Knotted By The Devilish Alpha Brothers

A soft, amused voice spoke from her left. ”You’re supposed to imitate the image.”

Amelia turned. The woman standing beside her was striking—tall, poised, dressed in deep purple that complemented her complexion. She studied Amelia with open curiosity rather than mockery, her head tilted slightly.

”I can tell you’re new,” the woman continued, gesturing toward the mirror. ”The mirror shows you more perfect ways to perform when it’s time to be intimate with your partners. It’s meant to help. The reflection adapts to what your body needs to learn.”

Amelia opened her mouth, then closed it again. No useful words came out. Her mind was still reeling from the mirror’s blatant display.

The woman’s eyes lit with recognition. ”You’re the Ellington brothers’ wife, aren’t you? I thought I recognized the outfit. This should be a breeze for someone like you—someone who’s already caught the attention of three alphas like that.”

Amelia forced herself to nod. The lie formed before she could stop it. ”It is. I already do moves far more provocative than anything that mirror is showing.”

The woman laughed lightly, clearly impressed. ”That’s so cool. I couldn’t expect less from you, honestly. But I have to ask—how did you get the three of them to finally settle? Everyone’s been trying to catch their attention for years. And how do you even handle their... huge sex drive?”

Heat crawled up Amelia’s neck, spreading across her cheeks. ”That’s personal.”

The woman lifted both hands in easy surrender, still smiling. ”Fair enough. You must just be a very lucky woman. Anyone else would literally kill to be in your position.”

Amelia stayed silent.

Lucky.

She had been forced into it. One woman’s nightmare was apparently every other woman’s dream.

Still, a small, unwanted flicker of pride stirred in her chest—having something so many others openly wanted, even if she had never asked for it.

The woman offered a polite smile and extended her hand. ”I’m Seraphine.”

”Amelia.”

Seraphine glanced back at the mirror, then at Amelia with a touch of hesitation. ”Would you mind helping me for a moment? I need to practice imitating the expressions. I only met my mate recently. We clicked instantly, but... I’m nervous. I don’t want the others to look at us and decide we aren’t compatible in the ways that matter here.”

You’re asking the wrong person.

Amelia had no real experience to offer, no technique to teach. Yet she also had no clean excuse to refuse—and practicing might give her some idea of what would be expected of her later.

She gave a short nod. ”All right.”

**

Not far from the ceremonial grounds, hidden among dense hedges and the rear of a service tent, Rue paced in tight, restless lines. Her hands flexed at her sides. Every few seconds she glanced toward the main pathway, waiting.

Skye’s voice came from the shadows a moment before she stepped into view. ”Everything’s set. You have less than an hour to carry out your plans before the brothers arrive.”

Rue closed the distance at once and kissed her, hard and brief. ”You’re the best.”

Skye’s hands rested lightly on Rue’s waist. When she spoke again her voice was softer ”Don’t you think the ceremony is the worst possible time for these twisted plans of yours?”

Rue’s eyes gleamed. ”It’s perfect. Public humiliation. Her reputation will be ruined. And then she’s out of the picture completely.”

”Even if it works,” Skye said, ”the public will still see you as the spare. The one trying to save face after being passed over.”

”I don’t care.” Rue’s tone left no room for argument. ”As long as I have the authority that comes with being their wife, there are a lot of things I’ll finally be able to accomplish.”

Skye’s expression dimmed. Her fingers tightened slightly against Rue’s waist. ”And what happens to us then? To our relationship?”

Rue cupped her cheek, thumb brushing once across her skin. ”Stop being dramatic. Nothing ends between us. When you’re living in the luxury this position will give us, you’ll be grateful I did what needed to be done.”

Her words offered only a thin thread of comfort. Skye searched Rue’s face for something more solid, but found nothing she could hold onto. After a moment she gave a short nod.

”Go on, then,” Rue said quietly. ”Start moving.”

Skye turned and left without another word.

Alone, Rue pulled out a small device and placed a call. Her voice dropped the instant the line connected. ”When does your crew get here?”

”We’re already in position.”

Rue closed her eyes for half a second, swallowing the sharp rush of excitement before it could show. She ended the call, straightened her shoulders, and slipped out of the hidden space.

Amelia and Seraphine walked back toward the main seating area, still exchanging quiet, slightly breathless laughter from the mirror practice.

”I knew you were just very good at this,” Seraphine said, glancing sideways at her. ”I’ll be paying very close attention when you’re intimate with your lovers later.”

Lovers.

The word landed strangely in Amelia’s mind, familiar in a way she couldn’t place.

As they drew closer to her section, the three empty seats were no longer empty. Enzo, Reid, and Dean were already there—straight-backed, composed, drawing every nearby gaze. Amelia’s stomach tightened. Nervous energy prickled under her skin.

Seraphine gave her a small smile. ”Good luck. I’m vouching for the three of you.”

Amelia managed a nod and moved to her seat. The moment she sat, the formal portion of the ceremony began.

Routines passed in a blur of introductions, traditional greetings, and carefully staged displays of status. Amelia barely absorbed any of it. Her pulse only grew louder as time moved forward.

Then the main course of the evening arrived.

The stage lights shifted. Soft, elegant music rose through the open air. The host’s voice carried clearly across the garden as he called for the Ellington brothers and their wife to begin.

Amelia’s heart slammed against her ribs so hard she thought it might bruise. She couldn’t seem to move—until Enzo’s hand closed around hers and drew her to her feet. Somehow her legs carried her forward. Somehow she climbed the steps onto the stage.

Reid leaned. ”Don’t look at anyone else. Eyes on us sweetie. Or should i spank you so that you can focus?”