#10 Royal Twins of La Lune

Chapter 13 Sebastian

I angrily paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in the parlor room. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, every inch of me was entranced by my mate’s presence just outside the door. Her scent completely surrounded me, slipping inside my very soul and consuming my body. I clenched and unclenched my hands into fists, my body visibly shaking with the restraint it took me to stay away from my mate.

Stella.

Her name vibrated through me, warming my heart and sending shivers up and down my spine. She was absolutely adorable, beyond beautiful, and simply sexy. There was no denying her appeal to me and my wolf, Mave. But, then she opened her mouth and so much attitude and sassiness came out that I was appalled. How dare she speak to her kings that way? I was furious, irate, unimaginably pissed off. And yet, there was Alex, calm as a f*****g cucumber.

“He’s the smart one, you jackass.” Mave snapped at me. He’d been throwing a temper tantrum ever since I stormed away from our mate in the ballroom.

“How can you be so cool about how she acted? You’re even more dominant than I am.” I growled.

“She’s our mate. She’s allowed to do whatever she wants. She can speak to us however she’d like to.” Mave argued.

“She disrespected us!” I resisted the urge to slam my fist into the wall as I continued my internal struggle.

“Oh, get off your high horse, dipshit.” Mave scoffed and I snarled at him violently.

“She’s too much.” I finally said.

“She’s perfect. You’re the problem.” Mave was even more brutal than normal.

“She’ll never submit to us.” I tried to reason with him.

“Don’t you get it? She’s the only one who isn’t supposed to. That’s literally the point of a mate, especially for a king.” Mave spoke to me like I was a four year old child.

“She’s already in love with Alex. He can take care of her and I’ll just be miserable.” I grumbled.

“I hate you right now.” Mave barked at me before shutting off the link and ignoring me.

I threw the glass in my hand against the fireplace and watched as it shattered into the flames. I needed to work off some of my pent up energy. I yanked open the door so roughly I thought it would come off in my hands. I had expected Alex and Stella to already be gone. I was wrong.

I was rooted in place as Stella’s beauty washed over me again. She and Alex were standing mere inches from each other, Alex leaning so close to her face I thought that he might be thinking of kissing her. At the sound of my rough entrance, Stella’s wide eyes turned away from Alex and towards me. Her already sharp features narrowed as her eyes raked my body. I couldn’t move, I was captured by her gaze.

“Ian.” Alex spoke, shaking me from my trance. I walked across the room until I was standing in front of them, my hands stuffed inside my pockets.

“Sebastian.” The way she said my name sent goosebumps running all over my body, my pants immediately becoming uncomfortably tight.

“I was just going for a run.” I grumbled.

“It’s the Mating Ball, Ian.” Alex glared at me.

“I’m aware.” I said,

“We’re all supposed to stay together.” Alex added.

“I think we can skip traditions here, Ian.” I snapped back in response. All the while, I refused to look down at my mate and risk being caught in her eyes again.

“Ian….” Alex started to scold me again, but Stella’s melodic voice cut in,

“Let him go if that’s what he wants.” Her tongue was sharp but, still, the way her lips formed around the words had me falling at her feet.

“See? The lady understands.” I bit, glancing down at Stella. I quickly looked away when I saw the bitterness in her gaze.

“The lady is our mate, dick.” Alex snarled at me, his usually calm and collected voice completely gone.

“I’m sure you two can work things out without me.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“We’ve arrived at an arrangement.” Stella said, pulling my attention to her again.

She wasn’t looking at me this time, mercifully, instead she was busying herself with her dress. Her long fingered hands were smoothing down the blue tulle of her gown, careful not to crush the petite petals that scattered the soft looking material. I wasn’t one to usually take stock in a ladies dress, but I couldn’t seem to look away from this one. It hugged her curves perfectly, the satin material falling heavily down her pronounced hips, made delicate by the tulle overlay.

The top half was plastered against her skin, a deep v neckline revealing her bountiful breasts. It fell slightly off her shoulders and the sheer material continued down to her elbows. Her warm, fiery hair fell straight down her back, reaching all the way to her hips. Her bangs were braided back simply and the rest of her hair framed her long, pointed face. Her already dark eyes were made more haunting by their frame of dark eyelashes. Her plump lips painted a light pink to match the blush touching her powder white cheeks.

I hadn’t realized I was staring for so long until Alex cleared his throat and my gaze snapped back up to Stella’s face, her eyes glued to mine. She was blushing even harder now, her lips turned down in a fierce pout with her arms folded across her chest. It was meant to guard herself, but it only succeeded in pushing her breasts up and causing them to spill out of her gown. I gulped and shifted awkwardly.

“An arrangement?” I tried to sound snarky but my voice came out as a husky growl. Stella c****d a perfectly arched eyebrow at me but stayed silent. Instead, Alex answered,

“Stella has agreed to give us the summer to convince her to stay and accept us.” Alex spoke diplomatically. My mood immediately shifted,

“To convince her?” I tried to hold back the venom in my tone.

“Yes. She’s attending the university this summer and had plans to leave the realm afterwards.” Alex clarified, giving me a warning glare.

“I’m sorry,” I pretended to be apologetic as my harsh gaze shifted from my brother to my mate, “But, I won’t be entertaining any sort of bargain that involves me groveling at your feet.” I jabbed my finger towards Stella.

She returned my look with a viscous one of her own. Alex immediately positioned himself between me and our mate, smacking my hand away.

“You will entertain anything that she asks you to.” He snarled at me.

“Alex, get a grip. We’re the kings and she’s our subject.” I stopped abruptly as a tiny, sarcastic sounding snort came from Stella.

“Oh, give me a break. I can leave the realm anytime I want.” She said, firmly planting her hands on her hips.

“Not if I forbid it.” I spoke to her dangerously.

“The only way I’d listen to you is if you forcibly restrain me and throw me in the cells.” She spat in my face.

“Don’t tempt me…..” I said but Alex quickly silenced me,

“That’ll never happen. Ian,” He turned his black eyes on me, “I will restrain you before I allow you to do anything of the sort to Stella.”

“I’ve had enough of this nonsense. I’m going for a run.” I sharply dismissed the entire conversation, shoving against Alex’s shoulder as I moved past them.

“Tu es un non-sens.” Stella mumbled under her breath, stopping me in my tracks.

“What did you just say to me?” I snapped harshly, looking at her sideways. Stella glared at me,

“I said that you’re nonsense.” She spat, her eyes hard and full of disappointment.

Something inside me snapped and I grabbed a hold of Stella’s arm, yanking her towards me. Her entire body stiffened and she sucked in a sharp breath between her teeth; her gaze never softened or changed from its expression of hate. I held my breath so I couldn’t inhale her scent and allow it to weaken my resolve.

“You will watch your tone around me, mate.” I bit out the term like it was poison.

Suddenly, Alex’s hand was gripping my arm with bruising strength. I snapped my eyes towards him and saw that his expression was deadly, his eyes as black as night.

“You will let her go. Now.” He stated in a cool voice, emotionless and unattached.

Returning my gaze to Stella, I leveled her with one last threatening glare before releasing her arm. Alex shoved me away from our mate hard enough to have me crashing into the wall behind us.

“How dare you lay a hand on her.” Alex snarled, planting himself in front of Stella. I noticed that she didn’t look startled or upset, only irritated.

“You are already so blinded by her. You wouldn’t let anyone else disrespect you or I like this.” I said and Alex rolled his eyes,

“I didn’t know your ego was so delicate, brother.” He laughed bitterly.

“Stella!” A tall blonde ran into the room with a high pitched voice, stumbling to a stop when she saw us. Carter followed her into the room like a lost puppy,

“Oh, your highnesses.” She stammered, bowing her head.

“Wren, what’s wrong?” Stella’s eyes pinched together as she turned towards the girl I assumed was her friend.

“Nothing, I was just checking on you.” She said, blushing.

“Carter?” Alex c****d an eyebrow at his Beta.

“This is my mate, Wren.” Carter explained, stepping up to stand beside his newly found mate.

I groaned loudly and dropped my head in defeat.

“Everyone is going loco.” I said dramatically.

“Ignore him. Congratulations, Carter.” Alex said, not so much as sparing me a glance, “Stella, is Wren a friend of yours?” He asked our mate.

“She is.” Stella said, watching him with a judgemental expression.

“Well, as the Beta female, you are welcomed into our kingdom and castle. As a friend of the Luna’s, you are granted access to whatever you need.” Alex smiled at the girl kindly.

“Thank you, your highness.” Wren smiled, fiddling with her hands nervously as she looked between us. It was an expression I had grown used to because it was the one where the wearer wasn’t sure if they were speaking to King Alex or King Ian.

“I’m going for a run.” I said again, promptly leaving the foyer and running across the front yard. I needed out of that castle before any more mated pairs showed up.

I didn’t even bother changing out of my dress clothes, instead I allowed Mave complete control as his impressive size and dark fur bursted from my skin. Suddenly, I was on all fours and running feverishly through the eerily quiet forest, underneath the glowing moon.