The Three Who Chose Me-Chapter 46: Not Enough

Josie

"I was just joking," I said, my voice brittle and paper-thin.

The corners of my mouth curved into a stiff smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I could feel it—how unnatural it must’ve looked. The words sounded like someone else’s, like I’d plucked them from the air in a hurry just to cover up the panic still clinging to my skin.

Marcy didn’t buy it.

She sat across from me, arms folded, eyes narrowed slightly like she was trying to look right through me. And maybe she was. "You’re not joking," she said flatly. "Josie, I saw your face when Michelle walked in earlier. You were terrified. Don’t tell me that was just a joke."

I opened my mouth, then shut it again.

The panic was still there, wrapped around my ribs like barbed wire.

"I—I don’t know," I said finally, running a hand through my hair, trying not to let it tremble. "Everything makes me scared lately. I must’ve... mixed things up. It’s all been so much."

Marcy reached across and took my hand in hers, giving it a small, comforting squeeze. "It’s going to be fine," she said quietly, but her tone was thick with worry, and I hated that I’d put it there.

I wanted to believe her.

But I didn’t.

That evening, the air in the room shifted again. A scent I could never mistake filled my lungs before I even saw him. Varen.

He walked in with a gentleness that surprised me, eyes already searching for mine. When he found me, something in him relaxed. He crossed the room and sat beside me, reaching for my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, voice low. Tender.

I shrugged.

I didn’t trust myself to speak. Not when part of me wanted to bury my face in his chest and sob about everything I was still too afraid to say.

"Why didn’t you tell us you were in danger?" he asked after a pause.

I offered a hollow smile but stayed silent.

Because if I opened my mouth, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’d spill it all—about Michelle, about the fear lodged in my throat like a stone, about how unsafe I felt in a place that was supposed to be my home. About how I didn’t even know who I was anymore.

I didn’t want to fall apart in front of him.

Not again.

Just then, the door opened again.

And in walked Thorne and Kiel.

I stiffened as Varen leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, making my heart stutter. I caught Thorne’s eyes, and something unreadable flashed through them before he glanced away. Kiel, too, stood a few paces behind them, his hands in his pockets and his eyes not quite meeting mine.

"We’re here to take you home," Thorne said curtly.

Home.

That word didn’t feel like it belonged to me anymore. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

Panic coiled in my stomach like a viper. My fingers clenched around the bedsheet so tightly that my knuckles turned white. "I’m not safe there," I whispered. "Please... please don’t take me back yet."

Thorne frowned. "You’ll be fine. You’re just being—"

"No!" I cried, cutting him off as the air suddenly felt too thick. My chest rose and fell rapidly. My skin turned clammy. I couldn’t breathe properly. "Something could happen. She—someone could come again. I’m not safe. I’m not—"

"Josie!" Kiel rushed to my side, grabbing my shoulders. "Breathe. Look at me—look at me."

Varen was already there, both his hands cradling my face as his aura washed over me in waves. "It’s okay. You’re safe. We’ve got you."

But Thorne’s voice cut through the moment like a knife. "This is getting out of hand. You’re being too emotional."

That did it.

"You’re such a damn idiot," Varen snapped, whirling on him.

"Oh, don’t start," Thorne growled, stepping forward.

"I’ll start if I want. She’s terrified, and you think shouting at her is going to fix that?"

"You always act like you’re the only one who cares!"

Kiel stood, his face tense. "Enough, both of you—"

But they weren’t listening. The argument had already exploded.

Again.

Voices overlapping. Anger thick in the air. I pressed the sheet to my chest like it could protect me from the chaos unfolding in front of me.

And then—

Marcy.

She stepped into the room like a storm, her presence cutting through their bickering.

"What the hell is wrong with you three?" she demanded. "Look at her!"

They turned, and I saw the shame flicker through their faces as they realized just how broken I must’ve looked right then.

"Get your crap together," she snapped. "If you can’t be useful, then get out of this room."

The room fell quiet.

I looked at her through tear-blurred eyes and gave her the tiniest nod of thanks. She winked back.

Varen cleared his throat, stepping forward again. "Josie, I’m sorry," he said softly. "For earlier... and for now."

"I see," Thorne muttered under his breath. "Varen gets to speak for himself now."

Varen rolled his eyes. "I’m not your damn spokesperson, Thorne. You want to apologize? Use your own mouth."

Kiel snorted at that, though it didn’t have much humor.

"I don’t want to go home," I said finally, my voice so soft I barely recognized it. "I know Thorne wants Marcy out of here. But I need her. I need someone I can trust. And I’m still scared..."

They went quiet again.

None of them said Michelle’s name. None of them asked who I was afraid of. And maybe that was the worst part. Did they know? Or did they not want to know?

Thorne’s voice came next, rougher now. "I’m sorry," he muttered. "For what I said earlier. I won’t let anything happen to you."

I nodded slowly. "I know you’ve all tried to protect me... in your own ways. But sometimes, that’s not enough. Sometimes, it’s not just about protecting. It’s about believing me. About trusting me when I say something’s wrong."

Varen nodded. "You’re right. We get it now. That’s why we changed your security detail. No more familiar faces. No more chances. Anyone who failed you is already gone."

The way he said it made my blood run cold.

So matter-of-fact. So final.

It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I stared at him. "What did you do?"

"You don’t need to know," Thorne said.

Kiel added, "Just focus on getting better. Let us handle the rest."

But I already knew what that meant. I’d seen enough of them to know that they didn’t leave threats breathing. Whatever had happened to the guards... it was over for them.

Varen leaned in and kissed my forehead again. A soft touch. Tender.

Kiel, standing beside him, suddenly shoved his shoulder—not too hard, but firm enough to jostle him. "Can you not do that when we’re all in the room?" he muttered, frowning.

I blinked.

Jealousy?

Was he jealous?

My heart gave a confused flutter.

Did that mean he cared?

The energy in the room shifted again—less tense now, more uncertain.

But despite everything, despite all the chaos and fear, I was finally calm enough to stand. My legs trembled slightly, but they were steady.

"We’ll take you home now," Thorne said. His voice had lost the edge it had earlier.

I nodded.

This time, I didn’t fight.

They helped me into the car, and when we pulled up to the pack house, I stared out the window in disbelief.

Balloons.

Banners.

Flowers.

A giant arch that read "WELCOME HOME JOSIE" in glittering gold letters. Streamers danced in the breeze. Dozens of pack members gathered outside, some clapping, some holding signs with my name, others just smiling like I’d been gone for years and not days.

My mouth dropped open.

Kiel chuckled beside me. "Over the top?"

Varen smirked. "Definitely."

Thorne sighed. "You’ll survive."

But for the first time in a long while, I smiled—really smiled.

Maybe I wasn’t fully safe yet.

But maybe...

Just maybe, I wasn’t alone anymore.