THREE//...But at what cost?

This was crazy. I shouldn't be here. 

I stood before a wooden door. Its handles looked worn with age and use, and it had a few holes that made it look rather unstable. Hell, a puny human like me could kick it down in a flash, not to mention overpowered werewolves. 

They had to know I was there. Though I couldn't hear a thing, no movement, not a sound, I was certain that they knew I was there. They most likely could smell it all. My fear, my apprehension and though I hated to admit it, my excitement. 

Balling my hand into a fist, I knocked on the fragile thing, listened to it rattle and let out a shaky breath when I heard Antonio speak. 

"Come in Ava," 

This was it. I was sacrificing it all for Diane and as long as she was fine, as long as she could live, I would sell myself in captivity if I had to. 

"Now come on," Adam's nonchalant voice reached my ears when I walked in. "There's no need to look so glum. If anyone saw you, they'd think we threatened to devour you."

The twin Alpha Princes sat at a shabby looking tea table that housed a lamp, grinning as I approached them. I'd bet they were basking in their victory, certain that I would give in to their demands. 

Yeah I was, but I certainly wasn't going to make it as easy as they thought. 

"So?" Antonio asked, leaning forward with a brow raised. "What is your decision, Miss Lopez?" 

"Isn't it obvious, Brother?" Adam, who thankfully wore a shirt this time, snorted, running a hand through his thick, soft looking hair. My hands itched where they lay by my side and I gave myself a smack mentally. 

Focus Ava!

"Let's say I agree to this deal of yours," I said, trying not to give in to the urge to tremble under their intense gazes. Everyone feared the Silvermore brothers. They were a deadly duo who were said to decide who lived and who didn't in an instant. There was a rumor that the brothers had taken down Silvermore's fourteenth village, Fang, in battle and they had been barely fifteen at that time. Now though, staring at the older virile males before me, feeling their domineering aura press down like the weight of a freaking mountain, it was easy to see how they had done so. 

"Go on," Antonio urged,

"Will Diane be well taken care of?" 

They glanced at each other and nodded stiffly. 

"You Have our word," Adam promised and for a minute, he actually appeared dead serious.

"I... I have no idea what to do as your mate though," I mumbled, clasping my hands together. Their gaze had gotten even more intense and it took me a while before I figured out it was probably my night dress. I still had my cloak on, but I had tossed it such that it was behind me leaving my worn out night dress exposed. I blushed, embarrassed. Perhaps I should have changed into something much more befitting. 

Who the hell cares about that when Diane is dying?! 

Right, Diane

"Last I checked, the moon goddess chooses mates for uhm, everyone. How do you get to choose me?" I asked. 

"Because you're our mate?" Adam said in a falsetto tone and I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. 

"I have been mated twice. I may be human, but I understand a mate's pull. I don't feel that with either of you." I started dryly and clamped a hand over my mouth. "Pardon my outspokenness-"

"You're saying you don't feel attracted to us?" Adam demanded, his brows knitted together as he rose to his feet. 

"No, I-" 

"You're not affected by us?" Antonio joined in, and I swallowed. 

"You don't feel anything at all?" Adam asked again, stalking towards me slowly. 

What the hell was going on? Confused, I backed away from them, my eyes darting to the door as I considered making a break for it. 

Diane, my mind reminded me and I sighed. The things I did for my family. Clenching my jaw, I stood my ground and held my head high, trying to remain calm as they approached. 

Adam reached me first and in a blink, he had his arm around my waist. I gasped, placing my palm on his chest to stop myself from crashing into him. A warm spicy scent filled my nose, and his chest rumbled beneath my fingers. I looked up to see dark blue eyes peering down at me intently. 

"Uhm... Excuse me-"

"Nothing at all?" He taunted, arching a brow in amusement. 

Whatever I wanted to say in response flew out the window when I felt another solid presence behind me. My eyes widened as Antonio leaned down and buried his face in my neck. His breathing, warm and enticing, caressed the groove of my neck and my eyes closed drowsily. 

Oh crap, that felt good. 

He took in a deep breath and growled, sending vibrations straight down to the junction of my thighs. 

I needed to stop this, I needed to bring everyone back to their senses and I would. In a minute. I just wanted to bask in their touch for just a moment more. 

"Feel that, Ava?" Adam whispered, pressing his lips to the side of my face while his brother licked and teased at the sensitive spot on my neck. "You could pretend all you want, but you definitely want us," 

"I-I do not," I blubbered weakly, trapped between them and slowly losing control of my damned senses. 

"Liar," he chuckled, running a thumb over my bottom lip. "Isn't she a pretty little thing brother?" 

Antonio growled in response, his wet hot tongue licking and sucking on my neck. "She smells so fucking good. Smell that nectar, I'll bet she's as wet as the ocean," 

Hearing his words, more moisture slipped between my thighs. They must have noticed because Adam sniffed and his chest rumbled underneath my finger tips. He began placing tiny open mouthed kisses along the corner of my mouth while Antonio's hands grabbed my backside through the nightdress, fondling and squeezing. 

"Please," I whimpered. We needed to stop this. I hadn't even agreed to being their mate yet and I knew I wasn't their true mate. There were only second chances and I had already used up all of mine. 

With a light slap on my ass and final kiss on the lips, the brothers withdrew from me, leaving me breathless and shameless with desire. I didn't have to look down to know my nipples poked through the damned fabric begging to be let out, to be seen and touched. 

"We've established that you are very much affected by us," Adam said with a heated look on his face while Antonio chuckled. 

"But you are right, you're not our mate. However we'll need you to play the part," 

"You..." I cleared my throat to get rid of the hoarseness in my voice. "You want me to pretend to be your mate."

"Bingo," Adam replied. 

"Why?" I asked, frowning, the lustful haze that had swarmed me slowly cleared up. 

"That is for us to know, all you have to do is play the part, Miss Lopez." Antonio said. 

"For... For how long?" I asked and they glanced at each other again before Adam shrugged, walking back to the tea table. 

Antonio turned to me with a smile. "How about we find that out together? Come on Ava. What do you have to lose?" 

"Is that why you chose me? You think I'd be grateful because I've been rejected twice?" I demanded, taking a step away from him. Away from that blinding smile that shot straight into my chest like a damned arrow. 

Antonio grabbed my arm however, witholding me from doing so. "We chose you because we wanted to help you." 

"You expect me to believe that?" I scoffed, laughing in derision. They had to come up with a better excuse than that. 

"No," Adam replied from his desk. "You want Honesty, Ava? I'll give you fucking honesty. Your sister needs those roses. I believe that is enough reason for you to agree to this. I had believed you to be a selfless person. And if you're oh so worried about our motive, well it's pretty simple. It involves a bed and that pert, beautiful ass of yours, sprawled naked on it!"

I gaped at him in disbelief, shocked by his bluntness and his words. Who the hell says that to anyone?! 

"He's kidding," Antonio said with a chuckle and his brother snorted. "So what will it be, Ava?" 

Tugging my lower lip beneath my teeth, I considered my options. I had a million reasons to hesitate. One, dallying with werewolves had brought me nothing but pain. Two, I had been rejected twice. The internal scars I had to live with were pure hell. 

But with these two, at least it was clear right from the beginning that whatever bond we had would be false. Until they got what they wanted, whatever it was, Diane could live a happy life. And when this was over, there would be no pain at all. If I could live through two damn rejections, what was a false relationship? 

Absolutely nothing. 

"I agree to your proposal," I announced. 

"Wonderful!" Antonio yelled with glee. He pulled me in for a hug, twirled me around and continued. "We must prepare to leave for the palace." 

I nodded glumly and moved towards the door. "I'll go and prepare." 

"Here, before you go," Adam's gruff voice stopped me. I glanced over my shoulder to see he had left the tea table and held out a blue rose. The petals glowed softly in the dim light. "A token for you."

Gasping I stumbled towards him, retrieving the flower, staring at it in awe. I had never seen anything so beautiful. 

"Thank you," I whispered, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling. 

"Yeah yeah, we have a shit ton at the palace. I'm sure your sister will be well in no time." He said, shrugging dismissively. "You may leave now."

Bowing my head in obediance, I walked out of the room, clutching the flower stem tightly. There was still hope. 

But at what cost exactly?