TAMED BY THE ALPHA TWINS

CHAPTER 1

EMMA MORETTI

The distant sound of laughter and play echoes through the orphanage, but I am isolated in the corner of the room, hugging my old teddy bear.

I am only 7 years old, and my brown eyes reflect a pain that few children can understand. Since the fire that destroyed my home and took my parents, I’ve lived in this place, feeling lost and alone.

A soft knock interrupts my thoughts. The door creaks as the headmistress, a tall woman with gray hair tied up in a firm bun, enters the room.

“Emma, dear, I need to speak with you.”, her voice is gentle but carries a seriousness that makes me stand up quickly.

“What is it, Mrs. Taylor? Did I do something wrong?”, I ask, hugging my Teddy Bear even tighter.

The headmistress smiles, shaking her head.

“No, dear. Actually, it’s good news. You’ve been adopted.”

I blink, confused.

“Adopted? By whom?”

Before she can respond, I run down the hall, my heart pounding.

When I reach the main room, I stop abruptly upon seeing two men standing.

They are both incredibly tall and have an imposing presence. Even though they are identical, each of them carries a distinct aura.

The first wears a perfectly tailored black suit, with dark hair slicked back and a serious expression on his face. His golden eyes are intense, almost hypnotic, but he seems distant, as if measuring every detail around him.

The second has a relaxed smile. His messy hair contrasts with the tattoos covering his arms, visible beneath the sleeves of his rolled-up shirt. His golden eyes shine with warm energy.

Both kneel in front of me, lowering themselves to my level.

“Hello, Emma. My name is Elijah Moretti. And this is my brother, Damon.”, the man in the suit says, his voice deep and calm.

Damon smiles even wider.

“Hey, little girl. I guess we’re your new ‘older brothers.’ We’ll take care of you now.”

I look at both of them, my eyes wide with surprise.

“You… are twins?”, I ask, a shy smile appearing on my lips.

Damon laughs, messing up his hair.

“Exactly. But I’m the fun one.”

Elijah shoots a disapproving look at his brother, but quickly turns his attention back to me. He reaches out and gently strokes my hair.

“You’re safe now, Emma. You’ll never have to worry again.”

Without thinking, I throw my arms around both men, hugging them tightly. A tear runs down my face, but it’s one of relief.

The twins’ mansion is like something out of a fairy tale. The old architecture, with towers and giant windows, looks majestic and a bit intimidating to me.

But as I step through the doors, I’m enveloped by a feeling of warmth. Damon shows me to my room, decorated in soft tones with a bed so large I could get lost in it.

That night, after a peaceful dinner, I finally lay down. The exhaustion and emotion of the day lull me quickly, but sleep soon turns into a nightmare.

Flames are everywhere. The suffocating heat and black smoke surround me as I run through the house. My parents’ screams echo in the distance, but I can’t reach them.

Suddenly, the front door bursts open, and a group of masked men enters, armed and fierce. I scream as they attack my family.

A hand pulls me by the waist, moving me out of the way. Everything becomes blurry, and then I see something I’ve never been able to forget: a man with golden eyes like theirs carrying me out of the fire.

I wake up with a piercing scream, sitting up in bed as tears run down my face. My breath is quick, and sweat sticks my hair to my forehead.

The door to the room opens quickly, and Elijah enters. His golden eyes are full of concern as he approaches.

“Emma, what happened? Are you okay?”

I don’t answer; I just throw myself into his arms, crying desperately.

Elijah holds me firmly, gently stroking my hair in a reassuring gesture.

“You’re safe now, Emma. I promise. Nothing will hurt you.”

I sob against his chest, trying to calm down. When I finally pull away, my eyes fall on the mark on my shoulder—a crescent moon, almost silver, that seems to shine in contrast with my skin.

I instinctively touch the mark, feeling it pulse under my fingers.

“What is this? Why does it shine?”, I whisper, staring at Elijah with a mix of fear and confusion.

Elijah hesitates for a moment, as if weighing his words before speaking.

“It’s a sign that you’re special, Emma. But don’t worry. Damon and I will take care of you. Always.”

I nod, but the fear still hasn’t completely disappeared. Still, the warmth and protection in Elijah’s eyes make me feel a little safer.

Hugging the teddy bear to my chest, I finally lie down again, with Elijah sitting by my side until sleep finds me once more.

NOW

I come home from school, dropping my heavy backpack on the floor of the mansion’s entrance hall. The loud music makes the walls vibrate, and a sigh escapes my lips. Damon’s at it again. God, the music is too loud, and Elijah isn’t here to bring order.

I walk inside, and the scene before me looks like something out of a music video. Women in bikinis are scattered around the pool area, laughing and dancing while holding glasses filled with some colorful drinks. Male gazes follow them as they swim or talk in groups. My eyes scan the environment, but Damon is nowhere to be seen.

“Seriously?”, I mutter to myself, walking through the chaos.

The smell of alcohol and chlorine mixes with the sweet perfume of the women. I try to ignore the curious stares I get as I pass. A man with a smug smile approaches, blocking my way.

“Hey, baby. Want a drink?”, he holds out a red cup towards me.

“No, thanks.”, I reply, dodging him and climbing the stairs before he can insist.

I lock my bedroom door and throw myself on the bed for a moment. I know the twins don’t want me at home during their parties. They’re too protective, always saying it’s no place for me. But today, I disobeyed. They probably don’t even know I’m here.

I look at my wardrobe, a forbidden idea growing in my mind. If I’m here, why not enjoy a little? They don’t need to know.

I grab my favorite bikini, a light blue one that contrasts with my skin, and quickly put it on. After adjusting the ties, I take a look in the mirror.

“Come on, Emma. You can have some fun too.”

I go down the stairs again, trying not to attract attention. But it’s impossible. Male eyes follow me as soon as I step into the pool area.

I feel my cheeks flush, but I pretend to be confident. I grab one of the abandoned cups on the table and take a sip. The drink is strong, burning my throat, but I don’t let it show. I walk towards the water, determined to enjoy myself.

I enter the pool and am soon pulled into a game. A tall, muscular guy calls me over for a shoulder war. I climb onto his shoulders, laughing as we try to knock another pair down.

The fun is contagious, and for a moment, I forget about everything.

Until I turn my head and meet Damon’s golden eyes fixed on me.

He’s standing by the pool, shirtless, with messy hair and an expression that mixes surprise and irritation. Before I can react, he approaches, shoving the guy I was on back into the water with a sharp movement.

“What’s up, Moretti?”, the man grumbles, irritated.

Damon growls low, his voice firm.

“You know she’s mine. Take your hands off her!”

Before I can say anything, he pulls me out of the water, gripping my arm firmly as he leads me inside the house.

“Damon, what are you doing?”, I ask, trying to keep up with his quick pace.

He doesn’t respond until we get to my room. He shuts the door behind us, crossing his arms as he stares at me. His golden eyes shine with intensity.

“What the hell were you doing on the lap of a guy ten years older?”, he asks, his voice low but filled with contained anger.

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms as well.

“I was just playing. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Then why aren’t you at school now?”, he counters, narrowing his eyes.

“I decided to come home. What’s the problem? You always say I can’t be here during the parties, but I don’t see why. I want to have some fun too.”

His eyes scan my body, and I feel my heart race under his intense gaze. He finally sighs, running a hand through his hair.

“Elijah would kill me if I let you go back down.”, he shakes his head, frustrated.

I step closer, placing my hands around his neck, trying to seem convincing.

“Please, Damon. I promise I’ll be a good girl.”, my voice is almost a whisper.

He stares at me, his eyes glowing with something I can’t identify.

“You’re drunk, Emma.”, he says, but there’s a hint of humor in his voice.

I let out a light laugh, feeling his hands tighten around my waist. My heart races uncontrollably when he pulls me so close, the warmth of his body radiating against mine.

Something inside me stirs—a new and confusing sensation.

“Alright, you win. You can go.”, he finally gives in, letting me go.

Before leaving, I lean in to kiss his cheek, but the gesture goes wrong.

My lips almost touch his, and I quickly pull back, feeling my face burn with embarrassment.

“Stay away from the guys!”, he orders as I run off, laughing.

I go back to the party, blending in with the other girls.

We are at the pool when one of them, a tall, confident brunette, approaches me with a mischievous smile.

“What kind of relationship do you have with the Moretti brothers?”, she asks, curious.

I shake my head, quickly denying it.

“We’re like siblings. They’re just super protective, that’s all.”

She laughs, a glint of malice in her eyes.

“Look at the way he looks at you, like he wants to protect you from everything. I wish I had a brother like that...”, her voice carries a suggestion that makes me uncomfortable.

I instinctively lift my head, and my gaze meets Damon’s again.

He’s leaning against the wall, shirtless, with a bottle of beer in his hand.

His golden eyes are fixed on me, intense and enigmatic.

My heart races again, and I turn my face, trying to ignore the strange feeling growing inside me.

But I know that the look we exchanged meant something I can’t explain.