002

THE ALPHA TWINS

~MATHIAS POV~

I stand in my office holding my phone to my ear, my voice steady and commanding.

"I will send some of my warriors to help you with your Outcast problem," I say to Alpha Morris of the Waterfang Mooncrest, my tone leaving no room for argument.

My name is Mathias Bronx. At twenty-four years old, I am one of the twin Alphas of the Silverfang Moonkin.

My brother Daxon and I inherited this role after our father was brutally taken from us.

The memory of his loss still burns like a fresh wound, fueling the fire that drives me to lead with unwavering determination.

"Thank you, Alpha Mathias. I will inform my warriors," Alpha Morris replies, his voice tinged with relief. The call ends, and I set the phone down, exhaling slowly.

"I don't see why we have to send our warriors to their Moonkin again," Daxon grumbles, leaning against the edge of my desk. His arms are crossed, and his expression is one of irritation.

"Because we have a treaty, Dax. It's our duty to assist them when needed," I reply, impatience creeping into my voice.

"Duty or not, it seems like they're always in some kind of trouble. Alpha Morris doesn't seem to handle anything on his own. Maybe it's time we reconsider this arrangement," Daxon says, his tone laced with disdain.

I roll my eyes, well used to his grumpiness.

"Be serious. Breaking the treaty would lead to a war between our Packs. Is that what you want?" I counter, my voice sharp.

Daxon is my twin, born two minutes after me, yet he often acts as if the weight of leadership doesn't apply to him.

While I am the responsible one, he is hasty, reckless, and rarely takes anything seriously.

It is both a blessing and a curse to have him by my side.

Before our disagreement escalates, Beta Karl's voice echoes in my mind through our mind-link. "Alpha Mathias, the prisoner's mother has requested you take her stepdaughter instead."

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "I wasn't aware Sally had another daughter," I murmur in response.

"Apparently, it's her husband's niece. Her parents are deceased, and she's been under Sally's husband's care since," Karl explains.

Sally is an Outcast who had borrowed money from our Moonkin to support her husband.

When he failed to repay her debt, Daxon had seized her daughter as collateral, condemning her to servitude until the debt was settled.

However, the girl was ill-equipped for such a role—a pampered human who'd likely never lifted a finger in her life.

Humans.

The word alone stirs a deep-seated hatred within me. My father had lost his life trying to save one from her abusive Outcast partner.

His act of kindness had cost him everything, and the woman had returned to her abuser without a second thought. I had made sure neither of them walked away from that betrayal.

"So, her stepdaughter is a filthy human," Daxon interjects, his voice dripping with disgust.

"Exactly," I reply, my own disdain evident.

"Do it," Daxon smirks, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "We could make her life a living hell. She'll have to do everything we say!"

I consider his words, the idea taking root in my mind. This human could serve as a vessel for our vengeance—a reminder of the weakness and treachery of her kind.

"Tell her we have a deal," I mind-link Karl, cold satisfaction settling in my chest.

This is going to be interesting.

~DAXON POV~

Humans are a plague upon this world—weak, selfish creatures that deserve nothing but hatred.

The very thought of one setting foot in Moonkin territory should fill me with nothing but cold happiness.

Soon, I will make her understand exactly what happens to prisoners in our domain.

"Get your hands off me!" The sharp, rebellious voice slices through the evening air like a blade.

Something stirs in my chest—an unwelcome flutter that I immediately crush down. I scowl, caught between curiosity and my usual disdain.

"The human has arrived," Mathias observes through our mental link, his voice carefully unconcerned.

"Bring her to your office," I command the guards, but Beta Karl's eager voice cuts through the connection.

"First, let me teach this creature some manners. She needs to learn respect."

For one puzzling moment, I feel the urge to cancel the order. The feeling is so strange, so unexpected, that it leaves me momentarily speechless.

She is human, nothing more than prey that has been sold into the wrong territory.

"Do what you see fit," I reply, shoving the strange protective instinct deep down where it belongs.

"My pleasure, Alpha," Karl responds before severing the link.

Mathias raises an eyebrow. "What do you think he'll do to her?"

"Knowing Karl's hatred for humans? Probably beat some sense into her," I reply, though the words taste bitter on my tongue.

Thirty minutes later, our sister Lyra bursts through the office doors, her face a storm of fury and disappointment.

"How could you let Karl brutalize that girl? He beat her unconscious!" Her voice cracks with emotion, and something twists painfully in my gut.

"She'll recover," Mathias says, but even he sounds uncertain.

"Will she? How could you both be so heartless?" Lyra's eyes blaze with tears she refuses to shed. "I'm ashamed to call you my brothers."

"We never laid a finger on her," I protest, but the defense sounds hollow even to my own ears.

"You might as well have. Your word gave Karl permission to be a monster." She turns on her heel and storms out, leaving a suffocating silence in her wake.

"I feel like shit," Mathias admits, running both hands through his dark hair.

"Let's assess the damage," I suggest, though dread has begun pooling in my stomach.

We make our way to the medical wing, where Dr. Jesse intercepts us with her usual predatory smile.

"Well, well. Both Alphas gracing me with their presence. Here for some... stress relief?"

"Perhaps later," Mathias replies absently, barely glancing at her. "The human... where is she?"

"Room ten. Though I doubt she'll be much fun for a while." Jesse's laugh is sharp and unkind.

As we approach the designated room, a scent hits me like a physical force—rich vanilla meshed with golden honey, so intoxicating it makes my knees weak.

My wolf stirs restlessly, whimpering in a way I've never experienced.

"Do you smell that?" I whisper, my voice hoarse with sudden need.

"Impossible," Mathias breathes, but I see the same recognition dawning in his eyes.

We push open the door, and the fragrance intensifies tenfold. There, lying broken and battered on the narrow medical bed, is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen.

Despite the bruises marring her delicate features, despite the way her small frame seems to disappear into the white sheets, she is perfect.

My world tilts on its axis.

"Soulbond," we whisper in unison, the sacred word falling from our lips like a prayer and a curse.