All eyes were on Emerald as she sat at the head of the long oak table. She looked regal, sitting up straight, and her face showed no clear emotion.
Adrien leaned back in his chair, dark and dangerous, a smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Now that my angel’s arrived, the rest of you can leave."
Lucian scoffed. "Angel? I thought you were the brooding menace type, not the delusional fool."
Kieran didn’t even glance their way. His eyes stayed on Emerald, calm and assessing. "Let her speak."
Lucian opened his mouth again, but Emerald didn’t raise her voice; she didn’t need to.
"Sit down," she said, her words coated in ice and laced with power.
The command rippled through the room.
Even Darius stiffened beside her.
Lucian blinked once. Then he sat.
Adrien raised both hands. "She does wear authority like perfume. Noted."
They were wolves, but right now, she was the apex predator.
The three Alphas glanced at one another, clearly uncomfortable in each other’s presence. The air was thick with their competing dominance, testosterone crackling like lightning across the table.
Adrien broke the silence first, leaning on his elbow. "Just so we’re clear, I did find her first. Technically. That has to count for something."
"In your dreams," Kieran muttered.
"I don’t dream. I plan," Adrien grinned. "And trust me, I’ve already planned what our future pups are going to look like—"
"I’ll end you," Lucian said flatly.
"Oh, look," Emerald said sweetly, cutting through their tension. "The future fathers of my imaginary children are trying to kill each other. How romantic."
Lucian’s mouth twitched.
Adrien grinned like he’d just won a prize.
Kieran blinked. "Is this how you usually start conversations?"
"Only when I’m severely unimpressed," she replied.
Darius leaned closer to her, whispering. "Are you sure about... whatever this is?"
"I am," Emerald murmured. "Don’t stop me."
He stood, but she placed a hand gently on his forearm. "Stay. I want a witness."
He hesitated, jaw tight. Then he nodded and resumed his place behind her.
Emerald turned back to the men and folded her hands.
"I won’t waste anyone’s time. Yes. I felt the bonds. All of them."
The Alphas stiffened.
Adrien’s golden eyes sparkled with triumph. Lucian tilted his head slightly, his expression hard to read. Kieran’s jaw flexed, but he said nothing.
Emerald’s body betrayed her.
The pull was unbearable. She could still feel the faint electric echo of Adrien’s kiss on her hand, could smell the clean bite of Kieran’s pine-and-ice scent, and feel Lucian’s stare like silk tied tight around her throat.
Their auras brushed against her, heat, cold, and shadow, tingling across her skin and pooling low in her stomach.
She clenched her thighs under the table, cursing quietly in her head. One mate was overwhelming. But three?
"How am I supposed to survive this? How am I supposed to lead with all this... distraction?"
Viola growled softly. "They’re made for us. Every inch. Every scent. Every growl. Goddess, Em, they fit."
She shook her head. Not now.
Emerald exhaled, letting her voice cut sharp and clear across the room. "I am not a prize. I am not a title to be passed around or claimed. And frankly, I’m not interested in having even one mate, let alone three."
Adrien opened his mouth, but she held up a hand.
"I said I’m not interested," she repeated.
"Let me guess," Adrien said with a half-smirk. "Because they’re not me?"
"You’re adorable," she deadpanned. "But also wildly mistaken."
"Speak for yourself," Lucian muttered. "If the other two weren’t here, we wouldn’t be having this conversation."
Kieran finally spoke. "What do you propose, then?"
Emerald tilted her head, her smile returning slowly. "Glad you asked."
She rose from her seat, pacing slowly around the table.
"I’ve spent too long being someone else’s pawn, even the Moon Goddess. I’m done playing someone else’s game."
"So now, I’ll play mine."
The Alphas exchanged wary glances.
Emerald stopped, placing her hands on the back of her chair. "Earn me," she said. "Or walk away."
Adrien blinked. "Come again?"
"You heard me," she said smoothly. "I’m not choosing anyone. Not yet. If this bond means anything to you, prove it. Show me why you deserve to be my mate."
"Prove it how exactly?" Lucian asked. "This isn’t a test. It’s fate."
"No," she said sharply. "It’s choice. I may not get to choose the bond, but I can choose to accept or reject the mate bond, and that... depends on you all."
"That’s...odd," Darius muttered.
Emerald turned to him. "It is."
"It’s power... and I’m taking it back," she said to herself.
Kieran leaned forward, studying her intently. "And what does this... proving process look like?"
"I haven’t decided yet. In fact, that’s up to you. I mean, aside from killing each other," she said. "Until then, you’ll respect my terms."
Lucian didn’t say a word, but his silver eyes locked onto hers with intensity.
Adrien stood slowly, his grin returning. He reached for her hand again and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Challenge accepted, my prettiful lady."
Emerald felt a sudden rush of emotion, her heart tightening as the mate bond heated up. Viola seemed to be enjoying it, purring in satisfaction.
Adrien picked up on the moment, and his smile grew wider.
She snatched her hand back with a glare. "Don’t get cocky."
"Oh, I don’t have to try."
Lucian stood next. "I’ll win you."
"Good luck," she replied coolly.
Kieran rose last. "I’m quite intrigued," he said. "But understand something, Emerald, when I commit to something, I don’t back down. Neither will I share."
"We’ll see," she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
She took a step back. "Now, one final rule."
They all looked at her.
"You will not visit me. Not for the rest of the week. I have a pack to lead, and I don’t need three Alphas fighting like pups underfoot while I do it."
Kieran inclined his head. "Understood."
Lucian folded his arms. "As long as I know where to find you when I win."
Adrien gave a mock salute. "One week, no stalking, no seduction. Got it."
Emerald nodded. "Good."
She turned away, striding back toward the stairs.
"You’re playing with fire, Emerald," Viola warned.
"Then I’ll burn brighter," she thought, never slowing her pace.