Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Freezing Flashback

lextricated myself

from Calix‘s arms just as I realised we were still in a relatively deep area. I went under immediately but

only for a split–

second. Calix‘s strong arms grabbed me and pulled me back up and against his chest. He cradled me t

o his chest while I spluttered, coughing up water. I immediately began to wriggle in his arms, annoyed.

“Take me back to the pool‘s edge please now! I want to get out!“I squealed, feeling panicked.

Calix seemed dumbfounded. He hesitated.

“Take me back!” shrieked. “Calix!”

He held onto me tightly. “I just want to talk to you, ok. Let‘s talk about this!” “Let me go!!!” I screamed.

Amemory flashed before me.

I

was under the ice in freezing cold water. I opened my mouth to scream and just gulped down cold wate

r that burned my throat. The water was so cold it burned! Everywhere burned! Like / was on fire!! reme

mbered being so shocked that the cold could burn you. I fought and struggled with all my might but I

couldn‘t get out of the water. I couldn‘t push my way back out of the ice fishing hole for air because han

ds were holding me down in the water. I was terrified. Was this the last day of my life?

I let out a blood–curdling scream. Calix actually jumped away from me, startled. He

had relinquished me finally but, of course, I fell under the water again. I had never really learnt to swim.

Firstly because I never got lessons and secondly because once I realised I needed them, I was a burd

en to a new family and terrified of drowning after my experience being held under the water by my bulli

es, the triplets.

I did not stay under for long this time either. Strong arms grasped me again. I looked up expecting to se

e Calix but Felix was holding me, pulling me from the water. He scooped me up, carrying me bridal styl

e, immediately out of the pool. My eyes searched for Calix who was still in the middle of the pool, lookin

g shocked and mortified.

“What the f**k is wrong with you?” Bellowed Felix, glaring at Calix. “Didn‘t you see her struggling

in the water? She was screaming almost a minute now. I ran here as fast as I could. I thought she was

alone in the pool or something. Now I see you‘re here! What the f**k happened?”

The below–deck indoor pool was on the opposite end of the large yacht from the covered on–

deck bar and kitchen area. I was panting, relieved to not be in the water anymore and too tired to prote

st being held anymore even though I wanted to be alone right now. My

wolf was whimpering at how sad Calix looked as he trudged out of the pool.

“I was trying to grab her. She didn‘t want to be held by me,” said Calix softly, practically wincing at the t

hought. He rubbed the back of his neck. His dark wavy hair was drenched and sticking to his forehead.

He

looked really cute but I was so mad at him. Why did he not help me back out of the water as soon as I

asked? He was holding me and keeping me in the water to talk. I was livid.

“Felix, put me down,” I said, close to tears.

They could hear it in my voice from the way they acted. Felix quickly but reluctantly placed me on my

feet. Alex came dashing in a second later.

“Chasity!!!” Alex said, rushing over to me. “Calix and Felix both mind–linked me! I didn‘t hear you.

honey! I was near the front of the ship where the wind is powerful. What happened?”

“It doesn‘t matter,” I said, sniffling. I held back my tears as best as I could but I was shaking. Alex

reached for me to embrace me.

“No! Please! Don‘t!“I pleaded. I did not want to be touched right now.

“Alex, please, may I have a separate room from the three of you for the rest of the trip?”

“Baby,” said Felix softly, his voice sounding heartbroken. My wolf

was upset. She wanted me to forget about the past and just be

with the triplets. She couldn‘t stand the idea of sleeping separately from them.

Alex took a

deep, slow breath. “Chasity,” he breathed, “you can have whatever you like, whatever, makes you feel

comfortable, but please, I’m begging you, let‘s talk about this first!”

I got even more upset. A little anger intermingled with my sadness.

“You knew all along!” I said to Alex,

my voice shaking. “You knew my father was your mother’s stepbrother! That means she probably even

knows where my parents are!”

“Wait! What?!” Growled Felix, turning to Alex angrily.

“I shouldn‘t have kept that from you! I‘m sorry! I meant to tell you when the time

was right! I‘ve only known since we became Alphas and realized you were

our mate, Princess. I wanted you to enjoy life a little

bit! Not worry for once! That‘s all!” Insisted Alex.

I was crying quietly now. Felix was moving towards

me really slowly. He hesitantly drew me to him. My wolf purred at the warmth of his body. Calix came u

p behind me suddenly and hugged me tightly.

“I‘m so so so sorry! I shouldn‘t have kept that from you but I also shouldn‘t have blurted it out like

that! I love you, Chasity! Do you remember New Year‘s a few years

ago when I kissed you. I‘d wanted to do that since I saw you on the doorstep of our house!” Murmured

Calix.

Calix was hugging me from behind and I could feel so much of his skin against mine because we were

both in our bathing suits. Felix was

in front of me holding me to him also. They sandwiched me between them, overwhelming me with their

body heat Alex was actually crying really quietly. He played with my damp curls and put his lips against

my forehead breathing on my face. I was crying too. Alex licked my tears off of my cheeks, grooming m

e. I was so furious and upset with them but the skin to skin contact with my mates

was making me wet between my legs.

I was shivering but certainly not from the cold. Not with all their body heat enveloping me. I knew if they

tried to convince me to go back to the bedroom and talk I would end sleeping with all of them. My body

ached for that. I halfheartedly pushed at Felix‘s bare

chest and he pushed back forcefully making me gasp. He moved my hands away and kissed me passi

onately, lifting me off my feet. My bare legs instinctively wrapped around his waist and he held me up w

ith his hands under my thighs.

I returned the kiss until I came to my senses. I pushed gently against Felix‘s chest and broke the kiss. I e

“I won‘t change rooms if we talk about this. And if you promise no more secrets?!” I said, looking each of

Felix folded his arms, narrowing his eyes.

“I promise but I never kept any secrets to begin with!” He said, annoyed, glaring at his

brothers and then turning back to me. “I don‘t want to be treated as if we‘re one person. We‘re three indi

be punished by you too? Is that fair?”

He had a point. I felt a pang of guilt. He was right. They were different.

“When you were

mad at Alex and I, you were nice to Calix still at Christmas! So why now that you‘re mad at Alex and Cal

your bed?” Continued Felix.

Ugh! He was right.

“Sorry, Felix,”I mumbled. “You didn‘t know either.”

I walked over and hugged him. He embraced me warmly and tried to pick me up again but I would not le

“We‘re so sorry, Chasity!” Said Calix. “I promise! No more secrets!”

“I did what I thought was best!” Said Alex. “I‘m sorry too. No more secrets. I promise.”

gave Alex and Calix a kiss on the cheek each. “I didn‘t get a kiss on the cheek!” Complained Felix.

“You got a real kiss just a second ago!” Whined Calix.

Alex rolled his eyes at his younger brothers. He held out his hand to me. I took it.

“Pll tell you whatever you want to know, Chasity, my Luna,” Alex murmured in my ear, his lips brushing

against my skin. “Let‘s talk!”