Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas

**************

~Spring's POV~

The kiss was just a soft peck. Barely even a second long. But it landed right on my lips.

I pulled back immediately, completely and utterly stunned.

For a heartbeat, I didn't know what to say or how to approach what had just happened, but after another second, the only word that came to mind was his, and I called out his name.

"Eryx…?"

His expression was unreadable for a moment, then quickly turned into a smirk. "Relax, little sister. Consider it a brotherly challenge."

I blinked as heat rose to my cheeks like wildfire. "That was not brotherly."

Eryx's smirk widened. "Sure it was. You're just overthinking it."

"I—" I began to argue, but he lunged before I could finish.

In one swift, playful movement, Eryx tackled me back down onto the bed with a laugh. I squealed—more surprised than alarmed—as I landed flat on the mattress, my hair splaying around my face.

His weight pinned me lightly while his arms caged me in. But he wasn't hurting me. Not even close.

"Say it," he grinned, hovering above me. "Admit defeat. Say I win."

"Were we playing a game?"

"Yes, we were. And you lost."

"You cheated," I said, squirming beneath him.

"It's not cheating if you're too slow," he teased, leaning closer. "Come on. Admit it."

But I wasn't really focused on the game anymore. My heart was still hammering against my ribcage like it wanted to escape.

The space between us was barely a breath wide. And though I knew I should laugh, push him off, roll away and tell him he was being ridiculous… I couldn't move.

Because he wasn't moving either.

His expression had changed again—softened. The teasing was still there, but it had dimmed, like he was caught between instinct and hesitation.

Eryx's eyes met mine, and for one suspended second, neither of us blinked.

We just… stared.

My breathing slowed as did time itself. Eryx's hand still braced beside my head, curled slightly. His chest rose and fell above mine, pressed a little close to my breasts with only our clothes separating us.

Unlike my ragged breath, Eeryx's breathing was still normal. And then he leaned a little closer.

My breathing stopped as I anticipated what he was about to do while my brain prepared a countermeasure.

But it wasn't to kiss me. However, Eryx still moved close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath tickle across my cheek, down to the hollow of my throat.

"You've always been beautiful," he whispered, still staring into my eyes as though they could convey the silent message he wanted to tell me.

I swallowed hard, lips parting. "Eryx…"

That was all I managed to say before he pulled back a few inches, just enough to give me room to breathe. His eyes still searched mine, but the pressure of the moment was already ebbing.

Then, with a subtle grunt, he pushed himself up fully and stood, dusting off invisible creases from his hoodie like nothing had happened.

"I'll be heading out now," he said, lightly again.

I sat up slowly, trying to regain control of my heartbeat. "You're impossible."

Eryx winked. "And yet, you adore me."

I scoffed and tossed a pillow at him. "Go, before I write you a list of reasons why I don't."

"Tempting," he chuckled, dodging the pillow. "But if I stay, you might kiss me next time."

I opened my mouth in protest—then closed it just as fast. Instead, I shook my head with a laugh, trying to mask how rattled I still felt.

"Well, you looked like you needed something to laugh about."

I narrowed my eyes at him, though a laugh did bubble up my throat. "You're being too coy tonight."

He winked, stepping toward the door. "Good. Means I'm doing my job."

And just like that, Eryx was gone.

I sat there, blinking at the door for a full minute before my fingers moved up and slowly brushed my lips, my heart still fluttering in confusion.

He was teasing.

Of course, Eryx was teasing, right?

…Right?

I shook my head, grabbed the pen, and tried again to return to the page in front of me.

But suddenly, the words looked a little blurry. Or maybe… everything just got a little more complicated.

"Focus, Solstice. You need this. Let's do another general revision on all the books Storm gave us."

I stood up and headed for my reading table. I had only just sat down when my phone screen lit up with the sound of the notification tone.

I glanced at it, expecting a message from either of my mates or Storm, only to see something else.

Rose: Hey, sis. How has living without me and in my shadow been?

I ignored it and placed my phone down. Another ping pulled my attention when I saw another text from her.

Rose: Well, see you soon, sis. This time, they will know you for who you are, two-faced bitch.

I scoffed, my finger hovering over the delete button, when I halted.

"Hmm, who knows what that girl would do?"

Instead, I screenshotted it and sent it to Eyx along with a cute text.

Me: From your beloved sis, Rose.

****************

I did not wait for Eryx's reply before shutting down my phone to focus on my studies. After all, a few hours wasn't just going to cut.

By morning, I quickly ran through a short revision at my reading table, flipping through the highlighted sections Storm had marked.

A part of me wanted to text him back—just a little thank you, or maybe a 'you missed a spot' joke—but after last night's chaos, I didn't trust myself not to complicate things.

I entered the bathroom, letting the hot water chase away the tension still lingering in my spine. My lips still tingled, not from Storm's kisses… but from a different, far more confusing moment with Eryx.

I shook my head under the stream of water. No. That wasn't anything. He was just being… Eryx. The teasing, wild, unpredictable card of the Kaines.

Still, I couldn't erase the heat in his eyes, or the way his breath had warmed my skin like a secret I wasn't ready to name.

After dressing up in my school uniform, I grabbed my bag and started downstairs. I didn't even notice the soft sound of voices in the dining room until a deep voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Spring."

I froze on the last step and turned in the direction of the voice.

Rhys was seated at the dining table, already halfway through a plate of eggs. Eryx sat beside him, relaxed like he owned the whole house.

And Kaius, ever the composed one, nursed a black coffee while reading something on his phone.

Great. Kaine's trio demons were here. I could swear this had something to do with Rose's messages.

"Spring," Kaius said again, placing the phone down and fixing me with that big-brother stare. "Come sit. We were waiting for you."

"I'm heading out," I said quickly. "I'm already late and I'd rather not bump into River before I leave."

Rhys raised a brow. "She left early this morning. Something about a meeting."

"Good for her," I muttered, adjusting my bag strap. "Still, I'm not hungry."

"No one asked if you were hungry," Eryx said with a crooked grin, pushing out his chair. "I asked if you'd stay."

Before I could reply, he stood and walked toward me, his long strides confident and casual. He reached out, took my wrist gently but firmly, and pulled me with him toward the table.

"Eryx," I warned, "I have class."

He didn't stop.

"Five minutes won't kill you. Besides, it is only 7:10," he said, pulling me down onto his lap as he sat.

"Eryx!" I gasped, trying to get up, but his arms wrapped lightly around my waist.

"Sit still, or I'll tickle you again," he whispered near my ear, and my body went stiff.

"Now," he said, grabbing a piece of spicy chicken with his fork. "Open up."

I stared at him.

He raised his brows as if daring me to dare him. "Come on. Be good."

And for some insane reason, I obeyed.

The second the chicken entered my mouth, I nearly melted. It was warm, spiced just right, and ridiculously delicious.

"Hmm," I mumbled, chewing.

"That's my girl," Eryx grinned.

I was about to smack him when I noticed the sudden silence.

Rhys had stopped mid-chew, a fork frozen halfway to his mouth. Kaius looked like someone had slapped the back of his head.

Rhys burst into a laugh. "You two look like an actual couple."

I stiffened. "We're not."

Eryx didn't help. He casually leaned in and pecked my cheek. "Yet."

The piece of chicken in my mouth slipped from my lips in shock, landing squarely on my chin.

Kaius choked on his coffee. "What the hell?"

"Oops," Eryx said, staring at me.

"Don't—" I started, reaching for a napkin.

But I wasn't fast enough.

He leaned forward and, without warning, licked the sauce from the corner of my lips… and then from my chin.

I froze. Entirely. Brain. Heart. Everything. Even my soul stopped functioning.