Marked by the Alphas

Elara POV

I stand around indecisively when Axel and Kane walk to Elder Anton at the end of the ceremony. I watch as the three whisper, but their body language screams anger.

What am I supposed to do now?

People are still glancing curiously at us. I can feel their eyes on me, and it is fucking humiliating to be openly discarded as second choice.

“We could trade her for Alice.” Axel’s words float towards me, and my stomach dives. I am not a cow to be traded for a handful of magic beans.

“Fuck no,” Kane hisses in disgust. “No one deserves to be with Greg and Lucas.”

“You’re right, I know,” Axel sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t want to place Elara in harm’s way. But we cannot let Alice go home with those monsters.”

Kane shifts his weight, looking at the pack members still standing around. Silently, I pray that whatever he decides to do will not upset the elders and make things more difficult.

The elders had been given ultimate power, saying that the Alphas' egos, heated tempers, and rash decisions led to the Great War. The idea was that the elders were older, wiser, and more even-tempered since they did not have Alpha blood flowing through their veins.

So, while Kane and Axel might be upset about today and the elders’ decision, they did not have any control over it and could not go against them. The only thing Kane and Axel had control over was the day-to-day leading of the pack.

“Elara,” Kane barks, and I jump in fright, staring at him wide-eyed. “Come with us.”

My heart beats like a drum as I slowly walk towards them. Honestly, if I had a choice, I would be running for the hills. I am petrified of the unknown.

Kane and Axel’s eyes roam over me, and I can swear they are mind-linking, because they look at each other, then at me, and then out into the distance.

What the hell?

I will not allow them to intimidate me, I decide determinately, pulling my shoulders back and staring at them.

Axel nods once, and Kane walks toward the people still in the town square. Axel follows, indicating with a jerk of his head that I should come, too.

“Members of Constantine.” Kane addresses the crowd, his voice booming. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards him. “Until a thorough investigation has been conducted, and we can conclusively determine that a new mate will be safe in their care, Gregory Bjorn and Lucas Spindler are hereby forbidden from claiming a new mate.”

Kane POV

The crowd gawks at me as if I had lost my mind, but they are either too scared or too polite to say anything. Not that I give a rat’s ass - I must protect Alice at all costs, and this is my only recourse.

“This is absurd!” Greg bursts through the crowd, rage shining in his eyes as he meets my gaze. Luke is not far behind, his hand wrapped around Alice’s wrist, dragging her behind him.

The aggressive manner he handles her aggravates me, and I let loose a low growl.

“You have no right,” Luke protests, but immediately lets go of Alice.

“I’m well within my rights to protect a member of this pack from possible harm,” I cross my arms over my chest and widen my legs. “And I’m well within my right to open an investigation into members of the pack.”

“What are you going to do with our mate?” Greg spits the words. “The elders gave her to us. She’s ours.”

“She’ll be kept safe,” Axel cuts in. “With us.”

“No fucking way!” Luke yells. “You will not take our mate away from us. Especially since we all know your history with her.”

Alice stands on her tiptoes, peering around Luke’s shoulder, her eyes filled with gratitude. I will not let harm come to her, and I will figure out a way to make her ours.

“Alpha Kane,” Anton steps forward and stands in front of the crowd. “This is completely unacceptable.”

“Pack protection is not within the Elders’ power,” I smirk. “It’s at my discretion, and I’m simply doing what I must to protect a valuable member of our pack. Certainly, the elders will understand the need to protect one of our viable she-wolves.”

“This is not about that, and you know it,” Anton’s nostrils flare with anger. “You’re playing with fire, Alpha Kane.”

“Oh, really,” I raise my eyebrows. “Tell that to the two mates they already had. You’ve been handing out multiple mates this ceremony like candy, and now you want to squander a she-wolf on them. It doesn’t matter what you think this is about. Until you can find a law that negates my ruling, it stands. Gregory and Lucas will not be mated to anyone until our investigation is complete, and that’s final.”

Anton glares at me in silence, and I know he is trying to figure out his next move, but there is none. Not right now, anyway. I am sure he will find something, but it will not be today, and that is enough for now.

We do what an Alpha should—protect our pack members from being hurt. I glance at Alice; she looks relieved. But somehow, I’m more eager to see how Elara will respond.

Then I notice how upset she is, and it almost makes me want to hug her and comfort her.

But I restrain myself, forcing back that crazy, reckless urge.