Chapter Five: The Claiming Ball

LARA'S POV

My father pushed me forward through the crowd. Everyone was clapping and cheering, I could feel vibrations through the floor but everything was silent. Kael stood at the front with his hand out, waiting for me; my heart was racing with excitement.

I walked up to Kael on shaking legs, but this time from joy, not fear. His smile was perfect and genuine, like he'd chosen exactly who he wanted. He pulled me close, his lips moved, saying words I couldn't hear, probably about how honored he was.

Then he kissed me in front of everyone, and I kissed him back eagerly. It was what I wanted, but the moment his lips touched mine, I saw broken flashes —love and laughter twisting into something cold, merciless, bloody and soaked with betrayal. Then it vanished.

But who cares, just normal imagination, also this is what I'd been dreaming about for years and my father looked so proud.

When we pulled back, I was smiling so wide. Kael wrapped his arm around my waist, turned us to face everyone, like I was his prize—and I loved it.

Then I accidentally looked up and found the twins at the back of the room. Cian's storm-gray eyes were locked on Kael's arm around my waist, his jaw clenched tight. Rowan looked ready to murder someone, his amber eyes were glowing with fury.

The mate bond tugged at me painfully, but I ignored it— they weren't the ones I wanted. Kael was.

Kael's lips moved, and I read them, "Wait for me by the refreshments, I need to greet the other Alphas."

He kissed my forehead and I nodded. Kael moved through the crowd, accepting congratulations. My father kept signing about how proud he was, while Dante stayed close behind me.

I was pouring myself wine when I felt them before I saw them—the twins appeared on either side of me, too close, making my skin tingle.

"Congratulations," the one with storm-gray eyes said, his lips moving clearly enough for me to read. A name badge on his leather jacket read—Cian Vale.

"Thank you," I said coldly, stepping back, "I don't believe we've met."

"You know we have," the other twin said. My gaze dropped to the name badge clipped to his leather jacket. Rowan Vale. “You felt it —the bond.”

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied, my hands were shaking, "please leave me alone."

Cian moved closer, his storm-gray eyes were intense. "Lara, we're your—"

"Don't," I cut him off, looking around to see if anyone was watching. "I don't know you, and I don't want to know you."

"The bond doesn't lie," Rowan said,his voice edged with frustration. “You felt it the moment we walked in."

"I felt nothing," I said, even though my body was screaming liar, "Kael is my mate, he chose me, that's all that matters."

Cian reached out and touched my wrist, just his fingers on my skin, and suddenly my mind exploded with images: the twins were naked above me, his fingers plunged into my pussy, the other flicking his tongue over my nipples, the pleasure was so intense I couldn't breathe. They were fucking me, claiming me and making me scream.

It lasted maybe five seconds but I gasped, jerked my hand back like he'd burned me and my face was hot with embarrassment and confusion. Why was I seeing that? Why did it feel like a memory?

"What did you do to me?" I said, my voice shaking, looking around desperately for Kael.

"We didn't do anything," Cian said, "that's the bond showing you—"

"Kael," I called out, signing frantically when I spotted him, "Kael, please."

He was there in seconds, his hand possessive on my waist, his eyes dark, looking at the twins. "Is there a problem here?"

"No problem," Rowan said, but his eyes never left mine, "just congratulating your Luna."

"We were just leaving," Cian added, but before they turned away he looked directly at me, "but know this, we'll be here for you, whether you accept it or not."

"If you ever need us," Rowan said, "we'll come, no questions asked."

Then they both looked at Kael. "Congratulations, Alpha, you're a lucky man."

"I know," Kael said, pulling me closer, "my Luna is precious to me."

The twins walked away, and I could feel their eyes on my back. Kael turned me to face him. "What happened? What did they say to you?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, couldn't tell him they were my fated mates, couldn't tell him about the vision, "they just congratulated me, that's all."

His eyes searched my face suspiciously. "Why did you look scared?"

"I wasn't scared," I lied, "just uncomfortable, I don't like strangers touching me."

He studied me for a long moment, finally nodded. "Stay away from them, Lara. The Frostborn Alphas are dangerous, they're enemies of our pack."

"Of course," I said, leaning into him, "you're the only Alpha I want."

That seemed to satisfy him. He kissed my temple. "Good girl, you're mine now; everyone saw it."

The rest of the night passed in a blur, people congratulating us, my father talking about wedding plans, Dante watching me with concerned eyes every time I caught his gaze.

I kept looking for the twins but they'd left, or so I thought. I couldn't stop thinking about that vision, about how real it felt and about how my body had responded to just Cian's touch.

No, I told myself firmly, that wasn't real. Kael was real, Kael choosing me was real.

Finally the night ended. Kael walked me to my father's car. "I'll see you tomorrow, we have wedding details to discuss."

"I can't wait," I said, meaning it. He kissed me again and this time I tried to feel something, anything like what I'd felt from the twins' touch.

But there was nothing, just cold lips and duty.

He pulled back. "Sleep well, my Luna."

"You too.” He squeezed my hand and let me go.

Dante helped me into the car, my father got in the front, still talking excitedly about the alliance, how proud he was and how this secured our family's future.

As we pulled away from the palace I looked out the window and there in the shadows near the trees were two motorcycles, two figures standing beside them watching our car; even in the darkness I could see storm gray eyes and amber eyes glowing.

My heart recognized them before my mind did, the mate bond pulling painfully in my chest.

The twins kept their promise; they were watching over me, even though I'd denied them, even though I'd chosen someone else.

I touched my wrist where Cian had touched me earlier on, where I'd seen those impossible visions, whispered too quietly for anyone to hear, "Why won't they just leave me alone?"

But deep down, in a place I didn't want to acknowledge, I was glad they hadn't.