CHOOSE ONE
1634 Words
THE PACT OF FIVE
CHAPTER 18: CHOOSE ONE
The air in my bedroom is thick with tension, the scent of jasmine and vanilla from my diffusers doing little to mask the storm brewing outside my door. I sit on the edge of my bed, the silk sheets cool against my bare legs, my fingers tracing the intricate embroidery on the comforter. My heart is still pounding from Cole’s confession, his words—*I love you*—echoing in my mind like a song I can’t turn off.
I should be *ecstatic.* I should be *floating.* But all I feel is this *dread,* this *weight* pressing down on my chest. Because Cole’s love doesn’t *fix* anything. It just makes it *harder.*
The doorknob *rattles.*
I freeze, my eyes flying to the door. I don’t even have to see them to *know* it’s them. I can *feel* their presence, their anger, their *hunger* pressing against the wood like a living thing.
The door *bursts* open.
And there they are—*all* of them. Knox at the front, his dark eyes *black* with rage, his body rigid. Cole behind him, his green eyes *burning* with a mix of guilt and defiance. Jax to the side, his smirk *gone*, replaced by a *snarl.* Zane, silent and still, his gray eyes *cold.* And Micah, his usual humor *nowhere* to be found, his brown eyes *dark* with something I’ve never seen in him before—*betrayal.*
Knox steps forward, his voice a *whip-crack.* "Get up."
I don’t move. I just sit there, my heart *hammering,* my body *trembling.*
Jax’s voice is a growl. "*Now.*"
I swallow hard, my voice a whisper. "*What do you want?*"
Knox’s laugh is *dark.* "You *know* what we want."
I shake my head, my voice shaking. "*I don’t.*"
Cole steps forward, his voice *raw.* "We want you to *choose,* Lena."
The word hangs in the air, heavy with *finality.* With *ultimatum.*
I look at each of them—Knox’s rage, Jax’s hunger, Zane’s control, Micah’s pain, Cole’s love. And my chest *aches.* Because I *can’t.* I *can’t* choose.
I stand up, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "*No.*"
Knox’s jaw *clenches.* "What?"
I lift my chin, my voice a *whisper* but *firm.* "*No.* I won’t *choose.*"
Jax’s laugh is *bitter.* "You don’t have a *choice,* Lena."
I shake my head, my voice breaking. "*I do.* And I *choose* all of you."
The room *explodes.*
Knox’s voice is a *roar.* "*You can’t have us all!*"
Jax steps forward, his eyes *wild.* "*Damn right she can’t.*"
Zane doesn’t say anything. He just *watches* me, his gray eyes *cold,* his expression unreadable.
Micah’s voice is *raw.* "*Lena...*"
Cole’s jaw *clenches,* his voice a growl. "*You heard her.*"
Knox turns on him, his voice a *snarl.* "*You* don’t get to *talk,* Cole. Not after *tonight.*"
Cole doesn’t back down. His voice is steady, his eyes never leaving mine. "*I love her.*"
Knox’s laugh is *dark.* "*And what the hell does that have to do with *anything?*"*
Jax throws his hands up, his voice a growl. "*f**k* this. I’m *done.*"
He turns to leave, but I step forward, my voice a *whip-crack.* "*Jax.*"
He freezes, his back to me, his shoulders *tensed.*
I take a deep breath, my voice shaking but *firm.* "*If you walk out that door, don’t *bother* coming back.*"
He turns slowly, his gray eyes *burning* into me. "*You don’t mean that.*"
I meet his gaze, my voice a *promise.* "*Try me.*"
He *hesitates,* his jaw *clenching.* And then, slowly, he *nods.* "*Fine.*"
Knox’s voice is a *growl.* "*This is *ridiculous.*"
I turn to him, my voice a *whisper* but *fierce.* "*Then leave.*"
He *stares* at me, his dark eyes *burning* into me, his body *trembling* with rage. And for a second, I think he’s going to *walk.* But then his jaw *clenches,* and he *stays.*
Zane steps forward, his voice a dark whisper. "*Lena...* You’re asking us to *share* you. To *defy* everything we’ve ever *known.*"
I meet his gaze, my voice a *promise.* "*I’m asking you to *love* me.*"
Micah’s laugh is *bitter.* "*And what if we *can’t?*"
I take a step forward, my voice a *whisper.* "*Then I’ll *find* a way to make you.*"
The room is *silent.* The tension is *thick* enough to cut with a knife. And then—
Knox’s voice is a *growl.* "*You’re *impossible,* Lena.*"
I lift my chin, my voice a *whisper* but *firm.* "*And you *love* me anyway.*"
And that’s the *truth.* The *real* truth. They *do.* They *all* do. And I *love* them.
Knox’s jaw *clenches,* his eyes *darkening.* "*Fuck.*"
Jax’s smirk is *back,* his voice a dark promise. "*We’re so *fucked.*"
Zane’s voice is a whisper. "*Probably.*"
Micah’s laugh is *soft,* his voice a dark caress. "*Definitely.*"
And Cole—*Cole* just *watches* me, his green eyes *burning* with love, his voice a *promise.* "*Worth it.*"
And then they’re *all* looking at me, their expressions a mix of *rage* and *hunger* and *love.* And I *know*—this is it. This is the *moment.* The moment where everything *changes.*
I take a deep breath, my voice a *whisper* but *firm.* "*So? What’s it gonna be, boys?*"
Knox’s voice is a *growl.* "*You’re gonna *regret* this.*"
I smile, my voice a *promise.* "*Probably.*"
And then—
Knox *moves.* And so do the others. And suddenly, I’m *surrounded,* their bodies *caging* me in, their scents *wrapping* around me, their *love* *consuming* me.
And I *know*—I’ve *won.*
- Writer
