Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 7

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
**By R. Joseph**
**Capítulo 7: The Break Up**

Zevran.

I found myself standing behind my brothers, an unsettling turmoil brewing within me, my heart pounding wildly as the weight of their actions settled in my stomach like a heavy stone sinking into the depths of a still pond.

They were orchestrating a trap for Leilani… all for Chalice.

Under normal circumstances, I would have felt justified. After all, my desire to keep Chalice safe was just as strong, if not stronger. Yet, there was an inexplicable heaviness in my chest, a sense of foreboding that gnawed at me.

“LIAR!” Leilani’s voice, raw and hoarse, sliced through my thoughts, forcing me to avert my gaze.

It felt as if the world had conspired against her. Who would dare to stand in the way of this chaos?

I watched as she closed her eyes, a look of resignation washing over her. My heart raced as the blade pressed dangerously close to her neck, a cruel reminder of her vulnerability. And then—

A thunderous howl erupted, reverberating through the room and shaking the very foundation beneath us. A massive black wolf burst into the space, its fierce focus locked onto Leilani as it charged forward.

I stood frozen, torn between horror and fascination, as it sank its teeth into the rogue wolf that had her in its grasp. Instinct kicked in, and I shifted, joining the fray against the remaining rogues, who were now thrown into disarray.

The battle raged on for what felt like an eternity, perhaps five minutes, maybe ten, before an eerie silence enveloped us. It was only then that the reality of Leilani’s condition hit me. My mate. Our mate. She lay sprawled on the floor, bloodied and battered, a deep gash marring her neck.

I sprinted towards her, desperation fueling my movements, but I was too late. A large male had already scooped her up, his eyes wild with panic as he desperately tried to revive her.

“Leilani!” he shouted, his voice tinged with worry, an unmistakable sense of urgency. “Baby, please wake up!”

B. A. B. Y?

An icy dread gripped my chest. I turned to my brothers, who stood as immovable as statues, their expressions mirroring my own disbelief as they absorbed the scene unfolding before us.

“Girl, please don’t do this to me!” The stranger continued to plead, his focus unwavering despite the odd looks exchanged between Beta Blackthorne and his family.

When Leilani remained unresponsive, he cradled her in his arms and rushed out of the room, his gaze fixed on her face as he stumbled through the doorway.

I froze in place.

Something deep within me felt as though it had been shattered, a tightly coiled spring unleashed, leaving me gasping for air. My eyes remained glued to the door long after he had vanished, and I could sense my brothers doing the same.

“Caelum, Zevran, Kael… thank you so much!” Chalice’s sweet voice cut through my stupor, and I turned to her as if on strings, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my heart.

“What for?” Kael was the first to shake off his daze, wrapping an arm around Chalice and pulling her close.

“For what you did back there!” she replied, her tone light yet laced with concern. “Though I feel terrible that Leilani had to bear the brunt of it all because of me.”

This was the aspect of Chalice I admired—her genuine respect and care for Leilani, despite the latter’s cruel treatment towards her.

I couldn’t help but wish that Leilani could learn a lesson or two from her.

As if sensing my thoughts, Caelum nodded in agreement. “I wish Leilani was more like you,” he remarked, his voice casual, but I could see the way Chalice blushed, turning as red as a ripe beet. “But don’t worry about her. I wouldn’t mind stepping in again and again, as long as you’re safe.”

But I minded.

I minded it deeply.

Chalice then leaned away from Kael, her perfectly manicured finger trailing over my chest. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, “I hope you guys won’t get mad.”

“About what?” I queried, my brow furrowing in confusion.

“Promise me you won’t be angry with Leilani first,” she said, her words rolling off her tongue as she blinked sweetly at me and my brothers.

Oh, sweet heavens, my body reacted in ways I couldn’t ignore.

“I can’t,” Kael growled, his voice low and dangerous.

“If Leilani did anything reckless, she needs to face the consequences.” That was Caelum, ever the voice of reason. I remained silent, observing them quietly while relishing the sensation of her fingers on my chest, pretending not to notice that she was doing the same to Caelum.

“I overheard her having a strange conversation with someone on the phone yesterday,” she purred, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I had overheard her too, but today, I caught her talking about leaving.

“…and after I sneakily checked her phone, I discovered she was communicating with someone about a planned attack. She was giving them our pack’s address. I didn’t understand what she meant until now… but I believe she instigated this rogue attack. And that guy who saved her? He’s in on it too.”

I froze, my mind racing.

“THE BITCH!”

“But why?” I blurted out, my voice tinged with disbelief. “Why? She was the one most harmed. Why would she do that to herself?”

Chalice shot me an impatient look, retracting her hands from my body. With a flick of her wrist, she scoffed. “Why else? She craves your sympathy!”

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