SAMANTHA
"What a twist of fate, Jayce."
Darlington's grip on my wrist was firm, yet his voice held a certain kind of softness. This was the first time I had seen him in action. He was always the gentle one. The withdrawn one. The brother who usually stayed in the background while Jayce burned and Finnian watched.
But now he was stepping forward. He was talking, he was resisting and he was making a choice.
"I also have an interest in this woman," Darlington continued. "She has caught my eye. Jayce, Finnian, do not fight with me over her. You have so many girls. Please choose them."
His confession left me reeling. Choosing me? For what exactly?!
I stared at Darlington, caught off guard and unsure of my next move. My mouth hung open. My eyes were wide. My heart had stopped beating. Or maybe it was beating too fast. I could not tell.
Did he genuinely have an interest in me?
Or did he want to keep me to himself so he could torment me?
Or was he trying to get a reaction from me to anger the other princes?
I did not know. I could not tell. His face was soft. His eyes were warm. But wolves could lie. Princes could lie. Men could lie.
Despite being confused, I felt myself blushing. The blush crept up my cheeks like fire spreading through dry grass. My heart pounded like a drum. It was loud, fast and uncontrollable.
I glanced at Darlington's chiseled profile. His jaw was strong and his nose was straight. His dark hair fell across his forehead.
He lowered his gaze to meet mine.
When our eyes locked, he flashed a smile. It was not a cruel smile. It was not a mocking smile. It was soft, genuine and it made my stomach flip.
It made me feel like my face was on fire.
I panicked, turned away and tried to escape his gaze.
But as I looked elsewhere, I was met by Jayce's icy and unforgiving stare.
His eyes were like daggers. Sharp. Unyielding. Cold. They pierced through me, through my confusion, through my blush, through my pounding heart.
With a painful glance, he turned to Finnian, who had been standing silently, his expression hardened.
"You are not letting her go either?" Jayce asked. "Do you want her too?"
Finnian raised an eyebrow. His demeanor changed. The cold mask slipped. Something else appeared underneath. Something hungry.
"And what if I do?" he replied nonchalantly.
What?
Finnian wanted me too?
All three of them?
The revelation gave me a serious headache. My temples throbbed. My vision blurred at the edges.
It was clear that I was a pawn in the game between these princes. A piece on a board. A prize to be won. I did not matter. Only their competition mattered.
As the argument continued, I became the center of attention. The weight of their focus made me feel uneasy. Three sets of golden eyes. Three powerful wolves. Three princes who were used to getting what they wanted.
Jayce's gaze never left me. He was known for having a short temper. A violent temper. A cruel streak that made other wolves cross the street to avoid him.
I hated that I was used as a scapegoat for this situation.
Inside my head, Cece was having the time of her life.
"Look at them," she said. "Look at them fighting over us. This is wonderful. This is how it should be."
"This is not wonderful. This is dangerous."
"Danger is exciting."
"Danger is how people get killed."
"Then we will die surrounded by princes who want us. There are worse ways to go."
"Cece!"
"I am serious. Do not choose any of them. Make them all beg. Make them all fight. You are a queen. Act like one."
"A queen? I am a slave."
"Not for long. Look at them. They are already kneeling."
I did not share her confidence.
Jayce's eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened and his hands curled into fists.
Then he spoke. His voice was low. Commanding. His Alpha power rolled off him in waves.
"Come to me."
The words pressed against my chest. Against my wolf. Against my will. My body wanted to obey. My legs wanted to move.
I looked helplessly at the hands gripping my wrists. Darlington on one side. Finnian on the other. They had not let go. They were not going to let go.
"Do not go," Cece said. "Take your stance. Remember what he did to you in the garden. The way he touched you without asking."
"I remember."
"Then do not obey him."
"Even if I wanted to move, I cannot. They are holding me."
"Good. Let them hold you. Let them fight. Let them figure this out without you."
"And if they ask me to choose?"
"Then do not choose. You do not belong to any of them. Not yet. Not until you are ready."
I took a deep breath.
Jayce was still staring at me. He was waiting. His Alpha power still pressed against my skin.
But I did not move.
I could not move, even if I wanted to. Darlington and Finnian held me in place. Their grips were like iron.
But also... I did not want to make any decision that would alienate the other two. My life was already a big mess. I did not want to make things worse.
I opened my mouth. I found my voice.
"I am sorry," I said. My tone was not meek. Not defiant. Somewhere in between. "I am just a slave. I do not have the right, the courage, or the balls to defy the princes."
Jayce's eyes narrowed. "You do not want to disobey them?"
"I do not want to disobey anyone. I want to survive."
He stared at me with a cold look for several seconds. The room was silent. The other women held their breath. Leslie was still on the floor. Daisy was still by the door.
Then Jayce laughed.
"It is not a cruel laugh. Not a mocking laugh. Something else. Something surprised."
"Well done," he said. "I am impressed, Samantha Samuels."