Two Alphas One Omega

6. Somwhere Quiet

Melrose POV:

“Mate,” the words resonated intensely through the confines of my mind, each syllable amplifying a yearning that had clung to the edges of my heart for three agonizing years. This was the moment I had craved, the culmination of countless nights spent imagining it, yet as I surveyed the cramped, dimly lit bunker that surrounded me, a wave of unease washed over my elation. The atmosphere was thick with tension, rising faster than dough in a warm oven, suffocating my joy and filling the air with an uncomfortable anticipation.

I couldn't believe that Soren—the alpha prince, the future king of Iron Claw, my sworn enemy, Soren Sparrow—was actually my mate.

It... couldn't be... I was stunned, my mouth agape. I gazed at the man who had tormented me throughout my life. And f**k was he delicious; he was a giant tower of muscle. His olive skin was smooth and shiny, with beads of sweat dripping down his neck, getting lost in his shirt, making him look even more irresistible. His thick, dark, wavy hair fell just below his shoulders, and his green-yellow eyes were nearly glowing as they peered at me. They looked so captivating as they stared me down. I wanted a closer look, but as soon as I stepped forward, Ezra snatched me around my waist and pulled me behind him.

"Ezra, what are you --?" I began to ask, but his fierce look made me close my mouth. "You stay behind me, do you understand?" My eyes widened, and all I could do was nod, unable to find my voice. I had never seen him like this before. I knew he was an alpha, but he had never exercised or displayed his authority over me. I attempted to get a glimpse at Soren over Ezra's shoulder, but he charged at Ezra with incredible speed, slamming him against the wall. Stepping aside just in time to avoid being crushed against the wall like a pancake, I barely regained my balance.

"Why was my mate crying?" Soren snarled, his voice deep and commanding, causing my knees to tremble beneath me. Yet Ezra remained undeterred; he swiftly matched Soren's intensity. "It's not your concern; just leave; she doesn't want you here," Ezra growled firmly. Soren's eyes darkened significantly, and I could see him begin to shake—oh no, was he going to shift?... Not in this cramped bunker, which struggled to accommodate their large frames. My life felt like a nightmare I couldn't escape. I had no clue what to do; Soren and Ezra were in the same room and on the brink of violence. A part of me wanted to leave them to their fury.

If clawing each other's eyes out made them feel better, so be it. I didnt feel like dealing with my emotions; nothing made sense right now. Still, amid the chaos, I felt a conviction in my gut pushing me to confront my despair. They were furiously snarling at each other, and if I didn't act quickly, they would kill one another. I stepped between them, hands on their chests. "Back the f**k off, both of you!" They glanced down at me as if remembering I was there, stepping apart instantly, yet their growling persisted as they glared at each other.

Once they were a comfortable distance apart, I moved to sit down, but Soren's dark gaze fixed on me. And with one quick move, he pulled me into his arms, holding me protectively against his chest. A million sparks erupted beneath my skin as Athena purred in satisfaction, though I could sense her confusion about this supposed mate bond. But as my jade green eyes met his piercing green-yellow ones, I knew it wasn’t a mistake; he was, in fact, my mate... but why? Why would I be mated to a prince? I didn’t have time to figure it out because Ezra snarled dangerously low as he started to reach for my arms, but I stopped him with a glare. "No," I shouted, and he froze.

"No more fighting!" I pushed out of Soren's grip and started pacing the room, trying to clear my mind.

"Mel..." Ezra pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "Baby, please come with me, let's--" Sorens growled, holding my arm tightly as if I were his favorite toy. "She's not going anywhere," he snapped darkly. Ezra, filled with anger, puffed out his chest, "I wasn't talking to---

"Enough, you two!" I said, feeling a throbbing headache coming on. I ran a hand through my damp curls while gripping my towel tightly in the other. I looked at Ezra. "Leave and go find Chrystal; she's probably looking for you," I said dryly, unable to hide my hurt.

"Melrose!" he called, hesitating towards me, his face a mask of turmoil. I instinctively extended my hand, the desperation in my voice matching the sorrow in my heart. "Go!" I said firmly, striving to remain steadfast under the weight of his piercing royal blue gaze, which felt like a storm brewing. In that moment, I could sense his inner conflict, the defeat that seeped into his posture. He opened his mouth to argue, but the heavy air between us choked the words. Instead, he shot one last seething glare at Soren, his eyes ablaze with unspoken thoughts, before slowly lowering his hand to caress my cheek—a gentle touch fraught with unfulfilled promises and lingering affection. And then, as the finality hung in the air, he turned and left the room.

As soon as we were alone, Soren interpreted it as a cue to remove his shirt, leaving me staring at him in shock. "What are you doing?" I whispered, backing away from him. "You and I are not... we're not... this isn’t..." My thoughts tumbled out in a confusing jumble as I struggled to concentrate on getting away rather than on his defined, smooth abs... hell, why couldn't I speak? I wanted lightning to strike me out of my misery; it was embarrassing. However, much to my surprise, Soren laughed. "Here," he handed me his shirt. The scent of it sent a wave of heat through my body, and I had to fight to stay standing straight, not liking how his presence affected me and my emotions.

"I don't want it," I said, pushing it away. "Oh, take it," Athena purred. "It doesn't have to mean anything if we don’t want it to, plus it smells so good," she whispered in my ear, and for a moment, I lost my train of thought as his scent took me to another world.

"There she is," Soren murmured, his voice a soft caress that sent pleas down my spine. Then I realized how easily I lost control, and Athena took it; she wanted to see his wolf. We had never seen him shift before.... with him being on his tour, but as we looked into their eyes, I could feel the warmth spread through me, making my core drip with a need that only he could fill. I instinctively squeezed my legs tightly together, trying to get a grip on my emotions. "Athena, please, enough of this!" I begged. "Whose side are you on?" She held on for a few more moments before she finally gave me back control, and I immediately stepped back from him, trying to create some space in the already cramped bunker.

"I’ve never encountered a wolf with green eyes," he purred, moving closer. My breath caught in my throat as I tried to retreat, only to find my back against a wall; in this small bunker, escape wasn’t possible. The unique shade of my wolf eyes mirrors the striking color of my human eyes; they didn’t darken like the other wolves, but instead glowed an enchanting green. This secret is known only to Ezra and Chrystal, the sole individuals I've ever shifted around. I tried to search for information in the library, and I came up empty-handed in my quest for answers about wolves with green eyes. I even implored the royal executor to allow me to rummage through my parents' belongings for medical insights, but I was met with a firm denial. Frustrated, I decided avoiding all pack events involving shifting would be safer, choosing to protect my secret rather than face the unknown. My green eyes separated me from the other wolves, and I knew if they all found out, it would give them another reason to be afraid. These green eyes symbolize the curse, which I still don’t fully understand. However, I yearn for understanding amidst a world that seems to deny my existence.

"Please," I begged, pressing against his chest, igniting my skin with heat. I swiftly withdrew my hands and glanced at the floor. "Take the shirt," he said softly.

"I told you I don’t want to wear your stupid shirt," I hissed stubbornly, completely forgetting that I was talking to the future king. If Helga could hear me right now, I'd get fifty lashings.

"Too bad," he said firmly. You aren't strutting out of here in just a towel." He smirked. I paused, glancing down at myself, and felt a blush rise. "Oh no!" I exclaimed. With all the chaos around us, I'd completely lost track of the fact that I was only clad in a bath towel. My embarrassment deepened, turning my face a deep scarlet as I hurriedly snatched his shirt, trying to regain some semblance of modesty and confidence.

"Do you mind?" I asked as his eyes lingered, watching me with an intensity that felt both alluring and unsettling. What?" he smirked, looking at me like his favorite meal. The thought of him devouring me made my knees weak. His eyes darkened, clearly sensing my need for him. His smile widened, igniting my annoyance. "Turn around..." I hissed, "Please."

He slowly faced the wall, and I quickly discarded the towel and pulled the shirt over my head, feeling a nice sense of calm wash over my frazzled emotions. His shirt fit like a dress on me and covered all my lady bits, yet I still couldn't help but feel entirely exposed around this man. No man has ever seen me naked except Ezra, and that was only recently during our little make-out sessions. Athena howled miserably in my mind at the mention of Ezra's name. I sighed, wondering why I still cared. Isn't the mate bond supposed to make me fall crazily in love instantly? So why did I still give a s**t about Ezra?

"Perhaps if you weren't cursed, you wouldn't," a dark voice chuckled. I've named it my shadow. It’s become the third voice in my head—technically the second; the shadow was here long before Athena arrived. Although it doesn’t speak often, I first heard its whispers when I was a small pup. My parents brought me to Elder Helena, and, of course, you can guess what happened: she blamed it on the Stygian curse; she was no help... her advice? "Kill her, Morgana!" That was her helpful advice.

"We should head back." I said lowly, "I can hear them; people are already starting to look for you," I insisted, my nerves tingling with the intensity of a first date. He paused, then nodded as he swung open the door to the bunkers and quickly scanned the area for any signs of trouble. I fought the urge to laugh at his overprotective, alpha demeanor; after all, nobody ventured down here except me. The journey back up to the main level of the castle felt like an eternity, stretching out longer than I had anticipated. I positioned myself strategically just behind Soren, maintaining a respectful distance. The weight of Soren's persona hung in the air, and I was acutely aware of the curious gazes of onlookers. "Just act chill, be calm," I chanted mentally. "They aren’t focused on you; they’re focused on him. Nobody sees you."

I needed to maintain my composure and avoid any suspicious behavior that could raise questions about our relationship, or we'd risk sparking unwanted rumors and gossip. I didnt want that to happen. Every step I took was deliberate, balancing the thrill of being near him with the need to uphold our dignified facade. I wanted to ensure that onlookers wouldn’t jump to conclusions about our relationship. After all, I had to keep the truth—that he was my mate—safely under wraps...

However, he would growl whenever I fell too far behind, drawing more unwanted attention to us. Thank God that, aside from a few maids who avoided looking at the prince out of fear and the warriors standing along the wall, we had relatively few spectators. As he guided me up the grand staircase adorned with thick Persian red rugs decorated in gold, it almost felt like a crime to step on such luxurious fabric.

Realizing we had walked past the maid quarters where I usually sleep, anxiety began to set in. "Um, where are we going?" I asked, nervously biting my fingernail as my heart pounded. He didn't answer me, even though I was sure he heard me while he guided me down a sleek hallway past the alpha's quarters. "Your Grace, seriously... where are you taking me?" I struggled to keep up with his long strides. Guards bowed to him with each step, heightening my anxiety. His power was overwhelming, and I wasn't sure I wanted to fall any deeper than I already had... I paused for a moment, weighing my options. Maybe I should make a run for it... or would that attract too much attention, and he'd probably catch me anyway? I could --

"Come on, Rosy," his deep voice startled me out of my escape plan. I looked up and found his eyes as dark as night, accompanied by a slight smirk on his disturbingly handsome face, looking down at me. "You're falling behind again," he murmured, his tone deep and heavy with a dark allure. It felt like I were a sailor irresistibly summoned by a siren's call. Filled with curiosity and desire, I felt compelled to follow him...