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."

like he wanted to argue, but even he knew she had a point. Ever since Olivia became

edge of her bed.

three can leave. I can take care of myself—" Anita began, but

care

and I could see the tears building in

as she lay back on the bed and pulled the

She was wrong.

Olivia was special

to bake us those terrible, burnt cookies when we trained late into the night. We'd eat them anyway, pretending they were delicious—just

crying, praying in that tiny, broken voice of hers. I heard her, even when I

she made us laugh—back

type to remember someone's favorite meal, the way they take their tea, or the song they hum

She just… gave love without needing

warmth. She was

the hate—just

Anita couldn't see it.

But the truth is…

never really stopped loving

brothers did, but

leaving," I said, and before they could respond,

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

There she was.

Olivia.

laughter. She was laughing—really laughing—with Maddison, the head of our warriors. His massive frame

she touched

it

hands clenched

What the hell?

had a mate. A mate who adored him. But the way he was looking at Olivia now… like he'd do anything to make her laugh again… it twisted

Jealousy.

ugly, and

secret lover? The one who'd been

didn't think.

I was there—cutting