Twin Kings

Zayden’s POV

People hear the words Alpha King and immediately imagine some noble male standing on a balcony giving inspirational speeches while dramatic wind blows through his hair.

Absolute bullshit.

Most days consisted of paperwork, meetings, threats disguised as diplomacy, and elders breathing down my neck about responsibility. So much responsibility. Apparently the kingdom would collapse if I skipped one council meeting.

Tragic.

My brother Raiden thrived in leadership. The male was practically born wearing a crown. Calm under pressure. Ruthless when needed. Strategic all the time. Packs respected him because he carried himself like power wrapped in patience.

Me? I preferred chaos. Not reckless chaos. Controlled chaos. There was a difference.

Barely.

Raiden and I took over the Silver Moon Kingdom when we were sixteen after our parents died suddenly in their sleep. Poisoned. Clean. Quiet. Cowardly.

Nobody was ever caught. Trust me, we searched.

Every servant, guard, healer, advisor, elder, and visiting alpha got investigated. Several people disappeared afterward. One traitor lost a hand. Another ended up hanging from the southern border wall as a warning. Still didn’t bring our parents back.

The kingdom nearly tore itself apart after their deaths. Since we were underage, several packs viewed us as weak targets. Rebellions started within days. Challenges followed immediately after.

Nothing says welcome to adulthood like attempted murder. Our childhood disappeared overnight.

Training had prepared us to rule eventually. From the time we could walk, our schedules revolved around combat, leadership studies, diplomacy, history, battle strategy, politics, and survival. Every lesson drilled into us with one purpose. Become kings.

Just preferably not before eighteen. The Moon Goddess apparently had other plans.

While other teenagers snuck out to parties, my brother and I sat in war meetings deciding which packs needed reinforcement and which alphas deserved public humiliation.

Good times.

Some territories still tested us even now. Not openly anymore because that usually ended badly for them, but smaller acts of disrespect still surfaced occasionally. Border violations. Hidden alliances. Quiet resistance.

People loved underestimating younger rulers. Then acted shocked when we crushed them.

I leaned back against the leather chair inside my chambers and stared out the massive window overlooking the kingdom grounds below. Warriors trained across the lower courtyards while staff rushed between buildings carrying supplies for the upcoming tournament.

The event was already turning the palace upside down.

Preparations flooded every hallway. Fighters arriving early. Arena inspections. Merchants setting up shops. Elders pretending they understood combat. Honestly, somebody needed to ban old politicians from giving warrior advice forever.

One elder suggested “less violent matches” last year. At a fighting tournament. I still questioned how he survived this long.

“You’re brooding again,” Onyx muttered lazily.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m thinking.”

“Dangerous activity for you,” Onyx smirked, clearly proud of himself.

“Careful. I can replace you.”

“No you can’t. I’m the entertaining one.”

Sarcastic little bastard.

Raiden got silence and wisdom from his wolf while mine acted like a drunken comedian trapped inside my skull twenty-four hours a day.

“Besides,” Onyx continued smugly, “you only look dramatic because you’re staring out a window.”

“I hate you,” I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“You adore me.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong. A knock sounded against my chamber doors before Kael stepped inside carrying several folders beneath one arm.

Unlike most people around the palace, Kael never looked intimidated walking into royal rooms. Probably because he grew up with us. He’d seen Raiden and me bloody, exhausted, furious, reckless, and occasionally unconscious. Real bonding experiences.

“There you are,” Kael said. “The elders are searching for both of you.”

I groaned immediately. “Why.”

He grinned. “Take a wild guess.”

“Heirs,” I groaned as I dropped my head back dramatically against the chair.

The elders had become absolutely unbearable lately.

Raiden and I turned twenty-five in two weeks which apparently meant the kingdom might implode if we didn’t produce children immediately. Every council meeting somehow circled back toward legacy, bloodlines, succession, or future rulers. As if children magically appeared because elderly wolves nagged aggressively enough.

“They cornered me during breakfast,” Kael continued while laughing. “One asked if you planned on settling down soon.”

“And?”

“I told him your greatest emotional commitment currently involves training daggers.”

Reasonable answer honestly. The pressure surrounding mates only worsened with age. Fated bonds were sacred among our kind.

Unbreakable.

Powerful.

Most wolves found theirs early. Raiden and I hadn’t.

At eighteen I waited patiently, convinced my mate would appear eventually. Nineteen came and went. Then twenty. After that I stopped expecting destiny to work on my schedule. So I enjoyed myself instead.

Unlike my brother. Raiden remained painfully loyal to a woman he hadn’t even met yet. The male refused relationships entirely. No touching. No sleeping around. No interest whatsoever. Honestly concerning behavior.

“You know your brother nearly murdered Elder Vincent yesterday,” Kael said casually.

I blinked. “What did Vincent do now?”

“Suggested one of the Waiting Ladies might make a suitable chosen Luna.”

I barked out a laugh instantly. Yep. That would do it.

The elders selected fifteen women over the last several years and moved them into the palace hoping either Raiden or I would eventually choose one as a mate. They called them Waiting Ladies. Raiden called them whores.

To their faces sometimes.

Personally, I viewed them differently. Most came from powerful families wanting influence near the throne. Several openly competed for attention. Others genuinely hoped for a crown someday.

Couldn’t blame them honestly. Being queen came with luxury, power, influence, wealth, and status beyond imagination.

Still not happening.

I fooled around occasionally. Nothing serious. Nothing emotional. Just temporary distractions with clear boundaries. The women understood exactly what it was.

A… Release. Nothing more.

Because despite our differences, Raiden and I agreed completely on one thing. We would never accept chosen mates.

Never.

The Moon Goddess created fated bonds for a reason. Our true mate would stand beside us as Luna Queen or nobody would. Simple.

“Well,” Onyx mused thoughtfully, “hopefully she arrives soon because the elders are one conversation away from arranging a breeding schedule.”

I nearly choked.

Kael raised an eyebrow. “What.”

“Nothing,” I coughed quickly. “Onyx said something stupid.”

“Shocking.”

“Oh shut up,” my wolf muttered.

Kael tossed the folders onto the table beside me before crossing his arms. “You and Raiden better survive the next few weeks. Tournament preparations are already chaotic and the elders are acting feral over your birthday.”

“Wonderful combination.”

“No lies there,” he muttered.

I stood from the chair and grabbed my jacket from nearby. “Where’s Raiden?”

“In his office threatening somebody through email.”

I smirked proudly. “That’s my brother.”