Battle for me.

Amara's POV

The tension in the house was unbearable. I could feel it growing between the triplets, the air thick with unspoken words and raw emotions. Ryder’s words echoed in my mind: You belong to me. And now, it was as if the entire universe was testing that claim.

I tried to ignore the undeniable pull, to stay focused on keeping my distance, but everything changed when I walked into the living room that night.

Caden was there, pacing with his hands buried in his hair, his face contorted in frustration. Jaxon sat on the couch, his usual cocky expression gone, replaced by a darker mood. They were arguing—again—but this time, it was different. This time, it was about me.

“I told you to stay away from her!” Ryder’s voice was like ice as he stood in the doorway, watching the two brothers.

“Like hell you will!” Jaxon shot back, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something darker. “She’s not yours to control, Ryder!”

I froze, standing just inside the doorway, uncertain whether to step back or face the storm head-on. The tension between them was suffocating, as if I was the match that could ignite their fury.

“You think you have a better claim than me?” Ryder growled, stepping into the room, his fists clenched. His tone was full of challenge. “I’m the one who’s been here, I’m the one who—”

“Oh, please,” Caden interrupted, his voice sharp. “You might think you’re the one who gets to decide, but you’re not the only one who feels this connection!” His eyes flicked toward me for a moment before going back to Ryder. “We all feel it.”

Jaxon leaned forward, his eyes dark and intense. “She’s her own person, Ryder. We can’t just claim her like some damn prize. Amara isn’t going to just fall in line with whatever you want.”

I felt a lump form in my throat as the realization hit me—they were fighting for me. All of them. My heart raced, and my head swam. I never imagined it would come to this. This wasn’t what I wanted. But in some twisted way, I could feel a part of me, a part I didn’t want to acknowledge, rising to the surface, wanting them all—despite the chaos it would bring.

“You’re all so goddamn selfish,” I finally spoke, my voice trembling with both fear and anger. “I’m not some prize to fight over.”

Ryder turned to me, his expression softening for a moment before he took a step forward. “Amara, you don’t get it—”

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped, taking a step back, my eyes flashing in defiance. My heart was in overdrive, but I didn’t want to let them see how badly their words affected me.

Caden stepped between us, his body tense. “You can’t force her to choose, Ryder,” he said in a quieter, but firm tone. “You might have a claim, but she’s not going to just be your submissive.”

Jaxon stood up, clearly irritated, and placed a hand on Caden’s shoulder. “Let’s face it, we’re all losing our minds over this. She’s the one who needs to choose.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to choose. I don’t want any of this.”

Ryder stepped closer to me again, his voice low, but with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “You will choose, Amara. Eventually, you’ll have to. You can’t fight this forever.”

I swallowed, unable to tear my eyes away from Ryder’s piercing gaze. “I’m not a piece of property,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. But the truth was—I was torn. The connection to them was too strong, too deep for me to simply shut it down.

Jaxon shook his head, a twisted smile on his lips. “You can say that all you want, but it’s clear. We’re all connected to you. And we’ll make sure you see it, Amara.”

Caden’s eyes narrowed. “We’re not going to force her, Jaxon. This isn’t about us winning, it’s about Amara understanding who she truly is and what she needs. But she’s right. None of us can control this.”

For a brief moment, silence fell over the room. I could feel the heat between them, the fury and the tension. Each of them was holding something back—something dangerous. I wasn’t sure I could handle this. I wasn’t sure I could handle them.

“You want me?” I whispered, my voice shaking, my chest tight. “Then prove it.”

The words hung in the air like a challenge. It was dangerous, reckless, but I felt that urge inside me, that pull toward all three of them. I had no idea how this would play out, how I would survive their storm, but I couldn’t deny the attraction, the desire.

The storm was already here.

And I was in the center of it.

I couldn’t stay in that house any longer. The suffocating tension, the weight of their emotions pulling me in all directions—it was too much. So, I slipped out of the house, letting the cold night air hit my skin. I didn’t care where I went; I just needed space, needed to get away from the chaos that had become my life.

I wandered aimlessly through the streets, the flickering streetlights casting shadows that seemed to mock my turmoil. My mind was racing, thoughts colliding with one another—thoughts of Ryder’s intense gaze, Caden’s quiet understanding, and Jaxon’s unpredictable charm. And then there was me, lost somewhere between them, not knowing what I wanted or how to escape the mess we had created.

I didn’t notice where I was going until I bumped into something—someone—and stumbled backward. My heart raced, and I looked up, ready to apologize, but my words caught in my throat when I saw who it was.

Alex.

The boy who had always been there for me, always kind and genuine. The one person who never judged me, who had always treated me like I was important. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I forgot about the triplets, about all the chaos swirling around me. I felt a strange sense of relief in seeing him, something simple and comforting.

“Amara?” His voice was soft, surprised, but there was a gentle warmth to it that made me want to relax, to forget everything. “What are you doing out here all alone?”

I swallowed, trying to steady myself. “I—I needed to get away from everything,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alex studied me carefully, his eyes narrowing with concern. He was taller than me, with dark, tousled hair and warm, brown eyes that always seemed to be filled with kindness. But right now, I saw something else—something that made me feel guilty for not being honest with him.

“You know you don’t have to do this alone, right?” he said quietly, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

I didn’t respond right away. The pull inside me, the gnawing feeling in my chest, was too strong. I couldn’t deny that Alex’s presence felt like a lifeline in the middle of the storm that was my life, but at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about the triplets, the bond that was growing between us, and the conflict I couldn’t escape.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to speak. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, Alex,” I admitted, my voice cracking. “I’ve been torn between... I don’t know how to handle it all.”

His expression softened, and he reached out, gently cupping my chin with his hand, lifting my gaze to meet his. “You don’t have to handle it all alone. Let me be there for you, Amara. I care about you.”

I could feel my heart skip at his words, and for a brief moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift. His touch, so gentle and understanding, made my insides twist with longing. But at the same time, something else was pulling at me, something I couldn’t ignore.

I turned my head slightly, glancing down at the ground. “I don’t know if I can trust anyone right now,” I confessed.

Alex sighed softly, lowering his hand from my chin. “I understand. But you don’t have to shut people out, Amara. Not everyone is like them. Not everyone is here to hurt you.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone was treating me like I mattered—without the chaos, without the fights, without the pressure of the triplets.

I looked back up at him, meeting his eyes. “I’m not sure what I want anymore, Alex.”

Alex gave me a small, understanding smile. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. I’m here for you, whenever you’re ready.”

For the first time in a while, I felt a small sense of peace settle in my chest. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. I needed to figure out what I wanted, who I was, and what I was willing to fight for. And maybe, just maybe, Alex would be part of that journey.