The Time I Tripped into a Curse and got two Mates

Chapter 19

Luke left the sitting room first because I needed a few more moments to center myself. I heard his footsteps echoing slowly down the hallway. I let out a deep, soothing breath as I tried to calm the whirlwind of thought inside my head. I could still feel the lingering heat from Malcolm’s touch on my chin and the intensity of his gaze was seared into my memory. The longer I stood there, the more I could feel Selene growing more eager to leave the room and join the ball festivities. I felt her energy vibrating in the back of my mind like a taut bowstring andI could almost see her pacing impatiently with me.

“Our mate is out there. Can we leave soon?” Selene whined, her voice laced with eagerness and impatience.

“Yes, we will leave soon. I just need a few seconds.” I replied as I pressed my fingers to my temples. “My life is going to completely change now, you know. This is going to take some time to get used to.”

“I’m already used to it. This is exactly what we’ve been waiting for!” She said eagerly. She bounced with excitement and I could feel her pushing against the edges of my consciousness, urging me to move, to run to him, to claim him…

“No, this is exactly what you have been waiting for. I’ve been waiting to shift, or have you forgotten that you have never made a debut?” I retorted as sarcasm dripped from my tone. The reminder of my inability to shift was a cold splash of reality. Despite everything, despite meeting my fated mate and the overwhelming and conflicting feelings that came with it, I still hadn’t solved my own deepest struggle.

“Ach, no. I haven’t forgotten.” Selene muttered, her tone suddenly somber.

“In any case,” I started, “we have to get out there sooner or later. Malcolm seemed nice enough. He at least didn’t give off a vibe as if he were a complete a**hole.”

“No, Evelette, he gave off a ‘I want to taste you’ vibe.” Selene purred and her voice dripped of innuendo. I could feel her wagging her tail in delight with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I couldn’t help but smirk as I felt my cheeks warming slightly. “I can’t deny that. And I can’t deny that I may want him to…” I replied, my voice trailing off as my mind wandered and a flood of desire threatened to break through my carefully constructed walls. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine it–his lips on mine, his hands roaming possessively over my skin. Then I shook myself and stood up straighter, forcing the thoughts away. “Okay, not the right time. I think I’m ready to go out there.”

Selene didn’t respond with words, but I could feel her bubbling excitement. I started walking towards the door and took one last deep breath. Whatever awaited me beyond this door–fate, love, danger–I would face it head-on.

I reached for the door and my hand hovered over the handle. “Here goes nothing,” I whispered to myself as I felt Selene’s eager push in my mind. I opened the door and stepped out.

I stepped out into the ball and was struck with the vibrant swirl of colors from the dancing guests. The atmosphere was electric and I heard the low hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter. I noticed several couples from different packs dancing together with an air of intimacy that could only mean they were each other’s mates. It always made me happy to see others finding their happiness.

I scanned the crowd as I searched for familiar faces. Relief washed over me as I realized that Rina had not made a return. The last thing I needed was another confrontation with her tonight. But my relief was short lived as I realized Clay was still absent and Luke had disappeared. A knot formed in the pit of my stomach as I tried to mind-link with Luke and discovered that he had a mental barrier up that cut me off from talking to him. It’s probably a good thing he put up a mental wall.

I deliberately calmed my thoughts as I walked slowly through the area. Suddenly, a familiar scent drifted toward me and stopped me in my tracks. It was the fresh, woodsy smell that had enveloped me earlier–Malcolm. My senses sharpened as I zeros in on him and scanned the ball until I found him standing near the edge of the dance floor. His presence was as powerful as before and drew me towards him like a magnet.

But then something else caught my attention–a second scent that was equally as intoxicating, but in a completely different way. This one was warm and sweet, like vanilla and sugar, and it instantly brought to mind the fresh-baked Winter Solstice cookies my mother makes every year. The two scents mingled together in the air and created a tantalizing combination that sent a shiver down my spine. I followed the new scent and my eyes landed on the man standing besides Malcolm.

Ivan. My breath hitched as I took in the sight of him. While he shared the same striking features as Malcolm–the chiseled jawline, the broad shoulders, and the golden luminescent eyes that marked their royal heritage–there was a distinct difference in the energy radiating from him. Where Malcolm’s presence was playful and powerful, Ivan’s was more intense, almost dangerous. His aura seemed to crackle with darker, more serious energy that made my heart beat faster for an entirely different reason.

Ivan’s hair was shorter than Malcolm’s. Ivan’s dark waves were a loose shag that fell just past his chin and framed his face in a way that accentuated the sharpness of his features. I saw his eyes focus on me in an intense and unyielding manner that sent a trickle of goosebumps up my spine. I got the feeling that Ivan’s eyes had seen so much; his eyes held secrets that I couldn’t even begin to imagine. The weight of those eyes on me was almost too much to bear so I quickly averted my gaze.

These two men embodied what it meant to be royalty. Their presence and energy alone was enough to make others give them a wide berth at the ball. Though I was acutely aware of the gaggle of single women who clustered nearby. I found it amusing that they would try to catch one of the prince’s eyes and then quickly look away with a chitter of laughter.

Malcolms’ my mate. My mate is a prince… The realization hit me like a tidal wave that threatened to sweep me off my feet. If Malcolm was a prince, that meant I…I am…I couldn’t even finish the thought. The implications of being mated to a prince were too overwhelming to process at the moment.

I decided that I was going to approach these men with unwavering confidence. I put my shoulders back and held my chin high to show the poise and strength of the warrior I was. Zi wasn’t a submissive she-wolf and it was important that he knew. As I walked closer to the princes, I could feel the weight of countless eyes on me and hear the soft murmurs and hushed whispers ripple through the crowd. The women nearby whispered fervently among themselves as their eyes followed my every move. I knew they were talking about me, but I didn’t bother looking their way. I kept my gaze locked ahead. Every step I took was deliberate and measured as the distance between myself and the two beautiful princes lessened.

When I was close enough, I reached my hand to Malcolm. My heartbeat thrummed in my ears but my exterior remained calm and composed. His eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and something deeper as he took my hand with a confident and almost possessive grace. He raised it slowly to his lips and his warm breath brushed against my skin as he greeted me with a lingering kiss on my hand. The sensation sent a ripple of warmth through me and I fought the urge to shiver.

“Eveletee, I am so glad you made it out here,” he said, his voice was smooth and undeniably charming and his eyes never left mine.

“Thank you, your Highness. How could I miss such a momentous event?” I replied, my tone dripped with humor and a hint of challenge.

“Call me Malcolm, please.” He chided gently as his lips curled into a smile that was both playful and inviting. “But I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Ivan.” He gestured towards his twin as his expression shifted slightly–there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes, almost as if he were waiting to see how I would react. Ivan stepped forward and took a deep bow with a fluid grace. His eyes never left my own and there was an intensity to his gaze that sent a tingle down my spine.

“My Lady, what a pleasure it is to meet you.” Ivan said. His voice was deeper and more serious than Malcolm’s. Then, mirroring his brother, he took my hand in his, but with a firmer touch. He brushed his lips against the top of my hand and a slow, smoldering heat spread from the point of the contact. I suddenly felt another jolt of recognition course through my body. Ivan’s eyes seemed to sear through me as his lips were still pressed against my hand.

“Mate.” whispered Selene.

“Both of them? They are both my mates?” I asked her in disbelief as I tried to keep my composure.

“Yes, aren’t we lucky?” She replied and I could feel her intense giddiness take over my body.

“Oh.” I blurted out loud, unable to keep the surprise from my voice. I saw Ivan’s lips curve into a wide, knowing smile. His eyes lit up with understanding as he, too, realized the depth of our connection. His joy was palpable and felt like a radiant warmth that spread through the space between us.

“I can’t believe we found you.” Ivan said breathlessly. “We’ve been looking for you for so long.”

I thought his choice of words struck me as a bit odd. His tone seemed more than just excitement of finding a mate; it was layered with something else, something deeper and almost desperate. I knew many werewolves spent their lives searching for their fated mates from the moment they came of age, but there was an underlying intensity of his words that suggested a more profound significance.