Claimed By The Twin Alphas

Chapter Nine: Denied

LARA'S POV

I slammed the door shut and pressed my back against it, my heart hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat. My hands were shaking uncontrollably as I stared at them, at the long sleeves that covered the marks I knew were glowing beneath.

No. No, no, no. This wasn't happening.

I had left the council after the short council meeting to my room to prepare breakfast, which was in 20 minutes only, when I was disturbed by the twins.

I pushed away from the door and stumbled to the mirror, yanking up my left sleeve first. The silvery mark where Cian had touched me was glowing brighter than before, pulsing with a soft light that seemed to match my racing heartbeat. I pulled up my right sleeve, and sure enough, there was a matching mark where Rowan had grabbed my arm at the ball.

"This isn't real," I whispered to my reflection, though I couldn't hear the words. "Kael is my mate. I chose him. Everyone saw him claim me."

But the marks didn't care about what I'd chosen.

They glowed steadily, undeniable proof that something was happening that I didn't understand and definitely didn't want.

A knock vibrated through the door behind me. I quickly pulled my sleeves down and turned.

But when I opened it, Dante stood there, his expression concerned. His hands moved immediately. “Luna, are you alright? Who were those men to you?”

I should have known he'd ask. Dante noticed everything.

My hands came up to sign back, trying to keep them steady. “Nobody important. Just some visiting Alphas paying respects.”

His eyes narrowed. He didn't believe me. I could see it in the way he studied my face, reading all the tells I thought I'd hidden. But after a moment, his hands moved again. "If you say so, Luna. But you should know, guards reported the Vale twins forced their way into the palace. Alpha Kael has been informed."

My stomach dropped. Of course, Kael knew, the guards had reported it immediately.

“How much trouble am I in?” I signed, trying to look more annoyed than terrified.

Dante's expression softened slightly. “You didn't invite them, so none. But Alpha Kael wants you at the council breakfast in ten minutes. He said not to be late.”

Ten minutes. I had ten minutes to compose myself, to hide these marks, to figure out how to act normal when my entire world was tilting sideways.

“Thank you, Dante,”I signed. “I'll be ready.”

He nodded but didn't leave immediately. His hands moved slowly, carefully. “Luna, if you ever need help with anything, anything at all, you can trust me. You know that, right?”

The sincerity in his expression made my chest tight.

I did know that. Dante had been my friend long before I became Luna, learning sign language just to communicate with me during my deaf weeks when no one else bothered.

“I know,” I signed back.”Thank you.”

He finally left, and I rushed to finish getting ready. I checked my sleeves three times to make sure they completely covered the marks. Braided my hair with trembling fingers. Applied cosmetics to hide how pale I'd gone.

By the time I left my chambers with Dante as my escort, I looked like the perfect, composed Luna. On the outside, at least.

The walk to the council chambers felt endless. I felt vibrations through the floor from other people moving through the palace, but heard nothing. The silence pressed in on me, making everything feel surreal and dreamlike.

When we reached the carved doors, Dante opened them for me, and I stepped inside.

The council was already assembled, seated around the long table. Kael sat at the head, and he smiled when he saw me, warm and welcoming. He stood and pulled out the chair beside him.

I moved to sit, hyperaware of Alden's cold eyes tracking my every movement from across the table.

His gaze lingered on my wrists, and I resisted the urge to hide my hands under the table.

Kael's hand found mine on the table, his fingers lacing through mine. The touch should have been comforting, should have made me feel safe and cherished. Instead, all I could think about was how cold his hand felt compared to the burning warmth when Cian had touched my wrist.

Stop it, I told myself firmly. Stop comparing them.

An older council woman to my left began speaking, her lips moving in the exaggerated way that made it easier for me to read. “Welcome officially, Luna Lara. We are honored to have you join our pack.”

"Thank you," I said aloud, watching faces around the table to gauge if my volume was right. "I'm honored to serve Northwind."

More council members spoke, welcoming me, asking polite questions about my father and Silverbrook Village. I answered each one, reading lips carefully, trying not to miss anything when people turned away or spoke too quickly.

Kael kept my hand in his the entire time, occasionally squeezing gently. Playing the devoted mate for everyone to see.

But I noticed things I'd never noticed before. The way his thumb rubbed circles on my skin felt possessive rather than affectionate. The way he'd answer questions for me before I could respond.

The way Alden kept staring at my wrists, at my stomach, like he was calculating something.

The breakfast itself was elaborate, servants bringing course after course. I barely tasted any of it. I was too busy trying to follow three conversations at once, reading lips and watching for cues about when to smile or nod.

Alden leaned back in his chair at one point, his lips moving as he addressed Kael. Something about border patrols and security. But then his eyes cut to me, and I caught the tail end of what he was saying: "Especially with the Frostborn Alphas becoming so bold."

Kael's hand tightened on mine, just slightly. Not enough to hurt, but enough to notice.

The breakfast dragged on forever. By the time the last course was cleared away, my head was pounding from concentrating so hard on reading lips. I just wanted to go back to my chambers, to be alone with my confusion and fear.

But as the council members began to disperse, Kael's hand on my arm stopped me from standing.

His lips moved slowly, deliberately. "Stay for a moment. We need to talk."

My heart sank. This was it. He was going to ask about the twins.

The last council member filed out, Alden throwing one final calculating look over his shoulder before closing the door behind him. And then it was just me and Kael, alone in the suddenly too small chamber.

He turned to face me fully, his expression unreadable. His hand came up to cup my face, thumb stroking my cheek in what should have been a tender gesture.

Then his lips moved, forming a question I'd been dreading. "Did anyone visit you this morning?"

I felt my pulse jump, knew he could probably feel it under his hand. I forced myself to hold his gaze, to not look away like I had something to hide.

"No," I said aloud, the lie was bitter on my tongue.

"Just Dante bringing news about the council breakfast."

Kael studied my face for a long moment, his dark eyes searching. Looking for what? Signs of deception? Evidence of betrayal?

His thumb stopped moving on my cheek. His expression shifted into something I couldn't quite read, something that made my stomach clench with instinctive fear.

His lips moved again, slower this time, and I felt cold dread wash through me at the words I read there.

“That's strange. Because guards reported the Vale twins forced their way into the palace this morning. Went straight to your chambers. And you're telling me you didn't see them?”

His eyes had gone dark, suspicious, and his hand on my face suddenly felt less like a caress and more like a trap.