Chapter Eleven – A Moment for Her
1710 Words
The fire flickered in the grand fireplace, casting long shadows across the luxurious bedroom. Outside, the wind howled against the estate, but inside, the air was thick with something else—something heavier, something charged.
Amelia stood near the bed, feeling the heat of three pairs of eyes locked onto her. Adrian, Jasper, and Caleb were watching her like she was something fragile yet untouchable. But there was no mistaking the tension in the room, the way their bodies seemed to hum with restraint, like wolves holding back from the hunt.
The text message had rattled her. The picture of her sleeping had sent a cold shiver down her spine, reminding her that someone—someone dangerous—was watching her even here, in the Blackwoods’ sanctuary. But right now, in this room, she wasn’t thinking about the stalker.
She was thinking about them.
About the way Adrian’s golden eyes darkened when he looked at her. About how Jasper smirked like he could already read the thoughts racing through her head. About Caleb’s steady presence, a silent promise of safety and something deeper.
She had never been more aware of her own heartbeat, of the way her breath hitched when Adrian took a step closer.
“You’re overthinking again,” Jasper murmured, his voice like velvet as he moved behind her. His hands brushed over her shoulders, the touch featherlight but electrifying.
“I’m not,” Amelia whispered, though even she wasn’t sure if that was true.
Caleb chuckled, his deep voice sending warmth curling through her. “Liar.”
Her lips parted, but before she could respond, Adrian lifted a hand to her face, tracing the curve of her jaw with the pad of his thumb.
“You don’t have to pretend with us,” he said softly, his breath fanning across her skin. “We know you’re shaken. We know you’re scared.”
Jasper leaned down, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “But we also know you want this.”
Amelia shivered.
Want.
God, how long had it been since she’d wanted something for herself?
She exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease just a fraction. She wasn’t alone in this. The triplets had made that clear—over and over again. They weren’t letting her face this nightmare alone.
“You’re thinking again,” Caleb teased, his fingers trailing down her arm.
“I can’t help it,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian’s lips quirked up in a knowing smile. “Then let us help.”
Jasper turned her gently so that she was facing him now, his hands bracketing her hips, his touch firm but not demanding. His blue eyes gleamed with mischief, but beneath that, something deeper lurked.
“We’re not going to let your past, or some stalker, dictate your life, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Not when you have us.”
Amelia swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. “You make it sound so simple.”
Caleb stepped in, his warmth pressing against her back. “That’s because it is simple.”
Adrian’s fingers tangled with hers, his grip solid. “You’re ours, Amelia.”
Her breath hitched.
Jasper’s lips hovered just above hers. “But only when you’re ready.”
The words settled over her, warm and steady, chasing away the lingering chill in her bones.
Then Adrian’s hand slid down her back, slow and deliberate, and suddenly, thoughts of fear, of stalkers, of the past, all melted away.
---
Letting Go
Amelia wasn’t sure who kissed her first.
Maybe it was Adrian tilting her chin up and brushing his lips against hers with agonizing patience. Maybe it was Jasper, his mouth teasing at her neck, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. Or maybe it was Caleb, his hands roaming her sides, grounding her as her world shifted beneath her feet.
All she knew was that she was lost in them.
Adrian’s lips moved against hers, coaxing rather than demanding, giving her the space to take what she wanted. She felt the scrape of Jasper’s teeth against her collarbone, the way Caleb’s fingers tightened slightly on her waist.
It was intoxicating.
It was terrifying.
Because she knew—deep in her bones—that this was more than just attraction.
This was them giving her everything, without expecting anything in return.
Jasper’s hand slipped beneath the hem of her sweater, his touch burning against her skin. “Amelia…”
She sucked in a breath, eyes fluttering open just enough to see Adrian watching her with a mix of hunger and patience.
Then suddenly, just as the heat threatened to consume her, Caleb pulled back first.
“Not yet,” he murmured.
Amelia blinked, her pulse roaring in her ears. “What?”
Adrian cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “This moment is about you, Amelia. Not some lust-fueled haze. Not fear. Not the past.”
Jasper groaned, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated but grinning all the same. “Which means that when we finally have you—really have you—you’ll know it’s real.”
Caleb leaned in, his lips a whisper against her temple. “And it will be worth the wait.”
The weight of their words settled in her chest, something dangerously close to hope swelling inside her.
Because for the first time in her life, someone was putting her first.
No.
Not someone.
Three someone.
And maybe, just maybe, she was finally ready to let them in.
---
Shadows Lurking in the Dark
The moment was shattered by the sudden buzz of Amelia’s phone.
All four of them froze.
Jasper cursed under his breath. Caleb tensed behind her, his easy-going nature replaced by something sharp and lethal. Adrian was the first to move, reaching for the phone on the nightstand.
Amelia’s stomach twisted when she saw the text message.
Unknown Number: Sleep well, beautiful.
Attached is another picture.
Of her.
Curled up in bed, asleep.
Her blood ran cold.
Jasper grabbed the phone, his jaw tightening. “This is getting too close.”
Caleb’s eyes flashed with something deadly. “No one except us is supposed to know this place exists.”
Adrian’s entire body radiated barely contained fury. “He’s close.”
Amelia swallowed past the lump in her throat. “What do we do?”
Adrian met her gaze, his voice low and unwavering.
“We find him.”
A thick silence settled over the room, the weight of the message pressing down like an iron shackle around Amelia’s throat. The realization sent another shiver down her spine—her stalker wasn’t just watching. He was here. Close enough to have breached the triplets’ sanctuary. Close enough to have taken that picture without any of them noticing.
Jasper’s fingers flexed against the phone, his usual easy-going smirk wiped clean. His blue eyes had turned stormy, unreadable. “He’s playing games,” he muttered.
Adrian exhaled slowly, but Amelia didn’t miss the way his fists clenched at his sides. “He won’t be playing for long.”
Caleb moved first, walking toward the large windows that overlooked the vast Blackwood estate. His sharp gaze swept over the darkened landscape, searching, analyzing, and hunting. “If he got this close, he’s either a damn ghost or he’s got help.”
Jasper ran a hand through his hair before tossing the phone onto the nearby nightstand with a frustrated huff. “Or he’s been watching for longer than we thought.” His gaze flickered to Amelia, assessing. Protective. Possessive. “You didn’t see anyone, did you? No one followed you?”
Amelia shook her head, her throat dry. “I-I don’t think so. I was with you guys the whole time.”
Caleb’s jaw ticked. “That’s what worries me.”
Adrian was already pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’ll have the security footage checked. If this bastard so much as breathed on our land, we’ll know.”
The weight of their attention was suffocating, but Amelia knew it wasn’t because they doubted her. They were angry. Furious.
And they were ready to tear someone apart.
“Amelia,” Caleb’s voice was softer now, the edge of his anger tempered by concern. “I need you to think—anything out of the ordinary? Are there any weird messages before this?”
She licked her lips, forcing herself to go through the past few days. Everything had felt like a blur ever since the Christmas gala, ever since she met them. And now, caught between the warmth of their presence and the chill of knowing someone was out there, watching, she couldn’t tell what was real and what was paranoia.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, hugging her arms around herself. “But this isn’t the first time he’s sent a message like this.”
Jasper went rigid.
Adrian’s grip on his phone tightened.
Caleb turned away from the window, his focus snapping to her like a laser. “What?”
Amelia hesitated. “He’s sent pictures before. A few months ago. I never saw anyone then, either.”
Jasper let out a slow breath, his hands settling on his hips. “And you didn’t tell anyone?”
“I didn’t think it was serious,” she admitted, shame curling in her stomach. “I thought maybe it was a prank.”
Adrian’s jaw ticked. “And now?”
She swallowed. “Now I know it’s not.”
A muscle in Caleb’s jaw twitched before he turned sharply on his heel, heading for the door.
“Where are you going?” Amelia asked, heart pounding.
“To hunt,” he answered, voice like steel.
Adrian moved toward her, his touch firm but reassuring. “You’re not alone in this, Amelia. You never were. But now? He’s made a mistake.”
Jasper smirked, but it was razor-sharp, dangerous. “And we don’t forgive mistakes.”
A shiver ran through her, but this time, it wasn’t from fear.
It was from the realization that whoever was after her had just made the worst mistake of his life.
Because the Blackwoods were wolves.
And wolves always protect their mate.
- Writer
