Claimed By My Three Alphas
Chapter 165

My knees nearly give out.

He's here, alive.

Naked and covered in blood, but alive.

The relief hits me like a freight train. I don't understand it, I don't even have time to process it. It's so intense, I double over. Quincy comes to my side, gripping my elbow and asking if I'm okay.

"What the hell took you so long?" Asher asks his brother.

Levi doesn't even spare him a glance. He strolls over to where I'm standing. I s**k in a breath once he reaches me, watching as he hesitates.

Like he's unsure of what to do.

"I, uh," his bloody arm lifts, tugging on the hair at the back of his head, "Are you okay?"

I nod once, not trusting myself to speak. Quincy lets go of me, stepping back a fraction once he's sure I'm okay.

"Why do you look like that?" He asks.

Levi doesn't answer him for a while. I almost think he didn't hear the question. He's staring at me, dark grey eyes trailing over every inch of my face. Hes so close and I'm holding my breath, wondering what the hell I'm supposed to say to him. I wonder if he even deserves that much from me.

I can barely see his face. His white hair is streaked with blood. It's smeared over the left side of his face, most of his very, very naked body is covered in it.

My cheeks heat.

He turns his head to the side, answering Quincy's forgotten question, "Last you all saw me, I was playing bait for an angry herd of warriors. How did you expect me to come out of it? Wearing a f*****g tiara?" Quincy rolls his eyes.

Asher comes up behind Levi, scooping a finger of blood off his skin. "This yours?"

"No."

Asher nods once, his eyes cut to mine. I swallow, For some reason, he looks even angrier now than he did before Levi showed up.

"We all need to talk." He says.

"Yeah, no shit." Levi agrees, "What the hell happened back there?" He turns to me again. I could be imagining it, but his eyes soften around the edges, "What happened?"

I tell him everything.

I tell him about the prophecy and the deadline too.

He runs his bloody hands through his white hair, staining the strands even more, "That Gaia woman had her s**t straight."

I'm confused, "What Gaia woman." I turn to look at Quincy, then Asher, "Who's he talking about?"

Asher sighs, long and hard. He drops to the ground, laying flat on his pack and tossing an arm over his eyes.

"We met her at camp." Quincy answers, "When you were kidnapped. She followed us, I think. She knew something about the prophecy."

"What?" I shout, "Are you kidding me? And you didn't think to tell me that. What the hell is wrong with you guys?

Where do you get off on keeping all these secrets? Of what benefit is it to anyone?"

"I forgot," Quincy says.

"That's not true." Levi crosses his arms over his chest," Don't lie to her."

"Excuse me?" Quincy turns on him, pointing a finger at his chest, "I shouldn't lie to her? You're gonna pull that stat card despite everything you've done?"

He's unbothered, Levi. "How many times do you intend on using things I've done to justify your behaviour."

Quincy gets in his brother's face, foaming at the mouth, "As many times as it takes for you to understand that you don't get to call what's wrong and what isn't. You don't get to decide what's best for her, neither do you have any right to act like her protector when all this time, out of all of us, you're the only one who wanted her dead."

My body breaks out in icy shivers.

I've always known it, and I never even forgot it. But still, Quincy's words feel like a ton of bricks have been dropped right over my head. Yes, he does want me dead. And he was bothered enough to try to end me himself. Multiple times.

Levis jaw clenches, his gaze darting to mine, then looking away.

"Yeah," Quincy says, "That's what I thought."

“******g stop!" Asher groans. It's dragged out, a frustrated sound rumbling in his chest as he sits up on the grass." Quit it, damn! Let's act like f*****g adults okay? Levi, you look like something straight out of a horror flick. You need a shower, clothes, hell, both. After everything that just happened, it's safe to say were all on edge. And we could all use a f*****g break. Let's go to the house, rest up and figure all this s**t out together. My head might burst open any f*****g minute and I'm tired of everyone bitching like a bunch of lost puppies. Get it together, f**k." He gets to his feet.

"Why the hell do you swear so much?"

Asher ignores Quincy, already ahead of us on his march

"down the gravel road

"What house are you talking about?" Levi asks.

"He found an empty house when we got here." I explain, " It's in this rogue pack. I don't think it's that far from here."

He nods once, acknowledging my response before turning to follow Asher.

"Let's go," Quincy says, coming up beside me. We walk side by side, Asher leads the way, Levi on his right.

I try not to notice the lack of blood spatter on his backside.

Or the way his taut ass flexes with every step he takes.

God, I have a headache.

Since everything happened, I've barely had time to breathe, let alone organize the chaos in my head.

Were all safe for now, were all okay.

But that's the thing. It won't last.

If the boys can evade my mother's efforts as best as they can, or even if all of us can continuously outrun the King, it still doesn't change anything.

Their lives are in danger.

If this prophecy is as real as everyone believes, then I have to choose one of them. And I have to do it soon

look up at the two brothers walking ahead of me, side by side, not even acknowledging each other. And then Quincy's presence registers beside me. I can't choose. I just can't do it

But I'm not a fool. Even I know the only logical decision would be to save one of them. It's only that, I'll never be able to live with myself knowing I caused the death of two people. The death of two of them.

These brothers have been a thorn in my side for almost as long as I've known them. The ones who lie, deceive and use mind games to get what they want. The one who tried to kill me.

The ones who've also ignited the type of passion in me that I'd only ever heard of in stories. Whether it's positive or negative, what I feel for them is strong.

It's powerful and all-consuming.

It's rage like no other. Anger, disappointment, sadness and betrayal. Pleasure. Love.

I just can't choose.

"We're here."