Claimed By My Three Alphas
Chapter 22

AMERY'S

POV

The next morning, I lay still on the bed, completely unaware of whatever it was that could be happening around me. Yes, I was deeply asleep.

After all that happened the previous night, I felt my whole body going completely numb. But while I was still trying to get the comfort and luxury of a very peaceful sleep, I saw my fears creep into my peace. Something surrounded me.

I winced in fear. My hands grabbed whatever it was. It had to be Asher's body. Right?

However, coming off the door was a loud bang. Someone was there. Not only was this person incessantly knocking, their growls also stirred the air with a suffocating tension. This time, the fear in me grew by magnitudes. I recoiled on my bed, my hands and legs shivering.

Who was that?

While my lagging morning brain still tried to process these things, a feral growl of my name spiked up my nerves.

I was dreaming.

No, I was stuck in a nightmare - one that suffocated me with thoughts of one haunting man. My heart raced and I tried fruitlessly to move my physical bones in an attempt to escape this dream.

In the next second, the door of my room flung off its hinges and a gigantic white wolf stalked in, sharp canines on display and an impossible to miss air of cruelty and rage pulsing through it. It was Levi.

The last person I wanted to see.

He growled furiously, his eyes glowing with clear malicious intent. With every step that he took closer to the bed, my heart sank lower and lower, my breath shaky.

'Stay away from me!' I tried to scream out, but it was muffled, my lips pinned shut by an invisible force. I tried again and again to let out the scream buried in my chest, but nothing came. The pressure built further and further within my chest, and tried tirelessly to fight through my weightless limbs.

But nothing seemed to work.

Right here, right now, I was stuck with him. That seemed to please the wolf, and I swear that it smirked.

Everything about it reeked of unrivalled wickedness as it drew closer. He meant that he would kill me. And this of all times had to be the time.

Asher.

Where is Asher?

He is the only one who could be of any help for me at the moment. But I can't see him close.

Hell, I can't see anything besides Levi!

'Asher!'

However, before I could bring myself to let out the name physically, Levi lunged straight at me, towering over my shivering form on the bed. His canines dripped of saliva, a guttural growl reducing me to tears.

'Tell me, b***h, how do you want to die?' He growled out, surprisingly. 'Should I bite you to death or -?'

'Spare me!' I clasped my hands together as if I was saying a prayer to him as if, in that moment, he was my god and his mercy determined my next breath.

Oh, yes. It was a prayer - prayer for redemption. I needed to be saved right now. And the only one who could save me was the exact person who had come to kill me.

'You're a fool if you think begging with those ugly blue eyes would get you anywhere. You disgust me, Amery, and you know what I do to people that disgust me?' He was human now, naked and hot, as he leaned down to my ear, licking it slightly as he whispered, 'I kill them all.'

Like a flash of lightning, his powerful hands wrapped my neck and pressed tightly against the bed frame.

'Please!' I screamed internally, but his grip cut off my breath and although all this was a nightmare, it felt so real. As real as the pain that stung and the pressure that doubled my vision.

I kept on struggling to push him off, or, at the least, speak but it was to no avail. The more I tried to free myself, the more I found myself blacking out at his hands. He tightened harder and harder, a wicked smile lighting up his face as he watched me.

It was like staring into the eyes of a demon who derived pleasure from inflicting pain. Was this still a dream? Was I truly dying? Whatever it was, I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Mustering the last strength in me, I let out a sharp cry that finally tore through my chest.

"Leave me!"

My whole body jolted back to reality with a powerful jerk and scream. My heart pounded and sweat beads rolled down my skin.

"Hey." Asher's voice came softly. "Are you alright? Wait, s**t, are you crying?"

"Levi. H-he was here. I- Oh, my god. It was so real." I heaved, the tears still on my eyes. I pushed myself off him and brought my head into my hands. "How does he still haunt me in my dreams?"

"s**t. You can calm down now though, he's not here. I told you before, he can't get you, not while I'm here." Gently, he pried my hands away and swiped the little tears away.

"It was just so real- I couldn't breathe."

"It was an awful nightmare, I know, but you'd have to let it go. Come on, lie with me. Let me distract you." Just like he did with my hands, he gently pulled me down to the bed with him, wrapping his arms around my body and messing up my mind with his addictive

scent.

I took in as much breath as I could, and sighed in content as the slow strokes of his hand on my hair removed all my panic. Everything about Asher was therapeutic.

"Thank you, Asher. You're always there for me." I faced him, staring up into his charming green eyes. "Every single time. Really, thank you."

A small smile appeared on his lips, which eventually broke into a grin. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"I care about you. And I know you've not officially accepted the bond, but you're my mate. Mine alone. That means that I'd always be there for you. Always. Do you understand that, Amery?" His gaze suddenly conveyed so much raw depth, and I found myself nodding. Too captivated to care.

"I understand; I'm yours."

"Yes." He leaned closer, mischief now sparking in his eyes. "Now, tell me, were you really that scared?"

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Through the night, you never let go even for a moment. You cuddled so tightly to me."

A furious blush crawled up my cheeks, and I tried to hide my face but there was nowhere to hide from the intensity of his gaze, or the feel of his body all over mine.

"Oh, shut up. Don't get smug or I'd throw you off my bed. You can be BFFs with the floor."

Asher let out a deep laugh. "You know, you're easily becoming one of my favorite people."

My heart skipped a beat, and the heat on my cheeks only increased.

"It's not surprising; I've been rumored across the 5 kingdoms to be quite amazing." Playfully, I flipped imaginary hair off my shoulder.

"Oh, I must be lucky then to have you in bed with me. In fact, I'd love to spend more time with you, your highness. I'd love to know more about this amazing girl." He said it with a grin, but a certain seriousness settled in his eyes.

Before I could catch my breath, a knock came from the door.

At the sound of that, my heart jumped again.

What if my dream was becoming a reality?

No way. It could not possibly be that the beast that I had seen in my dream.

Could it be him? I have to confirm.

"Are you expecting anyone?" I asked Asher, my eyes darting between him and the door.

"Not really. You?"

I shook my head.

"Could it... Could it be Levi?" I asked, my heart slowly increasing its pace.

If it was Levi, then I could be rest assured that my time of existence had come to an end. I don't even know why I had to meet someone as vile as the eldest of the three.

"Levi? Nah, he doesn't have the manners to knock that gently."

"Who else can it be then? Do you remember the dream I just woke from?"

"You think this is your dream?" An amused smile appeared.

I frowned and glared lightly. "I'm serious. What if my dream is already coming to reality? What if Levi is actually here to pick up where he left off?"

"That's nonsense." He chuckled.

"Think about it, Asher. He was here for a few hours banging so loudly on the door and yelling out my name, even after we'd both gone to bed. He can't have given up that easily. What if he only left and decided to return now? And maybe that's why he's knocking gently, so that he won't throw us off like before. Or maybe, he never really left this place." I rambled, the wheels in my head spinning as I pushed myself to think like that psychopath.

"You're overthinking, Amery, but I'll humor you. Let's say that it is Levi, he can't touch you because I'm here. Let go of your fears and trust me. Or don't you?"

"I do..."

The knock came a second time. I flashed my eyes towards the door, but Asher pulled my face back to his eyes, forcing me to not give into the fear at the back of my mind.

"Now, I want you to relax. I will open the door. If it is Levi, he will have to go through me first before getting to you."

The words made me smile a bit. Even though I would not want the siblings to fight because of me, I still needed to live. I watched him walk to the door. "Who is it?"

"My prince." A lady's voice said. "I am here to serve Amery breakfast."

I frowned. Breakfast?

Asher glanced at me before finally opening the door. The royal maid walked in with a large tray full of different meals. Not just any meal, but my favorites.

"I didn't know you ordered breakfast." Asher seemed surprised at the elaborate scene.

"Prince Quincy did. He asked me to bring it to Amery."

I grinned at the sight of them all. How did he know that these were my favorites? Just within that instant, my stomach grumbled and I realized just how hungry I was. The maid served me and left the room. "Uhm... Well, that's surprising." Asher tried to let out a laugh, but it seemed forced. "I didn't realize you were close to Quincy."

I picked the maple dipped pancake and eagerly chewed on it.

"I'm surprised too. I didn't think he was this thoughtful."

"He's not." His jaw seemed to tighten. "Quincy is the last thing that defines thoughtful."

"Why do you seem upset?" I rose a brow in curiosity and amusement.

"Just be careful." His tone was severe, and I was genuinely bemused.

"Okay, dad." I laughed, taking another bite.

"Alright." Asher ran his fingers through his hair, a bit of frustration etched to his movements. "Also, I wasn't joking about wanting to know you more. Let's do something today. A date. Just me and you. What do you say?" My chewing slowed, and I gazed up into his eyes that were intently fixed on me. I smiled lightly.

"Sure, that would be awesome."

***

Many hours passed through the day and I was already getting set for the date I had with Asher. I was just done with my bath. Reaching out to the towel, I cleaned my whole body before wrapping it around me.

But then, when I stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom to get dressed, I was met with a shocking reality. The dress that I had selected to wear was no more. Not only that, but my undies too were gone! Who would take my pants and bra? Damn it.

While I searched frantically for them, a maid knocked and came in.

"How may I help you?"

"Prince Quincy has ordered me to tell you that he has what you're looking for. And that if you still want it, you should come to his room and get it."

What the hell?

In a matter of moments, I found myself striding toward his room angrily with my towel wrapped around me. When I got there, I stormed in angrily without bothering to knock.

"Prince Quincy!" I called out rather mockingly.

Before I knew it, I heard the door slam shut behind me. Spinning around, I saw him leaned back on the wall with his usual devil-may-care allure.

"Quincy-"

Right in my present, he took the key out and before I could let out a word of disapproval, he threw it out the window. My eyes widened, and all he did was stare at me with unapologetic hazel eyes and a mysterious smirk. He lured me into his room! It was a trap.