Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas

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

~Spring's POV~

Storm gave a faint, crooked grin. "I'm a wolf, remember? We notice everything. You've been pushing yourself."

"I have tests," I said. "I'm supposed to."

"And you've got four guys practically stalking you with love-struck eyes," he added flatly.

I flushed. "That too. So you see? A girl can be tired."

Storm didn't respond to my little joke and paused by a tree, hands still tucked in his jacket. "I was jealous."

I blinked, partly caught off guard by that revelation. "Of what?"

"The others. How they made you laugh so easily. The kiss you gave them without hesitation. I know we agreed to share…" He looked away, and I noticed the tightness of his jaw. "But sometimes I want to steal you away and not share at all."

The silence between us thickened.

I stepped closer to him. "You're the one who mentioned they are all my mates too, you know."

Storm looked down at me, his gaze softening. "And I meant it. But it doesn't make it easier."

He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek, fingertips trailing just slightly along my skin. "I want time with you, Spring—just me and you. I don't want games or an audience."

"I know," I whispered. "And you already said this, but after the assessment."

His lips curved again, just slightly. "Good. Because I already told you, I intend to keep that promise."

"I'm not a baby, Storm, and you can't steal me like my brothers. I just…"

"Stop talking." Then, without asking, he pulled me into a hug.

It was the kind of embrace that steadied your heartbeat and reminded you that someone would fight the world just to hold you longer.

I closed my eyes, arms wrapping around him slowly. "I… I missed this."

I had no idea I had said that out loud until Storm's voice reached my ears as his fingers bruised against my hair. "Then let me give it to you as often as you need."

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

It was the third day of assessments, and as usual, I was halfway through flipping notes at my desk when a knock came at the door.

I frowned. Not many people came looking for me here. So it was either Rhys or one of my brothers who had come visiting.

I padded over and opened the door, and Rhys stood there with a little tousled hair from the wind, sleeves rolled up, a calm look on his face that didn't quite hide how tired he was.

"Hey," I said, blinking in surprise. "Everything okay?"

He gave me a small smile. "More than okay. I just came to tell you… The patient recovered."

My breath caught.

"The one with the V…"

Rhys's eyes narrowed slightly, and I paused, wondering if he had told me about the boy's condition in the first palace. So I quickly switched things up.

"Umm, the one with the very, very serious case?" I asked, almost afraid to believe it.

He nodded before his smile returned. "He is stable. The antidote worked. Symptoms reversed by the second day. He's recovering faster than I expected. And it's… thanks to whoever my helper was."

I smiled faintly. "That's amazing. You see. Told you not to worry too much."

"You did, and thanks to you, too."

I smiled genuinely. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I've never seen anything like it. Not even in experimental case studies. It was almost… folklore-level." He paused. "And yet, it worked."

We stood there in silence for a beat. Then he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I texted her again last night," he added. "Solstice. I just… wanted to thank her properly."

"Oh?"

Rhys shrugged. "I also offered to buy her lunch and she said no."

I couldn't help but laugh. "She sounds stubborn."

He grinned at me. "Yeah, she really is."

I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe. "Did she say why she refused?"

"She said something about timing. And not wanting to get involved too closely." His voice softened. "But then we talked—just… random things. About the cities she'd been to. Her favourite colours. She mentioned a place that doesn't exist on any maps, and I still don't know if she was making it up or testing me."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "And what did you say?"

"I said I'd believe her even if she was lying. Because I've never heard anyone describe a place with that much longing unless it was real to them."

There was a pause.

"She's different," Rhys said. "And I don't mean that in some romantic or mystical way. Just… sharp, but gentle. Familiar. Like I've known her longer than I should."

I felt my throat tighten just a little.

Rhys leaned against the opposite wall now, crossing his arms. "It's strange how she reminds me of you sometimes. Same tone. Same… empathy."

I turned away slightly, fiddling with the charm on my bracelet. "That's… interesting."

He didn't press further, didn't question. He just nodded, almost like he knew pushing would only get him stone walls.

"Anyway," he said after a pause, pushing off the wall. "Just thought you should know. The boy's going to be okay."

"Thank you for telling me," I said sincerely.

He smiled once more and stepped back. "Get some rest after your exams. I'm planning to take a break too."

"You deserve it," I said, and meant it.

As he walked away, I stood at the door a moment longer, feeling my secret press down on me.

That night, I opened the hidden messaging app and stared at the familiar contact name, Dr_RK, which I had changed from Rhys for professional reasons and to keep my secret.

It was then I noticed he had messaged me since and I didn't see it.

He'd written a simple message.

Dr_RK: He's awake. Sitting up. The first thing he asked for was his games and his parents. Thank you, Solstice. Truly."

I stared at the blinking cursor, then typed.

Me: You don't need to thank me. Just keep doing what you do best, saving lives, that is.

Rhys responded within seconds.

Dr_RK: You sound like someone who's lost people before.

I hesitated. Then typed back.

Me: Maybe I have. Maybe I haven't. Either way, I don't want you to lose yours.

This time, there was a pause in the typing bubbles. Then he wrote:

Dr_RK: Can I ask again? Lunch. No names. No pressure. Just… a meal.

I stared at the message for a long moment, then finally typed a response.

Me: One day. Just not yet.

Dr_RK: I'll look forward to that, Solstice.

Then I locked my phone, heart aching in a way I couldn't fully understand, and drifted into sleep, with one name echoing through my mind like the echo of an old vow:

Solstice.