Werewolves had a precious hierarchy and obsession with bloodlines and ranks. Omegas mate omegas, betas mate betas, and Alphas mate Alphas.
The moon goddess had kept it this way for centuries. To ensure the pure bloodline of every family.
In rare occasions, an Alpha can mate with a beta. However, Alphas mating a sentless wolf girl was unacceptable.
Xanden walked in first. Alaric followed, and Nate walked in last with a stick of lollipop in his mouth.
Alpha Elijah stood in the middle of the room, furious. He gnashed his teeth forcefully, running his hands through his hair a thousand times.
Xanden's presence shifted the air immediately. Alaric expression was unreadable, with his shoulders loose.
Nate shut the door behind him with a loud bang, and leaned back against it casually.
Alpha Elijah turned slowly.
His eyes locked onto Nate first.
"You will not treat this meeting like a joke," Elijah growled.
Nate smirked around the candy. "Then don't invite me to one."
Xanden and Alaric moved forward without waiting to be addressed, taking their seats at the long stone table with deliberate calm. The chairs scraped loudly against the floor.
Nate didn't move.
Elijah's gaze snapped to Xanden. He gave him a silent order.
Xanden sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sit down, little brother."
Nate chuckled. "Why? So I can listen to this old man talk about how much disappointment we are?"
Alaric didn't even look at him. "Sit," he drawled, bored.
Nate's eyes flashed.
He stared at their father for a long moment long enough to be disrespectful, then pushed himself off the door and strode toward the table. He yanked a chair back with unnecessary force and dropped into it, with his legs stretched out.
Alpha Elijah slammed his palms on the stone table.
"What are you three doing?" he roared. "You should have chosen worthy women. Females fit to stand beside Alphas. Not—"
"Not what?" Alaric interrupted smoothly, flashing a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Say it."
Elijah's jaw clenched. "Not a scentless, wolfless cursed gril."
Silence fell between them.
Xanden's jaw ticked.
Alaric's smile vanished.
Nate sucked on his lollipop, amused.
"We didn't choose anything," Alaric said calmly. "We claimed our mate."
Elijah turned sharply to Xanden. "I expected better from you. I raised you to protect this bloodline. To lead."
Xanden's shoulders stiffened.
"She is our mate," he said, voice low. "All three of us felt it. At the same time."
Elijah scoffed. "Impossible."
"And yet," Alaric said lightly, "here we are."
The air shifted.
Something feral stirred beneath Xanden's skin. He could feel his wolf pacing, restless, and irritated. Protective in a way that made no sense and too much sense at the same time.
Elijah straightened slowly.
"The council will run the mate test on her tomorrow."
Xanden was on his feet before the words finished leaving Elijah's mouth.
Alaric stood with him, claws sliding out instinctively, and his eyes already burning gold.
"She won't survive it!" they both shouted in unison.
The chamber trembled.
Elijah didn't flinch.
"I will summon every healer in the pack," he said coldly. "Even wolfless have survived."
Xanden dragged in a sharp breath, forcing his claws back in. "You know what we're saying. She's cursed. The Moon Goddess may see this as an opportunity."
"To correct a mistake," Alaric added quietly.
Elijah's eyes flickered just for a second.
Nate laughed.
"Well," he said, standing. "Finally. Something worth watching."
He vanished before anyone could stop him.
....
Nate made his way to the dining table. He needed nothing, but simply the confirmation that she either broke the rule of eating with no Alpha at the table, or break it.
He quietly made it through the dining room slightly ajar door, and watched her. She had her face down, and took no awareness of him.
"MINE!!!" Nate wolf growled in his head, surging forward
"Not now!" Nate ordered, frowning. "Shut up!"
"She's ours. Claim her." His wolf snarled.
Nate shut his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth. "I said, shut up!" He commanded in his head.
His wolf snarled, resisting.
Just then, Aire lifted her head, and stared straight into Nate's eyes. Her blue eyes glowed under the light.
"She's beautiful." Nate wolf spoke up again in his head.
Nate clenched his fist in forced self control. "She's ugly," he replied.
Aire raised her brow at him. And blinked, confused. That was the moment Nate knew he had said the words out loud.
"You're ugly." He said, now throwing his words at her, and not his wolf.
His wolf clawed in his head.
Aire eyed him. "You don't look any different." She murmured, returning her gaze back to the meal she can't touch because apparently, they decided to starve her this way.
Nate's lips twitched.
He stepped fully into the dining hall, letting the door creak shut behind him. The sound echoed, heavy in the silence. Aire stiffened, shoulders tightening, but she didn't turn again.
'Interesting.' Nate thought.
Most would have flinched, begged, or lowered their eyes. Yet, she didn't.
"You know," Nate said casually, strolling closer, "most people would be shaking right now."
Aire's fingers curled slowly in her lap. Her stomach twisted painfully at the smell of food sitting inches away, untouched. She kept her gaze fixed on the table.
"Most people aren't being punished for existing," she replied.
His wolf snarled in approval.
Nate stopped across from her chair.
Up close, she looked worse than he'd expected. She looked… thin. Too thin. Her skin was still pink in places where it had clearly been scrubbed raw. The blue dress hung on her like it didn't belong to her.
And her scent was still wrong and infuriating.
"You didn't eat," he observed.
She let out a soft, humorless laugh. "I am waiting to be told to eat."
"You broke no rules," he said. "Good little cursed mate."
Her jaw clenched.
That got a reaction.
Nate leaned forward, resting his knuckles on the table, lowering himself to her eye level. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
Aire finally looked at him.
Her eyes were tired. Hallow, yet sharp.
Nate smiled, slow and mean.
"Do you know what happens to creatures the Moon Goddess doesn't recognize?" he asked lightly.
She held his gaze, yet said nothing.
His wolf growled, furious and pleased all at once. No one ignores their question, and have their head intact.
Nate straightened abruptly, annoyance flashing across his face. "You really think you're special."
"No," Aire said quietly. "You're just cruel."
Silence snapped between them.
For a split second, something dangerous flickered behind Nate's eyes. Then he laughed, sharp and cold.
"Enjoy the room," he said, turning away. "Enjoy the dress. Enjoy the illusion that this ends any other way."
He paused at the doorway and glanced back at her once more.
"You'll die tomorrow, anyways."