The Alpha Twins' Fated Luna

Elara's POV:

The slap rang through the room, and pain followed a heartbeat later. My half-sister's blow whipped my head to one side, leaving my cheek burning. Clenching my jaw, I slowly raised my eyes to Vivienne. I knew better than to say anything. Even one wrong word could make things worse. She examined her perfectly manicured nails, then gave me a dazzling smile that made my stomach tighten. She was clearly pleased with herself.

"Why my mother and your father still let you live here is beyond me," she spat, her eyes narrowing in disgust. "The moment I become Luna, you're out of this pack."

I held my tongue. Nothing good ever came from arguing with Vivienne. Her temper had grown unbearable since my father, Edran, the Blood Moon Pack's Beta, had begun discussing her future with Alpha Corvin. Everyone already treated her as though she were the fated mate of his twin sons, Kael and Rowan Dominion. Living with her had always been difficult. Now it was a nightmare.

As far as Vivienne was concerned, the pack was already hers to command. Everyone adored her, yet no one could match her cruelty. Kael and Rowan would turn eighteen in a few days, and she was practically certain she would become their Luna. That certainty had only made her more arrogant.

"I want those dresses ironed perfectly. If I find a single crease, you'll be sorry. Do you understand?" she hissed. "No one is going to outshine me at the twins' eighteenth birthday gala. Their future Luna has a reputation to maintain."

Her gaze swept over me with contempt. Unable to help myself, I lifted a hand to rub my burning cheek.

Keeping my gaze on the floor, I spoke under my breath. "You haven't become Luna yet. They might still find their fated mate."

Every shifter had a mate chosen by fate. Twins were rare, but when they were born, they shared one mate.

A cruel gleam lit Vivienne's eyes. "That won't change anything. They've already decided to reject her for the sake of the pack," she snarled, making me retreat a step. "If she doesn't have Alpha blood, what good is she to them? I have Beta blood." Her voice softened to a purr as her smug smile returned. "Besides, Alpha Corvin and Luna Seraphine are close friends of mine."

Naturally. From the moment my father married her mother, Marisol Ramona, Vivienne had been treated like a princess. I'd been pushed aside, left to haunt a home where people barely tolerated my presence. I was the unwanted daughter, the little girl everyone blamed for her mother's death in a rogue attack.

Swallowing a sigh, I thought of how thoroughly Vivienne had charmed Alpha Corvin and Luna Seraphine with her pale blond hair and wide blue eyes. My black hair and emerald eyes only marked me as someone who didn't belong. Looking so different gave them one more reason to shut me out. She was tall and slim; I was shorter, with fuller curves. Beside her, I always felt small, as though there were less and less room for me. Vivienne knew exactly how I felt and never missed a chance to make it worse.

"Get this through your head, you little bitch," Vivienne snapped, lifting her chin and curling her lip. "No one is taking this future away from me. Do you understand? No one. I won't let some fated mate stand in my way. Besides..."

Her mouth curved into a cruel smile, and she gave a sharp, mocking laugh.

"You don't actually think it could be you, do you, Elara? Neither of them would ever want you. This whole pack can barely stand having you around," she sneered. "Or have you actually convinced yourself you could be Luna?" Shaking her head, she smirked. "Just imagine. A murderer sitting on Luna's throne. What a sight that would be!"

Her laughter went on, but I couldn't move or lift my gaze from the floor. Murderer. To the pack, that was all I'd ever been. My throat tightened as I shook my head.

"That's not what I meant, Vivienne," I whispered. Triumph shone in her eyes.

"Good. So why are you still here?" Her satisfied smile vanished when I failed to move. "Get started on my laundry." She flicked a hand at me. "Don't just stand there looking stupid!" With a contemptuous sniff, she added, "I swear, sometimes I wonder if there's anything going on in that head of yours."

With my head down and tears stinging my eyes, I rushed from the room. Too desperate to get away to watch where I was going, I collided with my stepmother as she returned from grocery shopping.

"Elara!" she snapped. I froze, my heart pounding against my chest. "Slow down and look where you're going." Her voice dropped to a hiss, and she glared at me. "The last thing we need is you barreling into our guests."

Guests? My stomach tightened. I lifted my head and found two identical faces watching us with faint amusement. Both had hazel eyes, tousled dark-brown hair, and broad shoulders. Their powerful frames dwarfed my stepmother, and a chill ran down my spine.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My lips parted, then closed again, but no words came. The twins stared at me in confusion while I stood helplessly before them.

Waving me away, my stepmother turned to Rowan and Kael Dominion with a brilliant smile.

"Do excuse my stepdaughter," she said smoothly, making my face burn. "Apparently, she's forgotten how to behave." The glare she shot me left no doubt about her displeasure.

"I..." The word caught in my throat, leaving me feeling like a complete fool.

What was it about them that always left me tongue-tied? Their overwhelming presence? Or the way they usually acted as though I didn't exist?

The click of footsteps announced Vivienne's arrival behind me. "Kael! Rowan!" she squealed. She all but shoved me against the wall in her rush to fling herself into Kael's arms. Her delight was enough to make my stomach turn. "I wasn't expecting you! What's the occasion?"

Rowan's gaze settled heavily on me as Kael answered her, his tone reserved. "We came to see our mate. With our eighteenth birthday coming up, our parents have started arranging the Alpha and Luna ceremony."

Drawing away from Kael, Vivienne leaned over to kiss Rowan on the cheek. He never looked away from me. Something flickered in his hazel eyes, but I couldn't tell what it meant.

"Why are you still here?" he asked sharply, making it clear I wasn't welcome.

"You heard him, Elara. Get back to your chores," my stepmother interjected, quick to smooth over the sudden tension. Vivienne glanced back at me with a mocking smile. Neither twin bothered to hide much of his contempt as they watched me. "There's plenty you need to finish before dinner," Marisol added, her tone hardening.

Keeping my head down, I edged past the towering twins and hurried toward the stairs. Their stares burned into my back. Halfway up, I heard Vivienne speaking in the hallway below. Her mother had just left the kitchen, probably to give her some privacy with the guests.

"Look at her," Vivienne sneered. "Such a pathetic loser."

"She's still your sister," Kael said mildly.

"So what?" Vivienne retorted, her tone turning cold. "Stepsister. Our parents being mates is the only thing connecting us. Otherwise, I wouldn't give her a second glance. I want nothing to do with a murderer."

"Save your sympathy, Kael," Rowan said as I reached the upstairs landing. "She killed her own mother, remember? Nobody in this pack wants her around." He spoke with an ease that made his contempt all the more painful.

Tears stung my eyes, and I hurried on before I could hear anything else. They could believe what they liked. I'd run out of the strength to defend myself, and I no longer wanted to try. I was tired of telling them I'd only been a child, that I couldn't have prevented my mother's death. They blamed me anyway.

Once I turned eighteen, I'd leave the Blood Moon Pack and never come back. Whatever it cost me, I wouldn't let anyone stop me. Unless they threw me out before then. The thought made me shiver, and I wrapped my arms around myself. Knowing my pack, I had every reason to believe they might.

Elara's POV:

I could still feel the weight of that dark glare when the front door clicked shut. The Alpha twins had finally left. Breathing a sigh of relief, I returned to folding laundry in the utility room. A few minutes later, my stepmother appeared in the doorway. She looked like an older version of Vivienne, right down to her piercing green eyes.

"What was that all about?" she snapped, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at me.

I stopped folding, set the laundry down, and gave her a puzzled look.

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" I asked, unsure what she meant.

I'd kept out of the way the whole time Vivienne was with Kael and Rowan, hiding upstairs where no one could see me. What could she possibly be blaming me for now?

"Don't play innocent," she hissed, her gaze sweeping over me. "Vivienne told me you insulted her. She also said you nearly ran into the twins because you weren't watching where you were going."

"I didn't insult anyone!" I protested, but she raised a hand and cut me off. I gritted my teeth as anger rose in my chest. Nothing I said would make a difference. She always sided with her daughter and found a way to make everything my fault.

"It doesn't matter," she snapped. "Go make dinner. Your father will be home soon, and he'll be hungry."

I hurried past her and slipped into the kitchen. Keeping my head down, I went straight to the stove and started dinner. My stepmother was just waiting for a reason to lash out. Vivienne was nowhere in sight, which hardly surprised me. She usually had dinner at a friend's house.

By the time the food was ready, my father and stepmother were already at the table, their expressions unreadable. I placed their meals in front of them, then took my usual seat at the far end of the table, alone as always. With my eyes fixed on my plate, I pushed the food around with my fork without eating.

"How was your day, sweetheart?" my stepmother asked sweetly, giving my father a warm smile.

He grumbled under his breath. "We spotted a few rogue wolves, so we had to increase patrols and secure the borders. We're also training the younger ones to defend the pack." Weariness crept into his voice. "The work never stops." Then he turned a harsh, accusing gaze on me. "But the fewer men we lose in these attacks, the better," he said through clenched teeth.

The blood drained from my face. I knew exactly whom he'd meant that remark for. Once again, he was reminding me of the death he blamed me for. Marisol looked uneasy for a moment, then laid her hand over his. To my relief, his attention shifted back to her. I said nothing; whatever appetite I'd had had now gone. My chest tightened until I could barely draw a breath.

"Honey, I have news!" Marisol exclaimed, suddenly brimming with excitement. My father raised an eyebrow, his stern expression softening as he turned to her.

"Let me guess. It's about Vivienne," he said, making her laugh.

"Kael and Rowan came to see her today. Does that mean you've finalized the arrangement?" She leaned toward him, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Is my daughter finally going to be this pack's Luna?"

Pride shone in my father's eyes as he smiled and gently covered his wife's hand with his own. Neither of them even glanced at me. I might as well have been invisible. Everything in this house revolved around Vivienne. To them, arranging this marriage was their family's greatest achievement. Having a daughter as the future Luna would secure their standing in the pack.

"It's settled," my father announced. Leaning back in his chair, he swirled the wine in his glass. "Alpha Corvin has officially approved the match. The twins will take Vivienne as their mate once she turns eighteen. She's already agreed to reject her true mate if she ever meets him."

My stepmother waved away the concern. "That won't be a problem for Vivienne. She's dreamed of becoming Luna since she was a little girl." She beamed, but then a slight frown creased her brow. "What if the twins meet their true mate, though?"

"The same goes for them. They'll have to reject her. Their birthday comes before Vivienne's, so they'll have a short time to find their fated mate before the union becomes official. But there's almost no chance she's in our pack." My father shrugged. "With their birthday so close, their wolves would've sensed something by now if either of them felt even the slightest connection to anyone here. They've been acting normally, so I doubt their mate is among us."

"What if Vivienne turns out to be their mate?" my stepmother gasped, clasping her hands together in delight. "That would solve everything!" she added, thoroughly delighted.

"It would certainly make things easier," my father muttered. Then he fixed me with a stern look. "Now we just have to decide what to do with Elara."

I stared at him, startled that he'd even remembered I was at the table.

"Actually, I had a thought..." my stepmother said, studying me. "Since Elara and Vivienne grew up together, more or less, and they're the same age..." She trailed off, barely concealing the hope in her expression.

"I don't see what you're getting at," my father said, narrowing his eyes.

She gave an exaggerated sigh. "Once Vivienne becomes Luna, she'll need an Omega to serve her." I sat frozen as she continued. "Why not Elara? Vivienne would have someone she trusts at her side, and we'd still get to see Elara regularly. It's the perfect solution."

My blood ran cold. The perfect solution. I would spend the rest of my life at my sister's beck and call, just as I already did. Only now, it would be official. Resentment welled up inside me. I desperately tried to catch my father's eye, silently begging him to put an end to the idea. Instead, he nodded slowly as he considered it, sending a chill down my spine.

"That could work," he murmured, casting a sidelong glance at me. "You'll be eighteen soon, just like Vivienne. You should be honored to serve your Luna." His tone was cold, and I shook my head at once. "God knows you don't have the build or the strength to succeed me as Beta. You're far too puny."

"I'm leaving the pack when I turn eighteen," I blurted before I could stop myself.

My father tilted his head, his expression hardening. "No."

"No? You can't stop me!" I exclaimed, too stunned to hold my tongue.

"Think again. Most pack members are free to leave when they turn eighteen. But anyone with Beta or Alpha blood..." He left the sentence unfinished, and I felt the last of the color drain from my face.

"Needs the Alpha's personal permission," I whispered, my heart sinking. How had I forgotten that damned rule? For the first time in my life, I cursed the Beta blood in my veins.

My father smirked. "Alpha Corvin will never give you permission. And after whatever stunt you pulled with Kael and Rowan today, neither will they. You're staying here, and you'll do as you're told." His voice sank to a threatening growl. "Maybe keeping you on a short leash will stop your carelessness from getting anyone else killed."

The dining room fell silent, and I could barely breathe.

"If you don't want me here, why won't you let me leave?" I whispered, unable to keep my voice steady.

"Because you still haven't paid enough for my mate's death." He slammed his fist on the table. "Now get out of my sight before I lose my patience!"

I bolted from the room, but not before I caught the smug smile spreading across Marisol's face. The sight turned my stomach.

Elara's POV:

I woke the next morning with a bitter taste in my mouth, as though even sleep had let me down. When I trudged into the kitchen, my father's grim stare greeted me. Great. Somehow, I had a feeling today would be even worse than yesterday, though I couldn't imagine how.

"You're coming to the training grounds with me," he ordered in a tone that left no room for argument.

Absolutely not.

"I don't know how to fight, remember?" I shot back, making no effort to hide my sarcasm. "I'm puny and weak. Isn't that what you keep telling me?"

His fist shot toward my face. I jerked back just in time, startled by how quickly I'd reacted. Surprise flickered in his eyes before his expression hardened again.

"You're almost eighteen. Today, you'll train with the others," he snapped. "Let's see if you really have a Beta's blood in your veins. And watch your mouth. You won't dodge the next one."

I reluctantly followed him to the training grounds, wondering where Vivienne was and wishing she had to suffer through this too. The moment I spotted the small group waiting in the dirt arena, my stomach twisted with nerves.

Rowan and Kael were among them, warming up and practicing their moves. As future Alphas, they needed to know how to fight and protect the pack they would eventually lead.

"We'll be training in human form today, since some of you don't have your wolves yet," my father announced. He moved to the center of the group, looking pointedly from the twins to me. My cheeks grew hot.

"You need to be able to defend yourselves without your wolves. A serious injury or wolfsbane poisoning could leave you unable to shift, so pay attention to what you learn today. Pair up," he ordered, motioning toward Kael and Rowan with his chin.

"You two will spar with each other, obviously. Elara, you'll face Camille," he drawled. He turned and walked away before I could protest.

I gave Camille a wary look. She was one of Vivienne's close friends, and she was already sizing me up like prey. As we made our way to a corner of the arena, she smirked, clearly eager to get started.

I swallowed hard and looked around, but everyone else was focused on their own matches. The twins traded blows so quickly that their movements blurred, every strike dangerously precise. For a moment, I couldn't look away. Then I turned back to Camille, my palms damp with sweat. I knew full well I was about to get crushed.

"You're no match for me," Camille sneered. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she settled into a fighting stance.

"You're no match for me," Camille sneered. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she settled into a fighting stance.

I barely shook my head before Camille lunged. I flinched, but her fist drove into my stomach, forcing a strangled groan from my throat. A knee to the face followed before I could recover, and I crashed into the dirt. Camille bounced back a step, her eyes gleaming with malice.

"This is going to be even easier than I thought!" she said with a laugh.

"You're so pathetic I almost feel sorry for you!" she added, plainly enjoying herself.

Pathetic. The word kept repeating in my head. Even Camille, who was barely an average fighter, thought I was pathetic. I didn't have to look at my father to picture the disappointment and contempt on his face. Wincing, I struggled to my feet and wiped the blood from my split lip.

I knew only the basics. My father had never prepared me for a real fight, probably because he wanted to make sure I couldn't defend myself against this kind of treatment. I wondered whether he meant this as a lesson or simply wanted to break my spirit until I accepted a future as Vivienne's Omega servant without a fight.

"Want some more?" Camille hissed, bouncing on the balls of her feet with her fists raised. I bit my lip and lifted my hands to guard my face.

Several pairs had stopped sparring to watch us, probably hoping for a chance to laugh at me. Even the twins had paused, their attention fixed on us. I was about to make a complete fool of myself. I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to pull myself together. Then I opened them again. All I could do was try and hope she wouldn't beat me too badly.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Camille murmured. Her lips curled into a smile, and she rushed at me.

Anger surged through me, fierce enough to drown out my fear. Before I could think, instinct took over. I ducked and twisted away from her punches, moving so easily that I could hardly believe it. Neither could anyone watching. Camille's eyes widened, but she kept coming, her swings growing wilder. Then I punched her. Time seemed to slow as my fist struck her nose. A sickening crack echoed across the arena, and blood spurted from her nostrils. Camille screamed and staggered back, clapping both hands over her face.

Shit. I'd broken her nose. I hadn't meant to. I'd simply reacted on reflex. Guilt washed over me as tears filled her eyes, and she pressed her fingers beneath her nose, trying to stop the bleeding.

"I'm so sorry," I stammered. With a sharp jerk and another muffled cry, she forced her nose back into place. Then she glared at me as though she wanted me dead.

"I didn't mean to break it," I said weakly.

"You bitch!" she shrieked, nearly hysterical. "You broke my nose!"

Before I could get out another apology, she lunged at me, her face contorted with rage. I raised my arms to block her frantic punches, then struck back with a hard kick.

My foot drove into her stomach, and she doubled over, coughing and struggling for breath as fresh tears filled her eyes. I'd lashed out in panic, but she was the one paying the price. Dread gripped me as I watched her slowly straighten. I was in serious trouble. One look at the murderous anger in her eyes told me that.

"Do you really think you can beat me?" she spat, glaring at me with open hatred.

"You think a little bitch like you can get the better of me?" Her voice shook with rage and disbelief.

Where had my father gone? I searched the edges of the arena, but he was nowhere in sight. The twins, however, were watching Camille with growing concern. Kael and Rowan had already started pushing through the circle of spectators.

A guttural growl startled me. I turned back to Camille and went rigid. She was shifting. Camille's nails grew into sharp claws, coarse fur sprouted through her skin, and her eyes turned completely black.

I couldn't move. As she lunged, her jaws opening in a vicious snarl, I could only brace myself. She was going to tear my throat out. Shifting was forbidden during this session, but she clearly didn't care. I'd humiliated her in front of everyone, and she meant to rip me apart for it.

I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for her fangs to sink into me.

"Stop!" Two voices thundered together. My eyes flew open as two large figures blurred between us.

I blinked, struggling to make sense of what had happened. Kael and Rowan had used their Alpha command, an order no member of the pack could resist.

Camille stopped dead, then crumpled to the dirt. Low, defiant growls still rumbled from her throat as the twins folded their arms and looked down at her in disgust.

"Shift back to human form," Rowan ordered, his voice low and rough.

Bones cracked as Camille shifted back into human form. Within seconds, she lay curled on the ground, whimpering and trying to cover herself. Someone hurried over and tossed her a shirt.

"Cheating will not be tolerated!" my father thundered as he finally pushed through the crowd. He glared at Camille in disgust. "Report to the Alpha for your punishment."

Her face bright red, Camille scrambled up and hurried away without meeting anyone's eyes.

"You reacted quickly. Good work stopping her," my father told the twins. They slowly turned to face him.

"But don't risk yourselves for someone like her. Elara can be replaced." His voice was cold, and neither twin said a word.

"You two are our future Alphas. We can't afford to lose you. Next time, leave the discipline to me."

"We meant no disrespect," Kael said quietly. Beside him, Rowan kept his gaze fixed on my father, his expression unreadable.

"We only stepped in to keep things from getting worse."

My father gave them a smile that never reached his eyes. "If my daughter had been hurt, I would've dealt with it," he assured them, but his words rang hollow.

If the twins hadn't stepped in when they did, I would've been dead. I had no doubt about that. They clearly didn't believe my father either. Both turned and walked away without a backward glance. I wanted to thank them, but I couldn't get the words out.