The Choice

The brothers stood in silent, their minds reeling with what Jude was saying.

Suddenly, the room had grown colder, the weight of some truth settling on each of them. It was Dave who finally broke the silence. His voice was low with disbelief as he muttered, "How could it be?" He cast a look at every brother as though one of them might say something to divert this.

Dan was looking to Jude, his eyes wide from an unsettling feeling. "Is there… no other way?" He almost whined; what he had been hoping for was going so wrong.

Jude exhaled a heavy sigh; his expression was etched with sympathy. "No, Dan. There isn't. A female having multiple mates is taboo. Even if the three of you could accept it, the pack wouldn't allow it." He paused to let it sink in. "Rules are rules, and some things just… aren't meant to be.”

The brothers looked at each other, a troubled gleam in their eyes. The bond they had with Emma, even if only freshly discovered meant little, none of them wanted to deny it. There was an undeniable pull, something instinctual, that none of them could ignore. One of them having to step aside was just unimaginable.

Then, as if to cut the tension, Jude gave a small smile. "Besides," he said, chuckling lightly, "you three are getting way ahead of yourselves! She hasn't acknowledged any of you as mates yet. You guys need to focus on helping her recover. Be kind. Make her comfortable, and show her each of your hearts. In time, she'll make her choice. That's the only way forward.

There was a silent agreement between the brothers. Consciously, they nodded to each other, committing themselves to Jude's advice. Still under that silent agreement, there was a stir of competitiveness. The looks passing from each of them to the other issued some sort of unspoken challenge. Each of them wanted to be the man to win Emma's favor and stand by her, to claim the bond they felt deeply inside.

So many years had passed without a mate, quietly questioning whether that person was out there. They watched others in the pack find their fated partners, but each of them had waited so very long with no definite promise it would ever happen. They had not allowed themselves to hope too deeply for a mate, especially not one as captivating as Emma. But now that she was here, the beautiful woman who had drawn each of them to her so easily-there would be no turning back without a fight.

Later that day, having gathered their thoughts and steeling themselves, the brothers decided that the time had come to check in on Emma. She had been through enough already, and the least they could do was make her feel safe and welcome.

Entering her room, they found her still seated quietly on the edge of the bed. Sunlight flowed softly through the window, casting an aura of softness upon her, and for a moment, they said nothing at all, enthralled. The golden cascade of hair down the length of her shoulders was silken tresses framing her face in elegance that took their breath away. It was as if her skin itself exhaled a soft warmth, though it was her eyes-those bright, entrancing golden eyes-that managed to reflect the quiet curiosity of a man drinking in the view.

Emma didn't think anything special about herself, while for these brothers, she was like nothing they'd ever seen. It would be as if she were part of the very sunlight filling the room, a true rare beauty, with a grace which made them all feel… something they could hardly explain.

The brothers exchanged a quick, knowing glance, with all the strength they pride themselves on, Emma's beauty left them vulnerable, it had happened too suddenly, taking them wholly by surprise. Dave got himself to clear his throat and finally out of his daze. He took a step forward as his gaze softened to speak.

"Emma," he said sweetly, "are you hungry? I can bring you something to eat.

Emma looked up at him, her eyes in confusion. "I… I don't know how to thank you, but… who are you all?" She looked around the room, adding, "And where am I?"

The brothers looked at each other as if to say, neither of us has introduced himself to her yet. Dean strode forward and gave her a warm, reassuring smile. "Forgive us. I'm Dean, and these are my brothers, Dave and Dan. We found you in the woods, hurt, and brought you here to recover. You're safe with us.”

Emma nodded slowly, digesting his words, her eyes softening while laced with a hint of gratitude. "Thanks… for saving me," she said in a low, soft tone, but the strength behind it resounded throughout the room.

Her voice had an otherworldly quality, a melody that seemed to hang in the air, soothing and yet enchanted. The brothers felt a sudden stirring of warmth within them, a sense of peace that neither had exactly known. She looked at each brother in turn with that slight, inquiring smile, and each was drawn to her in some way he could not explain.

Dave, who was more than ready to attend to her, seized the moment. "So, about that food, what would you like to eat?" he asked with a warm smile.

Emma appeared ready with a response, but before she could say a word, Dan just couldn't resist. He came forward with his eyes aglow with eagerness. "Maybe you'd like some fruit? Or I could bring you some warm soup if you're feeling up to it. Something easy on the stomach, you know?”

Dean wasn't one to be outdone, and he piped up soon thereafter, "Or, if you're hungry for something more substantial, I could make you a hearty meal. You'll need all your strength back.".

Emma's eyes blinked, darting between them as if in a storm of eagerness emanating from their tones. It almost felt like they were in a competition against one another, trying to be the first to get her favor. Then she looked toward Dave, a soft smile playing on her lips, and his heart skipped a beat.

But as she smiled at Dave, Dan's expression changed, and for a moment, there was a gleam in his eyes that spoke of jealousy. Not to be outdone, he moved a step closer. "Whatever you need, Emma, I can do it. You just say the word, it'll be ready for you in no time.".

Dean gave a sideways eye-roll to his brothers as he leaned in even closer. "Emma," he said, his voice low and soft, yet insistently persuasive, "whatever you might want, I'll make for you. I promise, it'll be exactly what you're craving.”

Emma's face was amused yet puzzled by the three brothers. She didn't quite know how to take this unexpected outpouring of attention. They were all being so bizarre, almost childlike in playful mannerisms, that for a moment, she felt like watching a friendly rivalry unfold.

She opened her mouth to respond, but all three brothers suddenly lent forward, their voices intermingling as each tried to offer more choices, more options, more ways to help her. The scene was both heartwarming and overwhelming, and she raised a hand, finally stopping them.

“Wait!" The gentle firmness of her voice cut through the eager chatter of the brothers, and they froze, staring at her in silence as she let out a soft sigh and shook her head slightly.

"What…is going on here?" she asked, curiosity and exasperation mingling in her voice, though her eyes sparkled with the beginnings of laughter.

The brothers looked at each other, as if it was now finally dawning on them how they must have appeared. Silence descended between them while each of them fumbled for an answer, his face contorted in a mixture of embarrassment and admiration at the woman standing before them.