Chapter two: Axel

Axel’s POV

“Frank,” I muttered under my breath, “get here quickly. The apostles are beginning to lose their minds.”

My Beta chuckled on the other end of the line, sounding far too relaxed for someone who was supposed to be helping me hold this place together. 

Still, I trusted him. 

Frank had always been the right choice for Beta. He was strong, capable, and annoyingly sarcastic, which made more sense for him to patrol the borders with a few guards than sit back and listen to old wolves bark over outdated laws.

“Okay, Alpha. Wait… hold on, I smell something,” he said suddenly, and I could tell he had stopped walking. From the rustling around him and the quick shuffle of boots, I knew the guards had picked up on it too.

“What do you smell?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at the old wall in front of me where a portrait hung—Alex and me side by side in our younger years. It was hard to tell who was who. We looked almost exactly alike. 

“Something roasting too close to our fucking borders.”

I rolled my eyes, irritation prickling the base of my neck. Who would dare step a foot that close?

“Frank, get your ass back here. You can check that later. You’re supposed to be hosting these dimwits today, not sniffing a nonexistent barbecue.”

“Thank the goddess I’m not there,” he muttered with a dry laugh. “I really don’t want to be. They’re just a bunch of grumpy old shits who can’t even agree on what chair to sit in, let alone pass a law. What I’m doing right now is way more important than that noise they call a council meeting.”

I appreciated his loyalty and brutal honesty, I really did, but I didn’t want to be the one left entertaining “those grumpy old shits” either.

“Thanks for the inspiring speech, Frank. Now come home or forget you ever belonged to this pack,” I said flatly and hung up.

Behind me, my brother was busy combing his hair like a model prepping for a runway. Alex always enjoyed looking perfect, especially when he knew important people were watching.

“Is everything in place?” I asked, turning slightly toward him.

Alex looked at me through the mirror, grinning like the whole day was a joke. “I already told the cooks to go heavy on the salt and add desserts to the menu. Those old twats can choke on sugar for all I care. What else do you want me to do? Prep a room for your mysterious future mate too?”

I sighed and folded my arms. “Seriously, Alex, this isn’t the time for your jokes.”

But he only scoffed, spraying more gel into his hair and humming like we didn’t have half the council gathering under our roof in less than thirty minutes.

“Have you at least prepared your speech?” I asked, more serious now. “You know we can’t let them disrespect us in our own house.”

That got his attention. Alex paused, dropping his smile. “If they disrespect us, you’ll break their necks,” he said quietly. “We both know they’re only here to keep us in check.”

“To keep ‘me’ in check,” I corrected, raising a brow. “Is that what you’re trying to say? That I can’t control myself?”

Alex dropped the comb carelessly and walked across the room, now searching for his coat. “You know what I mean,” he said. “You’re the… harsh one. I’m the charming one.”

Goosebumps ran down my arms… not because it was new, but because it was true, and we both knew it. The way our minds worked in sync always amazed me, even now. It was how we conquered the South Ridge, built this territory through dominance, and why they called us the Power Brothers. 

The world gave us that name long before we believed it. It just made more sense than ever.

“We share the same bloodline,” I sighed, adjusting the cuffs of my coal coat. “You might be charming, but you’re just as ruthless as I am.”

Alex’s jaw tightened, a bit annoyed. Yeah. He might smile more and dress like a GQ cover, but when provoked, he was lethal. He was also Alpha of the Desori Claw pack, and while technically under our banner, the Desori Blood Pack, his strength matched mine in nearly every way. 

Unfortunately, the only thing the apostles ever seemed to care about was our lack of mates and heirs. As if that somehow made us less capable of leading. It was worse for me, of course. I’d been born three days before Alex. 

Three days earlier and still the one they feared more.

I stood still while the maid draped my heavy fur coat over my shoulders. I frowned as I stared at my reflection… there it was again, the signature frown that had become part of my reputation. 

The apostles would see it tonight, and they would tremble.

“The room is ready, Alpha. They are all waiting,” the maid said softly, head bowed.

Before I could answer, Alex appeared beside me, slipping into his coat. Then he looked at me with a crooked smirk.

“Since Frank’s not here to tame us… what do you say, we kill at will?”

Of course.

But I didn’t answer him with words. 

_________

The moment we stepped into the hallway, we were bombarded with greetings from a few of the pack omegas who had basically devoted their lives to serving as our maids.

“Alpha, good morning,” they all said in reverence.

"What? I don't get a greeting too?" Alex pouted like the big baby he was.

The irritation on my face must have given me away because he was back to taunting me again. 

Just as we reached the double doors, a low growl sounded down the western wing.

I stopped.

Alex did too.

That wing was supposed to be cleaned, and locked… hours ago.

“I thought you locked that hall,” I said coldly.

“I did,” Alex replied, his eyes darkening.