The Three Who Chose Me
Chapter 65: Things That Bloom and Break

Chapter 65: Things That Bloom and Break

Josie

I immediately forced a tremble into my hands, letting my fingers shake as I stared at the now-sprouted soil with wide eyes. "Kiel," I whispered, my voice laced with fear I didn’t feel, "something’s wrong... I’m scared."

It worked. His teasing expression dropped instantly. He was beside me in a flash, his gloved hands reaching out like I was glass about to shatter.

"What is it? Josie, what happened?" he asked, his voice laced with panic as he cupped my elbows.

But I couldn’t answer. Because even I didn’t know how to explain what I had just seen—or done.

The moment my fingers brushed that soil, it didn’t just respond. It exploded with life. Vines twisted, fruits bloomed, colors bled into the gray, dead garden bed like I had painted it with my skin. It had been instinctual, like breathing. And I hated it.

My heart thundered in my chest. I shoved Kiel’s hands off and bolted.

I ran.

The wind stung my eyes and throat as I sprinted across the field, gravel biting into my bare feet. Behind me, I could hear Kiel shouting my name—firm, worried, persistent—but I didn’t look back. My breath was short, but I pushed harder, faster, up the pack house steps, through the door, and into the hallway.

Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to be this person with this awful gift that kept showing up when I least wanted it. My fingers still felt warm from touching the soil.

I made it to my room, and slammed the door.

But it didn’t take long.

Kiel burst in after me, breathless, eyes wild. "Josie!" he called, rushing to me. "What the hell happened?!"

Before I could stop myself, I threw myself into his arms.

I didn’t even know if I was acting anymore.

I just clung to him, because something in me had cracked open in the garden. Something I’d kept locked down with fear and denial and every inch of my control. And now that it had burst through, I didn’t know how to make it go away.

Kiel held me tightly, his gloved hand rubbing circles into my back as he whispered soft things in a language I didn’t know but somehow felt safe hearing. "It’s okay... it’s okay... I’ve got you..."

I don’t know how long we stayed like that. But eventually, I heard myself breathing again.

He didn’t push me to talk. He didn’t even move until I slowly pulled away, looking up at him through swollen eyes.

"Do you want to talk about what scared you?" he asked gently.

Think, Josie. Think fast.

"It was the flowers," I murmured, eyes low. "They rose too fast. It looked like..." My throat caught. "It looked like my parents’ blood. That night."

Silence.

Kiel stiffened slightly. Just for a second. I felt it.

He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. "Josie..." he said, voice low. "They’re never going to hurt you again."

"How do you know?" I snapped before I could stop myself. "How do you know they’re not going to crawl back from hell and finish what they started?"

Another silence. This one heavier.

Then, quietly, Kiel said, "Because they’re dead."

My chest hollowed. Even though I knew it—had known it since I got here—hearing him say it felt like a knife being wedged into my ribs.

I stared at him. "Why?" I asked. "Why did they die so easily when I spent my whole life suffering under them? Why was their ending so... simple?"

He didn’t respond.

He just looked at me. Not with pity. But something close to guilt.

He rose to his feet suddenly.

"Kiel—" I reached for him, but he stepped back. I didn’t want him to leave—not like this.

"I just need... a second," he murmured, and walked out the door without another word.

I flopped back onto the bed with a groan and shoved my face into the pillow. That wasn’t how I meant for any of that to go. I was trying to cover up my gift—not accidentally dig into the emotional grave of my trauma and his decisions.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open again.

"Josie?"

Marcy.

I sat up immediately, wiping under my eyes before she saw too much.

"I’m fine," I said preemptively.

Marcy didn’t buy it. She marched straight in and wrapped her arms around me in the tightest hug she’d ever given. "I’m so sorry," she whispered. "I hate that you went through all that. I wish I had known. I never imagined it was that bad, Josie."

I squeezed her back but said nothing. I hated when she got like this. Pity didn’t sit well with me—not even from Marcy.

"I’m okay now," I muttered, pulling back and forcing a smile. "Really."

But her eyes searched mine like she didn’t believe a word.

In frustration, I sighed and decided to change the subject. "Tell me something. Anything. What’s going on with you? Have you found your mate yet?"

Marcy snorted. "Nope. But I’m currently sleeping with someone."

I gasped. "You’re what?!"

She wiggled her eyebrows, totally unbothered. "A girl’s got needs."

"Marcy!"

She laughed and plopped down beside me. "What? I’m not tying myself down. I don’t even know if he’s my mate. But in the meantime..." She shrugged mischievously. "It’s fun."

"Isn’t it... painful?" I asked hesitantly, cheeks heating.

Marcy looked at me like I’d grown two heads. "Painful? Oh my God, Josie. Wait. Have you never...?"

I groaned and covered my face. "We’ve kissed, okay?!"

"We?" Her eyes lit up. "As in, you and your hot trio of mates?"

"Just Kiel," I mumbled.

Her jaw dropped. "Only Kiel?! Are the other two blind? You’re gorgeous!"

My face was burning now. "It’s not like that."

"Oh, it absolutely is." She leaned forward, studying me. "Wait... are you saying you were the one who stopped it?"

I hesitated.

"...Yes."

Marcy’s mouth dropped open again. "Why the hell would you do that?!"

"Because..." I exhaled. "Because I didn’t want the others to feel bad. I mean, we’re supposed to be—what? Together? All of us? And I didn’t want to break anything."

She stared at me like I had lost my mind. "Josie. You’re going to be with all three of them anyway. They’re all going to get equal turns, so what’s there to feel bad about?"

I didn’t answer that.

"Are you fighting with them or something?" she asked, watching me closely.

"No," I said slowly. "But... Thorne’s been cold lately. He only talks to me when he thinks I’m in danger. And Varen..." I shrugged. "We’re still in this weird, awkward phase."

Marcy rolled her eyes. "Okay, well, let Thorne be moody then. He’ll come around when he realizes what he’s missing. And Varen? He’s too soft to stay awkward forever. He probably just wants you to be happy. And you know what makes most people happy?"

I gave her a dry look. "Don’t say it."

"Good dick," she finished triumphantly. "Amazing dick, actually. Get laid, bestie. You’ll see the light."

I snorted and shoved her shoulder. "You’re the worst."

"Alpha males are always horny," she said, wagging her finger. "You better act fast before someone else offers them flowers and you’re out here still wondering what their piercings taste like."

I went red.

She gasped. "Oh my God. You have wondered."

"I—no—I mean—" I stammered.

The door creaked.

Both our heads snapped toward it.

Michelle stood there.

My stomach dropped.

Her face was unreadable, but her eyes burned like acid. "She won’t be able to take it," she said darkly.

"What the hell are you doing?" Marcy demanded, standing up. "Were you eavesdropping?!"

Michelle ignored her, eyes fixed on me. "You won’t survive the way they fuck. Trust me. I’ve done it."

My heart shattered in my chest. The words rang through me like a curse.

Marcy snapped, "Josie, don’t listen to her—"

But I wasn’t listening anymore. I was falling. Spiraling.

Because I wasn’t just horrified...

I was breaking.