Chapter 9

BRIE’S POV

The blade is steady in my hand and it’s pressed tightly against the throat of the man in front of me. His skin is warm beneath the edge, and the smallest push will tear it open. My breathing is heavy. My chest burns with pain I don’t understand, but I hold my ground.

I heard his brothers call him Kane.

That name rolls in my mind like a curse and a question. Kane. One of the three. One of the alphas who dared to call me their mate.

I should feel powerful right now. I should feel in control. But I don’t. My hand trembles. My muscles are weak. I haven’t fully regained my strength since… since Alex’s voice tore through my head. I’m still suffering from the corruption of our bond.

Alex. My wretched ex-husband. My so-called mate. The pain of the corrupted bond still burns in my chest. It cuts deeper every time I breathe.

I push the thoughts aside and focus on Kane. His green eyes are locked on mine, not with fear but with something that unsettles me even more - amusement. He looks entertained, like I’m not a threat and this is all a joke to him. It annoys me even more.

“Don’t move,” I hiss, pushing the dagger tighter to his throat. “Answer me. How did I get here? What did you do to me?”

Instead of panicking, he chuckles. The sound vibrates against my blade.

“You’re beautiful when you’re angry,” he says softly. His lips then twitch into a smirk.

Heat floods my cheeks, not from flattery but anger. I shove the dagger harder against his skin. “This isn’t a joke! Tell me how I got here!”

“You won’t get much out of me,” he replies calmly, tilting his head a bit. “Not when you keep threatening me with a toy you don’t have the strength to use.”

My blood boils. My grip tightens. I press the blade until it slices into his skin. A thin line of blood appears, sliding slowly down the curve of his neck.

His smirk only widens.

“Ah,” he murmurs, almost pleased. “There she is.”

“You think I won’t kill you?” I snap. “Try me.”

But instead of flinching, his eyes darken. My wolf stirs inside me. She’s suddenly awake, suddenly alive. I feel heat inside me and all of a sudden….longing? Why do I feel like this?

It’s the blood. His blood.

The scent of it spreads into my chest. His scent ignites something inside me. My wolf claws forward. She’s restless. She’s howling in recognition. My body betrays me. I feel drawn closer to him. I can feel my pulse syncing to his.

No. No, I don’t want this. I don’t want to feel this way. Not again. Not after Alex.

What is wrong with me?

I grit my teeth and press the dagger deeper. More blood drips down his throat, and the pull between us snaps tighter. The connection I feel to him is almost unbearable.

“Stop smiling!” I shout, furious at him. I’m furious at myself, furious at the way my body responds to him.

Kane laughs. Actually laughs. “You wound me, darling. And yet… you’re making it very hard for me to keep my hands to myself.”

I want to scream. I want to run. But before I can do either, he moves.

In one swift motion, faster than my eyes can follow, Kane grabs the blade with his bare hand. My gasp catches in my throat as he yanks it from my grip, tossing it across the room. His palm is sliced open. There’s blood dripping, but he doesn’t even wince.

Instinct kicks in. I reach down and snatch the sword from his waist before he can stop me. I spin, pointing it straight at his throat, refusing to be defenseless.

Now I see him fully. Those same piercing green eyes. That strong jaw. The same man from earlier, the one who pulled me close during our spar, the one who made my wolf restless.

And gods help me, I feel it again. The bond. Stronger than before.

The door slams open.

“Brother” one of his brother’s voice cuts off as he takes in the scene. I think this one is Tyler. The third brother is right behind him. They both stare at us with wide eyes.

Blood drips from Kane’s neck and hand, staining his chest, and I stand with his sword pressed against him. My body is tense,. My heart is racing.

“She attacked you?” Tristan blurts, looking at me. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’ll do worse if you don’t tell me what the hell you want from me!” I shout back.

The brothers freeze, exchanging glances, but none of them answer. Instead, they begin to step forward. They come closer slowly and carefully. .

“No,” I whisper, backing away. The sword shakes in my hands. Their auras are crushing, powerful. They’re Alphas, three Alphas and the force of it bears down on me until I can hardly breathe.

The mate bond roars louder. The bond wraps around my chest like chains. My wolf whines, clawing at me, begging me to submit, to surrender. I can’t. I won’t.

“Stay back!” I yell, but they keep moving.

The energy between us swells and it feels like it’s burning me from the inside. It’s too much. Too strong. I can’t fight all three. I can’t fight fate itself.

So, I do the only thing I can. I flip the sword in my hand and point it at my own chest.

The brothers freeze instantly.

“Don’t!” Kane growls.

“One step closer,” I warn, “and I’ll do it. I’ll end this. Right now.”

My chest heaves. The tip of the blade is directly at my chest. Their eyes widen. I can see the anger and fear in their eyes.

For the first time, they look afraid. Not of me, but of losing me.

“So this bond really is sacred to you,” I whisper bitterly.

Kane’s jaw tightens. “You don’t understand what you are to us.”

“Then explain!” I scream. “Tell me why fate thinks I belong to three of you. Tell me why I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest every time you look at me. Tell me why my wolf reacts to you when she’s been silent for years!”

They don’t answer. The silence cuts deep.

Before Kane can speak, the door opens again.

“My Lords!” someone comes in, probably a servant. His face is pale with panic. “Forgive me, but there’s trouble, serious trouble!”

Tristan snarls, stepping toward him. “What kind of trouble?”

The messenger gulps. “We’re under attack. The enemy… they’ve breached the defenses!”