Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Elara POV
This cannot be good.
“Miss Montgomery,” one of them approaches me formally. “Please come with us.”
“Uhm, why?” I pull the robe tighter against my body.
“Move, Montgomery,” the other one barks, and I am taken aback by his brute tone of voice.
“Okay, you don’t need to bite my head off,” I reply, irritated. “Let me just get dressed, and ... hey! Let go.”
They grab my arms, force me out of my room and push me forward.
“Can I please put some clothes on?” I protest.
“Move, or we’ll make you move,” he orders, and marches me through the mansion in silence.
“There better be clothes for me at ... wherever it is you’re taking me,” I huff indignantly, but the only reply I get is the muffled sounds of our footsteps on the navy-carpeted floor.
This must be urgent, I realise as I follow them barefoot. I hope my parents are okay, and my little sister, Selena.
The dread and worry grow with each step, and I pray that whatever news I was about to receive will not completely demolish me. I do not know what I would do if anything happened to my family.
It feels like we have walked for miles before we finally stop in front of a large set of double doors, made of solid wood, complete with iron hinges and handles. Whatever was behind these doors cannot be good. It feels ominous as hell.
The guards flank me, each opening a door by pushing it forward, revealing a large room. It takes me a second to realise what I am looking at and to take it all in.
On one side is a gallery filled with a bunch of people. On the other side of the massive space are two throne-like chairs on a raised dais, Kane in one, Axel in the other. Members of the High Guard stood on each side of them. I cannot see their faces clearly, but they do not look happy.
I am nervous as hell and pull my black silk robe tighter around myself.
The guard to my left reaches over, grabs my elbow, and pushes me forward. I look up at him, and I swear there is a glimpse of something akin to pity or sympathy in his eyes before he blinks it away and pushes me a second time.
I slowly walk forward, and the crowd’s silence in the galley is eerie. When I look up at them, the faces I can make out are filled with curiosity, pity, and amusement, but I do not get the sense that anyone actually knows what is going on.
That makes all of us, I thought.
Well, fuck them.
If they want to catch me off guard and in my robe like a bunch of perverts, let them. I will not show them how unsure I am.
I lift my chin and hold my head high, fisting my hands at my sides rather than hugging them around myself to hide from all the watchful eyes, and take long, purposeful strides. They will not get to see any shame from me.
The stares tingle my skin, and goosebumps rise over my whole body. As I walk, I look straight at Kane, then at Axel, staring each of them dead in the eye and not blinking. I stop and relax my shoulders when I reach the steps in front of their thrones.
I have no clue what the procedure is for something like this, but if they expect me to kneel like some maiden from ye olden days, they are sadly mistaken.
“Kane. Axel.” I look at each of them and nod as I say their names.
“Show due respect,” the guard to my right clears his throat. “They’re your Alphas.”
“I will call my mates by their given names,” I keep my gaze focused on Kane and Axel.
Kane’s jaw ticks, and Axel winches ever so slightly. If you were not paying as close attention to them as I was, you would easily miss it. But I did not. Not after last night ... after our night together, I know their bodies and facial expressions pretty well.
Rather than addressing what I said, Kane braces his hands on the arms of his seat and stands, rising to his full height with his chin high and his shoulders back. Instead of looking at me, he looks over to the side, to the front of the gallery, where I notice Elder Anton.
“Ladies and gentlemen, she-wolves and wolves,” Kane’s voice fills the room. “I called you forth today to rectify an issue that has arisen.”
A loud murmur erupts, and I look at the crowd. Confused looks are exchanged among attendees, who then resume their focus on me. But nobody is more confused than I, especially since I am the one there is an issue with.
What the fuck is he talking about?
“Yesterday, my brother and I were assigned Elara Montgomery as our mate,” he continues. “And as you all know, per our laws, claiming must happen on the night of the mating ceremony to ensure that all assigned matings occur and are not thwarted.”
“We all know how mating works, Alpha,” Elder Anton cuts in. “Please tell us why we’re here.”
“As you wish, Elder,” Kane steps forward and turns his body towards Elder Anton. “Last night, my brother and I attempted to claim our mate.”
Attempted to? Are you kidding me? It definitely happened ... multiple times. Is this some fucked up ruse to appease Alice?
“Shortly before midnight,” Kane continues. “We entered Miss Montgomery’s room, where we proceeded to consummate our mating, as per law.”
My gaze shifts to the gallery, and there she is. Sitting in the front row, on the far end, closest to Kane and Axel. If looks could kill, I would be ash right now. Clearly, she does not like hearing about how we had consummated our mating. It takes everything in me not to wink at her.
“Upon consummation,” Kane’s voice is formal and cold, and I look at him. “We found Miss Montgomery unsatisfactory, and we were unable to complete the claiming process to mark her as our mate. Therefore, per Section Thirty-Two, Item Seventeen C, Footnote One, I, Kane Constantine, and my brother, Axel Constantine, will take a second mate of our choosing.”
