The Three Who Chose Me Chapter 164: Before the Fall

Kiel

Josie’s footsteps echoed faintly as she left the room, each one slicing deeper into the silence she left behind. I just stood there, staring at the space she’d occupied monts ago, my chest tightening with sothing I couldn’t na. My wolf stirred uneasily inside , pacing and growling at my hesitation.

"She’s right," I muttered, barely audible even to myself.

The admission burned. I closed my eyes and called to my wolf again, hoping he’d tell what the hell to do next, hoping he’d give the courage I lacked. But instead of answers, all I got was the sharp, impatient push of instinct—urging to move, to fix what I’d broken.

"She’s right," I repeated louder this ti, as if saying it again would make the guilt settle easier.

"You made her say that, didn’t you?" Varen’s voice broke through my thoughts, sharp with accusation. He was already glaring at , jaw tight, anger rolling off him in thick waves.

I turned slowly, eting his gaze. "You think I made her say that?" My voice was calm, too calm. "You’ve forgotten sothing, brother."

Varen frowned, the muscle in his jaw ticking. "What?"

I took a slow breath, raking a hand through my hair to stop myself from snapping. "She asked all three of us to be her husband. All three, Varen. If Josie wanted one person—if she wanted to make us fight for her—she would’ve said so."

For a mont, the fire in his eyes flickered, doubt slipping through his hardened expression. He sank back into his chair with a heavy exhale, his head falling into his hands. The sight of him—so fierce yet defeated—tightened sothing in my chest.

I ran both hands through my hair, frustration bleeding into exhaustion. "This is the hardest damn thing I’ve ever had to do," I admitted, voice rough. "But I’m not going to let my pride get in the way anymore. Not with her."

Varen looked up, disbelief softening his expression.

"I’m done fighting with you," I continued quietly. "I’m done letting my ego destroy everything we built. She deserves better than that. And so do we."

Varen’s lips twisted into a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "You sound like you’ve suddenly grown a halo."

I chuckled bitterly. "Sotis I don’t even understand myself. But I do know this—" I paused, eting his gaze. "I’m tired of losing her. I’ve always wanted Josie by my side, Varen. Always. And maybe that’s why it eats alive that you and Thorne managed to win parts of her heart I couldn’t even touch. You got her fire, her laughter, her anger... while I can’t even get her to kiss these days."

The confession hung in the air between us, raw and humiliating. But it was the truth.

Varen leaned back, arms crossed, that familiar smirk returning. "She did ask us to fuck her tonight."

My head snapped up at that, my wolf growling low in my chest. "Don’t say it like that."

He lifted a brow. "Why not? It’s the truth."

I shook my head slowly. "You think this is just about sex? It’s not. It never was. She’s asking for all of us—not just our bodies."

His smirk faltered. "And you think we can really do that? Be with her together?"

"I’m asking if you think you can," I countered, taking a step closer. "If we can all stay with her without tearing each other apart. Can you handle it, Varen? Can you stand next to knowing we share the sa woman?"

He hesitated, jaw clenching. The silence stretched long and taut. Finally, he sighed, looking away. "I don’t know if the jealousy will ever go away," he admitted, voice lower. "But when I had her earlier... when she was in my hands, Kiel, I couldn’t think straight. Everything else just—disappeared."

I nodded. "That’s how it’s supposed to feel."

For a mont, we just stood there, the tension between us shifting—less sharp, less hostile. Sothing in him softened, and I realized how damn tired we both were.

"Maybe we’ve both been fighting the wrong enemy," I murmured.

He raised an eyebrow. "You’re saying I’m not your enemy?"

I managed a small smile. "Not tonight."

He huffed out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You’re impossible."

"Yeah," I said, stepping forward and pulling him into a brief, rough hug before he could resist. "But you love anyway."

He groaned. "You’re so damn dramatic."

"Cos with the charm." I pulled back, looking him square in the eye. "It’s ti to go to our woman."

Varen stared at for a beat, then his mouth twitched into a reluctant smile. "And what about Thorne?"

I shrugged, heading toward the door. "Thorne’s got an ego the size of the moon. He’ll co around—or he won’t. Either way, I’m not letting him ruin this for us. Josie’s waited long enough."

We walked in silence down the hall, the air between us thick with unspoken thoughts. My wolf was restless again, pacing inside , a low hum of anticipation building in my chest.

When we reached Josie’s room, two guards stood outside her door. They looked tense, like they’d rather be anywhere else but here.

"Give us space for the night," I told them, voice steady, authoritative. "I’ll take care of her."

They bowed quickly, relief flashing across their faces as they hurried away.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving just and Varen in the quiet hallway.

"I’m going in first," I said.

Varen frowned. "We should both go—"

I held up a hand. "No. Let start this right. One step at a ti."

He scowled. "And what? I wait out here like an idiot?"

I turned slightly, eting his glare. "You trust ?"

He hesitated. "Not really."

I chuckled softly. "That’s fair."

Varen’s hand shot out, gripping my arm just as I reached for the handle. His touch was firm, grounding. "Don’t say anything stupid in there, Kiel," he warned, his voice rougher now, stripped of the usual sarcasm. "Don’t ruin this before it even starts."

I t his gaze and smirked faintly. "You really think I need lessons from you on how to treat my mate?"

He groaned in frustration. "This isn’t the ti for your pride. You keep saying you want to fix things—start proving it."

I exhaled slowly, nodding once. "I will."

"Good."

For a second, neither of us moved. Then I gently pried his hand from my arm.

"I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong this ti," I said quietly, aning every word. "I’ll fix what I broke."

Varen looked like he wanted to say sothing else, but instead he just stepped back.

"Go on, then," he muttered.

I gave him a small nod and turned toward the door. My heart pounded hard against my ribs as I wrapped my hand around the handle. My wolf pressed closer, his energy thrumming through like a live current.

This was it. No more pride. No more hesitation.

I pushed the door open.

The scent of her hit imdiately—warm, soft, familiar. My throat tightened.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls like silk. I caught sight of her silhouette near the far end, her hair cascading down her back, her shoulders tense.

I didn’t call out. Not yet. I needed a second to steady myself, to swallow the fear clawing at my throat.

Behind , I heard Varen shifting impatiently.

"Rember," I said without turning, my voice low but firm, "let things follow their course."

He groaned under his breath. "You’re unbelievable."

"Trust ," I said simply.

He muttered sothing that sounded suspiciously like a curse, but didn’t stop .

I stepped forward, crossing the room slowly, each step deliberate, my breath coming in quiet, steady pulls. The tension was thick, suffocating, but beneath it was sothing else—sothing electric, alive.

When I reached the edge of the bathroom door, I paused.

I looked back once. Varen stood by the threshold, arms crossed, his eyes following silently.

"I’ll take care of her," I promised.

He didn’t respond, but I saw the brief nod, the flicker of trust.

And with that, I turned away and stepped into the bathroom—

exactly where everything would change.