Rosalie:

If I truly thought I could run away from three alphas, then I was a fool.

I barely managed to turn around before strong, familiar arms wrapped around me from behind, causing a startled gasp to escape my lips.

"No!"

I immediately struggled, twisting my body and trying to tear myself free, but the hold around me only tightened.

"Rosalie, stop."

Kaiser’s voice sounded right beside my ear. But the familiar sound that once made me feel safe now filled me with panic.

"Let me go!" I shouted, fighting harder. "Let me go, Kaiser!"

Rain poured down around us, soaking my clothes and plastering my hair against my face as I tried to break free. My heart pounded wildly inside my chest. I clawed at his arms and shoved against him with all my strength, but it was useless.

Kaiser was stronger than me. Far stronger. And he wasn’t even trying.

"Rosalie, stop struggling."

"No!"

I fought even harder.

His patience finally snapped. Before I could react, he bent down, threw me over his shoulder, and started walking.

My breath caught in my throat. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Kaiser!" I pounded my fists against his back. "Put me down!"

Nothing.

"Kaiser, put me down right now!"

Still nothing.

I hit him again and again. I kicked, or at least tried to. I twisted in his hold and struggled with everything I had. But it was like fighting a mountain. He didn’t even slow down.

Rainwater dripped from my clothes as he carried me across the courtyard while Alastor and Darien followed close behind us.

The sight made my chest ache.

These three were the same men I had loved with everything I had, trusted more than anyone, and the same men who had shattered my heart so completely that even breathing still hurt.

The packhouse doors came into view, making my stomach drop. I hit Kaiser’s back harder.

"Please!" The word escaped before I could stop it. I hated how desperate I sounded, hated how weak I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to be trapped with them, didn’t want to hear their explanations, didn’t want to see their faces. Most of all, I didn’t want to find out whether they still intended to kill me.

The glass doors opened, and a few seconds later, they shut behind us. The soft click echoed through the entrance hall. And somehow, that sound hurt more than anything else. Because it felt final, like the last tiny piece of hope I had been clinging to had just vanished.

A single tear slid down my cheek.

Thankfully, nobody noticed. Or maybe they did. I was already drenched from head to toe. Rainwater mixed with tears until there was no difference between them.

My escape had failed. Completely. The only thing I could hope for now was that the driver followed my instructions exactly. That he left already and didn’t try to fight the warriors.

The last thing I wanted was for either Eiden or Zaiden to get dragged into this mess because of me.

The thought of them appeared in my mind unexpectedly, their handsome faces flashing before my eyes. And despite everything, despite the fear and helplessness consuming me, warmth spread through my chest.

It was a small warmth, but enough. It was enough to remind me that I wasn’t completely alone anymore. Even though neither men had accepted me as their mate, they still made it clear they cared for my safety even though it was just for keeping up with their duties.

The warmth vanished as quickly as it came when Kaiser finally stopped walking. And then a familiar scent reached me - cedarwood, leather, and a faint trace of pine.

Kaiser’s room.

My stomach twisted. The moment he set me down on my feet, I immediately moved. I didn’t think, didn’t hesitate... I ran. Or at least, I tried to.

I had barely taken two steps when Alastor entered the room as well with Darien following right behind him. Then the door closed and Darien locked it. The sharp sound seemed impossibly loud.

My feet froze.

All three of them stood there, watching me, waiting, and blocking the only possible escape route.

The room suddenly felt too small. The walls felt closer and the air felt heavier. My pulse quickened and panic began taking root inside me. A dark, ugly panic that refused to leave. Because for the first time in my life, I genuinely didn’t know what these men were capable of doing to me. I didn’t know whether they wanted answers, or punishment... or death.

The realization was almost laughable.

Just a few days ago, I would have trusted them with my life. But now I was terrified to be alone in a room with them.

Darien took a careful step forward. And immediately, I took two steps back. The reaction seemed to catch him off guard and he stopped instantly while a deep frown appeared on his face.

Actually, all three of them looked confused, as though they couldn’t understand why I was behaving this way. As though they couldn’t understand why I didn’t want them near me.

The absurdity of it almost made me laugh. Almost. Instead, I just stared at them - waiting, watching, and preparing myself for the worst.

The silence stretched painfully. But finally, Kaiser moved. He stepped forward and grabbed my arm before I could move away, the touch making my entire body stiffen.

"Rose."

I refused to look at him.

"Stop being angry and listen to us first."

For a moment, I genuinely thought I had heard him wrong. My head slowly turned toward him.

Stop being angry?

Listen to them?

I stared, then stared some more. Because surely he wasn’t serious. Surely he couldn’t be. Anger began replacing the panic, slowly and steadily like fire spreading through dry grass.

I looked at Kaiser, then Darien, and then at Alastor.

All three of them stood there expecting me to calmly listen. As if they were the injured party. As if I was simply throwing a childish tantrum.

My hand jerked free from Kaiser’s grip, the movement sharp enough to make him blink.

"Stop being angry?" I repeated quietly. The room suddenly felt very cold. "Listen to you?"

None of them answered.

My nails dug into my palms and a bitter laugh escaped my lips. "How interesting." The anger burning inside me grew stronger, hotter, and sharper.

I lifted my head and met each of their eyes. Then, with the coldest voice I could manage, I spoke, "Move."

The word hung in the air. But nobody moved.

I swallowed hard. "Step aside and let me leave."

Silence. Still no one moved. They didn’t even speak or even looked remotely willing to let me go.

The last bit of patience inside me snapped. "I said move." This time my voice was louder and sharper. But before anyone could answer, Alastor suddenly spoke.

"Didn’t you come back for your mother’s bracelet?"

Every muscle in my body locked. The room went completely silent. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t blink, couldn’t think.

My reaction must have told him everything he needed to know. Because a moment later, he continued calmly, "You should listen to us first."

My fingers curled into fists while my heartbeat thundered inside my ears.

Then Alastor looked directly into my eyes and added, "After that, we’ll talk about the bracelet."