Stone Mountain Pack

Elias’s POV

As we pull up to the Stone Mountain ball, I exhale slowly, trying to keep my face neutral.

Because yeah…

I’m nervous.

Not just nervous...

I’m fucking terrified.

And there’s no way in hell I’m letting anyone see that.

Caden’s voice fills the SUV, loud as ever, talking about how many girls he’s gonna bag tonight, how many numbers he’s leaving with, like this is just another damn party.

I ignore him.

Completely.

Kael, on the other hand, sits calm and quiet beside him, like none of this is phasing him.

That’s Kael.

Always steady. Always controlled.

The perfect Gamma.

The kind of man who could stand beside a Luna and hold the pack together without even trying.

But even him…

Something’s different.

I can feel it.

We’re all eighteen now.

This night?

It could change everything.

Or it could change nothing.

My gaze shifts to my brother.

Draven.

And yeah…

He’s a whole damn mess.

I know exactly what’s going through his head, because it’s the same shit running through mine.

We might meet our fated mates tonight.

Or worse…

We might meet our mate.

Which means our shared mate.

The thought sits heavy in my chest.

I don’t know how I feel about that.

I mean… if it comes down to it, we’ll do what we have to do. The mate bond isn’t something you fight, especially not with twins.

And we’re identical in every way that matters…

Except mentally.

But still…

I huff out a quiet breath, dragging a hand down my tie.

I’m not trying to see my brother’s dick every time he dives into our mate.

Fuck that.

…although…

I pause.

Yeah… no. I’m not even about to unpack that shit right now.

We’ll cross that line if we get there.

Apollo stirs under my skin, restless as hell.

Same as Ares.

If they’re both acting like this?

Yeah…

We’re meeting her tonight.

And I’m not ready.

Not even a little.

The SUV comes to a stop, and the moment the door opens, everything shifts.

Game time.

We step out one by one, our Alpha unit falling in behind us, and I already know how we look.

Sharp.

Controlled.

Powerful.

Like we just stepped out of a damn magazine shoot.

And we know it.

We’re one of the strongest packs there is...

Second only to the Celestial Winter Pack up north.

Eighty percent of their wolves are blessed.

Yeah…

They’ve got us beat.

But we’re not that far behind.

Not even close.

We walk in like we own the place.

Because we damn near do.

My eyes scan the room automatically, taking in every detail, every scent, every movement, and then I see him.

Alpha Alaric Stone.

Already walking toward us with that same arrogant confidence he always carries.

Youngest Alpha to ever take the position at sixteen years old without a wolf.

He still took control.

Now he’s twenty-seven, fully settled, fully in power.

Dangerous and calculated.

And protective as hell over what’s his.

He stops in front of us, extending his hand.

“Young Alphas. Beta. Gamma. Welcome to the Stone Mountain Pack.”

I shake his hand firmly. “Thank you. Your pack looks good.”

He smirks slightly. “I expect nothing less.”

Draven steps in smoothly. “We’ve got a few years before we host ours. Looking at this… we might have a hard time topping it.”

Alaric laughs low. “You’ll manage.”

Lucian leans in, already halfway distracted. “I’m gonna grab a drink.”

He nods to the Alpha and walks away quickly.

Typical.

I catch movement out of the corner of my eye...

The former Luna Shania and the current Luna, Rochelle, are approaching.

We greet them properly, respectfully.

Everything as it should be.

Then, of course…

Caden disappears.

Without warning and no shame.

Just gone the second he spots a group of women.

I shake my head. “Unbelievable.”

Draven snorts. “That’s your boy.”

I mutter under my breath, “Sometimes I can’t stand his ass.”

Draven just grins.

Because he knows it’s true.

My attention shifts again, and that’s when I see it.

Kael.

Sniffing the air.

I go still.

“…there it is,” I mutter.

He moves fast.

Too fast.

Like he’s locked onto something he can’t ignore.

We follow his line of sight just in time to see him stop in front of her.

Small.

Petite.

Caramel skin glowing under the lights.

Long dark hair with blonde streaks.

Silver eyes.

Freckles dusting across her cheeks.

She’s… striking.

Kael’s chest expands, and then he says ...

“Mate.”

The word rips out of him like a damn growl.

I can’t help it, I laugh.

Draven laughs with me.

“Well shit,” he mutters. “That was fast.”

Ryder doesn’t even look back.

He takes her hand, and they’re gone within seconds.

Just like that.

I shake my head. “Guess we’ll meet her later.”

Draven smirks. “If he lets her breathe.”

We keep moving.

But then...

Draven’s voice hits my head.

“Bro… I smell something.”

I go still.

“…what?”

“Just trust me. Let Apollo take it in.”

I inhale slowly.

And the second that scent hits...

Apollo loses his fucking mind.

Roses.

Cream.

Sweet, but not soft.

Addictive.

Possessive.

Mine.

I don’t even realize I’ve started moving until I’m already walking.

Fast.

Draven right beside me.

We follow it out of the main hall, down the corridor and its

Stronger, stronger, and stronger.

Until...

We turn the corner.

And there she is.

Tall.

Statuesque.

Dark hair cascading down her back.

Piercing blue eyes that lock onto us instantly.

Her body?

Built like a warrior.

Lean. Strong. Controlled.

A Luna that could stand beside power… not behind it.

She turns fully toward us.

Smiles.

And everything in me snaps into place.

Draven steps forward first.

“Mate.”

I step beside him, my voice just as deep.

“Mate.”

Her eyes widen...

And then she breathes it out like she’s been waiting her whole life.

“Mates.”

She looks between us...

Then grabs Draven and kisses him.

Deep, raw, and possessive as hell.

I blink once.

Then grin.

“Well shit…”

Yeah.

I’m not even mad.

Not even a little.

She pulls back, her eyes locking onto mine, lips slightly parted,

And then she grabs me.

Pulls me down.

And kisses me just as hard.

Just as hungry.

Just as right.

My first kiss.

And fuck...

It hits like a damn explosion.

Apollo is losing his mind.

My hands come up, gripping her face as I kiss her back, deeper, harder...

Draven moves behind her, pulling her against him, pressing her into me.

And yeah…

This?

This feels right.

Too right.

When I finally pull back, breathing heavier than I want to admit...

She looks at me, licking her lips.

“Mmm… you taste so fucking good, mate.”

Then she tilts her head back toward Draven.

“And you too.”

He smirks against her neck, kissing her shoulder.

I glance back just in time to see Lucien...

That asshole...

Grinning and taking a picture.

Probably sending it straight to Mom.

I shake my head.

Unbelievable.

She steps back slightly, catching her breath.

“What are your names?”

“Draven,” my brother answers. “This is Elias of the Blackwood pack.”

Her lips curve.

“Raven Draegon of the Mooncrest Pack.”

Raven.

Yeah…

That name fits her too damn well.

We both smile.

“Nice to meet you, Raven.”

She hesitates.

Just slightly.

And something shifts.

Her smile… fades.

She takes a step back.

Then another.

My brows pull together.

“…Raven?”

She exhales slowly.

“You two are… handsome, powerful, and strong. I know who you are.”

Something cold settles in my chest.

And then...

“I, Raven Draegon … reject you, Elias Blackwood… and you, Draven Blackwood… as my mates and Alphas.”

Silence.

Dead.

Heavy.

Me and Draven both stare at her like she just lost her damn mind.

“…what the fuck?”