The Three Who Chose Me
Chapter 30: Bound by Blood and Fury

Chapter 30: Bound by Blood and Fury

Thorne

The edge of the desk dug into the back of my thighs, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My fingers clenched tightly around the rim as if it were the only thing anchoring me to the goddamn earth. The scent of antiseptic still clung to my skin, and the bandage on my side itched like hell, but I barely felt it. The doctor had said I needed to rest.

"Give your body time to heal, Alpha Thorne."

Rest? How the fuck was I supposed to rest when she was out there?

Josie.

My mate.

My omega.

Kidnapped.

Probably hurt. Probably scared.

My chest ached worse than the bullet wound. Worse than the half-complete shift that had torn through my body and paralyzed me like a ragdoll.

I had one fucking job: protect her.

And I failed.

"I asked you a question," Kiel snapped from across the office, his voice laced with rage. "Why the fuck couldn’t you shift, Thorne?"

I didn’t look at him. Couldn’t.

My jaw clenched, and I swallowed hard against the humiliation burning in my throat. The image of her—screaming for me, reaching for me as they dragged her away—played over and over in my head like a curse I couldn’t erase.

"Back off, Kiel," Varen’s voice cut in, sharp and cold. "This isn’t the time to start pointing fingers. Thorne did what he could. We all know that."

"No, Varen," Kiel growled, stalking closer. "He tried to shift and couldn’t. That doesn’t just happen. We’re Alphas. We’re not supposed to—"

"I know what the fuck we’re supposed to be!" I shouted, finally lifting my head. My voice cracked with raw emotion, and for a second, the room went still.

Kiel stared at me, his expression unreadable.

I exhaled, slowly. My fists were trembling now. I gritted my teeth to stop them.

"The moment I tried to shift... something snapped inside me," I muttered. "It was like my body shut down. Like something—or someone—stopped me."

Silence.

Varen stepped closer, frowning. "You think someone was trailing us? Anticipating the shift?"

"Yeah," I said darkly. "And I think I know who."

"Don’t say it," Kiel said quickly, jaw tensing.

"Alpha Jake."

"Damn it, Thorne!" Kiel exploded. "It can’t be him. He’s a pompous bastard, sure, but he wouldn’t be stupid enough to spark a war with all three of us just because of—"

"Because of Josie?" I hissed, eyes narrowing. "Is that what you were going to say, Kiel?"

Varen’s voice dropped an octave. Dangerous. "She’s not just some random omega, brother. She’s our omega. Our mate."

"Exactly," I bit out. "And if we’re bonded to her, if we feel that pull—you don’t think other Alphas can smell that? You don’t think they know what she means to us? She’s not a tool or a plaything. She’s our fucking mate."

Kiel dragged a hand through his hair, pacing now. "I know that, dammit. I’m not saying she doesn’t matter—"

"Then stop talking like she doesn’t," I snapped.

He stopped pacing. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw the cracks in him too. The guilt. The fury.

"I just..." Kiel exhaled shakily. "I just want to know what they’re doing to her. Where she is. How we get to her."

The silence that followed was deafening. Each of us drowning in our own thoughts. Our own pain.

Then I stood. My leg burned with every step, the healed skin pulling tightly where the bullet had torn through. I ignored it. Pain was fuel.

I walked to the massive map pinned to the wall and dragged my fingers across the borders. The exact place we’d been intercepted... right here.

"There," I muttered. "We were attacked here. That border touches two territories. One belongs to the Ferrel Pack, the other to a rogue-claimed zone. Unregulated. Violent. A breeding ground for every kind of filth."

Kiel came up behind me, eyes narrowing at the lines.

"I’ll go to the rogue zone," he said, voice grim. "Find out what they know. What they’ve seen. If they’ve got anything to say, I’ll get it out of them."

Varen nodded, stepping closer. "We can also track her scent. Her clothes—maybe something she wore. If they moved her through those woods, the wolves can trace her."

"Good," I muttered, already thinking ahead. "We move fast. No delays."

We each called in our Betas.

Archer stepped in first, flanked by Varen’s Beta, Ruby. Williams, Kiel’s Beta, showed up last. All three of them were Alphas in their own right—dangerous, loyal, smart. But they’d agreed to serve under us, to guard our rule.

"Mobilize your units," I told Archer without looking up. "I want a full perimeter team sweeping this zone before nightfall."

"Already done," Archer said. "They’re armed and waiting for the command."

"Ruby," Varen said, "get the trackers. Tell them we need scent work on Josie. Pull any garment she wore in the last twenty-four hours."

Ruby nodded and vanished out the door without another word.

Kiel turned to Williams. "Get me a rogue contact. Someone dirty enough to know what’s going on but smart enough to be afraid of me."

Williams grinned darkly. "I’ve got just the rat."

The plan was in motion.

Then the door opened again—and all hell threatened to break loose.

Michelle walked in like she owned the place. Soft curls bouncing over her shoulders, that false smile painted on her lips.

She beelined for Kiel, and before anyone could stop her, she placed a kiss on his cheek.

My blood boiled.

Kiel flinched, looking uncomfortable, but he didn’t pull away fast enough.

"What the fuck do you think you’re doing?" I said sharply, eyes narrowing.

Michelle turned, startled. "I—I just came to see if he was okay—"

"You think this is the time for games?" I spat, stepping toward her. "Our mate is missing. Possibly tortured. And you’re here playing house?"

Her eyes filled with tears instantly, as if she’d rehearsed it.

Kiel sighed, rubbing his temple. "Thorne, don’t—"

"She doesn’t belong here," I growled. "She’s not part of this pack. She’s not part of this family."

"Enough," Kiel said under his breath, then took Michelle’s hand and gently led her out of the office.

I watched them go, fury burning behind my eyes.

Varen let out a low groan. "He’s going to crash. And it’s going to be ugly."

"When is he going to stop pretending he can love them both?" I muttered. "Josie is it. She’s always been it."

Before either of us could speak again, Williams stepped back into the room, his voice brisk and clipped.

"The wolves are ready to receive us."

Good.

I didn’t wait.

I stormed past him, out the door.

Michelle was still standing in the hallway, tears slipping down her cheeks. Kiel stood awkwardly beside her, torn.

I didn’t hesitate.

I shoved Michelle aside, hard enough to make her stumble back.

"Go back to your fucking place," I growled. "You don’t belong here."

Her eyes widened in shock, but I didn’t give a damn.

I grabbed Kiel by the arm and dragged him down the corridor, ignoring the protest in his voice.

"Get your shit together," I said coldly. "Josie needs us. And I’m not letting anything—or anyone—get in our way."