Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Leilani.

"Jay?" I whispered in a shaky voice. I do not know why but I couldn’t bring myself to move. I wanted to go to him, to help him up... but the look in his eyes was frightening. It sent chills running up my spine, and goosebumps spreading over my skin.

"Jarek, are you okay?" I tried again when he wouldn’t respond. My eyes darted behind me to the empty hallway, and I know I should make a run for it, but something at the back of my skull compelled me not to.

So I did something crazy instead. I shut the door behind me and slowly walked over to him, ensuring that I did not make startling sounds as I went.

Seeing Jay like this scared me shitless but made me worried at the same time. When I was a few feet away from him, I went on my knees and whispered again; "Jay, it’s Leilani."

At that, he blinked once and then twice. And then his face fell, like literally crumpled in front of me. His red rimmed eyes glazed with tears, but nothing dropped. He still didn’t say a word. I, too, didn’t move further.

"Jay, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong with you? What’s happening to you?" The more I spoke, the more he broke.

I couldn’t help it anymore. I threw myself into his arms and as soon as my arms wrapped around his neck, he began to shake violently. His feverishly hot body shook in my arms, and then slowly, very slowly, he wrapped his arms around me too.

"Sweetcakes..."

I never knew how much I loved hearing him call me that until the words slipped out of his mouth. And like a complete idiot, I began to sob. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Hey, hey... Sweetcakes!" He mumbled softly, whilst leaning away from me to wipe the tears off from my face, "... please don’t cry. I’m so sorry I scared you like that. I’m really sorry. But don’t cry. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine."

"No, you’re not." I argued, shaking my head.

And goddess help me, I still feared that he would snap again. That suddenly, he would go back to how I’d found him minutes ago.

This fear was the reason I didn’t try to scold him or press him too much when he insisted that he was alright. I whispered; "You know you can always talk to me, right? You know I’ll always be here for you the same way you’re always there for me, right?"

He smiled, but I didn’t miss the slight twitch of his eyebrows. "Right."

"I love you." I murmured, pulling him for another hug but as soon as he heard those words, he froze. He pulled away from me to stare down at me, and I could swear that I saw longing in his eyes... desire too, and something... something so dark it closely resembled possessiveness.

Warmth crept up my body, heating up my face as I draped my arms around his shoulders. He pressed his forehead against mine, a small smile painting his face as he whispered; "You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, princess."

And oh goodness, my heart leapt in my chest. Even though his touch didn’t set my skin ablaze like the triplets’ did, it still managed to send butterflies swarming around my stomach.

"And you’re the best thing that’s happened to me." I whispered back, earning myself a peck on the head.

But the moment was fleeting. It quickly disappeared when a knock sounded on the door. But before either Jarek or I could snap back to focus, the door creaked open and Yvette was standing there with a look of shock on her face.

There was a burly man standing beside her. One whose jaws immediately fell open when his eyes landed on Jarek and I.

"Oh!" He gasped, while Yvette turned around. But I didn’t miss the smile on her face nor the knowing look she passed between Jay and I.

With a flushed face and wobbly knees, I rose to my feet and stretched out my hands to Jarek who instantly took it and rose to his feet as well.

His eyes wouldn’t leave my face even as there were people present, and that stupid smile— small but present remained on his face like an accessory.

"Why are you here, Orion?" He asked the man who also wouldn’t stop glancing at me.

Orion smiled and looked up at him. "I came with the drugs you asked me to get." He said softly, cocking his eyebrows at me as he turned to ask; "Who is the woman with you?"

My heart skipped a beat and the blush on my face intensified when I heard that question. However, my heart soon sank when I realized that Jay would probably call me his friend or colleague. But to my utmost surprise, he placed his hand on the small of my back and pushed me forward slightly like a child showing off his favorite toy.

He drawled; "Meet Leilani, the leading engineer at our company. And the woman I plan to pursue."

I gasped. Yvette squealed, and as if suddenly realizing her mistake, bowed and rushed out of the room with a happy grin on her face.

I couldn’t see myself right now, but I was sure as hell that my face was a bright shade of red. As red as a beetroot. I dropped my gaze.

"Leilani, this is Orion, my beta." Jay continued, causing my head to snap up immediately as it finally dawned on me that I seldom forget that he is an Alpha.

I bowed. "Good day to you, Beta Orion."

"You would need to skip the formalities, Madame."

Orion said with a smile. "As it is going, I fear you may soon become my Luna one of these days." He drawled.

I wouldn’t be mad if you guys called me stupid or slow. Because tell me why it took me approximately forty-five seconds for his words to settle at the back of my skull?

I gasped, my ears tingling as I turned to face Jarek who smiled softly at me. I felt the gentle way in which he squeezed my back. And then he looked away to Orion and asked; "Did you find everything I asked for?"

"Yes, I did, Alpha." The other man answered quickly. "I also had it tested to see how effective it is... and yes, it is quite good."

As they talked, I glanced between both men, and judging by how serious they looked, I guessed that this must be quite important yet confidential. So with this thought, I made to leave them alone, only to stop in my tracks when Jay’s fingers clamped around my wrist.

I looked up at his face to see that he still wasn’t looking at me, but now, Orion was. And he was smiling.

What the hell?

"Forgive my lady," he drawled softly. "She’s worried and wants us men to talk in private."

Orion nodded. "And that’s a good woman. However, I’m surprised that you want her to listen in on our conversation. Are you sure you’re comfortable with her here?"

I glanced between them, my heart racing as I fought to understand what they were talking about. However, before I could figure it out, Jay nodded stiffly, his eyes coming to find mine for a brief second before he looked away.

"Yes." He murmured. "She’ll always be here for me as I’m always there for her. So it’s only normal that she knows I’m unwell."

I frowned. And before I could stop myself, I rasped; "you’re unwell?"

"Mhm."

Panic rushed through me instantly. I snatched my hands out of his and planted both of them on his forehead, my eyes widening when I noticed how hot he was.

"Where does it hurt?"

"You see," he drawled, looking at Orion. "She’s always with me."

"And she deserves to know you’re going feral?"

"No, she deserves to know that my wolf is going feral and that it’s been causing me whack headaches and bits of madness here and there."

My hands froze on his face and then... it wasn’t until then that he looked down to meet my eyes. The look I found in those dark slant eyes of his had my breath hitching.

He wasn’t lying.

He was indeed going feral.

But how?

As if realising that I had questions to ask, he cupped my face in his hands and leaned down to kiss my lips, immediately shutting me up, and immediately causing a legion of dragons to take flight in my stomach.