Chapter 73: Awake in their arms

Chapter 73: Awake in their arms Olivia's POV I woke up. The room was quiet, wrapped in the soft haze of dawn. Light filtered through the curtains in pale streaks, brushing over the tangle of limbs and sheets I found myself in. Warmth surrounded me—solid, heavy warmth—and for a second, I didn't move. My body was sore in places I hadn't felt in years. My lips still tingled, and my skin held traces of last night's touches. Then I remembered. Lennox. His fingers, his mouth, his whispered words in the dark. My heart slammed against my ribs as I shifted slightly—only to realize I couldn't. I was trapped between bodies. I swallowed hard. To my left was Lennox, chest bare, an arm thrown loosely around my waist. His brow was furrowed in sleep, jaw tight even in unconsciousness. His breath was warm against the top of my head. To my right was Levi, one arm folded beneath his head, the other stretched toward me but not quite touching me. His face looked softer while he slept—less cold, less cruel. But I knew better. And just on my legs, Louis, sprawled, one leg tangled over the sheets, his expression unreadable even in sleep. His lips were parted slightly, his breathing steady, calm. Three Alphas. Three men who hated me. Three men who had only returned to this bed because of the fever that had nearly broken me last night. Their instincts brought them here—not their hearts. My breath caught as I turned back to him, studying his face. What did last night mean? Was it real, or was it just a fever-drenched mistake in the silence of the dark? I barely had time to think before Lennox stirred beside me. His eyes blinked open, hazy for a moment, then sharp and alert. His gaze found mine instantly. We didn't say anything. We didn't need to. His jaw clenched as his arm slipped from around my waist, as if realizing where it had been. As if remembering what he'd done. Levi groaned beside me, rubbing a hand across his face as he turned slightly and then paused—his gaze snapping to me. Cold. Sharp. Angry. "You are finally awake. Thought you wouldn't make it," Levi said, but not coldly. Louis sat up next, hair tousled, eyes narrowed as he scanned the bed. Lennox sat up slowly, a muscle ticking in his jaw, but he didn't say a word. He wouldn't look at me. He was already building his walls back up. "You were burning up," Louis muttered, brushing past Levi. "That's the only reason we were here. Don't flatter yourself." The words hit harder than they should have. Because I already knew. I knew none of them wanted to be here. That Lennox would probably pretend last night never happened. Maybe that was for the best. I sat up slowly, pulling the blanket tighter around me. My body still pulsed with the memory of Lennox's touch, and yet now… all I felt was cold. They moved around me like I was in the way. Like I was nothing. And Lennox still wouldn't look at me. So I swallowed the lump in my throat. Searᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thanks for last night," I said quietly, then stood. I realized I was naked, but I didn't bother to cover myself. Rather, I walked to the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of their eyes burning into my back. Inside the bathroom, I put on the cold shower and stood in it. My hands placed on the tiled wall while the cold shower poured on me. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to remember all that happened last night. I was half unconscious, but I could still hear a few things that were said. I remember how they sounded worried, how they suggested they give me skin-to-skin heat. I remember when Lennox asked for my permission to undress me. I remember how I felt so at peace in their arms. I have never felt this way for such a long time. The last time I'd shared a bed with all three of them was nearly five years ago. And gods, I had missed them. I had missed this. I thought of Lennox and what we did last night. I thought it was a dream, but right now, with the soreness of my pussy and the little discomfort on my nipples, I knew it wasn't a dream. Lennox and I made out last night while his brothers were fast asleep. I pressed my forehead to the tiled wall, closing my eyes as last night replayed behind my lids in aching, intimate fragments. Lennox's breath on my skin. His mouth at my chest. His fingers moving inside me like he knew every part of me already. The way he kissed me—soft, slow, sexy. It hadn't felt like just lust. It had felt like love. But maybe I imagined that part. Maybe I was just so starved for affection that even a stolen moment in the dark felt like love. Stupid. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stop shaking, but it wasn't the cold that made me tremble—it was the aftermath. The silence. The way Lennox wouldn't even look at me now. Gods, why did I let it happen? Four years. Four years of silence, of distance, of hatred. And now? Now I was the fool who let her heart flutter over a single night of kindness from a man who would surely deny it the moment I stepped out of this room. A sudden knock sounded on the bathroom door. I froze. Then I heard Levi's voice. "Olivia?" My breath caught. I didn't answer. There was a long pause, and then, quieter this time, "Are you… okay?" The way he asked sounded like he cared. I leaned my head back, letting the water hit my face, hiding the tears that burned behind my closed eyes. He knocked again. "Liv…" I hated the way his voice made my heart flutter. Why can't I just hate them the way I want to? "We are leaving. Join us at the table for breakfast," Levi said. I didn't respond, and soon I heard his retreating footsteps. Soon, their scent began to thin—no longer as heavy in the air. They were gone. Sighing heavily, I turned off the shower, didn't bother to cover myself. Rather, I walked back naked into my room. Indeed, I was right—they had left. I stared at the bed and, without thinking, I settled down on it. Their warmth and smell still lingered in the bedsheet, and I couldn't help but sniff it. I buried my face in the pillow, inhaling deeply. My wolf purred. Their smell was so maddening and intoxicating. As I lay there, I let my fingers brush over the creased linen, wondering— What would it feel like… if everything hadn't fallen apart?