The sheets still held the scent of them, wild and masculine, uniquely theirs. Lennox's smoky cedar, Levi's sharp pine, and Louis's warm amber.
I curled into the faint imprint of where Lennox had been, pulling the sheet closer, eyes fluttering shut.
What would it be like…
To wake up every morning tangled in their arms, not accidentally, not from instinct, but because they wanted me there.
Because they loved me.
Waking slowly to the sound of quiet breathing and the weight of an arm around my waist. Lennox's low, gravelly voice murmuring, "Morning, love," against my neck as he pressed a lazy kiss there.
Levi would grumble something about five more minutes, but still shift closer, pulling me tighter into the heat of his body, his lips brushing over my shoulder like he couldn't help himself.
Louis, the quietest of them, would already be watching me when I opened my eyes, his thumb stroking along my hip, slowly like I was something delicate. "Did you sleep well, sweetheart?" he'd whisper.
They'd kiss me good morning. Hold me for a few minutes.
They'd tease each other. Fight over who got the first kiss, who got to feed me breakfast, who got to touch me next.
Not like a burden. Not like a mistake.
A knock pulled me violently from my thoughts.
I blinked as the door creaked open, and Nora peeked inside, followed by Lolita.
"Luna Olivia?" Nora asked, eyes flicking briefly to my naked form lying on the bed. She didn't comment, only stepped in quickly, concern shadowing her expression. "Is your fever gone?"
"Yes," I murmured, sitting up slowly. "I feel fine now."
Lolita approached with a towel in her arms, eyes filled with relief. "That's good. You scared us last night."
I gave a small nod, rubbing my temples. "Help me get dressed?" I asked quietly.
They didn't hesitate. Nora fetched a soft lavender dress, one of the few I actually liked wearing, and Lolita brought fresh undergarments and a brush for my hair. They didn't say much, only helped me to my feet.
When Lolita began brushing through my hair, Nora knelt in front of me, lacing up the shoes she'd selected.
"I'll prepare something light for you," she offered. "Maybe fruit and tea?"
I gave her a soft smile. "Thank you."
But even as they fussed over me like they used to—gentle hands, worried eyes—all I could think about was what it would be like to walk into that dining room and see them look at me the way mates were supposed to look at their mate.
But with love. With hunger. With care.
Gods, what I wouldn't give to live in that version of the world. Even just for a day.
"Luna?" Lolita's voice was soft. "You ready?"
I nodded, standing slowly as they finished.
I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked presentable, but inside I felt hollowed.
"Thank you," I said to Nora and Lolita before slowly leaving my chambers and making my way to the dining room.
Entering the dining room.
She was seated beside Louis, smiling with that polished, poisonous charm of hers, hands lightly wrapped around a teacup. She looked like she belonged there.
They all looked up at the sound of my heels against the marble floor—every single one of them—then just as quickly looked away.
Like we hadn't shared the same bed. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFirｅ.net
Like Lennox hadn't kissed me until I forgot my own name.
My jaw clenched, but I said nothing. I sat at the opposite end of the long dining table without a word and reached for the silverware.
No one looked my way.
I forced myself to eat. A forkful of eggs. A bite of toast. I didn't taste any of it. My throat was too tight, my stomach felt like puking.
I didn't lift my eyes. I couldn't. If I saw his face—Lennox's—and the way he was undoubtedly avoiding mine, I might break.
And Anita? She laughed. Soft and fake and musical. Probably at something Levi said. Her manicured hand brushed his arm once. I didn't look. I refused.
I kept eating. Bite after bite. A war on my own tongue.
Then the door creaked open again, and a nervous shuffle of footsteps echoed into the room.
A young female staff member stood at the entrance, her eyes wide, clutching something massive in her arms. Behind her, two more staff struggled to drag it in.
It was a gigantic teddy bear—easily the size of a person, plush and red with a satin ribbon tied around its neck.
"I—um," the girl stammered, eyes flicking from the brothers to me. "This… this came for Luna Olivia."
All eyes turned to me.
Levi's brow furrowed.
Louis leaned forward slightly, confused.
Lennox… didn't even blink.
Anita's eyes narrowed like she'd just sucked on a lemon.
The young girl looked like she wanted to vanish. "It was delivered to the front gate this morning. There's a note but—uh—I didn't read it."
My fork clinked against the plate as I set it down and stood, walking toward the bear slowly. The room remained deathly quiet as I reached for the tiny envelope taped to the teddy's paw.
My fingers trembled slightly as I peeled it off and opened it.
Their eyes burned into my back, but for once, I didn't care.
"I heard you had a fever last night, and I wasn't there to be with you, so I sent teddy to you… he will keep you company… think of me as him whenever you are lonely."
My eyes widened as I stared at the note and then at the teddy bear.
Before I could understand what was going on, Lennox, who was seated in his seat, was right behind me and snatched the note from me. I watched him read it as his frown deepened. Louis snatched the note from him and read, and then Levi took it from him and read it, and then their eyes were on me—furious, angry.
"Who is he, Olivia?" Louis was the first to ask, seething with anger.
"How dare him?" Lennox growled. "First, he sent roses to you and now a teddy bear!"