Claimed By The Twins Alphas

Chapter 8

~ ROWAN’S POV

The next few days were a blur of cold marble, blinking camera lights, and the heavy, suffocating scent of the Knox twins. I was a guest who was actually a prisoner, a woman who was actually a womb. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the phantom weight of Julian or Marcus pressing me into the mattress, their marks throbbing on my skin like brands of ownership.

I was sitting by the window in my suite, staring out at the grey skyline of Moon Haven, when the door clicked open. It wasn't a maid this time.

Julian stood there. He looked devastatingly handsome in a charcoal grey suit that hugged his lean, muscular frame. His dark hair was swept back, and his grey eyes were as sharp as flint. He didn't say hello. He didn't ask how I was.

"Get dressed," he said. His voice was a low rumble that vibrated in my chest. "We’re having a formal lunch. The senior staff and inner circle are attending. I want you there."

I didn't move. "I thought I was supposed to stay in 'seclusion for my own safety.'"

Julian’s eyes narrowed. He walked into the room, his presence shrinking the space until I felt like I was back in that gilded cage. He stopped inches from my chair, leaning down until his lips were brushing the shell of my ear.

"Don't be difficult, Rowan. It’s a pack hierarchy thing. They need to see the woman who is going to carry the next generation of Knox Alphas. It cements my authority. Now, put on something that doesn't make you look like a peasant and meet me downstairs in ten minutes."

"And if I refuse?" I whispered, staring straight ahead.

Julian laughed, a cold, dry sound. "Then I’ll carry you down there naked. I don't think you’d enjoy that as much as the Enforcers would. Ten minutes."

He turned and walked out, the door thudding shut behind him.

I cursed under my breath, my hands shaking. I was stubborn, but I wasn't stupid. Pissing Julian off in front of his pack would only make my life harder. I went to the closet and pulled out a fitted emerald green dress. It was simple, elegant, and covered the dark hickey on my collarbone. I brushed my long black hair until it shone and took a deep breath.

You are Rowan Brooks, I told my reflection. They can mark your skin, but they haven't touched your mind.

I made my way down to the formal dining room. It was a massive hall with a table made of dark, polished wood that could seat thirty people. Julian was at the head of the table, looking like a king. Marcus sat to his right, his baby-blue eyes scanning the room with a calm intensity.

But it was the woman sitting to Julian’s left that caught my attention.

She was stunning in a predatory way. She had platinum blonde hair styled in a sharp bob and eyes that looked like frozen chips of ice. She wore a red dress that was cut dangerously low, and she was leaning into Julian’s space, her hand resting familiarly on his forearm.

"Ah, the guest of honor has arrived," Julian said, his voice carrying across the room.

The chatter at the table died down instantly. Every eye turned toward me. Enforcers, high-ranking pack members, and domestic staff—everyone was staring. I felt like a specimen under a microscope.

"Sit," Julian commanded, gesturing to the empty chair at the foot of the table.

I walked the length of the room, my head held high. I could feel the whispers starting before I even sat down.

"So this is her?" a shrill, mocking voice asked.

It was the woman in red. She didn't wait for Julian to introduce her. She just stared at me with pure, unadulterated loathing.

"She’s a bit... plain, isn't she, Jules?" she continued, her voice dripping with venom. "I expected something more impressive from a traitor. You know, someone with a bit of fire. She looks like she’d break if the wind blew too hard."

Julian didn't answer. He just picked up his wine glass and took a slow sip, his grey eyes unreadable.

"Rowan, this is Sabrina," Marcus said from the other end of the table. His tone was neutral, but I noticed he wasn't looking at the blonde woman with any affection.

"The Alphas’... associate," Sabrina added, her eyes flashing. She turned back to me, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "I’ve heard so much about you, Rowan. The girl who was so pathetic her own mate chose her sister. The girl who sold out her pack and ended up as a glorified incubator in Moon Haven."

I felt the blood rush to my face, but I kept my expression blank. "I didn't sell out anyone. I was framed."

Sabrina laughed, a high-pitched, grating sound. "Oh, please. We’ve all seen the reports. You’re a pariah. A stray. The only reason you’re breathing this air is because Julian and Marcus need a warm place to put their seed. Don't mistake their 'protection' for value."

She turned to the table, raising her glass.

"A toast! To the new breeder. Let’s hope she’s more fertile than she is interesting."

A few of the younger Enforcers chuckled nervously. The maids kept their heads down, busying themselves with serving the soup. I looked at Julian. I waited for him to say something. To stop this.

He did nothing. He just watched me, his face a mask of cold indifference. He was letting her tear me apart. He was testing me, or maybe he just didn't care enough to intervene. It was a power play, a reminder that in this house, I was at the very bottom of the food chain.

"What’s the matter, breeder?" Sabrina sneered, leaning forward. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you just realizing that once that belly of yours pops out a pup, you’re headed straight for the rogue lands? If you’re lucky, that is. Personally, I think a traitor like you deserves a more... permanent exit."