The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Maze’s POV

I had been in the common grounds with some important pack members. My father was amongst them. He was not pleased about the challenge. He thought to even fight over a wolf-less girl made no sense.

“What has gotten into the young alphas these days?” He had said, throwing his hands in the air exasperatedly. My father had rejected his mate because she had been a rogue, not belonging to any pack in particular. She eventually moved to Marigold after my father had already married my mother whom he had no mate-bond with. His mate ended up marrying an alcoholic, my father’s own beta, and developing herself. Yes, Friday’s mother and my father had been fated and had walked away from each other. The news made me want to destroy this whole pack house. I had watched my father criticise my mother’s every move my whole life and now I knew why, he already had a mate in mind.

“You can always, you know, spend as much time with Friday as you like and care for her financially, but not as your official Luna. Pick a proper girl for that,” he had said, basically admitting his wife was his showpiece and his mate was his mistress.

I wanted to get out of this place. I walked upstairs, crushing part of the wooden railing to dust when I gripped it. I heard muffled voices on the Beta floor. Fang and…a voice that soothed me…Friday!

Before I could break down Fang’s door, Friday ran from the room and into my arms. I embraced her like it was the first time I had ever laid eyes on her, scooping her up into my arms, breathing in her scent, tangling my fingers in her tousled waves. She seemed shell-shocked but she allowed it. I turned away from her. I knew something inappropriate had to have happened. The Fenestra family was even more dysfunctional than mine.

Thaddeus appeared, seeing an out of breath Friday, an angry me and a guilty looking Fang. I could feel his alpha aura immediately ignite with anger.

“Fang, what was Friday doing in your room?” I demanded, before Thaddeus could say anything.

“Nothing,” said Fang cooly. “Brother, sister talk.” Thaddeus snorted.

“I doubt she just stopped by,” I said, raising my voice.

Thaddeus looked surprised and so did Friday. Did I seem so uncaring to them? Like I wanted to see Friday hurt, and by my own beta, her own brother?

“Did you force her to come into your room?” I demanded. Fang was quiet, his eyebrows raised. “ANSWER ME!” I bellowed in my alpha voice.

The din of noise from the common grounds below stopped. Everyone within a mile radius of me was quiet.

Friday’s POV

I creamed my underwear a little when Maze yelled like that. Why was he defending me? I was not sure where this sudden passion for my well being had come from but it was arousing me. Thaddeus had just returned from the woods, all sweaty, his long hair tangled. He eyed me. He was furious at Fang too but he was smelling my arousal and knew that this time it was directed at Maze. I felt so guilty. I pleaded with Thaddeus with my eyes.

”I saw inadaeus all over ner last nignt. I wanted to make sure sne coula nanaie nerseus.”

“She’s not mated,” said Maze. “I’ve been inhaling her scent all day. I’d have picked up on it.”

“Yes…but,” said Fang.

wall. I gasped. He had his forearm pressed against my brother’s

handle my mate again, I will strip you of your title!” Snarled Maze. He released Fang who crumpled to the

Maze in perfect unison, stopping to glare at each

standing up

to hold me. I really hoped he wouldn’t, not

go upstairs,”

I did have some bruises on my shoulders. Ugh. Thaddeus would find these tomorrow and he might react more intensely than Maze. I knew he wanted my brother dead or banished not simply demoted like Maze had threatened. I was in a plush robe, detangling my messy waves when there was a knock on the door. It was Maze. He said he had something

to come out and

“Neither of our parents ended up in fated mate marriages. They all just married

I had never seen him show raw emotion like this. His hair was wet too, like he had just gotten

time to think as well. He allowed me to brush and dry his

like she had one. It was this wistfulness she

relaxing as I played in his hair.

not for the mate bond. I don’t know what to say to you, how to touch you,” Maze said,

comparing himself to Thaddeus. Everything was easy with Thaddeus but that did not mean I was unaffected by Maze. I just hugged him, shocked that Maze who had filled me with more insecurities

Maze lifted me as easily as Thaddeus did. All of these alphas were so strong. He placed me on my bed and tucked me in. He turned off the light. He sat on the edge of my bed, stroking my hair, detangling the curls and waves with his fingers. I sighed happily. Maze crept into bed

fast,”

“Yes, Maze,” I whispered.

our sides, head on the same pillow, facing each other, noses close

“No,” I lied.

I

bruises too. I expected that more

never used his alpha voice with me, not even when he

won’t find any

sat up, at the edge of the

front of me,”

about what came next. “Take off your robe,”

slowly, letting it fall to the floor. I was completely exposed in front of Maze. His eyes were black with I*st. The moonlight streaming in from the windows lit the dark room. His eyes trailed over me