Enslaved To The Alphas-Chapter 166: A Fight

"Where are we going?" Ramona asked as a tremor slipped into her voice. She had never seen Lance this angry. Usually, even when she crossed any line he had set, he would only give a quiet warning and let her be. It was why she had become so comfortable over the years. She knew that Lance would spoil her no end.

But tonight felt different. Tonight, he seemed angered beyond words as he bit out through clenched teeth, "We’re going to Kael’s cabin."

"What? Why?" She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip only tightened. "What is the meaning of this, Lance? Why are you dragging me there?"

Lance stopped then and looked down at her searchingly. Did she really not understand? Did she really not see? When she had insisted that Emira be mated to someone outside the pack, he had thought, like Zen, that her jealousy would help her overcome her aversion to Kael.

But no amount of coaxing seemed to be working on her and Kael was getting further and further away from them.

He sighed and tried to explain, "Ramona, I’ve told you time and again to move past your aversion to Kael. To at least try to look at him with an open mind. But you’ve ignored every warning. And now..." His voice trailed off.

His jaw clenched. All through the evening, he had noticed how his brother’s gaze followed Emira, how his restraint seemed to fray every time she so much as smiled at another man. The possessiveness was no longer subtle or hesitant or even filled with guilt towards Ramoan. And that was dangerous.

Combined with the sheer surrender from Emira to Zen and Kael that he had witnessed that night and Kael’s growing attachment to Emira and his complete disinterest in preparing for the mating ceremony with Ramona, Lance could no longer deny it.

His brother was slipping beyond their control and if he didn’t act now, it might already be too late.

"I don’t wish to go Lance." Ramona said angrily as she jerked her wrist away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Lance tried to explain again, "Ramona... Why do you not understand that..."

"I understand, Lance. I understand very well. I might be a mate to all three of you, but I am not important to either of you! Why must you always force me into Kael’s path when you already know how I feel! And you cannot say that I have to get over it! I have tried!

"Ramona," Lance tried again as he looked at her with concern. He didn’t like seeing the tears in her eyes. "Why do you not understand that- "

"I understand, Lance. I understand too well. Tell me Lance, what am I really? Something to be passed around when convenient? To be shared when the mood suits you all?"

She took a shaky breath and stepped closer to him. "In the three years we’ve been together, have you ever truly given yourself to me? Even when I needed you? Yes, we’ve done things together and you’ve not cheated on me with any other Omega, but we too have not taken the ultimate step- the one that should have been ours. When have you or even Zen tried to get close to me when we were alone? Tell me, is it so easy for a couple to not crave each other’s touch. But both of you, kept your distance. And why is that? Because it’s what the three of you decided. That you will only claim a mate together. What about my decision? My choice? Does it matter at all?"

Lance froze, the words hitting harder than he expected. He closed his eyes. When they had come to this decision, all three of them had believed it was the best for their bond. They had wanted to give Ramona time to adjust to the idea of three of them together and also for them to not be jealous of each other... But now, as she looked at him with hurt eyes...

Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper now, but it carried a sting that cut through the air between them. "Tell me- has Kael ever tried to woo me? To court me? And by me, I mean me! Not just his fated mate!"

She laughed, brittle and raw. "You speak of being together, but where do I stand in it? Have any of you ever considered what I feel, or is my entire existence just some placeholder for your plans?"

Lance opened his mouth, but she didn’t pause or give him a chance to interrupt as she continued, "Do you think I don’t see how you watch them? How you held back when Kael almost lost himself over her, or when Zen let her into places I’ve never been allowed? You all pretend to be calm and rational, but at the end all three of you are the same."

"You’ve made me into something I never wanted to be- a mate in name only. Tell me, Lance... how long before even you forget me too?"

Lance’s jaw clenched and he held her close. "Ramona. I would never...

But her gaze held him and she shook her head as she gave him a hurt look, "I know I have failed in many ways and all three of you have been hurt by it too. But, you can’t make someone love where the heart refuses, Lance. And Kael’s heart... has never been with me. He only sees me as a duty.. Instead of taking me to him, can you not bring him to me?"

For a moment, silence filled the space between them as Ramona placed her head against his shoulders, letting her tears wet his shirt. And as she felt Lance’s arms come around her to comfort her, a small triumphant smile glittered in her eyes... She had won this round...

Now, Lance would not look at that bi*ch again and he would make sure that Kael kept his distance too.