Chapter 5- Two Brothers One Mate

(STRID POV)

“Mine,” the stranger whispered.

His voice was low, possessive, almost reverent. He took a step toward me, his eyes deepening into a dangerous red—hot, intense, locked on me like I was a prize he’d been searching for forever.

It hit Kendrick like a punch to the gut.

I could feel the way he stiffened beside me. And when I turned to look at him, I saw the truth in his face—pale, tense, disbelieving.

They shared the same look. The same eyes.

The same bond.

I took a shaky step back, stunned. Two brothers? Mated to both of them?

Was the Moon Goddess playing some kind of twisted joke?

Kaiden reached for me, fingers stretching out like he already knew I was his.

Kendrick stepped between us so fast I barely saw the movement.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” he growled, voice laced with warning.

Kaiden’s eyes narrowed, and his smile twisted into something colder. “Move, Kendrick. I have just as much right to her as you do.”

“You’re wrong.” Kendrick’s voice was sharp, dangerous. “You lost any right the moment you walked away. Go back to wherever you came from. Lunaria doesn’t need you.”

Kaiden scoffed. “I’m not here for your welcome. I came to see my mate.”

“She’s mine,” Kendrick snapped. “You have no claim over her. Just like you gave up your claim to this pack when you left.”

“You don’t get to rewrite history,” Kaiden snapped back. “We were crowned Alphas—together.”

“You abdicated the moment you left. I stayed. I fought for Lunaria. You ran.”

Kaiden’s laugh was hollow, biting. “So that’s it? You’ve stripped me of everything while I was gone?”

“I’m not stripping you of anything,” Kendrick said coldly. “You threw it away.”

Kaiden’s voice dropped to a growl. “Step aside. Now. I won’t ask again.”

Instead, Kendrick pushed me behind him, shielding me completely.

“She’s mine. I won’t let you near her.”

Kaiden’s canines flashed. “Then you’ll have to kill me.”

“Oh Trust me that can be arranged” Kendrick humored. 

The tension shattered into raw fury.

They lunged.

“No—!” I cried, but they didn’t hear me.

Kaiden struck first, and Kendrick met him head-on. They crashed into each other with a thunderous growl, tumbling into the wall behind them. Glass shattered. Stone cracked.

They didn’t care.

They were shifting—not fully, but enough to become something terrifying. Claws. Teeth. Glowing red eyes and dark fur breaking through skin.

I stood frozen, heart hammering, screaming for them to stop—but nothing got through.

They fought like beasts—half-men, half-wolves—driven by rage and instinct and some twisted sense of possession.

"You can't keep me from her!" Kaiden roared, slamming his fist into Kendrick’s face.

"I’ll do whatever it takes!" Kendrick snarled, retaliating with a vicious blow to Kaiden’s gut.

Furniture shattered. Walls split. Growls echoed through the mansion. I stumbled back as they broke into the next room, destroying everything in their path.

I trembled, helpless. No maids came. No guards. Everyone was gone—or too afraid to step in.

“Stop!” I screamed. “Please! STOP!”

But they didn’t. They couldn’t.

And so I did the only thing I could think of.

I ran to the dining table—where food had been set, untouched. My stomach flipped at the sight of it. Hunger was gone.

I grabbed a knife.

Spinning back toward them, I screamed, “Stop right now—or I’ll hurt myself!”

They kept fighting.

So I did it.

I dragged the blade across my palm.

The pain was sharp. Immediate. Blood welled up, warm and fast.

The scent hit them like a slap.

Both brothers froze. Their glowing eyes snapped to me.

They separated instantly and rushed toward me, panicked.

“Don’t come any closer,” I said, lifting the knife toward my chest. My voice was low but firm. “Or I’ll finish what I started.”

“Astrid—” Kaiden's voice was soft, his features human again.

“Please,” Kendrick begged, hands outstretched. “Give me the knife.”

My voice cracked. “Have you both lost your minds? You're Alphas—what will your people say when they find out you were fighting like animals... over me?”

Silence.

They stared at me like I’d stunned them. Maybe I had.

I glared at them both, fury burning hot in my veins.

Kendrick moved toward me. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Please... the knife.”

Kaiden reached forward, his voice gentle. “Let me take care of your wound.”

I backed away. Threw the knife to the ground.

“I don’t need either of you,” I said, shaking. “Not right now.”

I turned and stormed up the stairs. I didn’t care where I was going—I just needed to get away.

When they tried to follow, I spun around and pinned them both with a look that left no room for argument.

“Don’t you dare come after me. I want to be alone.”

The door slammed behind me.

---

Downstairs, silence stretched between the brothers.

Kendrick turned to Kaiden, face dark with fury.

“This is all your fault,” he hissed. “You had to come back. You just had to ruin everything.”

Kaiden didn’t flinch. “This is still my home. And whether you like it or not… Astrid is my mate too.”

Kendrick’s jaw tightened, voice low with rage. “I wish you hadn’t returned.”

Kaiden said nothing more.

Kendrick brushed past him and left the room.