Chapter two: Alex

Alex's POV

"Frank," I muttered lowly. "Get here quickly; the apostles are beginning to lose their minds."

My cousin chuckled on the other side. He was the right choice for a beta, and there was nothing wrong with him. Strong and capable, it was better that he went to check our borders along with some of the guards. "Okay, alpha. Wait, I smell something sweet…" he began to say to the guards, and I know that they have found something in the forest.

"What do you smell?" I narrowed my eyes on the wall close to me. It had portrait frame art of my brother and me. You could hardly tell the difference between the two of us. But we do look good together… damn.

"Something roasted."

I rolled my eyes, feeling anger brew in me. "Frank, get your ass here. We can go and check that sh*t later. You will be hosting them today."

"Oh, I don't want to do that. They are grumpy old sh*ts who wouldn't get their priorities straight. What I am doing is more important than that sh*t they want to talk about."

I appreciate Frank's words. "Thank you, Frank. Now, come home." I hung up so that he could know how serious I am about this.

"Is everything in place?" I asked my brother, who was busy combing his hair to the back. He has always been the pretty one, while I was the hard one.

Axel cleared his throat with an amused smile on his face. "I asked Mary to prepare the dishes for those twats. What did you want me to do? Prepare your mate too?"

I sighed. There was no time to joke around, and besides, this joke was too expensive. "Seriously, Axel. This is no time for jokes." He merely scoffed, proceeding to spray gel on his hair and inhaling the aroma like he was in a beauty salon. He was even humming. "Have you prepared your speech? You need to, but I can't. I cannot have the apostles disrespect us in this place."

My brother paused, and his face became serious. Now there is the Axel I know. "If they disrespect us, I will break their necks. We know we need them to keep us in check."

"To keep me in check." I shook my head at my brother's indirect insinuation. "Are you saying that I can't keep myself in check?"

Axel dropped the comb without grace as he moved about the apartment, looking for his coat. "You know what I mean. You are the harsh one. I am the pretty one."

Goosebumps filled my skin as he said that. The way we thought in synchronization never ceased to amaze me. It was how we conquered our territory and claimed it as our own. We were called the power brothers. Now it makes so much more sense than I imagined. "We are brothers. We share the same bloodline. Yes, you, my brother, may be the pretty one, but you are just as ruthless as I am." I added with a chuckle when his jaws grinded down in anger. He knew what I said was true.

Axel was an Alpha just like I am. There was no difference between the two of us. He was just like he said: I am the harsh one, and he is the pretty one.

That statement wouldn't change our bloodline of Alphas. If the apostles aren't careful with their words tonight, they may end up losing their lives in the boardroom. Those damn leeches only know how to eat the harvest of my land and claim that they are making contributions. Fine. I set them up to keep my brother and I in check, but they are constantly irking me and my brother because of our lack of mates.

Especially me, since I came out before Axel. He was three days late into the world, and that made me superior.

I stood in line, waiting for the maid to prepare my coat. I frowned at my reflection when she raised the fur coat to my shoulders. There it was. My signature frown.

They should see this and tremble.

"The room is ready, Alpha." The girl said it loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts. She had her head slightly bowed. Just like I wanted it.

"Alpha, good morning."

"Alpha, good morning." They all greeted us in reverence.

"What? I don't get a greeting too?" Axel pouted like the big baby he was. I almost forgot that my brother walked beside me too. A copy of whatever I represented. My displeasure must have shown on my face because he was back to taunting me again. I guess the tease I gave him back in the room has worn off. I need to prepare another huge statement to keep him silent, even if for a minute.

Walking beside me, my brother, Axel possessed a contrasting charm and playfulness. His attire was stylish yet casual, a reflection of his carefree nature. A well-fitted blazer adorned his frame, paired with a crisp shirt and tailored trousers. He was also one to check his attire carefully before wearing it. I don't care about what I wear because it doesn't define me.

As we passed by the maids, they couldn't help but blush and giggle at Axel's playful remarks and flirtatious banter. He possessed a charm that effortlessly drew people toward him, most definitely the women. His carefree attitude and infectious laughter provided a contrast to the serious mood of the hallway, injecting a sense of lightness into the atmosphere. He was the perfect contrast because things are going to go out of control very soon.

"I swear, brother, if any of them says something I don't like, I will chew their heads off." He warned with a growl.

The faces of the guards hinted at a mixture of admiration and envy, observing the way we commanded attention effortlessly. They recognized the bond between, each possessing their own unique qualities and charisma.

I shook my head. "Don't do anything. Just keep calm and pretty." Wow, the table flopped so quickly that I didn't even see it coming. A small smile creeped into my face at the shocked look on my brother's face.

"Oh, it's on!" He muttered wordlessly.

As we neared the board room, the echoes of heated discussions grew louder, an evidence to the importance of the meeting taking place. We were prepared to face the angry apostles head-on, armed with confidence, intellect, and the unbreakable bond between brothers.

"The Apostles are naturally annoying. They may try something stupid this afternoon and don't try to stop me." I nodded my head to my brother. He was just here for emotional support.

The alpha and the playful charmer are side by side, ready to conquer any challenge that lies before us. The apostles were our challenge. They should know their place or get crushed under my fingers.

I barged into the room; my entrance lacked grace and finesse, instead carrying a hint of violence. Axel was so much better at a dramatic entrance. The door barely held on to its hinges, as if struggling to withstand the force of my arrival. The room fell silent, and the apostles turned their attention towards me, their expressions a mask of false reverence.

The apostles were all frowning as their eyes bore into me and their disapproving gazes lingered. It was clear they were ready to unleash their frustrations on us. One of the apostles, with a stern expression etched upon his face, spoke up in a voice laced with disappointment.

"Alpha, your lack of a mate is becoming a grave concern for our pack. The weight of responsibility lies upon your shoulders, and it is your duty to secure a suitable partner to continue our lineage." His words hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the importance they placed on the matter. The apostles exchanged glances, their displeasure evident.

"Alphonso. You should allow us to formally greet you before proceeding to talk about a closed case. Or is it the other way around?" My silly brother, Axel, muttered before taking his seat close to the elder. I see what he is doing there. He tried to make it easy for him to snap his neck in case the elder said something wrong.

The problem was that I might do it first. As I settled into the seat, the touch of fur against my fingertips evoked a sense of grounding, reminding me of my responsibilities as alpha. It was a subtle acknowledgement to the Alpha instincts that guided our pack, a reminder that even in this modern, civilized setting, our wolf essence remained intact.