novelraw Chapter 105: Her Choice
Chapter 105: Her Choice
The air in the room was thick and heavy, making it hard to take a full breath. Liam and Leon stood like two stone walls; they bared their teeth at each other, neither one willing to move an inch. To them, stepping back felt like giving her up forever.
"I am the eldest," Liam growled, his voice deep and vibrating with power. "I’m the one who decides. Move, Leon."
"Being born first won’t save her life," Leon snapped back, his eyes flashing with possession. "She needs heat, and I’m burning hotter than you’ll ever be. Besides, you’re only older by six minutes. It doesn’t mean a damn thing right now."
Between them, Leo stood silent, watching Scarlett shiver on the bed. His knuckles were white because he was squeezing his fists so hard they shook. The healer, Hecate, stood at the bedside, her hands glowing with a soft, flickering green light as she prepared to work.
"She’s dying!" Hecate screamed, her voice cutting through their bickering. "The cold is reaching her heart! Stop acting like children!"
At her shout, a tiny, broken sound escaped Scarlett’s throat. She looked white, frozen, and fragile. Then, her arm moved just a little. Her fingers dragged across the sheets, searching for any spark of warmth in the freezing dark.
Her hand brushed against Leo’s sleeve. He was the one standing right there.
For Liam and Leon, it felt like a physical blow. Liam froze, his jaw dropping as he stared at her small, pale hand resting on Leo’s arm. Leon’s growl died instantly, his face twisting with a look of pure betrayal. They didn’t see a dying girl reaching for the nearest person; all they saw was a choice.
"She chose him," Leon whispered, the words sounding raw and painful.
Leo didn’t waste time arguing. He just moved. He could feel the ice radiating off her skin, and it terrified him.
"Get out of my way," Leo snapped. He sounded more like an Alpha in that moment than either of his brothers ever had.
He didn’t even glance at them. He ripped off his shirt and tossed it to the floor, his skin already flushed and hot from his wolf’s frantic energy. With shaking hands, he climbed onto the bed and pulled Scarlett’s limp, freezing body against his bare chest.
He wrapped himself around her, holding her tight, trying to be a furnace to melt away the death creeping through her veins.
Liam stood at the foot of the bed, his claws digging so deep into his palms that blood began to drip onto the rug. Every instinct he had was screaming at him to rip Leo away and be the one to save her. Beside him, Leon looked like his world was falling apart. The scent of Leo’s skin mixing with Scarlett’s filled the air, and it made him feel sick with a burning, helpless jealousy.
They stood there shaking with rage and grief, forced to stay and watch.
Hecate stepped up and touched Scarlett’s ankles, her green light beginning to sink into the girl’s skin. "It is working, Alpha Leo," she said softly.
The healer continued. She kept her hands on Scarlett, the green light flowing steadily until the very last drop of the poison was gone. Finally, the glow faded, and Hecate let out a long breath.
"It is over," she whispered, wiping sweat from her forehead. "The toxin is out of her system."
Leo didn’t move. He stared down at Scarlett, who was finally fast asleep in his arms. Her breathing was deep and steady now; her skin no longer felt like ice. She looked peaceful, tucked against his chest, but his own heart was still racing with worry.
The healer packed her things but looked at Leo one last time. "She’s stable, but her body is exhausted. You have to keep holding her until she wakes up to keep her temperature up. But," she glanced at the two brothers standing in a corner, "you can switch places with your brothers if you need a break."
Leo’s brow furrowed. He tightened his grip on Scarlett, pulling her even closer. The thought of letting Liam or Leon take his place—letting their skin touch hers while he sat in the corner—made his stomach turn. He wouldn’t allow it.
Miles away, Alpha Ethan sat in his car, the engine idling quietly. He had just finished taking Elara out for a fancy dinner, and now he was dropping her off at her home. The silence between them felt heavy, at least for him.
He turned to her, his voice tender. "Elara... have you had a change of heart? About being with me?"
Elara didn’t even look at him. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I’ve told you already, Alpha Ethan. I don’t want to be with you. Fine, the universe made us mates, but I love someone else. A bond doesn’t change my feelings."
Ethan felt like he’d been stabbed. He had given up everything for this woman. He’d ignored his pride and his duties just to be near her, and she still treated him like a nuisance.
Suddenly, Elara reached over, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him into a hard, sudden kiss. When she pulled away, she smirked. "Book a hotel for tomorrow night. I know you’re dying to have me, and I’ll let you. Think of it as a thank-you for all the nice things you’ve bought me lately."
She climbed out of the car without waiting for an answer. Ethan sat there, stunned. Tears pricked at his eyes, but he blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. He put the car in gear and drove off, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard the leather groaned.
He felt like a fool. He had abandoned his pack and his responsibilities to chase a mate who only saw him as a bank account or a temporary distraction. His wolf let out a pained, angry growl in his mind, and Ethan finally snapped.
"Stop it!" he shouted at the empty car. "Shut up! Can’t you see I’m trying? I’m trying to make this work!"
He started thinking about Scarlett. Beautiful, perfect Scarlett. He knew he was starting to fall for her, and it terrified him. It was a mess. One, she was actually mated to his cousins. And two, he already had a mate, even if that mate was breaking his heart.
When he drove up to the mansion, he noticed something was wrong immediately. The guards were whispering, and the staff were running back and forth with panicked faces.
He jumped out of the car and grabbed one of his men by the shirt. "What is happening? Why is everyone acting like the world is ending?"
"It’s Scarlett, Alpha," the guard stammered. "She was poisoned."
Ethan’s heart stopped. He didn’t ask another question. He sprinted into the house, his boots thudding against the stairs as he raced to her floor. He barged into her room, his eyes scanning for her.
He saw her. She was tucked into bed, but she wasn’t alone. Leo was there, shirtless, holding her body tightly against his.
Ethan’s protective instincts flared white-hot. He didn’t care about the triplets’ presence in that moment; he just wanted to reach her. But before he could take three steps toward the bed, a wall of muscle blocked his path.
Liam stood there, his eyes glowing with a warning anger, his chest out.
"Don’t you dare," Liam growled. "Don’t even think about touching her."