Chapter 7

• Katherine’s POV
• When I woke up, it took me a moment to remember everything—the accident, the hospital, and naturally, Alpha Jason, Alpha James, and Dr. Michael. My three mates. My stomach fluttered at the idea.
• The sound of water running pulled me from my thoughts. It was coming from the direction of the en-suite bathroom in the room. Someone was in there.
• I sat up a little, suddenly hyper-aware of my surroundings. Suddenly, the sound of the water stopped. The door creaked while it opened, and someone stepped out. I gasped, taking in the sight of Alpha Jason in nothing but a towel. His body glistened in the steam and water droplets, making his skin look smooth and delicious.
• My eyes widened when I noticed something worse. The towel was just that—a towel for his hair. Below that, he was completely, utterly naked.
• My eyes widened, . “Oh, Goddess,” I blurted out, my cheeks flushing instantly.
• Jason froze, turning in my direction. He looked surprised, moving quickly to grab another towel to cover himself. “Katherine,” he stammered, voice deep and sultry. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”
• “I-I’m so sorry, Alpha” I stuttered, averting my gaze but finding it hard to keep my eyes on anything but him. Goddess! He looked so good! “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I wasn’t trying to… Oh, Goddess!” I blushed, cheeks reddening while I tried to form a coherent sentence.
• The Alpha coughed, adjusting the towel around his waist. “It’s fine. Really,” he said, though he looked just as embarrassed as I felt.
• I nodded quickly, my hands gripping the sheets. “I didn’t see anything. Well, I mean I did but I didn’t mean to. I shouldn’t have, I’ll never… Oh and not because it’s bad, I mean it was… Okay, I’m going to stop talking now.”
• He smirked, fighting back a smile. “I’ll let you get some rest,” he said gently, making me feel warm inside. Under the sheets, I felt tingly. Was this normal? Was it because he was my mate? Seeing him naked like that affected me.
• Without another word, he opened the door. Outside it was two faces I didn’t expect. Alpha James and the doctor. When they saw us, with Alpha Jason half naked Alpha Jason, all hell broke loose.
• Alpha Jason’s POV
• 1 hour earlier
• I was seated at the desk in my new office, tapping a pen on the pile of unmarked papers before me. Relocating my workspace to the room next to Katherine’s appeared to be a sensible choice. Ultimately, she had been asleep for a larger part of the day. It was logical to remain nearby in case she needed anything. Unlike James, I’d never had a mate before. I was new to this. It was worse that my brothers shared the same mate as I. Once Katherine was well, she’d choose. My heart flutters at the thought of being picked by her.
• “Fucking hell Jason quit being pathetic.’’ My wolf teased. “She’s our mate. Compared to your brothers, you’re the best option. She’ll choose us, stop doubting.’’
• I sighed. The reality was, I couldn’t concentrate. Regardless of how much effort I put into immersing myself in work, my mind continually wandered back to her. To Katherine.
• I exhaled deeply, reclining in my chair and brushing my hair with my hand. Michael had cautioned me that this would happen. She needed the rest and some time to regain her strength. Following the surgery, Katherine was utterly drained. However, that wasn’t what was troubling me.
• It was the recollection of her kissing Michael in the hospital. The view of it had felt like a blow to the stomach, an emotion I couldn't fully eliminate. It wasn't merely jealousy—it was something more profound, something fundamental. And it was making me insane.
• A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I urged in a frustrated tone.
• The door swung open, and Cecilia entered. I sighed and rolled my eyes the second I saw her. "Wow, this is different," she remarked, surveying the space. "I enjoy the changes, and the new decor Your previous office was quite… disheartening.”
• I stayed silent, my patience already running low. Cecilia had a talent for irritating me, and today was no different. She walked over to my desk, her heels tapping on the floor as she stared at me with seductive eyes.
• “So,” she said, perching herself on the edge of my desk and crossing her legs. “How’s the new space treating you?”
• “Fine,” I said curtly, hoping she would take the hint and leave. But Cecilia was nothing if not persistent.
• Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned forward, her skirt riding up just enough to reveal more of her legs. “You know,” she purred, “you’ve been working too hard. How about a little… distraction?”
• Before I could react, she reached out, her hand brushing against my crotch. My entire body stiffened, revulsion washing over me like a wave. “Cecilia,” I said sharply, but she didn’t seem to notice—or care.
• She slid onto my lap, her hands moving to unbutton my shirt as she pressed her lips to my neck.
• Her touch felt wrong, repulsive even. It was as though my body was rejecting her entirely.
• “Stop,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. When she didn’t listen, I stood abruptly, forcing her off me. “I said stop.”
• Cecilia's gaze grew larger, and for a brief moment, she appeared truly hurt. “Jason—”
• “Leave,” I snapped, my patience finally fraying. "At this moment."
• Tears filled her eyes as she quickly got to her feet, straightening her skirt before hurrying out of the room. The noise of the door banging shut behind her felt nearly gratifying.
• I let out a long breath, placing a hand across my face. Seeing her had made me more irritated, but not for the reasons Cecilia might believe. Her touch, her presence—everything felt like burning acid on my skin. The only person I wanted to have close was Katherine.
• I left my office, looking to refresh my mind. However, my feet led me to Katherine’s room rather than pursuing Cecilia. I paused at the entrance, listening to soft sounds coming from within.
• Gently pushing the door ajar, I noticed her in bed, eyes shut, face contorted in anguish. "Wendal," she murmured, her voice scarcely louder than a whisper. "Please don’t do this! Please don’t embarrass me like this!"
• She was crying, scared. The nightmare and the anguish in her voice was unbearable. I moved towards her, positioning myself by the bed as I stretched my hand to feel her forehead. She was burning up.
• As soon as my hand touched her skin, her face relaxed, and the tension dissolved. She calmed down, her breaths becoming steady as she fell back into a deep sleep.
• I stared at her, my hand lingering just above her forehead. How could someone so beautiful have such trauma? Why would someone treat her terribly? Katherine burst into my life and flipped everything around. And now, I can’t envision a life without her.
• Cecilia’s scent was still on my shirt, I winced in revulsion. I’d known Cecelia since we were kids. We’d been casual the last three years. Our relationship was strictly sexual, using each other every once in a while when we needed it. However, today was the first time I’d denied her. Today was the first time her touch revolted me. Cecelia was a beautiful woman, sought after by Alphas and other powerful men. I’d shown no intention to commit and had made it clear from the get go. We used each other, however, today, I no longer had use for her.
• Feeling her scent on me again, I decided I needed a shower. However, the idea of leaving Katherine by herself made my chest tighten. Instead, I went to her private bathroom, determined to remain near her.
• I stepped out after a while, drying my hair with a towel.
• “Oh, Goddess!”
• Katherine's gasp startled me. I stopped in my tracks, gaze fixed on hers. Her face was flushed, looking embarrassed and …adorable.
• Crap.
• Her flustered look would have been funny if it weren't so incredibly charming. She stared down at my body with a gulp, reminding me I was naked.
• “I—uh—apologies,” I stuttered, pulling the towel down and fastening it tightly around my waist. “I didn’t expect you to be awake.”
• “I-I didn’t mean to peek!” she murmured. “I mean, not on purpose. I—oh, Goddess.” She buried her face in her hands, clearly mortified.
• I couldn’t stop the soft chuckle that escaped me. “No harm done,” I said, doing my best to sound reassuring. Truthfully, the whole situation was as embarrassing for me as it was for her. “Rest up. I’ll, uh, check on you later.”
• I turned for the door, eager to escape the awkwardness. Yet, the moment I stepped into the hallway, I ran straight into James and Michael.
• Great. Just my luck.
• Michael’s laughter disappeared the second he saw me. “Well, well. Look who’s been making himself at home.”
• James wasn’t smirking. His jaw was clenched, he had a territorial look in his eyes. “You’ve got some nerve,” he growled.
• “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, straightening my posture.
• Michael stepped closer. “Is that right? Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like you’re claiming territory.”
• My wolf bristled at the insinuation, but before I could respond, Michael’s fist came flying out of nowhere.