Twelve
1412 Words
Desiree POV
The lady walked seductively into the room as if she owned the place, her hips swaying confidently with every step. Before any of us could react, she rushed forward and threw herself into Brandon’s arms, clinging to him like she belonged there.
My chest tightened instantly.
“Who are you?” Brandon demanded coldly, his nose flaring in clear disgust as he tried to pry her off him.
“Don’t you recognize your Luna anymore? It’s me, Celine,” she gasped dramatically, clinging even tighter to him like a desperate vine.
A spark of recognition flashed in my mind.
I had seen her before.
We had competed in the cooking competition together.
She was Elder Maeve’s daughter.
But seeing her now, wrapped around my mate like she had every right to be there, made something dark and possessive rise inside me.
“If you don’t get your hand off my mate,” I said slowly, my voice shaking with barely restrained fury, “I am going to break them bone by bone.”
“Fiesty,” Grayson remarked proudly from behind me, clearly amused.
Celine completely ignored my warning and continued caressing Brandon’s arm like I didn’t exist.
“He is mine,” she declared arrogantly. “I am his chosen mate, and you are just a nobody.”
Her eyes burned with pure hatred as they locked onto mine.
Something snapped inside me.
“If I were you,” Brandon suddenly said coldly, shoving her away from him as if her touch disgusted him, “I would take her advice because your hands disgust me.”
The force of the push sent her crashing onto the floor.
Zachary and Grayson immediately burst into laughter.
Celine stared at Brandon in shock, humiliation flashing across her face as she scrambled back to her feet.
“Moreover,” Brandon added, dusting his clothes like he had just been contaminated, “who made you my Luna?”
“The elders have already concluded,” she said quickly, trying to recover her dignity. “They even said the trial doesn’t need to continue.”
“Of course they did,” Brandon growled, his eyes darkening dangerously. “And that’s because I am putting an end to all that rubbish.”
Celine suddenly smiled sweetly, her voice dripping with fake affection.
“I know you will love me eventually,” she said softly. “I promised to give you a wonderful heir.”
She reached for him again.
But this time I was faster.
Before her fingers could even brush his arm, I grabbed her wrist and twisted it violently.
A loud crack echoed through the room.
Her scream pierced the air.
“I warned you not to touch my man,” I said coldly as she dropped to her knees clutching her broken wrist.
“Oh my God!” she shrieked hysterically. “Get this crazy woman away from me! When I am crowned Luna, I will make sure you are the first person I banish!”
“He is my mate,” I replied calmly, staring directly into her tear-filled eyes. “You will never be Luna. Not now. Not ever.”
Her face twisted with rage.
She raised her hand to slap me.
But Zachary was faster.
He caught her wrist midair, his grip tightening until she winced.
“Go and tell the elders,” he said coldly, “that the Alpha has a mate and doesn’t want a w***e like you.”
I smirked at her.
Her face turned bright red with humiliation and fury.
“I will get you,” she spat, pointing a trembling finger at me before storming out of the room.
“What’s wrong with these elders?” Grayson muttered with a frown. “They know you found your mate. Why are they trying to force another woman on you?”
“I need to see them now,” Brandon said firmly.
“I am going with you,” I said immediately.
There was no way I was going to sit quietly while people kept disrespecting me.
***********************************
We walked down to the meeting grounds where the elders usually gathered.
Celine was already there, crying dramatically while complaining to her mother.
The moment she saw us, she quickly stood up, her face lighting up with fake excitement.
“My Alpha,” she said sweetly. “Have you changed your mind?”
I nearly laughed.
She really thought she had a chance.
“Elder Maeve,” Brandon said coldly, ignoring Celine completely. “Care to explain what’s going on here?”
“Alpha Brandon,” she said calmly, not even acknowledging my presence beside him. “I am only looking out for you. I don’t want certain people ruining your reputation.”
Her eyes flicked toward me with obvious disdain.
“Yes,” another elder added. “Imagine an Alpha sharing a mate with two other men.”
Before anyone could react, Brandon moved.
In one swift motion, he grabbed the elder by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
“If you keep disrespecting my mate,” he growled dangerously, “I will kill each and every one of you.”
The elder’s face turned red as he struggled to breathe.
“Please…” he choked.
Brandon released him with a shove and walked back to stand beside me.
“Desiree is my one and only Luna,” he declared loudly. “I don’t care about the trial. The Luna coronation will happen in two days.”
Gasps spread across the gathering.
“You see what I am talking about?” Elder Maeve snapped angrily. “She is already turning him against us. She is cursed!”
Grayson immediately stepped forward, his expression dark with warning.
“Say one more word about her,” he challenged, “and see what happens.”
“I asked a question,” Brandon repeated, his Alpha voice echoing with authority. “Is that clear?”
“Yes Alpha,” the elders quickly bowed their heads.
Something they had never done before.
Since Brandon became Alpha, he had always been the one bending to their demands.
“This meeting is dismissed,” I said proudly. “And keep your daughter away from my man.”
“I am the Luna!” Celine suddenly screamed, stomping her feet like a spoiled child. “That position is mine!”
Elder Maeve tried to calm her down but she was already losing control.
“Mum, you promised me Alpha Brandon would be my mate!” she cried hysterically. “You said he only loves me!”
The entire situation was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help smiling.
And judging from the amused look on Grayson’s face, I wasn’t the only one entertained.
“Who are you to promise our Alpha to another woman when she isn’t his mate?” Zachary asked sharply.
“Know your position, young man,” Elder Maeve snapped. “Just because you are sharing a mate with the Alpha doesn’t change the fact that you are only a pack warrior.”
“Yet your daughter is trying to steal someone else’s man,” I shot back immediately.
“I don’t have to w***e myself for attention. Three powerful men already love me.”
I looked Celine up and down slowly.
“Your daughter can’t even manage to get one.”
Her face twisted with fury.
“You evil—”
Brandon’s glare immediately silenced her.
She stepped back, but the hatred in her eyes was deadly.
“Let’s get out of here,” Grayson said, sliding his arm around my waist. “We have a promise to fulfill. Your daughter interrupted us earlier.”
“Grayson!” I slapped his hand away quickly. “People are here!”
My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“I refuse to accept this!” Celine suddenly shouted.
We all turned back to her.
“I won’t accept defeat.”
“What exactly are you going to do about it?” I asked calmly.
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
“I challenge you to a fight,” she said. “The loser must accept defeat.”
“Des, you don’t have to accept,” Zachary said quickly. “You have nothing to prove anymore.”
“Are you scared?” Celine taunted.
My wolf stirred inside me.
I stepped forward confidently.
“I am not scared of you,” I said.
“I accept.”
- Writer
