<h4>Chapter 196: Making a choice...</h4>


    <strong>Charis</strong>


    Inside was a ring, an expensive one.


    The band was white gold, delicate and elegant. Set in the centre was a deep blue sapphire, surrounded by a halo of small diamonds that caught the light and sparkled like stars. It was beautiful.


    "This isn’t an engagement ring," Marcus said quickly, seeing my panicked expression. "I’m not asking you to marry me. But I am asking you to be mine. My girlfriend. Officially."


    I stared at him, my mindpletely nk. "I... I can’t..."


    "I know you have this thing with Rhett and ter and Kael, and it seems there’s no headway", Marcus continued, still on one knee, still holding up that ridiculous, beautiful ring. "I know it’splicated. But I don’t care aboutplicated. I care about you. And I’m willing to fight for you. To be patient. To prove that I deserve a chance."


    "Marcus, please get up—"


    "Just answer the question, Charis." His eyes were pleading. "Will you be my girlfriend? Will you give me a chance to show you how good we could be together?"


    I opened my mouth, but no words came out.


    How was I supposed to answer that? I had three mates—three people I was already bonded to on a base level. The full moon was in two days. I was supposed toplete the bonding ceremony with Rhett, ter, and Kael.


    And here was Marcus, offering me somethingpletely different. Something simpler, maybe. Something that didn’t involve ancient wolf bonds andplicated pack politics.


    But also something that felt wrong. Because no matter how I looked at it, my heart—my wolf—had already chosen, and it wasn’t him. Still, I needed Marcus in the grand scheme of things, and I didn’t want to have a fallout with him.


    If I reject him, knowing who he is, he might go into a frenzy.


    "I..." I started trying to find the right words.


    The bedroom door suddenly flew open.


    Kael stood in the doorway, still wearing that ridiculous birthday hat. His eyes went from Marcus on one knee, to the ring in his hand, to my panicked face.


    His expression wentpletely dark.


    "What," he said slowly, dangerously, "is going on here?"


    "I asked," Kael said slowly this time, "what is going on here."


    Marcus didn’t even look at him. He kept his eyes on me, still on one knee, still holding that ring. "Mind your business, Kael. This is between me and Charis."


    "Mind my—" Kaelughed dryly. "You’re in my friend’s bedroom, interrupting my birthday party, to propose to my—"


    "You’re what?" Marcus challenged, finally turning to look at him. "Your friend? Because that’s all she is to you right now, isn’t it?"


    I felt panic rising in my chest. This was spiralling out of control fast. Marcus turned back to me, his expression softening.


    "Charis, please. Just answer the question. Will you be my girlfriend?"


    I seized the opportunity to redirect this disaster. "Marcus, this is incredibly selfish."


    He blinked, looking at me with surprise. "What?"


    "Using someone else’s birthday party for your personal agenda?" I gestured at Kael. "Really? This is his day. His celebration. And you’re hijacking it to put me on the spot?"


    Marcus’s face flushed. He looked down at the ring, then back at me. "I... you’re right. That wasn’t cool." He thought for a moment before responding. "But I’m here now. The ring is out. So I need to know your standpoint, Charis. I’ve always made clear how I feel about you. The least I expect is—"


    "Is that she’s my fated mate?" Kael interrupted, levelling a cold stare at Marcus.


    Kael’s words hung in the air, and Marcus’s hand, still holding the ring box, began to tremble slightly.


    He stared at Kael, then at me. "Fated mate," he repeated slowly.


    "That’s right," Kael said, taking a step into the room. "Charis is my mate and we’ve already marked each other."


    He pulled down the cor of his shirt to show Marcus my mark on the base of his neck.


    Marcus’s expression hardened, and he rose to his feet slowly, brushing off his knees.


    "It is not official yet," Marcus said, there was an edge to his voice now. "You’re not married. You haven’tpleted any Joining Ceremony. Until you’re married, until you have full im to her, she’s free to choose whoever she wants."


    He turned back to me, and there was desperation in his eyes now. "Charis, please. Just think about it. Think about what I’m offering—"


    Kael chuckled. It was a dark, amused sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "Oh, this is going to be good."


    As if on cue, the door pushed wider and ter and Rhett walked in. They’d clearly heard themotion because Rhett’s expression was already shifting from amused to alert.


    "What’s going on?" Rhett asked, his eyes scanning the scene. Marcus was standing close to me, the ring box still in his hand, me looking trapped and ufortable, Kael looking like he was two seconds from violence.


    "Marcus is asking Charis to be his girlfriend," Kael said, and there was something almost gleeful in his tone now. Like he was enjoying watching this y out.


    ter burst outughing. It wasn’t a meanugh, exactly, but it was loud andpletely broke the tension in the room.


    "Wait, wait," ter said, catching his breath. "You’re asking her to be your girlfriend? Right now? With that ring?"


    "Yes," Marcus said defensively. "Is there a problem with that?"


    "Dude," ter said, still grinning. "What is she supposed to do with us?"


    Marcus frowned. "What?"


    "Us," Rhett sighed, moving to stand beside Kael. "We’re still begging her to ept our bond, and we’re her mates. Actual, fated mates. What makes you think you’re special?"


    Marcus’s confusion was almostical. He turned to look at me, then at the three boys, then back at me. "Wait... all three of them?"


    I sighed deeply. This was not how I’d wanted this conversation to go. "Marcus, get up."


    "I am up."


    "I mean, stop with the proposal." I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache forming. "Put the ring away."


    Marcus did, slowly, slipping the box back into his pocket. But he didn’t take his eyes off me. "Can you please exin what’s going on?"


    "And why should she do that?" Kael interjected, arching a brow at Marcus. "She doesn’t owe you any exnation. We are her mates, that’s the only exnation you need to know."


    "I wasn’t talking to you," Marcus said through gritted teeth, "can you stop interfering?"


    "Interfering," Kael bristled. "She’s my mate. How many more times do I need to tell you that? She’s my woman, and we’re joined at the hip by our bond. If it bothers you so much..."


    "Kael," I called out, "that’s enough. He was asking a harmless question."


    "He’s too inquisitive. You don’t owe him an exnation..." Kael retorted.


    I sighed and turned my attention back to Marcus.


    "I have mates," I said quietly. "Three of them. Rhett, ter, and Kael. We’re fated mates. I haven’t epted all the bonds, but I will after the full moon ceremony in two days."


    "All three?" Marcus repeated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. He clearly was having a hard time believing me.


    "All three," I confirmed.


    "But... but I loved you first," Marcus said, and I could see tears starting to form in his eyes. "I saw you first. Before any of them knew you, before all of this mate bond stuff, I loved you. Doesn’t that count for something?"


    "If we’re going by that logic, I have more im to that than you. I am the first person she spoke to when she came to Ravenshore," Rhett said. "Besides, we all love her without reservations. I am afraid your affection is misced."


    Marcus’s face crumpled with pain as a tear slid down his cheek, followed by another one. "But I... I’ve been waiting. I’ve been patient. I thought..."


    "I’m sorry," I said softly, and I meant it. "I really am, Marcus. You’re a good guy, but the Moon Goddess has given me my mates, and I can’t fight that or change it."


    "Can’t or won’t?" Marcus asked, his voice thick with tears.


    "Both," I admitted.


    "This isn’t fair," he scoffed, wiping at his face roughly, trying to hide them.


    "I’m sorry..."


    "Why are you apologising to him?" Kael blew hot again. "If he cannot ept that we’re mates, there’s nothing any of us can do about that."


    "I would have treated you so well," he said, his voice breaking. "I would have given you everything. I would have—"


    "Marcus," ter said, and his voice was surprisingly gentle. "You’re a good guy. You deserve someone who can give you their whole heart. Charis can’t do that. Her heart is already divided three ways."


    "Four ways," Rhett corrected. "Don’t forget she’s also trying to figure out her family situation, her identity, and whether she’s going to survive the next few weeks without being expelled or killed."


    Despite the tension, I almost smiled. Trust Rhett to add levity even now.


    Marcus looked at me one more time. "Is there any chance? Any at all?"


    I shook my head. "I’m sorry."