#10 Royal Twins of La Lune

Chapter 12 Stella

This has to be some kind of sick joke.

Ha-ha, Moon Goddess, very funny.

I stormed through the hallways of the palace, heading towards, what I hoped was, the front door with Petite Chouette on my arm. Finally, I broke free of the hall and found myself in a very large foyer. I heaved open the heavy wooden doors and released myself into the night air. It was cold and wet, which was usual for the realm during any season. Petite Chouette squawked and took flight, her wings forcing air into my face. I watched as the small, brown and white barn owl swooped through the clear, night sky.

“Ella?” Oaklee’s voice pulled me from my focus. I spun around and saw her descend the steps with a strange man standing behind her, watching her thoughtfully.

“Oaklee?” I turned completely to face her, eyeing the blonde standing on the stoop.

“What happened in there? You caused quite the scene.” Oaklee laughed.

“Who’s that?” I ignored her, nodding towards the blonde man. He scurried down the steps and bowed his head towards me,

“Beta Owen, second in command to King Sebastian, my Luna.” He spoke diligently.

“Oh Goddess help me, I’m not your Luna.” I groaned, “Tell me he’s not your mate?” I said to Oaklee who smirked,

“Won’t my parents be proud? First of their children to be mated to a Beta, that’s the highest rank yet.” She answered bitterly. Owen frowned at her but said nothing.

“Have you heard about the others?” I asked eagerly.

“Kinley mated to King Sebastian’s Gamma, Hudson and Wren to King Alexander’s Beta, Carter. Mylah and Brady are the only two who haven’t found their mates, last I heard.” Oaklee explained.

“You, Kinley, and Wren all mated to ranked members?” I asked curiously.

“And you mated to the kings. How’s that?” Oaklee giggled.

“The Moon Goddess tends to draw us together in ways that don’t always make sense at first.” Owen spoke, sounding like a fortune cookie. I c****d an eyebrow at him,

“Yeah, well, the Moon Goddess can shove it. Your kings suck.” I grumbled and Oaklee burst out into a fit of laughter while Owen looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

“Oh….I….uhm….” Owen stammard.

“Relax, Owen, she’s always like this,” Oaklee lightly laid her hand on Owen’s arm and he instantly relaxed. I watched their interaction in wonder, “What happened?” She asked me again.

“Sebastian is a jackass and Alexander is over compensating.” I explained simply. Oaklee stifled her giggles,

“Give them a chance, I’m sure they can redeem themselves.” She said,

“I asked for a rejection.” I replied plainly. Oaklee’s eyes went as wide as saucers,

“Holy s**t, Ella, you can’t do that!” She shouted at me.

“You want to reject being the Queen Luna?” Owen looked heart stricken. I sighed at the pair of them,

“I want to reject being the plaything of two royal pain in the asses.” I grumbled.

“Ella, you can’t reject them. Think about how strong your connection already is? You’ll die.” Oaklee sobered up and I thought back to the invisible pain I felt two weeks ago in chemistry class.

“Well, Petite Chouette attacked Sebastian so I’m not sure how good my chances are at this point, anyway.” I muttered and Oaklee’s face paled,

“Oh Goddess.” She shook her head.

“What’s that?” Owen asked. On cue, Petite Chouette squawked and dove between us, nearly taking off Owen’s head.

“That’s Petite Chouette.” I laughed.

“An owl?” Owen squeaked out, ducking to avoid her swooping wings and sharp talons.

“Ella’s always had a connection with animals. They just come to her whenever she needs help or is in need. Little Owl has been with her since she was a child, and never leaves her side.” Oaklee explained and Owen nodded, but he still looked confused.

“Anyway, I’m going to go back inside and see what other kinds of trouble I can stir up tonight.” I said sarcastically, walking past the newly mated lovers, “You two remember the rules. I better not see any marks, permanent or otherwise, when Oaklee comes to bed tonight.” I jabbed a finger towards Owen who bowed his head again,

“Yes, Luna.” He said and I yelled up at the sky,

“Ugh!” I cried out but otherwise ignored him.

I entered the foyer and was immediately assaulted by the two unique scents of my mates. I thought they both would smell the same, but I realized I was wrong the second I saw them. Not only could I instantly tell the difference between the identical twins, but I could tell who belonged to each scent.

Sebastian’s face was colder, more stern than Alex’s. His hair is clean shaven at the sides, but so long on the top of his head that messy strands of chestnut colored hair dangled in front of his sparkling blue eyes. His eyes were duller than Alex’s, full of dread and wickedness. He smelled of a wood burning fireplace and marshmallows on Christmas. He was loud and yet he said less words than most, each word picked carefully to convey his meaning.

Alexander, on the other hand, had soft features and a warm glow surrounding him. His long, wavy hair was the same color as Ian’s but much thicker as it cascaded over his shoulders. His eyes were bright and startling, and as deep as the ocean. He spoke with a purpose, using every single word he could think of to speak the truth of his heart. He smelt of old books and worn leather, like the inside of the bookshop I knew that he owned.

It was Alexander’s scent that grew stronger as I waited beside the fireplace in the foyer. Slipping out of a door on the far side of the foyer, Alex strolled across the marble flooring to stand by my side. I glanced behind him and saw, through a crack in the door, that Sebastian was still inside the room, his shadowy figure laced in an orange glow. The door swung shut and my attention returned to Alex.

“Stella.” Alex purred my name, his voice low and husky. I stubbornly ignored the way my name coming from his lips made me feel.

“Alexander.” I said, trying to sound snobbish but, instead, I sounded longing and interested. I clamped my mouth shut to avoid making a bigger fool of myself.

“I like the way you say my name.” Alex admitted, his eyes flashing black for a moment.

“Your brother doesn’t wish to see me?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and looking towards the door Alex had come from.

“He thought you’d be more comfortable with just me at the moment.” Alex said, his eyes softening.

He had his hands shoved inside his pockets and he was moving his weight from foot to foot. He was standing a good five feet away from me, but I could tell that, to him, I minds well of been an ocean away.

“He doesn’t like me.” I stated and Alex smirked,

“No, that’s not it at all. He’s rather infatuated with you, I’d say. But, he’s a dominant personality and you challenge him.” Alex said.

“I’m a challenging person.” I agreed, lazily shrugging my shoulders.

“Indeed you are. But, you’re also stunningly beautiful, wickedly intelligent, and a Goddess given gift I don’t plan on losing.” Alex spoke passionately, inching closer to me. I felt my resolve weakening, my anger dissolving, and my wolf urging me towards my mate.

“I’m impossible to live with.” I said as Alex took another step forward,

“You’re impossible to live without.” He countered.

“I’ll argue with you all the time, I always have to be right.” I said,

“I’d rather argue with you than anyone else, anyday.” He said, taking another step forward.

“I’m too stubborn for my own good.”

“I can live with that.” Alex’s face was an inch from mine now, “I just can’t live without you.” He whispered.

“What about your brother? I can’t accept one of you and not the other.” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“You won’t have too, I promise. He’ll come around, he just needs time.” Alex assured me.

“I need time.” I replied sternly and Alex nodded, his hair brushing against my face as he did,

“Whatever you need, my beautiful mate.” He promised.

“I can’t accept you, not without being able to accept Sebastian, too. I can’t let you mark and mate me unless I can give you both the same thing.” I clarified.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Alex agreed.

“What’s the proposal, exactly?” I asked, c*****g an eyebrow at him as my lips curved devilishly. Alex growled low in his chest, lust filling his eyes.

“You let Ian and I win your affection, your love, your heart, your body, your mind, all of you. We promise to give you absolutely everything you desire, need or want. We swear to protect you with our lives.” Alex said, his voice feverish and his cheeks flushed.

“And in return?” I teased him.

“You give us you, all of you, when we’ve earned it.” He ducked his face so his eyes were level with mine. Not easy considering our nearly two foot height difference. I mean, werewolves were always tall, but nearly seven feet is ridiculous.

“Three months.” I said, startling him.

“What’s that, my love?” He was trying to distract me as he licked his lips and blinked his handsome eyes at me.

“I’m attending the realm’s university summer program. I haven’t decided where I’m going in the Fall. I plan on leaving the realm, unless someone, or someones, could give me a reason to stay.” I said in a dangerously teasing tone.

“Oh, I’ll give you a million reasons to stay. I won’t need three months.” Alex said, ducking down to brush his nose against my hair, breathing in deeply, “Ian might, though.” He added and I snickered,

“You think?” I tried to sound snarky but I was so distracted and turned on by his face shoved against my neck that it was ridiculous.

His scent was swirling around me, captivating me and enclosing me in a warm, sexy cocoon. Had I just made a deal that involved no marking and mating for at least three months with this Greek God? I never said no s*x, though….

“Do we have a deal, my love?” He asked, his warm breath causing goosebumps to scatter across my skin.

“Y…yes.” I stammered and felt Alex laugh against me. He straightened his back to meet my gaze again and I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead, his lips brushed against my cheek and my heart fluttered, I was pretty sure had it not been for his arms around me, I would’ve fainted.