Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas
Chapter 32: The Gift

Chapter 32: The Gift

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Chapter 32

~Spring’s POV~

Rael’s smile left me breathless. He looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back.

"Well, let’s move on to cutting the cake. Today’s your day."

I smiled at Storm. "But I already had my birthday. It isn’t my..."

"Nonsense," Tyrion cut in. "Now stop being a modest granny and let’s cut cake."

"Modest granny?" Jade burst into a fit of laughter in my head.

"Girl, he doesn’t know I am old rough to birth him. Tsk."

"Yeah, but as an old soul mated to young handsome men like them, what does that make you?"

I deliberately ignored Jade and snorted in my head.

The mini birthday celebration they did for me was grand and all, but I barely enjoyed it as much, thanks to Rael’s presence there.

Although he and I barely conversed, the memory from my last life kept replaying.

I did my best to hide it all, though, even to the point where, when we were done, I bade them goodbye and kept the gifts in my locker.

Thankfully, Eryx had texted me about a slight delay in his arrival to pick me up, which was good. The only gift I took with me was the one Serissa had gifted me.

The car ride home with Eryx started quietly. No awkwardness or heavy silences. Just... still until the itch started.

Not on my skin but inside.

Like something in me wanted out, wanted to scream, bite, burn.

Eryx glanced at me. "So... how was school? Did you enjoy your new friends?"

I don’t know why I said it. Maybe I wasn’t in full control. Maybe something inside me had been pushed too far.

"Why don’t you ask Rose?" I snapped. "You clearly love her more."

The words cut. I saw it—his hands tightening around the steering wheel, the brief flicker of pain on his face before he masked it.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him.

"Oh, wait—can’t blame you. You always did believe her first, didn’t you? Even when I was bleeding."

That silenced him.

Okay... where was that coming from? I wondered and bit my lower lip.

For a moment, I hated myself for reminding him of the truth. But a darker part of me whispered, ’Let him remember,’ and then the voice was gone.

His silence stretched until the car turned onto our private road. Only then did he speak in a low voice.

"I didn’t protect you back then. I know that."

I didn’t answer. His words weren’t enough. Nothing could undo those days.

I let my head tilt back a bit, the memory as fresh as if I were reliving it. The day they found our father’s most expensive watch in my school bag, alongside a love letter to a boy I barely knew, I was using it as a supposed love gift.

A set-up.

Rose said I stole it. To gift it to someone I liked. Then we went to the same school and she hated me for it too.

’The heiress and the fake couldn’t attend the same schools,’ she said.

She cried, saying she tried to stop me. Pleaded with me to confess. Lied, like she always did, with wet lashes and trembling lips.

Father didn’t ask for proof. He hated lies the most.

Fifty lashes on my back with a belt. In front of the maids and after that, I was left to kneel under the sun until my skin cracked.

And my brothers, they watched and said nothing.

Not a single word of protest. Not even when I choked back sobs. Not even when I swore I didn’t do it.

So, no—I didn’t care if Eryx was sorry now.

By the time we pulled up in front of the house, I was already halfway out of the car. Eryx called after me softly.

"Spring... I’m sorry. For everything. I mean it."

I didn’t look back. "That’s great," I muttered, walking away. "Now go apologise to the mirror."

I entered the house, climbed the stairs in silence, and slipped into my room, slamming the door behind me.

The second it closed, Jade stirred.

"What was that?" she swiftly asked sharply.

"What was what?" I shot back, peeling off my jacket.

"That tone. That venom. You’ve been acting strange since after your birthday celebration this afternoon."

I rolled my eyes and tossed my bag on the bed. "Maybe I’m just tired of being everyone’s punching bag."

Jade was quiet for a heartbeat, then her voice dropped—stern, commanding.

"No. That wasn’t you. Something’s wrong."

I flinched. Something inside me... trembled.

Jade surged forward.

Before I could stop her, she pushed, forcing her energy through my body. My vision blurred, and my hands gripped the bedpost as she partially took control.

My muscles locked.

"Spring. Focus."

"I am—" I growled.

"You’re not. I had to override you to get you to stop. Your mind is clouded. Twisted. Something’s been infecting your thoughts."

My breath came shallow. "It’s nothing. I haven’t—"

"When did it start?"

I paused.

"After school," I said slowly. "In the car. Around then."

"Did you eat or touch anything enchanted?"

I shook my head. "No. I haven’t even unwrapped the gift Serissa gave me, just removed the boxes from the ones the guys gave me and kept them."

Both of us fell silent as though we had just spoken the name no one speaks.

Then we both froze.

And in perfect, horrified unison, we whispered, "Serissa."

"The gift," Jade hissed.

She withdrew her control, giving me my body back. I stumbled toward the small silver bag on the floor. Slowly, I peeled it open.

Cosmetics, accessories... everything dainty and polished.

I scrutinised each item, but all I got was nothing. Then I looked into the very bottom, inside the stitched side panel.

And there it was.

A thin, polished pin. Harmless-looking, decorative and delicate.

But something about it felt... wrong.

"There," Jade cried. "That’s it. That’s what’s been leeching you. A hexed object. The energy—it’s subtle. But it latches on like a shadow. Whispering, twisting..."

I reached for it and stopped midway. "I shouldn’t touch it barehanded," I muttered.

"No. Wrap it. Trap the darkness using a velvet ark cloth or a black material."

I grabbed a dark velvet scarf from my drawer, quickly but gently wrapping the pin.

The moment I did, it was like water splashed on my face... clarity.

Like fog was ripped from my mind. I could breathe again and my heart stopped racing.

And then... I smiled. "Serissa... So this is how you play?"

Jade hummed in approval. "We’ll return the favour. Twice as sharp."

"Oh no," I said, tying the scarf tight around the cursed gift, "we’re just getting started."

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~The Next Morning~

The morning halls of Noxshade were buzzing—voices, laughter, footsteps, the usual rhythm of early school hours.

I stood at my locker, calmly. My hand dipped into my bag, fingers curling around the soft velvet fabric that hid the true reason I was here early.

The pin.

Cold. Light. Still humming faintly with that leftover magic.

"All I need to do now is—"

"She’s here," Jade whispered in my mind, alert and sharp. "Serissa just entered through the front wing."

I smiled. "That’s all I needed to hear."

I tugged the black cloth aside and held the pin between my fingers. The air felt cooler suddenly.

I closed my locker, tucked the pin into my palm, and turned toward the hallway that led to the princess.

And there she was.

Walking like the world belonged to her. Uniform pristine, her blonde waves bouncing as if gravity feared touching her. A small crowd parted around her presence.

I didn’t slow my pace.

Ten steps. Five. Three—

"Oops!"

I stumbled deliberately, letting my shoulder crash into hers.

Serissa jolted with a gasp, her hands flailing slightly as I pitched forward against her.

My right hand moved—just a light touch, a shift of fabric, and a clean prick to her exposed left palm.

Barely enough for her to notice. But the magic? It would definitely stick.

Before she could even recoil, I had already slipped the pin into her coat pocket.

Perfectly done.

Serissa screeched. "What do you think you’re—Don’t touch me!"

Her voice shrilled through the corridor like a knife scraped against glass.

People turned to look.

I straightened, brushing imaginary dust off my shirt, my smile as sweet as sugar.

"Sorry," I said, not sorry at all. "I tripped."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Ugh—you should look where you’re going, mutts shouldn’t be crawling into royalty."

I tilted my head, letting my smile sharpen just slightly.

"Careful, Princess. Try to be gracious. And maybe stop screaming like a deranged raccoon next time."

A few gasps followed that—even a suppressed snort from someone behind her.

Serissa’s jaw clenched like she might spit fire. But I didn’t wait to see the rest of her tantrum. I spun on my heel and walked off, the hallway parting for me now.

Within me, Jade purred in my mind.

"That was brilliant."

"Now let’s see," I whispered under my breath, "what happens when royalty gets a taste of her own poison."