ALEXIA

The air in the cabin was cold and thin, tasting of stale air and blood. I sat rigidly in the plush leather chair, my hands clenched in my lap, staring at the dark stain spreading across Jackson's shoulder. He'd ripped his shirt open to assess the damage, and the sight of his blood, of his vulnerability, did strange things to my resolve. He was a prince, a king in waiting, and he was bleeding right in front me.

He caught me staring. "If you're going to gawk, you might as well make yourself useful," he grunted, his voice tight with pain. "There's a first-aid kit in the compartment above you. Get it."

"I'm not your nurse."

"No, you're my mate. Which means you have a duty to see to my wounds. Now get the kit."

His words were a slap in the face, a reminder of the bond I was desperately trying to ignore. But I couldn't let him bleed to death. With a sigh, I stood up and retrieved the kit, my movements stiff and awkward.

I knelt in front of him, my hands trembling as I opened the kit. "This is going to hurt," I warned him.

"I've had worse," he said, his eyes dark and intense.

I cleaned the wound as gently as I could, my fingers brushing against his skin. He flinched, his muscles tensing, but he didn't make a sound. I could feel the heat radiating from him, the raw power that even an injury couldn't dim.

"You're shaking," he whispered, his voice low and rough.

"I'm not," I lied, my voice barely audible.

"You are. You're afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you, I'm an elder to you. I'm afraid of what you represent."

"Why don't you turn around and let me fuck you? Then we'd see just how much of an elder you are to me. And what exactly do I represent?"

"Control."

He smiled, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. "You have no idea."

He reached out and grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron. He pulled me closer, until I was straddling his lap, my hands braced against his chest. I could feel his heart beating against my palm, a steady, reassuring rhythm that only made my own heart race faster.

"Jackson," I breathed, my voice trembling.

"Shh," he murmured, his other hand tangling in my hair. "I'm not going to hurt you."

He leaned in and brushed his lips against my neck, his mouth hot and demanding. I gasped, my body arching against him, a wave of pleasure washing over me. He bit down gently, his teeth scraping against my skin, and I moaned, my fingers digging into his shoulders.

"You're ours, Alexia," he whispered, his voice a low growl. "All ours."

He released my neck, but the loss of his touch was immediate and sharp. He looked at me, his eyes dark with desire. "You're wet for me, aren't you?"

I couldn't answer, my throat tight with emotion.

He chuckled, a low, triumphant sound. "I can smell your arousal, Alexia. It's driving me insane."

He shifted, his hips pressing against mine, and I felt his hardness through his jeans. I gasped, my eyes flying open. He was enjoying this. He was enjoying my fear and my arousal.

"Don't," I pleaded, my voice a mere whisper.

"Don't what?" he asked, his lips brushing against my ear. "Don't make you want me? Too late for that, Alexia. You've always wanted me."

He claimed my mouth in a rough, demanding kiss, his tongue delving into my mouth, tasting, exploring. I responded instinctively, my body moving against his, my hands tangling in his hair. I was lost in a haze of pleasure and desire, my mind a blank slate.

He pulled away, his breathing ragged. "We're almost there," he said, his voice hoarse. "And when we land, I'm going to make you mine."

He stood up, leaving me trembling on the seat. I watched him walk away, my body on fire, my mind a mess of conflicting emotions. I was their mate. And I had no idea how I was going to survive this.

I looked down at my hands, then at the blood on my fingers. I was a human, a fragile, breakable thing in a world of powerful, dangerous men since my wolf had never appeared. And I was in way over my head. I closed my eyes and tried to reverse the rejection. I don't belong to them. I am Alexia. I am alone. But as I concentrated, I felt a phantom sensation of lips against my neck, hands gripping my waist, and a deep, possessive growl. The fleeting sensation intensified, and I felt a wave of pleasure wash over me. I couldn't stop the moan that escaped my lips.

The curtain to the plane parted, and Jackson walked back in. He looked at me, his eyes dark with desire. "Did you like that?" he asked, his voice a low purr.

I didn't answer, my face burning with shame and desire.

He smiled, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. "You did. And you'll like what comes next even more." He walked towards me, his intentions clear. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I was trapped, and there was no escape.

I scoffed and faced the window as I got lost in thought of the past. Hailey had been my godmother, best friend to my mother but she'd sent me away just as she sent her sons away. I dozed off after a while when suddenly I felt a wave of intense pleasure as I felt an organism coming up as my eyes flew open to Jackson on his knees with his mouth on my clit as several colours burst before my eyes as I screamed in pleasure as I finally got off my high and exhaled as he removed his head and adjusted my clothing before he licked his mouth clean then buckled my seat belt and stood. He smirked and returned to his seat. "We're about to land. We're home already."

ALEXIA

Different warriors approached us as we descended, my dad tried making light conversation but I simply ignored him until he walked away mirroring the heavy thrum in my blood. My thighs still felt sticky, my skin tingling with the ghost of Jackson's mouth. I refused to look at him. I stared at the environment filled with various warriors and beautiful flowers sprawling, fog-drenched estate below the fortress of stone and secrets that we had been exiled from years ago.

A beautiful young female with brown hair and brown eyes comes in, she stood a bit far from us and waved at me in excitement.

"Move," Jackson commanded, his voice back to that icy, authoritative clip. The predator who had just tasted me was gone, replaced by the prince.

I stood, my legs feeling like lead. As the cabin door hissed open and the stairs lowered, the scent of damp earth and pine hit me-and then, the pheromones as there's brief movement within me with my wolf. It was like walking into a wall of pure, unadulterated power.

They were waiting at the bottom of the ramp.

Jaden stood to the left, his lean, athletic frame draped in a charcoal suit that looked far too restrictive for the wildness in his eyes. He was the youngest, the most volatile, and as my gaze met his, my breath hitched. A sharp, stinging heat ignited in my chest. My body yearned for his touch, mocking me even as his scent made my head swim.

Next to him was Jermaine. The eldest. The strategist. He stood perfectly still, arms crossed over a chest that seemed broader than I remembered. He didn't smirk like Jackson or burn like Jaden; he watched with a cold, terrifying intensity. The moment his eyes locked onto mine, my knees buckled slightly. A deep, pulsing ache settled in my core, a primal response I couldn't suppress but then a very curvy and busty blonde was watching me in disdain.

"Look at her," Jaden murmured, his voice carrying effortlessly in the crisp air. "She looks even more delicious when she's terrified."

"She's pale," Jermaine noted, his voice a deep baritone that vibrated through the soles of my shoes. "Jackson, you've exhausted her."

"She needed to be reminded of her place," Jackson said, stepping up behind me. He placed a heavy hand on the small of my back, his thumb grazing the skin just above my waistband. I shivered, my skin prickling with a mixture of arousal and sheer indignation.

"I am standing right here," I snapped, though my voice lacked its usual bite. "Stop talking about me like I'm a piece of property." M

A warrior laughed quietly with another friendly female who waved excitedly at me.

Jaden let out a sharp, barking laugh and moved forward, closing the distance in a blur of motion. He stopped inches from me, his smell of musk and rain overwhelming my senses. He leaned down, his nose brushing against my temple. "But you are, Alexia. You'll be our favourite little toy."

I opened my mouth to make a retort, but the words died as a sharp, high-pitched voice sliced through the tension.

"My baby is finally back"

I stiffened. Coming down the stone steps of the main house were Marissa and Queen Hailey. My godmother. She looked exactly as she had five years ago-impeccable, blonde, and radiating a coldness that could freeze the sun. She had been my friend first before being my stepmother, and it was she who had agreed with the seer and convinced Hailey to send me away.

"Marissa," I said, my voice flat.

She stopped at the edge of the gravel, her eyes raking over me with longing as she hugged me tightly. Truthfully, I had missed them.

"I exhaled and hugged her back. She turned her gaze to the three men surrounding me, her expression shifting to one of practised deference. "I trust the boys handled your... retrieval... adequately?"

"She's here, isn't she? So glad you all finally remembered us at last." Jermaine said, not even looking at her. His focus remained entirely on me.

Marissa smiled softly.

"Hailey is waiting in the drawing room," Marissa said, her tone light. "Kindly avoid pissing her off, she's in a bad mood."

"Careful, Marissa," Jaden whispered, his eyes flashing a dangerous amber. "You're talking about our mate."

The word hit the air like a physical weight. Marissa's face thinned, her eyes darting between the four of us. She hadn't known. She thought I was just being brought back to be punished, not claimed.

Jackson's grip on my waist tightened, pulling me flush against his side. "Inside. Now."

As they led me toward the house, Jermaine on one side and Jaden on the other, I felt like a lamb being ushered into a den. My body was a traitor, vibrating with the proximity of the three brothers, even as my mind screamed for an exit. I glanced back at Marissa, who was watching us with a look of pure, unadulterated confusion while she chatted softly with the brown-eyed female who was an exact replica of the three brothers.

I was back in the cage, and this time, the bars were made of flesh and bone.

An old man walked slowly behind her slowly and Marissa cleared her throat " They're finally back Isaiah."

He nodded "Let's meet with the queen of all now."

The doors of the drawing room opened and on two seats were the queen and the king, Hailey looked just as beautiful as she was when I left the kingdom. I slowly exhaled and walked up to her and hugged her fiercely yet there was a new level of coldness in her. "Welcome back Alexia." She greeted softly and moved me back while King Ryan smiled and nodded at me.

She looked at the boys and smiled at them "Welcome home boys. I've missed you so bad." Jaden scoffed immediately at that statement " You missed us so bad, you gave us up for eighteen years."

"Hello, sons." The boys are warmer with their dad unlike the queen. Isaiah cleared his throat "The vision shows that she is the fated mate to your three sons with a terrifying power locked away but will be brought back the moment she is fully mated."

Jaden shrugged nonchalantly "So we needed to leave and be put through hell for eighteen years just for this?"

"You might have your reservations with the fact that you were sent away but if you disrespect me again. I will punish you." Logan walked in and cleared his throat "The Queen of Fae is here and says she needs to see you urgently my queen. "