Page 34 of Captivated By Alphas 1, Fated (The Blood Moon Chronicle #4)

Tires crunching on gravel cut through their standoff.

Both men whipped toward the window, their panthers instantly alert.

A beat-up sedan pulled into the staff entrance below, and Adrian’s breath caught when the driver stepped out.

That platinum hair was unmistakable, catching sunlight like polished silver.

MATE, his beast roared, clawing at his insides with desperate need. THERE. BEAUTIFUL. OURS.

Adrian heard Jace’s sharp intake of breath, felt his own panther surge forward with such force that his vision sharpened painfully, colors intensifying as his eyes shifted. Their pack bond hummed with shared focus, both panthers momentarily aligned in their appreciation of their mate.

Eli moved with that natural grace that drove Adrian’s panther wild—the perfect curve of his neck exposed as he bent to grab something from the passenger seat, the lean lines of his body visible even beneath casual clothes.

His panther howled with possessive fury that another alpha was watching what was theirs.

Go to him, his beast demanded, pacing frantically. Claim him now. Before rival can.

Then Eli disappeared into the house, and the spell was broken.

“You felt it too,” Jace said, not a question but a realization. His voice had roughened, the beast too close to the surface.

Adrian considered denial, but what was the point? His reaction had been too visceral, too obvious. “Yes.”

The single word changed everything. Jace ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression a complex mix of rage, confusion, and something like awe. “This is unprecedented.”

“Two alphas, one…” Adrian hesitated to use the word that had been echoing through his mind since the lake.

Mate, his panther supplied with absolute certainty. Our mate. True mate. Only mate.

“Mate,” Jace finished for him, the word hanging heavy between them. “That’s what this is, isn’t it? The recognition. The immediate connection.”

Adrian nodded slowly, his panther momentarily quieting at the acknowledgment of what they both knew to be true. “My panther knew instantly. The moment I saw him at the lake. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

“Same,” Jace admitted, tension vibrating through him. “Yesterday, in the bathroom.”

“Bathroom?” Adrian’s brow furrowed.

A flash of possessive pride crossed Jace’s features. Another image surged through their pack bond—Jace’s hands steadying Eli as he slipped, their bare chests pressed together, Eli’s startled gasp as he realized who was holding him.

Adrian’s panther roared to life again, claws extending fully this time, a growl building in his chest. The image of Eli half-naked in Jace’s arms sent a wave of primal jealousy through him so intense he had to grip the windowsill to keep from lunging at his cousin.

The metal frame bent beneath his fingers, the soft screech of warping metal filling the room.

Kill him, his beast snarled with shocking violence. Eliminate rival. Claim mate for ourselves. The panther’s rage poured through their pack bond, crashing against Jace’s own beast with such force that both men flinched.

“Easy,” Jace cautioned, though his own eyes flared gold at Adrian’s reaction. “I didn’t touch him. Not the way you’re thinking.”

“But you wanted to,” Adrian accused, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. His fangs had lengthened without conscious control, pressing against his lower lip as he spoke.

“Of course I fucking wanted to,” Jace snapped, abandoning his usual controlled demeanor. “Just like you did. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

“I never said I didn’t,” Adrian replied, his voice low and intense.

Unable to resist, he pushed his own memory through their pack bond—Eli in the lake shallows, pressed against Adrian’s chest, water droplets clinging to his lashes, lips parted and eyes darkening with desire as Adrian’s fingers tangled in that platinum hair.

“And for the record, we almost kissed. Would have, if not for a poorly timed car horn.”

His panther preened at the admission and the shared image, taking fierce satisfaction in the way Jace’s face darkened with territorial rage. Through their bond, he felt Jace’s panther snarling, its fury vibrating along their mental connection like an earthquake.

Almost claimed first kiss, Adrian’s beast purred with smug satisfaction. Mate wanted us. Responded to us.

Jace’s growl was instantaneous, his control slipping enough that his fangs lengthened visibly. “You—”

“What’s the matter, Jace?” Adrian taunted, his own control fraying. “Not used to competition? You’ve always had everything handed to you—the starring roles, the magazine covers, the adoring fans. Maybe this time you won’t get your way.”

His panther fed on the confrontation, growing stronger with each word. The beast wanted this—wanted to challenge, to dominate, to establish itself as the superior alpha with the right to claim their mate.

Show strength, it urged. Show dominance. Win mate.

“You think this is about competition?” Jace snarled. “This isn’t one of your artistic ego trips, Adrian. This is about our mate.”

“Our mate?” Adrian echoed, his eyebrow raising. “That’s new. I don’t recall panthers sharing well. Remember when we were fourteen and both wanted that red Ducati? You nearly took my head off.”

“This isn’t a motorcycle,” Jace shot back. “This is—”

“More important,” Adrian finished. “I know.”

His panther settled slightly at this acknowledgment, surprised by its own reaction. The beast had expected to reject any suggestion of sharing their mate outright, yet something about the idea didn’t trigger the violent territorial response it should have.

Strange, it observed, momentarily confused by its own reaction. Should want to eliminate rival completely. Why consider sharing?

The challenge crackled between them, their panthers ready to tear into each other while their human sides fought for control. Two alphas, same blood, same mate—their beasts snarled and paced while decades of brotherhood barely kept them from going for each other’s throats.

“What now?” Adrian finally asked, forcing his claws to retract with painful effort.

Jace moved to the window, his reflection showing the conflict raging across his features. “I don’t know. This isn’t covered in the pack histories.”

“We could compete for him,” Adrian suggested, testing the waters. The idea sent a thrill of primal satisfaction through his panther—the chance to prove dominance, to win the right to claim their mate.

Yes, his beast approved enthusiastically. Competition. Strength against strength. Winner claims mate.

Jace’s eyes flashed with momentary alpha challenge before he controlled his reaction. “Traditional, but messy. And potentially damaging to the pack.”

“And ultimately pointless if our instincts are wrong,” Adrian added, the doubt that had been gnawing at him finally spoken aloud. “Alphas don’t recognize humans as mates. It’s impossible.”

His panther went crazy at the mere suggestion, clawing at his insides until he winced. Not wrong, it snarled, teeth bared and ready to fight. Perfect mate. True mate. OURS.

“Exactly,” Jace agreed, his muscles visibly tense. “Which means Eli Harper isn’t just human. He’s something else, something our panthers recognize on a primal level.”

Adrian’s skin prickled at the thought. A mate with supernatural blood. His panther paced faster, excited by the possibility.

Special mate, it purred, practically strutting beneath his skin. Rare mate. Perfect for us.

“Tricia and Thomas are both betas,” Adrian mused, thinking aloud. “But Eli’s adopted. We know nothing about his birth parents.”

“He has unusual coloring,” Jace added. “That platinum hair, those eyes—they’re not typical human traits.”

“So what’s the alternative?” Adrian asked, returning to their immediate dilemma. “Share a potentially supernatural mate we know nothing about?”

The word hung between them, both intriguing and unsettling. Panthers weren’t known for sharing what they considered theirs. The very idea went against their nature—alphas especially were territorial, possessive, dominant. Yet something about Eli made the unthinkable suddenly… possible.

Share mate? his panther questioned, rolling the concept through their consciousness with surprising lack of rejection. Strange thought. Not natural. But mate special. Mate rare. Maybe possible.

Before Adrian could respond, another realization hit them simultaneously.

“Cole,” they said in unison, the implications immediately clear.

“He arrives tomorrow,” Jace continued, running a hand through his hair. “If two of us recognized Eli as our mate…”

“The odds of the third experiencing the same recognition are significant,” Adrian finished. “This just keeps getting more complicated.”

His panther growled at the thought of yet another rival, yet strangely, it wasn’t with the violent rejection it should have been.

The beast seemed almost… intrigued by the possibility, which confused Adrian deeply.

Panthers were solitary predators by nature, alphas even more so.

This acceptance of potential sharing went against everything he understood about their nature.

Three alphas, one mate, his beast mused. Unusual. Unprecedented. But mate special. Mate worth unusual arrangement.

Adrian paced the length of the window, his panther too restless to remain still. “Three alphas, one potential mate. The universe has a twisted sense of humor.”

“We need time to figure this out,” Jace said pragmatically. “Until then…”

“We keep this between us,” Adrian agreed. “No need to involve the family or overwhelm Eli.”

His panther didn’t like waiting but growled its agreement. Better to hunt slowly than lose their prey forever. The beast paced restlessly, claws scraping against his insides.

Careful hunt, it conceded, though the words felt forced. Patient stalking. Don’t frighten prey.

Jace nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “Agreed. Though fair warning, I’m not backing off.”

Adrian’s panther rumbled at the challenge, but strangely, it wasn’t the threat it should have been. “Neither am I.”

The declaration should have escalated the tension, but instead, a hint of humor crept into Jace’s expression. “This should be interesting.”

“Indeed,” Adrian replied, a competitive smile forming despite the gravity of the situation. “May the best panther win.”

We will win, his beast asserted with absolute confidence. We will claim mate. We will mark mate. OURS.

“Or the best actor,” Jace countered, heading for the door. “You might have the critics’ favor, but I have the box office.”

Adrian laughed despite himself. “Quality over quantity, cousin. And for the record, I came here specifically to witness you falling for someone. Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it?”

“Enjoy the irony,” Jace replied with a dangerous smile. “Just remember who saw him first.”

As Jace left, Adrian turned back to the window, his mind racing with possibilities.

This whole situation was a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

But beneath the alpha posturing, one question kept nagging at him: what the hell would Eli Harper do when he realized he had three alpha panthers fighting over him?

He will choose us, his panther insisted with primal confidence. We will make him want us. Need us. Choose us.

That, Adrian decided, would be the most interesting revelation of all. And his panther had no intention of losing this most important of competitions.

Mate is OURS, it declared with absolute certainty. Will claim. Will protect. Will cherish. Forever.