Eila walked beside Leonard, her heart pounding harder than it should. Sera purred in satisfaction, pleased that their mate was finally giving them some time alone. The thought sent a flush to Eila's cheeks, but she quickly pushed it aside.
As they moved through the grand corridor of the pack house, hushed voices ahead caught her attention.
Standing with Alpha Magnus and Luna Priscilla were two striking young men, their silver hair gleaming under the dim lighting, their steel-grey eyes sharp and assessing.
Even before the Alpha beckoned them forward, Eila felt it—the same scent from her vision. The same scent from the Mate-Finding Ceremony.
Her breath hitched.
That's impossible.
She had assumed she hadn't been thinking straight that day, but she knew for a fact that the Alpha's sons had returned tonight, not last week. Yet, the scent had been there—faint, hidden, but undeniable.
Leonard showed no sign of surprise, only giving the twins a nod of acknowledgment. "It's been a long time."
Lukas and Zois returned the gesture, respect evident in their expressions. "Beta Blackwell," Zois greeted, his tone light yet carrying a certain weight.
The Alpha and Luna turned to Eila. "And this is Eila Johnson," Magnus said, his golden eyes watching her closely. "Leonard's mate."
Silence.
The twins' mouths parted slightly in shock. They recovered quickly, but not before Eila caught the brief flicker of disbelief on their faces.
They didn't expect Leonard to have a mate.
Given his cold and detached nature, she wasn't surprised by their reaction.
"Well," Lukas drawled, a smirk curling his lips, "this is unexpected."
Eila swallowed, suddenly feeling like she was being studied too closely. Zois tilted his head slightly, his gaze thoughtful.
They didn't just seem surprised. They seemed intrigued.
Their steel-grey eyes gleamed with something unreadable as they leaned in slightly, inhaling subtly.
Honey and lavender.
They recognized her scent.
A slow realization crept into her mind. They had been at the Mate-Finding Ceremony. Hidden from everyone. Even their parents.
Luna Priscilla sighed, crossing her arms with exasperation. "Don't let their polished appearances fool you, Eila. These two are nothing but trouble," she said, sounding every bit like a mother at her wit's end. "Sneaky little devils. Always managing to slip away unnoticed."
Eila blinked. She had never seen Luna so openly affectionate yet exasperated. It was an oddly endearing sight.
"We're not that bad, Mother," Zois said smoothly, clearly used to these scoldings.
"You gave the guards false patrol schedules and snuck into a private ceremony!" Priscilla scolded. "I didn't even sense you there!"
Lukas only chuckled, clearly amused, while Zois shrugged as if it were nothing.
Eila was still trying to process it all, ignoring the enticing scents of the twins that had Sera squirming in delight. She refused to acknowledge the way her heart gave an odd flutter when Lukas smirked at her.
She was Leonard's mate. She had no business being affected by anyone else.
Still, when Leonard was pulled away by Alpha Magnus for pack business, the twins shifted their full attention onto her.
Lukas leaned in slightly, his smirk deepening. "You're awfully quiet."
Zois watched her closely, his silver eyes glinting. "Nervous?"
Eila stiffened, willing herself not to react. She had a sinking feeling that these two were going to be trouble.