Chapter 7

Riley's POV

Hearing Damon's request sent a jolt through me. I became instantly dumbfounded staring at everyone. Yet, my eyes captured nothing.

I felt like I was stuck in some kind of crazy dream. One minute, I was standing in front of Norman, listening to him declare that I was his mate, and the next, Damon was talking openly about marrying me as his mate.

“No way in hell that's happening!” A feminine voice growled, stomping into the room. “You plan to abandon me because of this thing?”

I shot up my brow in confusion. Was I being referred to as a thing now?

“Meredith?” Damon's eyes shot up inquisitively, “What are you doing here?”

“What's going on here?” Mr. Chadwick's loud voice captured everyone's attention.

Norman cleared his throat, “She's Meredith Cox, Damon's girlfriend and lover.”

I didn't know how to feel about the news. Part of me was drawn to Norman's possessiveness, but another part of me was intrigued by Damon's raw, wild energy. And now, with Damon's girlfriend, Meredith Cox, glaring at me with hate plain in her eyes, I felt like I was caught in the middle of some kind of twisted love triangle.

“The meeting is dismissed,” Mr. Chadwick announced. “We will fix another day when you all must have sort out your issues.”

After that, we made our way out of the antiquated building. I couldn't help but feel like I was losing my mind. Norman's hand was now wrapped around my waist, holding me close, and Damon was walking not far from us, his eyes fixed intently on me.

I could also feel Meredith's hard glare glued to my body. If looks could kill, I'd be long dead by now.

Seeing I didn't cower to her glare, Meredith stormed off towards the opposite direction.

I felt like my head would explode anytime soon. I wouldn't have envisioned all this ever happening. Heck, I'd have argued if anyone had told me.

Just as we were about to step out into the bright sunlight, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was a tall, well toned and tanned man. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me.

Worse, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body as our eyes met, and I couldn't help but stare. Who was this guy?

"Kirk," Norman said, his voice solid and impassive. "Welcome to the party."

Kirk's gaze flicked to Norman, and then back to me. His gaze seemed to hold a mystery I couldn't quite explain.

Just as I was about drawing my gaze away from him, I saw his mouth twist before he let out, "Mate?" he said, his voice laced with confusion.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Mate? What was he talking about?

Norman's grip on my waist tightened, and he pulled me closer. "She's mine," he growled, his eyes flashing with anger.

But Kirk just shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "No," he said, his voice firm. "Now, she's mine."

I felt like I was caught in some kind of crazy storm, with no way to escape. Three brothers, all claiming me as their mate? It was too much to handle.

Damon stepped forward, his mouth flashing a dark smile. "Back off, Kirk," he growled. "She's already agreed to marry me."

What the hell did I just hear him say? Agreed to marry him?

I snapped my head towards Damon, his determined eyes made me look at the other two brothers. Norman had a serious look as if he'd strike anyone who tried to touch me.

But Kirk just smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I don't think so," he snagged his head towards Damon, his voice low but firm. "She now belongs to me, and I'm not letting her go."

I felt like I was losing my mind. What was going on? Why were all these princes claiming me as their mate?

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. Kirk's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt like I was drowning in their depths.

"Mine," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sent sparks flying through my body, and I knew that I was in trouble.

"Kirk, back off," Norman growled, his voice low and menacing.

But Kirk didn't move. He just kept staring at me, his eyes burning with raw desire and neediness.

"I don't think so," Kirk replied stubbornly, his voice firm. "The lady belongs to me now, you both can go kick rocks."

Kirk's statement elicited a simultaneous growl from both Norman and Damon. My mind raced hard.

I felt like I was being pulled in three directions at a time. I felt like all this was a dream I would soon wake up from. Part of me was drawn to Kirk's wild, untamed energy, while another part was still reeling from Norman's possessiveness.

And then there was Damon, who seemed to be watching the whole scene with a mixture of anger and amusement.

I didn't know what to do. I felt like I was losing my mind, torn between three different brothers who all seemed to want me for themselves.

"Riley, come on," Norman urged, his voice sharp but filled with calmness. "We need to get out of here."

But I didn't move. I was frozen in place, unable to tear my eyes away from Kirk's. He reached out and held my left hand.

"Kirk, let her off," Damon snapped, his voice full with authority.

But Kirk just smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement "I don't think so," he said, his voice low and even. "I told you before, she now belongs to me."

“Leave her right now!” Norman threatened, his eyes flashing red from anger.

At that moment, I felt like I was trapped in some kind of crazy dream, with no way to escape. This was too much to handle.

Now I know what being in a dilemma feels like. These three brothers feel like they'd tear themselves just because of me. Who was I to have the honor of being mated to three Edelman princes. Was this some kind of game the moon goddess chose to play?

I looked at the faces of the three brothers, all seemed to have a look of determination and fierceness that made my heart beat faster.

And in that moment, I knew that I was in trouble. A very big trouble.