The Twin Alphas’ Fated Mate
Chapter 18

ALPHA KING JOSH'S POV

"You will wait here." I ordered. "Stay here and don't even think of doing otherwise."

Rose's eyes held fear as she looked back at me. She appeared to be deep in thought which made me wonder if she heard my warning.

I was interested in the thoughts coursing through her mind and head but as Adam said, the unwanted visitor in my home wouldn't wait without creating a scene. "Why is he here? He rarely interacts with you."

Karl chimed, finally taking his mind off Rose for a minute.

I scoffed and asked myself the same question before walking towards the door where Adam was waiting like a scaredy cat.

Before jamming the door close, I looked at Rose again and whispered, "Wait here, Rose."

I didn't fail to notice her fear. She was obviously scared because of the visitor I was on my way to entertain. She had nothing to be scared of though.

"Perhaps she assumed that her mate is the visitor Adam spoke of." Karl etched, making Rose's reaction understandable.

I scoffed again, "Richard wouldn't dare demand an audience. There are only four werewolves in the land that can demand my presence."

And one of them happened to be waiting for me.

"The visitor is-"

Adam began but I raised my hand, stopping him. "I would be a bastard if I can't perceive my own brother, Adam. You don't have to say a word."

It took me a while to figure out that my second eldest brother, Alpha King Killian of the eastern territory was the unwanted visitor.

In fact, I had to consciously make an effort to sense him by taking my mind off Rose. The moment Adam stated that the visitor would cause a scene, I already figured out the identity of the so-called visitor. Left to me, I would call him an intruder.

Adam questioned through the mind link, "Were you expecting him? What does he want? Do I have to tell the warriors to get into position?"

My Beta was panicking and he had every reason to be worried. He and I grew up together in the current Central Territory which used to be the original home of the throne before my father divided the territory among his five sons. Adam knew each of my brothers like the back of his hand and Killian happened to be the most cunny and unpredictable one of us all.

"He didn't tell me he would be visiting. Heck! He never tells his dumb littlest brother anything."

I grunted through the mind link, sharing my words with Adam who frowned beside me. We walked through the corridor and eventually reached the door that led to my throne room where Killian was waiting.

"I await your signal, My King. Let me know if you need any help-"

Adam started and ceased walking when we reached the door. He was obviously avoiding Killian, knowing that the last attempt on my life could have been made by him.

"You are coming with me, Adam." I dragged my Beta by his collar. "Your duty is to be beside me even in the face of potential threats."

Adam struggled but I succeeded in pulling him with me as I pushed the door open.

The moment I stepped into my throne room, I noticed Eric in a corner. He was visibly shaking. Relief flashed across his face when he saw me walk in.

"I thought I would have to smoke you out."

Killian's gruff and thick voice resonated through my throne room and my eyes slowly shifted to my brother. He had similar physical features as me. His hair was a shade lighter than mine but his eyes were just as dark as mine. We were a replica of our father. All my brothers except one, resembled our father... And that odd one was my first brother. The eldest- Alpha King Kelvin of the central territory.

The tale of my other brothers is a tale for another day.

At the moment, I should pay close attention to the one in front of me.... Sitting on my throne as if he owned it.

"I wasn't expecting you, Killian." I seethed, glaring at my brother whose men were present in my throne room.

"I thought you would be happy to see me but all I see is a glare, Josh." Killian mocked. "Are you annoyed about your throne? Don't be. I couldn't find a befitting seat except for this one so I helped myself while I waited for you to show up." Karl hissed, "You see why I never liked him? He rarely talks but when he does, he forgets how to stop."

Talking or not, Killian had always been my least favorite sibling.

"It's alright, Killian." I uttered, "I do not need to sit on my throne to be the King of this territory. Make yourself comfortable, brother."

Killian smiled devilishly and I sent my evil smirk his way.

"If you weren't my little brother, I would have thought you were trying to insult me."

Killian expressed and laughed like an idiot. He knew I was insulting him. He wasn't stupid.

"What brings you to my territory uninvited and without prior notice?"

I cut to the chase. Why not? I hated standing before him like his subject while he sat on my f*****g throne.

Killian also dropped the act but not before he said, "Perhaps I miss my little brother and yearn to see him after years."

I stared at him unimpressed and he shrugged, saying, "Fine. We don't have that kind of relationship."

"I thought so too." I agreed sternly. "Now, what do you want, brother?"

Adam mumbled in my head, "Can you be civil, My King? You are beginning to sound harsh and that might lead to-"

I cut my Beta off angrily, "Try standing before your annoying brother like his damn slave! He is here to irritate me obviously and I am already irritated even before his arrival!"

My mind did a triple flip back to a particular woman I have within the walls of my home. Rose.

I couldn't wait to get back to her and convince her to stay... And find Alpha Richard afterward.

Thankfully. Killian made his intention known, "Actually, a little bird tells me you are planning to utilize the mineral field that is on the far eastern side of your territory. I came here to discuss that."

I should have known.

Karl etched, "How is that his business? Like he said, "of your territory". What's there to discuss?"

I realized that the mineral field that I have been planning to develop and utilize was also close to Killian's territory.

"You don't have to be surprised that I came down here instead of inviting you over to the eastern territory-"

My brother began but I interrupted with, "What do you really want?" I frowned. If my brother was here because of the mineral field then it must be bad for me and the northern territory.

None of my four brothers had ever had my well-being in mind. They didn't give two shits about me.

"No one would have imagined that the mineral field in my territory has an extension within your territory. I discovered mine before you came of age, which makes me the first."

Killian voiced. Of course, none of my brothers thought the northern territory had any good or life within it. That was why they didn't kill me before I came of age... In fact, they must have searched every nook and cranny of the Northern Territory to make sure I wouldn't be controlling a resourceful territory.

Greedy assholes!

"Being the first gives me the right to lay a claim on the extension you found-"

Killian amused me. Did I say he wasn't stupid? I take that back. He was a joker.

"From my research, I discovered that the mineral field I have is the main source, Brother. And yours is the extension." I muttered without taking my eyes off Killian. "If your theory of claim is correct, then I should be laying a claim on the extension in your territory since I found the main source in my territory."

Killian uttered, "Be careful, Joshy-"

"Don't call me that!" I snarled, balling my fists. "You didn't see me in your territory because I obviously didn't care about the extension in yours and I had no intention of laying a claim."

Killian and I engaged in a heated staring contest. He thought calling me "Joshy" would be a means to have his way. So hilarious. I had outgrown that name before I hit puberty but he wouldn't know...

Killian started speaking again, "You leave me no choice-"

But again, I didn't let him finish. "Be rest assured that I wouldn't utilize the small extension you have within the eastern territory. You are my big brother, you can have that."

Killian growled at me but I wasn't finished yet.

"It will be better if you don't make a move on my field Killian. Trust me, I am not that little boy you used to cheat without breaking a sweat. I will fight for what's mine and you of all people should know that I have escaped death numerous times." I stood my ground, proving that I didn't need to sit on my throne to be the King in the room.

"I see you have guts now, Josh." Killian hissed, rising from my throne with fury plastered on his face. "I thought we can both benefit from this but it seems like you have decided to make an enemy of your brother."

I rolled my eyes. The nerves of him to think I would let him have his way.

"You make me wonder, Josh. I mean who could be the drive behind your rebellious act?"

Killian queried as he walked closer to me.

"Don't you think it's high time I start doing what's right and beneficial for my people?"

I countered, closing the distance between my brother and me and standing nose to nose.

"Is this for your people or for her?"

Killian voiced seconds later, looking beyond my shoulders. I slowly turned my head in that direction without showing my back to my brother. He was known to be a backstabber. "What is she doing!"

Karl exclaimed before my eyes found Rose tiptoeing towards the exit.

Oh no!

Killian murmured darkly before I could regain composure. "Who is she? I have perceived her on you and now I can perceive your scent all over her. Is she your mate?" "She doesn't have business with you so drop it-"

My brother cut me off, "Seems like she has a lot to do with me, Josh. She should join us."

Hell no!

But I was unable to stop Killian's man from going after Rose, who had defied me and thrown herself in the middle of a mess.

How do I pull her out? Or will I be able to keep her safe from Killian?