"Do you want to do the honours, or should I take over and do it for you?" Viola's teasing voice rang in Emerald's mind, making her feel an electric buzz of tension throughout her body.
Emerald blinked, her lips still slightly parted as she felt Kieran's warm breath against her face. Her fingers instinctively twitched at her sides, lost in the moment.
She could smell the pine and frost in the air, feel his hand resting on her waist, and the bond between them seemed to gently urge her to say yes.
But Viola's words were sobering, reminding them of the time, place, and situation they were in. If she wanted to kiss Kieran.
She drew in a breath, forcing the bond's buzz to quiet.
Kieran's gaze was steady and calm. He wasn't pressing. Just waiting.
"I…" Emerald pulled back slowly, her hand brushing his as she stepped away. "Thank you. For tonight. It was… more than I expected."
He didn't hide the flicker of disappointment, but he nodded once, respectfully. "You're welcome."
"Goodnight, Kieran."
"Goodnight, my lady."
Emerald turned before he could say anything else, heart pounding far too loudly in her chest.
Kieran didn't move to touch her again, didn't linger for a second longer than he should. Instead, he watched her walk back toward the estate.
She didn't look back. Only when she was inside did she let out the breath she'd been holding.
—
The moment Emerald returned to her room, the walls seemed to close in. She peeled off her dress, kicked off her shoes, and sat at the edge of her bed in nothing but her silk slip.
The carved obsidian wolf rested on her palm, catching the moonlight softly.
It should have been a simple night—just a conversation and dinner.
Not… that.
Not the ache of something she couldn't name or chase.
Her thoughts spiralled, faster than she could leash them; her breath was coming in too fast.
What almost happened with Kieran, what might have happened if she hadn't pulled away, was exactly the reason she hadn't wanted any mates in the first place. Let alone three.
She couldn't afford to feel like this.
Not now. Not ever.
Viola stirred quietly.
"I can't fall for them," Emerald whispered. "Not any of them."
But even as she said it, the scent of pine lingered on her skin, and her body still tingled from the closeness.
The bond makes you feel everything, even when you try to feel nothing at all.
She hated that.
She hated that part of her wanted to stay in that clearing.
That she'd almost kissed him.
A soft knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.
She didn't answer, just sat still.
The door creaked open anyway. Nessa poked her head in, barefoot and in sleep shorts, holding two mugs of something that smelled a lot like cinnamon tea.
"So," Nessa said as she stepped inside, "how did it go?"
Emerald sighed. "It was fine."
"That's code for 'too intense and I didn't know how to handle it,' isn't it?"
Emerald rubbed her temple. "I don't know."
"You always know."
"This time I don't," Emerald said, leaning back on her palms. "I told myself I'd be in control. That I wouldn't get pulled under by them. And then Kieran goes and actually listens to me. He sees me. Not just the title. Not just the Alpha. Me."
Nessa raised a brow. "And that's… bad?"
"It's dangerous."
"Because you liked it?"
"Because I wanted more of it," Emerald snapped, then softened. "And I hate that."
Nessa handed her one of the mugs. "So what, you're thinking of calling it off? No more mate dates?"
"Not thinking," Emerald murmured. "Considering."
Nessa sat beside her. "You want to reject them?"
Emerald nodded slowly. "I'm tempted… all of them. Focus on the council. Get revenge. Rebuild what I lost. Why open my heart just to hand someone the knife?"
A heavy pause.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Nessa wrapped both arms around her and hugged her close. "You've always been the stronger one," she whispered. "Even when we were kids. Remember when we were fourteen and I accidentally shifted during full moon training and ran straight into the river?"
Emerald gave a short laugh. "You screamed like a dying goose."
"You dragged me out, soaking wet, then threatened to beat up the two guards who laughed. Even before you had rank, you had fire."
"Yeah, and now that fire's burning out."
"No, it's burning brighter than ever. You just don't know where to point it yet."
Emerald said nothing.
Nessa drew back. "You've been through hell, Em. And you came back standing. Don't throw away a chance to be happy because of what Rick did to you. Love doesn't make you weak. It makes you stronger. Braver. Real."
Emerald looked at her sideways. "I think my drive for vengeance will work just fine."
"I'm not saying give it up," Nessa said. "I'm saying you can use them. You've got three powerful Alphas bonded to you. Use their influence, their strengths. If nothing else, they're your allies."
Emerald let the silence stretch.
"I'm just saying," Nessa added softly, "don't close a door you haven't walked through yet."
"I'll think about it," Emerald murmured.
Nessa stood up and kissed the top of Emerald's head. "Good. That's all I ask."
She stood and stretched. "Now sleep. I know you have another Alpha showing up tomorrow."
"Lucky me."
—
She didn't sleep.
She lay on her side, staring out the window at the stars. Her fingers curled around the obsidian wolf on her nightstand.
She didn't believe in fate anymore.
Not really.
Fate had taken her father, ruined her past, bonded her to a man who betrayed her, and now, like a cruel cosmic joke, deposited three impossible Alphas at her feet.
But looking at the stars?
Something stirred inside her. It wasn't exactly belief, but it was hope… a tiny, flickering bit of it.
—
By noon the next day, the estate was calm but quietly alert. The guards doubled at the entrance. Patrols checked the grounds in rotations.
The attempt on Emerald's life had shaken everyone, even those who pretended it hadn't.
So when Lucian arrived, alone, cloak drawn over his shoulders like storm clouds trailing him, his presence was noted instantly.
He didn't stride like Adrien or prowl like Kieran.
He simply… appeared.
Emerald stepped into the receiving room just as he turned from the window. The long, dark sleeves of his coat made his silhouette look even more imposing, but his expression remained unreadable.
"Lucian," she greeted with a nod.
"Alpha," he returned. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Good." His voice was even. "I heard about the attempt. If you need help identifying who's behind it…" he paused. "Let me know."
Emerald tilted her head. "You're not going to interrogate me like the others?"
Lucian's eyes held hers. "If you needed me to know more, you'd have told me."
Emerald blinked. "That's… surprisingly mature." Her lips twitched into a faint smile. "Well. I appreciate the offer."
Lucian's lips quirked. "You're not used to people offering help without… ulterior motives?"
"Not lately."
He offered his arm, and she took it, more from surprise than anything else.
The sun shone warmly in the courtyard, creating a beautiful day that made you want to be outside instead of stuck indoors.
She looked at him curiously. "So… where are you taking me?"
"You'll see," he replied.