Chapter 206: Spar

​Scarlett’s POV

​I kicked off my sandals, stepping onto the thick training mat with bare feet. Leo smiled, a genuine, happy smile that I hadn’t seen in five years. He picked up two wooden practice swords from the rack, tossing one toward me. I caught it smoothly by the hilt, testing its weight.

​"Don’t hold back, Scar," Leo teased, taking a low fighting stance. "I want to see what you learned while you were away."

​"You shouldn’t have asked for that," I muttered.

​We began to circle each other. Leo lunged first, testing my reflexes with a quick strike to my left. I parried it easily, the wooden blades clashing with a loud crack. He spun, aiming for my waist, but I ducked under his arm, using his own momentum to slide behind him and deliver a sharp tap to his shoulder blade.

​Leo chuckled, spinning back around. "Nice. You’ve gotten faster."

​For a few minutes, the world around us faded. We moved in a perfect, intense rhythm. It was sweaty, fast, and highly competitive. I refused to shift into my wolf form, relying entirely on my human speed and the brutal hand-to-hand combat skills I had perfected during my years on the run. The chemistry between us was undeniable; every time our bodies collided or our eyes locked, the air grew thick with tension.

​I swept my leg out, catching his ankle. Leo stumbled but grabbed my waist to keep his balance, pulling me down with him. We tumbled onto the mat, laughing and gasping for breath. I quickly reacted, wrapping my legs around his torso and pinning his arms down against the padding, holding my wooden blade right against his neck.

​"I win," I panted, looking down at him.

​Leo was staring up at me, his chest heaving, his eyes completely dark with desire and admiration. "Yeah," he whispered, his voice deep and rough. "You win."

​"Get your hands off her, Leo!"

​A thunderous roar shook the entire training yard, cutting through the air like thunder.

​I snapped my head around. Liam and Leonard were storming across the field, their faces twisted in absolute fury. Their eyes were glowing with jealousy, their inner wolves pushing hard against their skin. Seeing Leo pinned under me, with our bodies so close and sweaty, had completely triggered their possessive Alpha instincts.

​"Move away from her!" Leonard snarled, his claws extending as he rushed the mat.

​Before Leo or I could even stand up properly, Liam shoved Leo backward, sending him skidding across the mat. Leonard grabbed my arm, trying to pull me gently behind his massive frame to shield me.

​"Don’t touch me!" I snapped, ripping my arm out of Leonard’s grip and stepping back.

​But they weren’t even listening to me. The three brothers instantly formed a tight, hostile circle, their shoulders hunched and their chests heaving. The brotherhood they had tried to maintain for the last two days completely vanished.

​"You think you can just sneak out here and claim her for yourself?" Liam hissed at Leo, his Alpha aura flaring so violently that the lower-ranking warriors at the edge of the field began to drop to their knees in fear.

​"She came out here to see me!" Leo roared back, standing his ground, his own aura exploding to match his brother’s. "Unlike you two, I didn’t spend the morning hiding in the study. Back off!"

​"She is my mate just as much as she is yours," Leonard growled, baring his fangs as he stepped between them. "If you think I’m going to let you touch her while we are still sorting this out, you are dead wrong."

​I looked past their broad shoulders and saw the crowd. Hundreds of warriors were staring in absolute confusion and shock. The whispers were already starting. I knew I had to do something right now. I couldn’t let them fight like wild, out-of-control beasts right in front of their own warriors. It would destroy their authority and tear the pack’s respect to pieces.

​"Enough!" I barked, my voice cutting through their growling.

​They all froze, their glowing eyes snapping toward me.

​"You three, follow me. Right now," I said coldly.

​Then, I turned on my heel and walked away. I didn’t need to say it twice. Even with their Alphas raging, the fated mate bond made them comply. I could hear their heavy, angry footsteps trailing closely behind me as I marched back into the mansion. I walked straight up the stairs until I got to my room, entering and leaving the door wide open for them to get in.

​One by one, the three massive Alphas stepped inside, looking crowded in the space. Once they were all in, I closed the door firmly and walked over to the bed, sitting down with my arms folded tightly across my chest.

​"This cannot continue," I said, looking at each of them. "We have to talk. We have to find a way out of this mess, and we have to stop this prophecy."

​The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. None of them spoke. They just stood there, breathing heavily, their angry pheromones filling the room.

​"I don’t want to be with any of you," I stated firmly, keeping my face completely blank.

​I lied, of course. Deep down, I wanted them so badly. In fact, I absolutely craved them. Just last night, I had a wet dream about all three of them fucking me. God, it had felt so good, so incredibly real, that I had woken up drenched in sweat and panting in the dark. My body was practically screaming for their touch, but my mind refused to let me be weak. I had to stay strong.

​Liam took a slow step forward, his dark eyes locking onto mine, filled with a mixture of pain and desperation. "Scarlett, you can’t mean that. You’re our fated mate. You can’t just expect us to stand by and do nothing."

​My frown deepened. "I don’t want this bond." I spat.

I didn’t know if I was telling the truth or actually lying.

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