Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas
Chapter 20: Rejecting Expectations

Chapter 20: Rejecting Expectations

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Chapter 20

~Spring’s POV~

As soon as I opened the door, I didn’t expect to see Storm standing directly behind it—tall, cold, unreadable. I froze for a second, and so did he.

But what hit me harder wasn’t his ice-blue stare. It was the scent.

All of them.

Masculine, power-laced, distinct and overwhelming. Earthy warmth, silver rain, dark spice, electric fire—my senses flared with the weight of all four.

Of all five.

And just when I thought I could process Jade’s initial growl in my head at Lucien, someone called my name.

"Spring?!"

Jace’s voice cracked through the room like a whip. That ridiculous, infuriating mix of amusement and heat always laced in it, but this time? It was different.

It was sharp.

Storm took a careful step back, just enough to let me through. I stepped over the threshold like I was walking into a war I hadn’t trained for.

"I was coming to find you," Storm said from behind me, stepping forward to stand beside me like a silent guardian.

"We, Moonbite," Kael corrected, lazily sauntering up from one of the desks.

Jace rolled his eyes. "We were coming to find you."

I looked at them all: Storm, Jace, Kael, Tyrion, and Lucien, who stood slightly off to the side. He looked tense, like a stranger wearing his own skin backwards.

They were all staring, watching, waiting for what I had to say, probably hoping for something. Expecting too much.

"I’m not ready for this," I said simply. My voice didn’t shake. I made sure of it.

After lamenting and thinking, I decided to head to class when their scents rushed through me.

And as much as I wanted to stay away, the pull of the bond had become too strong to ignore.

"Whatever it is you all think is supposed to happen here, this mate bond, this fate thing... I’m not interested."

I let the words settle. But before I could finish forming the next sentence, Kael let out a scoff.

Of course he did.

He pushed away from the desk he’d been leaning on and crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking like someone had just told him the stock market crashed on his birthday.

"Are you sure?" he drawled, voice dipped in challenge. "Most would kill for a shot at one Alpha mate to date them or be their mate, but now you’ve got four... correction, five mates, and you diss us?"

I smiled, but it wasn’t a nice one.

"Then maybe you should go share yourself out there with all the wannabes who want you so badly." I tilted my head. "You might actually make someone’s dreams come true."

Storm’s lips twitched at that, and Jace barked out a short laugh. Even Tyrion, ever composed, smirked faintly.

Kael just raised a brow. "Tempting. But you and I both know I don’t like anything handed to me too easily."

As tempting as it was to continue this little verbal sparring match with the smug Alpha, I ignored him and looked at Lucien.

"I didn’t want this," I said sharply. "Definitely not this many or any. And most especially not him."

Lucien didn’t flinch, but his jaw clenched. That was enough. He looked away first. Not because he was weak, but because he understood the weight of it, maybe.

Before the silence could stretch any longer, Jace stepped forward. His usual expression, part smirk, part swagger, softened for a fraction of a second—less sarcasm, more sincerity. "My angel—"

I stepped back instantly. His hand had barely lifted, but I didn’t let it land. Couldn’t.

"Don’t," I said clearly. His hand dropped like a stone, just like that.

I saw it flicker in his eyes—the rejection, the confusion, the ache of being held at arm’s length. But I didn’t apologise. I wasn’t sorry for drawing my line.

"Spring," Storm said beside me. I turned to face him slowly. His eyes were steady, cold, but there was something there, too. Fire under ice; heat pressed tightly under control.

"I don’t plan on letting you go." His words were simple. "You can be angry. You can push back. But I won’t ever accept this rejection."

"I’m not rejecting the bond," I corrected. "I’m rejecting the expectation. I don’t owe you anything just because of some celestial curse."

"It’s not a curse," Tyrion said, speaking for the first time. His voice was low and smooth. "It’s a mirror. Bonds show you who you are."

"Then what does it say that I’m bonded to him?" I jerked my chin toward Lucien. He winced, just barely, but I saw it. I felt it.

Tyrion didn’t answer. None of them did. Only Kael let out a low whistle. "And the claws are out, little Tyrant."

"Don’t play with me, Kael," I warned, shooting him a look. "I’m not your little tyrant, your Moonbite, or your next chess piece."

"Noted," he replied smoothly. But his green eyes gleamed like he liked being burned.

"I don’t want to be anyone’s," I said to them all. "I don’t want to belong to a pack of territorial men just because your Moon Goddess says so. I want to choose."

Storm stepped closer. Not touching. Just... closer.

"Then choose," he said. "When you’re ready. But I’m not backing down until you do."

I stared at him, deep into those ice-blue eyes. He meant it—every damn word.

Jace was quieter now, watching me like I might slip through a crack in the floor.

Tyrion’s silver gaze held no pressure, only... understanding like he’d already seen how this would unfold.

Kael’s smirk had disappeared somewhere between my refusal and his bruised ego.

Lucien looked like he wanted to speak, but didn’t. And that silence from him? It felt louder than anything else.

I breathed in once, sharply. "Then understand this. Until I decide... none of you get to stake your claim. Not even one."

"But..."

I didn’t wait for it, just turned towards the door.

Because I didn’t come to break down.

I came to break expectations.

And no matter what they felt, no matter how fate tangled us together like a sick joke—I was still mine first.

Always.

I had barely made it to the door when the sound of my phone chiming broke the tense silence behind me.

I pulled it out, grateful for the distraction, for anything that could pull me away from the five pairs of eyes burning into me. I didn’t expect the name on the screen.

Mom.

I blinked as I read the text: Happy birthday, Spring! Guess what? We’re on our way back to celebrate your special day with you. Surprise!

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