Chapter 5

Eliara’s POV

Mates?

What in the Moon Goddess’ twisted sense of humor was that supposed to mean?

How could I be mated to my stepbrothers?

Before I could even process the horror of that realization, a sharp gasp sliced through the room.

Nikolai’s chest rose violently as he sucked in a breath, his eyes flying open. A second later, Niven stirred too, groaning as his lashes fluttered apart.

“We’re…” Nikolai rasped, confusion clouding his gaze as he looked around. “We’re alive?”

“What happened?” Niven muttered, pushing himself up slightly, his voice rough and hoarse.

Selene screamed and threw herself at them, collapsing between their bodies, sobbing hysterically.

“I thought I lost you!” she cried, clutching them desperately. “I thought you were dead!”

Then Selene’s sobs stopped.

Slowly, she lifted her head, and her eyes locked onto me with pure venom.

“She did it,” Selene snapped, her finger stabbing in my direction. “She tried to kill you both!”

My heart dropped.

“No… no, that’s not true!” I said quickly, panic flooding my chest. “I was trying to save you. I swear, it’s not what you think…”

Nikolai’s expression hardened instantly. He rose to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes, and lifted his hand.

“How dare you lay your filthy hands on us!” he roared, raising his arm as if to strike me.

I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut. But the blow never came.

“If you dare raise as much as a finger…”

I opened my eyes.

Eric was on his feet now, standing between me and Nikolai. His gaze was locked on Nikolai, unyielding, and the entire room went silent.

“…I will make sure this pack is reduced to nothing by this time tomorrow,” Eric finished calmly.

Nikolai’s hands dropped slightly. I knew. As much as he hated to admit it, he was scared of Alpha Eric.

“Why are you interfering? This is a family issue. I suggest you stay out of it, get out of this pack house right now!”

“As Alpha General, everyone’s safety is my responsibility,” Eric said smoothly. “To think I thought you guys had a little class… I never knew you were women-beaters.”

Niven’s chest heaved, veins standing out on his temple.

“Watch your words! You don’t know the reason for our actions!”.

“I do know,” Eric replied, eyes locking on me. “She saved your lives while you were unconscious even if she’s your slave.”

“I’m not a slave,” I muttered, fiddling with my fingers.

Niven spun to face me, rage practically radiating off him.

“Who gave you the right to speak?!”

Before I could answer, Nikolai stepped forward.

“She…” He paused, glancing at me, then back at Niven. “She’s our… sister.”

Niven blinked, as if he couldn’t believe he’d just heard that..

Nikolai quickly added, “Step-sister.”

Eric’s brow lifted.

“And you don’t even know,” he said slowly, eyes flicking to me, “that your… sister is a Silver Wolf.”

Niven’s jaw tightened.

“Are you trying to sound smart or what?” His voice trembled with anger. “What nonsense are you saying?”

Selene froze, her hands clutching Niven’s arm.

“Babe… I thought… I thought the Silver Wolf Pack was erased during the war your father led,” she whispered, almost too afraid to breathe. “You told me he killed them all…”

My knees gave out. I dropped to the floor, palms pressed against the cold marble as desperation clawed up my throat.

“Please,” I whispered, then louder, my voice breaking. “Please, Alphas. I can explain. It’s not what you think.”

Niven’s eyes darkened, lips curling in disgust.

“So we’ve been living with an enemy all this while?” he growled. “Is that it? So that’s why your mother killed our father, huh? Revenge? It’s all beginning to make sense now.”

“No!” I cried, shaking my head frantically.

“That’s not true. You’re wrong…I'm not a bad person, I only used my powers because you both needed help”

But Nikolai had already turned away.

“Guards!” he barked, his voice cold and lethal. “Get me my sword!”

He faced me again, eyes burning with fury.

“You deserve to die.”

My body trembled violently, tears blurring my vision as he pressed my neck down on the floor pressing his boots on my back.

“Any last words?” Nikolai asked coldly.

Then…

“Stop.”

Eric’s voice cut through the room like a gunshot.

The blade paused.

“I’ll drop the tax,” he said evenly.

Every head snapped toward him.

“I’ll erase every debt your pack owes,” Eric continued. “And return every single coin you’ve paid in taxes for the past five years.”

Nikolai’s grip loosened just a fraction.

“Are we dreaming?” he demanded sharply, disbelief flashing across his face. “The Eric Lewis I know doesn’t joke with money, why are you doing this?”

He laughed bitterly.

“You’re willing to give up nearly five hundred million dollars… for a useless Omega?”

Then Eric added calmly, tilting his head.

“I’m not done. I’ll also give you the Orion Nexus deal.”

Every major tech pack had been clawing for that deal for months.

Eric’s gaze locked onto Nikolai.

“In exchange…”

“…you give me your sister as my bride.”