Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas
Chapter 50: Brother or Boyfriend?

Chapter 50: Brother or Boyfriend?

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Chapter 50

~Spring’s POV~

We didn’t speak much as Eryx drove us into the city.

I thought he’d blast music to ease the tension. Instead, he let silence stretch between us, only broken by the soft thrum of the engine and the occasional sigh he didn’t try to hide.

His fingers tapped lightly against the wheel, not in rhythm, just restless.

By the time we got to the restaurant, he was still brooding.

He held the door open for me like he always used to, waved off the hostess, and led me to a quiet booth by the window like he already had it memorized. But when we sat down, Eryx didn’t touch the menu.

Instead, he just stared at the table like it had offended him personally.

It was starting to get on my nerves.

I waited until the waitress left with our order, then folded my arms on the table and tilted my head slightly.

"You’ve been quiet," I said.

His jaw clenched. "Just thinking."

"That obvious?"

Eryx exhaled. "It’s Mum."

Of course, it was.

"She saw what happened, Spring," he said, finally looking at me. "She saw Rose lie. She saw her fake faint right in front of her. And she still—" he shook his head, teeth gritting "—she still rushed to her like she was the victim."

I sipped my water. "So what exactly are you upset about?"

He blinked. "That she still didn’t get it."

I tilted my head and spoke calmly. "And... who used to fall for that same act every time?"

Eryx paused. He knew I had hit the nail right on the head. His lips twitched, and for the first time since we left the house, a laugh broke through.

"Touché."

I smirked. "Look at that. Growth."

"I deserved that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to drag the mood."

"Apology accepted. Now eat."

Eryx nodded, lifting his fork, then paused. "Actually... you don’t have to go home tonight. You can come stay at my apartment. If you want, you could live with me. At least until school breaks."

I blinked. "Thanks, but no. I still have assessments to prepare for."

"Isn’t it game week?"

"It is," I said, cutting into my chicken, "but I want to study ahead."

"Oh. In that case... I’ll come with you. I can sleep in your room like old ti—"

My gaze snapped up.

He stopped mid-sentence and immediately retracted. "I mean—to protect you. In case anyone tries to bully you."

I squinted at him. "Nice save."

He lifted both hands. "What? I’m serious."

I dropped my fork and tapped my lips. "Eryx, I’m not ten. I am not a child anymore. I am eighteen in case you forgot. I can handle myself."

"Nonsense," he said, waving his hand dramatically. "You’ll always be the little sister we have to shield from the world. There’s no growing up from that."

I pouted, crossing my arms in front of my chest. "Looks like you just want an excuse or avenue to pamper me too much."

He lifted his hands in mock surrender and I shook my head, resuming my meal. "Not gonna lie, I do, and you have no choice but to get spoiled."

I rolled my eyes. "Figures."

Oh, and speaking of which," he added smoothly, "you’re coming shopping with me after this."

I froze mid-way with the chicken puff just an inch from my mouth. "Shopping?"

"You heard me."

"I’m not dressed for—"

"Spring," he said, eyes twinkling. "You’ll like it. Trust me."

I didn’t have the energy to argue. Not when he was smiling like that.

Ten minutes later, we were inside a luxury shopping mall I had only ever seen from the outside.

The kind of place where price tags were suggestions and the sales reps treated you like royalty the second you stepped in, a place I, Solstice Winter, have never been to.

"Enjoy," Eryx said, gently nudging me forward. "I’ll be right back. I need to take a call."

I wandered slowly between aisles of polished shelves and crystal-lit displays. Everything smelled like leather and what they call cashmere. I barely touched anything, still too dazed from the sheer elegance of the place.

My past life was truly centuries in the past.

Then I heard it.

"Spring."

My spine straightened as I turned slowly, already half-knowing who it was.

Storm Draven.

He stood near the entrance of the boutique, hands in his pockets, dressed in a fitted black leather jacket over a partially unbuttoned shirt and dark jeans.

The shirt clung to him like the gods themselves had designed it, and I swore I heard three girls behind me sigh in unison.

Jade growled deeply inside me, unsatisfied by the attention our mate was getting and frankly speaking, I didn’t like it too and more annoyingly, I hated that I cared.

His icy blue eyes met mine like they belonged there.

"You’re drawing attention," I said the moment he reached me. "Girls are literally swooning."

"And?" Storm’s smirk was lazy, dangerous even "My mate’s here. Why would I care about anyone else?"

My heart did a small, rebellious flutter. And a part of me, just a tiny part, wanted to show it to all the girls swooning for him.

I turned away, pretending to examine a necklace. "Why are you here?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" he said, taking a step closer. "I sensed you were near."

"Convenient, but Storm, why are you really here?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw him lightly massage his temples. "You are being a killjoy, but I was heading to my brother’s company. This mall is across from it."

I arched a brow, but that didn’t stop Storm as he stepped closer.

"Also," he said, lowering his voice, "I wanted to see your face."

I didn’t answer mostly because I couldn’t. Not with the way the bond was pulsing.

He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. "You know, you shouldn’t let your guard down. Not with all these people watching."

"Then stop staring like you’re planning to devour me."

"Can’t help it." His voice dropped lower. "I want to kiss you. It’s getting harder and harder by the minute to stay away from you mate. I want you."

I stiffened, my breath hitching.

His hand was still in my hair, the other now resting lightly on my waist. His face leaned in, inch by inch.

"Storm—"

"If you want me to stop," he whispered, "tell me now."

I didn’t. And that was the problem.

I tilted my head slightly, ready—maybe—for whatever was about to happen, when—

"What the hell is going on here?"

The ice in Eryx’s voice snapped me out of it like a bucket of cold water.

Storm didn’t flinch. He turned slightly, still very much in my space.

Eryx stood a few feet away, phone still in hand, his brows drawn so tight it looked like they might snap.

"Eryx," I began, stepping back slightly.

But he was already striding forward, eyes dark with disbelief. I had lied a bit when I told Rael of my brother’s jealousy, but seeing it actually happen was...

I was speechless.

"Publicly?" he growled. "You’re going to let him kiss you in public?"

Storm raised a brow. "Jealous, brother or boyfriend?"

"Brother," Eryx spoke up before I did, more like snapped. "And you? Are you her boyfriend?"

My gaze flickered to Storm, wondering what answer he would g,ive but Storm smiled slowly. "Not yet but soon. And in that case, I guess I should call you, brother-in-law."

I groaned inwardly.

This was going to get messy.

Very fast.

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