GIVEN TO THE TWIN ALPHA KINGS - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Delaney
"Please don't leave," Maribel begged, clutching on to my duffel bag in my room as I zipped it up.
"I can't stay here, Maribel," I replied, snatching the bag from her hands.
"Come on, Del, please stay," Elias added from the doorway, his arms crossed as he leaned on the open door frame, observing the scene unfold.
"Listen," I stated, placing the bag between my legs. "You were there for me when everyone else wasn't, and I am truly thankful, but I can't stay. The only reason I am here is because the rogues were after me."
"And you think they won't be after you anymore?" Elias asked, looking at Maribel over my shoulder.
"I am no longer wolfless; I can defend myself. Plus, running away from them almost cost me my life in the hands of the men who swore to protect me." I dropped my face, the sting of betrayal cutting deep. I swallowed the urge to scream, gritting my teeth together.
"But the prophecy," Maribel started, her words rushed.
"Would there have been anyone to fulfil it if they had actually hung me?" I snapped, my voice sharper than intended. I instantly covered my mouth, blinking.
"It's okay," Maribel said gently. "I understand how you are feeling right now." She gave me a weak smile.
"I just..." she trailed off, her eyes glistening.
"You can tell her," Elias encouraged, giving her a firm nod.
"Tell me what?" I narrowed my eyes, my gaze darting between them.
As she was about to speak, my ears caught the sound of the tires screeching outside at the compound. It had been roughly an hour since my shift, so everything was heightened. My vision was clearer; I could hear a bird chirping in the nearest woods and smell almost everything with much clarity.
"The alpha kings are here," I mumbled, picking up my bag. Facing them was the last thing on my mind. Just thinking about them brought a tight ache in my chest. Anger bubbled inside of me, followed by a pull towards them.
"What are you planning to do now? They are your mates," Elias pointed out carefully as I took a deep breath.
"A mate bond is unresistable, just so you know," he added, shrugging.
I tilted my head, furrowing my brows. "So I am just supposed to forget that they tried to kill me because the bond is powerful?"
"I know deep down your wolf is pushing you to take her to them. She wants to be around them, touch them, sniff them, and so do you." I ignored Elias's words, even though I could feel deep down my wolf clawing, wanting out.
"There is a reason why the moon goddess chose you to be their second chance mate," Maribel said, her words not making any sense to me.
"Second chance mate?" I thought out loud.
"Anyway, I am leaving, and you are driving me back home," I told Elias, walking out of the room I had only slept in for a few days.
"Why is everything smelling like a combination of cinnamon and lavender?" I huffed, hating the way the scent warmed me up. It was almost dizzying, sending some heat between my legs. How could a mere scent have such an effect on my body? What kind of sorcery was that?
Elias and Maribel chuckled behind me. I threw them a glance over my shoulder, scrutinising their awful smiles.
"What's funny?" I asked, as we went down the stairs. I could feel my eyes stinging, my wolf begging me not to leave, but I kept on pushing, standing my ground.
"It's nothing," Elias shrugged, helping me with the bag.
"It's just that we can smell anything," Maribel giggled.
"What? You said your senses are more heightened with age." I arched a brow, waiting for her. She held my hand as we went down the stairs, the warmth in her hold so soothing. The scent was getting stronger and stronger as we approached the front door.
"Well, some scents are—"
"I want to see her!" My dad's booming voice sounded, interrupting Maribel. I ran outside the mansion, my heart rate picking up.
Right outside, at the packing lot, were the alpha kings and my dad. The tires I had heard screeching were his Ford, which was packed awkwardly in front of the fountain.
"Dad!" I called, running over to him. He spread his arms, embracing me in a bone-crushing hug. My wolf howled on the inside, the feeling of safety engulfing both of us.
"You're safe," he whispered, breaking from the hug to inspect me for any injuries.
"I'm so sorry, Del." He pulled me in for another hug.
"I ca-nt breath," I joked, closing my eyes as he loosened his hold.
"Elias was about to drive me home," I stated after we broke apart.
"Well, there will be no need for that. I will bring you home," he assured, glaring at the alpha kings. Being close to them was affecting my train of thoughts. Yes, I was mad at them; yes, my heart bled remembering what they did to me, but it also accelerated as I looked at them. Their presence was suffocating, as much as I hated to admit it.
I couldn't explain exactly what and how I was feeling for them. One moment I wanted them as far away as possible from me, and the next I craved their touch.
"She is not going anywhere," Kai roared, stretching his hand to pull me.
"Wait," I chuckled in disbelief. "You want to forbid me from leaving when you had a rope around my neck barely an hour ago?" My voice was calm, but my boiling insides were anything but calm.
"I don't care whether we are friends or whether you are the fucking alpha kings, but you will not stop me from taking my own daughter home, especially when you wanted to kill her!" My father thundered, tightening his hold around my hand.
"You might be her father, but she is our mate, and we get to decide whether she stays or goes," Ronan said, glaring at my father.
"Mate?" My father asked, looking at me for answers. It seemed that whoever had told him about my execution had failed to mention that I had shifted and that the morons were my mates.
"Yes, Dad, I shifted." He threw a fist in the air, hollering like a madman.
"Yes!" He scooped me up and spun me around. When he put me down, after attempts to make him stop, his smile faltered. Then he lifted his eyes, looking at Ronan, then at Kai.
His voice turned sharp as he asked, "how can she be your mate when you had a mate before?"