Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas

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~Rose's POV~

The living room felt colder today, despite the early afternoon sunlight filtering in through the tall windows.

I paced in front of the large-screen TV, ignoring whatever drama was playing on mute. My arms were folded tightly across my chest, and my index finger tapped rhythmically against my chin as I walked back and forth.

"Rose..." Clarice's voice cut into my thoughts, cautiously but persistently.

It was the third time she had interrupted my thought flow this afternoon. I raised my hand without looking at her. "Shh."

Behind me, my three friends—Clarice, Rita, and Ezra—exchanged glances on the cream sectional couch, clearly growing impatient.

It wasn't my fault they couldn't grasp the gravity of this situation.

"Okay, enough," Ezra finally said, standing up and walking to stand in front of the TV, blocking my pacing path. "You've been doing this for twenty minutes now. If you want us to help, you need to tell us what the hell is going on."

Clarice nodded, arms crossed. "He's right. We're not mind-readers. You called us over like it was some kind of emergency, and now you're just... spinning in circles."

I stopped, finally facing them. My expression must've betrayed more than I intended because Rita's brow arched with something between concern and curiosity.

"You guys remember my birthday?"

Ezra scoffed. "You mean the royal banquet you turned into a movie set? Hard to forget."

"Well," I snapped, "since then, that little rat hasn't come home."

"You mean... Spring?" Clarice asked carefully.

"Yes," I hissed. "Spring. I haven't seen her. Rhys took her away on some joyride right after that stupid moment with mum and the accusations—"

"The one where you shoved her into it?" Rita offered dryly.

I ignored that and went on. "And then, a few days ago, I overheard Mum on a call with Kaius. Guess what? They said she won't be coming back anytime soon."

Ezra frowned. "Wait, shouldn't that be good news for you?"

"That's what I thought," I said, spinning on my heel. "But no! Somehow, even while gone, she's getting all the attention. Rhys stays with her. Eryx calls her. Kaius is suddenly nicer to everyone—like he's carrying the guilt of abandoning her or something."

"So what's the plan?" Clarice asked cautiously. "You're not thinking of... sabotaging her again, right?"

I scoffed. "No. I want to play this smart. I need her here."

"You want her back?" Rita blinked.

"Yes. So I can fix things. On the surface," I clarified. "I'll act like I've grown. Matured. I'll ask for a family picnic, something public and sentimental. Tell Mum and Dad I miss her and want to apologize to her and the boys for what I did on my birthday. I'll cry if I have to."

Ezra whistled. "You're playing the long game."

"Exactly," I muttered. "Because when she comes back, I'll be ready. No more public meltdowns. No more sabotage. Just slow, precise... correction."

Clarice looked at me warily. "So this isn't about forgiveness. It's about control."

"I don't want her gone," I said softly. "I want her below me. Where she belongs."

A beat of silence followed. They must have thought I had lost it, but they were wrong in thinking I had forgiven that lowlife who stole my family's love.

Did they actually forget all the things I had done for them while they supported me over Spring?

Then Rita sighed. "You're unbelievable."

"And effective," I added with a tight smile. "Once I have everyone thinking I've changed, it won't matter what Spring does. One tear from me, and she'll be the unstable one. Again."

Ezra sat back down, muttering something under his breath about drama queens.

"Do you think your parents will go for it?" Clarice asked.

"I'm the only daughter left at home," I said sweetly. "Of course they will."

Clarice leaned forward, suddenly curious. "What if Spring doesn't come?"

"She will," I said without hesitation. "She can't resist a guilt trip. Especially if the boys are there. She's weak when it comes to them. One soft apology and those overprotective fools will drag her back here like she's the lost princess of some forgotten fairy tale."

Ezra laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound.

I didn't care. I was done being the backdrop. I would take back what was mine—my place, my brothers, and my name.

My fingers tapped lightly against my crossed arms as my thought began to craft every plot and plan in place.

And Spring wouldn't even see it coming.

"You're wicked," Era muttered beside me.

"And devilishly so," Clarice added.

"Well, am I still devilish if I stop your weekly allowance and gifts?"

"Hell no!" they all chorused and rushed to my side to buffer me up.

They only proved that with money, my father's money, and that wench called a mother, I could rule the world with my real mother.

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

~Spring's POV~

The moment I stepped through the front gate of the academy, I knew something was off.

It wasn't just the usual murmuring and idle chatter that echoed through the stone corridors.

No, this felt different—like electricity humming through the air or the moment before a lightning strike.

I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and made my way into the courtyard, noticing how a few students paused mid-step to glance at me.

Their gazes weren't subtle, either and honestly, I was already used to that by now.

A couple of girls whispered behind cupped palms. One of the boys from the senior class gave me a long, unreadable look before ducking away with his friends.

Okay… weird. I pursed my lips as I took out a lollipop and pushed it into my mouth.

One of the senior class students saw that and winked at me, saying, "Bet you can give a nice head."

I paused, with a completely blank expression as I saw him feeling himself. I scoffed and responded, "Yeah, that's if a bald, shaved head counts."

He looked slightly horrified as the jokes were turned on him.

I passed through the garden path and into the main hallway, only for the murmurings to grow louder. It was like a low, increasing buzz, concentrated and focused on one place.

Then I saw it.

A crowd had gathered in front of the central notice board.

Not just any notice board—THE NOTICE BOARD. The one where grades and school-wide results were always posted and the very one Lucien Voss stupidly posted that bitch's love letter.

My feet slowed. No way.

"Did he do something again after how Storm and the others intervened?" I muttered, unsure of the answer myself.

I didn't even get a chance to get closer before Chloe's high-pitched squeal blasted into my left ear like a firecracker.

"O. M. G!"

I staggered back, blinking as Chloe all but launched herself at me, eyes wide and sparkling like she'd won the lottery. Beside her, Nari was grinning from ear to ear, practically vibrating.

I blinked, raising my hands slightly. "Okay, wow. Did I win something?"

"Not something," Chloe hissed, grabbing my arm and dragging me forward like an overexcited puppy. "Everything! You're all over the board! Spring, you got top scores in all three arms of the sophomore year!"

Nari nodded furiously. "Girl, you beat everyone. Science, Humanities, Art, and Magical History. All perfect scores!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Wait, what?"

"Perfect. Scores." Chloe emphasised each word with a dramatic clap. "Every. Single. Subject."

I swallowed, my eyes drifting over the heads of the crowd to the edge of the board. The sheets of paper were pinned up with the official academy crest. My name... at the very top of each list.

I moved closer, weaving through the students until I reached the front. I scanned the list of names—alphabetical, organised by subject and class. And there it was.

Spring Kaine.

100 in Magical Theory.

100 in Strategic Combat Theory.

100 in Physics

100 in Advanced Mathematics

100 in the Use of English…

Even frickin' 100 in Political Reform and Regional Governance. I hadn't even studied for that one properly.

My breath hitched.

It was real.

A mixture of pride and disbelief swirled in my chest, threatening to pull a grin from me, but I didn't get the chance to bask in it before whispers began creeping in from the sides.

"She must've cheated."

"No way she got those marks. That's impossible."

"Probably used her mates to pull strings…"

"She's the one with all the alphas, right?"

My spine straightened. I didn't turn around nor did I need to.

I'd heard enough whispers in my life to know the sting of a judgmental tone, especially when it was laced with envy.

I smiled softly instead and took a calm step back from the board. "Guess my quiet study sessions paid off."

Nari linked her arm with mine proudly. "Let them talk. You earned this."

"I didn't even cheat," I muttered. "It's not like the universe handed me those scores wrapped in a bow."

"You don't need to defend yourself," Chloe chimed in firmly as she glared at those wannabes. "We know who you are. And frankly? I love how pressed they all look."

I chuckled, though the glares and whispers still stung a little.

Just as I was about to steer us away from the crowd, a voice cut through the hallway like a whistle.

"Spring Kaine!"