6
1018 Words
SERENA'S POV
Xavier stepped closer, his gray eyes intense. "You will have a choice, but not until you understand the bond, Serena. You feel it, don't you? That pull toward me?"
"Yes," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "I feel it... with both of you."
The admission hung in the air like a storm about to break.
Kane's expression darkened. "Then choose me, or you risk everything including your father's safety. My pack will protect you, and so will I."
Xavier's gaze softened just slightly, though his tone remained firm. "And if you choose me, I will protect you. I will honor the bond. But do not let him intimidate you, Serena. This isn't just about possession it's about survival."
I stumbled backward, overwhelmed. The pull of both mates was impossible to ignore. My wolf was restless, frantic, growling, trying to force me into action.
"I... I don't know what to do," I whispered, tears filling my eyes. "I... I need time."
Kane's hand clenched into a fist. Xavier's expression hardened. For a moment, I feared the tension would ignite into violence.
Then, I realized something. If I didn't take control, I would be destroyed by their decisions—by their fights over me.
"I said I need time," I repeated, my voice louder this time, firm. "I will not be claimed until I am ready. I... I will decide when the time comes. Not now. Not like this."
Both men stared at me, their hands still near mine, their power pressing down on me. Silence fell. It was heavy, suffocating.
Finally, Kane released my wrist, though his dark eyes didn't leave mine. Xavier let go as well, though a tension lingered in his posture.
"Fine," Kane said, his voice low and controlled. "Time. You'll have it... for now."
Xavier nodded. "Use it wisely, Serena. There are forces at play you cannot even begin to understand."
I swallowed hard, trying to calm the chaos inside me. My hands shook. My heart raced. My wolf growled in frustration, confused by the conflicting bonds.
I didn't know what the future held. I didn't know which path to take, which mate to trust, or even if I could trust either of them.
But one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same again. I had to run back inside.
***
The hallway felt colder than ever as I stumbled back into the main hall, my heart still racing. Both Kane and Xavier had left their mark on me emotionally and physically and I wasn't sure how I was going to recover from the intensity of that encounter.
Emma's eyes narrowed as she saw me return. "Where were you?" she snapped, her voice dripping with irritation. "Do you know how long I've been waiting?"
I forced myself to bow my head. "I... I just went to get some fresh air," I muttered. My voice was shaky, but I tried to make it sound confident.
"Fresh air?!" Emma scoffed, glaring. "You think you can just wander off when you're supposed to be at my side?"
Lucia appeared behind her, eyes sharp and calculating. "Serena," she said, her voice cold. "Remember your place. You are here to serve, nothing more. Fail me again, and the consequences will be severe."
I bit my lip, nodding silently. I couldn't let them see the chaos inside me they had already taken too much from me.
As I followed Emma toward the seating area, my mind raced. How could I possibly choose between Kane and Xavier? Both of them had claimed a bond with me, both had touched a part of my soul I never knew existed, and both had the power to destroy me if I made the wrong move.
I barely noticed the other princesses around me. Their voices and laughter sounded distant, almost unreal. My thoughts were consumed entirely by the Alphas and the pull I felt toward each of them.
I glanced toward the front of the hall. Kane was standing by the windows, his dark gaze sweeping the room like a predator searching for prey. He didn't look at me directly, but I felt the weight of his stare like a physical force pressing against my chest.
Then my eyes caught Xavier, sitting across the room, calm and collected. His gray eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I felt a shock of recognition and an undeniable pull that left me breathless.
I tried to focus on Emma, on the party, on anything but my body refused. My wolf growled softly in warning, a primal sensation that made my skin tingle. Something dangerous was coming, and I could feel it in my bones.
The party continued around me, but it was a blur. I felt like I was moving through a dream one in which my heart and my fate were being tugged in two directions I couldn't control.
Suddenly, a hush fell over the room. All eyes turned toward the entrance, and I froze.
A figure stepped in, tall and commanding, exuding power that made even Kane and Xavier seem small in comparison. His silver hair shimmered under the chandelier light, and his eyes glowed with a strength I had never witnessed before.
"Luna's bloodline," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "So this is the one everyone has been talking about."
My heart skipped. He was looking straight at me.
Kane and Xavier stiffened. Even Emma and Lucia went quiet. It was as though the entire room had been struck by the presence of this new Alpha.
The man's gaze swept over the crowd, then landed firmly on me. "You," he said, with so much power. "You have no idea what's coming for you."
My pulse raced, and my wolf growled in fear and anticipation. Something told me that my life was about to change forever far beyond the drama of the two Alphas claiming me.
And deep down, I knew one thing for certain this was only the beginning.
I didn't sign up for this drama. All I wanted was a safe place for Dad and me.
- Writer
