Both Denzel and Devonte effortlessly shifted back to their human forms, their powerful frames coming into full view. Zara's breath hitched in her throat, and for a moment, she couldn't even remember to blink. Her eyes, wide in disbelief, drank in the sight of them, taking in every detail as if trying to imprint them onto her very soul. These were the characters, the larger-than-life heroes from her own story—the very ones she had crafted in her mind. She could hardly believe they were real, standing in front of her.
Their features were perfect, the idealized versions she had written about. Though not identical twins, there was an undeniable similarity between them—two forces of nature, almost impossible to tell apart at first glance. But she quickly noticed the subtle differences, particularly in their eyes. One had emerald green eyes, the other sapphire blue. It was the one detail she had always imagined with the greatest care, and now, seeing it in person, her heart fluttered with disbelief. She was looking at the very men she had created. It was almost too much to take in.
On the other hand, both Denzel and Devonte studied her with an intensity that made Zara's pulse race. Their eyes, predatory yet strangely fascinated, never left her face as they soaked in her reaction to them. She seemed entranced, and it stirred something deep within them—a burning desire they hadn't expected to feel. The way she was looking at them, wide-eyed and awestruck, sent a wave of heat through their lower abdomens. Their gazes remained fixed on her, searching, almost as if trying to peer inside her very soul.
Instinctively, they sniffed the air, trying to locate her wolf, to feel the familiar presence that should accompany any true mate. But there was nothing. They couldn't sense it at all. The absence of that connection was startling, even unnerving.
"She doesn't have a wolf," Devonte growled through the mindlink, his voice filled with confusion and frustration. His piercing gaze shifted from Zara to Denzel. "How is that possible?"
"And she smells... human," Denzel responded, his words laced with disbelief. After millennia of waiting for their destined mate, could they really have found someone who didn't have a wolf? The idea seemed impossible. The mate who was supposed to stand at their side, leading the world with them—she was human? The thought was too jarring to settle in their minds, and they instinctively knew they needed to dig deeper.
The mindlink fell silent as both brothers stepped forward, flanking Zara on either side, their imposing presence all-encompassing. They were close now, their gazes burning into her, searching for answers, trying to decipher the mystery before them. Just as they were about to speak, they froze.
A rustle of movement in the distance caught their attention, and they turned in unison. A group of figures was approaching, clearly from the pack. Xavier was the first to reach them, his expression tight with concern. As his eyes landed on his daughter standing between the two kings, his breath caught in his throat, and panic flickered in his eyes.
"Zara," Xavier called out, his voice edged with a mix of worry and disbelief. "What are you doing here? This place isn't safe—why are you out here alone?"
Zara's gaze flickered to her father, her heart tightening in her chest at the sound of his voice. She hadn't seen him unsettled like this.
Denzel's voice cut through the moment, his curiosity evident. "You know her?" His tone was cautious but laced with intrigue as he studied Xavier.
Xavier's eyes flicked from Denzel to Devonte before he bowed his head respectfully. "She is my daughter, my kings. Zara Blossom, future leader of the Dark Moon Pack."
The words hit like a thunderclap. Zara's identity, the revelation of her being the alpha's daughter, struck both Denzel and Devonte with a jolt. They had known she was part of the pack, but this? The future leader? The mate they'd found was more than they had ever anticipated, and it left them momentarily speechless. The weight of it all settled around them, and they exchanged a brief glance, unsure of how to respond.
One by one, the pack members began to shift back to their human forms, their faces a mixture of relief and apprehension. The tension in the air began to lift, but the confusion remained. Then Liam and Anastasia, having been present in the shadows, stepped forward as well, their expressions questioning.
Xavier lowered his gaze respectfully. "My kings, forgive me for asking, but could you explain why you shifted into your enigmatic forms suddenly? Was there some threat we did not sense?"
His voice was polite, but there was an undercurrent of worry in his tone. It wasn't every day that the kings of their world revealed themselves in such an intense way. The pack, though relieved that no danger had come of it, still needed answers. And Zara...
Zara stood frozen in the middle of it all, her heart racing as the two kings and her father all focused their attention on her, keeping her on the edge of her seat.
As soon as Xavier asked his question, the atmosphere around them shifted, becoming thick with tension. Denzel and Devonte, standing on either side of Zara, growled low and deep—twin sounds of possessiveness that echoed through the silent forest.
The growl wasn't directed at Xavier or any of the pack members, but rather at the very memory of the danger Zara had been in just moments before. The memory of saving her, of pulling her out of harm's way, reignited something primal within them—a protective rage they couldn't quite suppress.
Without a word, both lycan kings simultaneously reached for Zara. Their massive hands enveloped hers in a grip that was both comforting and possessive, their fingers intertwining with her delicate ones. It was as though they needed to feel the bond, the undeniable connection between them, solidified. The pressure of their touch sent a shiver down Zara's spine, a mix of emotions rushing through her—surprise, awe, and something deeper, almost intoxicating.
Denzel's and Devonte's eyes, fierce and commanding, swept over the gathered pack members, their gazes hardening into a silent command for them to remain still, to listen. The air seemed to crackle with an almost tangible power as they began to speak.
"We saved her," Denzel's voice, low and unyielding, broke the silence. "She was in danger. And she is ours."
His words were simple, but they carried the weight of an eternal truth. He turned his gaze toward Devonte, and the other king nodded in agreement, his features tight with the same fierce possessiveness.
"Zara Blossom is our mate," Devonte announced, his voice a low rumble that sent ripples through the pack. His words weren't just an explanation—they were a declaration, one that seemed to shake the very ground they stood on.
The revelation hit like a thunderclap. Every single member of the pack froze, their breaths collectively held as they processed the words.
The kingdom had always known of the prophecies, of the coming of the two kings who would lead the world into a new age, but no one had anticipated the arrival of their mate—especially not one so unexpected, so… human...
Whispers swept through the gathered wolves, their eyes darting between Zara, the kings, and each other. The shock was palpable. The alpha's daughter—Zara Blossom—was the mate of not one, but two lycan kings. And not just any mate, but the mate who would lead them all, standing beside them as they took their place at the helm of their kind.
It was a revelation so powerful that it seemed to bind them all in a spell of disbelief, their thoughts scattered as they tried to comprehend the magnitude of what had just been revealed.
Xavier, his mind racing, took a step back, his eyes flicking between Zara and the kings. There was no denying it—the connection was there, undeniable and tangible. He could see it in the way Denzel and Devonte moved around her, in the way their every action was a silent promise of protection…
---
"Nooo... it can't be!"
A voice erupted from the crowd, slicing through the stunned silence like a knife. Eyes turned, shocked, as Anastasia strode forward, panic and fury etched across her face.
"My kings, this is a mistake!"
Her voice was sharp, pleading.
"There's no way she could be your mate. She's the weakest here, a human with no wolf. She could never be worthy of either of you!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Daring to question the kings—especially on a matter as sacred as their mate—was unheard of, and those around her were horrified, exchanging terrified glances. Some even looked away, fearing for her life.
Devonte and Denzel listened in cold silence, their faces unreadable. But their eyes blazed with a simmering fury. Underneath the calm exteriors, they were growling, barely leashed, their rage intensifying with every venomous word she spoke against their mate. They leveled murderous glares at Anastasia, ready to silence her insolence with a single command.
Xavier, reading the kings' deadly intent, stepped forward, reaching for Anastasia with a firm grip.
"Ana, that's enough. Watch your tongue. Do you have any idea whom you're speaking to?"
His voice was low, dangerous, an unspoken plea to stop digging her own grave.
But Anastasia yanked her arm free, eyes blazing.
"Father, she's a wolfless creature! She's too weak to be a mate to anyone, let alone our kings! Liam rejected her for that very reason. How could she possibly be worthy of being queen? There's no way—she's not fit!"
Her voice rose, edged with envy and desperation. She couldn't bear the thought of Zara, her rival, ascending to such a place of honor. The envy festered in her gaze, her words spilling out, reckless and scathing.
The crowd fell silent, petrified. Their eyes were wide with dread, hearts pounding as they anticipated the punishment that would befall Anastasia for such defiance.
Devonte's voice broke the silence, calm yet lethal.
"Are you questioning our judgment?"
Denzel followed, his gaze piercing.
"Are you saying we failed to recognize our own mate?"
The weight of their wrath crashed down on her, and the realization of her own audacity stole the breath from her lungs. She staggered back, pale and trembling, but it was too late. Her words were already spoken, her fate nearly sealed.
In a flash, Liam stepped forward, dragging Anastasia down beside him as he dropped to his knees, head bowed.
"Mercy, my kings. Please, forgive her. She spoke out of turn, blinded by. emotion. Spare her life, I beg of you."
His plea trembled with urgency, torn between his fury toward her and his shock at the revelation that the woman he'd cast aside saying too weak to be his Luna was destined to be queen. He could barely process it himself, the cruel irony gnawing at him.
Devonte and Denzel exchanged a glance, a silent verdict hanging in the air as the crowd waited, breathless, to see if mercy or retribution would prevail.
Denzel and Devonte stepped forward, gripping Zara's hands protectively, each glance they cast toward the crowd heavy with an unmistakable warning. Their powerful auras radiated authority and fierce possessiveness as they fixed their gaze on everyone present.
Devonte's voice rang out, cold and unyielding.
"Let this be clear to all: Zara is our mate. Anyone who dares question or disrespect her will face the most brutal punishment this kingdom has ever witnessed."
Denzel added, his tone dark and final.
"Whether she bears a wolf or not is irrelevant. Her strength comes from her spirit, and we will defend her as our Queen. Remember this, or pay dearly for your ignorance."
A fearful murmur rippled through the crowd, and heads lowered as the weight of their kings' decree settled over them. Zara looked around in awe, her heart pounding. She was watching her own characters—her fierce kings—standing before her, now her protectors instead of her executioners. She could hardly believe it.
As she took it all in, a feeling of acceptance settled over her. This isn't just a story anymore. This is now her real life. There's no turning back. Zara took a steadying breath, knowing she'd have to accept her fate fully now.
As the crowd parted, making way for the kings, Denzel and Devonte held Zara's hands with an unyielding grip, guiding her forward. Heads bowed low as they passed, and the murmured words of respect sent a thrill through her. She couldn't suppress the quiet smile that tugged at her lips. This feeling—the reverence, the powerful presences flanking her—she couldn't deny how much it stirred something deep within her.
But as they walked, an unsettling thought crept into her mind, prickling at her newfound confidence. The plot of her story had completely shifted. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Her heart began to race, and her mind spun with questions. If the kings, who were supposed to be my enemies, are now my protectors, then what comes next? What role am I supposed to play now?
She glanced at Denzel and Devonte, their fierce, protective expressions giving her comfort but no answers. The main plot has changed... So what's the new story?
She whispered to herself, "If the villains have become the heroes… then who's left to be the villain?"
Lost in thought, Zara barely noticed as the grand doors to the castle opened before her. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her new fate press down on her. This world was no longer following her script, and she would have to navigate whatever was coming next—without knowing how her story might end. however it is, she was ready to face it all.
She gripped their hands firmly, but a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone.lurking in this world would soon test their bond.