The Pact Of Five

THE FIRST FIGHT

THE PACT OF FIVE

CHAPTER 20: THE FIRST FIGHT

The moment the words leave my lips—*Choose me*—the room *detonates.*

Knox’s grip on my chin doesn’t loosen. If anything, it *tightens*, his fingers digging into my skin just shy of pain. His dark eyes are *wild*, the firelight turning them into twin pools of molten gold. "*You don’t know what you’re asking for,*" he growls, his voice a dark promise laced with warning.

I don’t flinch. "*I know exactly what I’m asking for.*"

Jax’s hands on my waist *flex*, his body pressing against my back, the heat of him searing through the thin fabric of my nightgown. "*Damn right you do,*" he murmurs against my ear, his breath hot, his voice rough. "*And we’re gonna give it to you.*"

Cole’s thumb traces circles on my hip, his touch *possessive* but gentle. "*We’re gonna *try,*" he corrects, his green eyes locked onto mine. There’s a *fear* in them I’ve never seen before—not fear *of* me, but fear *for* me. "*But it won’t be easy.*"

Micah barks out a laugh, the sound sharp and disbelieving. "*Understatement of the f*****g century.*" He pushes off the dresser, his brown eyes *gleaming* with mischief, but there’s an edge to it now, something *darker.* "*You realize we’re five alphas and one omega, right? This isn’t a *harem* romance. This is a *f*****g* powder keg.*"

Zane’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. "*Enough.*" His gray eyes are *cold*, his jaw set. "*We’re not doing this here. Not like this.*"

Knox finally releases my chin, but his hand slides to my nape, his grip *firm.* "*Then how?*"

Zane’s gaze flicks to each of them, then back to me. "*With *rules.*"

Jax scoffs, his body pulling away from mine like he’s been *burned.* "*Rules?* After she just *blew up* the biggest rule of all?*"

"*Exactly,*" Zane says, his voice steady. "*Because if we don’t set *new* ones, we’re gonna *tear each other apart.*"

Micah’s smirk is back, but it’s *razor-sharp.* "*Oh, we’re *gonna* tear each other apart, Zane. That’s not a *maybe.* That’s a *when.*"*

Cole’s grip on me *tightens*, his voice a growl. "*Then we make sure it’s *worth it.*"

Knox’s laugh is *dark*, the sound vibrating through his chest. "*Spoken like a man who’s never had to *share.*" His eyes lock onto Cole’s, his voice a *challenge.* "*You think this is *easy*? You think *I’m* just gonna *step aside* and let you *touch* her whenever you want?*"

Cole doesn’t back down. His voice is steady, his gaze *unwavering.* "*I think we don’t have a *choice.*"

Jax’s hands *clench* into fists at his sides, his gray eyes *wild.* "*Bullshit.* We *always* have a choice. And my choice is *her.*" He steps forward, his shoulder brushing Knox’s. "*So back the *f**k* off.*"

Knox’s jaw *clenches*, his body *tensing* like a coiled spring. "*You don’t get to *tell* me what to do, Jax.*"

Jax’s smirk is *feral.* "*Watch me.*"

And then—

*Impact.*

Jax’s fist connects with Knox’s jaw, the sound of bone hitting bone *echoing* through the room like a gunshot. Knox *stumbles* back, his hand flying to his face, his dark eyes *wild* with shock and rage. For a second, no one moves. Then—

*Chaos.*

Knox *lunges* at Jax, his hands gripping Jax’s shirt, and they *crash* into the dresser, the wood *groaning* under their weight. Micah *dodges* out of the way just in time, his laugh *dark* and *disbelieving.* "*Oh, *f**k* me. Here we go.*"

Zane steps forward, his voice a *whip-crack.* "*Knox. Jax. *Enough.*"

But they’re not listening. Knox’s fist connects with Jax’s ribs, the sound *sickening.* Jax *grunts*, but then he’s *laughing*, his gray eyes *gleaming* with something *wild.* "*Is that all you got, *boss*?*"

Knox *growls*, his hand *tangling* in Jax’s hair, yanking his head back. "*You *want* to test me?*"

Jax’s grin is *bloody.* "*Always.*"

And then they’re *rolling* on the floor, their bodies a tangle of limbs and rage, the sound of their struggle *filling* the room. The firelight flickers across their skin, turning them into *beasts*, their scents—coffee, leather, sweat—*mingling* into something *primal.*

Cole steps in front of me, his body a *shield*, his green eyes *burning* with fury. "*For f**k’s sake.*" He turns to me, his voice a growl. "*You *happy* now?*"

I don’t answer. I just *watch* as Knox and Jax *brawl*, their fists flying, their bodies *crashing* into furniture. A lamp *shatters* against the wall, the sound *deafening.* Zane moves to break them up, but Micah *grabs* his arm, his voice a dark whisper. "*Let them *fight.* They need this.*"

Zane’s jaw *clenches*, but he *nods*, his gray eyes *cold.* "*Fine. But when they’re done, *we* set the rules.*"

Micah’s smirk is *wicked.* "*Or what? You’ll *spank* us?*"

Zane doesn’t dignify that with a response. He just *watches* the fight, his expression *unreadable.*

I step around Cole, my voice a *whip-crack.* "*Stop it!*"

Neither of them *hears* me. Or if they do, they don’t *care.* Knox has Jax pinned to the floor, his hand around Jax’s throat, his dark eyes *wild.* "*You *challenge* me again, and I’ll *end* you.*"

Jax’s grin is *bloody* but *triumphant.* "*Promises, promises.*"

And then—

*Impact.*

Zane *kicks* the leg of the bed, the sound *echoing* like a gunshot. "*Enough.*" His voice is a *growl*, low and *dangerous.* "*We are *not* animals.*"

Knox and Jax *freeze*, their chests heaving, their eyes *wild.* Knox’s hand is still around Jax’s throat, but his grip *loosens.* Jax doesn’t move, his gray eyes locked onto Knox’s, his breath coming in short gasps.

Zane steps between them, his voice a *command.* "*Get up.*"

Knox is the first to move. He *releases* Jax, standing up slowly, his dark eyes *burning* with rage. Jax follows, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his smirk *back* in place. "*Your loss, *boss.*"

Knox’s jaw *clenches*, but he doesn’t *retaliate.* Instead, he turns to me, his voice a dark promise. "*This is *your* fault.*"

I don’t flinch. "*No. It’s *ours.*"

Micah’s laugh is *soft*, his voice a dark caress. "*Damn, *sweetheart.* You’ve got *balls* of steel.*"

Cole’s voice is a growl. "*Or she’s *stupid.*"

Zane’s gaze flicks to each of them, then back to me. "*We’re not doing this again.*" His voice is *firm*, *final.* "*If we’re *serious* about this—about *her*—then we do it *right.* With *respect.* With *rules.*" His gray eyes *lock* onto mine. "*Or not at all.*"

The room *stills.* The tension is *thick* enough to cut with a knife. Knox and Jax are still *breathing* hard, their bodies *tensed*, their eyes *wild.* Cole’s grip on my waist is *possessive*, his green eyes *burning* with something *darker* than love. Micah’s smirk is *gone*, replaced by a *seriousness* I’ve never seen in him before. And Zane—*Zane* is the only one who looks *calm*, but I can see the *storm* brewing behind his cold exterior.

I take a deep breath, my voice steady. "*What are the rules?*"

Zane’s jaw *clenches*, but he *nods*, his voice measured. "*No *fighting* over you. No *hiding* from each other. And no *touching* without *consent.*" His gaze flicks to Knox and Jax. "*From *all* of us.*"

Knox’s laugh is *dark.* "*And what if we *disagree*?*"

Zane’s voice is a *whip-crack.* "*Then we *talk.* Like *adults.*"

Jax’s smirk is *back*, but it’s *sharper* now. "*Boring.*"

Micah’s laugh is *soft.* "*Says the man who just got his ass *handed* to him.*"

Jax *flips* him off, but there’s no *heat* in it. "*f**k you.*"

Cole’s voice is a growl. "*We’re *all* fucked.*"

And then—

Knox steps forward, his dark eyes *locked* onto mine. "*Fine.*" His voice is a dark promise. "*But *mark my words, Lena.* When the pact ends, I’m *coming* for you. And I won’t be *gentle.*"

Jax’s smirk is *wicked.* "*Damn right.*"

Micah’s voice is a dark caress. "*We’ll *all* be coming for you, *sweetheart.*"

Zane’s gaze is *cold*, but there’s a *fire* burning behind it. "*And we’ll *all* have to *share.*"

Cole’s grip on me *tightens*, his voice a whisper. "*Worth it.*"

And I *know*—this is it. The *beginning* of something *new.* Something *dangerous.* Something *beautiful.*

The pact is *broken.*

And the *war* has just begun.