#10 Royal Twins of La Lune

Chapter 17 Alexander

“Now? You’re going to the cabin now?” I shouted at Ian as he stood in the driveway with a duffle bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Yes.” He answered plainly. It was the next morning and Ian had just informed me that he was running away to the cabin for an undetermined amount of time.

“Don’t you think you should stay here and, oh I don’t know, make up with our mate?” I threw my hands up in the air at his idiocy.

“No. I think our mate and I could use a break from each other, actually.” Ian replied.

“A break? It’s been less than twenty-four hours!”

“And look what has happened so far.” Ian sighed.

“I’d rather not.” I grumbled and Ian smirked at me,

“My point, exactly. Maybe by the time I get back you’ll have her swooning and she won’t look at me with those murderous eyes, anymore.” Ian said with a laugh, slapping me on the back.

“It’s not funny, Ian.” I frowned.

“Speaking of not funny…..” Ian suddenly looked irritated as he glanced over my shoulder. I turned around and saw a troublesome duo walking towards us.

“Shit.” I grumbled.

“Don’t you think you owe me an apology, Ian?” Jazlyn spoke first with venom in her voice. Bristol was glaring at me silently.

“No, I’m afraid you didn’t make my apology list.” Ian, as usual, picked the most inappropriate time to make jokes.

“You…..” She started to shout but Ian silenced her with one stern glare,

“I know what happened, Jaz, I was there. Let me be clear, what happened last night will never happen again. Alex and I have met our mate and future Queen Luna, and it’s no longer appropriate nor fair to our mate to entertain anyone else.” Ian shocked me with his poised attitude and emotionless expression.

“Alex, is this true?” Bristol whined, looking at me with unshed tears.

“Yes. Being with either of you is disrespectful towards our mate.” I stated.

“From what I’ve heard, your mate isn’t respecting either of you, my kings.” Bristol dared to say.

“What our mate does or doesn’t do is not your concern, Bristol. She is your Luna and Queen, and that’s all you need to worry about.” I said, leveling her with a dangerous gaze. Bristol clamped her mouth shut.

“You two are banned from the castle.” Ian added and I shot him a look of surprise.

“What?” Jazlyn practically shouted at him before she thought better of it, shrinking away from his threatening glare.

“I will not have either of you bothering our mate. Your presence alone will upset her. If we find you in the castle, you’ll be forcibly removed.” Ian ordered, his Alpha tone slipping out stronger with each word.

“You’ll regret this, Ian.” Jazlyn sneered.

“That’s King Sebastian and King Alexander to you both now and you’ll do well not to forget that.” Ian ended the conversation with a curt wave of his hand, effectively dismissing both ladies.

I turned towards him once they were gone and c****d my eyebrow,

“That was uncharacteristically chivalrous of you towards our mate.” I said and Ian replaced his serious expression with that of a cocky facade,

“What are you talking about? I just didn’t want Jazlyn around tempting me with her body.” He winked at me before walking off towards his truck.

I shook my head but said nothing back. I knew damn well that he was faking his coolness towards Stella, I just didn’t know why.

I walked back inside the castle to make sure that breakfast was ready for when Stella woke up. I had convinced her to stay the night under the careful eye of myself and our doctors just to be sure that she was 100% okay. Her brother, Eliot, and her father were already on duty so I allowed them to stay closer to the castle for Stella’s comfort, and her mother stayed to work the nightshift. Even her younger sister, Cecile, slept on the floor of Stella’s room.

As I walked through the house, Stella’s scent led me straight to the kitchen. She was sitting on a high top stool pulled up to the counter, a mug with hot steam pouring out of the top and a look of contempt on her face. I c****d my head at her, surprised to see that she was already up. That is, until my mother strolled across the kitchen to stand in front of me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking between Stella and my mother.

“It’s the second day of the Mating Ball. You’ve already ruined enough of the traditions, I’m not letting you get away with anything else.” Mother huffed, glaring at me.

“Mother,” I groaned and she shook her head at me,

“Don’t start, Alexander. You owe Stella a bit of normal.” She sighed and I glanced towards my mate.

“Are you okay?” I asked Stella, stepping around my mother and hurrying to her side.

“I’m fine.” Stella sighed. I reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, cupping her cheek.

“Are you sure?” I leveled my gaze with hers, capturing her eyes with mine and refusing to let her look away.

“Yes, I’m sure, Alexander.” She tried to sound annoyed, but her scent gave her away.

“If you don’t want to do this, we won’t. Just say the word.” I said, grazing my thumb across her smooth skin.

“Your mother is quite persistent.” She smirked, looking over my shoulder.

“I know, but so am I.” I said,

“It’s fine, Alex.” She said, her face and tone softening. I ducked my face and pressed my lips to her cheek gently,

“If you say so, my love.” I dropped my hand from her face and turned towards my mother,

“You get your wish, Mother.” I sighed.

“I always do, dear.” She laughed, “Now, gather what you need from your room. I’ve had all of Stella and her friends’ things sent up to your floor so they can get ready together.” She ordered before busying herself with something on the other side of the kitchen.

I grabbed Stella’s hand and pulled her off the stool, wrapping my arms gently around her. She didn’t say anything as she allowed herself to be pulled against my chest.

“I’ll just be in my office if you need me.” I told her, pressing my face into the top of her hair and breathing in deeply.

“I should just go back to the hotel to get ready, I don’t want to kick you out of your room.” She mumbled and I pulled back to look at her,

“Nonsense. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I assured her.

“Where’s Sebastian?” She asked suddenly and I frowned,

“He left.” I said. If she was shocked or upset, her facial expressions didn’t show it.

“To where?” She asked curiously.

“He went to our cabin in the Golden Woods for a bit.” I said,

“I made him run away.” She chuckled but her eyes were humorless.

“No, you didn’t, Stella.” I brushed the back of my knuckles against her cheek, “Don’t worry about him. Today will be about us.” I said,

“Hurry up, Alex, or you’ll be attending the activities in what you’re wearing.” Mother snapped at me.

I shook my head, irritated at her persistence, but followed her orders anyway. I gave Stella a quick kiss on the cheek before heading off to my room. I threw some extra clothes into a bag and disappeared to my office before I could get into any more trouble.

A little while later, a list was delivered with a schedule of all the available activities for the day. There would be readings in the library, scavenger hunts in the woods, baking lessons in the kitchen, dancing and socializing in the ballroom, archery, dagger throwing, and self-defense classes in the front lawn, yard games in the back, and painting in the sunroom. The schedule was jam packed, but I had no idea which activities Stella would prefer to participate in.

I decided to go and find Carter and Dylan for some advice. Well, I would ask Dylan for advice, Carter would most likely be zero help. I found them outside with Hudson and Owen.

“I guess we’re all in deep now, huh?” Hudson mumbled.

“Are you telling me that you don’t love your mate already?” Owen c****d a smug eyebrow at Hudson and he grumbled under his breath.

“Of course I do.” He snapped.

“The girls are all getting ready on my floor.” I said.

“Kicked out of your room already?” Dylan smirked.

“Did you get this list?” I ignored him, waving the activity schedule in the air. The rest of the guys pulled out identical packets.

“Is it true that only the guys get the list?” Owen asked.

“Really? Where did you hear that?” I felt my eyes narrow in concern.

“From Oaklee, my mate.” Owen shrugged.

“Well that’s rubbish.” Hudson grumbled, “Are you saying that I have to plan all of this on my own?”

“No, the girls should get the list, too. Shouldn’t they have a say?” Carter asked, looking a little irritated.

“Yeah, they should. I’ll have to talk to my mother about this.” I frowned and then looked closer at Carter, “Shouldn’t you be with Ian?”

“He wouldn’t let me come along, either of us.” Carter said, nodding towards Dylan.

“He didn’t take anyone with him?” I asked, slightly worried for his safety.

“I don’t think so.” Carter shook his head.

“What an idiot.” I grumbled angrily.

Doesn’t he remember what happened to our father’s first mate when he went to the cabin by himself? It was an unspoken rule. We never went anywhere without protection,

“Carter, I want you to take some guards and go after him. I don’t care what he says. Tell him it’s my order.” I instructed. Carter nodded, actually looking relieved for the command.

“Thank you.” He said and ran off.