Claimed By The Alpha Twin

The Alpha's Call

Chapter 12: The Alpha's Call

I walked down the long hallway toward Alpha Ian's office, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird desperate to escape.

My hands were still trembling. My body was still aching. The marks on my skin were hidden beneath my clothes, but I could still feel them—burning reminders of a night I couldn't remember and a man I couldn't understand.

I had barely made it out of Lucas's room. His cold words still echoed in my head like a curse I couldn't shake.

"Stay away from me."

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. Why did he have to be so complicated? Why did he have to look at me like I was nothing when last night he had touched me like I was everything? The contradiction was maddening.

I sighed and pressed my fingers to my temple. My head had been pounding since morning, a dull, relentless ache that refused to fade. Probably from the stress. Probably from the exhaustion. Probably from him.

I shook my head and forced the thoughts away. I couldn't think about Lucas right now. I had to focus.

Alpha Ian was waiting.

I reached the large oak doors and stopped, swallowing hard. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Then I knocked.

"Come in."

The moment the door opened, Alpha Ian's warm gaze landed on me. His eyes swept from the top of my dress to the hem, taking in every detail. I straightened my posture instinctively. I had tried to look presentable before coming here—pulled my hair into a bun, washed my face, put on fresh clothes. I had done my best, especially since he said it was urgent.

Though it didn't look like it was. But Alpha Ian was never easy to fool. He had raised me. He knew when something was wrong.

"What are you doing standing there? Come in, dear."

I hesitated for a moment. "Y-Yes."

Alpha Ian sat behind his large oak desk. His office was filled with books, old photographs, and the scent of aged wood and leather. His presence was calm and steady, like it always was. In a world of chaos, he was my anchor.

I walked to the chair across from his desk and sat down slowly. My hands were trembling, so I clasped them together in my lap, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"You wanted to see me, Alpha Ian?"

He leaned back in his chair and studied me for a long moment. His eyes moved across my face, searching. I felt like he could see right through me, past the mask I had carefully constructed.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "You look a bit pale."

I forced a smile. "Yes, Alpha Ian. I'm fine."

He didn't look convinced. But he didn't push. That was one of the things I loved about him. He knew when to wait.

"I called you here because I have something important to tell you," he said. "Something I have been meaning to tell you for a while."

My stomach tightened. "What is it?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I have received word from a pack I never thought I would hear from again. The Royal Crimson Pack."

I blinked, my mind struggling to process his words. "The Royal Crimson Pack?"

"Yes." He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. "They have reached out to us. They want to form an alliance with the Crescent Moon Pack."

I frowned. "That's... that's good news, isn't it?"

"I thought so at first," he said slowly. "Yes, it is. An alliance with the Royal Crimson Pack will strengthen our territory and borders significantly."

"Exactly," I said. "So what exactly is the problem, Alpha?"

"There isn't an actual problem." He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if someone might be listening. "The thing is, Lucas and the Blackthorn brothers aren't exactly on good terms. They don't really like each other, especially Lucas and Ryan, the eldest son of the Blackthorn family. That's why it's surprising when the second brother suddenly wants an alliance with us. And honestly, the conditions he stated weren't bad at all."

"Then what's the issue? If the deal is good, why wouldn't Lucas just form a pact with him?"

Alpha Ian looked at me for a long moment before sighing. A faint smile tugged at his lips for a brief moment before he ran his hands down his face, through his hair, like someone who was exhausted and in disbelief at my question. He was searching for a way to explain something I apparently wasn't understanding.

"It's not just about Lucas's opinion. I also find it quite strange and suspicious. Because the alliance was not offered by Xavier Blackthorn, the Alpha of the Royal Crimson Pack. It was offered by his sons. Though Ryan and Jaxon are in charge of running the Royal Crimson Pack."

I raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

"The condition Jaxon stated was that they would have to attend your engagement," Alpha Ian said quietly. "Which means they're interested in you for some reason, which is quite odd."

The words didn't register at first. They hung in the air, foreign and confusing.

"Me?" I whispered, pointing to myself.

Alpha Ian nodded slowly. "The Blackthorn brothers want you."

I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh, to tell me it was a joke. But he didn't.

"It's possibly because you're a healer. But Lucas doesn't agree with that. He has trust issues. You know how he is—he sees everyone and everything as a threat." A faint chuckle escaped him. "But apart from that, Lucas..." He glanced toward me, his expression unreadable. "Won't allow that. No matter how good the deal is. He won't let Jaxon have you."

The Blackthorn brothers want you.

I looked at Alpha Ian in confusion, my mind racing.

I didn't understand it. Why would the heirs of the most powerful pack want anything to do with me? It didn't make sense. I had never even seen any of them. Even if I had healed countless wolves, that alone didn't mean I was some extraordinary goddess.

I wasn't downgrading myself. I was just being honest. There were far more experienced, more qualified healers out there. People who knew how to handle wolves like them effortlessly. So why would someone with such power and wealth come for a person like me? Yes, I could heal a silver wound, but still, it didn't make any sense. I wasn't even that strong. I was literally one of the weakest she-wolves in the Crescent Moon Pack. I couldn't heal without draining myself completely.

The room was silent, heavy with unspoken questions.

My stomach tightened as I thought about the Royal Crimson Pack. I had heard of them. Everyone had. They were the biggest and wealthiest pack in the world, bigger than the Crescent Moon Pack. The Royal Crimson Pack was the biggest pack worldwide. After them, it was the Crescent Moon Pack. An alliance with them would be unimaginably strong for both packs.

Maybe Alpha Ian and Lucas were wrong. After all, both father and sons always tended to overthink things and trust no one. They probably just wanted to attend the event, to see and study the next heir of the Crescent Moon Pack.

Slowly, I turned my gaze back to Alpha Ian. His eyes were still fixed on me—warm, unbothered, relaxed. He probably thought the same thing I did. A person like Jaxon or Ryan singling me out of every other healer didn't make sense. Alpha Ian looked completely at ease, leaning lazily against his chair, a faint smile tugging at his lips, as if the situation wasn't really his business.

Finally, he spoke.

"Just forget about that for now," he said. "So, are you and Caleb going to the mall tonight?" He asked warmly.

The mall?

Oh. THE MALL.

I had totally forgotten about that. Caleb and I were meant to go to the mall this week to pick out my dress.

Now that I thought about it, I really didn't want to be anywhere close to Caleb right now, after what I had witnessed him and Kate doing. The memory was still burned into my mind like a terrible nightmare. And not the good kind.

Unfortunately.

But I couldn't tell Alpha Ian that. He wouldn't spare Caleb. His love for me was almost greater than that for his sons, and he didn't even try to hide it. If I told him what Caleb had done, it would destroy their family.

"Maya?" Alpha Ian whispered, concern etched on his face. "Did something happen to you? Are you in pain?"

I turned toward him and forced myself to smile, even though it felt stiff and fragile on my lips.

"Y-Yeah," I said softly. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."

Alpha Ian sighed with relief. "Oh, I thought something serious had happened. I've never seen you act like that before. For a moment, I thought Caleb probably did something to hurt you." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm glad it's nothing serious."

I smiled warmly, masking the storm inside me. "Alpha Ian, I'm not going with Caleb," I said.

He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, looking confused for a brief moment before his expression returned to normal. "Oh okay. Is it Lucas then?"

Lucas.

That name infuriated something in me. That scoundrel. The mention of his name made something in me tighten as I clenched my fist beneath the desk. I was still in disbelief. How could he dare say I forced myself on him?

Me? Maya?

My body still ached from his touch—which I couldn't even remember—and he had acted unbothered, like I was the crazy one. Like I was the desperate one. Like I was nothing.

"Maya?" Alpha Ian called, his eyebrow raised, staring at me with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I sighed, forcing the anger down. "Yes, Alpha. I'm okay. I'm just tired." I smiled warmly to dismiss him. "I'll go with Tom. I don't want to bother Caleb or Lucas. They're probably really busy. And I can get a dress myself."

He smiled warmly. "Okay dear, no problem. Maybe you should go and rest, and also have something good to eat. You don't really look good."

I nodded, forcing a smile across my lips. "Yes," I whispered as I stood up to leave.

Just as I reached the door, about to leave, Alpha Ian spoke.

"Maya..."

I turned around, my hands still on the doorknob.

"Yes, Alpha?"

He smiled warmly, his eyes soft and full of affection. "Don't forget, if you ever need anything, feel free to let me know." He paused, his gaze intensifying. "And if any of my sons ever hurt you, don't be scared to let me know."

My eyes met his for a brief moment, a flicker of warmth passing through them. He had always been so kind and generous to me. He was like a father I never had. What more could I possibly need? I already had all I could ever dream of.

I inhaled sharply and smiled back at him. "Of course."

Then I turned around and left the office.