Chapter 53
Scarlett’s POV
“Please just leave,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Someone might see you. If your father or your brothers find you here, they’ll kill us both p>
Liam didn’t even flinch. “I don’t care,” he growled, his eyes never leaving mine. “Let them come. Let them see exactly who you belong to p>
I frowned, the anger rising up to meet my fear. I tried to turn away, to ignore the anger radiating from him, but he was faster. Before I could move, he lunged forward and pushed me against the wall. His large, muscular body pressed firmly against mine, pinning me in place. The scent of him—woodsmoke and forest—swirled around me, making my head spin.
“Let go of me, Liam,” I snapped, struggling against his grip. “Let go, or I’ll scream. I’ll draw the attention of every guard in this hallway. I’ll make sure everyone knows the future Alpha is lurking in the servants’ quarters p>
A dark, twisted smile touched his lips. “You won’t dare p>
He was right, but I couldn’t let him win. I opened my mouth to yell, to prove him wrong, but he moved instantly. He slammed his palm over my mouth, muffling my voice. My heart hammered against my ribs.
In a moment of pure desperation, I bit down on his hand. Hard.
“Damn it, Scarlett!” he hissed, jerking his hand away.
I didn’t waste a second. I filled my lungs, ready to scream for help, but he didn’t give me the chance. He lunged again, but this time, he didn’t use his hand. He sealed my lips with a kiss that was nothing like Ethan’s. This was raw. This was violent. This was two years of suppressed longing and unspoken words crashing into me all at once.
I hit his chest with my fists, my mind screaming at me to fight him. I hated him. I hated that he stayed silent while I suffered. I hated that he couldn’t claim me before everyone.
But Zoe, my wolf, didn’t care about my pride. She didn’t care about the last two years. To her, Liam was her mate, and that was all that mattered. The mate bond roared to life, surging through my veins like fire, melting my resistance until my hands stopped hitting him and began to clutch his shirt.
A soft, broken moan escaped my throat. Zoe began to purr deep in my mind, her tail wagging at the contact. I felt Liam moan against my mouth, a sound of pure relief and hunger, as he kissed me deeper. His tongue traced my lips, demanding entry, and I gave in. I hated myself for it, but the bond was stronger than my will.
The kiss was consuming me, a wildfire that threatened to burn down every wall I had built. Liam’s hands were everywhere, his touch possessive, and for a split second, I forgot to hate him. I forgot the floors I scrubbed and the hate he threw at me.
Then, the reality of everything snapped back at me.
I gasped, tearing my mouth away from his. I used every bit of strength I had to shove his chest, creating a gap between us. My chest was heaving, my lips swollen and stinging from the intensity of it.
“Get out!” I hissed, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and tears. “Get out right now, Liam p>
He stood there for a heartbeat, his eyes dark and clouded with hunger. For a terrifying moment, I thought he wouldn’t move. I thought he would lunge back at me and claim what the bond was screaming for. But then, he blinked, the green of his eyes fading back to normal.
He didn’t say a word. He just backed away, his gaze never leaving mine, and disappeared over the balcony railing just as quickly as he had appeared.
I stood in the center of the room, my legs shaking so hard I had to grip the bedpost to stay upright. My wolf, Zoe, was whimpering, mourning the loss of his touch, but I silenced her.
I don’t think Liam’s feet had even hit the ground outside when another sound startled me.
It wasn’t the balcony this time. It was the door. And the scent that drifted through the cracks was softer, like rain on dry earth and crushed mint.
Leo.
“Scarlett,” he whispered, his voice muffled by the heavy wood. “Please… open up. I know you’re awake p>
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my ribs. First Ethan, then Liam, and now Leo. It was like they were all losing their minds at the same time.
“Go away, Leo,” I called out, my voice trembling. “Leave me the hell alone p>
“Please, Scarlett,” he pleaded, his palm thudding softly against the door. “I just need to talk to you. Please. Just one minute p>
I stood there for a second, my chest still burning from Liam’s touch, before I finally reached out and unlocked the door. I pulled it open, and Leo practically stumbled inside. He shut the door behind him instantly, his back pressed against the wood as if he were trying to keep the rest of the world out.
His eyes were wide, filled with a raw pain that made my heart ache despite how much I wanted to be angry. He looked at me, his gaze dropping to my swollen lips, and I saw his jaw tremble.
“I felt it,” he whispered, his voice low. “I felt you kiss Ethan. It ripped through me like a knife, Scarlett p>
I knew he only felt Ethan’s. Because Liam and Leon were also my mates, the bond between the four of us was one. When I was with one of the triplets, it stayed within our circle so they wouldn’t feel it. But Ethan was an outsider. When he touched me, it was like an alarm going off in their souls, a foreign presence invading what was supposed to be theirs.
I folded my arms across my chest, trying to hide the fact that I was shaking. I looked him dead in the eye, refusing to apologize for seeking comfort from the only person who offered me a way out.
“Yes,” I said, my voice cold and hard. “I did. I kissed him, Leo p>