Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 85: Slapped Me

Louis' POV

Lennox gently laid Anita down on her bed, and I stepped in to tuck the blanket around her. She sighed, her eyes fluttering shut, her breathing uneven and shallow. I reached out to touch her forehead—and cursed under my breath.

She was burning up.

"We should call the healer," I told my brothers.

"No… don't… I'm fine… it's normal for me to feel this way," Anita said weakly, her eyes still closed.

I exchanged a silent look with my brothers. None of us said a word. We just stood there, watching her.

"It's my turn to look after her… you two need to go out there and find out who that bastard is," Lennox said through gritted teeth.

"I'll question the men who were on duty," Levi offered.

Lennox nodded. "Good. And we need to set a trap. If he comes back, we take him down—"

"Can you three just stop it already?" Anita's voice sliced through the air, stronger than it had been just moments ago.

We froze.

"I'm lying here, burning alive, and all you care about is Olivia and who her mysterious lover might be?"

Anita's sudden outburst caught us all off guard. Her eyes had snapped open, fiery despite the dark circles beneath them, her voice no longer weak and breathy but laced with fury and frustration. Lennox immediately stepped back from the bed, his jaw clenching. Levi blinked in surprise, and I… I just stared at her.

"I'm right here, burning up, feeling like my insides are being set on fire, and you three are busy planning ambushes and interrogations over Olivia's drama?" she hissed, pushing the blanket off her like it was suffocating her.

"Anita—" Lennox began, his tone defensive.

"No! Don't 'Anita' me." She sat up, swaying slightly, but the stubborn fire in her eyes didn't waver. "You all barged in here like you cared, but clearly, I'm just an afterthought. I could drop dead, and you'd be halfway through hunting down Olivia's imaginary lover before someone remembered to bury me!"

Levi shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not like that…"

"It's exactly like that," she snapped. "Ever since you three found out she is your mate, it's always been Olivia this, Olivia that. Meanwhile, I'm here—I'm still here—hurting, burning, breaking… and no one sees it."

even he knew she had a point. Ever since Olivia became our mate, everything has been about her like it was before. But Anita can't

edge of her bed. "You're right," I said quietly. "And I'm

looked away. "You three can leave. I can take care of myself—" Anita began, but I cut her

us take care of you

tears building in her eyes

she murmured as she lay back on the bed and pulled

She was wrong.

Olivia was special in more ways than she'd ever

to bake us those terrible, burnt cookies when we trained late into the night.

broken voice of hers. I heard her, even when I was unconscious. She begged the illness to leave me and come

laugh. God, she made us laugh—back

Thoughtful in quiet ways. The type to remember someone's favorite meal, the way they take their tea, or

never asked for attention. She just… gave love without needing anything

warmth. She was

the hate—just hearing her name brought something alive

Anita couldn't see it.

But the truth is…

never really

brothers did,

I said, and before they could

move, to think, so I found myself walking toward the training grounds. The familiar thudding of fists against punching bags, the clang of metal, and the sharp whistles of commands helped clear my head—until

There she was.

Olivia.

bun, eyes lit up with laughter. She was laughing—really laughing—with

touched

it

clenched

What the hell?

But the way he was looking at Olivia now… like he'd do anything to make her laugh again… it

Jealousy.

and

secret lover? The one who'd been sending

think. I just

I was there—cutting between