The Alphas are summoned

“What does he mean by he saved us?” Damien muttered, his brows drawn together in confusion.

“Well, I have no idea. All I know is that he’s bipolar,” Lucian replied, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Why does he always have to act so strange?” Damien asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“He’s always been strange, but now it’s more obvious,” Lucian said with a shrug.

“Yeah, he definitely acts strange.” Damien added with a sigh.

“Ugh, this place is so boring. I preferred when we were in New York City,” Lucian complained.

“Shh,” Damien hissed, placing a finger against his lips. “That’s supposed to be a secret.”

“It’s not like anyone would know,” Lucian muttered, rolling his eyes.

“You should be cautious. Carelessness may lead to your fall,” Damien warned.

“Whatever…” Lucian scoffed, rolling his eyes again.

“I’m serious,” Damien muttered firmly.

“You’re always serious,” Lucian teased.

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are,” Lucian said, laughing at Damien’s sternness.

They didn’t notice Kael step into the room, still caught up in their petty bickering.

“Enough!” Kael roared, his voice ending their bartering.

Damien and Lucian’s heads snapped toward him, startled, as the atmosphere in the room shifted under his commanding presence.

“Why are you here?” Lucian asked rudely, earning a nudge from Damien as a warning.

“Hey, I thought we already settled this problem. So why are you both acting so tense about my arrival?” Kael asked, his brows raised.

“Yeah, we settled it, but we were shocked by the way you roared,” Damien replied, forcing a fake smile.

“Oh, about that I'm sorry. I only shouted because I was tired of your arguing, that didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon.” Kael’s excuse was smooth, convincing enough to ease Damien’s doubts.

“Alright then,” Damien said, letting it go.

“I’m still bored. What do you think we should do?” Kael asked.

“Finally, someone who gets me,” Lucian said warmly, speaking to Kael with genuine sincerity.

“I think we should just go for a stroll,” Damien suggested.

“Nah, no way. I’m already too tired,” Lucian disagreed with a groan.

“Let’s watch a movie instead,” Kael offered, sitting down beside them.

“Yeah!” Lucian agreed immediately.

“No, we’re not watching a movie,” Damien said firmly.

“You’re no fun,” Lucian shot back with a pout.

“Let’s play chess. It’s better than watching movies since we actually gain something from it,” Damien suggested.

“Why are you always so boring…” Lucian grumbled.

“I’m not boring.”

“Yes, you are. Actually, you’re very boring,” Lucian retorted, sticking his tongue out at him.

“At least I’m not like you, always joking around,” Damien said flatly.

“Well, it’s not as bad as you think. Remember the time we pranked him and he still took it seriously, even after we said it was a prank?” Lucian recalled.

“Yeah, I remember. You should’ve seen his face…it was priceless,” Kael added with a grin.

“No, it wasn’t,” Damien complained.

“Yes, it was,” Lucian said, laughing with Kael.

“Ugh, you both are so annoying,” Damien grumbled.

“No, we’re not,” Kael argued.

“Yes, you are,” Damien shot back.

Their playful bickering was interrupted when Kael’s father suddenly mind-linked him. The abrupt connection was almost irritating, because Kael had been enjoying the rare bond with his brothers and hated to break it. But Still, he accepted it.

‘Good day, Father,’ he greeted silently.

‘Good day, my son,’ Magnus replied. ‘I need you to bring your brothers to my quarters. I have something to discuss with all three of you.’

‘Alright, Father. We’ll be there soon,’ Kael answered, and the link ended.

“What were you thinking about?” Lucian asked out of nowhere, noticing Kael’s distant look.

“Father mind-linked me,” Kael replied.

“What did he want?” Damien asked quickly.

“He requested our presence in his quarters,” Kael said evenly.

“Why?” Lucian pressed, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

“I don’t know,” Kael admitted.

“Why has he been mind-linking you so much lately?” Damien asked, trying to probe for more.

“I don’t know,” Kael lied smoothly.

“Let’s go, then,” Damien said, rising to his feet. Kael joined him, but Lucian remained seated.

“I don’t want to go,” Lucian complained.

“You could use this opportunity to ask for his forgiveness,” Kael suggested.

“That’s actually a good idea,” Damien agreed. He glanced at Lucian. “What do you think?”

“There’s no way I’m doing that, talkless of even going there,” Lucian snapped.

“Lucian…” Damien warned firmly.

Lucian groaned but finally stood up.

“Let’s go,” Damien said, and the three brothers left, Lucian trailing reluctantly behind.

When they reached the door to Magnus’s quarters, Kael twisted the knob and it was unlocked. He pushed it open and stepped aside for the others. Lucian, the last to enter, closed the door quietly.

Magnus, who had been speaking with his Beta, Aldric, turned toward them.

“I’ve been waiting for you. You should know by now that I hate waiting,” Magnus said coldly.

“Good day, Father. We’re sorry for being late,” the three brothers said in unison, almost like they were programmed.

Kael’s eyes flicked to Beta Aldric. There was something about the man…his expression were too controlled, and carefully masked. Kael didn’t believe for a second that Aldric’s face reflected his true self. One way or another, Kael intended to uncover what lay behind that mask.

Aldric noticed Kael’s sharp gaze but didn’t react, maintaining his calm composure.

“Anyway,” Magnus continued, “I called you here to demand that you choose mates. I’ll give you three the opportunity to decide, unless, you want me to choose a mate for you.”

“Okay, Father,” they answered at the same time.

“Father, we’d prefer to focus on the pack first before thinking about mates,” Kael said politely.

“I agree with Kael, Father. We should grow the pack to its full potential first,” Damien added.

Magnus studied them, then finally gave a small nod. “Very well. Since you’re still adjusting to your roles, I suppose it makes sense to focus on the pack first.” His tone was reluctant, but he agreed.

Aldric, however, wasn’t pleased. His expression didn’t change, but the tension in his posture betrayed his discontent.

“We’ll take our leave now, Father,” Kael said respectfully.

“You may go,” Magnus allowed.

The three brothers left the quarters together, returning to their own rooms. Since it was already midnight, and exhaustion weighed on them, they went to sleep without discussing about what Magnus said.