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Chapter Sixty-Seven

Lilianna

I took a deep breath, my hands shaking as the reality of what I just did…

what I just said. I turned to the guys who were watching my every move before Julian moved forward putting a hand on my cheek, and before I could warn him that my phone was still recording from my window upstairs, his mouth was on me.

His kiss was fierce, possessive—a claiming that made my knees weaken and my heart race. I melted against him, my body responding instinctively to his touch, the tension of confrontation transforming into a different kind of intensity.

"You were magnificent," Julian murmured against my lips when he finally pulled back, his eyes blazing with pride and something darker, hungrier. "Absolutely magnificent."

I gasped for breath, suddenly remembering. "My phone—it's still recording. Upstairs, by the window."

The realization dawned on all their faces at once. Christopher's eyebrows shot up, Miles let out a startled laugh, and Nicolaus's lips curved into that rare, genuine smile that transformed his face.

"You were livestreaming?" Nicolaus asked, his analytical mind clearly reassessing everything that had just transpired.

I nodded, feeling heat flush my cheeks. "I wanted people to see for themselves what was really happening. I was tired of letting other people control my story."

"Brilliant," Miles breathed, his eyes bright with admiration. "Absolutely brilliant."

Christopher was already moving toward the house. "We should end the stream and secure the footage before—"

"Before it goes viral," Nicolaus finished, though he didn't sound concerned. If anything, he looked pleased. "Which it will, given what just happened."

Julian's arm tightened around my waist as we headed inside. "How many viewers did you have?"

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice small. "I was too nervous to look at the numbers after the first few minutes."

We climbed the stairs quickly, and I could hear the others following close behind. My phone was still propped against the window, the live stream continuing to broadcast to whoever was still watching. As I reached for it, I caught a glimpse of the viewer count and gasped.

"Forty-seven thousand," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "There are forty-seven thousand people watching."

The comments were scrolling by so fast they were a blur, but I could catch fragments—words of support mixed with outrage, people sharing the stream, demanding answers. My hands trembled as I ended the broadcast, the sudden silence in the room deafening after the chaos of the confrontation.

"It's done," I said, sinking onto the bed as the full weight of what I'd just done hit me. "I just... I just told the entire world about my mother. About what she did to me."

Miles sat beside me, his laptop already open. "And you should be proud, you controlled the encounter instead of letting her manipulate it. Though I am pretty sure she will try to make up a story to go in her favor…but with that recording…it will be hard for her to do so."

"She'll still try," I whispered, staring at my phone as notifications began flooding in. Social media alerts, text messages from numbers I didn't recognize, news alerts mentioning my name. The reality of what I'd done was beginning to sink in. "She always finds a way to twist things."

Julian knelt before me, taking my trembling hands in his. "Not this time. You spoke your truth, and thousands of people witnessed it. She can't erase that."

Christopher opened his phone scrolling through it, his expression serious but not worried. "The video is already being shared across multiple platforms. Screenshots, clips... it's spreading faster than even I expected."

"Is that... good?" I asked, uncertain how to feel about my private life becoming so public.

Nicolaus nodded, his analytical mind clearly processing the implications. "In this case, yes. Your mother thrives on secrecy and control.” He paused,"Exposure is her worst enemy," Nicolaus continued, his voice steady and reassuring. "You've done what she never expected - you took control.”

I bit my lip, watching as my phone continued to vibrate with notifications. "I never wanted to be... public like this. I just wanted to live quietly with all of you."

Miles shifted closer to me on the bed. "I know, sweetheart. But sometimes the best defense is a strong offense. You've shown incredible courage today."

"What happens now?" I asked, looking around at the four men who had become my world. "Will this change things between us?"

Christopher sat on my other side, his warm presence grounding me. "Only in ways we choose to let it. Our relationship remains ours, regardless of what the world knows or thinks about it."

Julian was still kneeling before me, his thumbs tracing gentle circles over my knuckles. "Nothing changes between us," he said firmly. "If anything, watching you stand up to her like that... I've never been more proud to call you mine."

"Ours," Christopher corrected with a soft smile, his hand finding my shoulder.

I leaned into his touch, feeling some of the tension leave my body. "I keep thinking about all those people watching. What they must think of me now."

"They think you're brave," Miles said, glancing up from his laptop where he'd been monitoring the response. "The comments that are getting the most engagement are supportive. People are calling you courageous for speaking out."

I felt tears prick at my eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness. For the first time in my life, I felt truly seen. Not as a commodity or a disappointment, but as myself.

Miles looked at Nicolaus, his expression thoughtful. "We should prepare for media requests. This story is going to get picked up by major outlets within hours."

My stomach dropped. "Media requests? Should I check what people are saying then?," I asked, though the thought made my stomach clench.

"No," all four men said in unison, making me blink in surprise.

"We agreed," Christopher reminded me gently. "We handle the media monitoring. Your job is to process what just happened and take care of yourself."

Nicolaus was already typing rapidly on his phone. "I'll coordinate with our legal team about handling the media requests. We'll need to be strategic about which outlets we engage with, if any."

I nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the practical implications of what I'd done. "What about Karen? She still has those recordings."

"Karen's credibility is shot," Miles said with satisfaction. "After what just happened, any outlet that tries to use her as a source will look like they're attacking a victim of abuse. Plus, she was complicit in violating your privacy."

Julian stood from his kneeling position, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And legally, she's in serious trouble. Recording private conversations without consent, breaching confidentiality agreements..."

"She'll be too busy covering her own ass to cause us more problems," Nicolaus added, his fingers still typing against the screen of his phone. "I'm already seeing her social media accounts being deactivated."

I felt a strange mix of relief and guilt.

"I don't want to ruin her life," I said quietly, surprising myself with the admission. "Even after what she did."

Christopher's hand tightened on my shoulder. "That's because you have a good heart, Lilianna. But she made her choices when she decided to betray your trust for money."

"She recorded you without consent," Julian added, his voice hard. "She violated your privacy when you were at your most vulnerable. Those consequences are hers to bear."

I nodded, understanding the truth in their words even as part of me felt sorry for the woman who had once brought me water when my mother left me locked away. But that small kindness didn't excuse the larger betrayal.

“You did say something to your mother…I just want to be on the same page as you.” Julian spoke up, his eyes on me as if afraid of what I would say, “You said if she hadn’t interrupted you would be marked by us.”

My cheeks flushed hot as I realized what I'd said in the heat of the moment. All four men were watching me with varying expressions—Julian's hopeful, Christopher's patient, Miles's curious, and Nicolaus carefully neutral.

"I..." I swallowed hard, finding courage in their steady gazes. "I was bluffing to throw her off balance, but... that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it."

The energy in the room shifted instantly, a palpable tension charging the air between us. Julian's eyes darkened, his body leaning imperceptibly closer to mine.

"You've thought about it?" Christopher asked softly, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my shoulder.

I nodded, my heart hammering against my ribs. "More than thought about it. I've... I've wanted it. For a while now."

The admission hung in the air between us, charged with meaning. I watched as Julian's pupils dilated, Miles set his laptop aside with deliberate care, and Nicolaus's composed expression gave way to something hungry and intense.

"For how long?" Christopher asked, his voice dropping to that deep register that made my omega instincts stir.

I twisted my hands in my lap, suddenly shy despite everything we'd shared. “I had the first fleeting thought after my date with Julian.”

Julian made a sound low in his throat, almost a growl. "That was a week ago."

"I know," I whispered. "I just... I wanted to be sure. I needed to know…” I took a deep breath trying to find the words to say.

"I was afraid," I confessed, looking down at my hands.

"Not of the marking itself, but of what it means.

It's so permanent, and I've spent my whole life being told I wasn't enough.

That I was defective." I glanced up, meeting their intense gazes one by one.

"I didn’t want to rush into it out of fear or insecurity.

I needed to know I was choosing it because it was right, not because I was desperate to belong somewhere. "

Miles reached for my hand, his touch gentle but firm.

"And now? After everything that's happened today?

" I took another deep breath, feeling a strange sense of clarity wash over me.

Standing up to my mother had shifted something fundamental inside me—as if the last chains of her control had finally broken.

"Now I know I'm not choosing you because I need to be saved," I said, my voice stronger than I expected. "I'm choosing you because I want to build a life with you. All of you."

The tension in the room thickened, the scent of alpha arousal filling the air as my words registered. I watched as the four men exchanged glances, some silent communication passing between them.

"Is that a yes?" Julian asked, his voice rough with barely restrained emotion. "Are you saying you want us to mark you?"

I nodded, the simple gesture feeling monumental. "Yes," I whispered, then cleared my throat and said more firmly, "Yes, I want to be marked. I want to be yours—officially, permanently, completely."

The response was immediate and overwhelming.

Julian surged forward, capturing my lips in a kiss that stole my breath.

Christopher's hand tightened on my shoulder, his touch a grounding force as Julian's kiss threatened to sweep me away entirely.

When Julian finally pulled back, his eyes were dark with desire, his breathing ragged.

"When?" Nicolaus asked, always the practical one even as his voice betrayed his excitement. "The timing matters, especially now with media attention." I hadn't considered the logistics, only the emotional certainty that had finally settled within me.

"I hadn't thought about that," I admitted, my cheeks flushing.

Miles's expression softened as he studied my face. "There's no rush, sweetheart. We want this to be perfect for you, not overshadowed by a media circus."

"But I don't want to wait," I said, surprising myself with the firmness in my voice. "I've spent my whole life waiting for other people to decide what was right for me. I know what I want now."

Christopher's thumb traced along my jaw, his touch gentle but possessive. “How about we sleep on it tonight. After everything today…we can talk about it once we get some rest and have clear minds in the morning?” He suggested glanced to Julian who gave a nod.

I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me as the adrenaline from the confrontation finally began to fade. Christopher was right—today had been emotionally overwhelming, and making such a permanent decision while my emotions were still raw probably wasn't wise.

"You're right," I said, leaning into his touch. "I just... I don't want you to think I'm backing out or having second thoughts."

"Never," Julian said firmly, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "We know you, Lilianna. We know the difference between impulse and certainty."

“Why don’t you go lay in your nest. The rest of us will make sure everything with the media and anything else that needs to be done tonight is finished before the morning.” Nicolaus suggested, eyes soft as he looked me over.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the day settle over me like a heavy blanket. "Thank you," I whispered, grateful for their understanding.

“Would you like the one in here, or the one downstairs with all the scented items?” Julian asked speaking up as he gave me a small smile.

“Downstairs.” I told him with no hesitation. I wanted to be surrounded by their scents while I rested. Miles directed me to the living room and to the nest that had been made there, making sure to help me in and make sure I was comfortable.

"Rest," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead as I settled into the plush comfort. "We'll be close by."

I watched through heavy-lidded eyes as the four men moved around the room with practiced efficiency—Nicolaus on his phone coordinating our response to the media storm, Christopher reviewing something on his tablet, Miles and Julian speaking in low voices by the door.

They were protecting me even now, shielding me from the chaos I'd inadvertently unleashed.