Chapter 003 — The Alphas Clash

Ariana POV

Luna stood frozen at the doorway, her hand still gripping the brass handle as though she had forgotten how to move.

She  stumbled backwards as Kaelen stepped into the Frost Tower as though he owned the place.

He had changed out of his academy jacket and was now wearing a fitted black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, dark trousers tucked into polished leather boots, and a charcoal-grey coat draped carelessly over his broad shoulders.

 A silver wolf crest gleamed on the collar of his coat. His messy brown hair looked as if he had run a hand through it one too many times, and those sharp amber eyes slowly swept across the luxurious living room.

He didn't even spare me a glance. Instead, he examined the crystal chandelier, the marble staircase, the silver-framed paintings and the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded but he didn't even respond.

The nerve of this man. I pushed my chair back and walked towards him.

"Did you hear me?" I asked, still nothing.

Luna quietly tugged on my sleeve.

"M-Mistress..."

"What?"

"I think, I'll... um... be in my room." She said and before I could answer, she hurried away so quickly that the edge of her dress disappeared around the corner in seconds.

Coward.

Smart coward. I said in my mind.

Kael  continued looking around the room as if he was inspecting a castle.

"I asked you a question, Alpha." I said, running out of patience.

That was when he   slowly turn to face me, his gaze settling  on mine.

"Hello, mate." He said with a smirk.

I blinked.

"...Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He dropped.

"I am not your mate." I said, folding my arms across my chest.

Kaelen raise a brow.

“The Moon Goddess must have made a mistake." I added, looking away.

He  let out a quiet chuckle.

"The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes." He said.

"Oh really?" I shot back. 

"Then explain how one woman ends up with three Alpha heirs. When has that ever happened?"

"It hasn't." He Said.

"Exactly."I said 

"But that doesn't make it a mistake, there is always a first time." His voice was so calm which irritated me the more.

"I don't care what some glowing bond says. There is no way I'm accepting something this ridiculous." I dropped.

"You don't have to accept it." He said and took one slow step closer.

"But you cannot deny it."

I couldn't to move, even though every instinct screamed at me to step back, or was it to step closer?

My heart skipped.

What was this strange feeling?

It was as if an invisible thread was gently pulling me toward him.

No, that must be the mate bond.

I clenched my fists and forced myself to stay where I was.

"You've seen enough," I said coldly. 

"Now leave."

Instead of leaving, Kaelen closed the distance between us until barely a foot separated us, my breathing became uneven.

He was... tall, far too tall andannoyingly handsome an I hated the fact that I noticed.

He slowly reached up.

"What are you…" I swallowed as his fingers gently brushed a loose strand of silver hair away from my face before tucking it behind my ear.

That simple touch sent an unexpected shiver racing down my spine, his warm breath fanned across my ear as he leaned closer.

"Call me Alpha." He whispered.

My heartbeat stumbled.

Why did those two words sound so...

No.

Absolutely not.

I was not falling for one of the arrogant jerks I had created.

Before I could answer, the front door burst open.

"What the hell is going on here?" Cassian asked as he  stormed inside like he owns the place.

His crimson eyes landed on Kaelen standing inches away from me and his jaw tightened instantly, his hands curling into fists.

"Get away from my mate." He said and without another word, he charged towards us and slammed his fist straight into Kaelen's face.

The impact echoed through the room, I gasped, I didn't see that coming.

Kaelen staggered half a step before spitting a streak of blood onto the floor. He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb, and a dangerous smile spread across his face.

"So..." He rolled his neck.

"You asked for it." He said and like flash, he  was already in front of Cassian, he  grabbed him by the throat, before the vampire could react, Kaelen drove a brutal punch into his stomach.

Cassian crashed into a marble pillar, shattering pieces of stone.nHe coughed before slowly straightening.

"You'll regret that." He said and his eyes started to glow, dark energy gathered around him like smoke.

The room shook and the windows rattled, and the next second, both of them disappear.

Only loud explosions echoed through the room, by the time they reappear,  they were already exchanging blows.

"Stop it!" I shouted, but neither of them listened.

Kaelen shoved Cassian backward before driving a heavy punch into his stomach. Cassian grunted but twisted away at the last second, his elbow slammed into Kaelen's ribs.

Kaelen answered with a kick that sent the vampire crashing into one of the marble pillars.

"You've gotten slower," Kaelen said calmly.

Cassian wiped a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"And you've gotten more arrogant." He said as dark crimson magic swirled around Cassian's hands. At the same time, silver-gold energy wrapped around Kaelen's fists.

"Oh no..."

I looked around the room, they're actually trying to kill each other."

Another explosion shook the tower. The two Alphas clashed again, moving so quickly that my eyes struggled to keep up.

Kaelen grabbed Cassian by the collar and threw him across the room.

Cassian flipped in midair, landed on his feet, and immediately charged again.

"You started this," Cassian growled.

"No."

Kaelen blocked another strike.

"You did."

Their fists met again, and another deafening boom echoed through the tower.

Something inside me snapped. And then I felt a cold sensation rising inside my chest.Ice rushed through my veins, and power surged into my palms.

When I opened my eyes, frost has already covered my fingers.

"Enough!" I said, thrusting both hands forward.

Ice shot across the room, both Alphas sensed it immediately and they leapt in opposite directions.

The frozen blast smashed through the wall behind them, covering it with thick ice.

Cassian looked at the frozen wall before turning back to me, he let out a mocking smile.

"Don't think your little ice tricks can stop us."

Before I realized it. Kaelen was standing right in front of me.

He wrapped his hand firmly around my neck, he wasn't squeezing hard enough to hurt me, but hard enough to stop me from moving.

His amber eyes burned into mine.

"Is that all you've got?" He asked.

I glared at him despite the fear creeping into my chest.

"I swear...I'll freeze that oversized ego of yours first." I said.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and before he could reply, the doors flew open once again.

"That's enough." A calm voice echoed through the room.

It was  Eryx, the silver-haired elf walked in with his usual composed expression.

He flicked two fingers casually, and a spear of emerald light shot across the room.

Kaelen's eyes widened a sthe magic struck his shoulder, the force throwing him several feet backwards, causing his grip on me to disappeared instantly.

I stumbled forward, the room began to  spun before me and  just before I hit the floor...

Strong arms caught me, it is was Eryx.He steadied me effortlessly, his silver eyes briefly searching my face.

Then he looked at Kaelen and Cassian.

"If neither of you wants to accept the mate bond, then reject her"

“Instead of making things more complicated." His voice was cold enough to freeze the room.

The room suddenly felt unbearably hot, and my vision began to blur, my head was pounding and everything around me became distant.

The last thing I saw was the worried look that flashed across Eryx's usually emotionless face, and then darkness swallowed me whole.