CHAPTER 103: A POISON IN THE PACK

Josie

I could tell right away the triplets didn’t like the arrangement. Not even a little.

The signs were subtle if you didn’t know them—but I did. Shoulders pulled tight, jaws clenched so hard you could almost hear the enamel grind, eyes darting to Varen with that mix of accusation and betrayal. Like they were silently shouting, This is your fault, without saying a word.

And honestly? I couldn’t even blame them. The whole thing was like trying to carry a bucket full of holes—you knew it was going to leak trouble everywhere, it was just a question of how soon. But still, for reasons I couldn’t fully explain to myself, I found my instincts pulling me to Varen’s side.

They thought he’d gone out of his way to bring the wicked witch herself into our pack, that he’d swung open the doors and practically rolled out a red carpet for Michelle. But I’d seen Varen make choices under fire before—he wasn’t careless. That meant there was something else at play here, something they didn’t see.

Kiel must have sensed that silent siding of mine, because he was suddenly looking at me with that sharp, quiet focus that made me feel like he could dig through my thoughts if he tried hard enough.

"You shouldn’t go anywhere with Liam without me," he said. His tone wasn’t casual. It wasn’t even protective in a soft way. It was an order, heavy with finality.

I tilted my head, letting the corners of my mouth tug upward in challenge. "Is this because you’re jealous he’s a male," I asked slowly, "or because you actually think I might learn something from all of this?"

Kiel didn’t even pause to consider. "Liam looks like a fraud," he said, his voice flat as a blade. "There’s nothing to learn from him—he’s nothing but chaos."

That pulled a smirk out of me before I could stop it. "You know, jealousy doesn’t suit you, Kiel."

"I’m not jealous," he muttered. But the flicker in his eyes and the way his jaw flexed... yeah, he was lying.

Before I could needle him further, the door swung open. Michelle walked in like she owned the place, her father trailing behind her with that stiff, puffed-up posture men get when they’re about to say something stupid.

My stomach tightened instantly. I leaned slightly toward Kiel, my voice dropping to a whisper meant just for him. "I’m the only one who has the right to act jealous around here. And yet she’s still walking around the pack house like it’s her second home."

Kiel’s jaw ticked—just that small, restrained motion—but I saw the spark of irritation in his eyes. I knew that look. He was holding himself back.

Before he could answer, Thorne’s voice cut in from his spot leaning against the wall.

"I’m leaving," he said, his tone flat, bored, as if the air had gotten stale. "I don’t want to listen to Michelle’s whining."

I almost laughed—almost. That man’s hot-and-cold temperament was like standing in a storm where you couldn’t decide whether to grab an umbrella or strip down and enjoy the rain. One minute protective, the next... gone. The whiplash was exhausting.

With Thorne gone, Kiel shifted his full attention to Michelle. His voice went razor-sharp. "I already told you you’re not to come to this pack," he said. "So what could you possibly be doing here—at such an unhealthy time?"

Michelle tilted her chin, the picture of arrogance. "I go where I please, Kiel. You don’t own me."

That was it. My patience, already stretched thin, snapped like a brittle thread. I didn’t think. I didn’t plan. My hand came up and connected with her cheek in a crisp, echoing slap.

The sound seemed to hang in the room for a second before she reacted. Her head snapped to the side, a bright red bloom already appearing on her skin. Slowly, she turned back to face me, her eyes wide before narrowing into something sharp and dangerous.

"Who gave you the guts to hit me?" she hissed. "You couldn’t even step into places I’ve been in my lifetime."

Kiel’s hand closed gently but firmly around my arm—a silent enough. I didn’t budge. I met her glare head-on, my voice low and icy.

"You’re a lowlife," I told her, enunciating each word so there was no mistaking my meaning, "who had to drug a man just to make him tied to you."

It was like I’d thrown acid. Her face flushed crimson, her lips trembling—not with fear, but with fury.

"How dare you—" she started, her voice rising into a screech.

And just like that, we were in it. Words flew like blades, cutting and clanging against each other, neither of us willing to give an inch. My pulse roared in my ears, my fingers itching to shove her back just for the satisfaction of it. She had a way of twisting her face into this smug, superior mask that made you want to ruin it.

It took both Kiel and Varen stepping in to shut it down.

"That’s enough," Kiel snapped, his Alpha tone slicing through the noise. It was sharp enough that even Michelle paused, her mouth still open on an unfinished insult.

Then her father stepped forward. He wasn’t posturing now—just standing stiff, his chin lifted in what I guessed was his version of bravery. "I brought her here to stay with you, Kiel," he said. "A woman who’s... illegitimately pregnant has no place in my home. She’s an embarrassment."

The room went so still I could hear my own heartbeat.

Kiel’s head tilted, his eyes narrowing. "You’re joking."

The man shook his head quickly. "I respect you as my Alpha," he said, the words tinged with a nervous tremor, "but there are... certain things that must be done the right way."

Kiel’s silence in response was dangerous. His jaw worked, but no words came immediately.

That was my cue. If I let this stand-off keep building, it would turn into a fight that would have the entire pack talking by sundown.

My gaze flicked to Williams. He was lingering off to the side, watching everything like a man who’d been expecting a fire but was still surprised by how hot it burned. I crossed the room in a few quick strides, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him a few paces away until the low murmur of the others blurred behind us.

"Mind-link Kiel," I said in a low, urgent voice.

Williams’ brows shot up. "Why?"

"Tell him to let Michelle stay," I said.

His eyes widened. "What? Why on earth would you—"

"It’s part of my plan," I cut in, my tone sharp enough to make him blink.

Williams’ frown deepened. "Josie, she’s cunning. She might hurt you in the process."

"I know." My voice didn’t waver. "But this time, I’m not letting her get away with anything. Not one thing."

He studied me for a long moment, weighing my words like he was deciding whether to argue or just surrender to inevitability. Finally, he sighed.

"You’re playing with fire."

"Maybe," I said, a grim smile touching my lips. "But I’m not the one who’s going to get burned in the end."