Chapter 1

Delaney Thorne does not expect her life to be turned upside down in just one night, by two alpha kings—Kai and Ronan, her father's closest friends. They take her forcefully from her home under the guise of protection and thrust her into a world of power, secrets, betrayal, tension, hatred, love and lust. She finds herself under their mercy, and at the centre of the danger that lurks in and around the kingdom.

Torn between rage, revenge, desire and survival, Delaney must choose either to fight the pull of the two kings who are almost her father's age and lose their protection, or surrender her freedom to them. Two Twin Alpha Kings, one girl, forbidden relationship with reckless age gap and they never learned how to share.

Chapter 1

Delaney POV

"Right there." The feminine soft moan was barely audible, but I heard it anyway as I exited my hotel room.

"Oh god." Another one followed, louder, accompanied by a low growl that made the hairs on my arms rise. I should have minded my own business, but the sensual sounds drifting past the half-open door at the end of the hallway called to me. With one last look, I padded across the grand hall's velvet-lined corridor, ignoring my father's warning about staying in my hotel room.

The alpha kings, who were my father's close friends, were visiting to discuss rogue sightings near the town's southern borders. I knew for them to step feet into our territory meant that the issue was not to be taken lightly.

"Oh god, please don't stop." This time round it sounded almost desperate, and I could have sworn the woman's voice sounded so familiar. I tiptoed fast, and soon, I stood in front of the half-closed door, my eyes glued to the scene inside the room.

One of the alpha king twins was seated on the couch near the foot of the bed, a young woman on his lap, straddling him. His hands gripped her waist from either side, his mouth sucking on her neck while he snapped his hips upwards. I couldn't even blink as he pumped his thick cock inside of her furiously, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling my ears.

"Say my name," he commanded, increasing his speed. I swallowed hard, uncontrolled heat crawling up my neck, while another went down my body, pooling between my thighs.

"Ro-nan," the woman answered breathlessly, gripping his shoulders.

"Wrong," he growled, delivering a hot and loud smack on her ass, making it bounce. I swear I felt my ass clench in return, my body reacting involuntarily to the scene in front of me.

"Say my fucking name," he instructed again, rotating his waist as he pushed himself into her heat while she bounced on him. I had watched p**n multiple times, but it was nothing like what I was witnessing. This was absolutely raw and feral, and I wanted it. I knew I should have turned and left, but how could I when my body was betraying me?

"Alpha Ronan!" she screamed, throwing her head back, her ginger hair covering her face. Then, Ronan's eyes flicked up and locked onto mine, making my breath get caught up in my throat at the intensity of his gaze. Instead of looking startled or ashamed like I was, perhaps even mad for his privacy being violated, Alpha Ronan just smirked knowingly.

"I'm cumming," The woman breathlessly cried at that moment, but that didn't break the hold that Alpha Ronan's gaze had on me. I was rooted to the ground, my pussy clenching involuntarily, making me press my thighs even closer. Nothing mattered at that moment as the alpha stilled, eyes flickering down to my thighs, then back again to my eyes as he pulled out, shooting his load against her ass.

"Cum for m—" A loud alarm blaring, cut alpha King Ronan short, followed by another, then another. It meant one thing: the rogues had breached the town borders and even as the alarm sounded, I still couldn't look away. The alpha king's head snapped to the window, his entire demeanour changing. In a blink of an eye, he had thrown his fuck mate aside and was up on his feet.

"Delaney, get into your room, now! Lock the door!" My father's voice boomed down the hallway, snapping me out of the trance the free live sex had held me in. I turned, and broke into a ran towards the stairs, my pulse accelerating. If my dad thought I would stay in the hotel, then he had another thing coming. There was no way I was going to lock myself inside when I could defend our territory against savage beasts.

By the time I got to the hotel lobby, people were running up and down, some going into hiding, others exiting to defend our town. One man, however, stood out: Alpha Kai, the other Alpha King and Ronan's twin. He towered over everyone, shirtless, covered by sweat as if he had been working out. For a moment I forgot that we were under attack as my eyes roamed over his well-sculpted chest, rippling muscles and his venous arms.

"You shouldn't be here," he stated firmly, snapping me out of my destructive scrutiny.

"I hear-d the alarms," I stammered. Instead of speaking, he sniffed loudly, pulling his eyebrows together. I watched as he stepped closer to me, prompting me to take my own steps backwards.

"You smell like..." He trailed off, his pupils dilating in realisation.

"Like she just watched me fuck another woman," Ronan finished his brother's statement, jogging down the grand staircase.

"Given the hefty smell of her arousal even now when there is a rogue attack, I can say that she enjoyed the scene," he added, his eyes boring into mine, awakening the unexplainable hot feeling back outside his room.

"Anyway, protect the girl. I'll go deal with those sons of bitches," he stated, licking his lower lip in anticipation.

"They are dead meat," he added in a low voice, then ran outside the hotel, leaving me with his brother.

"So, you enjoyed watching my brother ramming into another girl. Did you wish that it was you in his arms?" Alpha Kai asked as a matter of fact, his proximity making it hard for me to breathe well, let alone say a word.

"Is that really what you should be worried about when there is a possible rogue invasion in your kingdom?" I sassily asked, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Your father and my brother will take care of it," he assured, his gaze on me unwavering.

"Oh, and after he's done, he should punish you for invading his privacy," he added in a breathy voice, brushing his hand along my neck, making me stiffen. His gentle touch sent tingles down my spine, awakening the same feeling I had felt minutes ago.

"Or I should do it on his b—" he didn't finish the statement because the sound of glass breaking filled the air. I barely had time to look over my shoulder behind me as a massive rogue with dark fur burst through the glass. Faster than I could comprehend, Alpha Kai pushed me out of harm's way and then leapt, shifting mid-air into a monstrous black wolf.

I watched with my mouth open as he slammed the dirty wolf onto the floor, the sound of its spine cracking louder than my screams. He proceeded to tear it into pieces, his wolf's loud growls and the rogues' whimpers filling the lobby. Blood spluttered on the floor, some falling on me as I stayed on the ground, unable to move. I could feel throbbing pain in the back of my head as I struggled to keep my heavy eyelids open, watching him. Soon he shifted back into his human form, naked and glorious.

"Are you okay?" he asked, squatting to inspect any injuries on me.

"Ye-s," I stuttered, his cock that was dangling near my face. distracting me from the dead rogue and the blood that had splashed on my pyjamas.

"You are staying with me now," he said hoarsely, hoisting me effortlessly in his arms as if I weighed nothing.

"Put me down." I attempted to wiggle out of his arms, but he held me firmly.

"Keep wiggling like that, little mouse," he growled out, his voice gravelly, "and you will find out what happens when you tease an alpha." His cock brushed against my side, and despite what had just happened, my pussy throbbed.

A part of me without any shame wanted to find out what would happen if I kept teasing him. Maybe he would make me feel good, like his brother made the woman feel.

Chapter 2

Delaney

I sat on the edge of Kai's hotel couch, rocking back and forth as thoughts bombarded my mind from every corner.

"What just happened?" I whispered to the empty room, my right hand above my chest. One minute I was watching Alpha Ronan devour a woman in his hotel suite, and the next I was dripping in rogue blood. I couldn't decide what terrified me more: the rogue jumping towards me, Roman's recurring sex scene in my mind or the way Kai's arms around me made me feel safe and needy at the same time.

"You shouldn't have been out there." Kai emerged from the bathroom, dressed in grey sweats that outlined his member pretty well. I shifted on the couch, snapping my eyes away from his front. I couldn't believe that within a span of a few minutes, I had seen both alpha king twins nude, and damn, were their bodies a sight for my sore eyes.

"I can handle myself," I replied, my voice sounding rough.

"Not against that." His voice sounded almost monotonous.

"I am not an alpha's daughter for nothing. I can defend myself," I retorted, tapping my right foot on the carpeted floor.

"An alpha's daughter who can't tell when a rogue is cloaked?" He let out a light mocking chuckle.

"Cloaked?" I asked, tilting my head.

Kai nodded, his jaw tight. "That rogue did not have any smell on it, not until I killed it. Otherwise it wouldn't have managed to get past anyone without their usual sewer-like smell selling it out," he explained, making me narrow my eyes.

"B-ut, how is that possible?" I pressed, shifting on the seat yet again.

Before he could answer, the door burst open. His brother Alpha King Ronan, followed by my father, strode in, dressed. They were clean, as if they hadn't fought or even transformed.

"You're covered in blood; are you okay?" My father observed, closing the distance between us.

"It's not my blood," I chuckled, trying to calm down my dad.

"It's the rogue's; she disobeyed you." Kai threw me under the bus, his eyes dancing with amusement when I glared at him.

"I told you to stay in your room, Delaney! How could you endanger yourself like that?" my father roared, his alpha power rolling off him in waves, though I could feel the alpha kings' aura overpowering his.

"Why do I train if I can't use the skills when need be?" I muttered, casting my eyes on the floor.

"Because you don't have a..." He stopped himself from finishing the statement, making me snap my eyes to him. No one was supposed to know what he was about to say, and he knew I wouldn't forgive him if he blurted my secret out, especially to the alpha kings.

Ronan stood between us, facing him. "She disobeyed you, yes. But we wouldn't have known that the attack was coordinated," he spoke.

"What do you mean by coordinated? Rogues are feral beasts, unable of planning a good attack." My father took a step back but sent a glare my way, sending a silent communication that he would deal with me later.

"First of all, they retreated when I stepped out, all of them except..."

"The one that made it to the hotel," Kai finished his brother's statement.

"Rogues fight to death; they have nothing to lose. So why would they run away when they sensed me?" Ronan's question only raised more questions than answers.

"This town is bordered by the neutral grounds on the north, and this hotel is near the border. It's not the first time rogues have been sighted lurking around the border either," my father clarified, looking at the two alpha kings.

"We came to inspect the situation because you called us at the headquarters, saying that the rogues seemed to camp just outside this territory in organised groups. Is that right, Alpha Thorne?" Kai asked, arching his eyebrow. I could only tell them apart because Kai was shirtless; otherwise, I would have been left guessing as to who was who.

"Yes," my father spat.

"Then the night we arrive is the same night they decide to invade the pack, with their scents cloaked. Doesn't that make you question the entire thing?" It was Ronan who spoke, exchanging a look with his brother.

"But only witches can cloak scents..." My father trailed off.

"Meaning, they are working with a witch," Kai finished, making my father run his hands on his face.

"But witches don't exist," I chimed in, looking at the three men alternately.

"There are so many things that you don't know, honey," my father began, sitting down beside me.

"Then tell me," I almost begged.

"Can we talk to you alone?" Alpha Kai joined in, cutting off mine and my father's conversation. My father opened his mouth to speak but quickly pressed his lips together in a firm line and then nodded, standing up. I knew that the three men had mind-linked with each other, keeping whatever they were saying away from my prying ears.

Minutes went by as they conversed via the mind link, keeping me floating in whatever was going on. A weird feeling began to bubble inside the more silence filled the room.

"Go get your things from your hotel room," my father instructed, his eyes not meeting mine. His voice trembled a bit, even though he was trying to keep it steady.

"The Alpha Kings will accompany you home, and there you will pack your essentials and..." He couldn't finish the statement without swallowing hard.

"What do you mean, pack my things, Dad?" I stood up, looking at him, trying to read something out of his demeanour.

"I am so sorry, Delaney. If only there was something I could do to change things and make this territory safe for you. If the rogues managed to breach the town, they might as well advance deeper into the pack, into our homes," he continued, his words heavy.

"I don't understand, Dad. What do the rogues have to do with me packing?" I held his hand, attempting to look into his eyes.

"You are coming with us," I don't know who spoke between the Alpha Kings, because my gaze directed at my dad didn't waver.

"Why? Just because a rogue got into the hotel room?" I shouted, letting go of my dad's hand.

"Yes, Delaney. The alpha kings' guards just raided the rogues camps outside the borders, in the neutral grounds." He paused, heaving a deep sigh.

"They discovered a paper scribbled with your full name, Delaney Imara Thorne, alongside a picture of you in the lobby earlier today." I opened my mouth to speak, but no word could come out. What could werewolves who had lost their humanity possibly want with me?

"You were the target today, and until we find out why, you will be safe with us at our estate," one of the twins spoke, his voice low and rough.

How was I going to live with the same men my body was craving, knowing well that they were not only the alpha kings but also my dad's close friends and age mates?

Chapter 3

Delaney

"I can't believe you are leaving," one of my best friends pointed out, sprawled on my bed while I paced across my bedroom.

"I am not going anywhere, Nyra. How the hell am I supposed to just leave the life I have known since I was a child?" I retorted, my voice rising higher than I intended.

"But the alpha kings said—"

"I don't care what they said, Nyra," I snapped, cutting her off. "They can go fuck themselves for all I care."

"Oh, we will be fucking, just not ourselves." Kai strolled in through the half-open door to my bedroom, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I glared at him, trying to push away the feeling of his arms around me, and his cock pressed on my side.

"You must be Nyra; Alpha Thorne has told us about you," he spoke, walking over to Nyra as if he owned my bedroom. I watched as he extended his arm, stretching his hand to shake Nyra's hand.

"What is taking too long?" Ronan followed, hands in his pocket. For men around my father's age, they sure looked like they were in their early thirties.

"I thought you had already started packing," he added, looking at me, standing in the middle of my room. The two of them in my room was suffocating, now that my adrenaline had lowered.

"Goddess me, Del, you didn't tell me they look like gods!" Nyra whispered, getting off the bed. She attempted to stretch out her hand to greet Kai but instead bowed her head, letting out whimpers as her wolf recognised its Alpha Kings. The power rolling off them was too much in one room; I could see the waves pulling down Nyra to her knees before Kai.

"What the hell are you doing kneeling, Nyra? Get up," I hissed, walking to her side. I attempted to pull her to her feet, but she wouldn't move; it was like she was stuck there.

"I can't; too much po-wer," she stuttered, turning her head and bearing her neck, a sign of submission. I couldn't fully understand why she felt that way, maybe because even at 22, my wolf had still not manifested. That was the same reason my father ordered me to stay in the room back in the hotel. It was a secret we had sworn to keep between us. It was an abomination for any werewolf and especially the child of an alpha to be wolfless.

"Tell her to get up," I glowered, staring at both men.

"Are you ordering us, little mouse?" Ronan raised his brow, his lips stretching into a smirk.

"What's amusing here? She is kneeling before you, and you can't ask her to stand?" I complained, turning my attention to Kai.

"That is no way to speak to your alpha kings," Kai warned, his tone unreadable.

"Get up, Nyra. Any friend of Delaney is our friend," Ronan said, flashing a smirk my way.

"I am not your friend," I mumbled under my breath, helping Nyra up.

"What was that?" Ronan narrowed his eyes, while I shrugged, ignoring him.

"Now give us a minute, Nyra," Kai chimed in, not even sparing Nyra a glance. Nyra got up without a word and walked out of my room, head bowed.

"What the hell was that about?" I asked, placing my hands on either side of my waist.

"You need to learn how to tame that little mouth of yours, and I will gladly help you do so," Ronan stated, plopping down on my bed.

"Whatever," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. Yes, they were the alpha kings, but they did not scare me, maybe a little.

"If you don't pack, we will drag you out of this house as you are," Kai threatened, looking around my room.

"I am not going anywhere with you." I stood my ground, glowering at both of them. My father walked in at that moment, a vein on the side of his forehead popping.

"Honey, it is for the best. I thought we agreed that you would be safe with the alpha kings," my father remarked, looking apologetically at me.

"Agreed? You have not given me a choice at all. How do you all expect me to just pack and walk out of the life I have known since I was born?" I shook my head, shaking off the growing pain in my temples.

"If you stay, you will not have much of a life," Kai stated, his face void of any emotion.

"You know what's at stake, Delaney. Please do not make this hard," my father begged, closing the door behind him.

"What about my friends, the rest of the pack and you, Dad? Are you not deserving of protection?" I pressed, narrowing my eyes.

"This pack has warriors, plus me, their alpha, capable of keeping everyone safe," he responded.

"Then you can protect me too." My voice wavered, the mere thought of leaving my home weighing down on me heavily.

"No, whoever is controlling those rogues is specifically after you. Have you already forgotten that your name and your picture were found at one of their camps?" Ronan reminded me, looking straight into my eyes. For a second, his image tangled with the woman who crossed behind my eyes, distracting me a bit. I had to close my eyes briefly to pull my thoughts together.

"So that makes it right for you to force me into going with you? For the hundredth time, I am not going anywhere. I would love to see you try and carry me by force." I raised my head high, challenging them.

"Del-"

"We've got this, Thorne," Kai spoke, earning a nod from my dad, who looked once at me, then exited the room. I watched as Kai and Ronan exchanged a silent communication and then began approaching me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, looking at them alternately, taking steps back.

"Kai is very patient," Ronan began, his voice neutral, still advancing towards me until my back came into contact with the wall beside the door.

"But I am not," he finished, putting his hand above my shoulder, beside my head.

"And while I am patient," Kai chimed in, lowering his face until it was level with mine.

"I hate being defied." His voice sent chills down my spine, and not the good ones. I gulped, closing my eyes at their proximity and the threat in their words.

"So little mouse, unless you want me to throw you on my shoulder and force you into the car, I suggest you grab what you need and willingly walk out of this house," Ronan ordered, his hand grazing my cheek.

"And if my brother ends up carrying you because you have refused to follow our command, I will put you on my lap," Kai whispered, trailing his hand gently to the curve of my hip and finally to my ass. "And spank you until your ass turns purple, and I will not stop until you cry out an apology," he finished, making me yelp as he squeezed the flesh of my ass gently.

"So what is it going to be, Delaney?" My name rolled out of Ronan's mouth in a way that made my heart leap.

"You have a minute and not more to decide. Do not test us, Delaney; you won't like it," Kai threatened, then stepped back, leaving me trembling against the wall, my mind and heart racing.

Chapter 4

Delaney POV

I was left standing against the wall, the click of the door after they walked out barely registering. The throb in my temples was growing, spreading to the frontal part of my head, threatening to explode. No one had ever defied the alpha kings and lived to tell the tale, but how could I just leave? A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, prompting me to step away from the wall.

"Come in," I murmured, my eyes glued to the door. I wasn't expecting to see my other best friend, Carter, accompanied by a pale and shaken Nyra.

"Nyra wasn't joking when she said you were being forced to leave," Carter stated, pulling me into a tight hug. I closed my eyes, relaxing in his arms as he rubbed my back. Something about his embrace felt different, though. It did not make me feel safe like it used to or arouse feelings like before; it simply didn't feel like Alpha Kai's. We had kissed a couple of times, but each time I stopped it before it escalated to sex.

"I don't want to," I whispered, pulling from the hug.

"I ca-n't." My voice broke, my eyes burning as I looked at my best friends. The very friends who had kept me going since my mother disappeared without a trace when I was 8 years old.

"But you can't defy the alpha kings' orders, I still haven't recovered from the power they were oozing in this very room," Nyra spoke in a hushed tone.

"Yes, I can, Nye," I responded firmly. "How can I just abandon you? college? My dad? I have been the only constant thing in his life since my mom's disappearance. I have seen him struggle to stay strong for me, burying the pain inside every single day to raise me. What will happen if I leave him alone?" I lamented, a lump growing in my throat.

I turned, facing the door that led to my balcony. My eyes were burning with unshed tears, but every time I felt the liquid bubbling to the surface, I blinked rapidly to push it back. Then an idea crossed my mind, making my trembling lips stretch into a smile.

"I have an idea," I suddenly said, walking across the room in short, fast steps to my closet. There, I yanked four bed sheets, my heart beating beginning to accelerate.

"What are those for?" Nyra asked, her forehead creasing as she followed me to the balcony, Carter trailing behind.

"I am going to tie these to the rails and climb down, and then I am going to make a run for it," I explained, knotting the first two bed sheets together with my hands trembling.

"Are you nuts?" Nyra whisper-yelled, looking at me like I had two heads.

"Let me help you," Carter chimed in, earning a side glare from Nyra.

"Do you know what the alpha kings will do to us when they find out, or your dad? He'll kill us!" Nyra hyperventilated, tugging at Carter's sleeve, trying to stop him from tying the remaining sheets.

"I have to do this, Nye, please," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What is your plan once you get down? Where will you go?" Carter asked, fastening the end against one of the metal rails of my balcony.

"I, I don't—"

"Run to my parent's cabins in the woods and wait for us there. I am assuming that once your dad and the alpha kings realise you are gone, they will begin a search. Nyra and I will blend in and come to you in the pretence of searching for you, okay?" Carter's plan sounded good and solid.

"Why can't you just jump? We are werewolves, remember? If you want to escape so much, then jumping will save time," Nyra chimed in, swallowing hard. She had no idea that I had no wolf and that jumping would be attempted suicide.

Before I could answer, there was a knock at my door, followed by my father's voice calling me. All of us panicked, our eyes widening, about to get caught up in the act.

"Go, go distract him, lie that she is in the bathroom." Carter nudged Nyra while I swung my leg over the balcony. I could feel my heart beating as blood rushed to my ears.

"Is she done?" I could hear my father asking Nyra, but I didn't wait to hear her reply. I clutched on to the fabric and began lowering myself inch by inch, ignoring the burn the sheets left on my palms. A few inches down, the knot creaked, sending my heart leaping to my throat. A silent scream passed between my lips as I looked at Carter, then down at the ground. One minute I was dangling in the air, and the next I felt the sound of the sheets tearing.

"Carter!" I screamed his name as my foot slipped, only for the scream to be cut short as I came into contact with the ground. I could have sworn I saw his lips stretch into a sinister smirk. Pain radiated from my ankle, spreading upwards as I rolled on the ground. With my vision blurring, I caught a glimpse of Carter easily jumping down, landing beside me with his feet and one hand on the ground.

"Ssh," he hushed, placing his hand on my mouth.

"Call my d-ad," I breathed, gasping when pain radiated across my chest.

"No need, Del; I am going to take good care of you," he whispered, rubbing his hand on top of my head gently. I was struggling to keep my eyes open, but a blurry glimpse at his, and all I could see was something in them. A feeling that crossed quickly, almost as if I had assumed it.

"D-ad," I voiced out again, my head feeling so full. I attempted to keep my eyes open, but every struggle proved futile, and soon my eyes involuntarily closed.

Before I could slip into nothingness completely, a familiar voice, though sounding so distant, filled my throbbing ears.

Chapter 5

Delaney POV

My head throbbed as I made out a faint hum of what sounded like an engine. I could feel my head lying on something warm, hard, definitely not my bed. I could also feel a hand on my hip. Then I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly as the back of an SUV leather seat came into focus, then the side of an unknown driver. Reflexively, I shot up immediately, realising that I had been lying on one of the alpha kings' laps. I just didn't know which one, with my mind all jumbled up.

"Easy there," came Ronan's voice, and only when he talked did I realise he had been the one I had been lying on. He stretched lazily, amusement dancing in his eyes, as if I hadn't used him as a mattress for what goddess knew how long.

"We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. You nearly cracked your skull during the stunt you pulled earlier," he reminded, making me scoot further near the door. No wonder my ankle hurt, though not as much as I expected it to.

"We couldn't exactly wait until you woke up. Time is of the essence to us, so we carried you," Kai joined from the passenger seat, not even looking once at me.

"Where is my father?" I asked, my voice thick and heavy, still processing.

"Oh my god, Nyra, Carter," I whispered, eyes directed at Ronan for answers.

"Where are we?" I added, looking through the rear window. My heart skipped a bit when the scenery caught my eyes. Thick woods, gnarled and overgrown, stretched endlessly on either side of the road. Nothing looked familiar about the place, not even the sky.

"Where else, little mouse? In the outskirts of the kingdom's capital, heading to our estate, of course," Ronan answered casually.

"What the hell! Are you out of your fucking minds?" My voice arose as the driver gasped, probably because I had spoken that way to the alpha kings.

"I told you to tame that mouth," Kai warned, looking over his seat at me.

"You are not my father," I hissed at Kai.

"Stop the car," I spat, fumbling with the door handle.

"We had already made it clear that you were coming with us, so quit whining and act like an alpha's daughter." My jaw dropped at Kai's words and the nonchalance in his tone.

"You drugged me...stole me, and," I hyperventilated, turning to glare at Ronan, then continued, "used me as a pillow by putting your hand on me!"

"Ronan grinned. "You are the one who drooled on me, sweetheart."

"I did not."

"A little," Kai murmured, his lips twitching as if he was fighting off a smile.

"And we didn't drug you; you passed out when you fell. Have you forgotten so soon?" Ronan added, raising a brow at me.

"How could you carry me while I was out of it? Have you no heart?" I questioned, looking alternately at the both of them.

"You are a werewolf, Delaney; we knew you'd be healed in no time." I bit my lip at Ronan's words, swallowing hard.

"Like I said, we are too busy to waste time waiting on you," Kai clarified yet again, sending a slight stabbing pain across my chest.

I let out a sound between a scream and a growl, running my hand through my hair. Where the hell was I going to start, with my friends left behind? And my father, how could he have me shipped away without even a goodbye?

"Take me back, right now." I crossed my arms, tapping my unhurt foot on the floor of the SUV.

"Not happening," Ronan replied, his tone turning suddenly serious.

"You are our problem now," Kai added.

"I am not your anything," I defiantly said, but that did not stop the SUV from rolling deeper into the woods.

The rest of the drive was filled with tension, and every tree that zoomed by reminded me that my life back at home had been ripped away. I stared through the window, wishing that the forest would just disappear and take the two smug alpha kings with it. Soon the trees began to thin, and iron gates came into view, behind them stone walls looming high.

"Finally." Ronan stretched as the gates opened, revealing two lines of guards on either side, bowing. The road was obsidian, winding up between well-kept gardens, well-trimmed hedges and silver lamps. I couldn't blink as a fountain in front of a castle came into view, two wolves carved from white stone at the centre, water coming from their mouths.

"Welcome to the Alpha Kings' Estate and your new home," Kai said, then stepped out first after a guard opened the door, not bothering to look back.

"Try not to escape; you won't make it far," Ronan warned, stepping outside. I took a deep breath, then raised my head high and stepped out, ignoring his outstretched hand.

I barely had time to walk around the SUV when a beautiful young woman practically threw herself at Ronan. I watched as he caught her by her ass, with her hands wrapped around his neck.

"I missed you so much, babe," she whispered against his neck, her sickly sweet voice making me roll my eyes.

"Chloe," Ronan said, lowering her on the ground, but not before she kissed him. I pressed my teeth together, my jaw clenching at the sight. I couldn't explain why their intimacy suddenly made my blood boil.

"I couldn't wait to see you," she purred, tracing her finger along his chest. "You didn't tell me you'd be coming back with a guest." Her eyes flicked over to me, sizing me up and down as if I was nothing before her. Oh, how I wanted to gouge her eyes out and cut her fingers for touching Ronan.

"Mark, escort Chloe away; we have more important things to handle," Kai ordered, one guard stepping forward. She walked away without a word, obviously fearful of Kai.

"I want a room far away from you two," I stated, walking between the two men as they headed to the stairs that led to the castle front door.

"Why, afraid we will bite?" Ronan leaned in, Chloe's perfume wafting into my nose, making me almost gag.

"If I knew any better, I would say you wanted to kick Chloe's ass," he added, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me close to him.

"Get away from me," I hissed, lifting my hand to push him away from me when Kai held my hand, stopping me.

He then pulled me closer to him, holding my gaze. His blank, without any readable emotion as he spoke, his voice filled with almost palpable power, "this is not your usual pack, Delaney. Disrespect here is not allowed; you'd best remember that."

I yanked my hand free from his hold and, with my chin high, stormed up the steps, ignoring the pain that was shooting up my ankle. I couldn't limp, not when it would raise questions about why I had not healed yet. I didn't make it out to the door before Kai spoke again.

"There is a mandatory run in our wolf form tomorrow; make sure you are ready 20 minutes before. I'll personally come for you in your room."

Chapter 6

Delaney POV

"A mandatory run? You've got to be kidding me!" I facepalmed, gathering my confidence after seconds of opening and closing my mouth without a word. I followed Kai behind, swallowing every pain that shot up my leg with every hurried step I took.

"I just fell over from my balcony, for goodness sake, got kidnapped by you and your brother, and now you expect me to attend a run the first day of this forced stay?" I threw my hands in the air, my voice rising an octave. Kai remained silent, his broad shoulders visibly tense beneath his black shirt.

"And whose fault was that? It's been almost 3 hours now, Delaney; surely you have healed by now," Ronan chimed in, following behind. Our footsteps echoed on the polished marble floor, lower than our voices as we spoke.

"And tomorrow will be your second day in our home, not your first," he added smoothly. "How did you even get into college if you can't count from one to two?" His words stirred a boiling feeling inside, one that was crawling up my body first. I whirled around to glare at him, something I had done a lot since meeting him.

"Soon I won't be able to say the numbers at all, because you and your brother ripped me away from home, from college," I replied in a low voice, my teeth pressed together as I attempted to control a boiling feeling in my stomach. Then I spun back, attempting to keep up with Kai, who was winding up the wide bifurcated staircase that separated at the landing.

I used the handrails made of polished brown wood to support myself as I climbed up, admiring the railings made of intricate wrought iron that brought an ancient feel. At the top, Kai took the right flight of stairs that veered to what I assumed was the right wing.

"Hey Alpha Kai," I called, my patience thinning. "If you haven't been listening for the last few minutes, I said that I am not going to go for that run tomorrow," I repeated, pronouncing each word slowly and loud enough for him to understand. Down the hall was a young man dressed in blue-washed jeans and a black t-shirt approaching, smiling at obviously the two twins.

"Alpha Ronan, Alpha Kai," he bowed slightly when we met halfway, right outside an intricate wooden double door.

"You must be Delaney," he sidestepped Kai, stretching his hand towards me, his eyes lingering on me a little too long for my comfort. I looked at both twins, wondering how a man I was meeting for the first time knew me.

"This is Elias, our cousin and the head of every staff member in this estate. He will show you to your room. You should be settled by dinnertime; I expect you to get down to the dining room before 6." Ronan explained while Kai pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

"What's the time? Did you even carry my phone?" I asked, realising that I had been so caught up in their forced stay that I totally forgot about my phone.

"Should be in your bag. I am sure your stuff has been safely put in your room as we speak. See you at dinner." With that, Ronan followed Kai, leaving me with a total stranger and a million questions, complaints and obscene words.

"Right this way," Elias directed, giving me a smile that I wanted to slap off his face. What was good to smile about?

"Alpha Kai never changes his mind when he decides something," he spoke after some time as I quietly followed him in the dimly lit hallway.

"Huh?" I asked, glaring at the back of his head.

"I heard you telling him that you were not going for tomorrow's run," he clarified, leading me to another set of stairs at the end of the hallway that led to the second floor.

"And how is that your business?" I snapped, narrowing my eyes when he chuckled in return.

"Is something funny?" I asked.

"It's just that Ronan warned me that you were a handful when he called to have your room prepared," he answered as we got to the second floor. The hallway here was much wider, and the air smelt of lavender.

"Is that so?" I pressed.

"This wing belongs to the alpha kings entirely. No one is allowed up here except me, the housekeeper, and occasionally Alpha Ronan's fu-friend." The moment he mentioned that, my mind took me back to the woman who practically threw herself at Ronan.

"And Alpha Kai's?" I pressed, even though I wasn't sure about whether I needed an answer.

"He hasn't brought a woman here since their ma..." Elias trailed off, standing in front of a dark oak double door that had intricate patterns and gold accents that looked quite old.

"Here you are," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"You were saying something about Kai," I pressed, curiosity rising.

"Don't let him find you digging up stuff about him." He opened the door, revealing a stunning room that had a high ceiling, a king-size bed with blue and white bedding, and large windows that were framed by white sheers. My duffel bag was placed on the floor by the foot of the bed.

"This leads to the walk-in closet and that," he pointed at a door at the furthest corner, then added, "leads to the bathroom."

"And that?" I pointed at another door, raising my eyebrows when he looked aside.

"It leads to the balcony, but I was instructed to screw it in," he muttered.

"Then open it."

"I can't; I was told you have history with balconies," he explained, fighting off an amusing smile. There was a short silence between us, as I tried to fight insults that were bubbling at the tip of my tongue.

"You'll find essentials in the closet," he said after a while, moving to open it.

"There are mostly clothes, selected specifically for you by the housekeeper, and..." He paused, eyeing my clothes with a smirk on his face. "A little more tailored to the Alphas' taste than yours."

I narrowed my eyes, peering into the closet. Heels, silk, lace, leather—great, so I basically had nothing comfortable to wear. "This is their taste?" Elias nodded.

"Are they expecting me to walk in lingerie and heels?" I shook my head, stepping away from the closet door.

"I wouldn't put it past them," Elias said, his tone firm, expression serious.

"Fantastic," I huffed and spun back toward the door again. "And whose room is to my left?"

"Kai's," he answered, then gestured to the door across the hall. "And that's Ronan's, so you are basically in between them." So it was their plan all along to situate me between them.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" I peeped at the hallway to check whether the coast was clear, lowering my voice.

"Sure."

"There was a girl who threw herself at Ronan when we arrived..." I trailed off, not entirely sure why I had this strong urge to dig up info about her.

"Uh, yes, Chloe. Listen." He stepped closer, looking straight into my eyes.

"If you want a nice and smooth stay in the capital, stay away from Chloe and her minions. She is not someone you want to be friends with or against. I'll come pick you up in a few hours for dinner." He left after that, leaving me to my thoughts.

Chapter 7

Delaney

I sat on the bed, my back resting on a pillow against the headboard, speaking with Nyra and Carter over the phone. Something about Carter's reaction when I fell was still raising questions, but I kept telling myself that maybe I had imagined it. After all I had been blinded by pain to be sure about what my eyes saw.

"How is their house? I bet it's a mansion," Nyra excitedly inquired.

"It could be a damn castle Nyra, but it's not home," I answered, glancing around the room. While mine was cozy and homey full of memories, this room was just bland. Yes it was stunning and spacious, but it just felt off.

"Your dad said that he has been trying to call you," Carter joined in, his voice rough.

"I haven't seen his calls," I lied, even though I had seen his name flashing on my screen more times than I cared to count. Each time I let it ring out.

"He's worried about you, Del." I was in no mood to talk about my dad, not when he had just stood by and watched me get taken.

"I-I have to go; we'll talk later," I quickly said, ending the call without a second thought. The mere thought of my dad agreeing with the alpha kings had pain accumulating in my chest, forcing me to take short breaths.

As if on cue, the phone still in my hand vibrated, my dad's name with love emojis flashing yet again. I debated for the millionth time whether to pick or ignore again. In the end, I pressed on the receive button, pressed on loudspeaker and held my breath.

"Oh my god, honey, I thought something happened to you," he hyperventilated on the other side.

"I'm fine; I just didn't want to talk to you," I deadpanned, pressing my lips together.

"I know that you are mad at me, Del, but I would rather you be angry than hunted by the rogues," he spoke, an edge audible in his voice.

"Alpha Kai ordered me to attend a run tomorrow morning," I mumbled, but he heard me anyway.

"Well, that is good; at least you'll stay in shape," he excitedly said, while I chuckled in disbelief.

"In wolf form, Dad, the run will be in wolf form, and the last time I checked, I do not have one," I hissed, running my hand over my face.

"What!" Came his voice, panic almost palpable through the phone.

"Why do you sound surprised, Dad? Didn't you think about this when you allowed them to carry me while I was unconscious? I fell from the balcony and got hurt; you knew that I couldn't heal fast, and yet you stood there and watched me be shipped off. What will happen if the secret we have struggled to keep since I turned 18 is revealed, worse to the alpha kings?" I couldn't sit still, not when my identity was on the line.

"I'm so sorry, Delaney," he muttered, after a short silence.

"At times like this I wish Mom was around; she wouldn't have—"

"Don't you dare finish that statement," he warned, letting out a low growl. Mom's disappearance was a sore subject to us, but it affected him more than it did me.

"I expected you to defend me, Dad," I whispered, a lump growing in my throat.

"I slipped pain meds in your bag; please take them for your ankle and head," he spoke.

"Is that supposed to make me feel any better?" I bitterly chuckled.

"I would do anything to keep you safe, even if it means you hating me." I closed my eyes at his words, feeling a burning sensation inside of them. I was about to answer when a knock sounded on the door, followed by Elias's voice.

"I have to go, Dad," I managed to whisper, swallowing hard as I ended the call.

"Come in," I called, my voice raspy.

"Dinner is almost served. I have come to pick you up as promised," Elias stated after he pushed the door half-open.

"Right," I mumbled, getting off the bed while blinking back tears. I hated what I was feeling at that moment, trapped and unwanted. I had taken a bath and had worn a short dress that reached mid-thigh, the only decent one I could find in the closet. Turns out Nyra had only packed photos, pyjamas and a few essentials here and there, not clothes.

"You look," Elias hesitated, his eyes once again lingering on my body. "You look ravishing," he finished in a calm voice, stepping aside for me to step out.

"Thank you, I guess," I answered, walking beside him down the hallway. The rest of the walk was quiet, my mind caught up in the mandatory run. So much for keeping a secret only for it to be revealed in front of strangers.

"Come, my dear, sit beside me." Ronan patted the dining chair beside him when we emerged, his eyes roaming all over my body.

He was the only one at the long oval table, with an array of serving dishes in the middle.

I sat beside him, completely aware that my dress had risen an inch when I sat down, exposing my thighs to him. I could feel his eyes checking me out, making sparks light up inside of me. The only thing that was stopping me from melting under his hungry gaze was the thought of him and Chloe being together.

He leaned over, his breath fanning my ear as he said, "you look delectable in this tiny dress."

I kept my mouth shut, clenching my fists under the table. It was ridiculous how my body reacted to him. Just minutes ago, I had been angry and hurt, and now I was flustered.

"Sit with us Elias," he said, gesturing at one of the seats.

"Where is alpha Kai?" I asked, clearing my throat.

"He's not coming, otherwise he wouldn't have told you to be ready for the run in the morning. He would have told you at dinner," Ronan explained, while I bit the inside of my cheek. A part of me wished that Kai was present for whatever reason.

"But not to worry, you won't even notice he's absent," he added, placing his hand on my thigh. The contact alone send shivers of warmth between my thighs instantly.

"What would you like to have Delaney? Alpha Ronan had the cook prepare a couple of dishes for you to choose from," Elias chimed in, giving me a nod. He must have noticed the awkwardness in the room.

"Anything; I'm sure everything is delicious. It actually smells so good." I was trying so hard to keep my focus on anything else apart from Ronan's hand on my thigh and the heat crawling up.

"It doesn't smell nearly as good as your arousal," Ronan whispered in my ear, sending heat crawling up my neck and face. I was sure that at that moment, I looked like a tomato.

If Ronan could smell it, so could Elias. No wonder he couldn't meet my eyes, poor Elias. "I will get up from this seat if you don't stop," I warned, shifting on the seat.

"No, you won't," Ronan answered, his voice husky. "Because all you want is for me to slide my hand higher...rub that sensitive throbbing little clit until you soak your panty and this seat."