Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas Chapter 27: I Don’t Believe Her

****************

Chapter 27

~Spring’s POV~

Storm ended the call.

I stared at the screen, stunned. No witty coback. No chance to argue. Just a claim... and a promise.

I will chase after you, Spring, and I will make you mine.

His voice echoed in my ears long after the call ended. I dropped the phone onto my chest and exhaled slowly, letting the weight of everything settle.

As if that wasn’t enough, ssages started pouring in.

Jace: Happy Birthday, little trouble. Try not to dream of too much. However, doing so would make it breathtaking even for you. Think of sweet kisses, Jace.

Kael: You and I may not always hit off, but you are my mate. Whether you like it or not, you are stuck with us. That being said... Still owe you a gift, Moonbite. Pick sothing expensive.

And then Tyrion... just a single moon emoji.

I didn’t hear from Lucien.

Oddly, I was greatly relieved.

**************

~Rhys’s POV~

The hospital slled like a hospital, sterile floors, false comfort, and over-perfud air fresheners. I disliked hospitals. Always had. And yet... I was practically born in one and worked in one.

How ironic, but I had my reasons.

Kaius stood next to , arms crossed, gaze locked on the closed curtain ahead.

We’d arrived just a few minutes after our parents. Mum had rushed in first, clutching her bag to her chest like she could hold herself together with its leather strap.

Dad followed with a steadier pace, asking the nurse questions and demanding answers we didn’t have.

Rose was in Room 9C—allergic reaction.

That’s what they said.

But as the nurse pulled back the curtain and I caught the first real look at her...

I didn’t see a girl fighting an allergy.

I saw a girl trying too hard to play victim.

Her face was red, puffy around the cheeks, and her nose was pink and raw. Her lips were swollen, too, but not like soone going into anaphylactic shock. No. This was more... chemical-based, they said, but I believed it was contact-based and localised.

And it didn’t make sense.

"Rose," Mum cooed, rushing to her side.

Rose gave a weak, sniffly whimper, head turning ever so slightly toward her. "It stings," she rasped. "I don’t know what happened... I— I just tried using a new powder Kaius gave ."

My eyes flicked to Kaius. He raised a brow. "I didn’t give her any powder."

Rose blinked as everyone fell silent.

Then she recovered fast—too fast. "I-I ant the one I found near the gifts. I assud it was for . It was right there besides other gifts."

"If I had gifted her that, then it had Spring’s initials engraved on the box," Kaius said flatly.

"Oh..." Rose looked away. "Maybe I read it wrong... I thought it read to my sister."

"Which you aren’t the only one, besides it is Spring’s birthday."

Dad made Kaius stop questioning her, claiming none o those would treat her, then he turned to the doctor, asking more questions, and Mum hovered at the bed like her presence alone would fix whatever was wrong.

But I just stood there just watching Rose. Every word she spoke felt like a broken record—familiar, too familiar.

"You think she did it to ?" Rose whispered when our parents stepped out briefly with the doctor.

I turned toward her.

"What?" I asked, voice calm, but my chest was tight.

"She probably laced the powder," she said softly. "It’s not the first ti she’s tried sothing sneaky..."

Kaius’s jaw twitched. He said nothing, but I saw the flicker of sothing sharp in his eyes.

I stared at Rose. "You’re saying Spring deliberately tried to hurt you? Why?"

"She hates !" Rose’s voice cracked. "You know that. She’s always trying to make look bad. You believed her over before—now look what she’s done."

"How sure can we be?"

"I am certain. She had done sothing before. I only took it and was happy."

I shook my head. "No. How sure was she that you would collect a gift ant for her?"

"I..."

"You also admit to stealing her gift?"

Imdiately, hot tears rolled down Rose’s cheek as she hsook her head. "Brother..."

But the longer she spoke... the less I believed.

Not because Spring was innocent, but because this whole story was far too familiar. The deflection. The dramatics. The carefully-placed accusation.

I’d heard this speech before—word for word.

But back then, it was Spring who stood in this very position. And it was Rose who pointed fingers.

"She’s jealous."

"She wants to make look bad."

"She hates ."

Only now, the roles had flipped... and the seams were starting to show.

My voice was quieter when I spoke again. "You’re sure it wasn’t your powder?"

"I didn’t touch anything else," she whispered, blinking fast. "I swear. Why would I hurt myself?"

I looked at the tray beside her. The compact was there—open, and the faint sting of pepper still hovered in the air around it.

Capriyan pepper. Strong. Dangerous if touched directly.

Too dangerous to just be... a mistake.

"You didn’t sll that?" I asked calmly.

"What?"

"The pepper. That powder was thick with it. Enough to burn anyone’s skin." I tilted my head. "You’re telling you didn’t notice?"

Rose hesitated, just for a second. But it was enough.

"I felt it was the fragrance. Besides, I had a running nose this morning from bathing late at night."

Kaius stepped closer, arms still folded. "If soone had done this to you," he said, voice cool, "why didn’t you say anything earlier?"

Rose’s throat bobbed. "I... didn’t want to seem petty."

I almost laughed. I almost wanted to. Instead, I glanced at the nurse station, then back to her.

"Rest," I said simply. "We’ll talk later."

Her eyes widened. "Rhys—"

But I was already turning. Kaius followed silently as we exited the room.

When we reached the end of the hallway, he finally spoke.

"You think she did it to herself?"

I didn’t answer right away. I stared through the glass windows overlooking the parking lot.

Then I nodded. "I think she wanted Spring to use it. I think she knew exactly what was in that powder because she put sothing in what you gave Spring."

Kaius’s jaw flexed. "And now she’s trying to twist it, saying Spring did."

I exhaled. "Just like she did back then."

This ti... I didn’t fall for it. I rembered the truth.

And for the first ti in a long while... I felt angry at myself for ever believing her in the first place.

"Eryx really was saying the truth," Kaius stated. "But why? What did she have to gain?"

"I do not know but I will find out."