Chapter 86
Elowen's POV
Ten minutes later, we found ourselves in Alpha Austin's office. I smoothed down my hastily thrown-on sweater dress, hyper-aware of how quickly we'd had to get ready. My brown hair was pulled into a messy bun, and I hadn't even had time for makeup. Casper and Cassian, unfairly, looked perfect despite the rushed morning—both in dark jeans and fitted t-shirts that showed off their broad shoulders.
Alpha Austin's office was intimidating - all dark wood paneling, leather-bound books, and the weight of pack history hanging on the walls. Trophy heads of prey animals and framed photos of past pack gatherings created a timeline of Thornwood leadership. The massive wooden desk he sat behind seemed designed specifically to make visitors feel small.
Alpha Austin himself was even more intimidating than his office. His amber eyes were fixed on us with laserlike intensity. His salt-and-pepper hair was perfectly styled despite the early hour, and his tailored suit made our rushed outfits look completely inadequate.
"Sit," he commanded, his voice filling the room.
We immediately obeyed. The leather chairs creaked under our weight as I perched nervously on the edge between my mates. My leg bounced anxiously until Cassian placed his warm hand on my thigh to still it. His touch sent electricity through me, momentarily distracting me from my nerves.
"Tonight's announcement needs to be perfect," Alpha Austin began without preamble. "The three of you will enter last. Luna Ella and I will introduce you formally, and then we'll announce the triple mating bond."
"We've got it, Dad," Casper said, leaning back in his chair with casual confidence that I envied. His body language was relaxed, but I could smell the faint anxiety in his scent. "We'll be on our best behavior."
"Don't worry," Cassian added, his voice cool. "We understand the importance."
Alpha Austin's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, forearms resting on his desk. "This isn't just about behavior. It's about presenting a united front. Some pack members are still... uncertain about this arrangement."
My stomach twisted painfully. The scent of my anxiety spiked, and I felt both twins shift slightly closer to me in response. "Because I'm a nobody," I whispered before I could stop myself. My hands twisted in my lap, fingernails digging into my palms.
"No," Alpha Austin said sharply, surprising me. His fist hit the desk with enough force to make me jump. "Because you're with both of them. It's unprecedented. A single mate bonded to twins hasn't happened in Thornwood history."
Cassian's fingers tightened on my thigh. "It's our choice," he said firmly, his ice-blue eyes challenging his father. "And we've made it. The pack will adapt."
"The way they've adapted to everything else we've done differently," Casper added, his normally jovial face serious.
Alpha Austin sighed, his broad shoulders dropping slightly as he leaned back in his chair. The leather creaked beneath his weight. "Before we discuss tonight further, I wanted to speak with you, Elowen." His voice softened just slightly, losing some of its commanding edge. "About your mother."
I stiffened so quickly my neck hurt. Both twins shifted closer to me protectively, their warmth on either side the only thing keeping me grounded. I caught Cassian's woodsy scent mingling with Casper's spicier one, wrapping around me like a shield.
"Jessica is struggling," he continued, his fingers steepled in front of him. "She lost her mate many years ago, and while that doesn't excuse her behavior toward you, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her someday."
"Forgive her?" Casper's voice was incredulous. His hand found mine, squeezing tight. "After she told Elowen her entire life she was worthless? After she practically handed her to Drake?"
Alpha Austin held up his hand. "Family is complicated. And Drake... he's just a troubled young man. He—"
"With all due respect," Cassian interrupted, his voice dropping to that dangerous low tone that made my skin prickle with awareness, "we don't need a lecture about Jessica or Drake. We're handling it."
His face was hard as granite, jaw clenched tight. I could feel the tension radiating from his body.
"We're not children anymore," Casper added, his usually friendly face hardening into something that reminded me startlingly of his father. He sat forward, arms resting on his knees. "We don't run to you with our problems."
"And we'd appreciate if you didn't question our judgment regarding our mate," Cassian finished, his arm moving to wrap possessively around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as father and sons stared each other down. I held my breath, feeling caught in the middle of a silent power struggle.
The Alpha's eyes flashed gold for a moment—a warning that made my wolf Juno whimper and try to shrink inside me. But then he surprised me by laughing, the sound rich and unexpected in the tense atmosphere.
"You two haven't changed since you were pups," he said, shaking his head. "Always finishing each other's thoughts and protecting what's yours. Your mother says you've been that way since the womb."
He turned his gaze to me, and I fought the urge to look down. Alpha Austin's stare was too much like Cassian's—penetrating and all-seeing. I forced myself to meet his eyes, my heart thundering in my chest.
"You know, I actually liked you from the beginning, Elowen," he said, his voice gentler than I'd ever heard it. "These two just assumed I'd disapprove."
"You did disapprove," Cassian muttered, his breath warm against my hair.
"I was concerned," Alpha Austin corrected, pointing a finger at his son. "That's different. My sons suddenly declaring they were both mated to the same woman? Any father would worry."
"You practically forbade it," Casper countered, his amber eyes—so like his father's—narrowing.
"I asked questions," Alpha Austin clarified. "Hard ones, yes, but necessary ones. Besides, Cindy adores you," he added, looking back to me. "And my daughter has excellent judgment in friends."
The unexpected praise warmed me like sunshine after rain. "Thank you, Alpha," I said softly, finding my voice at last. "I know you weren't sure about my feelings for them, but I swear, I love them both with everything I am."
I sat up straighter, drawing strength from the twins' presence on either side of me. "They're different parts of the same whole to me. Casper is my sunshine, and Cassian is my moonlight. I couldn't choose between them any more than I could choose between breathing and eating."
Cassian's arm tightened around me, and Casper's thumb stroked the back of my hand.
"And I'm grateful for the opportunity to be publicly acknowledged tonight," I finished, my voice stronger than I expected.
Alpha Austin nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. He studied us for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then his face grew serious again as he turned to the twins.
"One of you runs a bar, the other races cars," he said bluntly. "These are hobbies, not careers for future pack leaders."
Casper's jaw tightened visibly, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "The Red Wolf is one of the most successful business in the territory. It employs fifteen pack members and brings in—"
"And Apex Racing brings in substantial sponsor revenue," Cassian added coldly. "Revenue that supports pack initiatives."
"They're distractions," Alpha Austin insisted, standing to pace behind his desk. His imposing figure seemed to fill the room as he moved. "You are my heirs. Elowen will be future Luna. The three of you need to focus on what truly matters—maintaining the pack's stability and peace."
I watched him move, the powerful grace of an alpha wolf evident in his human form. Despite my nervousness, I felt a swell of admiration. Beneath his gruff exterior, Alpha Austin truly cared about the pack's future. He was a true leader—something I'd never experienced with my own parent.
"I won't be Alpha forever," he said more quietly, stopping to look out the window at the pack grounds below. "The future belongs to you three. You need to be ready."
The weight of his words settled over us like a heavy blanket. I suddenly realized the responsibility that came with being mated to the Alpha's sons. This wasn't just about our love—it was about an entire community of wolves who would one day look to us for leadership.
Juno stirred inside me, responding to the idea with unexpected eagerness. We can be strong for them, she whispered in my mind. We can learn.
Before any of us could respond, a sharp knock interrupted us.
"Alpha," a guard called through the door, his voice tense, "Sarah Mitchell is requesting to see you and your sons. She's quite insistent."