GIVEN TO THE TWIN ALPHA KINGS - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Delaney
A day had passed since Nyra got nearly dragged and since I managed to ruin the peace I had with my mates. I walked out of my room, my chest aching as I looked at Kai's bedroom door, next to mine, then at Ronan's. Just those silent doors were enough to make my pulse falter. All my mates needed was reassurance that Carter was not more important than them, and I failed terribly to do that.
Maribel had mind-linked me, asking me to go down for lunch. Maybe she pitied me, maybe she sensed my isolation or maybe she was just being stubborn and acting like a grandmother. I was starving, but maybe it was an excuse to just see them, to try and correct the damage I had done.
"Kai, Ronan." I attempted to mind link each, but my words hit a wall. It was like they were deliberately blocking me, and could I even blame them for avoiding me?
"I'm sorry," I mumbled in the hallway, touching my own neck.
When I got to the dining room, everyone was seated. A whole golden turkey glistened at the centre of the oak table, surrounded by vegetables, seasoned rice and wine. But that is not what stopped me in my tracks. When Maribel had mind-linked me, she failed to mention that my mates were there. Wishing to see them and seeing them were different. I didn't expect my heart to leap in my chest or for my palms to begin sweating.
"Come on now, honey," she called, beckoning me with a wave of her hand. "You can't possibly be thinking about going back to your room.
I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not hungry..."
"Don't let us stop you from enjoying a good meal, Delaney. After all, we got your message loud and clear: Carter comes first and then us." Ronan scoffed, tapping the seat next to him.
I swear my chest constricted at his words. I averted my gaze from him to Kai, who didn't even look at me. His attention was directed at his phone, and that alone had me feeling a pang in my constricting chest. I wished he'd just divert his eyes to me, even for a second. With as much strength as I could master and trembling legs, I walked over and sat beside Ronan.
"Given the dark circles under your eyes, I won't even ask whether you slept," Nyra pointed out.
"Leave her alone," Maribel scolded gently, proceeding to serve me. I was very much aware of Ronan on my left and Kai on my right. Elias was awfully quiet, observing me as if waiting for me to mess up. Maybe he could tell the tension between me and my mates and the coldness Kai served me.
When the plate was pushed in front of me, my mouth watered. I lifted a drumstick and brought it to my mouth, only for my hand to freeze. I sniffed, my eyebrows furrowing. No one seemed to notice the smell of paraffin on the turkey.
"No offence, Maribel, but did you by any chance spill paraffin on the turkey?" I asked, placing the drumstick back on the plate. Instead of answering, she sat straight, her lips stretching into a smile.
"There you have it, gentlemen," she stated, roaming her gaze over my mates and Elias.
"No magic can really hide from her magical red wolf," Elias confirmed, lifting his glass of wine in the air.
I tilted my head, pushing the plate away from me. "Is this some sick joke to you guys? You invite me for lunch to test the abilities of my wolf?" I stood, pushing the chair backwards.
"Enjoy your lunch," I mocked, turning to leave.
"None of us can smell that paraffin, because Elias masked its smell with magic." Ronan's words stopped me from taking another step.
I turned, blinking rapidly. "What?" I echoed.
"You wanted to find out whether something is wrong with you. The answer is no. Your wolf's magic, as you have seen, can detect the original smell, even when masked with magic. So that smell of rogues yesterday, you didn't imagine it, it was there," Maribel explained, but that is not what had my mouth opening.
"B-ut, I can't smell Carter's pine scent, and yet you can," I voice out, chewing on my bottom lip.
Maribel looked at me, like really looked at me, without her gaze wavering. "You are not ready for the answer, not now."
"Come on, Maribel, I need to know," I insisted, but she shook her head.
"No, not when you had the audacity to threaten to reject your mates for Carter's safety," she deadpanned, getting up from her chair. I lowered my gaze to my feet, her words heavy on my conscience.
She walked over to me, stood by my side and whispered, "Unlike you, they would choose you without thinking twice." She then walked out, followed by Elias and Nyra, who squeezed my shoulder before leaving me in the dining room with my mates.
Seconds went by, unbearable silence filling the room. My wolf was whimpering, like she had been the previous night, and since I woke up, pushing me to go to them. Then their chairs being dragged as they stood filled my ears; they were going to leave without even talking to me.
"I'm sorry," I panicked as they passed by me, not lifting my eyes. I was afraid of seeing the same broken look I had seen on their faces the previous night.
"I put Carter before you," I added, my lips trembling.
"Twice, Delaney, twice. In the forest and in your room. You couldn't even answer Kai without stammering," Ronan spoke behind me, his voice thick.
"I know, I know, and I am truly sorry." My voice broke, the pain in the back of my throat growing.
"You'd be happy to know that I released Carter. I believe him," Kai finally spoke, but his voice – god, his voice was ice cold, and I had caused that.
"I am sure he hasn't bothered coming to you or even telling you that he is a free man or even apologised for the danger you encountered," Ronan joined. I was tempted to turn and face them, but I just couldn't.
"So Delaney, that is the kind of friend you were ready to reject us for. A friend who doesn't care how you are faring, even after being attacked," Kai added, his words cutting across my heart.
Then Ronan finished, leaving my heart almost shattered. "We know you didn't ask to be mated with older men like us or as a second chance mate, perhaps you preferred to be mated to your age mate, and who better than Carter, the friend you cherish more than us?"