#11 This is Not Happening

Daeira POV

They’re staring at me. The two of them. They have deep brown eyes. Identical, gorgeous and maddening. Wolves I’ve never seen, but somehow my bones know. Like I was carved from the same stardust as them.

And I? I’m shaking. "Nope. No. Absolutely not," I whisper in my head.

"Oh come on," Lunaryn groans. "They’re perfect. Look at them. LOOK."

I take one step backward. Then another. "Nope nope nope, too soon, just got publicly rejected by a greasy man child in front of an entire pack of assholes, I am not doing this again."

"That wasn’t a mate," Lunaryn says gently. "That was a test. These? These are the real thing."

I step back again. Tarin notices first. “Dee? Alpha? What’s wrong?” Then Commander Hartfell turns toward me, alarm flickering in his gaze. “Alpha, you look pale...”

I’m already shaking my head. Slowly. Breathing like I’ve forgotten how. A full on panic spiral brewing in my chest. "No. No no no. I can’t do this."

*Alright," Lunaryn says softly. "My turn." And before I can protest, she pushes forward. Not partially. Fully. Everything about me goes still. And then…She breathes. Deep, steady, grounding breaths. My heart slows. The air sharpens. My body relaxes under the weight of her soul.

And she smiles.

“Hello, mates!” Lunaryn says brightly, striding forward like she owns the godsdamn mountain. “You are absolutely delicious, and Daeira thinks so too....but she’s currently imploding, so here I am instead.”

The twins blink. One raises a brow. The other chuckles. “Uh… is Daeira okay?” one of them asks, his voice warm and deep and fuck me smooth.

Lunaryn nods with a little curtsy. “I’m Lunaryn. The last white wolf. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My human is Alpha Daeira Seralyn, we just connected a few days ago when she turned eighteen. She was raised thinking she was omega.”

Their smiles falter. Grimaces bloom. “Bloodhowl?” the other asks.

“Bloodhowl,” Lunaryn confirms, lips tight. “Treated like shit. Beaten. Starved. No idea who she was. You know how they are.”

The twins nod, shoulders tight and faces drawn. They definitely weren't happy with what they heard about Daeira's treatment at that pack. “We do,” one says. “We were Alphas of a small pack Bloodhowl swallowed. Took everything. Made us swear loyalty or be wiped out.”

Lunaryn tilts her head, her silver eyes sparkling. “I figured. You smell like broken chains and righteous anger.”

Then she steps closer and looks at them both with her glowing silver eyes. “Dee isn’t weak. She isn’t broken. But she’s been through hell. Please treat her with patience. She’s earned it. She was publicly rejected by Kade Bloodmark. And now this, it's a lot for her. You understand?"

They nod, solemn and serious now, but anger simmering in their eyes. “You have our word,” they say in unison, looking at each other angrily. I'm sure they had plans for Kade and it totally turned me on. Hopefully it was violent.

“Good.” Lunaryn smiles. “She’s feeling better now, so I’m going to leave you to it.”

The silver glow fades. And just like that, I’m back. Hazel eyes. Red cheeks. Sweat beading on my neck. Absolutely fucking mortified. I sputter. “I...she....Lunaryn was not supposed to...”

One of them gently grabs my arm to steady me. The other rests a hand on my shoulder. I don’t flinch. I melt. What is happening to my body!? Gods. “That was… intense,” I mutter.

“You did good,” the one on my right says. “You stayed on your feet.”

“Barely,” I whisper.

They smile again, and I swear the air gets hotter. I fan my face with my hands dramatically. Definitely hotter in here.

“We’re Riven and Kael Thorne,” the one on my left says. “Twin Alphas. Our old pack was Stormfang. It was small but fierce, until Bloodhowl steamrolled it.”

Riven, probably the smirkier one, grins and adds, “We’ve been with Bloodmark ever since. Heard about you, I overheard the Alpha and Luna plotting about sending assassins here but they failed. It made me sick. So we left. Had to come see for ourselves.”

I nod dumbly. “And now… you’re here.”

Kael leans in slightly, voice soft.“And now we’re yours.”

I might pass out. They're mine? They want to be mine? I have so many questions. Instead, I blurt out...

“Lunaryn says there may be another mate. Or two. Apparently, I’m the most powerful alpha female alive and will need multiple… anchors.”

They don’t flinch at all. They grin like maniacs and look at each other. “We’ve always assumed we’d share a mate,” Riven says with a wink. “We share everything else.”

Kael adds, “You think that’s weird, we think it’s fate. This doesn’t scare us. You can't scare us away so easily, Alpha." He purrs. I stare at them with wide eyes. Could they...actually want this? What the actual fresh hell is happening. These men are strong. Calm. Gorgeous. Fierce. Loyal. Mine. And I don’t know if I want to run again or fall into their arms and never leave.

But one thing’s for sure…This is so not going to be simple.

"Buckle up, babe," Lunaryn whispers. "Fate’s just getting warmed up."

I barely had time to breathe before I heard Tarin clearing her throat behind me. “So… mates, huh?” Tarin asked, her tone all innocent mischief while very clearly holding back a full blown grin.

I turned slowly, cheeks already burning.“Don’t. Just don't..."

She giggled, eyes twinkling, and turned to the twins, who, of course, bowed politely like the charming bastards they are. “So Alpha,” she teased, “will they be moving into your room?”

I went full tomato face. The twins started laughing like they were thoroughly enjoying this entire thing, which, to be fair, they absolutely were.

I groaned. “Let’s start with a suite next to mine. For now.”

“Of course, Alpha. I’ll have it prepared immediately.”

Her tone switched from playful to business like a light switch, and her pen was already flying across her clipboard.

“With the addition of these five thousand wolves, we’ll need to contact the witches. We’ve got to expand the housing grid. I’ll go coordinate with....”

She stopped speaking immediately. Her body went rigid.

And her pen hit the ground. Her eyes went wide, pale blonde curls trembling around her face as her wolf surged inside her.

I knew that look. That was a "I just smelled my mate" look.

“Oh my goddess,” I breathed, catching her by the elbow before she collapsed. “Tarin?!”

She just nodded shakily, lips parted in a silent gasp, scanning the crowd frantically.

I jumped in place like a damn lunatic.

“WOLVES! Come on in! You’re officially part of the pack now, wards are open, head to town! Find a house! My estate managers will help! Witches are standing by for magical builds, just ask nicely!”

The crowd cheered and began filtering through the gates.

Tarin and I waited, watching each wolf pass.

And then....he appeared.

Holy. Fuck.

He was massive. At least 6'6, all muscle and dark energy. Long black hair, scars across his jaw and collarbone, tribal tattoos winding down his neck. His shirt was slung over his shoulder, and his dark eyes locked on Tarin like she was the only star in a pitch black sky.

He paused mid step, his eyes wide and hopeful. Then hit his knees. “I’ve waited so fucking long for you,” he said, his voice low and raw.

Tarin started crying instantly, her shoulder trembling as she sobbed. “And all this time… you were one pack away. I've never left pack lands, I can't believe you're here!”

He stood, crossed the distance in two long strides, and pulled her into his arms. She clutched his face, her sharp green eyes locked on his.

“You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” he whispered.

“You’re dead sexy yourself, soldier,” she giggled through tears. They laughed. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen in my life. Lunaryn said, "Awww."

And I might’ve melted on the spot. “I’ll leave you two to it,” I said brightly. “I’ve got my own... mates to figure out. Gods help me.”

I turned back towards town, and there they were. Riven and Kael. Smirking and confident, thejr arms crossed like they knew I wasn’t done falling apart yet.

Before I could say anything, the regal woman who’d led the rogue army approached. She bowed her head respectfully. “If I may have a word, Alpha?”

I nodded, stepping off to the side with her. Her posture was straight backed and powerful, her eyes full of quiet fire.

“Captain Aryanna Thayne,” she introduced. “These wolves are the fiercest, most loyal warriors you’ll ever meet. You treat us with honor.....we’ll bleed for your cause.”

My chest ached with emotion. I could barely get words out.

“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing,” I admitted. “But I’m hoping with good people beside me… I can figure it out.”

Her expression didn’t change. She adjusted her posture slightly. “Then let me be one of those people. Put me on your command staff.”

“In what capacity?”

“You have your commander. But you need officers. Instructors. Leaders. Wolves who can organize this army, train them as one. We have the numbers now, Alpha. Let me help make them dangerous.”

I grinned. “Fuck yes. I want you in charge of all warrior operations. Hartfell will report to you. You and the twins, you’ll run this shit. You think you can handle that?”

She saluted with her fist to her chest. “Thank you, Alpha. I won’t let you down.”

“Bring whoever you need.” She smirked slyly. “Then I’m taking your new mates. The twins. They’re damn good in a fight, and I get the sense they’ll be very motivated to impress.”

“You’re not wrong,” I laughed. I turned back to my guys, yes, my guys, godsdammit, (feels super good to say that) and they were grinning.

“You’re gonna have the most badass army this side of the continent,” Kael said.

“Good call putting Ary in charge,” Riven added. “She’ll whip every unit into shape and have the rogues running drills before sunrise.”

I let out a long breath, letting it all hit me at once.

Five thousand new wolves. Holy shit right? Tarin’s fated mate. Like what!? My mates. Is this even real? An army falling into place. I have a whole ass army even? Who am I? And finally… the future was starting to feel possible.

“Come on,” I said, smiling. “Grab your bags, sexy men. I’ll show you to our rooms.”

They followed without hesitation.

And as we passed through the gates of Seralyn together, the wind carried only one thought through my mind.

Finally. I’m not alone.