Chapter 6: Mates Of Power

Selena's POV 

Goddess, haven't I had enough…

A bitter laugh erupted from my throat, I haven't, it's never enough till I break. The laughter that came out was coarse and only made my throat hurt the more but I couldn't stop it. It continued, spilling out from chapped lips.

I lay there gasping for breath while the one with milky eyes tilted his head, studying me with cold fascination. He spoke to his brother, “nevermind breaking her, she seems broken already. Well, either that or insane.”

I struggled to stand up, my body protesting in agony, sending dull spikes, but I wasn't going to take my rejection lying down. I wondered if it mattered, then I wondered if this would be the final thing that kills me.

The one with violet eyes stepped forward, “Do you know who we are?” 

His dominant aura hit me in the face like a physical blow, buckling my already weakened knees and threatening to bring me to the ground.

“M-my mates.” My voice wavered but I held my chin high. 

“Good girl.” The drawl in his voice made me shiver, a purr building at the back of my throat. The dark promise in his eyes made me swallow nervously, the men in front of me made Roland seem like a kid. If I let them, they would chew me up and spit me out, which doesn't sound so bad.

“I'm Alpha Kai, and this,” He jerked his chin to his brother, “is my twin brother, Alpha Kian.” Milky eyes, Alpha Kian, gave a small mocking wave at the introduction.

I hung my head, morose, suspecting they were alphas and knowing they were wasn't quite the same thing. I didn't even know there was hope inside me until it got extinguished.

Powerful men like these men had no use for a fat, ugly girl like me. I had barely escaped with my life the last time, would I be killed this time? I didn't even know I was crying until Alpha Kian spoke,

“Something wrong, little mouse?” His voice was different from his brother's. Soft and musical was his brother's voice, which was deep and husky.

I sighed sadly, “Look, I’ll save you both the trouble.” I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes, “I, Selena Roberts, reject–” I was cut off by a warm large hand slamming down on the bars. I opened my eyes, startled to see their eyes glowing, the telltale sign of their wolves in control.

Twin deep growls resonated in me straight to my core, “If you want to live, I advise that you don't complete that statement.” Kai growled, his fangs dropping.

My head swivelled between them, “I don't understand.” I said, confused. Then I thought about it, oh, they probably want to be the ones who do the rejection because of their pride.

I snapped my fingers, “Oh, I get it now.” I closed my eyes again, “Go on, I'm waiting.”

The two brothers looked at each other then stared at me like I had grown two heads, “What are you talking about?” Kai asked flatly.

I squinted my eyes at them, wondering what they were playing at, “Aren't you going to reject me?” My voice came out small.

“And why,” Kian asked slowly, deliberately,  “would we do that?” The corner of his lips curled upwards in condescending amusement.

Words from different periods of my life spilled out before I could stop them, “because I'm fat, ugly, worthless, nothing more than the gum stuck beneath your shoes.” I recited listlessly.

The two alpha grew still, the scent of ozone and the ocean growing to a point where to others, it would have been suffocating but to me, it was just soothing. Their muscles bulged and their bodies grew tense like they were about to pounce. Oh shit, I just made them angry.

I carefully took a step back and was about to take another when a deep growl froze me in place.

“Little mouse, don't take another step or you'll find out what it feels like to be pinned under two wolves,” Kai said, his voice gruffier than it normally was, his wolf was close to the surface like his brother's, but I couldn't seem to understand what set them off.

I eyed them warily and eyed the bars separating me from them, they couldn't break through them, could they?. I looked at Kai again, one dark brow rose daring me to try. I grudgingly stayed in place. The brothers seemed to relax slightly in unison.

“I want a list of everyone who has said that to you.” Kian's tone was icy and held no room for argument. Something in his eyes promised a great deal of pain for every single one of them. He couldn't exactly wipe out an entire pack, could he? But just to be safe, I avoided the question. 

I gripped my hair in my hands, frustrated, “I don't understand, why aren't you rejecting me?” The back of my eyes stung and I squashed every form of hope building.

“You're the key we've always needed…” Kai said.

Kian completed his sentence, “served to us on a silver platter.” Their grins were secretive, like there was an inside joke I wasn't privy to and I was the punchline. I could just be paranoid though.

“I’m fat,” I argued, waving my hands around my body just in case they missed that fact.

“More to hold,” Kian replied without missing a beat, his eyes sparkling mischievously. I had gotten a brief sense of both their characters now.

“I'm ugly,” I said stubbornly, I don't know why I was trying to convince them to reject me when I didn't want to be rejected.

Kai waved a dismissive hand, “clearly you don't have eyes. At this point, I believe you're just fishing for compliments.” His voice was accusing, I narrowed my eyes at him, was that a compliment or an insult?

I felt dizzy with elation, I had mates. Two of them. I secretly pinched myself, nope, not a dream. It felt too good to be true and a part of me kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Had my luck finally changed?

“So you guys aren't rejecting me?” I clarified, my voice meek.

Kian sighed exasperated, “No but this is getting tiring.” I quickly shut my mouth just in case they changed their minds. Kai handed something over to me, a black lace collar with a tag in front. My thumb rubbed over the inscription: property of K & K.

I looked up at them, “I don't understand, what is this?” I asked hesitantly. The brothers had matching hungry looks in their eyes, something predatory. 

Kian grinned, dark and cold, “A new collar for our new pet.”

Distantly, I heard the subtle clang of a trap snapping shut, a prey caught. I was the prey. Swallowing nervously, my hands shakily rose to clasp the collar around my neck. The twins didn't offer to help me and I knew what that meant. 

Submission freely given.

“You're ours now, little mouse. Ours to play with, ours to break.” Kian murmured,  his voice deceptively soft.

Joke's on them, I wasn't really whole to begin with.