Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas

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~Spring's POV~

For a moment, Storm didn't answer.

The air was calm, the lake hardly moving, and everything felt quiet, as if it were waiting with me. His hands, still resting on my waist, tightened a little, like he wasn't sure how to say the next words.

His silver eyes stayed fixed on mine.

"I could say it's the way you laugh," he began slowly. "Or how you're stubborn, even when you're afraid. Or how you walk into a room and my world just… tilts."

He shifted slightly beneath me, one of his thumbs brushing a lazy arc across my lower back. "I could say it's how your scent drives me crazy. Or how you always try to see the good in everyone, even when they don't deserve it. There's a hundred reasons, even more."

His gaze dropped for a second, like he couldn't hold mine for what came next.

"But the only one that matters right now…" He looked up again. "... is this."

He took my hand, slowly, and placed it over his chest, right above the steady, thunderous rhythm of his heart.

"I love you, Spring Kaine. More than words can say."

The breath left my lungs. His words felt genuine, real and a bit too soon, yet somehow, it didn't feel wrong.

I leaned in, pressing my lips gently to his. "I really like you, Storm… and I'm looking forward to you winning my heart."

Storm chuckled against my lips, and the sound was like warm thunder. "Cheesy," he murmured, kissing me again, slower this time. "But I promise, I will make you mine… heart, body, and soul. My beautiful mate."

I smiled into the kiss. This time, when our lips met, it was slower, sweeter, and full of unspoken things.

Later, when the breeze picked up slightly and we shifted back to lying curled against each other on the bench, I turned to look up at him again.

"Can I ask something?"

Storm arched a brow.

"During the truth and dare... You knew some of the most random things about me. Even things I barely told anyone. How?"

His lips curled into a slow smirk.

"I paid attention," he said first. But then he added, quieter, "The moment I realised my heart started beating too fast for you... I wanted to know you. Everything about you."

"From who?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Your friends. Back at your former school. I… asked around. Subtly." He didn't sound guilty, just honest.

I stared at him, touched and surprised. "You… wanted to know me before we even became mates?"

He nodded, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. "I think some part of me already belonged to you back then."

I exhaled, leaning my forehead gently against his chest. "Then I want to get to know you too. If you'll let me."

He chuckled softly, his hand running through my hair. "I'm just a boring guy."

"I like boring," I said instantly, and the way he laughed, in a deep and quiet voice, made my heart feel full.

Maybe the night wouldn't end here.

But for now, wrapped in his warmth under a sky full of stars, I didn't need more than this moment. Storm wasn't just claiming space in my life… he was quietly becoming part of my soul.

Storm shifted slightly, just enough so I was lying more on him than beside him. One of his hands trailed lazily down my spine, then rested at the small of my back.

He grinned, something playful tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, Kaine…"

"Hmm?" I tilted my head, still curled beside him.

He brushed his thumb gently over my cheek before saying, "Wanna get wet?"

I blinked. Then blinked again.

"Excuse me?" I said slowly, lifting a brow.

His grin widened into something downright wicked. "Well, I was trying to keep it PG. But your brain clearly didn't."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "You can't just say things like that!" I swatted his shoulder, laughing.

He chuckled in response. "Relax, Miss Impure Thoughts. I meant our feet. Wanna get into the lake with me?"

I rolled my eyes dramatically, pretending to be offended. "That's so anticlimactic."

Storm smirked. "You can stay here and dream about what could've happened, or you can race me to the water."

"Oh, it's on." I sat up quickly, kicking off my sandals and stretching my toes in the soft grass.

"Winner gets…" he started.

"A kiss," I cut in. "But a real one. None of that polite, sweet stuff."

Storm stood up, pulling off his shirt and tossing it over the bench like he didn't have a care in the world. "Confident, aren't you?"

"Always." I narrowed my eyes at him, then pointed toward the moonlit shoreline. "Ready?"

He gave me a single nod. "Three… two…"

I took off at "two."

"You little cheat!" he shouted, laughing as he bolted after me.

The cool night air rushed past me as I ran. The grass was wet beneath my feet, and my heart thudded, not just from running, but from the sound of him chasing me.

I squealed when he nearly caught up, darting sideways just before the lake's edge. He lunged, and I splashed into the shallow water first, half-triumphant, half-gasping at the cold. "Ohh.. oh my…"

Storm followed barely a second later, water spraying as he skidded beside me. "I was right behind you!"

"I won," I said between laughs. "Don't be a sore loser."

He didn't answer; he just surged forward and grabbed me around the waist, lifting me briefly off my feet before spinning me in a circle.

"Storm!" I shrieked, half-laughing, half-sputtering as water splashed everywhere. "Put me down, you caveman!"

"Only because you asked so nicely." He lowered me slowly, grinning. "That kiss, by the way…"

I leaned up without waiting and pressed my lips to his. Trust me, it definitely was not chaste.

When we pulled apart, breathless, he gave a satisfied nod. "Okay, maybe losing isn't so bad."

"You say that now," I said, scooping water in both hands and tossing it directly at his chest.

He blinked. "Did you just…?"

"Yup." I grinned. "What're you gonna do about it?"

His eyes narrowed. "Oh, you really want to test me?"

Before I could bolt, he lunged again, splashing a wave of water straight at me. I yelped, laughing as I dodged… badly, and got soaked.

"Storm!"

"You started it," he said, flicking water at my face with two fingers.

"Oh, that's it." I kicked a sheet of water in his direction, and suddenly, we were full-on water battling, splashing, lunging, laughing so hard we could barely breathe.

"I feel like we're twelve," I gasped.

He wiped water from his face and grinned. "Good. You could use some fun."

I paused then, chest rising and falling, the water swirling gently around our ankles now. "Yeah," I said, softer. "I really could."

Storm reached for my hand, threading his fingers through mine. "You deserve moments like this. Just you and me, no pressure."

I looked up at him, heart squeezing a little. "I think I forgot what that felt like."

He tugged me gently forward until we were just inches apart. "Then let me help you remember," he said, closing the distance once more.