Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas

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~Spring's POV~

My eyes narrowed at him. "And?"

"Your brother saved me when no one else could. It was during a complicated case. No doctor could heal or treat me, but your brother… he helped me when I was on the verge of losing my life."

I tilted my head, letting my senses filter through his words. There—faint but undeniable—were traces of medicinal herbs and healing oils, buried under expensive cologne.

He wasn't lying.

"Alright," I said finally. "Come in. I'll give him a call. He stepped out in a hurry, probably an emergency at the hospital."

Neil stepped in with a casual smile. "That can't be. I called the hospital on my way here just to be sure. I was told Dr. Kaine wasn't on duty."

"Well, maybe at another hospital," I tried to give another excuse.

But something told me that whatever this guy wanted—it wasn't just about a thank-you gift.

And if Tyrion's growl was any indication… he felt it too.

Neil, whoever he was, was trouble.

I led him into the living room, pointing toward the couch. "You can sit there. I'll let my brother know you're here."

He dropped into the seat casually, one leg crossed over the other like he'd just stepped into his own apartment.

Pulling out my phone, I quickly typed.

Me: Some guy named Neil is here. He says he's got a gift for you from his dad.

Rhys: Neil? That guy? Alright, I'm on my way. Don't entertain him too long.

I gave a soft smile, even though a part of me was already screaming internally. Slipping my phone back into the pocket of my joggers, I turned toward him again.

"So, would you like anything to drink? Juice, water, wi…" I let my voice drag on a little, "...wine?"

His brow lifted immediately, catching the tone I laced into that last word.

"I'm way of age, you know. Definitely old enough to drink. Little teens like you shouldn't tempt men like that."

My brows rose slowly. Oh, here we go.

Little?!!

"Oh, is that so, Uncle?"

"Uncle?" he repeated, visibly offended.

I tilted my head with mock sweetness. "Or should I call you gramps? Maybe grand-gran?"

His scoff came loud and sharp. "Who the hell are you calling grand-gran? Do I look old to you?"

I crossed my arms. "Do I look like a little teen to you?"

He opened his mouth, then faltered.

"Well, I'm not old," he defended.

"And I'm not little. I'd bet you're only a year or two older than me, tops. Maybe we're even the same age."

Neil looked like he wanted to argue but paused mid-thought. "Whatever," he muttered. "I didn't come to trade sass. I came to win over a cutie."

He leaned forward, flashing me a charming grin he probably thought was irresistible.

"Pedophile," I said dryly.

His eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"You thought I was a little teen. If you're trying to win me over, what does that make you?" I shrugged casually. "Sounds like pedo behavior to me."

He stood abruptly, closing the distance between us in one stride.

Neil was too close, and his gaze was far too assessing now, his words lower and more invasive.

"You're no kid. You've got a mature body—nice hips, slim waist, C-cups, and that unique hair? With the right training, you could be a model—hell, a showstopper. You are of age."

I blinked in disgust, taking a quick step back as his hand reached for my face.

"You're beautiful, special... I think I might've just fallen for you, damsel."

Excuse me?!!

His words wrapped around me like barbed wire. My instincts flared. Jade growled inside me.

Without thinking, I swung my hand.

POW!

The sharp sound of my palm meeting his face cracked through the room like a thunderclap.

Neil's head snapped slightly to the side, his cheek reddening as his smirk faltered.

"You do that again," I said through clenched teeth, my voice calm but lethal, "and the next thing I throw won't be a slap. It'll be your sorry ass out that door."

I didn't even register the sting in my palm—only the look of dumbfounded shock painting his face.

I hadn't even fully caught my breath when the front door slammed open.

"Spring?"

I turned sharply, relief and something warmer flooding through me at the sound of his voice.

He wasn't Rhys but he was definitely one hell of a protective brother.

Eryx stepped in, arms full with a massive white teddy bear, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, and a takeout bag that I could already smell held my favorite: chicken.

His eyes landed on Neil first, then on me from the corridor close to the living room.

Then my red hand.

He stopped in his tracks.

"Spring?" he repeated, but this time his voice was lower—controlled, but just barely.

Neil blinked, recovering fast. "Eryx, hey! Didn't expect—"

"Shut up," Eryx said, gently setting the teddy bear down on one of the couches. The chocolates followed. Then the chicken. His every motion was precise, slow… and overly dangerous.

He was about to explode.

His gaze never left Neil's face.

"What. Did. You. Do?"

And suddenly, the living room wasn't just warm from the sunlight anymore—it was scorching.

Eryx had entered the room, and judgment day had come with him.

A part of me jumped at the thrill of my big bro teaching Neil a lesson, but another part wondered if I wasn't overly encouraging my brother with his feelings.

"I… I only admired her, nothing much. She, on the other hand…"

"Wrong," Eryx snapped before Neil could finish, stepping forward. His voice didn't rise, but the tension in the room thickened. "You were just about to get your teeth knocked in. Try finishing that sentence again and see what happens."

Neil blinked, his charming exterior beginning to crack.

I lifted my hand, still red, and pointed at Neil. "He said he was here to thank Rhys. Then he decided to thank me instead—with disgusting words and an attempt to touch me."

Eryx's expression darkened.

Neil scoffed, trying to brush it off. "It was a compliment."

"It was harassment," I corrected. "Who meets a girl for the first time and starts assessing her body with words? C-cup, nice hips, slim waist, bleh bleh…"

While I spoke, I noticed Eryx's gaze from the corner of my eye drop to my chest and then down my body.

Was he checking me out tight now… Urgh, Eryx, focus!

"You can't blame him. You're gorgeous in case you haven't seen yourself lately. Your spirit is enriching Spring's body, Solstice. You are beginning to take shape and look like your former self in terms of beauty. Any guy who doesn't appreciate this is blind and a loser."

Eryx took another step forward, placing himself fully between us. He folded his arms. "You have three seconds to leave before I drop the 'civilized older brother' routine."

Neil actually looked nervous now, his confidence finally faltering.

"Fine," he muttered, stepping backwards toward the door. "This house is full of lunatics anyway."

"Call us that again," I said sweetly, "and I'll show you what my next slap feels like with claws."

He stiffened. He had no idea I had heard him, and even Eryx looked slightly shocked.

Neil glared at me one last time, then shoved open the door and left, slamming it behind him.