In Love With The Scared Alpha

Room of tension

TYRIS POV

Uncontrollable rage raked through every inch of my being as Rockan claimed my mate for himself. Why he did it was beyond me, and I was determined to find out. In the meantime, I kept my expression as stoic as ever, barely concealing my anger in my balled-up fists. I watched in pain as my brother continued performing acts of affection toward my mate. One minute, he kissed her hand; the next, he drew circles on her arm. After a few more minutes of the Elders paying their obeisance to her, Lyra was led by two female servants to her chambers, where she would be treated like a queen and bathed in special oils before being presented to Rockan. Unable to control the turbulent emotions rising within me, I approached Rockan.

"We need to talk, brother," I whispered into his ear through gritted teeth, veins popping out.

"Sure." Rockan noticed the animosity in my eyes as he stood up to meet my gaze. He was an inch taller than I, but I refused to back down.

What is the meaning of this, Tyris? He asked through mind link, searching my eyes for answers.

Fuck around and find out. I bit back, eyes shooting daggers.

Rockan c****d an eyebrow and regarded me with an unreadable expression. He silently gestured to the door of the grand hall, the same door we had both stalked through earlier. I shook my head. After you, Alpha. I gave him a mock bow. Rockan flashed a fake smile at the paparazzi by the door as he slipped out. A thick and heavy tension gradually filled the silent atmosphere between us as we walked to the office. After sending the warrior by the door away with a snarl, I slammed the door shut.

"What are you up to, Ty—" Rockan began, but I cut him off with a blow... which he dodged.

"You do not want to do this, brother," he warned as he waved his index finger in my face. We both knew I was no match for him, similar features or not. Rockan did not just become Alpha King by sitting on his hands. He spent centuries training and fighting battles, some of which were unknown to me. But, as they say, all is fair in love and war. I was more than ready to fight him for taking my mate. True, he'd been without a destined mate for the longest time. But so, had I.

"You selfish traitor!" I bellowed, taking another swing at his perfect jawline. Again, he dodged the strike. His speed and agility were out of this world. Yet, I refused to back down.

"If you would just calm down and talk to me," Rockan's voice was the calmest I had ever heard, if not soothing.

"There is nothing to talk about. You have already claimed her as your own!" I ran my hands through my hair and turned my anger on the furniture in the room, desperate to find an outlet for my ravaging emotions. Rockan made no effort to come close to me. Instead, he folded his arms and watched me with keen interest. When I was done destroying the expensive furniture, I let out a frustrated yell.

"Her?" Rockan asked, his deep voice barely a whisper, and I could not tell if he was asking a serious question or just looking to further infuriate me.

"Yes, her. Lyra. She is my destined mate," I spat, still livid. "But you stole her from me." I shot red, accusing eyes at my older brother, who burst into laughter.

"What are you on about? Perhaps those elders have finally succeeded in turning you against me." An amused expression took over Rockan's features as he regarded me. "How is it possible that two brothers would have the same mate? The Alpha Queen can only be mated to the King and nobody else. Not even his Beta." He paused, and concern seeped into his eyes. "Are you drunk? Or have you been poisoned?" He reached out to touch my shoulder, but I snarled at him, baring my protruded fangs. Rockan retracted his hand. "Whoa, easy tiger."

"Do not ever call me that, you traitor." I seethed. "How could you do this to me, Rockan?" My voice broke as I struggled to hold back tears. "I have spent my entire life being your shadow, living my life on your terms, serving you. But not any longer. I will do what I want. Since you have claimed her for yourself, I will mark her." I pushed past my brother, storming to the door. But I did not go far before I was thrown into the bookshelves on the left. The glass shattered once my sturdy frame came in contact with it, sending the splintered pieces to the floor.

"Don't you dare, Tyris. Do not give me a reason to kill you," Rockan warned, his anger rising. I smirked, glad that I was able to get a rise out of him.

"Kill me? Go ahead. That is all your feral beast knows how to do. At least dying is better than watching my mate live her life by your side." I made a beeline for the door again. This time, Rockan easily tackled me to the floor, gripping me in a chokehold.

"You want to die, boy?" He growled, his arms tightening, cutting off my air supply.

"Go ahead, finish me off. Be the monster you swore not to be. You are his flesh and blood, after all," I choked, refusing to tap out or plead for mercy. But something snapped in Rockan's mind, and he released me, shaking his head as if to get rid of his demonic side. I coughed and choked while he put considerable distance between us. He swept a shaky hand through his hair.

"s**t," he muttered, punching a large hole in the wall.

It was my turn to laugh. "Are you giving up already? Why don't you finish what you started? Or are you growing weak now that you have allowed yourself to be swayed by the beauty of my mate?" I taunted him.

"Shut the f**k up, Tyris!" Rockan bellowed, whirling around to face me. I could see him struggle to keep his rage at bay. "Do not utter a single word."

"Well, we need to come to an agreement because there is no way I would sit and watch you take Lyra from me."

"You know, I do not want to fight with you. That too, over a female. But as Alpha King, I cannot relinquish my Queen to you. It will be perceived as weakness."

"f**k!" I let out a frustrated groan.

"However, I promise not to mark Lyra until we get this sorted out."

"Sorted out? How do you intend to do that? Challenge fate?" I laughed humourlessly.

"I do not know, Tyris. For now, let us get through this night. We must summon Seraphina. She would have answers and a solution." Rockan rubbed the bridge of his nose, no doubt trying to soothe the ache building in his head.

"Till we get the answers to our questions, Lyra sleeps in her own bed. Under no circumstances will she share a bed with you," I declared, desperate to put distance between my brother and our mate.

The tension in the room was palpable as we stared each other down, neither willing to back away from what we both believed was rightfully ours. How fate could be so cruel as to bind the same woman to two brothers—Alpha King and his Beta—was beyond comprehension. But one thing was certain: I would not yield. Not this time. Not with Lyra.

But, Rockan broke his promise to me that very night.