Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

....

The door burst open without warning.

Nate walked in first, with a stick of lollipop hanging lazily from the corner of his mouth as if he had wandered in out of boredom.

Xanden followed right behind him, his expression far more serious.

The moment they stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted.

Alaric immediately sat up straighter on the couch.

His gaze hardened. "Why are you—"

Xanden’s eyes swept across the room quickly, then they landed on the bed. His brows furrowed when they landed on Aire.

Nate followed his line of sight.

The lollipop slowly slid out of his mouth, and his eyes narrowed.

The fragile girl lay asleep on the bed. Her silver hair spread across the pillow, with her breathing slow and uneven.

For one brief second, the room was silent.

Then Nate moved. He moved fast and was hot blooded.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed Alaric by the collar and yanked him off the couch.

His fist connected with Alaric’s jaw with a violent crack. His breath quickened, and his anger caused his temperature to heat with his wolf pushing forward to tear Alaric to pieces.

Alaric staggered back a step.

"You sick fuck!" Nate roared, his eyes blazing. "You gave her your blood without consulting us?!"

Alaric wiped the corner of his mouth slowly.

Then he shoved Nate back hard.

"She was burning alive," he snapped. "I wasn’t waiting for a meeting! She’s my mate. I sure as hell won’t wait for you fools."

Nate’s eyes flashed gold instantly. "She’s ours, you idiot!"

"Oh?" Alaric shot back coldly. "Funny how none of you were here when she collapsed."

A low growl rumbled through the room.

Nate’s shoulders tensed.

His bones shifted slightly beneath his skin as his wolf pushed forward.

He half-shifted. His eyes turned fully red now.

"Don’t push me tonight, Alaric."

"Oh, I’m not pushing," Alaric said flatly.

Then his own wolf surged forward.

The air thickened with Alpha pressure.

His eyes darkened as a low, dangerous growl escaped his chest.

"I’m stating a fact." Alaric spat. "You’re stupid. Stealing glances at Adele in breakfast today. Wasn’t she enough?"

"You_"

Xanden stepped between them instantly. "Enough."

Neither of them listened.

Nate took another step forward.

"Move." He ordered Xander.

Xanden didn’t move. "No, not happening." He shook his head and his index finger in refusal.

Alaric’s wolf was dangerously close to the surface now.

His gaze flicked briefly toward the bed. Toward the sleeping girl, and then back to his brothers. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I’m staying here tonight."

Nate let out a harsh laugh. "The hell you are." His claws charged forward, ready to cut through Alaric if need be.

Alaric’s lip curled slightly. "I wasn’t asking. My wolf requests it."

Nate’s lollipop clattered to the floor as his body began to shift again.

His claws extended slightly.

"Oh, now I definitely don’t trust you alone here. She might not be high enough for a lady, but she’s still a lady. Don’t ruin her."

"Try stopping me."

Nate’s wolf pushed forward harder. His voice dropped into a growl. "I will."

Alaric’s control finally snapped. His wolf surged forward violently.

The room was filled with the sound of bones cracking as his eyes turned fully wolf.

"I dare you."

"Idiots!" Xanden snapped.

Neither of them heard him.

Nate’s wolf pushed halfway out. His shoulders broadened, claws flexing.

"Fine," he said darkly. "Then I’ll stay too."

Alaric’s jaw tightened. "No."

Nate smirked. "Yes."

Xanden pinched the bridge of his nose slowly. "You two are unbelievable."

Neither Alpha even looked at him.

Their focus remained locked on each other.

Finally, Xanden sighed.

"Great."

Both brothers finally looked at him.

He gestured toward the bed. "Now I have to stay too."

Nate blinked. "What?"

"To stop you two from killing each other," Xanden said flatly. He looked less affected by the fact that Alaric had single handedly made the first move towards the mating ritual.

Alaric’s wolf was still close to the surface.

Nate crossed his arms. "Fine." He dragged a chair across the room loudly and dropped into it. "I’m watching both of you."

Alaric sat back down on the couch again, his gaze drifting back to the sleeping girl.

"I don’t care."

Xanden leaned against the wall.

"This is going to be a long night."

Nate grabbed his fallen lollipop off the floor and popped it back into his mouth.

His red eyes never left Alaric. "Especially if he tries anything."

Alaric didn’t even look at him. His attention remained completely fixed on the girl sleeping in the bed.

The room slowly fell into silence.

Only the faint crackle of the lantern and Aire’s quiet breathing filled the space.

Minutes passed yet no one relaxed.

Nate leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the lollipop shifting from one side of his mouth to the other as he watched Alaric like a hawk.

Xanden remained by the wall, though his eyes moved between both brothers.

And Alaric... Alaric never looked away from the bed.

His wolf refused to settle.

The scent of his blood still lingered faintly in the room.

Then Aire stirred. It was a small shift. Just the faintest movement beneath the blanket. However, all three Alphas noticed immediately.

Alaric straightened.

Nate leaned forward in his chair.

Xanden pushed himself off the wall.

Aire’s fingers twitched against the sheets.

Her brows pulled together faintly as if she were caught in an uneasy dream.

Nate frowned. "Is she waking up?"

Xanden shook his head slowly. "No."

Her breathing deepened slightly but she did not open her eyes. Then her head shifted against the pillow slowly.

Deliberately, her face turned toward the couch. Toward Alaric.

His wolf surged forward instantly.

A low growl rumbled in his chest before he could stop it.

Nate noticed.

His eyes narrowed, then Aire moved again.

Her head tilted slightly the other way, towards Nate.

Nate froze.

His wolf slammed forward violently inside him. "What the—"

Aire’s fingers curled slightly in the sheets.

Another breath escaped her lips, then her body shifted again.

This time toward Xanden.

The room went completely still.

Xanden frowned deeply now. "That’s not random."

Nate slowly leaned back in his chair again. "...Okay."

Alaric’s gaze darkened. Aire had just moved toward each of them.

One after the other, even in her sleep.

And now something else was happening. A faint scent was beginning to spread through the room.

It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Xanden noticed it first.

His head lifted slightly. "...Do you smell that?"

Nate’s expression changed. His wolf surged forward again.

Alaric stiffened.

It was a mate’s scent.

But it was... changing.

Nate slowly stood from his chair.

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"That’s impossible."

Xanden looked back toward the bed.

Aire remained asleep.

But the scent coming from her was growing stronger.

Alaric slowly rose from the couch. His wolf was fully alert now. Because one terrifying possibility had just entered his mind.

If Aire truly had no wolf...

Then where the hell was that scent coming from?

And why did it feel like.... All three of them had just been claimed.

"She’s lying about something." Xanden broke the trance.