The Play-Toy Of Three Lycan Kings-Chapter 397: Not Mates

So this was what it meant to be intimate with your mate. I opened my eyes slowly, languidly, as though my body had forgotten urgency.

Pleasure still hummed beneath my skin, a low, satisfied thrum that made even breathing feel indulgent. My limbs were heavy, loose, pleasantly sore, as if every muscle had been stretched and claimed and then carefully set back into place.

I turned my head slightly, the sheets whispering against my skin, and a soft sound escaped me before I could stop it—half sigh, half memory.

Heat curled low in my belly again, uninvited but welcome.

The intimacy replayed itself without mercy. Adam’s strength. His relentless focus. The way his restraint had finally shattered, the way he had said my name like it was both a prayer and a curse. It hadn’t dulled with time.

If anything, it had sharpened. Being lifemates had made it worse—better—more consuming than it had ever been when I had been Maya.

My breath hitched as the memory crested, and I pressed my lips together, forcing myself back into the present.

I had felt him then, truly felt him, in a way that had nothing to do with bodies.

The bond had wrapped around us, tight and possessive, vibrating with certainty. And I had known—known with chilling clarity—that the moment he had spilled himself into me, calling my name like it anchored him to existence, I had him exactly where I wanted him.

El’s voice slipped into my mind, amused. You have him, yes, but you have also bound yourself. Whatever you do now will hurt you both.

I scoffed inwardly.

I hadn’t trained for half a decade under Freda’s brutal tutelage—hadn’t burned softness out of myself piece by piece—just to unravel now at the mention of love or fate or bonds.

Those things were luxuries. Weaknesses. Tools to be used, not surrendered to.

I inhaled deeply, grounding myself, and rolled onto my side.

Adam was asleep beside me.

For a moment, the sight of him stole something from my chest. His breathing was slow and even, his face unguarded in a way it rarely was when he was awake. The sharp edges softened by rest. He looked younger like this. Peaceful.

Dangerous.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Just past four in the afternoon.

It was time.

I moved carefully, slipping from the bed inch by inch, aware of every shift of air, every rustle of fabric. When my feet touched the floor, I cast a light spell with barely a thought, weaving it gently into Adam’s aura.

Sleep deepened around him, anchoring him there for a while longer. I couldn’t afford interruptions.

As I dressed, El pressed again, her presence heavier now. Don’t do this. Let it go. Stay. The answers will come.

I shut her out. Literally.

The block slid into place with practiced ease, sealing her off no matter how hard she pushed. Her last impression was disappointment tinged with worry, but I refused to linger on it.

They hadn’t given me answers when I had asked. They had lied. Evaded. Hidden behind loyalty and silence. What, exactly, had they expected from me in return?

Stay with Adam, El had said. As if that were a gift.

The thought alone felt like punishment, even if part of me—traitorous, aching—wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his arms, bury my face in his neck, and breathe him in until the world disappeared.

I straightened my spine and stepped out of the room.

The common area of the house was alive with voices.

Isla stood near the center, arms crossed, speaking animatedly with Noah and Daniel. Whatever she was saying died instantly the moment they saw me.

Both men snapped their heads in my direction, identical frowns carving their faces as if I had committed some unspeakable crime simply by existing.

I raised a brow, unimpressed.

Before anyone could speak, the front door burst open.

Claire stormed in like a force of nature, Naomi and Rachel flanking her, fury radiating off them in waves. Claire’s nostrils flared as her gaze locked onto me.

I didn’t flinch. "Why are you invading our house?" I asked coolly. "You should all leave."

Daniel stepped forward, tension sharp in his posture. "Where’s our brother?"

I smiled then. "He’s asleep," I said calmly. "In my room."

The effect was instantaneous.

Claire screamed. She charged me with a snarl, curses spilling from her mouth, her hand already giving away to claws, as she called me every name she could think of.

I lifted my hand. Power flared precisely.

Claire slammed into an invisible cage mid-stride, the magic locking around her like iron bars. She shrieked, the sound high and unhinged, clawing uselessly at the air.

Naomi and Rachel rushed me next.

I didn’t even turn fully toward them.

Two more cages snapped into place, trapping them where they stood. They screamed too, threats and promises of ruin tearing from their throats.

I glanced over my shoulder at Noah and Daniel, who had not moved at all. They stared at me, stunned, something dark and hungry flickering in their eyes.

I smiled wider. Look at them. Mere puppies... hungry puppies.

"What?" I asked lightly. "Do you want the same thing your brother has?"

Neither of them answered.

They didn’t need to.

Their silence spoke volumes, and the way their gazes tracked me was anything but innocent. Their brides continued to scream, but the sound barely registered.

"You shouldn’t be screaming at me," I said lazily to the women, eyes never leaving the males though. "If you’re angry, direct it properly. At your faithless fiancés."

Something shifted then.

The foolish males stepped closer, disregarding the chaos, disregarding the women bound and shrieking behind them, hungry eyes trained on me.

For a fleeting moment, something in my chest tightened—but I examined it quickly, clinically. It wasn’t desire. Not as I felt for Adam. Just Brotherhood. Nothing more.

Relief slid through me, cool and unexpected. They weren’t my mates.

But I didn’t pull away when they reached for me.

Instead, I winked at Claire and her companions, enjoying the fresh wave of outrage that earned me, and turned my attention fully to Noah and Daniel.

In a voice meant to entice, to command, I said, "Take me out of the pack. I need to cast the dome now."

Their eyes darkened...

"And when I’m done," I added softly, "you can have your fun."