The Three Who Chose Me
Chapter 41: The Edge

Chapter 41: The Edge

Kiel

Varen was right.

As much as I hated to admit it, he was fucking right. The anger he threw at me had dug under my skin, clawed into my chest, and wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he said it, the disgust in his voice when he told me to stop hiding. When he told me I was part of the reason Josie was pulling away.

He wasn’t wrong.

So now I was pacing toward her room, my jaw clenched so tight it hurt, my thoughts spinning with every step. I needed to fix this. I had to. I couldn’t take one more day of pretending like she wasn’t hurting, or like I didn’t want to throw myself off the damn edge every time I saw her flinch because of me.

But when I turned the corner toward her hall, something... was off.

There were no guards at her door.

Not one.

That alone made every hair on my body stand up. I picked up my pace, then jogged to the door. I twisted the knob and pushed it open.

Empty.

I stepped inside, heart thudding.

No one.

Not only that—her scent... it was faint. Barely there. Like she hadn’t even slept here. I walked to her bed, the sheets still smooth. She hadn’t been here for hours.

Fuck.

Where would she go?

Panic crawled up my spine, seeping into my chest like ice water. My wolf was stirring beneath my skin, restless, snarling. I tried to think. Garden. Maybe she needed fresh air. That was Josie. Always drawn to the earth, to nature.

I bolted toward the back terrace, where the garden wound around the edge of the estate.

The sky was a deep gray, the air thick and damp after last night’s rain. I ran through the stone paths, weaving around hedges, the wind biting at my face. I didn’t see anyone.

"Josie?" I called out.

Nothing.

I turned, about to head back inside and call for backup when—

The scent hit me.

Blood.

My body locked up, and for a second, everything froze.

Blood.

No. No. No.

I spun on my heel and ran deeper into the garden. The scent was strong, coppery and raw, and it made my chest seize. My feet slammed into the ground, wet leaves and mud flying beneath my boots.

I rounded the far corner, expecting to see her there, maybe wounded—

But the ground was empty.

Then, I looked up.

My heart stopped.

A body.

Hanging halfway off the edge of one of the upper balconies, limp, motionless.

My lungs seized. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

Then—my legs started moving on their own.

I ran like hell.

I didn’t take the stairs. I scaled the stone wall, claws out, teeth clenched, like a feral animal. I had to get there. I didn’t care if my hands tore open or if I fell trying. I couldn’t let her fall.

I reached the top just as her fingers slipped.

"Josie!"

I lunged, my claws digging into the edge of the stone. My other hand shot forward and I grabbed her arm, her skin slick with rain and blood.

Her body was heavy—dead weight. She wasn’t moving.

"No, no, no—fuck—Josie!"

With a growl that ripped through my chest, I hauled her up, pulling her into my arms. She collapsed against me like a ragdoll.

She wasn’t conscious.

Her hair was soaked, matted to her skin. Blood trailed from a cut above her brow. Her lips were pale. Her arms were limp.

For a second, I just held her.

And broke.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could do was stare at her and feel everything inside me start to collapse.

Then, instinct kicked in.

I shifted without hesitation, letting the bones snap and reform, letting my wolf take control. I cradled her gently between my jaws and bolted across the lawn, faster than I’d ever moved.

The pack hospital was minutes away. I made it in seconds.

I burst through the back entrance, growling at the medics so loudly one of them screamed. I shifted back immediately, soaking wet and shaking, and laid her down on the stretcher they rolled out.

"She fell," I said, my voice hoarse. "She fell from the fucking balcony—do something!"

They moved fast, but not fast enough. Every second felt like an hour.

My hands were still shaking as I stood outside the operating room.

I finally mind-linked my brothers.

She’s hurt. It’s Josie. She fell. I found her hanging off the fucking balcony, barely alive.

There was a silence—then Varen’s voice snapped into my head, sharp and panicked. What?! Where are you?

Hospital. Pack infirmary. She’s inside now.

Thorne didn’t speak at first.

Then his voice cut in like steel. We’re coming.

Ten minutes later, they were there—drenched from the rain, looking as panicked as I felt. Varen stormed toward me, his hands curled into fists. "What the fuck happened?"

"I don’t know," I rasped. "I couldn’t find her. She wasn’t in her room, no guards—nothing. I found her in the garden and smelled blood. Then... then I saw her falling from the terrace."

Thorne looked like he wanted to destroy something. His jaw twitched. "She was alone?"

I nodded.

"And no guards."

"None."

"Those bastards," Thorne muttered.

"We should’ve done more to her parents when we had the chance," Varen said, pacing like a wild thing. "They sold her off like she was nothing. We let them walk free."

"Not anymore," Thorne growled.

They didn’t even hesitate. The three of us left the hospital for only a moment—just long enough to find out what the fuck had happened.

We returned to the garden, walking to the exact spot I’d found her. The stone was cracked, a smear of blood where she’d hit the wall. Varen knelt down, growling softly.

"She didn’t fall by accident."

"No," I said. "Someone shoved her."

Thorne’s eyes gleamed with fury. "Send word to the Betas. Get Josie’s parents. I want them dragged here. I want answers."

We didn’t waste time. Ruby and Archer were already on their way to carry out the order.

Rain was falling again—soaking us, but none of us moved.

I sat on the cold stone, my hands clenching and unclenching.

"I should’ve been watching her," I whispered. "I should’ve checked in. I should’ve—fuck—I should’ve done something."

"Don’t start this now," Varen said tightly. "We need to keep our heads."

But his words didn’t reach me.

My vision blurred. I didn’t know if it was the rain or something else, but I couldn’t stop the tears that burned behind my eyes.

"She could’ve died," I choked. "She could’ve died and I wouldn’t have even known."

"You’re not the only one who messed up," Varen muttered. "We all did."

"She still trusts you," I said bitterly.

Varen snapped his head toward me. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Thorne stood in the background, silent. But his silence wasn’t peace—it was a ticking bomb.

"She looks at you like you’re her savior," I went on. "She cooks for you. Cries for you. Sleeps near you."

"And you think that means I don’t hurt like hell when I see her falling apart?" Varen stepped forward. "You think I don’t feel guilt for every bruise she hides behind a fake smile?"

"You still get to hold her!"

"Because I’m trying, Kiel! You’re too busy wallowing!"

I shoved him.

He shoved me back.

We would’ve come to blows, but Thorne snapped then. He stepped between us, grabbing my collar like I weighed nothing and shoved me against the wall. His eyes were cold fire.

"Stop acting like you’re the only one who cares," he snarled in my face. "You think you’re hurting? You think you’re broken? We all are. But if we don’t get our shit together, she’s going to fucking die, and it’ll be all our faults."

The words hit like a bullet.

I sagged under his grip.

Before anything else could be said, Ruby appeared at the corner of the terrace.

"It’s time," she said. "The parents have arrived."