5. The choice

The hall had fallen into an uncomfortable silence as both werewolves and vampires awaited my decision. Vampires leaned forward, crimson eyes narrowed. Werewolves tapped their fingers against the armrests of their chairs impatiently.

The announcer folded his hands behind his back, no longer having anything to say. He had done his job. He advertised me, exceptionally, and got three very important supernaturals to stand up for me.

It was all in my hands now.

But this choice... it was so big. Ten minutes on stage felt so little to decide. This was my future we were talking about. My happiness, freedom, and peace rested on this very moment.

I looked toward Lord Valentin Sinclair.

He hadn't moved. His eyes rested on mine with a practiced patience. Not once had he smiled or tried to persuade me further to choose him. He only waited, as if he had always been the clear choice.

Having him as my Chosen might benefit me. He was calm, and he seemed fair enough. Though, I'd heard passing stories of vampires being harsh and controlling to their Jewels. They didn't like being defied, so if Valentin made a rule, he'd probably expect me to follow it without question.

Even when it came to my blood.

Not much freedom was guaranteed with him.

I turned my head, looking at Emmett and Rafe Voss. Emmett gave me a gentle smile when our eyes met, and he nodded slightly. As if he understood that I needed time.

Beside him, Rafe looked like he wished the ceiling would collapse on top of him.

Our eyes met. His lips curled downward. The intensity of his stare made me quickly look away. Choosing the twins wasn't promising much either. Emmett seemed like a nice enough male... but Rafe clearly didn't want me, despite standing with his brother. Werewolves were the overall most suggested choice, though everyone knew they had a scary anger and wildness to them. Quite literally the opposite of vampires.

Maya's words rang in my mind:

"But what if someone looks at you and sees someone they want to love?"

What do I pick? A scary, unreadable calm... or a predictable, yet untameable storm?

I started walking before I could fully process my decision, but at that moment, as my feet echoed against the polished floors, it seemed so obvious. So clear.

Maybe it had been the way he smiled at me when we spoke, as if he wasn't a predator and I wasn't something considered prey. Or maybe it was the way he asked me what I wanted for him. My voice had mattered to him, and he had listened when I spoke. Yeah, me choosing pasta for him hadn't seemed so significant. But it was, more than anything.

He allowed me a choice. He allowed me a voice. And he listened to both.

That was enough for me.

I didn't stop walking when I reached Valentins row. Neither did I stop when the vampires smiled triumphantly but then frowned when they realized that they had lost. I continued even as the werewolves started whistling, and my knees felt like they would buckle.

I only stopped when I stood in front of them. Emmett and Rafe. The Alpha Twins. Feared. Proud. Strong. That's what I thought when I looked up at them, the smell of scandalwood and citrus cologne filling my nose.

Emmett's eyes lit up, and he flexed his fingers, as if stopping himself from reaching for me. My lips parted, and he nodded slowly.

"Say the words," he whispered. "Say them now."

Rafe looked down at me, his eyes still narrowed. "If you dare, that is."

I dared the moment I walked into this hall. The moment I filled in those forms. This was only the confirmation.

So I spoke, loud enough for every supernatural in the room to hear me. "I choose the Voss twins."

Rafe's eyes darkened, and he sighed and looked away from me. Emmett grinned. "You won't regret it."

"She might." Rafe muttered under his breath.

"Shut up," Emmett snarled, his eyes snapping to the announcers. "Well? You heard her. What's the hold-up?"

The announcer blinked, looking genuinely stunned. "Right. Well... I'm sure none of us were expecting this outcome. Usually, humans prefer to deal with one supernatural... not two."

He cleared his throat. "Miss Yasmin Jacobs has chosen Alpha Emmett Voss and Alpha Rafe Voss."

The werewolf section exploded with cheers and whistles.

"It's about time!" One of them shouted with a laugh.

They all seemed happy, except for one side of the hall. None of the vampires had clapped or smiled. Not like how they had with the previous woman. All of them were watching one thing. No, one person.

Valentin Sinclair.

My eyes met his, and instead of anger, I found calm acceptance. Slowly, he inclined his head. The gesture was small, but every vampire in the room understood. Without a single command, they stood from their seats... and followed him out.

One after the other, suits black and eyes crimson, they silently walked out until the grand doors slowly slid shut.

A werewolf looked away from the doors and scoffed, "Aren't they just pleasant?"

The announcer breathed out what was supposed to sound like a laugh, and then he smiled tightly. "Well then, I believe we just witnessed an event for the history books."

Rafe looked at him indifferently. "Why?"

The announcer glanced at me and paused, trying to decide whether or not to say anything. He looked back up at the twins. "Before anything, aren't you both forgetting something important?"

"Of course not," Emmett answered, reaching for something on the seat behind his. He lifted a velvet box and turned to me.

The entire room went silent as Rafe gently pulled the lid off. My heart beat faster as I looked inside. A silver collar stared back at me.

A crescent moon of polished white stone sat at its center, surrounded by tiny diamonds that caught the light from every angle.

I'd seen Moon Jewels wearing them for years. Never once had I imagined wearing one myself.

The announcer lifted it carefully so everyone could see it.

"Tonight, before witnesses of both werewolves and a vampire, which is myself, this bond will be made known."

He looked at me. "This is no ordinary necklace. It is not a display of ownership, but it is a promise. A promise of protection. Of acceptance. Of commitment. A declaration that this woman stands beneath the protection of her Chosens, Alpha Rafe, and Emmett."

My stomach tingled. This sounded like wedding vows.

"No werewolf may challenge that promise."

"No vampire may ignore it."

His eyes lingered on the now-empty vampire section for the briefest moment before returning to the twins.

"Alpha twins, claim your Jewel."

Emmett nodded and accepted the collar. Turning to me, he gave me a gentle smile. "Are you ready?"

I prepared to nod, but Rafe spoke. "Last chance to run."

"Shut the hell up." Emmett glared at him. He turned to me, his eyes softening. "Don't mind him."

I nodded.

He stepped behind me, and I felt cool metal brushing against my neck.

Click.

The tiny sound echoed through the hall, sealing my fate. The silver crescent settled against my collarbone, feeling lighter than I had expected.

The announcer raised a hand. "Usually, Lord Sinclair should be a witness since you are Alphas who have claimed, but it seemed he had... other places to be tonight, so I will be a witness on behalf of the vampires."

"Thank you, Basil."

The applause returned. This time it sounded impossibly far away. Werewolves stood up and started leaving the room, marking the end of the event. I took a deep breath, my shoulders slumping. The choice had been made. Now I just had to live with it.

"Twins," the announcer, Basil, called. Both brothers turned. "I'd like a quick word."

Emmett nodded. "Of course."

Basil waited until the last werewolf left the room, and I wondered if I should leave them to speak as well. As if he had read my mind, Rafe placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, keeping me still. I looked at him, but his hard eyes remained on Baron.

The vampire's voice lowered. "I trust Miss Jacobs will not be travelling alone from now on."

Emmett frowned. "She'll be with us."

"Good."

The answer came too quickly. Almost like relief.

Rafe noticed. "Start talking."

Basil was silent for several seconds. When he finally spoke, his words were measured.

"I cannot discuss confidential information regarding vampires, especially without Lord Sinclair's permission."

"So why ask to speak?" Emmett asked.

His gaze settled on the twins. "Tonight was not merely unusual. It was significant in ways you do not yet understand."

"I suppose you can't tell us why." Rafe stated plainly. Emmett folded his arms.

Basil hesitated. "Lord Sinclair will respect her decision. I cannot promise every other vampire will."

Silence.

He straightened his jacket, his familiar smile returning as though it had never disappeared.

"Congratulations, by the way."

He inclined his head politely before walking away. Emmett turned to me. "Let's go home."

Home. Right, Jewels had to live with their Chosen. It was important for their safety and needs.

I bit my lower lip. What would I tell my aunt? How could I tell her that I did the last thing she wanted me to?

I looked up at the twins. "May I see my aunt first?"

Emmett nodded and glanced at Rafe. He didn't respond, simply choosing to turn his back on us and walk away. My shoulders slumped.

Sinclair may not have been the better choice... but this one clearly wasn't my finest either.