10| Her Rejection

ADONAI AUGUSTUS 

“She is our mate? Sounds like fun although I don't believe it!” Adonis laughed as we entered our bedroom.

“She knew as well. She felt the bond pull, but she restrained herself and pretended just like we did. Why would she display such a character before us?” I frowned thoughtfully. 

“Do you really blame her? You don't expect her to readily fall on her knees and kiss our feet when the moon goddess spites her. It is only right that she hates us now.” He replied as he plunked himself into a sofa by the foot of his bed.

“So what? She belongs to us now, and we must bring her back, if the heavens will it, she can't fight it. Especially now that the council is seriously debating restoring her family name.” I pulled off my black shirt, staring at my tattooed abs in a large standing mirror between our beds.

It is a very big room which would make up an events hall if it hadn't been demarcated to house our built-in wardrobe and dressing room. 

It contains two king-size beds, a curvy couch that could take in twenty people and a television that can be mistaken for a floor-to-ceiling glass window because of the space it covers on the wall. 

It is our most private place, the only place where we aren't leaders of a pack, but brothers who tolerate each other's shortcomings and discuss secret matters. No servants are allowed except our mother's lifelong servant who has almost become a part of the family. 

Helena has been our mother's only companion and strength since our father's head was brought on a platter to our pack years ago. Our mother, Vendetta, is still alive and well, thanks to Helena's care. She is the only person who has entered our room to clean it on command only.

“You think we should bring her back?” Adonis sat up immediately, finally paying attention to the conversation.

“You already know the customs and traditions of the lifeline of the past rulers of the Crystal Moon Pack. Do you think the council will stay silent if they learned that she's our mate and we let her be claimed by another?” 

“Nobody has to know. They can't find out. We shall be granted a second chance, mate, soon enough.”

“That's a very irresponsible thing for you to even consider. The council elders know everything. Do you think they're summoning her to only lift her banishment? There have to be some other reasons. Have you forgotten the prophecy so soon?” 

“I didn't believe it at all. Those were the words of a crazy bastard who even committed suicide after delivering such gibberish to people's ears. He deserves to rot.”

“You're just…” I shook my head in disbelief as I finished undressing.

“If she doesn't honour the council, I will fight Dominus myself, defeat him and bring her back. She has no choice. I'm sure her father read the laws to her since he was her father's beta. I heard that he used to read everything for him, they had such a beautiful friendship, unfortunately.” I said, picking up my clothes and heading to the closet.

I didn't expect a response from him. I don't think my brother believes in anything; he is fond of playing with serious matters and living life unbothered, which is very bothersome to me, who feels the need to take responsibility for every one of our actions. I find meaning in everything, and I can't let my family's name be dragged through the mud for any reason. We can't defile the sacred traditions of kings that have ruled before our ancestors!

Still wondering if Cedar would really stay the whole day without coming to answer the council, I took a slow bath and dressed up for the meeting. She was supposed to come on the night of the full moon, but when she couldn't, I had to discharge her disrespect with my power as the leader of my pack and request this second meeting.

When Icarus sent words back to us that night, saying that Dominus, the alpha of our neighbouring pack, had claimed she belonged to him and would not leave except he let her, I had to find out the truth by myself.

I had made my findings and I was informed that she made a deal with him. I expected him to be in her defence instead of his deadly nephew, who had appeared…

“I bring news, my Alphas!” Nikko’s voice disrupted my thoughts. 

He is our beta. And even though I trust in his loyalty, we've never let him enter our bedroom, either. He has access to everywhere else, but not our bedroom. Nobody has dared dishonour our words, not even our mother, Luna.

“What is it?” Adonis queried, picking up and shuffling some cards in the most boring manner.

“Cedar has arrived in the company of Dominus. The elders are waiting.” Nikko delivered the words from outside the door.

“We are right behind you!” I hurried out the door, ignoring Adonis' eye roll.

We took our positions on the throne after the council elders acknowledged us.

 I looked Cedar up and down as she sat beside Dominus, silently yelling at my wolf to quit rejoicing as she was so near and I felt the pull of our mate bond again. I was sure my brother did the same, in fact, he snickered beside me. She wore those pants and jackets to remind us that she hadn't come to impress us. I almost wished my brother were right.

“We may begin.” I admonished. 

We are the alpha kings, but the council has a different leader and an advisor. They are five times our age and we accord them our respect since they're great men who have not only seen, but interacted and ruled beside our past heroes and know every legend we could only imagine.

“First of all, we would like to ask that Cedar Blake returns to Crystal Moon Pack and with the alphas’ pardon and grace, her family's name be restored.” Elder Harold spoke up first. 

“Why have the elders in council suddenly decided to lift her banishment? What has she done to deserve such mercy?” Adonis jumped in, hating how the issue was addressed. As if it wasn't considered a grave sin for Cedar to be left alive at first.

“Because she was betrothed to you before she was even born. And to say the least, the moon goddess has shown that you are meant to be together by mating her with both of you. And we have prepared the mating ceremony for tomorrow.” 

“What? You've planned our mating ceremony without our consent?”

“We fear you might have second thoughts and delay marking her as yours before someone else claims her. This has to be done as soon as possible before a calamity befalls our land.”

“That won't happen! And there'd be no mating ceremony because I reject the twin alphas as my mate! I belong to another, now!” Cedar declared, glaring up at us as Dominus put a possessive hand around her shoulder.

The man dared to chuckle? Yes, he did, triumphantly. What exactly is going on in one day?

Adonis sprang up first, then our eyes clashed before we directed our gaze to her again. Outrageous!