Claimed by two Alphas

The bass vibrated through the floorboards, but I felt empty inside. Hundreds of people packed into the mansion, all screaming my name and begging for my attention.

 I was Lucian Blackthorne. I was the Alpha Prince, the hockey captain, and the heir to a kingdom I hated. Everyone in this room feared me or wanted to use me, but none of them actually mattered to me.

I held a red cup in my hand and drank until my throat burned. I needed the alcohol to numb my mind. My father had spent the past seven days yelling at me. 

He threatened to pull me out of school and lock me in the royal castle. The council members were watching my every move like hawks, waiting for me to fail. On top of that, the strange curse carved into my ribs burned like hot fire. Every time the moon grew full, the black skin pulsed with agonizing pain.

I shook my head and pushed the thoughts away. I did not want to think about my father, my duties, or the curse. 

I pushed through the crowd, laughing loud enough to trick everyone into thinking I was fine. I grabbed a pretty blonde girl by her waist and pulled her close. She smiled up at me with shiny eyes.

"You came," she whispered, wrapping her soft arms around my neck. "I thought you were going to ignore me tonight, Lucian."

"I never forget a pretty face, Sarah," I lied, leaning down to kiss her jawline.

She sighed and leaned her head against my chest. "You are so sweet. Maybe we can get out of here later? Just the two of us? I really care about you."

Her words made my skin crawl. The moment she showed real feelings, I felt disgusted. I pulled her hands off my shoulders and stepped back.

"That was a mistake," I said cold and fast. "Do not get attached, Sarah. You know how this works."

Her face fell, then tears filled her eyes, but I turned my back on her before she could speak.

My teammate Marcus clapped my shoulder and laughed hard. "You are cold, man. Absolutely heartless!"

"She knew the rules," I snapped, tossing my cup onto a table. I lived by one strict law. I never let anyone get close to my heart. If you care about someone, they can destroy you.

The front door opened, and the loud noise of the party suddenly softened. People parted like the sea as Damian Cross walked into the grand foyer.

I respected very few people in this world, but Damian was my brother in every way that counted. 

He was everything I was not. I was wild and cruel, but Damian was disciplined and calm. I brought shame to my family name, while Damian made his parents proud every single day. Still, he was the only guy who had my back when things went wrong.

Damian walked in, and I noticed Elena Whitmore standing right next to him.

I had seen her around Blackridge High before. She was always in the background, lingering near Damian like a quiet shadow. She never wore revealing clothes. She never competed with the other girls for my attention. She never even looked at me or my royal family. She was completely invisible, and I had never given her a second thought.

Until tonight.

I turned my eyes toward the middle of the dance floor.

Elena stood under the flashing purple lights. She was just adjusting her jacket, but suddenly, the air in my lungs disappeared.

Everything inside my chest stopped beating.

The screaming crowd went silent in my ears. The loud music vanished.

A powerful scent hit my nose like a physical punch. It smelled like fresh rain, dark vanilla, and pine needles. My inner wolf woke up instantly. It roared inside my head and slammed hard against my ribs, desperate to break free.

'Mate,' my wolf screamed into my mind. 'She is our mate!'

I staggered back a step and hit a wooden pillar. My breath came out in short, terrified gasps. The black curse scar across my ribs ignited into blinding heat. It felt like someone was holding a hot iron against my bare skin.

"No," I whispered to myself, pressing a hand against my chest. "No, this is wrong."