ride had been bumpy and uncomfortable, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere on him.

Will I see him?

Inside the hall, a tall man with graying hair welcomed the group. His smile seemed forced, polite, but I could tell he was pretending.

"Welcome, my princesses," he said warmly, directing us inside. I followed behind Emma, helping adjust her dress. Another maid carried her bag.

The other princesses arrived in their cars, each accompanied by a maid. Emma, of course, had two maids, while the others only had one.

As we entered the grand hall, my stomach sank. The tension was thick. My heart was pounding—not from fear, but from anticipation.

Where was Alpha Kane?

The round table had been prepared. The princesses sat while the maids were instructed to stand behind them.

I was the only one who looked ragged. Torn clothes, messy hair... exactly how Lucia wanted me to appear. "No one will want you," she had said, "You're nothing but a miserable maid."

It hurt, but I had no choice.

I stood quietly, trying not to draw attention. The hall slowly filled with guests. A presenter came forward and began speaking, but I couldn't focus.

All I could think about was the pull.

Someone was staring.

I raised my head slightly. I knew I shouldn't—but I couldn't resist.

From across the room, I saw him. Blond hair, piercing blue eyes, a presence that made the entire space feel smaller. He was staring directly at me.

My breath caught.

I had only seen him briefly before, yet my wolf recognized him instantly. My body reacted before my mind could process.

What was happening?

Why was he staring?

I tried to look away, to focus on something else but it was impossible. The pull between us was magnetic, undeniable.

Then I realized... my wolf wasn't wrong. This connection wasn't with Alpha Kane.

It was someone else.

I broke eye contact, forcing myself to focus elsewhere. My heart raced so fast I feared it might explode. Two mates?

It couldn't be possible.

I needed air.

"I'll be back," I whispered to the other maid. She nodded, accustomed to my erratic ways.

I hurried out of the hall, desperate to escape the confusion.

But then there was a collision.

A strong chest stopped me cold. Firm hands held me in place. I looked up. Dark eyes, filled with intensity, bore into mine.

It was Alpha Kane.

"Let me go," I whispered, fear and frustration blending in my voice.

He didn't. His gaze softened just enough to make my heart betray me.

Before he could speak, a commanding voice rang out from behind.

"What are you doing with my mate?!"

I spun around. Another man, tall, commanding, with eyes as sharp as knives was standing there.

My chest tightened.

The pull... it came from him too.

Two mates? And I was caught in the middle.

I stood frozen between them, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might tear out of my chest.

Alpha Kane's grip on my wrist was firm but careful, almost protective. His dark eyes searched mine, full of questions I couldn't answer.

Then there was him the second man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp blond hair and piercing gray eyes that seemed to see through me entirely. His presence made the air around us heavy, charged.

I couldn't understand it. Why did I feel... pulled toward both of them? My wolf growled inside my head, confused and restless.

"What do you mean by that, Xavier ?" Kane demanded, his voice low but filled with authority.

Xavier? So that's the second man's name?

The second man's eyes didn't waver. "Kane, she is Mine," he said firmly.

They knew eachother?

Kane scoffed, stepping forward. "She is mine."

Xavier didn't back down. He stepped closer to me, his hand brushing against mine. "No, she's mine."

I took a step back, my hands trembling. "Stop!" I cried. "Both of you, stop!"

They both looked at me as if I had spoken nonsense.

"You don't understand," I said, my voice breaking. "I... I can't be dragged into your fight. I'm not your prize, and I don't belong to either of you like this!"

Kane's jaw tightened, his dark eyes flicking to Xavier. "She is my mate," he said, his tone final.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Your mate? She hasn't even bonded with you yet. I can feel her pull, Kane. I can feel it as clearly as you."

The room seemed to shrink around us. The energy was suffocating, almost violent. My wolf inside me howled, torn between two equally strong forces, and I had no control over it.

I wanted to run, to hide somewhere safe, but I knew I couldn't escape them not now. Not when this bond or whatever it was ,was demanding my attention.

"Serena," Kane said softly, his voice trying to cut through the chaos. "You don't understand what this means. You're my mate, whether you want it or not."

I shook my head violently. "No! I don't want either of you to fight over me. I... I need a choice!"